Photo Cred: The Found Wanderer Blog

This past year has been a rough year both personally and in the world.  I am so ready for the start of a new year and a clean slate.  Holidays are over and its a time to start fresh.  I made a lot of changes in my life in 2018 and I want to stick with those changes and possibly bring some more into my life this year.  Resolutions are always such a big part of starting the new year.   Everyone wants to make those changes and stick to them.  I have some ideas and wanted to share them with you guys!

1. It starts your day off right.  It might be a small accomplishment, but making the bed sets the tone for the entire day.
2. It encourages you to keep the rest of your room tidy.  Even the most organized, beautiful bedroom looks less tidy with an unmade bed, and the converse is also true: When the bed is made, it helps the rest of the room look styled, even if it is not perfect.
3. It leads to better productivity.  Bed making becomes a keystone habit, something that kickstarts a chain of other good decisions throughout the day, and gives you a sense of taking charge.  It can lead to a greater sense of well-being and stronger skills at sticking with a budget.
4. It lowers your stress and improves your mood.  You spend roughly a third of your life in your bedroom, and the appearance of your room has an effect on your mood.
5. It just looks and feels better.

There is so much to do in Baltimore and I  want to start doing more!  I have come across so many different opportunities with blogging, marketing, classes, workshops, etc.  I found a place in Hampden called Baltimore Chef Shop that boasts itself as a teaching kitchen and hosts cooking classes of all kinds.  I also found a place in Remington called B. Willow that hosts plant-making workshops.  Both of these things sound so fun and like a great opportunity for socializing and just getting out.  I spend a lot of time at home and want to start doing more.


I've read somewhere that you aren't supposed to share your resolutions for fear of either breaking them or being "judged."  I am kind of using this as a form of accountability.  I am more likely to try and do things if I put them out there and people know about it.  I don't like disappointing or letting people down, so I feel like this may hold me to it.  What are some of your resolutions for 2019?

Remember those old "Random Facts About Me" posts on Facebook?  I used to love reading those about my friends and family.  You may know someone, but you may not know everything about them.  Each person has weird quirks or things that make them unique and interesting.  I love to learn about those things!

It is a lot of apps... I know.

Well guys... I did it.  I crafted an ugly Christmas sweater that won a prize.  I am not the craftiest person, but when I do craft I go all out.  I had seen the same picture going around Pinterest and wanted to re-create it, but with a twist.  I wanted to be more of a transformer version.

My Pin-spiration

Frosty the Snow Globe, Transformer Christmas Tree & Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

I understand that this holiday season is not all about gifts, but a girl can wish can't she?  I know I already shared a gift guide, and some of those items are gifts I would love to receive, but this is a list of my own personal wishes!

1. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask:  During my holiday shopping I was able to pick up the Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer and have loved it so far!  I love a good overnight sleeping mask and the fact that it smells so delicious is even better!
   
2. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial: I have only used samples of Drunk Elephant products in the past because the products are so pricey!  *Pro-tip: Sephora will give you a free sample of literally anything in the store-- take advantage!  I have seen a couple of reviews of this product, and that it was rated as one of the "Best In Beauty" products from Allure magazine, and am so curious!  Its like a little "baby facial" from home!
   
   
   
   
   
3. DR. JART+ Mask Heroes Face Savers: We have already discussed in my Korean Beauty Routine my love of face masks-- they are the shit.  I have already tried one of the DR. JART+ Rubber masks and loved it.  They are super fun and my skin felt great afterwards!  An entire gift set with all of them sounds like a perfect gift!
   

I always feel like I need to match my hair to the current trends of each season, but I never really stray from my "norm" and tend to be a bit cautious.  I like to think that I am more adventurous than I actually am.  I usually scroll through Pinterest and save a million pins of the same look.  This time was a little different!  I got a wild hair and decided to do something a little more "trendy" and looked up what some of the hair trends were for Fall/Winter 2018.  One that stood out to me was a "Mushroom Brunette."  This trend gets its name because the cool toned brunette and ashy blonde shades look just like a mushroom.  It was beautiful!


I have never had a cool toned/ashy hair color before.  I usually lean towards warmer tones-- reds, golden/honey highlights and chocolate browns.  I had decided I was going to do it!  I reached out to my stylist (shout out to Markiesha at Fringe salon in Baltimore!) and set up an appointment.  When I got there we discussed what I was looking for when it came to this trend.  I was leaning more towards the beige highlight/balayage spectrum instead of the more grey/silver tones we were seeing in some inspiration photos.  I wanted to do this because the toner would eventually fade and I wanted to be left with a look that I would still love.  Markiesha teased my entire head of hair and hand painted the bleach-- I'm telling ya'll she is good!  I processed for a while since I had to reach the brightest blonde possible.  She mixed up a toner to get the perfect "mushroom" color for my newly blonded hair.  After we rinsed and washed the toner she cut and styled my hair.  I wanted to keep some length, but had some specific requests-- one being that it looked good in a ponytail.  Weird?  Maybe.  Necessary?  For me-- yes!  I don't wash my hair every day.  Who am I kidding-- I don't wash my hair more than probably once or twice a week!  So, when I don't wash my hair I have a method... Day one: curled.  Day two: curled with some dry shampoo.  Day three: curled with lots of dry shampoo.  Day four/five: ponytail with a teased root to disguise anything I don't want shining through!  I have a favorite wand, flat iron and curling iron that I can share in another post.  She did an overall blunt cut and added in some texture and longer layers to add some volume.

I believe that a person's hands can tell a lot about them.  I have a weird habit of noticing a person's hands upon first meeting.  Coming from a person who has dry skin and is a nail biter--it is very easy to "let things go" when it comes to your hands.  I have tried my hardest to keep my hands moisturized and manicured to make sure that when I shake someone's hand they are getting the best "first impression" of me.

My name is Carlye, and I am a makeup-aholic.  It's true.  I can't stop myself sometimes!  My biggest weakness is eyeshadow palettes.  I went through and counted 18 (and that isn't even all of them!) that I have in a semi-regular rotation.  I don't wear eyeshadow daily, but when I go out or have a special occasion I like to have options!  So, without further ado, meet my girls!

Too Faced Sweet Peach Palette

Buxom "Look All You Want" Palette

Buxom Cosmetics Single Bar Shadows

L-R: Diamond Darling, Pure Platinum, Jetsetter, La La Lavish, LBD, Patent Leather

Makeup Geek X MannyMUA

This was my first purchase from Makeup Geek and my first purchase of a collaboration between a cosmetic brand and a beauty YouTuber.  I had watched MannyMUA's videos as well as the owner of Makeup Geek, Marlena, for a while on YouTube.  I was intrigued by the warmer tones and the duo-chrome options, so I decided to pull the trigger.  I have made some really fun looks with this palette, but it isn't one that I reach for regularly.  I need to bring those warm transition shades back into my life!  This palette was a limited edition release and is, unfortunately, no longer available.  Makeup Geek does still offer the shadows individually, so you can build your own palette if you like the colors!

Morphe X Jaclyn Hill Vault Collection

Bling Boss, Armed & Gorgeous, Ring The Alarm

I have mentioned these palettes before in my 2018 Holiday Gift Guide.  They are part of a four-piece collection called "The Vault."  These are all colors that Jaclyn Hill created that didn't make it into her original Morphe collaboration (see below).  I love them because they are broken into specific color families.  It makes life so much easier when you can see a set of colors and make a look from them.  I sometimes look at the larger palettes and feel overwhelmed with the amount of colors and possibilities.  The formulas of the shadows are incredibly creamy and pigmented without a huge amount of fall out.

Anastasia of Beverly Hills Subculture Palette

Colors used: Axis, Edge, New Wave and Electric

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette

ABH Modern Renaissance is the only palette like this that I own.  I have a few (more than necessary-- I know) warm palettes, but none like this.  It has some of the most beautiful reds and pinks that I have ever used!  The shadows are pigmented and bold and create some of the most romantic eye looks I've ever seen.  I am not disappointed by an ABH shadow and think this is an excellent addition to anyone's makeup collection.