Wednesday, February 26, 2014

I met "Jungle Jack" Hanna at work! MAC lipstick and lip gloss/lip glass

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting and listening to "Jungle Jack" Hanna, TV host and author, zookeeper, animal advocate, conservationist, etc.

With "Jungle Jack" and Callie and Maura, two zookeepers I work with

He spoke eloquently about zoo life today, and how zoos are meant to be "for the people." Well, obviously for the animals, too, but I knew what he meant-- we really have to reach people to make an impact on them.

In other fun career news, I finally have been adding text to photos lately to post on the social media of the zoo I work for. I came up with the below gem that I'm particularly loving... it shows off our adorable baby tapir calf, who looks crazy-cute in almost every single photo I take of her!


Beauty stuff: I am full-on obsessed with a gift sent to me by my mentor and friend, Farrah. 

I stole your Facebook profile pic, Farrah! 'Cuz it's so pretty :) 

She sent me a baggie full of MAC empty compacts, and said that if you turn them in to be recycled at a local MAC beauty counter, they will give you a free lipstick of your choice for every six empty primary packaging containers! It's part of their Back to M.A.C. program. I love how they are thanking customers for going green.

Green is beautiful!! So is my new favorite "nude lip" combo of MAC Faux satin lipstick topped with Viva Glam Lipglass. I texted Farrah that I was totally using the two products she sent to be recycled as newbies to me, LOL! I know, kinda gross to be using my friend's lipsticks, but I wiped 'em off first. Does that count as cleaner? It doesn't? Oh well, just call me a beauty recycler. ;) 

Wearing my new "nude lip" faves... thanks, Farrah!
MAC satin lipstick in "Faux" -- almost all gone! I will dig it out to make the most of it!
#NoShame #WasteNotWantNot
And MAC LipGlass in "Viva Glam"

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Get Ready With Me "CruzTube" video

Click HERE to watch my latest CruzTube video, "Get Ready With Me!"



This is the look I have in my profile photo! It was my job's fundraising gala, a black tie event, so I went all-out with hair and makeup.


My husband, Nathan, and me at the gala

Here are the products I used in the video:

Urban Decay DeSlick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray
Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15
Smashbox Hybrid 2-in-1 Luminizing Primer 
Neutrogena Skin-Clearing Oil-Free Makeup in Natural Tan and Fresh Beige
Becca The One Perfecting Brush
Mary Kay Medium Coverage Foundation in Bronze 607
MAC Contouring Brush
ELF HD Lifting Concealer in Light
Bare Escentuals Max Coverage Concealer Brush
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Mary Kay Eye Primer
Mary Kay Loose Powder in Ivory 2
Kabuki Brush
Benefit "Gimme Brow" in Medium/Dark
Coastal Scents 88 Color Original Eyeshadow Palette
ELF Eyeshadow Brush
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
ELF Essentials Eye Crease Brush
Fluffy blending brush
ELF Liquid Liner in Black
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Blackout
ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder in Antigua
ELF Studio Stipple Brush, one regular and one pink
Cover Girl Eye Enhancers Shadow in Champagne
Mary Kay Mineral Shimmer Powder in Canary Diamond
Maybelline The Falsies Volum Express Mascara in Very Black
ELF Small Angled Brush
Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge in Coquette
ELF Pout Perfector in Glow
Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus
Suave Keratin Infusion Smooth and Shine Serum
Velecta Paramount Professional Super Lightweight Hair Dryer
2 Round brushes
MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon
Fluffy shadow brush
MAC Eyeshadow in Shroom
Hot Tools 1 1/4 inch curling iron
Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play Harder hairspray
Sally's Beauty Supply clip-in extensions
Teaze brush
Ambiance Volumizing Dry Shampoo in Black
Salon Perfect Self-Adhesive lashes

Monday, February 17, 2014

Disney World! Vacay photos! Oh, and my OOTD

I'll just start with a quick post about my OOTD... it's a shirt I think of as my "dressy zookeeper" or "safari" type shirt, because of the color and front pockets. The fabric is silky, so it's dressier than a real zookeeper would wear (and I ought'a know, since I work at a zoo).
My jeans and the shirt are both from Old Navy, my favorite place to shop. Shoes are animal-print flats from Payless.

Now, on to more fun stuff-- THREE DAYS OF DISNEY WORLD!!! My husband and I took advantage of the Florida Resident Special Offer of three different theme parks for $129 each. So worth it! 

We did the Magic Kingdom first, on Thursday. 
It was amazing! I love riding Space Mountain. My favorite part was visiting the new FantasyLand expansion. We rode "Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid," and visited Maurice' Cottage in "Enchanted Tales with Belle." 

 
The grand ballroom in Beast's Castle, and the stained glass window from the movie's ending

Beast's ripped portrait

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The character "Gaston" had huge biceps, and the "swagger" to match :) 

Belle and Lumiere... the character sounded just like Belle from the movie!

I also loved the evening electric parade and the night shows, "Celebrate the Magic" and "Wishes Nighttime Spectacular" when they put all the animated stuff on the castle and do fireworks to music. DISNEY DOES IT BIG!!

The only downside to the day-- it was super-hard to eat healthfully. I know it was a vacation... but someone needs to alert Disney dining officials that this is 2014, and people want nutritious food, even on trips. I gave up after the first day... plus I had been looking forward to chowing down in Epcot. :)

So Friday, yes, we did Epcot. I was most looking forward to the World Showcase! We had done DisneyWorld with a park hopper pass in 2012, so we had already hit up a bunch of rides then. This was taking our time, being leisurely, and enjoying the day doing the quality things that we wanted to do on the last trip... plus eating and drinking our way around the world, ya heard?!

Here are some photos from Epcot, where I only took video of the IllumiNations nighttime fireworks show (which was amazing):

Chevrolet's Test Track, and the fun green screen at the end of the ride

Mexico

 
Norway, where characters Anna and Elsa from "Frozen" stay... did you know the movie was based on the museum in Epcot's Norway?! 

China (with my new peacock umbrella that has my name written on it in Chinese)

The Jeweled Dragons acrobatic troupe, and Mulan!! (love that movie)

Germany! Spot the hidden Mickey :) 

Werther's caramel place (Karamell-Küche shop), with chocolate-covered pineapple spears and a candied apple

Morocco... rub that lamp, Aladdin

Italy

 
America

 
Japan, where I wanted to buy a bunch of Hello Kitty stuff... but didn't, 'cuz I'm an adult, albeit one that goes to Disney without any kids.

  
France (where we had a yummy, non-nutritious and pastry-filled dinner to celebrate Valentine's Day)

England, Mary Poppins, Pooh and Tigger

Canada

On Saturday, we visited the Animal Kingdom for the first time ever. It was like Zoo Disney. 

Giraffes on the safari ride

Mount Everest. I hated that coaster! Steep drops are bad, mm-kay?

I'm not ashamed to say this musical made me cry. Three times.

The last day, we had lunch with my bestie, Rikki. It was also awesome to watch her live shots on tv in realtime. :) She is an Orlando reporter. 


All in all, a very successful, fun-filled trip! I am SO GLAD we went. I felt like I earned that vacation, after two solid months of late nights working from home, stress-filled days, etc. It was exactly what I needed! :) :) :)


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

OOTD, purple eye wash look, Travel Makeup kit

Felt like sharing today's OOTD, all from Old Navy! The necklace was a gift from a former boss for Christmas many years ago, and the fleur de lis in it represents Louisiana (my home state).  :)


My eye look combines this Wet n Wild Fergie Eye Shadow Palette, Dutchess Lounge with the Coastal Scents 88 Original Eyeshadow Palette (pictured lower down), using purple-shades.


 I packed the lid with this Wet n Wild quad's lightest shade, then blended the purple (broken in the photo) shade in the crease.


Then I added a bit of a darker purple in a V-shape in the crease only... the shade I used is on the bottom, between the two bright pinks. I tried to blend a lot to make it more of a wash, than a bright purple "Check Out my Purple Eyeshadow" look.

Tonight, my husband and I head to Orlando for THREE DAYS OF DISNEY! :))) YAY!!! Gotta pack my travel makeup kit, LOL... pictured below. What's in your kit?