Furry Friend Tag

Hello!

I'm coming at you today with the Furry Friends tag.  I don't really remember how I found this (probably when I was binge watching YouTube videos late at night...), but if you want to answer the questions, I found them at this website.  Let's get started!
---------

1. What is your pet's name?
   Charlee and Dany
2. What kind of pet is he/she, and what breed?
   They are both little dogs- Charlee is a nine-pound miniature pincer (min-pin), and Dany is a three-pound Yorkshire terrier (yorkie).
3. How long have you had your pet friend?
   I've had Charlee for almost 4 years, and I've had Dany for a little over a year.
4. How did you get your pet?
   I adopted Charlee from a local animal shelter.  They said he was a stray, but he definitely had an owner and probably got out of the fence because he's so small.  Dany is also from a shelter, but she was an owner surrender.
5. How old is your pet?
   Charlee is 6 years old and Dany is 2 years old.
6. What are some quirky things about your pet's personality?
   No one is going to believe me unless you've heard her do it, but Dany purrs like a cat!  She was raised with a cat so I'm assuming she just learned how to imitate the noise from hearing the cat purr.  Charlee snores like a lawn mower even though he's so small!  Seriously, when he's dead asleep, he is so noisy... He also likes to burrow under blankets no matter how hot it is.
7. What does your relationship with your pet mean to you?
   I've had dogs since I was born, so I'm definitely a dog person, and I can't see myself living without at least one dog.  Honestly, I cherish every second I have with my pups simply because their lives are so much shorter than ours.  I read a quote the other day that perfectly sums it up:
   "Dogs are just a part of your whole life, but you are their whole life."  I spoil Charlee and Dany like their my kids (and so does my mom!), so I would say my relationship with them is very important to me :)
8. What are some of your favorite past times with your pet?
   Dany will play fetch for hours!  If you throw one of her toys, she'll bolt after it even if she's asleep or in another room.  Charlee likes to take naps and bark at the neighbor dogs.  He also likes lounging on the porch and being read aloud to (I told you, I spoil them).  They both love sunbathing.
9. What are nicknames that you call your pet?
   Charlees has an alter ego, named Frank.  When he's hyper, or acting like a typical min-pin (shaking, whining, eyes bugging out of his head, etc.), we call him Frank.  I also call him Little Charles sometimes.  Dany's full name is Daenerys Targaryen (duh), but we also call her Mother of Dragons and Khaleesi.

----------
Thanks a ton for reading my random blog!  Hopefully I'll talk to you again very soon.

Keri <3

First Impressions- Vivid Matte Liquid VoxBox

Hello there!!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile (or have checked out any of my older posts), you already know that I'm an Influenster! Basically, you sign up on http://influenster.com and the company sends you samples to test out/ review. If you're interested, click the link above to sign up. 

Anyways, I just received the Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid VoxBox today. I have two colors from the new line that recently launched. Because I just got these today, this is just going to be my first impression post; however, I will have an updated post on my final thoughts on the product after I've used them for a few weeks. 

Alright, let's get started!!

Disclaimer: I received this products complementary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own, and this is not a sponsored post.

My VoxBox included two Vivid Matte Liquid lipsticks and a promotional card with some info about the product. It took about 5 days for me to receive my box after I got the confirmation email (the shipping time may vary depending on what state you're in).

Shades: Rebel Red, Nude Thrill 

Opacity: Nude Thrill is not patchy or streaky, but Rebel Red did take two coats to become completely opaque. That is pretty common with most other liquid lipsticks I've tried, so I'm not too worried about that. Usually, the darker shades come off a bit streaky or patchy, but you can use a lip liner underneath to solve that problem. Or just add another thin coat. 

Texture: So, the name of the product implies that these are matte liquid lipsticks. However, when you first put them on they have more of a satin finish. There isn't much shine, but they're not completely matte either (at first). Once you have them on your lips for about 10 minutes, they dry down to a velvety matte finish. Unlike most liquid lipsticks I've used in the past, these are not overly drying and are really comfortable to wear! You can feel that there is something on your lips, but it's not sticky or tacky in anyway. I feel like these tend to slip around a little bit, but I can get over that because they don't dry my lips out.

Packaging: Ok, I love the packaging! These are small and sleek, yet you still get a ton of product. I like that you can see the color in the tube- that means I don't have to dig around in my drawers for 10 minutes trying to find a nude lipstick! Yay!

Applicator: I'm not 100% sure how I feel about the applicator yet. I'm used to the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks, which have a small doe foot applicator. The Vivid Matte applicators are definitely unique- instead of a doe foot, it's more of a long, skinny paddle shaped wand. Because of its shape, it holds a lot more product than the Kat Von D ones, which may or may not be a bad thing. I think I just need more practice using the wand, but it's kind of difficult to apply at first. I wiped some of the product on the edge of the cap and lined my lips before filling them in. That seemed to help.

Wear Time: So far, I've worn Nude Thrill for about 3 hours before it completely wore off. These don't claim to be super long-lasting or waterproof, which isn't a problem for me. I don't mind reapplying lip products after lunch :) I was curious about how waterproof these were compared to the Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks, so I had to test it out. Overall, these will stay on your lips, but they can smear if they come in contact with water. They also transfer a little bit when you're eating/ drinking, but it's not too bad. You'll still have some color left behind afterwards. 

Overall: I can definitely see myself using these on a regular basis, and I want to check out some of the other shades. I know there is a deep purple shade in the line that I'm really curious about! I love the shade range, and these aren't too terribly expensive, especially for liquid lipsticks (I saw them at Walmart for $6.99 each). These are great for those of you who want a liquid lipstick that doesn't completely dry out your lips. Again, they're comfortable, but you do sacrifice some hours of wear time because of that. Honestly, these are pretty awesome!! 

Thanks for checking out my first impressions on the Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid lipsticks! Stay tuned for my final thoughts in the next few weeks :)

Keri <3

Calling All Wrestling Fans!!

Hi!

Quick post for you all today.

I just wanted to let you guys know about an awesome blog run by the amazing Corey.  If you're even somewhat interested in wrestling, definitely go and check it out here!  He's currently writing reviews for every single Professional Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) match in the history of the company's existence.

PS- Yes, his background is a picture of Mankind/ Mick Foley on top of the cage from the 1998 Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker.

I know I'm more than a little bias, but you should totally look into his blog, follow him, comment, and show him some love :)  Seriously, his writing is phenomenal, and you're likely to mark out if you're a wrestling nerd like we are.

Thanks for reading, and I'll talk to you all again very soon!
Love ya,

Keri <3

Little Foxes (Tattoo #12)

Hello!!

So, I may have made a really impulsive decision to get (yet another) tattoo this past weekend.  I mean, the design wasn't impulsive, but making the appointment was kind of a spur-of-the-moment type thing.  As usual.  I called the shop and Jimmy had a two hour window in between tattoos; couldn't let that opportunity go to waste, right?

Anyway, I came in with these two little guys and asked if Jimmy could get them to flow together:

I found these guys on Pinterest, but I think the original artwork is from someone on Deviantart.  Obviously, I didn't want to steal anyone's work, so Jimmy made it his own by changing up a few things.  Here is the finished product:

I took this picture a night after I got it done (excuse the swelling and bruises due to my clumsiness).  They're on my right shin, and the leaves wrap around the side of my leg just a little.  The placement is perfect.  I'm planning on getting my entire leg done, so I like that there's just a little bit of space between the foxes and my FOB skull.  I could add something if I wanted, or just go with shading.  Whatever, that's for a different post, I'm getting off track (sorry).

I know I always say this, but I absolutely adore these little foxes, and I could not be happier with the way they turned out!!  They took about 2 hours.  I feel like this spot was pretty easy, but this is one of my smaller tattoos.  The online was a breeze (it took about 45 minutes), and the shading took about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Honestly, my calf was still my most painful tattoo.  There were some tender spots (like the very center of my shin), but overall, it was about a 4 out of 10.  Maybe a 3.5.  The shading was more painful mostly because he had to make sure everything blended together.

There really isn't a story behind this tattoo, other than the fact that the fox is most definitely my spirit animal.  I remember reading something a few weeks ago about how it's better to leave foxes alone when they're angry, and their cunning, independent, witty creatures.  I don't know, I just feel like I connect with foxes.  Plus, I just think they're so damn cute!!

----------
Thanks for checking out my newest addition to my ever-growing tattoo collection!!  TTYL :)

Keri <3

50 Things That Make Me Happy Tag

Hi!

I wasn't sure what to post today, but I knew I wanted to post something positive and uplifting.  I've been having a bit of a rough couple of weeks, so I thought this would be something I could look back on whenever I'm feeling a bit down.  Hopefully this can help some of you guys out too :)

I encourage you to write a journal or blog post about things that make you happy.  It's kind of tough, but if I can come up with 50 things, so can you!

PS- I found this tag on Nicola's blog.

----------

These are the 50 things that make me happy:

1. "Defying Gravity" (from the Broadway show, Wicked)
2. Seeing Charlee and Dany's excitement when I come home every day
3. Knowing that I got through a tough breakup and have come out a better person
4. The support of my friends and family
5. The fact that I have a bachelor's and master's degree in education
6. Bubble baths
7. My tattoos
8. Starbuck's mocha frappechinos (with an extra shot of espresso)
9. I've written an honors thesis and a masters thesis
10. Books
11. My blog
12. Music 
13. Playing the piano
14. Candles from Bath and Body Works
15. Writing (both academically and for fun) 
16. Going to concerts
17. The public library
18. Maurice's and Torrid
19. Buying makeup (especially eyeliner and liquid lipstick)
20. Weekly meetings with my therapist
21. Good hair days
22. Naps
23. Vacations to Orlando, FL
24. Looking forward to having my own classroom in the near future
25. Cinnamon chip muffins from Einstein's
26. Instagram
27. Taking pictures of my two adorable dogs
28. Foxes
29. Watching YouTube videos after a long day
30. Trips to Lush
31. Cooking/ baking random things
32. Coloring 
33. My education
34. Watching Fixer Upper with Mom
35. Long roadtrips with friends
36. Looking at pictures/ souvenirs from my trip to London
37. Strawberry Sprites from Sonic
38. Hour-long conversations with Raechel
39. Fall Out Boy, Avenged Sevenfold, and Thirty Seconds to Mars
40. Learning a new song on the bass guitar
41. Frosted Flakes cereal 
42. Comfy jeans
43. Shirts that show off my tattoos
44. Sitting in my favorite chair with a fluffy throw and binge-watching Netflix
45. Reading on rainy days
46. Walking around campus on sunny days
47. Goodreads
48. Online shopping
49. Moving to Florida in May/ June of this year
50. Random arts and crafts projects

----------
Hope this helped some of you guys look on the bright side!  I'll talk to you again asap.

Keri <3