Happy 2013! News and Updates and My December Faves!

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Hey everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!  I apologize for my absence.  I got sick at Christmas and am just starting to feel well enough to get on the computer to do more than watch Netflix. :)   So here are some updates, random bits, and what not until I completely get my voice back and it takes less effort to speak.


December Favorites!
Needless to say, there probably won't be a whole blog or video dedicated to my faves for December because I just had two real stand outs and they were Christmas gifts from my beautiful friend JG!  She sent me a Butter London set in Chancer.  For those of you who haven't seen it, I will try and upload a picture from my phone later.  It is a nail polish and matching lippie in this beautiful sparkly red shade!  I wore the lipstick for a good portion of the month and I just took off my nail polish last Sunday.  Butter London is an amazingly long wearing formula and I hope to try more shades this year.  I also got these really cool arm bands and head band set that I will be showing in a video because they are just such an awesome concept and cool gift!  I love, love, love them!  JG knows me soooooo well! I really  love her.  We have been friends through the beauty community for several years and I just absolutely adore her.

No Buy/Shop My Stash/What is Allowed!
Like many people, this year I have found I have more makeup than I can use.  For me, most of it is in the form of eye shadows and eyeliners.  I do have some stuff I still need to haul from last year (I know, I am so behind)...but other than that, I am on a self imposed no buy.  There are a few reasons for this.  The first is I simply haven't seen anything that made me say "ooooh I need that" in a long time with the exception of some nail polishes.  The second reason is, I have a ton of cosmetics that I love and don't use enough.  Like my mom said to me once..."You have two eyes, once mouth, two cheeks...how much more do you need," and she was so right.  I haven't seen anything all that new or different lately either.

However, of course there are products that need to be replenished such as skin care, hair care, mascaras, etc.  I am also on the look out for a good color corrector for some darkness I noticed when I started getting sick in December.  I have had some good suggestions so far.  So of course there will be hauls of some sort.  I just don't plan on really going on any all out makeup benders like in years past.  Unless perhaps it is my birthday... haha. :)

Videos
My YouTube channel is fairly new, and while I have wanted to start one for awhile, I have realized it is not as easy as setting up your web cam and chatting.  I am looking for Windows editing software, tips for lighting, and any other suggestions you have in mind.  I am not sure I am ready to do tutorials, but I have a ton of products to review, tips to share, and combos of products that work well together.

Cruelty Free Status
While I still do not agree with animal testing, I am still working through a stash that is not entirely cruelty free.  Unfortunately I am not a gazillionaire who can afford to throw out everything I own and start from scratch.  I am also not one of those bloggers or vloggers who is going to hit people over the head with cf talk or judgement.  Many of my friends have their own belief systems.  I know I have mine.  The great part of being an individual is being able to think as one.  Therefore, I will be using products I feel are acceptable and live up to my standards.  I do not want to upset either side of this debate, all I can say is that currently I am feeling a little discouraged about how much we can really trust CF statuses, but I will be doing my best to do what I can live with.

Things I would like to try in 2013

I already mentioned a few of these, but here is a simple list:

• More Butter London Polishes
• An under eye color corrector
• A good all matte eye shadow pallette
• New skin care lines (in their entirety to see how the products work together)
• Different Conical Wands (Sultra, Nume, various brands)
• Find a set of jumbo hot rollers for my long hair
• A good navy mascara
• More layers in my hair

Goals Met in 2012 and Goals for 2013

This past year I lost 65 pounds.  I did it mostly through the Weight Watchers old point system and the rest on my own just watching what I was eating and going nearly vegan for awhile.  I have been a vegetarian for many years already.  I am hoping to lose a bit more and really tone up this year.

I also did approximately 40 blogs and a few YouTube videos in the year 2012.  I won't give an exact number, but I am hoping to do more than 40 blogs in 2013 and many more YouTube videos this year.  Possibly even some collab videos with some of my best beauty community friends!

I love you all and thank you for your support!

xoxo

Dani