Makeup Monday: How to De-Pot Mac Eyeshadows

It’s Makeup Monday!!  Ok so this is only the 2nd post for Makeup Monday, but hey gotta start somewhere!  I decided to show you guys how to de-pot your Mac eyeshadow singles so that you can put them into a palette.  You don’t have to use a Mac palette, but that’s what I have so that’s what I’m using today.  You can use whichever one you would like.  It’s easier to carry your shadows with you and find them when you need them when they are together in one place.  If you have a ton of them, you could organize them by color or however you want.  Mine are not in any particular order.  So let’s get started!

What you’ll need:

 – Mac single eyeshadows

– Palette of some sort (mine holds 15 pans)

– Wax paper

– Dot labels

– Magnet strips

– Pen or fine Sharpie

– Knife

– Flat iron

First you will want to open your eyeshadow and find the line along the front where the plastic part is snapped in.  I have no idea how to say that but look and you will see it.  Now (being very careful!!) put the tip of your knife on that line and twist the knife with a little bit of pressure until the plastic pan separates and pops out.  Seriously, please be careful!  You don’t need a ton of pressure, just keep twisting.  If you jam your knife in there, it could slip and you could take off a finger and how the heck are you going to finish this project with a chopped off bloody finger??

Now you will want to turn on your flat iron if you haven’t already.  Tear a small strip of wax paper, at least bigger than the plastic pan.  Put the plastic pan on top of the wax paper and put that onto the hot flat iron.  It is easiest if you hold the sides of the wax paper and transfer that to the flat iron instead of putting the paper on the flat iron and then putting the pan on.  That way there’s less chance for you to burn yourself.

Leave it on there for about a minute.  You will want the plastic on the back of the pan to melt a little bit.  The reason you are doing this is because you have to melt the glue that is holding the metal pan in there in order to pop it out.  You’ll know it’s ready when you can push the tip of your knife through a bit on the back and the metal pan starts to push out.  WARNING- the metal pan has been sitting on a hot flat iron for about a minute, so this may come as a shocker to you, but the metal will be hot!! Don’t grab it with your fingers!  You can use your knife to pop it out or use tweezers to grab it.  Then put it on a towel to let it cool off.

The plastic part won’t be very hot… but seriously, if you burn yourself on the metal pan because you say to yourself “meh.. it won’t be that hot.  Becka’s a wimp”  you will get no sympathy from me and your whiny/mad comments will be deleted immediately!  Anyways… while the pan is cooling off, you can make your labels if you so choose.  I like to keep pretty organized so I make 3 labels.  1 for the back of the palette so I can easily see what’s inside.  1 for the inside of the palette for when it is opened.  And 1 for the back of the pan in case it falls out of the palette.  That way you will know which eyeshadow it is.  

So your pan should be cooled off by now.  Put one of the labels on the back of the pan.  Then cut off a square from your magnet strip a little bit smaller than the pan.  Stick it on there too.

All you have to do now is put the pan in the spot on your palette you have chosen.  If you are using a Mac palette, you don’t need to put a magnet in the palette spot because there is already a built in magnet.  I’m not sure about other palettes so just test it out to see if you need to add a magnet.  Next add your labels to the palette.

 

Hope that was helpful!  If you have any questions, comment below and ask away!  Sorry I haven’t posted in a while… I have been crazy busy with school.  Have a good week friends 🙂

DIY: Sparkly Makeup Brush Holder

I don’t know what it is about glitter and sparkles that really gets me going!  There’s very few things that glitter wouldn’t enhance in my book.  For a while, I had been keeping my makeup brushes in a regular mason jar, but I decided I needed a little more sparkle in my life.  And so my sparkly makeup brush holder was born!  I love it!  It was very easy to make and is super duper adorable!  I filled it with whole coffee beans to keep the brushes standing up, so it smells great also!  Here’s how it all went down…

Supplies-

• Regular size mason jar
• Krylon Glitter Blast glitter spray- I used Silver Flash but use whatever color you like best
• whole coffee beans
• Glossy Mod Podge*
• sponge brush*
• newspaper or something to put down while you paint
• Sour Patch Extremes
• Ribbon of your choice

*Realized after I finished the project that I forgot to photo the Mod Podge and sponge brush… oh well!

Lay down newspapers outside or in a well ventilated area and put the jar bottom side up.  Please don’t get high while making your makeup brush holder!  

Shake the glitter spray for a couple of minutes to make sure it’s mixed well.  Hold the can about a foot away from the jar and Glitter Blast it evenly.  You’ll get a better result if you start spraying it right next to the jar and then spray back and forth over the jar, just in case the first spray comes out weird or in a blob.

Once you have evenly coated the jar, let it sit for about 30 minutes to dry.  If you have dogs who want to eat or lick everything, put it in a safe place.  Once it’s dry, Mod Podge a thin layer all over the glitter spray.  This will seal the glitter and keep it from flaking off glitter everywhere.  Be sure to use the Glossy Mod Podge instead of the Matte so the glitter will stay nice and sparkly!  It will look like white glue, but don’t worry, it will dry clear.

Now you will want to wait about 20 minutes for the Mod Podge to dry.  While you are waiting, munch on your Sour Patch Extremes.  This step is not optional.

Now that it’s dry, coat it one more time with a thin layer of Mod Podge.  This will just help it to seal better.  While you wait another 20 minutes for this coat to dry, walk around your Mansion/Apartment/Shack/House (whichever one you landed on in the 6th grade playing MASH during lunch that obviously came true, ’cause I mean why wouldn’t it?) and find more stuff to Glitter Blast.

Once it is dry, open your coffee beans and pour about half a jar’s worth in.  The coffee beans have dual purpose… 1) help the brushes stand upright, 2) smell yummy.  I love the smell of coffee beans so it is kinda like lighting a candle or something.  Every time you take a brush out or put it back in, the smell will reignite!

Now you can either leave your jar the way it is, or tie a ribbon of your choice around the lid.  I used a leopard bow ponytail holder that I found at H&M.  All that’s left is to fill the jar with your makeup brushes!  Hope you love it as much as I do!  Let me know what you think and what other stuff you decide to Glitter Blast!  🙂

SIDENOTE-  My best friend Delaney had the super cute suggestion to use black glitter and tie a red and white polka dot ribbon around the lid for a Minnie Mouse theme!  Can’t wait to try that one out!

Sunday Funday!- PIC UPDATE

I told you guys I would post pictures of the dogs at the lake when Chris and Judy sent them to me so here’s the link…

Smashed Photos

You should check them out!  I’m so happy with the way they turned out!  My favorite is the one of Tater catching frogs… that pretty much sums her up perfectly.  She is down at the lake all day long trying to catch frogs or dragonflies.  Also love the one of Sage and Sydney swimming beside each other.  They had such a good time that day. Can’t wait for more summer doggy adventures!

Chris and Judy did such a great job… be sure to check out all of their awesome photographs and order lots!   Which picture is your favorite??

Sunday Funday!

Today was a full on blast!  I had my friend Marley over and a couple of her friends to my lake.  The couple are photographers who love to take pictures of dogs.  Marley brought her Golden Retriever Sydney over to swim with my Black Lab/Golden mix Sage and Yellow Lab Tater.  I live on about 40 acres and right next to a small private lake so the dogs had plenty of room to run around and swim.

We ended up taking my boat over to the dock that is on my neighbors’ side of the lake.  Our plan was to try and get awesome pictures of the dogs launching off the dock after sticks.  Launching mostly turned into jumping or falling off the side, but we gave it our best effort.  My dog Sage could easily be the female Michael Phelps of the dog world (minus the weed scandal).  Tater is older and would rather spend her time catching frogs or dragonflies.  Sydney was still getting her sea legs but was really getting it down.   I really hope they got some good pictures.  I’ll post them if they did.

To top of the doggy themed day, I took Sage over to Marley’s house for dinner and to go to the city dog park.  Backstory on Sage… she’s about one and a half years old and up until tonight was what me and my family would refer to as a crazy dog.  I’m talkin’ bat shit crazy, hyper, nonstop running, Marley & Me dog.  (Not to be confused with my friend Marley.  I’m talking the book/movie Marley & Me.)  When we got to the dog park, she was a completely sane dog.

I was confused and slightly worried I had accidentally switched my crazy dog with another calmer, more obedient pup.  She mostly stayed next to me or would find someone to sit beside and give the sweet eyes, pet me look to.   “Oh your dog is so sweet!  She’s so well behaved”  people would say.  My mind was blown.  I was so proud of her!  Her first trip to the city and it went surprisingly well!  I had already planned out my “I’m so sorry about my crazy dog” speech.  Didn’t even have to use it.  What a success!

Sage and Sydney after a long tiring day. Sage usually needs industrial strength lights to make out her facial features. Living room lights weren’t cutting it, but they look so cute!

Marley’s parents made some pretty awesome lasagna and delicious whipped cream chocolate wafer cookie cake too.  Recipe to come!  I apologize if this post is a bit disheveled.  It was a very exhausting day.  I’m ready to hit the sack and start the week!  How was your weekend?  Do anything fun?!  Comment down below and let me know what fun things you did or fun stories about your dogs!  Have a good week friends 🙂

Weekly Money Check-Up: 6/2

I came across a pretty neat blog the other day.  It’s called My Pretty Pennies.  It started as a way for Ginna to journal her way out of student loan debt and has evolved into a lifestyle blog.  Goodness knows we can all probably benefit from watching what we spend our money on, especially me.  This might come as a surprise coming from a college student who has a studio apartment inside her parents house, but I’m not exactly rollin’ in the dough.  I don’t usually spend my money on much, but sometimes I like to splurge a little.  My Pretty Pennies does a thing called Weekly Money Check-Up, so I thought I would join in!  Here goes nothin’!

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on books!  I haven’t bought any in a while, and there were several I have been eyeing.  I’m trying to build an awesome library, and you can’t do that overnight!

2. Today I am thankful for a very special little boy in my life.  Not my child, but I couldn’t imagine loving him any more!
3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was paint.  I don’t do it as often as I would like, but it’s so much fun.  I took a studio art painting course as my last elective for a May minimester so I’ve been trying to finish up my work for that.
4. I will consider this week a success if I finish all my homework before Sunday night at midnight when it is always do and when I always turn it in.  Procrastination… need I say more?
5. I am really trying to get ahead in my school work this coming week.  I doubt it will happen because let’s face it, I’m in my last semester of college and I have procrastinated everything else.  Why change now?  But I’m going to do my best!

I’d love to hear how your week went!  What are your goals for the coming week?  Comment down below and let’s encourage each other!  🙂

Possibly The Most Fun Foodie Find EVER!

So last night I couldn’t fall asleep…super shocker of the century! Lucky for me though I came across the most fun and creative and adorbs idea!  FOODIE PENPALS!!  It was started by Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean.  What it is- a monthly penpal program for foodies to exchange really neat food finds, local yummies or homemade goodies even.  On the 5th of the month you are sent the email address of your penpal for that month (the person you receive didn’t receive you).  You have until the 15th to mail out your package and on the last day of the month you will post about the awesome things you received from your penpal!  Does that sound like a blast or what?? I don’t know about you, but I love food!  I love finding new places to eat, collecting cookbooks, trying recipes, looking for interesting local delicacies and continually searching for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie!  This seems like right up my alley!

Of course I told my foodie bestie about it ASAP… no worries that it was 1 am her time… she had to know!  She’s a diehard food lover as well, so I knew she would appreciate such a find.  You can find her at Foodie Uncensored.

Said foodie bestie

I am so excited to shop for my first Foodie Penpal this month!  I’ve already been racking my brain, thinking of all the package possibilities I can whip up for her or him… Collins Street Bakery cinnamon bread, Paradise Bakery humongo chocolate chip cookies, Bodacious BBQ sauce, Talk O’ Texas Crisp Okra Pickles (don’t knock ‘em ‘til you try ‘em!), and the list goes on! This will be so fun 🙂  I don’t know what will be more fun though… putting together a package or checking the mail everyday to receive mine.  It will be like a surprise Christmas present!

If you want to get in on the action this month, you have to submit your info by June 4th since she sends out the pairings June 5th.  So hurry before you miss out!!  Just curious fellow food lovaaasss… sweet or salty?  I prefer sweet!  Enjoy your weekend!  🙂

Perfectly Good Airplane You Say?

I absolutely love a good time and an adrenaline pumping, action packed, sweat-induced adventure.  For my 18th birthday (let’s pretend that was only a couple of years ago), I didn’t want to have a big birthday bash or do anything a seemingly normal teenage girl might want to do.  I was going to go skydiving!

I grew up going to Six Flags Over Texas, riding thrill rides and looking forward to summer to get my adrenaline fix.  Skydiving seemed like the ultimate and I was going to do it.  Trust me, my parents were not happy campers.  My dad refused to go at first and only in the last 15 minutes before takeoff did I see him flying down the dirt road of the small town airport to come watch. The craziest part of it all was that I wasn’t scared or nervous too much about the whole jumping from a perfectly good airplane part, I was nervous about the airplane itself.  I had never been on one!

It was pretty funny afterwards to be able to tell people that I had taken off in an airplane but never landed in one!  I had the time of my life.  I would go skydiving every single day, twice a day if I could.  I have a video of the whole thing but it still hasn’t made it onto DVD form.  Remember VHS?  Also remember how sometimes the tape would come out and you would have to take a pencil and stick it in that little hole to wind it back up in there and hope the tape didn’t get too wrinkled and if it did you had to use that little button on the remote or under a hidden flap on the VCR to adjust the static?  I digress.

Skydiving kick started my Life To Do List (some people call them Bucket Lists).  I’m a real big fan of dreaming big, writing down the things that you want to do in life or places you want to go, and just getting out there and goin‘ for it!  So far I have bungee jumped, taken a random trip across the country with no plans, gone to Alaska and Hawaii, grown my hair out to donate, made a senbazuru for my Japanese grandma (1000 folded origami cranes), and so on.  Not all of it is dangerous or glamorous, some things are just to test my limits or push myself in some way.  I’m hoping to do more things very soon and can’t wait to share them with you!  If you are curious about all of the things on my list and want to see a few pics of some of the things I’ve already done, you can check it out on the page up top!  I’m always adding new things and my list is constantly changing.  I’d love to hear about your adventures!  What is the absolute one thing you want to do before you die?

SIDE NOTE- I’ve decided that to celebrate my college graduation in August, I’m going to jump again!  Stay tuned! 🙂

Hey buddy! Welcome!!

Have you ever sat down to try and write the most amazing blog intro known to mankind?  It’s really hard!  I was going to say something very witty and adorable right off the bat, and then I thought maybe open with a quote… they always say that’s a good idea right?  Or maybe start off with something very bold like “You are about to read the last blog you will ever want to read again.”  But I mean honestly, there’s some great blogs out there, and what if my blog ends up sucking.  I doubt it will though ‘cause I feel like I have some pretty interesting stuff to talk about, but still.  That being said, here are some of those interesting things… my adventures and travels, checking stuff off of my “Life To Do List” (more on that later), gossiping about the funniest and best TV shows on right now (don’t worry I will warn you if there needs to be a spoiler alert), homages to my favorite people on the planet, books I am reading and whether you should be reading them too, recipes you should try, things I think you need to get in your car right now to go buy because they are that awesome, and just general life happenings.  I’ve seen some bloggers who blog their OOTD (outfit of the day), but there’s only so many OOTD’s I could do of me in t-shirts and shorts before you lose interest, or I out myself as very unfashionable.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me a Vogue magazine, and I know exactly what my sophisticated, perfect-bodied self would wear if I had all the money in the world.  But for now, I will stick with jeans and a t-shirt and will not be sharing my OOTD.  I’ll also teach you how to do some neat DIY projects on occasion.  I’m very happy you are here.  I really and truly mean that.  This will be good times, and I’m looking forward to bloggin’ it up with you!