Holly the Housecat · The Friday Five

The Friday 5 – Unwind With Me

What a day, what a day!

Actually, it’s more like what a week, but I like to focus on the present and I feel like the theme of today’s Friday 5 is something along the likes of “It’s 5pm somewhere at this exact moment, so time for a drink.”

(Pours a nice, tall glass of red wine.)

I should probably call this post Un-Wine with me.

(I crack myself up!)

Anyways, with that being said, I thought today I would make this post a free for all and just take the opportunity to chat with you. I know this is primarily a beauty blog, but….

#5 – I haven’t worn makeup all week!!!

Seriously, this is so unlike me. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a bare, clean face with just a little moisturizer on those days when you are just planning to Netflix and Chill (like the real Netflix and Chill, not the “wink, wink” Netflix and Chill). However, I miss those peeks in the mirror when I have a really nice eye look and think to myself, “Damn, I look good!”. It’s just been so crazy at work, that I have not had 15 minutes to myself to eat, much less play with makeup. The good news though is that I’ll be doing a slew of moisturizer and face mask reviews in the coming weeks because that’s what I have been focusing on during my forced makeup hiatus.

Can I get “Yeah” for soft, supple skin?

#4 – I won a Giveaway!

This was the highlight of my week. I like to use an app called Promota to do my signboards for my blog and they were hosting a giveaway during the holidays and I WON an Amazon Echo. I feel so super cool and trendy now that  all I have to do is scream from across the room “Alexa, what’s the weather looking like today?” instead of reaching out my hand, pressing the home button and asking Siri to tell me how hot it’s going to be. #siriisso2017 #firstworldproblems

#3 – The Ice Cream Museum

I succumbed to Instagram pressure and bought tickets to go to the Ice Cream Museum that just opened in Miami last month. I’m about $160 broker than I was last week and I’m still not sure how I feel about that, but it really does seem quirky and cool and I’m taking my kids and my MOM, so you know it’s going to be HILARIOUS! Seriously though, this museum better be freaking awesome and I better be picking rainbow sprinkles out of my butt crack for a week after basically paying that much money for photo opportunities. Once again, #firstworldproblems

#2 – Vision Boards

My friend, Yudy and I, have this tradition where we each create a vision board at the beginning of each year so that we can manifest our goals and dreams into reality. Well, we did it for the first time last year, so since this is our second go around, I’m calling it a tradition. We have plans to get together this weekend and just chat, drink wine and do a little crafting. If ever I wonder the exact moment I hit middle age, I think this is it.

#1 – Holly the Housecat (AKA: the Ca-terrorist)

Let me introduce you to my cat, Holly. On the outside she looks like the sweetest, gentlest, blue eyed cat. However, don’t be fooled, my friends. She is a Terrorist. She takes great pleasure in:

  • scratching you for no reason at all
  • tipping glasses of water on your electronic devices – to cut you off from the outside world and make you her slave.
  • Attacking my 12 year old dog, Rita, for being petted 3 more times than she was in one sitting
  • Sneakily stealing one sock from each coordinating pair right after you take them off. Forcing you to wear mismatched socks for a month. Then, when you finally decide to give in and use the mismatched socks as cleaning rags, she magically procures one from her hidden sock den and dumps it on your person during the night. It’s like the scene from The Godfather, except that instead of waking up to a bloody, decapitated horses head, you wake up to a dirty, stinky sock full of cat saliva.

I need to keep my on eye her at ALL times. #hollythehousecat #sockstealer

I hope you enjoyed this little chit chat with me. Feel free to chat right back with me in the comments below. Let’s keep the dialogue going!

Till next time, my friends!

Maritza

Holidays

Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends,

I hope that all of you have been enjoying Christmas so far. I have spending time with friends and family, but I wanted to pop in and say Merry Christmas to my blog friends and share some highlights from the past few days:

  • Getting a boatload of makeup from my friends and family, including, but not limited to, the tarteist Pro Glow Palette, Becca Apres Ski Face Palette and Mac Jacobs gel eyeliner in Black. Reviews galore coming, my friends!!!
  • Drinking Coquito, which is a Puerto Rican holiday drink made with coconuts, condensed milk, spices and rum. A LOT of rum
  • Playing Head’s Up with my family on Christmas Eve. It’s even better when you are all sauced up from Coquito.
  • Teaching my mostly American daughter how to dance Salsa. She’s comes from good Cuban stock, so it’s in her blood. I just got to wake it up from it’s slumber.
  • Feeding the stray alley cats and giving them their own little Noche Buena feast. I’m such a Cat Lady!
  • Taking a mid-day nap in front of the TV and waking up to one of the best scenes in “A Christmas Story”. Poor Ralphie finally getting a chance to meet Santa to ask from the Red Rid BB Gun and getting told by the Big Man himself that “You’ll shoot your eye, kid!” Classic!!
  • Chinese Food for dinner. Honey Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Crab Rangoons, Egg Rolls, Special Fried Rice and left over Coquito. Awww Yeaaahhh, Baby!
  • Spending time with my kids, husband, mom, aunt, brother, in-laws, nephews and nieces.

Happy Holidays, my friends!

Maritza

Holidays · The Friday Five

The Friday Five – Best Beauty Gift Ideas under $50

How can Christmas be only 17 days away? You know I’m freaking out a bit. I mean, how can I possibly fit in all the shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking, school holiday shows, Christmas parties and drinking in just 17 days?

Ha! Who am I kidding? I’m drinking a glass of wine as I type, so totally do-able under duress.

But no worries, my friends. I am here to help you cross a few items off your Christmas list for that beauty addict friend and I PROMISE I will have a little something for everyone’s budget. Did I mention that all of these are under $50?

I got you, girl!

#5 – Soap and Glory Get a Smooth on Set ($7.99)

Now this one is a multi-tasker. I can envision this one as a stocking stuffer or possibly for that co-worker who likes to show some leg and wears skirts or dresses. Let’s not forget the teacher who is on her feet all day long and uses hand sanitizer like 500 times a day. She needs some moisturizer and, trust me, this Soap and Glory Set delivers. Flake Away will practically peel any layer of dead skin from your body (in a good way) and the Righteous Butter will add much needed moisture back. Did I also mention that you will smell like peach butter cream with this combo and how can that be wrong?

#4 – Maybelline Merry Minis Eyeshadow and Mascara Set (8.99)

Ok, I know we have all been there. You totally forgot about the Secret Santa gift exchange and your already on your way to work and don’t have time to go to the mall to pick up a present for your blue eyed co-worker. No worries. Just pull into the nearest Walmart or Walgreens and make a bee-line to the Maybelline display and grab a Merry Minis Eyeshadow and Mascara set. Not only do you get one of the cute little City Mini palettes with gorgeous warm shades of peach, pink and browns, but you also get a mini Colossal Volume Mascara. Perfect to keep in your purse to touch up your eye look before heading out to happy hour after work.

#3 – L’Oréal Infallible Metallic Eyeshadow Kit ($12.99)

Let’s say you have a lot of friends, but a small budget. That’s ok. I’m a firm believer that it’s quality, not quantity and not only will you be saving money by buying this set, but you will be giving the gift of a metallic eye look for the holidays. BONUS: Split the pack apart and pick up a bag of Peppermint Hershey Kisses and make goody bags to hand out to your besties while celebrating the holidays around some drinks and appetizers at your favorite local bar. Just tie a cute bow and you are done.

#2 – Estee Lauder 3 Piece After Hours The Nude Lip Gift Set ($32)

Yes, I know Kylie Cosmetics revolutionized the world with her lip kits and now everyone is jumping on the band wagon. GOOD FOR US because Estee Lauder has a gorgeous lip gift set that includes a full size lipstick and gloss and mini lip liner. This would be just perfect for that mom friend who is still using the same stubby little Nyx lip liner she bought before she had her first kid 5 years ago. Girlfriend, it’s time to move on and it’s your duty as her friend to help her take the first steps into investing in herself once again. I know first hand how quickly those little rugrats take over your life. The set comes in nude and red, but baby steps. Go for the nude and then transition to red.

#1 – Smashbox Drawn In Decked Out Shadow and Highlight 3 Piece Set ($39)

Much like Scenario #3, where you have loads of friends and a limited budget, yet you have a rep to protect because your friends are picky. Not that I’m poo-pooing L’Oréal in any way, but maybe these friends are all like “Eww…drugstore makeup” and even though you have told them how AWESOME Milani Matte lipsticks are, they are hardcore Sephora fans and only go to Walgreens to pick up cough medicine. That’s ok. We all have friends like that. I’m sure you like them for other reasons, right? Anyways, here comes Smashbox to save the day. They have come out with a holiday set that includes 1 buttery soft highlighter trio (the gold one in the middle is divine), 1 mini warm palette and 1 mini cool tone palette all with GORGEOUS packaging that will make your snobby selective friends shriek with delight. Just break the set apart, gently toss them in a cute gift bag and hand them out to your girlfriends over brunch.

BONUS: Macy’s is offering 15% of the above mentioned set from Estee Lauder and Smashbox. Just use code FRIEND at checkout.

Any other holiday sets that are worthy of a shout out? If so, leave them in the comments below.

Till next time, my friends.

Maritza