Goal (Setting) Orientation--Two Basic Goals

Sparky's Goal is to break a sleeping world record....he may succeed!

Since quite a bit of the job I'm learning at the Aveda Institute is about self-marketing and working well as an individual, it's no surprise that today we were discussing goals.

When I think of people setting goals, I first think about how I set myself up for disappointment because inevitably I focus on whether or not the goal is done rather than getting done. It's a bad mind-set to say the least, but I did start thinking about things that I assume are tasks I want to get done. If I start thinking about these little things as goals instead, my batting average of completing "goals" will go way up, and thus, I will think more highly of goal setting and achieving.

To start, some really basic goals: 1) graduate from Aveda with above average sales numbers, and 2) organize my makeup obsession into a marketable skill. Now, none of these two things have huge outside-reliant factors (for example, I didn't say "and get a job" or "and do makeup for a wedding party") because I'm trying to show that goals I set myself that can be completed by myself are totally do-able. So I have to do my work and do it well, and I have to organize my collection into useable and unusable (on guests at least) products and package them to be portable for location use--that's all stuff I can do...more importantly, it's all stuff that I will be doing whether it's a goal or a want. That is how you twist psychology to your advantage, my makeup-obsessed friends, semantics!

Obviously, there are other goals that take more time to work towards and things that can't all be done in one fell swoop (such as return to roughly one post per day on this blog), so for just now, I'm sticking with basics and positive thinking.

How am I going to achieve these goals, you ask? Well....

Lotus Lip Gloss in Candy and a crazy color mood!

$13.00 for 0.25 oz (0.05 more than average :P)

I hesitate to officially define this gloss as a mixed bag because the things I like about it definitely out-way the bad. First, I love it's peppy, young, fresh color, and since it's a gloss, it goes oh-so-well with that vibe. Second, it is beautifully moisturizing and makes my lips feel plump and hydrated after the whole of it has worn off.

Lotus Certified Organic Lip Gloss in Candy

So, now the bits that will be turn offs for others.

Mask of the Month: Kirkland Signature by Borghese Age-Defying Skin Renewal Mask

($16.00 for 3 oz mask and 6.7 oz cleanser, not shown) 

*price may vary by location, etc.

This is my FAVORITE MASK EVER. My face feels rejuvenated, clean, smooth, matte, and just plain amazing when I use this, and by that I mean immediately after and for the several months I've been using this. I'm sure that I will mention this many times, but I have never had a skin care system work this well for me ever...and in such a short time.

Another nice thing to mention is that for the price you are getting two more-than-full-size products that, at least personally, work fantastically. The mask smells sugary-sweet with a hint of citrus, which is a nice sort of aromatherapy to have while cleaning and freshening your skin. My face does not feel stripped when I remove this, AND more importantly, this is easy to remove and not gritty (huge pet-peeve for masks).

Is this how you wear blue eyeshadow? Lotus Deluxe Eye Shadow Palette

When I woke up this morning my hair looked like this--

So I went on over to the Aveda Institute for men's cut model day, and now my hair looks like this--

Wearing Lotus Deluxe Palette, e.l.f. Midnight liner, Chanel mascara, Bobbi Brown blush, e.l.f. Blossom Gloss, Dior Brow Styler, and LORAC foundation

--which is a bit of a leap, I'm sure, but it just felt right. Because my cat thinks so, too, obviously...

Sparky, clearly in total approval of my new do...yes?

 So HAPPY PIXI CUT DAY! And on to beauty endeavors!

Part Five for Build*A*Look #1: Backlit Beauty

Lotus Bio-Mineral Pressed Eyeshadow in Deluxe Palette ($20.00 for 0.28 oz/8g)

I've heard over and over again that you shouldn't wear blue eyeshadow, that it's tacky, that it's just a no-go area, but that has always struck me as a bit weird considering how many many shades of blue you can actually get at the drugstore and at high-high end retailers. To me, it's creativity, and you don't put color limits on creativity--that's the clear no-go area.

In any case, there is a very intriguing shade of blue in this palette which I have put on before now and it didn't look right, plain and simple. I thought this proved the adage, but I was on a rebellious streak with my hair today and gave it another go. I'm really impressed with the result (above in the new hair shot). I love the color itself but really wanted that deep color payoff that's just like the pan.

Lotus Deluxe Eye Shadow Palette with flash

In short, you don't get that payoff; you just really don't even when you put a cream base on and stick it in there heavily. A sad sad truth indeed though it's not the end of this palette. The four colors are a golden, shimmery beige great for all over or a brow bone highlight, a bronze-copper shimmering brown that just radiates light, a teal-blue with fantastic shimmer, and a medium matte grey. I am actually most excited about the grey because I love me some mattes!

GIVEAWAY - Your Chance to Win $60+ Worth of Lotus Certified Organic Makeup

GIVEAWAY now Closed!!!

Bio-Mineral Cream-to-Powder Blush in Rose ($20)
Certified Organic Volumizing Mascara in Black ($18)
Certified Organic Moisturizing Lip Stick in Roseberry ($15)
Certified Organic Moisturizing Lip Gloss in Clear ($13)

If you want to see more of the colors for these products, see my haul photos here.

Aveda Petal Essence Eye Definer in 910 Sepia

Part Five for Build*A*Look #1: Backlit Beauty

$14.00 for 0.04 oz

Sepia is a medium grey-brown eyeliner that gives just a hint of thicker lashes to the upper lash line and slight definition to the lower lashes. This is a color particularly suited for light to fair skin tones as anyone with medium or darker skin will find it just doesn't show up at all. The formula, however, is worth a look.

Aveda Petal Essence Eye Definer in 910 Sepia

Aveda is a plant-based brand that is going to be in general more natural than most things you'll find on the market today. It's not organic, but I put it in that category because the idea behind the brand is to make products as naturally as possible but still have them be effective. I'm in love with the concept which is why I share that information when I can. That feels as though the whole industry should be just like that, but it's really not. Anyway, the liner is not as creamy as say the Pixi Endless liners I have (and used today), but the color payoff is nice and the application smooth. It's definitely a pencil and not a pencil posing as a liquid liner-type either. Just a pencil, done well with better-for-the-planet ingredients.

That just makes me happy.

I Just Wanna Curl Up and Go To Sleep!

Snowy's got the right idea! Don't you just hate when your pets get to enjoy the day more than you?! I'm so jealous when I come home and see that my cats have just been snuggled up warm and cozy while I've been sloshing and slipping through rain, snow, and ice. Grrrr...and awwwww, cute!

Dior DiorShow Brow Styler in Universal Brown--Universally Friggin' Awesome

Part Four for Build*A*Look #1: Backlit Beauty
This item's review was followed up with these comments!

$28.00 for ...4-5 months of brows...

I've had some trouble accepting the fact that even though I am in school to be a beauty professional that I am not allowed to shave or pluck until we learn waxing (because we need to have something to wax on each other). This, in general, makes me feel...not so beautiful and makes getting ready in the morning even more of a fight to cover up the unwanted and define the good. Since my eyebrows are getting a bit out of control, and frankly out of shape, DiorShow Brow Styler is my super savior for what could be the defining feature on my face (depending on opinion).

Brows defined by DiorShow Brow Styler in Universal Brown

Lotus Certified Organic Bio-Mineral Cream-to-Powder Blush in Apricot

Part Three for Build*A*Look #1: Backlit Beauty

$20.00 for 5g/0.18oz

I've been meaning to review at least one of the Lotus products I received since the second the box arrived on my porch, but alas time to do so has alluded me. Now, I'm proud to say I've tested it pretty thoroughly and this blush is DA-BOMB! I would also never say this lightly because I'm usually pretty picky, however, without prompt to review it, I've been reaching for this Apricot blush (or the Plum) every single day since I first tested it out.

Seen in the pic above is the e.l.f. Foundation Brush I use to apply it with. Since it is a cream-to-powder formula, I prefer using a brush meant for cream products so the blending is easier. If I used a powder blush brush for this, I'm sure it would look fine but be much harder to get the blending just right.

Lotus Bio-Mineral Cream-to-Powder Blush in Apricot

Upon first swirl through, the product comes up a bit more like very pressed powder, i.e. you need to sort of get the product started with a bit of work. Thus, more swirling and finally a flush of color could be seen at the tip of my brush. On the hairs, it looks like powder, and put to my cheek it feels like powder, but this glides in like nothing I've ever seen. It's just not quite cream or powder but yet both--glory, praise Makeup!

Dior DiorSkin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer in 001 Ivory

Part Two for Build*A*Look #1: Backlit Beauty

$29.00 for 0.33 oz

Alrighty-then! As a part of my continued commitment to getting the most out of my education, I have promised myself to get an A) better night's sleep, B) a longer night's sleep, and in order to do that C) go to bed earlier. Two in the morning is not a good time to try for 6-8 hours of sleep when class starts at 9am, is it? Yeah, I'm noticing that too... But this little life-saver tube has helped me look rested and ready, even when I'm not.

DiorSkin Nude is part of the family of very natural, radiance enhancing (or revealing) products from the powerhouse designer brand, of which I've previously reviewed a cream-to-powder foundation and a liquid foundation. This concealer is not what I would call full coverage because I can still see a smidge of darker color beneath my eyes and some bright red spots show up as very muted pink under this. In reality, it's medium to full coverage, meaning it could be built much heavier than I personally do my makeup; however, it's possible.

DiorSkin Nude Concealer (enough for my whole face)

The formula is creamy, so I have great success and ease with blending but the coverage gets thinner that way. I think I would need much more practice to layer for absolute coverage, and I don't want to do such precision work everyday. DiorSkin Nude Concealer never has a heavy feeling or gets cakey on me and wears a long time with setting powder. I do mess with my face a lot during the day and notice that I looks like my concealer is gone at day's end, but again, I don't use much and only in one, maybe two thin layers.