Products On My Radar

   I absolutely love makeup (which you will soon find out if you don't know this already) I believe it is an art form and truly does take a talent to perfect. It's most certainly not something people are just naturally good at. There are tips and tricks to mastering the wing flick and brow arch, yes, you know exactly what I'm talking about. These are some products that I've had my eye on and have heard nothing but good reviews. Ordered by type, I hope you enjoy!

What will you be picking up next time at you're at your favorite beauty store?

The ABH Glow Kit. Not only do you have two different kits to pick from, you have four different highlights available for your liking! Anastasia never disappoints with her products.

BECCA Cosmetics Highlighter in Opal & Moonstone! I have Champagne Pop, now I'm hungry for the rest of them! So creamy and bright, I can't get enough. 

These serum foundations are perfect for the Florida weather. It's light coverage and wakens up the skin. Stila and Becca just came out with Aqua Glow foundations that people are raving about.

For contouring, I've been excited about Anastasia coming out with a Fair Cream Contour Palette because when you have my skintone, you aren't tan enough for her "Light" palette

NYX also came out with a highlight/contour stick that seems extremely user friendly and their color options are extended and cover a large range of skintones. The product seems great for beginners or for easy contour on the go!

Ooooo, I've got these blushes on my mind. Go to Youtube, type in "Makeup Geek Blush Swatch and Review" and fall in love, I know you will.



There has been and still is only one eyeshadow that I've been DYING to have and that's the Makeup Geek Foiled Eyeshadows, I have had a small obsession of these ever since I first heard of them so maybe one day I'll be okay with forking up the $175!

 & For lips, you'll have to check back in on Thursday! SO many, some will come with reviews because I couldn't help myself!

XO - D

Verbs

"'I love you' is a sentence because love is a verb." 

Love is often said to be a word that is hard to define. 

The Dictionary says:

 an intense feeling of deep affection.

Urban Dictionary Says:

nature's way of tricking people into reproducing.

My Comp Teacher Says:

Love is a verb, love is doing.

   Out of these definitions, I'd say my professor is onto something. I don't feel loved when my Mom says "I love you", I feel loved when she sits down with me and teaches me how to do my taxes, for the second time, after she's had a really long day and would rather be drinking coffee. I don't feel loved when my Dad says "I love you," I feel loved when he rotates my tires and installs my new thermostat on his only day off and doesn't make me feel like a burden. I don't feel loved when Michael says "I love you," I feel loved when he sits in a doctor's waiting room with me for two hours when he's hangry and would rather be anywhere else, doing anything else. 

    If there's a cliche that will always scream truth, it's "Actions speak louder than words." People will say I love you and not mean it, people will say it and mean it by their own personal definition, people will say it and say it and say it, over and over people will tell you they love you. But when someone takes their time to do something where there's nothing beneficial waiting for them at the finish line, that's love. Because love is a verb and when someone loves you, they're doing it every single day. 

Don't wait to hear the words I love you, just watch. 

XO - D 

Valentine's Day

When You See Pink, Red and Hearts all over every store you walk in

And you start to realize how alone you feel...specifically on this day

...But you remember you're a boss ass b*tch that can handle just ONE day about love

Especially when your friends come through and make plans

So, whether you're scowling as teddy bears are handed out

Or feeling butterflies in your stomach

Ask someone to be your Valentine

and enjoy some chocolate 

With your someone special

Or your ride or die friends 

and have a

XO - D

At What Cost?

Let me start by saying that I have found and have the pleasure of being so close with someone that makes my life easier and happier. I have a friend that I know will never leave my side; she's thoughtful, sweet, honest and loyal. She keeps me grounded, yet puts me on a pedestal. I admire her for everything she is and everything she's striving to be.

She's my best friend. But she wasn't my first best friend..or my second..or my third. People will reiterate to you that you'll go through friends and it's okay. That you'll have people come and go, and again, it's okay. Friends are meant to be in your life for change that you need a hand to hold and someone to eat a ton of cookie dough with. But just because someone is your closest friend for a certain amount of time, doesn't mean they always will be. I have gone through A LOT of friends and I've accumulated a short list that saves me some heart ache and exhaustion. Rules and simple factors that make, what I like to call the friendship process, a whole lot easier. 

1. Keeping a friendship shouldn't be hard work, but keeping a friendship does require some work. If you're doing all the work, stop working so damn hard.

2. If you're acting as their taxi, forever listening ear or DD, walk away. Nothing is worse than being the "disposable friend."

3. If all you do when together is talk about them, how great they're doing or even better, how much better they're doing than you. Please move to your nearest exit.

4. If they shut down or look uninterested when you need a listening ear. You should be able to call and receive help in a time of need.

5. If you simply just don't have anything in common. You go out all the time, I stay in. That doesn't make you out of control and that doesn't make me boring. It just makes us different. 

And last but not least 

6. Judgement free zone or leave. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Having friends isn't hard, finding quality people to be friends with is. It's not in the numbers that you'll be associated with, it's the character of those people that you will be. Don't put yourself in friend groups that make you feel less than, that you have to impress or entertain. And remember, keeping a good friend requires being one. 

XO - D

This Could Go 3 Ways

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

          Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate the love you feel for someone important in your life. If you're anything like me, days like Valentine's Day are cherished. Simply because you can never tell someone too many times how important they are to you. But how could one express the amount of love you have for someone, you ask? Good question. As the day branded with chocolates, teddy bears and fancy dinners - you can get lost in it all and what the day is "supposed to be." Here are 3 different ways you can spend your Valentine's Day with all of the cliches AND romance.

1. Reenact Your First Date

 Nothing says cheesy and warm feelings like going to the place you first went to as an item together. You can talk about how you two felt on the date and bring back all of the butterflies and sparks. Whether you went to dinner, a movie, a park or out to coffee, it's guaranteed to be romantic reminiscing on how it all started.

   2. Stay In

 What's more intimate than a night in for two? Grab some of your favorite cheesy movies, pick up dinner makings and dessert and you're good to go. Nothing beats cooking side by side as he flips the steaks and you dip the strawberries in melted chocolate. Mutually don't enjoy rom-coms? Watch some comedies you've both been dying to see. And for a little extra fun, buy some Valentine's Day themed pajamas! You'll have good food and the best company.

   3.  Go All Out

 If nothing screams romantic like getting decked out and going somewhere you would never go dressed in anything less than a cocktail dress and sky high heels then girl, go for it. There's no shame in enjoying the cliches and letting a huge bouquet of roses be how you feel loved. Happily eat that heart of chocolates and swipe on some red lipstick. Leave your mark on him and feel like the goddess you are in your nicest LBD.

Overall, enjoy your Valentine's Day and smooch who makes you happy. Whether it's your cat or your boyfriend, make the most of it and celebrate love. It does make the world go round. 

XO - D

Pinterest: My DIY Valentine

Hello my Valentine's Day and DIY Lovers! Valentine's Day is a day we can join two things that are the cat's meow: Love & Crafts. 

This list of DIY Valentine's Day crafts is going to be rated quick and easy (1) - a lot of work (5). But all are guaranteed to be just as fabulous and cheesy as expected. Enjoy! 

Level Of Difficulty: 1

Follow The Recipe here!

Level Of Difficulty: 2

Put together a vase full of little candies, glue scratch offs on sticks and print or draw out the words and ta-da! You have a lotto man bouquet!

Level Of Difficulty: 3

Get a flip books and draw/doodle A-Z and start each sentence with that letter! Tell 'em why you love 'em!

Level Of Difficulty: 4

Here's how to make a Sensual Valentine

Level Of Difficulty: 5

Follow the instructions for your guitar-playing man here!

New Name!

Hi everyone! So I changed my domain name and I did not see this as anything but a positive until I realized I was no longer getting any views...
So my name is back to xobyd.blogspot.com BUT the title of my blog is going to be Subtly Prim! Once I start making videos, I am thinking I'll make those under XO by D as well. Who knows, I guess we will all see when the time comes.

I'm going to have new posts up for the entire month of February! Exciting I know! I'm finally giving you a schedule!

Anyway, this is just a brief update of me saying I messed up and I fixed it by changing my name back. I did not delete my blog. Thank you for everyone that asked out of concern, next time I do anything to change my blog I will be sure to give everyone a heads up first. :)

XO - D