Bath and Body Works in the FallTime

When I went into Bath and Body Works a week or so ago, I was kinda bummed. I didn't find anything that appealed to my nose and that I couldn't leave the store without. I think I was bitter about the Cinnamon Sugared Donut fiasco. They aren't carrying that candle this year. That's ok I guess. But I was not having it last week.

So then I went back into Bath and Body Works a couple days ago and this time, I took my time. I tend to read the candle name and if it doesn't have any variation of a baked good on it, I won't even smell it. I smelled all of the Pumpkin candles and was expecting to leave with Pumpkin Pecan Waffles, or Pumpkin Cupcake, or Blueberry Pumpkin Patch. That last one was really interesting. It smelled like a fully ripened blueberry on the vine (do blueberries grow on a vine?). They oddly pin pointed what a blueberry would smell like on the brink of crisp weather when they are fully ripened and about to die. Just go give it a sniff next time and you will know what I mean.

 Cider Lane

Then, I smelled Cider Lane. I hope they have a Wallflower in this scent because I want to put it in my kitchen and let it live there forever. It smells just like caramel apples. Forget the description. You can smell the top note of apple cider right off the bat. But then, you get that bottom note of the sweet, buttery caramel. I was so intrigued at that last second that I picked it back up to give it a whiff again. And when you burn it? The caramel is just as prevalent as the apple cider scent. Amazing. Must try. I think it is the sweetest candle this year.

"As sweet as a trip to the local apple orchard each year, a delicious fall blend of mulled cider, warm caramel and sweet cinnamon."

 Roasted Pumpkin Butter:

The name sounds like it wouldn't be the most sweetest scent of the bunch, but it is sweet and also has that buttery note in there which was exactly what I was looking for. It smells like a sweet cinnamon pumpkin butter. Now I want to duplicate this in the form of a muffin. The cinnamon and sweetness is in there but it smells more butter and pumpkin than anything. It doesn't have as high of a scent throw as Cider Lane but it does fill up the living/dining room. 

"Savor the delicious fragrance of a fall treat from the local pumpkin patch-whipped pumpkin, toasted cinnamon and creamy vanilla butter."

 Blackberry Spice

I had a survey on my receipt and if I filled it out, I got $10 off of $30! I always have a survey it seems, I just didn't know about them before until a cashier told me one time. Take a look next time at your receipt because those never expire. Anyhow, I needed something for a few more bucks. I really wanted to try maybe the coffee candle or something but since they were out, I obviously couldn't. Plus the girl raved about this one so I decided to try it out. I personally liked the Blueberry Pumpkin Patch but they didn't have a baby candle in that fragrance. Le sigh. This one is good though.

"Bring home the perfect blend of sweetness & spice - fresh picked berries, crushed cloves, cinnamon bark and vanilla cream."

I Love S'mores Pocket Bac. I have my I Love Cinnamon Buns Pocket Bac too. I Love the hand sanitizers that smell like food. They are so cool! Remember the Peanut Butter and Jelly one or the Chocolate Chip Cookie one? I Love S'mores just smells like vanilla buttercream or something.

I never do get a chance to buy the hand soaps and I have always wanted one. So I settled on Pumpkin Caramel Latte. It doesn't actually smell like the candle. It smells really good though. Like buttery.... or creamy. I can't really pin point it to be honest. Wash your hands with it one day at the store and you will get it.

I already want to go back and buy more stuff.  I have a whole list. It's a ridiculous obsession.

Did you guys buy anything from the fall line from Bath and Body Works?

xoxo
Erica

Whats in my Ipsy Bag || Sept

I love Ipsy bags. I say this every month, but I like them better than Birchbox for the most part because I get mainly makeup. But I kind of miss the Birchbox skin care stuff. And I also miss racking up points to buy stuff with them. Birchbox has more high end stuff, most of which is deluxe sized samples. Ipsy is all full sized drug store stuff, mainly.

This month, I must say, wasn't the very best month. In fact it was my least favorite bag out of the 4 I have purchased. There are some really good points and some bad points...

It's So Big:

Elizabeth Mott

This mascara is the best thing. It is officially one of my favorite mascara's. I think I may even like it better than my holy grail Mally's Volumizing Mascara. I have been using the later all year thanks to this kit I bought last Christmas. Just like Mally's Volumizing Mascara, It's So Big knows how to volumize and lengthen really well. I can use two coats and it won't clump and my lashes will still look full and long. MVM can get a little clumpy after the second coat. Right when I pulled the wand out of the tube, I noticed the consistency of It's So Big. It was really, really creamy. Unlike anything I have ever tried. Another point I want to make is that it can really hold a curl unlike anything I have tried. At the end of the day when it was time to take off my makeup, I noticed that my lashes were still curled. Almost like I applied my makeup an hour before. This stuff is bomb.

Eyeshadow in Purple

NYX

NYX is one of my favorite brands for lipstick but I have never tried any of their eyeshadows, surprisingly. This is a nice semi-shimmery pinkish purple eyeshadow called "Purple". I have been liking using this on the bottom lash line the past few days and I even used it in my inner corner last night for a quick pop over my eyeshadow that was already there. It's not the most pigmented but it isn't the worst either.

Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian

Starlooks

I have tried the Starlooks lip liner and I really like it. This eyeliner is more than what I thought it would be. It is pigmented and goes onto the inner rim smoothly. It isn't the blackest black or anything. What I don't like about it is that it seems to travel underneath my eyes and makes me look a little raccoon-y.

 

Taupe Brow Pencil

Victoria Jackson

I love this the most for the name. My last name is Jackson, after all. I have been using it and liking it. I find it is a really good color for my brows being that I am a very light blonde. Use a very light hand with it! You will see in the swatch how pigmented it is. That isn't a good thing with an eye brow pencil. I don't want to look like I drew my eyebrows on with a sharpie.

Fantabulous Lipstick in Honeycrisp

J. Cat

When I first opened it, I thought it could have been a concealer. It's not, it's totally a lipstick. I do love my nude colors and with a light hand and a little blotting after application, it can look nice. Even with someone with such light skin like me. As for the formula, it is nice. Doesn't dry out my lips but also isn't really the most creamy lipstick. It certainly isn't my first pick in nudes. My perfect nude is Pop Beauty's Rose Romance Lip Crayon.

Here's the swatches. 

Left to right:  Lipstick, Eyeshadow, Brow Pencil, Eyeliner

Here's a very yellow FOTD but it's all I got. Why didn't I stand in front of the window like usual? I thought the first picture was way cuter but this isn't about me! It's about that mascara. The second photo shows it a little better. I am also wearing the brow pencil, lipstick, eye liner, and purple eyeshadow on my lower lash line.

So obviously this wasn't the best of the Ipsy bag's. But I absolutely loved It's So Big. You guy's gotta try it. 

What was your favorite thing from this month's Ipsy bag?

xoxo

Erica

A House Tour and a Ton of Simple DIY's and Super Quick Tip's

As you all know I moved and I have been shopping, DIYing and decorating like crazy! Here, I am going to give you a tour of my living room (in the video) and my room (through photos). 

In the video, while I am showing my living room, I am taking you around and showing you all of the awesome deals I got on everything. I try not to buy expensive things. I also show you the makeup I got at Ulta and Lauren Conrad shoes I bought at Kohl's. They were around $70-something and I bought them for under $20! This was a really fun day and I hope you enjoy it too!

My room is the big room up in the attic. As you can tell, I don't have high ceilings. The shape of my room is in the form of what a roof looks like. I kinda like it like that. I think it adds character. 

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And Then There Was Light:

This is my bed where I sleep at night. I got the comforter for Christmas and even though it wouldn't be my first pick, it is really comfy and looks cute. I bought my actual bed in high school and never did buy a head board to go with it. So, I made my own head board with stringy lights I bought at 5+Below. I love the light it gives off, making it look dreamy. I also hate having the big light on in any room, especially my bedroom, and try to avoid it at all costs. These type of lights are perfect for me. They are the only lights I keep on in my room. I have a different style of stringy lights in my kitchen that are colorful. They're adorable. And it's so simple. 

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Jazz Up An End Table:

My end tables were my first decor venture in this house. The end tables you are seeing were from my mom's house. She kindly gave them to me. Thanks Mom! I especially like how this one has that shelf to put stuff on. I have a notebook underneath a decorative box I got from Target in the $1 section. I throw my junk in there: reading light, a pen, makeup remover, Pocket Bac, etc. It's great because it catches junk but also looks cute. Stylish and purpose-serving. The drawer isn't a drawer. It's actually a filing cabinet. I want to use it but haven't yet. The last thing I want to do is start throwing stuff in there without any plan, place, rhyme or reason. That is how clutter starts and that is how you lose things.

Cheap DIY:

On top of the end table's, I have my bouquet's I made for $6 a piece from Dollar Tree. You can buy different fake flowers there. Be creative and put together your own flower arrangement! I think it adds a special touch. Nobody else is going to have that exact bouquet. To help the flower's stand up, you can add decorative rocks. They had a few different colors at Dollar Tree. I preferred the clear non-colored one's. They also have fake water at Pat Catan's for around $10, but I like to have the option of changing out the flowers. That glass vase is also from Dollar Tree. To me, it looks classy and stylish but I didn't have to spend a bunch of money and I also got to create something.

Instead of hanging up my wall art (bought at Ikea years ago) and make more holes in the wall, I decided to simply set them on the end tables. I think it looks cute! They are a little out dated to me so I wanna do some kind of DIY with them but for now, they look cute and totally go with the purple floral print on the comforter. I also have some silver photo frame's to go with my cool toned room, and some cute tea light holder's I bought at 5+Below for $1 a piece. They are on sale right now 2 for $1!

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Work With What You Got

My beauty dresser, as I never called it but-needed-some-type-of-name-to-differentiate-it-from-the-other-dresser, dresser. It was a surprise to me that the dresser which is darker wood went so well up against the cool toned off-purple walls. I quite like it. I made the nail polish rack myself. I bought the T-Bars at Pat Catan's {$4 and $10}. The bucket serves as another place to throw junk instead of having it laying out. My body spray's and lotions are sitting on an old candle tray I had lying around. Another Tip: Things that used to be used for one thing, could be used for something else completely another time around. I love that tip! Give something a new life.

The shelf I hung up has all the rest of my nail stuff. Manicure scissors, emory boards, that kind of stuff. I used an old candle jar from the small candle's from Bath and Body Works to store that stuff in. Told you! Give thing's a new life. And it even looks cute. Boom.

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T.V. Dresser DIY

This is another piece of furniture from my mom's house. This actually matched my "beauty" dresser but I decided to paint it to go with the cool toned theme that is my room. I wanted an off white base with silver accented drawers and that is exactly what I got. It looked cute outside when I painted it but I am un-sure of it at this point. I feel like it may clash with itself and even then may clash with the walls. It works for now! Maybe it will be cuter when I get some drawer knobs on there. Whoops. Haven't got around to it yet. The Off White Color I used is a spray paint from Krylon called Ivory. I bought it at Wal-Mart for like $5 a piece. I used the same color base coat from the same brand. It was only $1 extra. That equaled 5 cans total, including the base coat. I have used a top coat before when spray painting furniture and found it served no purpose in the long run so I didn't use one this time around.

For the drawers, I used a metallic spray paint called Silver from the Metallic Collection by Krylon. It was also around $5 and I only used 1 can of this and even have some left over. This really sparkled outside in the day light and I am in love with this color/finish. It looks a little more toned down in the house. It does however reflect objects in my room, picking up those colors making it cohesive with the whole room. I am just not sure if it goes well with Ivory which is the color of the dresser itself. I used 3 coats for the drawers.

About Spray Painting:

I recommend spray painting furniture any day! Pick a spring or fall day where it is neither too humid or cold. It takes 10 minutes or less to do 1 coat and it takes 10 minutes for each coat to dry. Spray painting is goof proof. After the first coat you might be wishing you haven't even started it. It will look like you tried to tag up your piece of furniture but after that last coat, it looks even and opaque.

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 The Closet:

I used to organize my clothes from tank tops all the way to hoodies and then assort them by color. Since there is no door, I wanted it to look a little more aesthetically pleasing so I went with every single piece being organized by the colors of the rainbow. ROY G BIV. It's harder to find things this way so I don't know if it is going to stay like this, but for now it works.

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The Walls:

 I really wanted to go with a neutral toned silver. I went for a paint called Simple Shimmer from the Metallics line from Valspar. I bought it at Lowe's. It is a pretty penny- literally. {metallic humor} With the special paint sponge/brush, base color, and the actual paint it cost me around $100. If I could do it again, I would have went with something else. You can kind of see the strokes from the paint roller too. For $100, it just isnt worth it. They had paint similar to this from Martha Stewart at Home Depot. If your dead set on a metallic or a shimmery finish, look to Home Depot. The wall directly behind me in this photo {the wall with the closet and beauty dresser} was only painted with the special base coat paint.  After doing this wall, I kind of liked the way the base color looked and it was way less work. Luckily, we still have some left of each paint can so I need to come up with another project to play around with. You better believe I am not letting it go to waste!

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Computer Desk:

I painted this with the same method as my T.V. dresser. Only when I painted this, I used a top coat and sanded the whole entire thing. Seriously, an unfruitful venture in the worst way. This spray paint is by Krylon and the color is called Gum Drop. I used 4 cans of this but I think I could have went with less. I got a little paint happy lets just say. I painted this a couple years ago and I am not sure I would have chose this exact color to go with this room but I do actually think it work. In fact, I like it better than the T.V. dresser in this room which was thought out for this room exactly. Going with your gut isn't always the best option.

By the way, those pink drawers are from Target. I bought that for like $12 and they are also on sale right now for even cheaper. The drawers hold both my makeup and office supplies. Call me crazy but it works for me. 

That is rule #1. 
Find what works best for you. That's the best piece of advice I could ever give yah!

Writing all of this out made me think that it may have been better in a video form. I dunno. Whatever. 

So let me know what you think!

What do these room's need more of?

How awesome is that mirror and those shoes?! 

thank you for reading!
xoxo
Erica 

August Favorites

Geez, this whole project took a while. The fact that it's almost 20 minutes long is hilarious considering I didn't even get to talk about every thing I wanted to. But, I do think you all will like this mini series I got goin' on. These videos are so me. I always think its fun to see a blogger convert into a vlogger. You think you know someone, but then you actually get to know them thru videos. Quirks, Voice, Mannerisms, whatever.

Even if you could care less about me, the stuff I am talking about is obviously awesome. I talk about some beauty products and also some spiritual type of stuff. The things I do to keep myself in check, be happy, and live a better life. All that stuff is in Part 2.

Tweet: @MeetMissJackson
Instagram: @MeetMissJackson
Pinterest

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Products Mentioned:
♥ Bath and Body Works Gelato 3 Wick Candle
♥ OPI Nail envy for Sensitive and Peeling Nails
♥ Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in Berry Juicy
♥ Paul Mitchell Twirl Around Crunch Free Curl Definer
♥ Milani Brow Fix Brow Kit
♥ Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter
♥ Mica Beauty Shimmer Powder in Bronze

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Person Mentioned:
Elle Sees

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Products Mentioned:
♥Pacifica Alight Multi Mineral BB Cream
♥Pop Beauty Pop Crayon in Rose Romance
♥Avon Glimmersticks Lip Liner in Simply Spice
♥Bath and Body Works Pocket Bac in I Love Cinnamon Buns
♥Cinnamon Sugar Anything
♥The Magic by Rhonda Byrne
♥I Heart Life Podcast with Evette Boylin

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People Mentioned:
♥MaskCara

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Let me know what you all think of this! I need to start getting on some sort of schedule when it comes to blogging and vlogging. Not sure what that schedule will be yet, but yah no. Im finally putting this up on the 12th of September which I think is a little late for a monthly favorites video.

I must ask you all, how do u stay on track? I am the one that plans out each and every day with a list that is separated hour by hour. But I am still behind. I had a great rhythm going at the beginning of the summer. That was when I lived at my mom's and life was simpler. Now I have my own place. Can I tell you how many bills I pay? That might be tacky but I feel like I am going to the bank every other day. And I am obsessively compulsively decorating my home that I call my own.....kind of. Philly lives here some times as does my Dad. But I pay the bills and I decorate how ever I want. So I am pretending it's all mine. The house also came with my dog growing up, Choochie's (choo-cheeee's). So there's that.

What were your favorite things from August?

How do you guys stay on track?

Thank you for viewing!

xoxo
Erica

Instagram Month in Review

This month has been pretty crazy. So many ups and a few downs. I won't get into the downs because nobody wants to hear about my woe is me sob story...not even me. I do have to say over all, my month was pretty fun with a ton of changes.

1. The first night in my new bedroom! Which used to be my dads room. I thought it would be nostalgic living here but it honestly feels new and feels like my house. I am the only person living here right now RENT FREE. It feels so cool to say that last sentence. I have a room decor/tour blog coming up.

2. I moved! Into my Mumum's house where my dad {and I pretty much} grew up. Since it is our families house, I had a ton of cleaning to do in order to move in. It wasn't all showoff-y and looking like someone wanted to buy it. We had to paint, deep clean, and clean out everything that has been in the house for years. I found these after shave bottles from Avon. I am sure they are from a long time ago. I almost kept them but instead took a picture. That's the cool thing about photos. You don't have to hoard objects. Just photos.

3. I bar tend every Tuesday all day at the restaurant I work at. My most loyal customer is a guy who works in the kitchen. My mom and Philly also came into see me one day. A little boring considering I am not going to have a full bar on a Tuesday at 2pm. Such is life. Naturally, I experiment with making drinks with 151 in them. That drink is called a Caribou Blue. But it's not blue.

4. A water mark from my cup on the stoop outside reminding me to smile. Like I said, there has been up's and down's. This simple event reminded me to be grateful. I always need to be reminded of that, youknowwhatimean?

5+6. Decorating! I got a ton of stuff from Pat Catan's with a grand total of $12! That isn't even everything I bought. Pat Catan's haul coming soon! I got my editing program in the mail today so now I can finally edit it and put it up. Can I tell you about the hard work that goes into creating a video? Maybe another time.

7. Stella sleeping with her tutu at Philly's house.

8. A photo my mom took back in the 70's. I love it. It captures the 70's home life to a T if you ask me.

9. FOTD makeup

10. The actual FOTD and me making a weird face trying my best to act natural.

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I went to Cedar Point again. This time I went with Alex, her boyfriend Wes and her little brother Seth. We had such a great time and I love them so much! To think I almost didn't go. I am so glad I did. Alex bought us the room. I can't be more thankful for her. I don't have a ton of close friends but the friends I do have are the greatest people out there in this world. It was really cool and it was such a great trip. Were making this a thing. Were going next year and just like my Christmas Cookie tradition that has grown so much, I know next year when we go were going for 2 nights. Were going to rent a boat, to out to dinner, hang out and get drunk at the pool, and go to Cedar Point. Let's get back to this trip though. Here's everything I captured:

1. A ride. The Matterhorn.

2. Since I have moved into my "own" place, I now collect magnets. I obviously had to add to my collection. Not a bad deal either at $5. I bought them in the park.

3. Starbucks. Alex had a gift card and bought me Starbucks twice. I love that girl. I am more of a Dunkin Donuts girl but I liked the Starbucks iced espresso. I got the cinnamon one once and the white chocolate one the second time. I think I like the cinnamon one better. Alex got a caramel Frappuccino.

4. The Power Tower at night. You will not catch me dead on that ride. But it makes for a pretty picture.

5. Lake Erie.

6. Oh my gosh you guys the hotel we stayed at was sick! I couldn't believe it was a Comfort Inn! It had an indoor pool, outdoor pool with a full bar, a jacuzzi, a sauna, a game room, a night club and the rooms were really nice too.  

7. This mermaid statue was in the hotel lobby. Not to mention the vaulted ceiling. How adorable is this place?

8. My and my feet in the wave pool. 

9. I love taking photos of roller coasters and capturing the actual coaster going down the track. This roller coaster was right outside the wave pool. That was our favorite place, I think.

Me and Philly went at the beginning of the year to Cedar Point for a half day, If you wanna see those photos {I got some really good ones that time} Then click! 

Also, follow me on Instagram! What are you waiting for?

thank you for reading

xoxo

Erica