Costco does make-up brushes!?

Before, I start this story, let me describe my mom's relationship with Costco. My mother's go-to store, like a lot of people in this country is Costco. I would say that 95% of the time, if it's not available at Costco, unless she really wants something, she won't get it. Although it's just me and her in the house, This house is practically furnished by anything you could find at Costco.

So on Wednesday, she brought home this big purple box. At first, I thought she had a bit of a splurge (I understood of course, who doesn't deserve a splurge once in a while as long as you can afford it. We don't want to be buying MAC Lightscapade when you haven't paid the light bill!) and from what I saw, I thought it was a brand new cutlery set. Then I look a little closer and I see this

What I saw from far away

At first, my face went like this---> O_o. Don't get me wrong, I am very appreciative that my mom saw these brushes and thought that I would like them-hell, I have been talking about getting new brushes for months! I was starting to go on like I was Bubba talking about shrimp! You know, "there's all kinds of brushes-foundation brushes, crease brushes, kabuki brushes, powder brushes, liner brushes"...you get the idea lol! On the other hand, I had my mind set that my long-term brushes were going to be from MAC because all my eye brushes are MAC and they are still in pristine condition six some even seven years later. I am willing to give everything a chance because you never know what your new favorite product will look like.

EDIT: 11/13-The brushes are still there, I just wanted to make a few notes before you read on:
1) These are NOT the Borghese brushes that were released a while back.
2)The brushes retail for $24.99. I just remembered that I forgot to put the price in as a part of my review.

So, here's what's in the box. There's lots of pictures to show what I'm going on about, so jump on in!

A letter to my skin condition

Dear eczema,

I don't use the word hate, but I know this for sure, I don't like you. I don't want anything to do with you as a matter of fact. You make things very awkward, and the worst part is-I didn't even do anything to you!

Do you remember that time in the 8th grade when we first met? I remember it so well-a friend of mine complimented my eye make up. As I tried to process this for five seconds, I realized that you're so visible that you made one of my eyelids a different color. The only way I could save myself from embarrassment was to thank her for the compliment as I slumped into my seat in the lunchroom. After that, I did everything possible to get rid of you and it worked...for a while because you were gone and I thought I never had to worry about you again.

Well, I got out of the shower today and I see that after a seven year hiatus, you have reappeared on the eyelid where we first met. My eyelid isn't enough for you for some reason because now, I see that you have found the area behind my ears and perhaps my scalp because I see more snow on my shoulders than a blizzard in the Colorado Rockies (my homemade still-being-tested peppermint oil hair spray is after you. AFTER YOU I SAY!). This will not do. THIS WILL NOT DO AT ALL! I can't wear make-up for a while [I'm expecting my little black box from MAC by Wednesday, can't try it out until it goes away >:( ] and it's making me more self-conscious than I already am. THANKS FOR THAT!

I guess what I'm trying to say is-you suck. Once I get rid of you, I hope you we never cross paths again.

Yours (with a Q-Tip of anti-fungal cream in hand),
Jess x

--Do you have a skin condition that sucks? Go ahead, write a letter to it, tell it about itself!

Modcloth shoppping: It's time to step out of the comfort zone

YAY SHOPPING BAG!

Last month when I did a post about interesting finds, it was more about trinkets and shoes that I found on Etsy because I was curious about what was for sale. I had heard about it, but I never seriously browsed the site, so I took it as a personal challenge to find items that I liked because they so different from what I've seen everyday at the Targets and Kohls' of this world.

So this month, I'm going to take a similar challenge, but on Modcloth. If you haven't heard of Modcloth, it's described as an indie/vintage online clothing store. This will NOT be a wishlist, this is a challenge. I would love for you to join in to this challenge :-D

Now, here's why this is a challenge for me-Indie/vintage is so new to me. When I think "indie", my mind automatically goes to Urban outfitters and American Apparel [some may argue that this is not "indie", but "hipster". oh semantics, same thing in my mind] and I would describe my up-and-coming style as very casual and I love things that are versatile and could change for any occasion, so wading into this different kind of style was very...interesting

Come check out what I found! I would love to know what you think and partake if you are so inclined ;-)

I don't like this conditioner anymore...now what?

Meh.

So after a few uses, I decided that I'm not a fan of the Queen Helene conditioner that I talked about many moons ago. For me, it didn't give me the slip that I really wanted and I kind of fell out of love with the smell of the conditioner. Oh well, that happens.

Usually, it would be another product for the product junk basket. As it would sit there and collect dust, many may look at what at one time held so much hope and promise and be a bit sad. Well don't be sad anymore, here are some things you can do with that abandoned conditioner!

Am I really about to pay $19 for MASCARA?!

This collection isn't mine. I kind of wish it were *_*

The title is a question I asked myself on Friday as I was getting my new foundation [HUGE shout out to MUFE 178!!!! I no longer look orange when I put on foundation! :-D]

Since my current bottle of mascara is getting ready to hit it's throw-out date (which is about 3-6 months after I first opened it, I had to ask-why am I about to pay $19 + 6% sales tax for something I have to put a date on and throw away in the next few months. I consider my make-up to be an investment, so spending more than 20 dollars on mascara...I'm not so sure if I can keep doing that!

So then, I started thinking-what worth the huge price tag and what can be purchased at CVS/Target/Walmart (since I am starting to venture into drugstore brands) and I broke it down like this...