Chronic Bitch Face?!

Hey girl heyyy!! ;)

So today I was talking to one of my good friends, and she told me that the first time she saw me, she thought I looked like a total bitch. Then she proceeded to tell me that after she got to know me she found that I was one of the sweetest people she's ever met. Thanks for the, uh, compliment?! Haha. This definitely isn't the first time I've been told this. I can't even count how many people have told me that I have a "bitch face". Here are some things you need to know about Chronic Bitch Face.

Chronic Bitch Face- n. "The debilitating disorder in which a woman has a natural 'angry', 'agitated', or sometimes expressionless look on her face while her face is resting, unbeknownst to her, making her look like a complete and utter bitch."

1.) I have a "resting bitch face". My bitch face can strike at any time, but happens mainly when I'm just hanging out, not doing anything. (e.g. sitting in class, watching a movie, listening to someone tell a story, etc.) I'm not doing it on purpose!!

2.) NO, nothing is wrong with me. Just because the look on my face is similar to someone whose cat was just run over, doesn't mean I'm actually pissed. No, I'm not mad. I'm not upset. I'm not particularly constipated. I promise I didn't just murder a family of 4, even though my facial expression may make you question that. You didn't say anything to offend me. (If you did, believe me, you'd know!!) It's just my face.  LOL.

3.) 99.9% of the time I don't notice that I'm making a "bitchy face". If I do notice that my face is looking extra bitchy, I'll make an effort to smile more and attempt to relax my face. When I notice someone staring at me or giving me a dirty look, I smile. Most of the time I'm getting a dirty look from another girl because they think I'm sitting there mean mugging them when really I'm just sitting there. If the girl continues to give me a dirty look even after I smile, then I'll ask her what her problem is, because it's clearly not my bitch face. ;)

4.) If you don't know me, you don't have the right to ask me what's wrong. People need to mind their own damn business as it is, but living with chronic bitch face is like a magnet that attracts nosy people. It's annoying enough when a stranger wants to know what's wrong; (what if something actually happened-- like someone just died or I was fighting with my fiance-- do you really think I would tell you (a stranger) about it?!) but when they repeatedly question me and ask if I'm sure, it gets really annoying. I understand they're partly trying to help (and partly trying to be in my business) but it gets harder and harder to abstain from punching someone in the throat the more it happens. (haha)

5.) Having Chronic Bitch Face is a lot of work. The actual bitchy look comes natural, but the things that come along with having CBF is very tiring. It's not easy to reassure friends, family members, and total strangers that you are OK 20+ times per day. When you have a constant bitchy look on your face, you have to put in an extra effort to look happy, even if you really are happy. It's not particularly fun to have people look absolutely terrified of you when you sit across from them in the doctor's office or at a park while your kids are playing. Interviews and first impressions scare you because you have to remember to make a point to continually smile until your cheeks hurt, otherwise your possible future employer or future ex-husband may think that you steal candy from small children for fun. Speaking of small children, when you are affected by CBF, you have to theatrically smile at children like you're auditioning for a role on Pee Wee's Playhouse, or they might run from you. It's not always fun to have a bitchy face.

6.) Don't judge a book by it's cover-- even if it's a bitchy cover. Clearly you shouldn't judge a person by their physical appearance anyway, but this is especially true for people with CBF. Of course I have my bitchy moments, and can be a total asshole if needed, but normally I am one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. I have a huge heart, && I love helping people, whether I know them personally or not. I always give everyone a chance && try to give people the benefit of the doubt when first meeting them, and not judge them, even if I've heard something negative about them. If you suspect someone has Chronic Bitch Face, smile at them. If they don't smile back, they're more than likely really a bitch. If they do smile back at you, it's just their face. They can't control it. 

Obviously this post is supposed to be lighthearted and humorous, but everything in it is 100% true. LOL. Do you know anyone with Chronic Bitch Face? Do you have it? Let me know in the comments below!! Thanks for reading. <3

xo, Sarah

Drug Store Beauty Haul && Mini Reviews!!

Hi Beauties!! ♥

I was at Walmart the other day (I am there entirely too much....it's an unhealthy obsession-- you can't beat the prices!!) and I picked up a few beauty products. I bought these about 2 weeks ago and have been using all of them so I could do some mini reviews for all of you. Here's what I got:

Rimmel London ScandalEyes 24 Hour Waterproof Gel Eyeliner--Blackest Black-- $5.47

My Thoughts: Normally I use either regular eyeliner pens, or once in a while I'll use liquid eyeliner. I was running low on both. I've seen gel eyeliner used a LOT on YouTube beauty guru videos, (I'm a total fashion/beauty YouTube junkie...haha.) so I decided to try something new and buy a gel eyeliner. Using gel eyeliner for the first time was a bit messy and felt awkward doing it with a brush, but after using this a couple times, I got the hang of it. It's a great product, and really inexpensive. This gel liner glides on really easily. It is super dark black (obviously...blackest black) and it lasts all day. I'm not sure about it lasting 24 hours, because I don't ever wear my makeup 24 hours straight (who does?!) but it does last for a long time. I didn't even have to touch it up once.

Final Verdict: I would repurchase this and recommend it to people that want a creamy eyeliner that applies easily and lasts all day.

Almay Shadow Softies Eye Shadow-- Creme Brulee

My Thoughts: In my eyes, you can never have enough nude makeup products. I love nude eyes and lips. This is the first time I've tried this shadow, but when I saw it on the shelf I instantly fell in love with the color. I don't remember exactly how much it cost, but it was very inexpensive. It's a very lightweight, almost sheer eyeshadow. It wasn't as pigmented as I would have liked. It's more of an extremely light shimmer, not so much a color. It's great to wear on top to set another shadow, or to add in the corner by your tear ducts to make you look more awake, but it doesn't really work as a stand alone eyeshadow.

Final Verdict: I wouldn't repurchase this.

Revlon Colorstay Shadowlinks Pearl Eyeshadow-- 090 Lilac

My Thoughts: This color caught my eye while I was browsing. It's such a gorgeous color, and purple brings out hazel eyes, so I had to buy it. The packaging is a genius idea-- you can buy singles and make your own palette by linking them together. Unfortunately that's where my excitement for this product ends. I've tried to apply this shadow dry, with a moist brush, with my fingers....nothing worked. This shadow has almost no pigment. I was really disappointed. It also has horrible fallout under the eyes.

Final Verdict: I'm very unimpressed and will NOT be repurchasing this product.

Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow Quad-- 730 Skinlights-- $4.94

I'm making a fist--I promise I have fingers. LOL.

My Thoughts: I've used Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadows before (a long time ago--like 2008). Honestly it was so long ago that I don't even remember if I liked them or not. When I saw this quad sitting on the shelf, I decided to get it because the price was right && the colors were really pretty. Their pigment is OK, but the staying power isn't great, and if you wear them alone they tend to crease. I tried to apply them a couple different ways but got the same result each time. They are easier to use if applied with your finger instead of a brush. Now I just use them as an eyeshadow base. Luckily I purchased "Skinlights" which is a quad of basic neutral nude colors, so they work perfect as a base/primer. They last longer underneath other shadows, and they don't crease if you put a powder shadow over them.

Final Verdict: I'm not very impressed. I'll use this quad until it runs out but will not repurchase it.

Essie--Tart Deco--$6.98

My Thoughts: This is SUCH a pretty coral color. It's perfect for spring, which is why I purchased it. The weather in Chicago has been bipolar. Most days it's freezing cold and sometimes it's still snowing. Yesterday was gorgeous, it went over 50 degrees. Now we have another cold front coming in. If it doesn't feel like spring here, at least I'll look like I have spring spirit. Maybe it'll encourage the spring weather to finally come on. (Wishful thinking. haha.) This polish has great lasting power. I've had it on for 5 days now, and it hasn't chipped. That's huge for me, because I'm a mom, and am on the go all day everyday. Between dishes, playing with my kids, taking care of household chores, etc. my nail polish usually chips pretty quickly. This polish had very impressive staying power. Unfortunately the brush isn't the best and it can make applying this polish a little tricky. It'll end up streaky if you aren't careful. The formula is thin, so you definitely need 2 coats to make this polish opaque, but the end result is beautiful. I love it.

Final Verdict: I will probably repurchase this nail polish.

Rock Beauty--Nail Rock Its Nail Kit--Green with Bows

My Thoughts: I've recently used a different Rock Beauty Nail Rock kit (with the navy blue polish and the foil) and absolutely loved it. The green polish in this kit is OK, but I mainly purchased it for the cute little nail gems. I fell in love with the bows!! I can't tell you how the polish and the velvet powder works because I haven't used them yet, but the little gems are so cute! The instructions say to just press the gems into your nails while polish is still wet, but I wanted extra staying power, so I used nail glue on them. They stayed on perfectly and really dressed up my nails. It looked like I got them done professionally in the salon. I was really impressed.

Final Verdict: I will repurchase this kit when I run out of the gems.

Fing'rs Heart 2 Art Nail Embellishment Kit--31179--$3.48

My Thoughts: I saw these cute little nail gems and had to get them. They were so inexpensive, and this kit came with 310 pieces! Similar to the Nail Rock It kit I reviewed above, the instructions said to put these on wet nails. Once again, I waited for the polish to dry and used nail glue. I wanted to make sure they'd stay on securely. These gems are SO cute and the design possibilities are endless. You can do so many different nail looks with these embellishments.

Final Verdict: When these run out, I'll be purchasing more.

Kiss--Maximum Speed Nail Glue

My Thoughts: This nail glue is absolutely amazing. It lives up to every claim on the packaging. It dries almost immediately, and it lasts for a long time. I used this nail glue to attach embellishments to my nails, and they've been on for over 5 days without coming off. That's a record for me. Lol. Because the glue dries so quickly, you have to wipe the top of the bottle after every use or it will glue itself shut. The only con I really see with this product is that for some reason it's a little difficult to get the glue out. I had to squeeze really hard to get a drop out. That can be irritating. The smell is a little strong so you might want to open a window and not use this in a small space.

Final Verdict: I will be repurchasing this nail glue when I run out.



Have you used any of these products? What do you think of them? Are there any products shown here that you'd like to try? Let me know in the comments below. Hope you have an amazing weekend!! ♥

xo, Sarah

OOTD -- Leopard Leggings && Leather Jacket

Hello my loves ♥ --

I hope everyone had a fun St. Patrick's Day!! I'm assuming there are a lot of people waking up extremely hungover today, and thanking God that it's Sunday and not Monday morning. I'm mostly Polish but have a little Irish in me from my mom's side. I just spent the day with family. It was a really chill day and I'm hangover free this beautiful morning. ;) I wanted to show you all my OOTD from Friday (3/14). I bought pretty much all of the clothing that I wore in this OOTD recently, and these pieces were featured in my recent collective hauls.

(If you haven't seen them, here are the links: Part I, Part II, and Part III.)

My hair was crayyy that day because the wind was absolutely out of control.

I purchased the faux leather jacket at Ross. I have a love/hate relationship with Ross...sometimes I walk out with bags full of gorgeous new clothes, and other times I search through rack after rack of pure disappointment. Lol. Luckily I snagged this jacket for only $12.99!! It was such an amazing deal, and it's actually really great quality. My leopard print leggings are from Ross as well (I believe-- I forgot to add them in the haul. Dumbass. haha). I wore a plain nude colored tank top from Charlotte Russe underneath my faux leather jacket. I purchased the tank online. I paired this outfit with my black boots from Wet Seal. I bought the boots on sale for $20.94.

Accessories:

(I turned my bracelets around for photo purposes because they look amazing next to my tattoo. I'm obsessed. Haha.) The bracelets are from Charming Charlie and Forever XXI.

I wore some cute gold studs in my ears and my cartilage (not pictured). I opted for my long, 4 piece Aeropostale necklace for a pop of color. This necklace is my favorite out of all my necklaces because of the turquoise chain. To match the turquoise on my necklace, I wore my turquoise and yellow ring, and well as my peach ring, and my mint green ring. I love stacking bracelets-- it's such a unique look and you can mix and match. The bracelets on the top and bottom were Christmas gifts from Tom's sister, and she bought them at Charming Charlie. The "Hope" bracelet was purchased by me at Forever 21, as well as the gold chain ID bracelet with the heart cutout.

To finish the outfit off, I wore my new Guess bag. It can be used as an arm bag OR a crossbody bag. I wore it crossbody this particular day.

I hope you enjoyed my OOTD. I know I haven't posted one in a while. I'll try to get better about that, I promise!! :) What was your favorite part of my outfit? Did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day? If so, what did you do to celebrate? Let me know in the comments below. ♥

xo, Sarah

--Tat Tat Tatted Up--

That's right, ladies. As of last weekend, I'm a tattooed mama. ;)

I've been wanting to write this post since the second I got these tattoos, but I wanted to wait so I could tell you all about the FULL experience-- healing and everything.

The back story...

I've wanted tattoos since I turned 18. I'm not one to just tattoo myself because it's the "cool thing to do". Obviously tattoos are about as permanent as it gets, and I knew since the beginning that if I was going to get a tattoo, it had to be something with meaning. I've seen SO many people with ridiculous tattoos....some regret them now and others will most likely regret them later. Over the years quite a few tattoo ideas have been crossed off the list. I decided to get something that I've wanted for a while now, something that is so simple but means the world to me-- my daughters' names. My love for them will never change, and both tattoos would be something I could be proud of. Nothing means more to me than my kids. The placement was a little trickier to figure out. I wanted to put these tattoos somewhere that they would be seen (why would I want to hide them?!) but I still wanted it to look nice and "girly". I decided to put a name on each wrist.

I had researched tattoo shops for months before I actually decided on what shop I wanted to get my tattoo at. I asked friends (who had tattoos that looked good) where they got their work done at, I read reviews online, etc. Once I narrowed down my search to a few tattoo shops that I liked, I looked at the artists's work. I started calling around and asking about prices. Then I visited a couple shops. Originally I wanted to go to the shop that did my Monroe piercing, but the receptionist was really rude and the guy that did the tattoos didn't seem like he had much experience. I was out of there. After that I visited the shop that I ended up getting my tattoos at, and they asked me what I wanted, where I wanted it, and what font I wanted. I showed them a few photos and the shop assistant told me that they could do it in about an hour. I was nervous but SO excited. (For those that live in or near Chicago, I got my tattoos done at Rising Phoenix Tattoo by Chris.

Here is a photo of my virgin wrists (lol) about a minute before I walked into the tattoo shop. Ignore the mark on my right wrist-- I had a hair band on it all day and totally forgot until right before I went in.

Getting my tattoo...

I walked in and someone else was getting their tattoo finished. She looked like she was in a lot of pain, which really freaked me out. I kept my composure though and waited. The shop assistant massaged out the mark from my hair band (lol) and then he put the stencils on me. He was super nice and reassured me that it doesn't hurt as bad as I think it will, and it will be over quick.

Once the stencils were on I sat down in the actual tattoo chair and told Chris that I'm shaky and I'll try to sit still. He laughed and told me that unless I want a fucked up tattoo I'd have to sit still. He kept cracking jokes and was pretty funny. I could tell he was trying to calm my nerves. He turned on his tattoo gun and my heart dropped into my stomach. I remember saying "shit" and then being embarrassed that I said it. Whoops. I told him to do Nevaeh's name first because she was my first born and in case I couldn't take the pain, she deserved her name on me first. Haha. He did it backwards, starting with the "h". The "h" didn't hurt at all. I stupidly assumed that's how the whole tattoo would feel. I was wrong. When he started getting closer to the middle of my wrist, it started to get pretty painful. I'm assuming there are more nerve endings there so that's why it hurt more. The "N" was also painful because the beginning of it is right over my bone. Ouch.

For some reason my Alexis tattoo was wayyy more painful. I remember him going over the "x" a few times and every time he did it my hand would involuntarily jerk. That was the only time I came close to crying. I held it in though and took it like a champ. ;) If I had to describe what getting my wrists tattooed felt like, I would say that some parts feel like absolutely nothing, and some parts feel like someone is holding a lighter to your skin and burning you. He had to hold both hands down really hard, and now I understand why.

Once he was done I was so in love with the finished product. It was exactly what I wanted. I couldn't imagine loving my tattoos any more than I do. He wiped me off, bandaged me up, and off I went. I was told to keep the bandages on for 2 hours. Here is what my tattoos looked like a couple hours later:

For both tattoos it cost me $120. I also tipped him, because he did a great job.

The aftercare...

I was given a package with ointment for my tattoos, Rising Phoenix business cards and a bumper sticker, and directions for the after care of my tattoos.

I thought it would be a somewhat painful healing process but it wasn't bad at all. The next morning when I woke up, it felt like someone had scratched my wrists. I've been diligently caring for my new tattoos exactly the way Chris advised me. Overall I had an amazing experience and couldn't have asked for a more friendly, fun atmosphere. Once these babies heal up, I think I'm going to bite the bullet and get the quote that I've been wanting. I don't want to say which quote it is because I don't want anyone (mainly one person) to take my idea. I did these first because they mean the most to me, and also because they were simple and one word each, and I wanted to see how painful it would be. I would hate to have done a quote for my first tattoo and had to stop halfway through because I couldn't take the pain. The guy at the shop made a good point-- I pushed two babies out (one of them naturally with NO pain meds whatsoever), I'm pretty sure getting a tattoo hurts way less. Hahaha.

Sorry this was so long. I wanted to make sure I covered everything. Do you have any tattoos/piercings? Do you want any? Let me know in the comments below. Also feel free to ask any questions if I missed anything. :)

xo, Sarah                                                                                                              

Liebster Award

Happy Thursday Ladies!! It's almost the weekend!! Phew. ;) Now for some exciting news!! I was nominated for the Liebster Award by Kelley @ Mamanista Tips . Thank you so much!! That was so sweet. :) If you are not aware, the Liebster Award is a way of getting other bloggers known, shared, and generally getting the word out about them, if they have under 500 followers.

- A few simple rules apply -

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you

3. Nominate 11 other followers with less than 500 followers

4. Post 11 questions for your nominees to answer

5.Tag your nominees & post a comment on their blog to let them know you nominated them

--The Questions I Received-- 

1. Tea or Coffee?

Neither, I hate both!! Lol.

2. What do you do to get inspired?

For me, sometimes the best way to get inspired is by doing something for other people. I love helping people and doing something that puts a smile on a family member, friend, or even total stranger’s face inspires me.

3. What is your favorite way to spend “me time”?

I love just kicking back and relaxing with my DVR and my laptop. That’s what I do to wind down at night before bed.

4. If you could spend a year anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Growing up, we went to our condo in Pensacola Beach, FL every summer. I would absolutely love to go there with my own family now.

5. Story behind your blog name?

I’ve been using “hustlababy09” FOREVER It was my AIM screen name since freshman year in high school. (10 years ago. Whoa, I’m old!! ;) )

6. What is your favorite movie?

It’s way too hard to narrow it down to just one, but my favorite recent movie is The Purge. Sooo good!!

7. What is your most prized possession?

My photo albums. I have SO many photos. I have albums from my birth all the way up to my kids’ births and now! 

8. What is your favorite quote?

“Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” – Oscar Wilde (That will be my next tattoo.) 

9. What is your favorite post you have written?

I don’t have a particular favorite, but I do enjoy looking back at old posts. I have been blogging since I was in 8^th grade. Looking at my past blog posts (from different blogs) can be hilarious, but looking at others still make me cry because I remember the place I was in when I wrote them. 

10. What is your favorite beauty product?

 It would be impossible for me to pick just one!! Lately I’ve been loving my new Kat Von D Lock It Tattoo Foundation. :)

11. How long have you been blogging?

I’ve been writing forever. I’ve been blogging since 8^th grade.

-- The Followers I Nominate –

1.)  With Curls and Cocktails

2.) Fairest's Favorites

3.) Letters From Launna

4.) Beauty, Style, and Growth

5.) Cassie Thriftier

6.) Little Owl's Diary

7.) Hey There Good Looking

8.) Pooky Banana

9.) Interwebs Chic

10.) Makeup By Maggie

11.) Beauty Pit Stop 411

-- My Questions For You—

1.) How long have you been blogging?

2.) What is the worst beauty product you’ve ever used?

3.) What is your favorite song at the moment?

4.) How often do you go clothes shopping?

5.) How often do you go shopping for makeup/beauty products?

6.) Tell us about one of your most embarrassing moments.

7.) Have you ever run out of ideas on what to blog? If so, what did you do for inspiration?

8.) What is your guilty pleasure?

9.) Do you have any piercings and/or tattoos? If not, would you ever consider getting any?

10.) What makeup products do you use on a daily basis?

11.) If you could only shop at one clothing store for the rest of your life, what store would it be?

If I nominated you and you want to participate, leave me a comment letting me know when you have your post up. :)

xo, Sarah

Collective Haul Part III

Hi Babessss,

I was going to hold off on this 3rd part of my collective haul because I didn't want to overload you with hauls, but you guys don't seem to mind. ;) I know that personally hauls are my favorite thing to read on blogs and watch on YouTube, because I love to see other people's personal style, and what's available at my favorite stores now. Anyway, let's jump right in, this could be a long post. ;)

Nike Dunk Skinny -- Grey Leopard $120

 I had to start with my absolute favorite purchase. If you've been reading my blog for the past few months, you'll probably remember a street style "wishlist" post I wrote a while back. These shoes were on that post. It took me forever to find them. They're sold out of every store within a hundred mile radius of where I live. They're sold out almost everywhere online. These shoes are exclusive and really hard to get your hands on. I finally found them on a website, from a different country. It took over a week for them to get to me, (because of customs both leaving their country and entering the U.S.) and I was a bit skeptical because I wanted to make sure they were legit. I was so happy and relieved when I received them and saw that they were legit, real Nikes. These are my favorite shoes that I've ever owned, by far. :) Ahhhh!!

LG 32" LED TV

 Here is another big purchase we made recently. We had our nice flat screen TV's in our living room and family room, and had one of the older "box" TV's in our bedroom. When Tom bought his PS4, he quickly realized that you can only hook it up to a newer TV. Our bedroom TV didn't have the right plugs(?). We went to Walmart and got this TV for our bedroom, and I'm really happy with it. We were debating on getting this or the Samsung TV that is the same size, but ultimately decided on this one because we're so happy with our LG phones. The picture is SO crisp and clear, and the sound is amazing. It has a surround sound feature and I love using that while watching movies. :)

Jewelry Tree -- Ross $8.99

Jewelry Holder -- $6.99 @ Family Dollar

 I received a new jewelry box as a gift recently, because my other jewelry box was falling apart. The new one was much smaller than my old one though, and didn't even come close to fitting all of my jewelry. I saw a cute jewelry tree for cheap at Ross, and the other one I saw at Family Dollar. They were really cute && inexpensive so I bought both. The jewelry tree I bought more for necklaces, especially longer necklaces. The jewelry holder/stand I bought more for earrings because it has so many holes. My jewelry box I use for rings and stud earrings, as well as my jewelry for my Monroe piercing. I'm a total organization freak, and this helps organize my jewelry perfectly. I also bought a few different bins/containers from Family Dollar for miscellaneous beauty items (nail polish bin, makeup bin, etc.).

Faux Leather Jacket -- $12.99 @ Ross

Leaf Print Tank -- Wet Seal $13.74 (on sale from $22,90)

Light Wash Jeans -- Ross (forgot price, sorry!!)

Uptown Jeans (Whiteout) -- Wet Seal $15.90 (on sale from $26.50)

Mirrored Triangle Tribal Leggings -- Wet Seal $8.94 (on sale from $14.90)

Foldover Black Yoga Pants -- Wet Seal $7.74 (on sale from $12.90)

Demi Wedge Slouch Boot -- Wet Seal $20.94 (on sale from $34.90)

Fringe Cuff T-Strap Sandal -- Wet Seal $11.94 (on sale from $19.90)

That's everything I bought. Most of the items I purchased were on clearance or on sale. I rarely buy anything for full price, because I can find such great deals when things are on sale/clearance/or I have coupons/coupon codes. I try to be smart with my money && get the biggest bang for my buck as possible. ;) Remember, these things were bought over a time period of a few weeks. I didn't buy everything all at once. These items were purchased with my hard earned money, gift cards I earned through surveys or got as gifts, and as usual, I saved a ton of money because of huge sales.

Here are some photos of me wearing the Aeropostale necklace && leopard leggings from my other haul, && my new faux leather jacket:

I totally missed my face, but at least you can see my outfit. ;)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!! Get out && do something fun!! I'm planning on doing something new && very exciting today, but I'll let you know what it is in my next blog post. ;) Until then, comment below and let me know what items were your favorite(s) from my haul and what you're doing this weekend!!

xo, Sarah