May 2019 Favorites

This month went by in such a blur! I was in an emotional daze for all of it, good and bad. It started badly with our dog Indy getting sick, but he's doing much better now after antibiotics. Then, just a little over two weeks ago, I was on the phone with my stepdad telling him I was coming home and he was to be my inside man when I showed up to surprise my brother and my mama. We were in the car the very next day headed to South Carolina for a little under a week's worth of stay. After six years, I happily took anything I could get and that we could manage to fit in.

I wanted to be there for Mother's Day, but my passport arrived the Wednesday after. Because, of course it did. But it was the best belated Mother's Day! I think we all have a grand surprise like this in our arsenal and it's good once. Once you've used it, you're done. You spent it! Haha! I'm so happy I could use mine after such a lengthy absence. l do have video of the surprise and reactions of both my brother and mom in my Instagram Stories, if you're interested. I've watched the video so many times and it just brings the biggest smile to my face. It doesn't help matters that I am flabbergasted every single time I remember that I have a teenaged brother who is also now taller than I am.

Though I would have loved to have seen a few more friends (I did have dinner with one of my best friends and her family who are very much my own), I kept my focus mainly on family. This was a trip for my mom. We both needed our traditional Mexican lunch outing, our lengthy talks, and warm hugs. I'm so happy to have spent most of the week sharing that with her, the unconditional love from my stepdad, and bonding with my brother and realizing how similar we are in so many ways. I could not have asked for a better trip home, unless it was simply to have asked for more time. Seeing my grandmother, aunt, and uncle were icing on the cake.

I can't believe we've already been back a week. We're already planning our Christmas trip down, which hopefully will be a little longer with the break and I can fit in a few faces (family and friends) that I missed this go-around. But aside from the beauty favorites below, that trip made my month (year, decade...life). It was full to the brim with favorites and it was absolutely what I needed and then some!

• Maybelline Age Rewind Brightener - I've gone through a few tubes of the fair Age Rewind concealer and already need to repurchase! I picked up the brightener treatment on a whim and I like it nearly as much. I don't just use it around the eyes, though it works wonders there. I also use it a bit on other areas that need a little brightening on my face. It layers well with others
• VDL Creamy Jelly Stick Blush in Heidi - I've recently reviewed this. I just can't get enough! It's nearing HG status for me and that's saying something. One of the easiest cream blushes to blend and dry skin friendly? I'll be needing more shades of this!
• VDL Lumilayer Fresh Primer - I still need to do a full review, but I have talked about it a bit already. The regular Lumilayer is fantastic, but this one is hydrating. Yes, please.
• Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink in Dreamer - I've shouted from the rooftops many a time about this long-lasting formula and how it's impossible to stop myself from wanting every shade. I've already picked up two more, which will find there way to the blog soon!
• Joe Fresh Translucent CC Powder - I feel like this is so underrated and I really want to get the word out there. I don't know if it warrants a full post or not, but I do know the extent of my love for this powder. Hitting pan on any product speaks for itself, doesn't it? It retails for $12 CA and is a total deal. I got mine at a huge discount when they were leaving Shoppers Drug Mart, but I would pay full price for this in a heartbeat. It's so silky, doesn't look powdery on the skin, evens my skin tone, and works fantastically as a setting powder.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and a great start to June!