Fitness Friday: A Whiny Post on My Lack of Self Control

Me after a run in Florida in April
Me after a run in Florida in April a few years ago, but it does depict my current annoyance!

Hooooo boy. You know, it’s like one step forward, two steps back lately for me. I’ve been on a great training rotation, and then it was less good, and then it was adequate, and then I started eating garbage and it basically destroyed all the work I’ve put in. [insert various curse words here] Why am I telling you this since it’s not especially uplifting? Because I don’t want anyone thinking that exercise, fitness and appropriate caloric-intake is always smooth sailing.

My “happy” weight is around 147-149 – that’s where I feel the most comfortable. But I’m around 158-160 right now and it’s BEEN DRIVING ME NUTS. That being said, it’s been driving me nuts for two years now  so clearly I’m not headed in the right direction. I occasionally fluctuate down to 156 at times, but I can’t seem to cross back into the 155 and under area. My pants are fitting uncomfortably tight right now and it’s making me super damn grumpy.

I exercise about 5-6 times a week and that may seem excessive to some people, but I enjoy it. (I run 2-3 times a week, weight lift 2-3 times a week and play soccer once.) So it’s not like I’m lacking in the physical fitness department – I am exceptionally strong and my endurance is such that I could go out and run a half marathon on a whim.

So my problem isn’t how much (or little) I exercise, but rather my food and alcohol intake. I frigging love food and I frigging love wine. And I have a bad habit of consuming a lot of both. I’ve gone through phases in my life where I’ve had a lot of willpower, I mean, I did go from 196 pounds down to 149 several years ago:

So I know it’s possible, but I seem to be lacking the drive to get there in the last few years. I need to somehow relocate my sense of self control when it comes to food, but damn if it isn’t hard!

Anyway, thank you for listening on this rather off-track blog post, but if you’re struggling with something, maybe you’ll take heart in the knowledge that you’re not the only one! If you’re up for sharing, let me know what your current personal complaints are and maybe what your goals are! I always find it motivating and uplifting to hear others talk about their plans so maybe you’ll give me the drive to more forward with mine. 🙂

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows (Review & Swatches)

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows

The Urban Decay Moondust shadows were introduced… oh man, how long ago was it now? Two years ago? Maybe three? Anyway, they’ve been around for a little while, but I never picked one up because the price was exorbitant (I really struggle with forking over $25 for an eyeshadow when I could get a palette with ten times the number of shadows for only double the price). BUT, I was gifted four of the Moondust shadows at the Urban Decay Square One launch party in Mississauga (vlog of that here!) and I was REALLY excited to try these out. Even cooler was these four shades were Urban Decay store/online exclusives!

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows

Sadly, upon trying them, my excitement vanished into thin air. I was so, so sad at the results I got with these shadows that I debated not even posting about them at all. But, a negative review IS helpful to consumers, even if hurts my soul to do so about a brand I’ve loved immensely over the years.

Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows
Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows
I. Just. Don’t. Like. These.

I know a lot of people do, but I’m one of the unlucky few that doesn’t. The Moondust shadows I tried out are beautiful shades: Chem Trail is the kind of subtle pewter glitter that’s so fun to add to a look. Interstellar is a beautiful pale gold. Vortex is a super pigmented mossy green. And Crux is an INSANE blue-green mix that looks incredible in the pan.

Urban Decay Moondust swatches - Chem Trail, Interstellar, Vortex and Crux
Urban Decay Moondust swatches – Chem Trail, Interstellar, Vortex and Crux

On the lids… they just fall apart for me. (Apologies for the lack of eye looks, but I tried two different looks, hated them both and kind of figured I’d never post about them so I never bothered to take pictures.) They do apply decently – I had no issues with the application… but over the course of the day the glitter particles smear EVERYWHERE. Even worse is that those glitter particles are embedded with coloured pigmented which just makes a bloody mess. I ended up with silver sparkles and blue pigment all along the tops of my cheekbones as the pigment just dropped off my lids throughout the day. I freaking LOVE glitter, so it’s a bit of a struggle for me to say that I looked wretched with glitter everywhere because it’s something I never, ever thought I’d say.

It’s pretty rare for me to walk away from an eyeshadow  – usually I can make the colours or the pigment work in some way (and truthfully, the only other time I’ve really done this is with the Morphe 35B palette), but I don’t want to work with these eyeshadows anymore. It’s too much hassle and I can’t rely on them to not make me look like I doused my face in glitter.

So, sad to say, but I’m done with these – despite how beautiful they look in the pot, I know that I will 100% not be reaching for these at all. If you do decide to use these, I’d suggest trying a glitter adhesive of some sort which is not something I did (I did try them wet – which had no impact on fallout). That being said, I don’t think Urban Decay even makes a glitter adhesive, so it’s not like they thought it would be necessary to use one with these eyeshadows either. 🙁

The products in this post were given to me at a PR event for consideration. Post contains affiliate links.

Swatch Sunday: Annabelle Skinny Palette

Annabelle Skinny Palette

You may have seen my Annabelle Spring 2017 Try On video, where I put most of the new Annabelle products on my face (and there’s a lot of REALLY good stuff in there!). However, one of the items I didn’t get to try was the new Skinny Palette.

Annabelle Skinny Palette
Annabelle Skinny Palette

So voila, here are swatches of the palette!

Annabelle Skinny Palette Swatches

Annabelle Skinny Palette - Shade 1
Annabelle Skinny Palette – Shade 1
Annabelle Skinny Palette - Shade 2
Annabelle Skinny Palette – Shade 2
Annabelle Skinny Palette - Shade 33
Annabelle Skinny Palette – Shade 3
Annabelle Skinny Palette - Shade 4
Annabelle Skinny Palette – Shade 4
Annabelle Skinny Palette - Shade 5
Annabelle Skinny Palette – Shade 5
The product featured in this post was sent to me for consideration.