• American Authors: Believer
• Beyonce: Grown Woman
• The Vamps: Wild Heart
• Lea Michele: You're Mine
• Bastille: Pompeii
• R. Kelly: Ignition (Remix)
• One Direction: She's Not Afraid
• Nico Vega: Fury Oh Fury
• Mariah Carey: Obsessed
• Arctic Monkeys: R U Mine?
• Electric Light Orchestra: Long Black Road
• Tyler Ward feat. Kina Grannis: Demons

Ta Da!

Decided to continue 2014 a little lighter....

....and I chopped most of my hair off and dyed it blonde again.  I'm loving it so far and I have a feeling life is about to get a little more fun....

xoxo

V

Weekend Collage

Untitled #58 by vanessanelson featuring flat shoes

Hello there!  How was your weekend?  Mine was a seriously great weekend as far as weekends go.  I seriously don't think I've laughed as hard as I did this weekend in a VERY long time.  Isn't that the best feeling?  That laughter that makes your head pound, tears streaming down your face, can't breathe type laughing?  Ah.  It's so therapeutic.  I've also been doing some serious Olympic watching as well.  I always swear I'm not interested and then end up getting suuuper into it.  Every 2 years.....

Do you guys listen to Arctic Monkeys?  If not....you should.  Such a great band.  I've been listening hard core all weekend.
I taught our lesson at church on Sunday which went so well.  I love teaching.  Sundays are also probably my favorite day of the week.  So relaxing.
 Nothing really else of much significance.  I went shooting guns for the first time ever which was SO fun....but I'll do a separate post on that.  

Hope you had a great weekend whether you were spending some quality looooove time with a significant other or just chilling with friends or family I hope it was spectacular! 

Share any cool stories in the comments!

xoxo

V

To My Valentines.....

I really do adore you all.  Thank you for your comments and likes and blah blah blah.  I really appreciate it all.  I hope you have not only a day but also a LIFE full of love.

xoxo

V

Love Songs

Crazy Love - Van Morrison

I can hear her heart beating, for a thousand miles, and the heavens open every time she smiles

Turning Page - Sleeping At Last

Your love is my turning page, where only the sweetest words remain, every kiss is a cursive line, every touch a redefining phrase

Kathy's Song - Simon & Garfunkel

The only truth I know is you

True Love - P!nk

But without you I'm incomplete

Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Wait....they don't love you like I love you

Fall Apart Today - Schulyer Fisk

Don't forget you love me today

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack

The first time ever I kissed your mouth, I felt the earth move in my hand

So Contagious - Acceptance
When I'm around you I'm predictable cause I believe in loving you at first sight

Baby I'm Yours - Arctic Monkeys
I'll be yours until two and two is three, yours until mountains crumble to the sea, in other words, until eternity

My Girl Tonight - Jon McLaughlin
I used to think my heart just healed to break

More In Love With You - Jason Reeves feat. Nelly Joy
I will dream with you until they all come true....and I will spend my whole life through falling more in love with you

When They Fight, They Fight - The Generationals
When they fight they fight, when they come home at night they say, I love you baby

How Long Will I Love You - Ellie Goulding
How long will I be with you, as long as the sea is bound to wash upon the sand

When You Love Someone - Bryan Adams

You'll shoot the moon, put out the sun, when  you love someone

Love You Madly - Cake

When I kiss your lips I want to sink down to the bottom of the sea

I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder

I was made to love her

Eavesdrop - The Civil Wars

I can't pull you closer than this just you and the moon on my skin

Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

Home is wherever I'm with you

Mirrors - Justin Timberlake

The vacancy that sat in my heart is a space that now you hold

1000 Times - Sara Bareilles

A hundred and five little blades in a line from your skin to mine 

Hold You In My Arms - Ray LaMontagne

When you kissed my lips, my mouth so full of questions it's my worried mind you quiet

Love Like a Sunset Pt II - Phoenix

Where it starts it ends love like a sunset

Last Request - Paolo Nutini

Grant my last request and just let me hold you

Cosmic Love - Florence + The Machine

I took the stars from my eyes and then I made a map and I knew that somehow I would find my way back, then I heard your heart beating you were in the darkness too, so I stayed in the darkness with you

She Will Stay Beneath The Moon - Adam Barnes

The kind of love to make your heart go numb

Pull Me Down - Mikky Ekko 

We could be king and queen of the moonlight

A Sunday Kind Of Love - Etta James

My arms need someone, someone to enfold

Bleed To Love Her - Fleetwood Mac

And how she takes my breath away pretending that she don't miss me

I Would Do Anything For You - Foster The People

I've fallen in love and it's better this time than ever before

Flaws - Bastille

You have always worn your flaws upon your sleeve

Inevitable - Anberlin

I want to be your last first kiss 

Hold Onto My Heart - Graham Colton

You don't know how you look in imaginary white but I do

Start of Time - Gabrielle Aplin

When you walked into the room just then it's like the sun came out

All Of Me - John Legend

Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts

My My Love - Joshua Radin

I've been without you too long

Ho Hey - The Lumineers

I belong with you, you belong with me, you're my sweetheart

You're My Home - Billy Joel

I need you in my house cause you're my home

Hazy - Rosi Golan
If I forgot who I am will you please remind me, cause without you things go hazy

Let Love Stand a Chance - Charles Bradley
All the walls we build around us let them fall to the floor

Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Lauryn Hill
The sight of you leaves me weak

Romeo and Juliet - The Killers
You said I love you like the stars above I'll love you till I die

Hey Na Na - Katie Herzig
I've got a little secret too, I've got a mad little crush on you

Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) - Ella Fitzgerald
Let's do it, let's fall in love

Fix You - Coldplay
Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones and I will try to fix you

Northern Wind - City and Colour
You're the other half, you're like a missing piece

Kiss Me - Ed Sheeran

I was made to keep your body warm

State Of Grace - Taylor Swift

Love is a ruthless game unless you play it good and right

Cannonball - Damien Rice

There's still a little bit of your face I haven't kissed

XO - Beyonce

In the darkest night I search through the crowd your face is all that I see I'll give you everything baby love me lights out

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers

When I'm dreaming I know I'm gonna dream I'm gonna dream about the time when I'm with you

Look After You - The Fray

You've begun to feel like home

iPhone Life

So this weekend completely got away from me and I have nothing to share with you.  Between work, moving back into my apartment, and friends....I've been quite busy.  I'll share with you a quick update in iPhone picture form....how does that sound?

 I organized all my lip products (this was a big deal for me)

My parents' new dog Pippin was kind of adorable 

I wore tennis shoes with no socks because YOLO (I hate myself)

We put my friend Jodi in the trunk (*she was fine **she wasn't in there for very long ***do not call the police)

BUZZFEED QUIZZES

Much feelings

I drank tea and watched the Saved By The Bell Wedding.  It was a good day my friends.

I went and saw "American Hustle".  Bought these sunglasses.  It's like a thing now.

ERRRRMMMAAGEEERRDDD

This is a real conversation I had with a guy who I had been chatting with for literally 15 minutes.  This is your warning to never download Tinder.  

And that's about it so far this month!  Also I should let you guys know now that I did film my Valentine's make up tutorial HOWEVER my editing software is not working so as soon as I figure that out I will have it edited and posted but it may become a "romantic night out" video instead of a Valentine's video. I think we can all be ok with that right???

Update me on your lives and seriously please do not download Tinder.

xoxo

V

Coming Soon.....

A lovely little smoky eye/nude lip tutorial perfect for Valentine's Day!

Weekend Collage

weekend collage by vanessanelson featuring a tea mug

ALERT:  I will not be discussing the results of the Super Bowl now or ever.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Mine was filled with my favorite F's (steady there kids...)  FRIENDS, FOOD, and FUN

Some things I loved this weekend:

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in "Cotton Candy" paired with my MAC lip gloss in "Just Superb" 

and I wore my all time favorite perfume "FlowerBomb" all weekend.  It just puts me in a feminine mood.  

ALSO to anyone who watches "Nashville"....can we talk about how amazeballs Juliette was in that episode??? "I may have just burned the house down, but I made damn sure you were in it when I lit the match" brilliant.  Can't stop listening to her song "Don't Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet"  it's such a fantastic anthem.  And of course I drank my weight in tea because...that's my life now.  I particularly loved a honey/vanilla/chamomile combo that I purchased.

Anything you loved this weekend?  Please do share!!! 

xoxo

V

• Lea Michele: Louder 
• Katy Perry: Roar
• Christina Perry: Human
• Sara Bareilles: Brave 
• Beyonce: Run The World (Girls)
• Britney Spears: Work Work (The clean version...I listen to the original but you guys are better than I am)
• Alicia Keys: Girl On Fire
• Kacey Musgraves: Follow Your Arrow
• Bomshel: Fight Like A Girl
• Kelly Clarkson: Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)
• P!nk: Perfect 

Sensing a theme this week?  I've been really digging this playlist I made on my iPod featuring powerful women and inspirational songs.  Sometimes I need a little pick me up ya know?  A good old fashioned dose of girl power.  So crank it up ladies and dance like no one is watching...or like they are...who cares anyway.

xoxo

V

All About Lipstick

I love that quote....I feel like those are the only 3 things I have a way with too....besides having a way with drinking a 12 pack of Diet Coke in less than a week.
So as you may have guessed....because I may have mentioned it a thousand time or two...I LOVE lipstick. You could even say I'm slightly obsessed.  This is a fairly recent obsession.  About 5 years ago I wouldn't even wear lipgloss (I know....hard to imagine right?) then when I started working in make up I would wear lipgloss sometimes....but in the last year or so it's been all about the lipstick. So I thought I would share some of my current favorite lipstick colors for winter.  In the winter I like deeper, richer colors. However...that's not to say I don't like to change it up and go for a nice nude/pink/coral.  So let's get on with it then!

Deep Colors

L to R: Very Currant- Clinique, Shade 01- Kate Moss for Rimmel, #12 Forbidden Burgundy- YSL, Roundest Raspberry- Clinique, Hot Lava- Estee Lauder, After Party- Clinique, Mightiest Maraschino- Clinique, #11 Rose Culte- YSL

Light Colors

L to R: Cherry On Top- Maybelline Color Whisper, Silvery Moon- Clinique, Corail In Love- Lancome, Snob- MAC, Runway Coral- Clinique, #13 Peach Passion- YSL, Urban Ballet- Lancome

When I think of lipstick in the winter I think deep reds, burgundys, violets but I love switching it up with a coral or pink every now and then just so I don't get stuck in a rut.  Winter is hard enough as it is. 

Any lipstick favorites of yours???  Please share!!! 

xoxo

V

Top 10 Favorite Clinique Products

So as you know.....I work for Clinique....and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.  I mean....working for the #1 brand in the world is pretty easy to love.  There are so many reasons why I love Clinique.  First and foremost being that their skin care is the BEST skin care around.  There is nothing better outside of a dermatologist office for the skin.  Not only is their skin care the best but everything they make is....the best.  I decided to share with you my Top 10 all time favorite products from Clinique.  Just to serve as a little guide for some things that I feel are must-haves.
*Bonus points to the person who finds the misplaced Doctor Who reference in this post....

1. Clarifying Lotion "The Difference Maker"

I've mentioned Clarifying Lotion before and how much I love it.  We call it the difference maker and it really is.  It's custom fit, twice a day exfoliation that ANYONE and EVERYONE should use.  It fits perfectly into every skin care routine and makes your skin softer, clearer, more radiant.  Can't live without!

2. Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

If you are concerned with dark spots, acne scarring, or even just an overall uneven skin tone...this is the product for you.  I have noticed such a difference in my skin since I started using this.  It's evened out my skin tone so much.  This is a product I immediately have to replace when I run out.

3. Even Better Eyes

I love this eye cream.  It's super lightweight which I love.  It also reflects light which gives a brightening effect to the under-eye area.  I'm super picky about my eye creams so trust me when I say this is the best one I've ever used.

4. Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

 I talked about this in one of my videos but it's my all time favorite make up remover.  It starts out as a balm that melts into this oil that removes all your face and eye makeup.  It leaves your skin feeling so nice and soft.

5. CC Cream

Clinique was the first to offer a CC Cream and might I say....they did it the best.  I am in love with CC cream.  Normally I'm a very moderate-full coverage foundation gal.  With this CC cream...even though it's a sheer coverage, it color corrects the skin tone so well you don't need a full coverage.  I love how lightweight it feels and....bonus!  SPF 30!  Brilliant.

6. Moisture Surge

 Such a nice moisturizer....especially if your skin is like mine and is combo/oily but still needs a healthy dose of hydration.  My skin gets dehydrated very easily (probably because I live in this dry wasteland) but I can't add too much oil to my skin otherwise I'll break out.  Well.....Allons-y!  This stuff works wonders!  It seriously feels like a delicious, velvety, drink for the skin.

7. All About Eyes Serum

This is a rollerball serum that you can pair with any eye cream you use.  It helps de-puff the eye area and feels like a nice cool massage under your eyes.  *Bonus tip! Pop this baby into the refrigerator and then use....ohhhhh my.  Delightfully refreshing.

8. Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel

 Or...."the miracle worker" as I like to call it.  Have a little spot pop up?  Don't worry...just dab a little spot healing gel on it and literally overnight it's half the size.  Can't live without this for when a little spot likes to try and surprise me.

9. Take The Day Off Make Up Remover

 I usually use my balm to take my eye make up off (because I'm lazy) however when the occasion strikes I do use this make up remover for my eyes (especially if my liquid liner decides to have a complete mind of its own...which is 98% of the time).  It's the best make up remover for eyes I've ever used.  I've used ones that were literally twice as much money but because they add so much fragrance to them....they started irritating my eyes.  This one never does.  Love it!

10. Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam

I don't break out so often anymore (thanks to my 3 step skin care) however during that special and beautiful time each month when all the hormones in my body are screaming at each other like cast members of the Real Housewives, I will break out a little bit.  I just add this into my skin care routine and seriously.....guys.....I can't stress enough how well this works or how nice it is.  It's a foam and just makes your skin feel so clean!  PLUS it works!!!  Love.

Bonus product

If you use make up brushes....stop what you're doing....head to your local Clinique counter, and buy this make up brush cleanser.  It works so well!  I'll use it to spot clean my brushes or mix it with some warm water to give them a deep clean.  Again....fragrance free so your brushes are so clean, don't smell like flowers or anything weird, and don't leave your brushes with any sort of weird residue.  

So there you have it.  My Top 10, can't live without, Clinique products!  If you have any other questions on any other Clinique products....let me know!  I'd love to answer them!

And if you use any of these....let me know!  We can squeal over how awesome they are together!

xoxo

V

Weekend Collage

my weekend by vanessanelson featuring a gray eyeshadow

Oh hello!  I sure hope you had a great weekend because I sure did.  Some things I was obsessed with this weekend:

YSL Rouge Volupte in "Rose Culte".....I saw this and HAD to buy it on the spot.  It's amazing!

Philosopy "Falling In Love"....it's such a pretty scent

Taylor Swift "Sweeter Than Fiction" just....a great jam

Doctor Who....I literally watched it all weekend.  I stopped on Sunday however because the 10th Doctor regenerated and whoever invented regeneration is the WORST.  I need like 3 days to get over every single one.

ALSO TWO COOL STORIES ALERT:

My friend Karyn and I decided to try our hand at getting into a screening at the Sundance Film Festival.  So we chose Zach Braff's movie and then added ourselves to the wait list hoping we'd get in.  Not only did we get in BUT Zach Braff himself showed up to do a Q&A after and it was the BEST THING EVER.

And on a more serious note.....I'm overwhelmed by the love and support my friend Rebecca and her family have received.  I had to raise the goal for them 4 times because people kept giving.  I finally raised it to $23,000 yesterday morning hoping for the best.  We were a bit shy tonight and then I went and checked and some man who doesn't even know them, donated the remaining amount.  Amazing.  I love people so much. 

I hope you had an amazing weekend where you got to witness tiny miracles like I did.  If you have any to share....please do so! 

xoxo

V