Miss Priss Morgan

Teeny-tiny Ulta Haul

2014-02-10T15:47:00.001-08:00

{2 of my 3 drawers for lip products}

I started to organize some of my makeup this weekend, and posted this picture on Instagram. My second cousin commented that I don't need anymore lipstick, so of course, I went to Ulta today to buy more... I wanted to swatch a few eye shadow pallets, and check out the NYX Butter Glosses. This is my new obsession. I go and swatch something, and then sleep on it before buying... After the Urban Decay Naked 3 fiasco, one never be too careful...

I love Urban Decay, it's no secret... LOVE them! I can't wait for the day when I own every.single.eyeshadow. Imagine my excitement when last December the Naked 3 eye shadow palette was released... It was all anyone in the beauty blogosphere and on Youtube were talking about, I couldn't wait. Of course I went out and bought it the morning it came out... Ulta hadn't even managed to get it on the display yet. I brought it home, opened it up... and... womp womp.

The eye shadow palette as a whole, is full of warm, pinkish shades... which I know I don't ever wear... Really warm eye shadows {think MAC Woodwinked} tend to make my skin look really sallow and sickly. Pink, mauve, red, and most warm purples and reddish-browns make me look like I've got a case of contagious conjunctivitis, a la Bob Costas; but this is Urban Decay, so I purchased it anyway. I owned the palette for a total of three days and then returned it after about twenty people asked if my eye was ok. What a disappointment.

Anyway, today I went to swatch the Smashbox Full Exposure palette to see if maybe it's something I want to buy. I also wanted to check out the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, and some of their other palettes. I'll say right off the bat that the matte colors in the Smashbox palette were beautiful. however, half of the shades are shimmery, and those were not good at all. There was a ton of glitter {to the point of mad fallout}, but the color payoff just wasn't there... They were almost sheer. I was so sad, because the palette is beautiful! I really loved the Too Faced Natural at Night palette and the Boudoir Eyes palette as well as three Stilla palettes: The Natural, Not So Nude, and Dare to Bare. I don't own any Stila products, except for a trio I purchased a few years back {and have never used}. I loved the products when I swatched, I'm just not sure about their quality, any thoughts?

Anyway, I left feeling defeated, but not empty handed... Oh no! I got a few little goodies.

From left to right: Maybelline Color Elixer by Color Sensational Lipgloss in Petal Push, NYX Butter Gloss Sweet Temptations Trio - Éclair, Cherry Pie & Apple Strudel, NYX round lipstick in Paparazzi, & NYX Roll-on Eye Shimmer in Pink {for a fun Valentine's Day look}, NYX Blush in Bourgeois Pig.

L'Oreal EverCream Intense Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner

2014-02-05T10:04:00.003-08:00

I just did a review of the L'Oreal EverCream Cleansing Conditioner, if you haven't read it, or purchased the product yet… what are you waiting for?! Because I love that product so much, I decided to try the L'Oreal EverCream Intense Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner {roughly $6.00 each}, mostly to see if I could save anytime in the shower. This system claims to be for "dry to very dry hair," they also have just a "Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner" for normal to dry hair.

Lately, I've been all about my sleep, but with work and going back to school, it feels like I'm not getting any! I give myself roughly 30 minutes every morning to get ready, and haven't quite mastered the "shower before bed" thing yet. I purchased my shampoo and conditioner at Walgreens and couldn't wait to get home to try them.

The Claims

Here are the claims from Ulta's website:

EverCreme Intense Nourishing Shampoo gently cleanses and deeply restores lost moisture. The intensely nourishing formula instantly wraps each strand with rich moisture, leaving very dry hair healthy-looking and manageable without weighdown.

Introducing formulas so gentle, yet so nourishing. Free of harsh sulfates, and heavy coating waxes Evercreme Sulfate-Free Moisture System, with natural Omega-3 & 6, infuses moisture without weighdown. These triple action conditioning formulas leave hair luxuriously soft and shiny while natural botanicals invigorate the senses.

For dry to very dry hair

Triple action hydration; No harsh salts

Paraben-free; Sulfate-free; Natural botanicals

100% vegan--formula not tested on animals, no animal byproducts

The claims were very similar to those made for the EverCream Cleansing Conditioner. I was excited to try it. All I have to say is, what a disappointment! I won't even bother making a pro and con list, because there were no pros!

The shampoo had the same "claiming to be vanilla" smell the cleansing conditioner has, but the conditioner did have a more pleasant scent, which was more like vanilla and less like the formaldehyde/snicker-doodle scent. The shampoo was a typical sudsing shampoo but didn't feel as "creamy" or as thick as shampoos I'm used to using… it felt almost watery. As every shampoo has done since I started using the Cleansing Conditioner {including my beloved but expensive Pureology Hydrate}, it made my hair feel dry, straw-like and tangled after I rinsed it. I couldn't wait to use the conditioner. Whenever I wash my hair with the Pureology Hydrate shampoo, I look forward to the silkifying effect of the conditioner. It takes that tangled mess and smooths it out and makes it soft… it's like a nice moisturizing bath after a day playing in the mud…

I slathered on the conditioner, from root to tip and let it sit for the usual two minutes… I ran my fingers through it, and… nothing. So I rinsed it. My hair still felt dry and straw-like, and was still a tangled mess. I conditioned again, for three minutes this time. Same result. Are you kidding me?! Even a $2 bottle of Suave conditioner makes my hair soft and smooth, even if it is greasy and weighed down! I conditioned a third time, for two more minutes, and then quit.

When I got out of the shower I grabbed my tangle teaser. I couldn't even run it through my ends!!! Anyone who has a tangle teaser knows that thing is a miracle tool, it combs through anything without breaking the hair… and it got stuck. I grabbed my Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Conditioner, Agadir Argon Oil, and tried again… I could comb through my hair, but it was rough.

After blow-drying, my hair felt super dry, and straw-like It looked really dull and had zero shine. It had no volume, was flat and wouldn't hold curl. I saturated it with oil and leave in conditioner, and left for work. After school, I went to my brother's house so my sister-in-law could give my ends a trim. "Wow, your hair is super dry! Maybe use a K-Pak when you get home..."

Don't get me wrong, my hair is color treated, so my ends do get a little dry, but I would never describe myself as having "dry hair"… it's oily for sure. Needless to say I was annoyed. I went straight home after my trim, and applied my K-Pak Protein Reconstructor for five minutes, and then the Intense Moisture for another ten minutes. I then let my hair air dry and coated the ends in coconut oil. I left the oil all evening and all night, and rinsed it out in my shower this morning.

I shampooed with the cleansing conditioner this morning and used my Pureology Hydrate conditioner on the ends… my hair is back to normal, smooth, soft, tangle free and shiny. I was really disappointed, as much as I love the cleansing conditioner, the Intense Nourishing products were anything but. The bottle claimed it was for people with "dry to very dry hair." If it had such a terrible drying effect on my oily hair, I can only imagine what it would do to someone with "very dry" hair! I returned them this morning and will never repurchase. Never.

L'Oreal EverCream Cleansing Conditioner

2014-02-05T09:36:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in a few of my YouTube videos {over a year ago!} that I was going to review L'Oreal EverCream Cleansing Conditioner… and I still haven't. I've been using this product for nearly two years, so I figured it's probably time!

I, just like any beauty product junkie out there, have spent many sleepless nights watching Chaz Dean work his magic on the Wen Cleansing Conditioner informercials. I was always curious, but never brave enough to pull the trigger and buy the $30+ non-shampoo… Then one day my mom purchased it. I tried it… once… and hated it. Mostly because (1.) I didn't really know how to use it and (2.) It had silicone in it.

Us fine haired beauties can't use products with silicone, nope, not even all those Frizz-ease products. While they're intended to make the hair look shiny… it just makes my hair look greasy. Anyway, my mom hated Wen as well. It's not a fair conclusion, especially because I only tried it once, but for $30 I expected it to work magic! I still loved the idea of Wen though...

I don't know how I even came across this L'Oreal Product, I never use "drugstore" shampoos and conditioners, so I can't imagine I was perusing the shampoo isle. I have fine hair, but because it's color treated, so I need a lot of hydration but not something that will make my hair stringy and flat. I've come to discover that Pureology's Hydrate line is the only system that keeps my hair from becoming too dry or damaged. I've used it for years {5+ years}, and occasionally switched to a Biologe shampoo/conditioner. I love Pureology products, so it was going to take a miracle for me to switch, but an inexpensive alternative would have done it.

The Claims

L'Oreal Paris' website has the following statement on their EverCream Cleansing Conditioner:

"Tired of dry hair? Discover a gentle, luxurious regimen to nourish and moisturize your hair without the weighdown. EverCrème Sulfate-Free Moisture System is free of harsh sulfates and heavycoating waxes. It uses botanical ingredients with Omega- 3 & 6 and a triple action conditioning system to moisturize naturally. Hair is left completely nourished for incredible hydration, softness and shine."

Ulta's Website makes the following statement:

"This one-step wonder product is an ultra-gentle, yet powerful combination of 1/4 cleanser + 3/4 moisture. It's low-lather cleansing that reduces friction of the hair fiber to help minimize breakage. This innovative, ultra concentrated triple action conditioning formula, with Omega-3 and 6, leaves hair super soft and nourished without weighdown. You're one step away from luxuriously soft, manageable hair. Perfect for all dry hair types.

Low-lather

Sulfate-Free

Triple Action Hydration

No harsh salts

Paraben-Free

Natural botanicals

100% vegan"

I purchased the cleansing conditioner at CVS for roughly $6.00. I was skeptical to say the least, but went home immediately to try it out… As you'll see in the claims made by manufacturers and sellers, this shampoo is "sulfate-free." I've heard all about the sulfate-free trend for years, but didn't know much about it. So I looked into it. Sulfate-free shampoos don't have foam producing agents in them, while these agents aren't "dangerous" as some reports claim, they do cause hair to be dryer and color fade more quickly. Essentially, a sulfate-free shampoo makes curls curlier, hair shiner, and color last longer.

But even with the sulfate-free claim, I wasn't sold… My Pureology claimed to be sulfate-free and the shampoo still created glorious suds in the shower {sure to the Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate}! EverCream Cleansing Conditioner also claimed to hydrate hair without weighing it down, minimize breakage, and leave the hair soft and shiny…

The Process

To test it out, I first watched a Wen video on YouTube to get instructions on how to use a cleansing conditioner… This was SUPER helpful. Most shampoos, I pour in my hands, create a lather, and slapt it on my hair. I sort of just "gloss over the surface" without doing much work, and voila! My hair was cleaned. Cleansing conditioners however are SO different! Because they don't later, it feels like washing your hair with conditioner… No one conditions the same way they shampoo, they really have to work the conditioner into the scalp and hair instead of just "gloss over" it. The process is similar with a cleansing conditioner.

So to start, I parted my hair down the middle from forehead to scalp. I used one pump and evenly distributed it along the part. I then made another part 1/2 way between the center part and my hairline on the right side, and applied another pump's worth of product. Then I applied another pump Along my hairline. I repeated this on the left side. I then took another full pump and worked it into my ends. Almost immediately, I was amazed by how soft, de-tangled and manageable my ends became! It was like I was conditioning them!

I then started to massage my scalp along the crown, down the back, and the sides. I spent a good few minutes on this… Again, because it didn't lather, I wasn't sure I was getting all of my hair cleaned. I worked my scalp until I was sure I'd covered every inch. I ran my fingers through the first inch or so of my roots to make sure they were clean as well, and then I rinsed.

Normally when I use shampoo, my hair becomes a big ol' tangled mess and feels a little bit dry. It's not until I rinse the conditioner that my hair lays down normally. After rinsing the cleansing conditioner, my hair laid flat against my neck/back and I could easily run my fingers through it without tangles or resistance! Uh.may.zing!

Now with this product, you don't "need" a conditioner. It says to just use the product from the nape of your neck to you ends a second time… so I did, and rinsed again. Another key to this product is in the rinse. It's important to rinse the hair until the "water runs clear." Originally the water will have a white tint to it, so really rinse and work your hands through your hair until the water is clear to make sure everything is out.

I got out of the shower, and used my tangle teaser to comb through my hair. Usually, after I shower, I spray my hair with a leave-in conditioner {Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In}, and my Agadir Argon oil before brushing it out. This time I didn't use either and I was dumbfounded at how easily my hair detangled.

After blow-drying my hair was soft, manageable, shinier than normal, and had more volume, even without mousse!! My ends were a little dry, so after that, I still used my Hydrate conditioner on the ends for extra moisture.

The Pros

It works! All of the claims proved to be true. My hair was shiny, soft, tangle free, my color has lasted longer, and I don't use as many moisturizing, de-taingling products as I did before. I don't use mousse anymore because I don't need to. I've also noticed that my hair is growing faster, probably due to the scalp stimulation from massaging, and my hair is healthier and has much less breakage than it ever has!

The Cons

The L'Oreal EverCream Cleansing Conditioner is amazing… but after two years of using it, there are some "cons," however none of them, {or all of them combined for that matter} are enough for me to stop using this product.

Smell. The first time I used this product I was totally put off by the smell and figured maybe I got a bad batch. It smells like a cross between burnt snicker doodles, and formaldehyde (remember dissecting pigs in Science lab?!). It doesn't stay on the hair, but it's not pleasant. I with they would use essential oils like tea-tree or lavender {like Pureology does} to improve the smell.
Time. Because this isn't a "slap it on, rinse it off" product like I've found most sudsing shampoos to be, I definitely spend more time in the shower. I HAVE TO take the time to massage my scalp and my hair to really "scrub" the dirt and oil out. Sudsing shampoos seem to just rinse that stuff away in their bubbles. Because it's so hydrating, I can go longer in between washes, so I take full advantage by only washing every other day or every two days to avoid all that extra time in the shower.
Amount. I've discovered that I use more of the cleansing conditioner than I did shampoo. When I'd dispense my shampoo, one pump {or a quarter size} would be fine. However, with the cleansing conditioner, I use roughly 6+ pumps of product. Luckily, it's inexpensive and on sale a lot, because I go through a bottle roughly every month.
Residue. when I first started using this product, I lived in an apartment where my bathtub and shower were combined… I want to preface by saying that now that I have a separate bathtub and shower, I don't notice this anymore… Anyway, my old shower/tub drain was a little wonky, and would fill about 1/2 inch with water every time I showered. I would notice that the cleansing conditioner would leave a pinkish-yellow spiderweb like residue on the walls of my tub once that water drained. It wasn't a big deal, I just had to clean my shower more often.
WTF Factor. The last con, I like to call the "WTF factor." That's because about 1 out of every 10 times I use this product, after I've blow-dried my hair I say "WTF?! My hair looks more greasy than it did before I washed it!?!" This is 100% user error, and not a con of the product, but it's something I feel I need to mention. I mentioned in the "process" section that this is different than using separate shampoo and conditioner. So, the process for cleansing the hair is different. If I don't take the time to really clean my scalp and roots, if I don't use enough product, or if I don't thoroughly rinse the product out, my hair will end up greasy. It really does feel different even before I blow-dry. It's tangly, stringy, and feels heavier… it looks like I put conditioner in my hair and didn't rinse it… Ick.

Overall

I love this product! LOVE! I've used it for two years and don't foresee using anything else. Occasionally I'll shower knowing I don't have the time to use it, so I'll got back to my Pureology Hydrate. As amazing as that shampoo is, and as expensive as it is, it now makes my hair feel straw-like and tangled! I'm really not a fan! I've grown used to the smell, and if I know I have a quick morning, I'll wash my hair the night before to avoid the WTF factor. Like I said, there is nothing I mentioned in the "Cons" that will make me change my mind about it. It's amazing… My hair has never been healthier, longer or stronger, and I know it's because of the L'Oreal EverCream Cleansing Conditioner!

★★★★☆
4 out of 5 stars

Be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 where I review the L'Oreal EverCream Intense Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner!

New Blog | Update your feeds!

2014-01-02T13:24:00.003-08:00

I needed a fresh start, so I'm now writing at:

www.LoveyDoves.net

Come say hi!

My Everyday Makeup Routine

2013-03-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

I love makeup, it's no lie. I collect it, I play with it and I even make blog posts and YouTube videos about it... With all of the different products I own, I could do a different makeup look everyday from now until forever. But the truth is, even I have a routine. There's just something about finding good products and combinations of products... it gives me a sense of calm.

I'm usually running late in the mornings, and knowing that I can wake up and pop on my face in five minutes is glorious... especially because I know it will look good! I've gotten lots of questions, so I decided to film a video about how I do my makeup errday{cue Drake & Lil Wayne}... unless I'm trying something new...

Products Used:

Face:

Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfecter BB Cream Combo/Oily

Revlon ColorStay Concealer

Bare Minerals Matte Foundation

Bare Minerals Bisque Undereye Concealer

Nars Bronzer in Laguna

Bare Minerals Faux Tan Bronzing Powder

MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty

Eyebrows/Eyes:

Rimmel Scandalize Eyeliner in Nude

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Naked

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer

MAC Blanc Type Eyeshadow

MAC All That Glitters Eyeshadow

MAC Texture Eyeshadow

MAC Brown Down Eyeshadow

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Burbon

L'Oreal HIP Mascara Blackest Black

Lips:

NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Beige

Rimmel Lipliner in East End Snob

and MAC Creme Cup lipstick

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie

St. Patrick's Day Makeup Tutorial

2013-03-13T23:22:00.001-07:00

Blow those bagpipes, and dance like a banshee because I am CELEBRATING over here! It must be true, the Luck o' the Irish, because normally, I am late for everything! But check it, I was able to get this St. Patrick's Day Makeup Tutorial filmed, edited, and posted just in time for people to see it, learn it and do it! If I could, I'd give my self a little pot o' gold but maybe I'll settle for a congratulatory kiss from Muscley Arms?!

Let's be honest, when it comes to makeup, I'm a neutral lover. Beige, tan, brown, and naked are the staple colors in my makeup collection, with a little bit of pink thrown in the mix. But every once in awhile, when I'm feeling a bit mischievous I'll throw some green in to the mix! Green makeup is seriously underrated! It looks great with EVERY eye color and can still pass as a neutral {No joke, did you know even camouflage, one of this Springs hottest trends, is considered a neutral?!} I've done this look for the past two years, and I still get really excited about it... Maybe I should wear it more than just as a holiday look? If you're not a fan of green clothing, or if you don't own green clothing, check out my tutorial for a look that will help you avoid getting pinched this St. Patrick's Day!

{PS. Stay tuned at the end of the video for some super sweet footage. This is what happens when I'm not aware the camera is still on!}

Products Used:

Eyes:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

NYX Jumbo Eye shadow Pencil in Cucumber {Lime will do just fine}

Coastal Scents 88 Palette 3A {Spring Green color} and 2B {Yellow color}, black

MAC Blanc Type

MAC Tet-A-Tint

Urban Decay Eye shadow in Mildew

Urban Decay Eye shadow in Naked

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Perversion

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Mildew

Tarte EmphasEYES Gel Eyeliner in Black

Maybelline the Rocket Mascara

L'Oreal HIP Mascara

Cheeks:

MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty

Lips:

NYX Lipliner in Pinky

NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Beige

Makeup for Tired Eyes | Tutorial

2013-03-12T14:43:00.002-07:00

Daylight savings time... ugh! As much as I love that extra hour of sunshine, and the excitement for long summer days, I dread loosing that hour of sleep... How can it be that loosing one little hour of sleep can be so detrimental to my day, mood, health {I seriously got a migraine on Monday!}, etc.?!

While doctors recommend eight hours of beauty sleep each night, this girl requires 9-10! But, who am I kidding, no one has time for that much shut eye. On mornings I wake up feeling less than refreshed, I turn to my trusty friend, makeup, to help me fake an "I slept all night" glow!

I know that most women think that the key to tired, red eyes is lots of dark eye shadow and eyeliner, but that couldn't be further from the truth... {Is it further or farther?} Further! When I get a good night's rest, my skin is luminous and glowing, and my eyes are bright, it's as if I don't even need makeup! In the video below, I'll show you how to create this look!

Products Mentioned:

Preps:
Garnier Anti-Puff Eyeroller
Dermalogica Welcome Matte Oil Free & Mattifying Moisturizer

Face:
Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Combo/Oily Skin
Revlon ColorStay Concealer
Rimmel Scandalize Eyeliner in Nude
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer in Brightener
L'Oreal Magic Lumi Concealer
Bare Minerals Faux Tan Bronzing Powder
Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Pink Frosting
Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder

Eyebrows/Eyes:
Urban Decay eye shadow Single in Naked
Two Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Primer
MAC Blanc Type
Lorac Pro Palette Champagne {or Lt. Bronze} & White
Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette {bronzer}
Bare Minerals Big & Bright eyeliner in Midnight
Maybelline the Rocket Mascara

Lips:
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Sweeheart Valentine

Wanna Get Naked?

2013-03-06T18:07:00.001-08:00

No no no, not that kind! My mother would be appalled if I engaged in such behavior on the Internet; and Muscley Arms? Let's just say that hunk of manly beef cake would be on the prowl for a new leading lady! Trashy women? Ain't nobody got time for that!

I'm talking about a naked face. Yep, that's right, I've got a new makeup tutorial today that I'm appropriately calling the Naked Face! It's an everyday, wearable look made almost entirely of Urban Decay Naked products!!! Hope you likey!

Products Used:

1. Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation

2. Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder

3. Urban Decay's Naked Flushed Palette

4. Urban Decay's Naked Eyeshadow Palette {Virgin, Naked & Buck}

5. Urban Decay's Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette {Foxy & Chopper}

6. Urban Decay's 24/7 double eyeliner in Zero & Burbon

7. - umm apparently I forgot about #7...

8. Urban Decay's Lip Junkie lipgloss in Naked

9. Urban Decay's 27/7 lipliner in Naked

10. Maybelline The Rocket Mascara

11. L'oreal Extra Volume Collegen Mascara

Update your browsers!

2013-03-04T14:35:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the inconvenience...

But, because I was away from Blogger for so long, I didn't realize the interface changed so much...

To be honest, I don't like it and I don't want to learn to use it!!!

www.MissPrissMorgan.com will still be my blog website address once the conversion is complete, but right now I'm working on switching over to Wordpress!

For now, my blog can be read at: MissPrissMorgan.blogspot.com.. you know, the "vintage" site name!

It's time for a redesign...

2013-03-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the construction...
Here's a little something I'm working on...

One Year!

2013-02-18T02:47:00.000-08:00

Easy As Pie

2013-02-15T13:28:00.000-08:00

When it comes to dessert, I'm a cheesecake girl. Plain cheesecake. No Strawberries, no sour cream sauce, just plain cheesecake. Muscley arms, on the other hand is a berry guy. His favorite is berry cobbler {but there's only one recipe he'll eat}, and berry pie.

Even though I'm a lousy cook, I'm a pretty darn good baker! I wanted to do something special for him for Valentine's day, a cookie bouquet, cupcakes, but nothing seemed to fit the bill. I was at target the other day, and found a mini heart-shaped pie press, and ding ding ding!!! I had a winner. I decided to make him Mini Raspberry Pies to munch on tonight, since he won't be able to munch on my face...

These were so easy to make, and literally took 20 minutes, start to finish! Here's what you'll need...

1 bag of frozen, sweetened raspberries

1 pre-made pie crust {the kind with 2 layers}

Mini Heart Pie Press {Target has them for about $4}

A little sugar

A little flour

And here's how to do it...

1. Unroll your pie crust onto a cutting board
2. Use the pie press to cut out heart shapes

3. Thaw your raspberries.
4. Make the filling. I used Sweetened rRaspberries. I dumped the package into a bowl, added 2 spoons of sugar {regular cereal spoons} , and 1 spoon of flour and mixed it all together so that the raspberries would get all juicy.

5. Then I put 1 heart crust into the press, added about 2 spoons of filling, covered with another crust and pressed them together. I then cut a few slits into the top crust for ventilation.

6. Once I finished, I put all of the pies on a cookie sheet and baked at 400 for 25 minutes.

They were so easy, and he loved them!

Valentine's Day Look #2: Sultry

2013-02-14T11:31:00.002-08:00

Today's makeup look is not for the faint of heart. Ladies it's time to put on your big girl panties and be the gorgeous sex kitten that's deep inside! This look was inspired by the Victoria's Secret catalogue, because if sexy isn't hot ladies walking around in their skivvies, I don't know what is!

Even without a Valentine, a girl needs to feel sexy, and it's UH-MAY-ZING what this look did for my confidence. Who knew? Makeup totally changed the way I felt! For all my single ladies, if you're having a night in, try this makeup look, and take a photo of yourself, you'll thank yourself in 20 years when you look back on it and say, "Dammmnn!"'

Dammnn!

Products Used:

Face:
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
Bare Minerals Faux Tan Bronzer
Bare Minerals Bisque (Highlight)
Milani Brow Fix Highlight Shade
NYX Blush in Natural {or any peach or light pink blush}

Eyes:
MAC eyeshadow in Blanc Type on brow bone {or any skin toned shade}
Urban Decay eyeshadow in Sidecar on eyelid {or any taupe, shimmery shade}
MAC eyeshadow in Texture above crease {or any warm, orangy brown shade}
MAC eyeshadow in Brown Down in crease {or any dark brown shade}
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Uzi {on upper lashline or any gray eyeliner}
Urban Decay eyeshadow in Gunmetal to set eyeliner {or any gray eyeshadow}
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Burbon on lower lashline {or any bronze eyeliner}
Urban Decay eyeshadow in Darkhorse to set eyeliner {or any dark bronze eyeshadow}
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Perversion on waterline {or any black eyeliner}
Urban Decay eyeshadow in Creep to darken outer corner {or any black eyeshadow}
Maybelline The Rocket Mascara in Blackest Black
L'oreal Extra Collegen Mascara in Black Noir

Lips:
NYX Lipliner in Natural {or any natural color lipliner}
NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Sweetheart {or any nude lipgloss}

Valentine's Day Look #1: Sweet

2013-02-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

I love any reason to play with makeup... especially holidays, with theme colors! Oh how I love theme colors!!! {for example}. This year, I can't celebrate Valentine's Day on the actual holiday, so Muscley Arms and I have decided to have a two-day love fest extravaganza!

I planned our date tonight! We are going to be enjoying a sweet, romantic stay-cation, complete with Couple's Massages and dinner! Tonight, I want to look sweet, and pretty, so I came up with a makeup look inspired by candy hearts.

I do apologize for the video! It's been a long time, and I'm out of practice... and I still haven't learned how to use this amazing camera Muscley Arms got me for my birthday... I'll get better, I promise.

If you're going for a sweet, girlie look this Valentine's Day, watch the video. A list of the products used will be listed below.

Eyes:

MAC from the Caviar Dreams Quad {or any very light shimmery pink}

MAC Playful from the Eyes on Manish Palette {or any medium toned hot pink}

MAC Glamour Check {or any red-brown}

MAC Blanc Type {or any skin tone color}

Milani Brow Fix Kit- the highlight shade {or any shimmery highlight color}

L'oreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black

L'oreal Extra Volume Collegen Mascara

Cheeks:

Benefit Boxed Blush: Thrrrob {or any bright pink blush}

Lips:

NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Beige {or any pigmented pink lipgloss}

Backed Up

2012-10-19T14:26:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned it before... but I'll say it again. It kills me to read a blog post that starts with, "It's been for.ev.er since I've blogged!" or the like. It bothers me so much, that I've started deleting blogs from my blog roll if I find one post starting with an apology for not writing daily. Let's be honest, blogging is hard. It's hard for the same reason keeping a journal is hard, it takes thought, and time, and pictures. {my biggest downfall is pictures! If I don't have a picture of something, I feel like I can't blog it.} There are times when I feel like I don't have much to say because my life may not be super exciting at that moment. Or {my case lately}, I might be so on-the-go and so busy that I have tons of stuff to write about, but no time to write it.

Remember last year when for six months MissPrissMorgan was silent? {insert cricket chirps} I was living life! I was doing a lot of fun things: dating, making new friends, traveling, making mistakes, enjoying my hobbies, and riding on the backs of motorcycles with cute boys - but I didn't have time to document it. When I finally would have time to write, I'd feel really overwhelmed by everything I had to say. I'd try doing that thing where I back-tracked the daily goings on of the last few months, and let me tell you, what came out was nothing but rambling brain vomit. So I stopped. I lived, and I didn't document any of it.

It makes me sad that I don't have that window of time written down, but not sad enough to stress over the act of remembering, and then writing it, and then putting pictures with it. For those bloggers who are constantly stressing that they missed blogging about their family dinner, or baby's first burp, stop. It's ok. Don't worry about back-tracking, just start fresh when you have some time.

A Summer Sum-up

2012-09-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned, I've been away from the bloggy, living a pretty great life. Since I started dating Muscley Arms, I have become ACTIVE. I work all day, and play all evening, and it's been great! My co-workers have even commented that my life must be so fun because I'm always doing something. And it is!

Sometimes I get a little homesickfor my "shows," because the only TV I've seen since February is baseball. Can someone please tell me what's going on in the love triangle between Steffen, Elana and Damon? Or how about the Walking Dead? Who's been eaten since February?! I'm dying to know!

Meanwhile, I won't try to play catch-up on blogging, but I will throw up a few pictures of the delights the summer had to offer!

I have a Sister

2012-04-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

It's official, this only-girl-in-a-family-of-boys finally has a sister... and a nephew!

We knew it was going to happen, we just weren't sure about when. Sometime in mid-June was our guess. Then, Saturday night, we got a text that Evan and Alison were getting married Sunday night at A Little White Wedding Chapel on Las Vegas Blvd. We're classy folks.

Because of past decisions, they weren't able to be sealed in the temple. Her family decided that since a temple marriage wasn't happening, they didn't support any marriage, and therefore Alison's childhood dreams of a big wedding wouldn't come true. My family tried to help, but because of financial limitations, we still were not able to provide exactly what she wanted... and let's be honest... every bride should get exactly what she wants on her wedding day.

Rather than crying over spilled milk, they took the opportunity to create a fun story, a memory, they'll remember forever. They chose to have a drive-through ceremony here in Las Vegas. It's good to know that they have set a goal to go to the temple next year, but honestly, the cheesy, Vegas wedding was a ton of fun!

They invited family and a few friends from Church, and one of them even dressed like Elvis to commemorate the feeling of the evening. It was perfect. Muscley Arms and I went to an Adult Store before hand to supply them with a "Bachelor Party in a Bag," and others gave them the wedding gift they needed most... Money!

I'm glad they made the decision to start their own little family, and I'm so excited I get to be a part of it!

More Beach Get-Aways!

2012-04-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

I love the beach. It feels like home to me. Last year was the first year in a long stream of years where I didn't have a beach vacation. When I went to Disneyland a few months ago, we swung by Newport just to dip our toes in the water and say hello. I think he told me he missed me too.

The countdown to Cancun has officially begun{<i>29 days!</i>}. There is just something about sand, surf, and sun that gets me all giddy inside. Imagine my excitement when I got a text yesterday that said, "Want to go to Mexico... Part 2?" Umm yes please?!

So, we're going. Exactly 2 days after our Cancun trip!

Mulligan

2012-04-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those days {or evenings}? You know the kind, something happens, and then the snowball effect occurs. It's amazing what one bad mood can do to the energy surrounding an entire group of people, and pretty soon, everyone is a grumpus.

I have fully adopted the idea of "do-over's." They're amazing. When in the throws of a frustrating situation, I simply jam the pole of my invisible white flag into the ground via Gandalf in the Fellowship of the Ring {"You shall not pass!"} and declare with conviction, "We are starting over, right now!" Sometimes I'll even put a time window on it, "Do-over on the last 15 hours!"

It works people. I highly recommend it.

The Art of Listmaking

2012-04-20T18:52:00.000-07:00

There are stages to writing a list.

First there is the gentle thrill of anticipation as I contemplate the paper in front of me. I may not yet have a subject for my list, but just the thought of one gives me a sense of purpose. Then comes the extraordinary sense of satisfaction from having created a rigid timetable of impossible tasks that has taken a disproportionate amount of time and thought. Finally, as I look back on the list, my head is clear again and I feel an all consuming calm.

It doesn't matter if I never look at it again.

I can't hold more than three things in my head at a time. As soon as I hit number four I'd better have a pen and paper nearby or I'm in trouble. So I make lists.

Hello. My name is Morgan, and I am a list maker.

I love making lists: to do, to make, to write, to buy. I make multiple lists everyday. I misplace them and write them again. Charles Green Shaw said, Charles Green Shaw: "Real happiness consists in not what we actually accomplish, but what we think we accomplish." My lists clutter my desk and my purse; little paper gnats giving me a perceived sense of accomplishment.

Psychologists say that obsessive compulsive list makers {I guess that includes me} are trying to create an illusion of control in otherwise chaotic lives. While my life isn't exactly "chaotic," my head is. Filled with ideas, projects, vacation destinations and other things things; and always going a hundred miles a minute. It can be exhausting. So, I see nothing wrong with the above theories. I have come to look at my list making as a medium for creativity. Some people paint, some "write." While I would like to say that my creative outlet is taking photos, in all reality I make lists. My stories, blog posts, and essays begin with lists. On whatever is at hand— often on post-its or napkins—I jot down fragments of ideas in the order that my mind offers them.

This is the first step - purging the pieces without structure. It’s notating in shorthand what will go in the container, whether the container is a blog post, a life experience or the garbage bin. My lists usually start small, and then expand, each individual tick becoming its own list, like a nesting doll.

Imagine my excitement when, during a rare trip to the book store, I stumbled upon this...

Listogrophy: Your Life In Lists

It's genius! Complete with quirky watercolor illustrations and prompts on every page. It's a non-journal journal for the OCLMs (obsessive compulsive list makers) like me!

I've got this

2012-04-16T09:00:00.001-07:00

"I've got this."

Lather.

Rinse.

Repeat.

The Transfer

2012-04-12T14:35:00.004-07:00

Me: *Panic. Confusion. Trying to fight back tears.

I was sick to my stomach. He wouldn't give me details until it could be in person, and I am not good at waiting on edge. He was just transferred here, how can he be moving again after only a few months?! Man, I'd like to kick his boss in the shins. When I got to his house he answered the door with a bouquet of red roses. "I bought these at 4:50 pm" he said. "Remember that, because that time is significant."

We put them in water and then were in the car driving downtown. Date night. Phantom of the Opera. We had decided it would be fun to get really dressed up and I did not hold back on the black eyeliner or mascara. I was kicking myself for it now. He started explaining that he got a call at 5:00 pm about his "new position" and that he would be starting Monday. He was confused, thinking he wasn't supposed to start for a few more months. This confused the person on the other end of the phone. "You mean, no one has talked to you yet?" "No."

Someone in the Utah office had resigned, and Muscley Arms was going to take over that position... starting Monday! I felt the warm water engulf my eyes, and then stream down my cheeks. I tried to hold it back, feeling really selfish for not even asking how he felt about it, but I couldn't help it. My entire focus went to controlling myself, and trying not to allow my nose to run or let out one of those embarrassing high pitched sob sounds. You know the ones. In my head, I imagined the worst.

He specified that he didn't have to move, but he'd have to work there most of the week and would be able to come home on weekends; and the transfer is only for a few months. Is that better? I think I cried harder. In hindsight I realize that it is better, at least I'll get weekends. For the last few months the most we've been apart is three days, now we'll be lucky if we see each other three days a week. He then told me that the roses were not part of an apology. He just wanted to get me flowers. But after an unsuccessful search for Peonies {my favorite} for nearly two hours he decided on red roses. "They're classic." All of that was before the phone call...

I find myself questioning if "absence {really does} make the heart grow fonder," or if we're still so new that we won't be able to take the distance. I finally got around to asking him how he feels about it. He's not happy, but he'll do it because he has to. So I will to. "We've got this," I keep repeating to myself. I'll do it because I have to. Because I want him. Because I want us.

I talked to my mom about it this morning and she assured me that it would be good for us to spend some time apart, "not even married couples spend as much time together as you two do." I stood there, bewildered, and then asked, "Why not? It's so much fun!"

Sometimes I think I'm being ridiculous about how sad I am, he'll only be gone a few days a week. But other times I think I'm justified. I want him close by.

~~I just hope Kelly Clarkson was right, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."~~

**Update** He doesn't have to go! All that worrying for nothing! How annoying.

Jelly Belly

2012-04-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year: the warmer weather, colors, and the overall sense of freshness and renewal.

*sigh*

Ahh Spring!

This past weekend was just lovely, filled with lots of candy, church, colorful clothing and family time. I love family time! Evan, Alison, Muscley Arms and I kicked off the festivities Saturday night by coloring Easter eggs. Baby Tanner even helped!

Sunday morning, I woke up to a lovely Easter basket from my mom, filled with candy and a card... the good kind of card! *wink wink*

I decided to make a basket for Muscley Arms, which was no easy task. He recently began the Paleo Diet which basically states, no grain, no dairy, no sugar... What is Easter if not for dairy or sugar?! I had to get creative. I filled his eggs with Pistachios and sunflower seeds, sugar free gum, sugar free life savers {which came in handy when all of us were eating our "real" candy!}, and dark chocolate Easter bunnies from Whole Foods {made with soy and dairy free}. Growing up, we always got fun stuff in our Easter baskets, like a new swimsuit, or silly toy, so I stocked up! Sidewalk calk, bunny blaster guns, and a kite!

Church was just wonderful, we had a great testimony meeting, and my mom even joined us! Everyone looked so beautiful in their pastel and floral dresses, and then men all looked so handsome in their pastel shirts and ties!

After church we headed up to my grandparent's house for dinner. Once we were stuffed, we burned off some calories by having an Easter Egg hunt.

... and then an Easter Egg toss. Lucky for us, we used hard-boiled eggs... and broke every single one!

It was a great weekend.

Cave People

2012-04-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome, welcome windy April!

I was under the impression that the blogging every.single.day trend was back. However, this past week has been fairly "uneventful." I say uneventful in that I didn't do much that most people would consider exciting. There was some gym going, playing with Muscley Arms, and colored jeans wearing. But that's about it, nothing to write home about, really.

I think more than a lack of effort, my absence on the blog can be attributed to the fact that lately, I've been tired all.the.time. Not just the "I was up late last night" fatigue I usually feel, but the "I was typing a document at work and feel asleep and got drool all over the original copy" tired. I thought working on my fitness a few nights a week would help, but alas, it's not working. I've decided to join Mr. Muscley Arms and try out his "energy boosting" caveman diet. Have you heard of this? It's a no dairy, no grain, and no sugar diet.

WHAT?! No Dr. Pepper?! In the past, the only diet I've ever believed in was the "see food diet." I see food, I eat it. So, of course, because I don't like to feel "obligated" or the masochistic pressures that come with self denial, I'll most likely take a relaxed cave-woman approach. Have you ever told this girl she can't have chocolate? Don't.

Anyway, Happy Friday! I hope everyone has some fun Easter plans this weekend.

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My weekend in instagrams

2012-04-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

1. Enjoyed the beautiful {but bright} Spring sunshine
2. $460 in Mega Millions tickets
3. Treated myself to Fro-yo for lunch
4. Celebrated a friend's birthday with cuppy-cakes

5. Went to lunch with Ev
6. ... I mean Superman
7. I ♥ Pizza
8. Visited Ev's fiancé at her work to congratulate them on their engagement

9. Shopping trip to J-Crew
10. Good hair day
11. Girl's night!

12. Towel origami for a house guest
13. More towel origami - an elephant!
14. Watching General Conference with friends

15. Started a gratitude journal
16. Picking up Muscley Arms from the airport
17. Snuggling, the perfect way to end a weekend

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