{Friday Cocktail} 5.5.12 Double Cocktail Craziness

So tomorrow is a big day. Cinco de Mayo woohoo!!! oh yah. AND the Kentucky derby. I don't know about you, but when I think about both of these holidays two things come to mind. Margaritas and Mint Juleps. How could you pick just one? Since I'm still working working on eating well, I haven't been drinking. Okay, that's kind of a lie, I've been trying not to drink, and have for the most part been pretty successful. Still thinking about my may goals and having to be in a bathing suit in 10 days (eek) I'm going to really try to be good this weekend. It's going to be tough though. Good thing I'm the one throwing the party.

We are having a smallish Cinco de Mayo party so we'll have the traditional margarita mix, but I'm going to pick up a bottle or two of my girl Bethenny's Skinny Girl Margarita. 100 calories a serving? Sign me up.

Now I'm a southern gal, but we were never really in to the derby growing up. During college I went to a super fun Derby party, and ever since I love dressing up in a big floppy hat and sipping on some minty goodness. 

BW at last year's derby party

I'm going to attempt to make a skinny mint julep, but lets be honest, I still don't quite have the taste for bourbon, I need me some sugar.

Ingredients: 10 mint leaves, 1 Tbsp Simple Syrup, 3 oz bourbon, 1 cup crushed ice

1. Muddle 10 mint leaves with 1 Tbsp simple syrup and a tiny splash of the bourbon.
2. Let that mixture set for 3-5 minutes so the mint can release its flavor (take this opportunity to crush the ice)
3. Strain the mint mixture and pour into your julep glass and swirl it around the glass. 
4. Add the crushed ice to the top of the glass
5. Add the remainder of the the bourbon
6. Garnish with mint

Put on your finest hat (be it a big floppy one or a sombrero) and relax. I know that's what I'll be doing!

Say it Aint so Newt

Oh Newt, why did you have to go so soon? I will miss your pompous whit, your blonde robot of a wife, and your brilliant campaign promises. Moon colonies? child janitors? and oh your unwavering love of Ronald Reagan. You will be missed sir. But lucky for all of us, I'm sure you wont venture too far.

As Speaker Gingrich suspended his presidential campaign yesterday, I couldn't help but feel a few pangs of sadness. No, my dear friends, I'm  not suddenly switching my allegiances, but I am a little sad that the primary is really over. Sure, Ron Paul is still in, but lets be honest, he'll probably run as an independent in the general election in November. Mitt Romney it is. Our next President will either be a Mormon or a Muslim. Great.

Ha-ha you know I'm kidding right? I'm actually somewhat pleased with these final two men standing. While I have already gotten my Obama 2012 sticker, I am glad that the two most qualified (in my opinion) men are still standing.  I have too much respect for the system to honestly hope for a Newt or a Bachmann to win the nomination to make it easier for my pick.

I was discussing this the other day, and y'all might think I'm crazy, but does this whole thing not have some SERIOUS similarities to the Hunger Games? We send them into this game where they attack each other attempting to kill each other's political viability? We take pleasure in watching every tiny detail play out. The strongest/smartest/ most strategic candidate is left standing at the end?  SPONSORS aka Super PACs throw money at the candidates (players) to keep them alive?

I think its a little spooky.

Anyways. Congress is in recess this week, so life in DC is slow. No moving legislation. No breaking news. AKA lots of time for me to catch up on my blog reading.

Hope y'all have a great day, and get excited because tomorrow is FRIDAY!!! Wooohooo!!

{May Goals}

Since I've been reading blogs I love watching the evolution of the author. Be it someone just getting into fashion or makeup, someone trying to eat healthier, lose weight, or exercise more, or even a new mommy to be I love watching all of you set goals and achieve them. There's just something so inspiring about it all. With that said I am going to start a new monthly goal series (and a yearly goal, be on the look out for a 25 before 25 soon). Since there are 31 days in May I would like to set 31 goals. Hopefully I succeed at all of them, but even just a few would be great.

1. Read a book a week (or 5 a month)-- I'm going on vacation so between plane time and beach time hopefully I can get this one done.
2. Start studying for the LSAT again-- Ugh. I just need to do it. October will be here before you know it.
3. Relax more-- Puerto Rico here I come!
4. Do yoga for at least 20 minutes 5 times a week.
5. Enjoy my friends more
6. Make new friends
7. lose 7 pounds-- This will put me at a big milestone for me (and I've been gaining and losing the same 4 pounds for almost 4 months now, time to step it up)
8. Get back in the gym-- I've been moderately exercising with yoga and walking but if I'm going to be serious about those 7 lbs I've got to get back on the elliptical.
9. Stick to an eating plan- too often I sabotage myself. I need to pick a diet and stick to it. no fudging the rules.
10. Get serious about job hunting-- Time to have the talk with the big boss.
11. Set up 2 random coffee dates-- be it networking or a real date. 2 people I don't know at all.
12. Stick to a strict budget-- between recent car disasters (thank you stupid rats) and stolen laptops, and too much shopping I've gotten in a serious hole.
13. Visit the Doctor-- I've been putting of this appointment for far too long.
14. Drink more water
15. Plan a trip to Atlanta
16. Plan a different trip for August
17. Keep my room cleaner
18. Re-organize my makeup situation-- currently its a hot mess
19. Get rid of 10 pieces of clothing/shoes-- I don't have room.
20. Oh Walk 10K a day-- it's a competition at work during the month of May. I have to walk 10,000 steps every day. whew. I hope I can do it. Yet another motivation for #8.
21. Finish 1 DIY project. just one. 
22. Execute a fabulous birthday party this Saturday. Happy Cinco de Mayo people.
23. Re-design the blog-- I think it's time I actually invest in this thing and get a new layout, maybe a button or two. Have any of you worked with a good designer? I need suggestions.
24. Start taking pictures on my camera, not the old iPhone. 
25. Drink less caffeine-- See #14.
26. Get new running shoes.
27. Pick a new computer-- See #12.
28. Wash my face EVERY MORNING and EVERY NIGHT.
29. Whiten my teeth.
30. DON'T buy any new products unless I'm ABSOLUTELY out. 
31. Treat myself to a mani-pedi-- because lets be honest, I deserve it. Especially if I achieve even half of these goals. 

Well... what do you think? Do you have any goals for the month of May? I'll check back in at the beginning of June and let you know how I did!

Beauty Tuesday: NYX

Between my birthday drama, work, and just living my life I feel like I've gotten off track with this little blog. When I created blue dog belle a few months ago I wanted to focus on the two things I love most: Makeup and Politics. I haven't talked about either in weeks... woops.

Getting back to basics I want to introduce you to NYX Cosmetics. Call me dumb, but I whenever I saw a review of these products I thought they were part of the New York Color (NYC) brand. I haven't had a great experience with many of those products, and even though they are cheap I love me some ELF. 

Well all that has changed now, thanks to my IRL BFF LoRay. For my birthday she sent me a BUNCH of NYX products, and honestly I'm in love with all of them. Let me show you what I got. 

So this is the 10 Color Eye Shadow Palette in Versus, I can not tell you how wonderful it is for me. This is the first thing that has made me put down my naked palette. and that is saying a lot y'all. The shadows are buttery soft, have great pigment and blend well. I've been using it with my elf eye primer and it stays put for hours. It's a great combo. I love the purples! and at $10 how could you not pick this up at ulta? I mean really, you need this.

Next, Mega Shine Lip Gloss. This product really lives up to its name. It smells great, but don't try to eat it as it tastes gross. *I may or may not have licked it off my lips to test it for y'all. I'll let you decide if I did or not. Anyways, I have Chandelier, which is a sparkly medium pink color. It goes on sheer, which I love, and it layers beautifully over lipstick.

This next product is my new favorite. I've gotten SO many compliments on this lip color I'm debating which one to pick up next. As you know I have a love affair with lip products, and this is a new one for the list. The mineral based Round Lip Stick is great for every day. Lauren knows me so well, and gifted me a color I probably would never buy myself, but now I can't put it down.

NYX Round Lipstick 

This is Peach Bellini, or as my roommate BW says, Barbie Pink. It's a VERY BRIGHT orangy pink, that glides on smooth. I will say, make sure you moisturize your lips when using this product or at least exfoliate. It can get slightly cakey if your lips aren't super smooth.  

Peach Bellini

The NYX Slide on Pencil is AWESOME. It rivals my Stila smudge stick, like really. Lauren had brilliant foresight to get me black shimmer, because I had just run out of my black pencil liner, so now I'm set! Thanks LoRay.

If this wasn't enough motivation for you, I don't know what is. NYX has great products, at even better prices. I really love my high end products, but do not  have the budget to spend all my money towards my birchbox finds. Now I'm scouring the website, trying to decide what to get next. Have you discovered NYX yet? Do you have any product recommendations?