{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?

And we're back.

Whew. What a whirlwind of a weekend that was. It was one of those weekends jam packed full of awesomeness. Yay. Warning, this is a photo heavy post.

Friday night I hit up Target/Old Navy for a few things to get me ready for Puerto Rico!

I was SOOOO excited to try the BB Cream, and y'all let me tell you I LOVE it. However, I've looked for it in 4 different places now, and cannot find it in "light" so I bought the medium/dark tone. I'm still a little too pale for it, but whatever. I worked it. What do you think?

with the bb cream and LOTS of powder to balance. What do you think? I went on a super fun day date to taste of 8th. It went well... obviously due to my flawless foundation. haha

Saturday night I embraced my hipster side, to the best of my ability and hit up Sticky Rice which was AMAZING as always. For real, if you're in DC trek over to H St for some $3 PBR's and a SUPER FUN dancing. They play EVERYTHING from the 70's to now. Ugh. I love that place. 

Nails of the week are sparkly thanks to inspiration from Blushing Basics, cute right? 

Sunday I went on my first blogger brunch meet up at Scion in Dupont. Somehow we forgot to take a picture, but we had a great time! Thanks again for inviting me Meaghan! 

Then I ran a few errands around town, and finally got home around 4. But the weather was just too wonderful to spend the waning hours of the weekend doing laundry. I went on an exploratory walk around the neighborhood, and was pleasantly surprised. I found a great park, saw some beautiful flowers, and met some very friendly neighbors. Sorry if you follow me on instagram, follow me @EmPri88, you've seen all of these and then some, but for the rest of you enjoy :)

Did y'all do anything fun this weekend?

Happy Friday

I am seriously doing a happy dance right now because it's almost the weekend. I am so ready to put this horrible week behind me. Instead of a Friday cocktail (I've officially gone on a pre-Puerto Rico diet so no alcohol for me) I'm going to do a quick Friday five instead. I'm already dreaming of a frothy cocktail on a beautiful beach.

Here are a few items on my shopping list for PUERTO RICOOOOO!!!

old navy

Old Navy

old navy

target

target

Have a great weekend y'all!