March 2017 Top 5

 Here's my top 5 for March!

Page Eleven Planner

I've been in a planning rut. I haven't been using my personal Happy Planner like I should. Which annoys me to no end because that's money being wasted. I saw The Posh Blog's review on the Page Eleven 2017 Daily Planner. This planner spoke to me. I like the week on one page layout. I played around with a traveler's notebook insert with a similar layout. I also liked how the next page with your top 3 items for the week, meal planning and grocery list. There's also budget and gratitude sections for each month. There is also a quote at the beginning of each month which I love. I'm a big quote person. I also like the portable size. This is the planner that I've been using for the last couple of months. It just enough and I don't feel overwhelmed but it. I definitely will continue using it for 2017. I've inquired about a planner for 2018 and they are working on it now. Woohoo!

Cargo You Had Me at Hello Palette

I randomly came across this palette and it instantly caught my eye. I picked it up from Ulta. I got a lot of use of it in March. I've never tried Cargo eyeshadows before and they are really nice. The are smooth, pigmented and easy to the blend. The matte shades are not chalky. The palette is organized in duos which is kinda neat. I really enjoyed the six shades on the right side of the palette. If you're looking for a new palette for the spring and summer then check this one out.

Exfoliating Cleansers

For about two weeks or so I used an exfoliating cleanser as part of my morning skincare routine. I forgot just how much I like using an exfoliating cleanser in the morning. They make your skin nice and smooth and foundation applies so much better. The two I reached for are past favorites. I used The Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial Wash by philosophy and the Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub. The scrub is actually my brother's lol! He has it in the shower and I was hey why not HA! I have some other cleansers I'm working through and I'm still trying to pair down my products. The skincare addict life is real lol! But I will keep in mind to add an exfoliating cleanser back into my morning skincare routine.

Urban Decay Lippies

A friend of mine sent my a bunch of Urban Decay lippies. She sent me some lipsticks (After Dark, Gash, Nighthawk and Pandemonium) and one of their new liquid lipsticks (Rock Steady). Then I ordered three Revolution High-Color glosses (Gash, Shadowheart and Afterdark) from their website that are on sale. I really enjoyed using the lippies in March. They are GOOD! The lipsticks are smooth and didn't' dry out my lippies. I heard some not so good reviews on their liquid lipsticks. I have the shade. I actually like it. This shade went on evenly and the formula is not drying like some liquud lipsticks, I want to look into the other shades. The glosses are awesome! I only had one (Bittersweet) that I remember liking when I used it. But of course I haven't used it in a while They are not sticky, they are very pigmented for a lip gloss and they were nicely throughout the day. I also rediscovered Gash which is probably my favorite red. I highly recommend checking out some lippies from Urban Decay.

Bare Minerals Flawless Finish Brush

This is another past favorite. This brush applies face powder nicely and it super duper soft! This one is a definite keeper in my brush stash.

Short and sweet for March. Let's see what April brings!

New Planner Favorites!

I mentioned in my January Top 5 & More post about some planners that I did not particularly care for. Well now let's talk about a couple that I have been LOVING!

First up The Happy Planner!

A friend of mine was nice enough to gift me a 2015-2016 Happy Planner. I have the "Good Thing are Going To Happen" planner. The Happy Planner is an 18 month planner and are suuuuppper cute! Planner decorating is a BIG thing! Search the hashtags #planneraddict or #plannerjunkie and you'll see what I mean. I don't know if I've ever get on that level. I ran across an excellent post, Why I Don't Decorate My Planner that I have revisit several times when I've gotten frustrated about not really decorating my planner (that's an entirely different discussion). But the Happy Planner is already decorated to that you don't really need to do anything unless you want to be creative. I like it as it. I do have some stickers that I use here and there. I have already purchased a 2016-2017 Happy Planner. Oh the agony of this decision! LOL! I looked at the flip throughs of each planner multiple times and changed my mind I don't know how many times! I decided on the Picture Quote planner. Then I went through a whole ordeal of ordering it from Michael's and then returning due to their piss poor packaging and it was damaged in shipping. Then I reordered directly from Me and My Big Ideas. Phew! Team too much I tell you. I've also purchased some additional goodies to accessorize my planner. I even got the Happy Planner punch. So I am ALL in!

Next up the Barcelona 2016 Weekly/Monthly 10 x 8 Planner from Blue Sky!

I got this planner as my work planner. What caught my eye is the shape/layout. I make lists and write notes. Usually I have a planner and a notebook of some sort. I wanted both in one for this year and I thought that The Passion Planner would fit the bill. When I was poking around on The Blue Sky website and saw this one my interest was peaked. It's a weekly/monthly planner but you have have a To Do, To Call and Notes section at the beginning of each month with the monthly view. The weeks are vertical. After messing around in The Happy Planner, I noticed that I liked a vertical layout vs horizontal because hello I like making lists lol. Since this is the planner I leave at work, I can use Saturday and Sunday for more note space. There is a notes section in the back along with some interesting pages for various contacts, On The Go Essentials list and Travel Checklist and Grocery Checklist. I think they are pretty cool additions. There's a Nicole Miller version which I think would be good for a personal planner but I do not need another planner lol!

I have started using my Happy Planner right now for work and personal just to see how I like. I was going to start in April but said hey why not start now. Last year I did have two planners. When I looked through my personal one, I slacked on using it. The second half of the year was pretty much blank. So I it was kinda a wasted purchase. My work planner got used with small bits of personal stuff (mainly appointments). Honestly my life is not that involved to have 2 planners and I'm loving The Happy Planner so much that I was to USE it So we shall see how it goes.

And there you have it! I may report back on how using The Happy Planner as THHEEEEE planner is working for me.

Stay tuned...