Maybelline masterduo by eye studio in Navy Gleam

I'm no stranger to liquid eyeliners, especially in blue, I love blue eyeliners! They are so funky and take an everyday look to super artsy and chic, so I was super excited about the new masterduo by Maybelline.

I purchased the product in Navy Gleam; it's a very true Navy, but it has a very unique glossy finish to it, which I find very chic. The colour Navy is always fashionable, it is not THEE pantone colour of the season, but it's classic and elegant, and always accepted as "in-style". if this review was based on colour this product would be getting an A++, Unfortunately it is not.

The neat thing about this product is that It. Has both a fine and chisel tipped brush. The instructions on the back of the package, say that for a thick, dramatic line to use the flat disk side, and for a thinner, sophisticated line to turn the cap 90 degrees. My main issue with this is that every person grips the cap handle a little bit differently, I like the hold the cap so that the taper lies right between my thumb and index and middle fingers, when they tell you to turn the cap 90 degrees, the physical brush never swivels, you need to change the way you hold the cap. So it becomes very awkward to hold the brush, once you manage to change your grip, you need to be extremely light handed because, the fine tip is not very fine at all.

Once you play around with it enough, and you figure it out, you have a neat navy, glossy, thickish liner on, you look so chic! Not for long; the product begins to dry and like cheaper quality liquid liner starts to harden and pull and crack with the opening and closing of your eye. Which just makes the beautiful face of makeup you've applied look cheap and silly.

The nightmarish quality of this product outweighs the Amazing colour and finish of the formula. This formula is so strange, I can speculate that because of the glossy finish, the integrity of the dried product becomes weaker, it cracks, shrinks, and peels off in sheets! Do not even think about attempting to layer this product, it makes your eye skin feel very tight and uncomfortable, and due to the formula, it definitely does not layer well.

I give this product, Maybelline masterduo by eye studio in Navy Gleam a failing grade, as the colour cannot pass an ever failing formula. For the reasons I have described, I give this product a C-, I say just save your money, for a better product. Have any of you tried this product? What do you think of it, I'd love to hear your opinions!

Happy Valentines Day! The pancake philosophy

Happy valentines day guys! I hope your day's so far have been wonderful! This February 14th, for breakfast I made maple bacon pancakes and strawberry butterscotch pancakes. I decided that after my man was off to work that I was going to make the rest of the pancakes and eat them too! (Instead of freezing them, as per usual)

I've been pretty good this month food wise, I've only eaten take away twice! So I threw caution to the wind, and set about doing these pancakes right! What's valentines day without a little gluttony? I created butterscotch chip pancakes and topped them with grilled strawberries, maple syrup and a generous serving of chocolate sundae syrup. They we're divine!

I used a simple recipe for pancakes, I made a few adjustments to make them healthier, i.e: lactose free 1% instead of whole buttermilk, gluten free flour instead of all purpose, etc. I cited Martha Stewart's simple pancake recipe for reference, added some delicious bacon, grilled up a bunch of strawberry slices, an topped with delicious golden syrup.

Xxstay cheeky

Exorcise that Exercise!

I find it too, too tricky to find the motivation to get up off the couch and do some exercise; I dislike sweating, I dislike muscle spasms, I dislike exercise in general.

When push comes to shove, eating right just doesn't cut it when you are trying to feel fantastic in that bikini on the beach or even naked in the shower. I hate exercising. Strength training, running, and circuits just seem so impossible to motivate myself for. I've been known to sleep in workout gear, so that I don't have an excuse to go running the next day. Every second of exercising sucks, that is until you are done and feel that surge of endorphins that make all the suck worth it. I can't find the motivation to go for a run every day (not for lack of trying) but I have however,taken up a quick morning yoga routine that helps me stretch out, I've made the effort to walk for about 30 minutes at least 3 times a week, as well, I've decided to do the 30 day ab challenge. Even if I don't get a six pack out of it, what can it hurt?

You guys can find all the info here
30 day/300 ultimate ab and core challenge
I've just completed day 1 and I already feel stronger:)
xxstay cheeky;)

Recipe Roundup no. 1-meatloaf muffins!

Sometimes, you just want comfort food, even when you're trying to be healthier; and what is more satisfying than meatloaf? more specifically Paula Dean's most delicious meatloaf ever! "BUT" you say "Cassie, we're trying to eat lighter, and ground beef is not the way to go!" I got you covered, on pretty much, all the bases. I made Paula Dean's Old Fashioned Meatloaf with a few tweaks, and then I baked them in a muffin tin. They turned out moist and delicious, just like I'd expect Paula's to be. But with one change...PORTION CONTROL! each muffin is about 180 calories, so you can go off that as a guideline for your lighter eating selves.

I started by mixing: a pound of lean ground beef, 1 1/4 tsp of salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/2-whole chopped onion, 1 egg lightly beaten and 1/2 cup large flake oats together in a medium mixing bowl, I used my hands to mix this part, you could also use a spoon, but it's more fun with your hands! For the topping I combined approximately: 2/3 cup of ketchup, 4 tbsp of brown sugar and about 2 tbsp of my favorite mustard President's Choice, sweet with heat.

Then i preset my oven to 400 farenheit, and greased my muffin tin, and added a bread crumb coating on the bottom, so they wouldn't stick and be easier to remove from the pan, this recipe yields about 12 mid size muffins, so don't overfill your muffin cups, just to about the half way-2/3 full mark. Then you can top the muffins with a heaping tsp of the topping and pop them in the oven for about 20 minutes on until you believe them done, you can check the status of them by cutting into one and checking to see if it's done (I checked mine by eating some :)) Voila! they are done and you have a very easy, delicious, meatloaf, made in about a fifth of the time it would take for a huge one, plus! These neatloaf muffins look way cute on the plate, and they have valuable portion control, for those like me who love food! Do you guys like these recipes Ive been posting? let me know, Ive got tonnes!

Sweet potato scramble bundles

I am a huge lover of Pinterest.com and whilst pinning the other day I stumbled across a recipe that I thought looked delicious but, that needed some nutrition. The recipe was for breakfast bird's nests, made from store bought hashbrown's and had a whole egg in each cup, I decided to healthify the recipe.

I shredded a medium sweet potato, added 1/2 a roughly chopped onion as well as 1 small carrot, shredded. I sprinkled 1-2 tbsp of gluten free all purpose flour and added 1 egg, whisked. I mixed it all together in a medium bowl until it was all coated in a floury, eggy mixture. I then plopped this into a well greased muffin tin, creating little cups with the mixture. Before popping it in the oven, I drizzled vegetable oil over them and lightly sprinkled some sea salt on top thenI put it all in the oven at 425 for about 12-17 minutes. 

While my bundles got nice and toasty I made the scramble for the inside of the cups. I cracked 4 eggs in a small bowl added some daiya and shredded ham, some pepper, salt and a little cayenne pepper.

My bundles were toasty after about 15 minutes, I lowered the oven temperature to 350, and poured the scramble into the bundles about 3/4 of the muffin cup full. I then popped them back in the oven for another 20-25 minutes, until the egg whites were solid. Take them out of the oven and let them stand for about 5-10 minutes. Serve with ketchup, tomato sauce, gravy etc. They are super delicious!

I love quick and easy breakfasts

Where's Waldo?

So...the saga continues; I'm not sure what it is that has me, every few months, without fail neglecting this blog. I have to apologize to you, my readers; from the bottom of my keyboard, I, really am sorry. I go through these stages, of Depression, Hopelessness, Chaos, and procrastination. I'm not at fault for the depression, that's in my chemical makeup; But I am, However in charge of the others. I get so hopeless, its tough keeping the Sunny side up all-the-freakin'-time. That's no excuse, but it is a coping mechanism for me. I like to get myself into an extremely dark place, filled with pessimism; and I justify those thoughts by saying to myself "Cassie, you're so damn happy, all-the-freakin'-time, you can be negative sometimes too, its okay". Only it's not, I know how toxic that negative thinking can be, especially to myself. Then, when the busy time comes, I'm so miserable, I just completely cave in and disconnect from both; friends and social networks alike. That too is terrible, but the procrastination is by far, the worst! I just convince myself that no one wants to read what I have to write, and that no one wants to watch my videos, so I can put it off for another day. and then we end up here...4 months later, 4 FREAKIN' MONTHS!!! again, I'm sorry. In the past 4 months, I've dyed my hair 6 times, seen Marilyn Manson, taken Sunny to the vets (for a checkup), begun being healthy again, started drawing extended studies of the venal and cardiovascular systems, and picked up and started learning to play the Ukelele. If I have the willpower to go running, then I have the willpower to update this blog! stay tunedxx

Garnier nutrisse mousse

I very recently changed my hair colour from a strawberry blonde to a very light brown, and to make that journey I wanted to put the nutrisse.mousse to the test. I am very particular about the hair dyes I use, so this was unexplored territory for.me completely!

The directions are very simple, and I followed them exactly. From mixing the colour to application to rinsing. I appreciate that the directions are so simple, so that everyone can understand them and have great colour.

The box says no mess, no stress, no fuss, and that is exactly how my experience was. The clean up was extremely minimal as well. I loved the formula, the mousse made it so much easier to get complete coverage, and since its mousse its %100 non-drip!

I used number 6, light brown and it turned out perfectly according to the colour chart on the side of the box. The colour is very even, yet multi-tonal and lush. I really like how simple garnier makes it to achieve a salon quality, even coverage hair colour at home and for an awesome price.

I would %100 recommend this product to you, I personally urge everyone to pick up this product the next time you decide to colour. Try it out for yourself, you don't have to take my word for it.
xxstaycheeky

Autumn and a late summers stress

<p>I just can't seem to get myself to film right now. I'm job searching, and to me that us the most stressing time for me. I love writing blog posts, I find it very relaxing, it's like instant relief for my stressed out mind (that is always running too fast). So I shall continue to blog and my videos will be maybe a video or two a month until I find a new job.</p>
<p>Summer is coming to an end, and cool fall air is moving in, meaning my favorite season is just around the corner. With apple harvest, apple butter, cider, cookies, oatmeal. Pumpkin and squash, stews, soups, muffins, breads and delicious salty buttery bakes. The delicious cool weather, coats, thick tights, sweaters, etc.
I just LOVE fall!
What are your favorite seasons?
xxstaycheeky

Friday's Lipstick review

Friday morning, at home with my cat. I've done all my chores, and even had time to cozily sip hot cocoa even! I tried to film a makeup tutorial, but nothing was going right; my eyeliner got messed up (the actual felt tip itself), I left my lip liner in the other room, My eyeshadows got mixed up, I just wasn't as prepared as I thought I was. It's just one of those days. Maybe I'll film an OOTD or an in the kitchen segment today, then again, maybe not.

Today's Review: Rag Doll Cosmetics Lipstick in Raspberry Beret.

My favorite makeup products lately have been all about lips! I love the way that a Lipstick can transform you're look from just-woke-up to bedhead chic in a matter of minutes! I've received quite a few Lip Products lately, specifically Lipsticks in my TopBOX and Glossy Box over the past month, I love them all and I have this need to share them with you!

The first criterion for a Lipstick for me is pigmentation and this Rag Doll Cosmetics Lipstick doesn't disappoint! It is a beautiful, deep and creamy raspberry tone. It looks beautiful and makes you appear completely put together, and sophisticated even if you've just rolled out of bed and slapped some mascara, and lip colour on!

Under cool bathroom lighting

The formula for this Lipstick is a nice one, that being said this particular lipstick is matte, so it's very drying (like all matte lip products). But, it has a redeeming quality, when applied over a very slight layer of lip balm it becomes creamy and even more gorgeous! I always put a little bit of lip balm on under my lip colour, to keep my lips from being as dry as the sahara desert.

Under warm hall lighting

Rasberry Beret by Rag Doll is an awesome colour, I love how it brightens up my face with a youthful glow, whilst still keeping with that sophisticated Old Hollywood feel. Everything about this colour is enchanting and due to the unique raspberry colour (that is unlike any other raspberry Lipstick I've ever seen) It has a romantic berry hue mixed with a bright, beautiful green based pink and a deepness that's reminiscent of that classic pin up red colour. I adore this lipstick, and if you are interested by this beautiful shade, feel free to travel on over to ragdollcosmetics.com and check out all their lovely shades!

xxstaycheeky

p.s; check out this blog hop!

yet another week.

This week I've been gifted 9 whole hours at work, amounting to about $90.00 this week, my paychecks have been sucking, majorly-This experience has however, kicked my butt into applying for new jobs. I lack essential job search motivation, unless I need a job, I do anything I can to avoid job hunting--I love working, I loathe job hunting. Today I was extended an hour, so that's pretty rad. But working these early mornings, makes filming difficult, to work in to my schedule. I get home between quarter after 10 and noon, I'm also quite exhausted after getting a mere 4 hours of sleep! I come home and I'm so tired, I lack motivation to film, edit or do anything to do with my online persona other than post in my blog; thus, here we are. I'm browsing recipes for supper whilst stifling rather long yawns, and being addicted to Pinterest (follow me here).

I'm about to go add pumpkin spice to everything, you should too; it makes coffee, ice cream, cookies, breads, pasta sauces, and everything else taste more like Autumn.
xxstaycheeky

egad! technical issues!

So for over a week, completely unbeknownst to me, My CatWoman look tutorial hadn't uploaded, I was just thinking that the video wasn't popular as it hadn't garnered many new comments. I came home from FanEXPO'12 and found out that it hadn't uploaded! making me look like a shmuck! I told you I was back with a vengeance, and instead you met another almost two week lull!  I'M SO SORRY! I didn't even realize, it seemed to go through okay, but youtube and my laptop seem to disagree on quite a few different issues these days.

But this week, I have some really rubbish hours at work, so expect videos with cool effects and very detailed blogposts, maybe even an "in the kitchen" video; I love cooking and baking, and food in general, coming from a latvian-canadian girl, I have so many autumny-y-holiday-y recipes that are outta this world scrumptious and I'm just itching to share them with you all, so look forward to that. I need to go check on my new, best great-ginger cat; Sunny.
xxstaycheeky

Bringing home Sunny

Today I woke up and was filled with a sense of excitement. Today is the day we adopt our very first cat together.
We made our way down to the Toronto Humane Society at 11 River street, and went to the second floor to meet the cats. It is a really nice service they offer,these animals; don't get me wrong, but my heart just broke for all these wonderful creatures who need loving, permanent homes. I was an emotional wreck the entire time we were there, every "mew" that was cried, I cried right along with them.
We met so many wonderful cats, then I saw him; a beautiful 3.3 year old boy, with long beautiful ginger fur, captivating eyes and an awesome and sweet disposition. His name: Sunny. The same Sunny that I was admiring a few weeks back when we made the decision to adopt. It was love at first sight.
We filled out our application, met with Heidi (who's in charge of the cat adoptions) and the rest is history!
As I write this Sunny is lounging in the office and I couldn't be happier, if you are thinking about getting a pet of any variety I urge you to look into the humane society or other shelter or adoption programs. There's so many sweet creatures who just need someone to love them.
xxstaycheeky

The Dark Knight Rises; CatWoman

I've been to see The Dark Knight Rises in theatre's now twice. I've seen it twice, and I must say I loved it even more this time 'round. Anne Hathaway did a spectacular job playing Selina Kyle. I am a tried and true Cat Woman reader, lover, and know-it-all about the character, and Miss Hathaway did a phenomenal job with the character.

I loved: her costume, her attitude, her body language, and most importantly...her makeup! I hope I've done it justice in this tutorial. I present...The Dark Knight Rises; CatWoman.


PRODUCTS USED:

face----------------------
clear fx prep, matte primer and anti acne treatment gel
cover girl nature luxe foundation in 305 alabaster
REVLON photo finish concealer
Victoria's Secret Bronzer in Tantastic
covergirl clean pressed powder for sensitive skin

brows---------------------
rimmel taupe eyebrow pencil
brow powder in blonde
Q-tip's:)

eyes-------------------------
stila primer pot in taffy
Milani blackened gold eyeliner pencil
Meet Matte palette from the balm cosmetics in: Matt Batali, Matt Gallagher and Matt Smith
I heart Matte palette from Wet 'N Wild-black
Ardell demi wispies in 305 black.
Duo eyelash adhesive
Sally Hansen Natural Beauty mascara in black
Stila Smoky Lash Mascara in black

lips---------------------------
lip liner in 187 blackberry from Sleek cosmetics
Pout Paint in 157 Pin-Up from Sleek Cosmetics


I really hope I did it justice!
xxstay cheeky

Finally! some quality time with my blog!

So, work is really slow. We are way overstaffed, and way under sales goals, So I've been gifted yet another garbage week with 7 hours (I'm used to working almost 40!). On the bright side of this though, I finally get some catch up time with my blog here, and my YouTube channel. 5 glorious days of blogging and filming/editing/posting! Can you feel my excitement?
I've got some other stuff to work on too though, so T.T.F.N
toodles!
xxstaycheeky

OH MY STARS!

I said that I would post every week, but today is Thursday and I haven't posted in almost 2. It was so ridiculously hectic here.
 My sisters were supposed to come Wednesday, so I cleaned the house and got all ready, to be informed they were not coming til early Thursday morning. Then in Typical style, they didn't arrive until almost 11 a.m, yet they were hellbent about catching a train we'd never make. I convinced them to have lunch, and then we left at around 12:30 we finally got to union station at about quarter to two, putting us arriving at FanEXPO at about ten after.
 The rest of my time at FanEXPO was pretty much more of the same, it was just as hectic and crazy! I bought neat contacts, some awesome prints from artist alley, a cool batman shirt, an amazing doctor who scarf; and saw some awesome people, like Levar Burton from Reading Rainbow (which I grew up on) and Star Trek; The Next Generation. I also went to the Q&A for Nelsan Ellis-Lafayette on True Blood, Tony Todd-of Candy Man Fame, Billy West-The voice of practically every cartoon character ever, John Barrowman from Doctor Who and Torchwood, As well as the face of Marvel, the one and only Stan Lee!

I have to run off now and get ready for work, but I wanted to write so you guys knew that I was alive!
xxstay cheeky

Gnome Buddy Knows, the trouble I've seen

Gnome Buddy Knows, My Sorrows...Okay enough! I just had to update this old blog of mine, into something more...fresh! I went over to shabbyblogs.com and chose my new background, and I do believe it's a keeper! (for now at least) How does my wee gnomey fare with ya lad's 'nd lass's?
xxstaycheeky

The big bad breakfast monster!

I've been working quite a lot of shipment shifts lately (which begin at 5:30 a.m) and that early in the morning, I know I don't function too well (can't speak for you guys, of course). Morning after Morning, I find myself eating things like poptarts, or bacon--now these are fine in moderation and at a normal time, but You're forgetting that I also snack on my break; and that snack usually isn't the healthiest. This way of eating, puts me at over 500 calories before 9:30 a.m. I've been noticing a few pounds lost since I moved, but it all comes back with these early morning breakfasts.

I've begun eating a banana in the car, and trying to down a 500 ml water bottle each morning, before my shift starts. The little potassium hit does wonders for me, it keeps me alert, awake, and most important for a shipment shift; quick on my feet. The water helps me quite a bit as well with my overall health, I have low blood-pressure already, so I sometimes suffer from mini episodes of kind of a tachycardia-esque situation. My heart beats, so incredibly rapidly, for no reason at all, I have a minor vision loss, and it's usually accompanied by nausea. They usually only last for about 5 minutes--but happens quite a bit more frequently when I get dehydrated.

I'm not saying you can't eat sinfully delicious little things like muffins, cookies and waffles for breakfast; just before 9:30 in the morning, being over 500 calories for me--is a bit ridiculous. I had to pull myself out of that comfort food thing we as humans do when we don't feel too good, don't get me wrong, I cheat occasionally. If there are fresh baked cookies or muffins, I'll grab one once in a blue moon. But not everyday.

xxstay cheeky

I'm back with a Vengeance!

Long Time...I moved last month, So I've been on a hiatus, but it's now almost a month later, and I realize that I have been slacking! I love writing this blog! I guess I get depressed, and then crawl into a cocoon of nothingness, to protect myself I guess, but it's not an excuse, and writing this blog just makes me feel so much better about everything I ever could've been sad about in the first place!

So, I moved from Oshawa (about an hour's drive east of Toronto) to Scarborough (about 20 minutes drive east of Toronto's downtown core) From living in a small 2 bedroom townhouse, with 6 people--to my boyfriend's large, spacious childhood home. We live in the basement, his cousin and her 4 year old daughter live upstairs from us. It was way too good an opportunity to pass up. It's $800/month all inclusive; there's central air, and central vac, everything has been recently renovated, there are 2 rather large bedroom spaces, a walk-in closet in the master, laundry, a rather large bath with a deep tub (for delicious baths), nice kitchen (the perfect size for two or maybe in 6 or 7 years...three!) and a freakin' huge living room! It's way too yummy! It's walking distance from schools and parks, grocery stores, a drug store, public transit, trains; and it's smack dab in the middle of residential bliss! Our backyard is awesome, it's not too big, but it has a rather large patio, a sectioned off grassy area for our niece, and a MONSTROUS sized veg garden! I am in Love with living here. The best part is, since I work for Gap Inc. I just transferred to a new store out here:)

I will start filming all sorts of tutorials, reviews, beauty warriors videos, and my fave...SPFX how-to's. So get ready, because I'm back!
stay cheekyxx

whats going on.

I've decided, It's official I'm going to Complections International Academy of MakeUp Artistry in April. They are the best in Canada in my Opinion, and I can't wait to start!

I'll be taking a little bit of a break from YouTube. I'm moving, and I'm also having some copyright issues with my current setup, Hopefully once I move that can be remedied. Also I need to do Inventory on my life, and sort some things out.

so this is a t.t.f.n letter.
ta ta for now, Yours forever, Cassie
xxstay cheeky

PERL strips update

I told you guys, I'd review the PERL nail strips I got for free from doing a survey for the company before they launched their line of nail strips. I chose the "zebra tud"ones, they are metallic-sparkle silver and black with a zebra design.

They come in this little box that explains what they are, what's in them and that they are a No drying, no smudging, trendy and original way to manicure. They come with 20 strips, an instruction pamphlet and an emery board and orange stick.

The instructions seem simple enough, clean and prep nails: make sure they're clean and dry, shape them to what you desire, and gently buff the surface of the nail and rub hands together to aid in adhesion. Next, choose the strip that best fits your nail, peel off the clear backing from the silver side, apply and rub in smooth, circular motions (the top plastic piece will gently lift off from the friction of the application process). Once adhered, fold the remainder of the strip down over your finger tip, and file GENTLY in a downward motion until strip peels away with ease. Clean up all your loose edges, and you are finished! (the company claims they'll last up to two weeks!)

I followed the directions, and cleaned up my Nails, pushed back my cuticles, and rubbed my hands together to warm them up. I chose the strips I believed would fit my nails properly and applied them, folded over the extra and filed carefully downwards. I ended up with 5 covered nails, that all were from the first time I attempted these. I painted my other "naked" nails with silver, black and violet; and turned out with a neat looking manicure that lasted a few days.

I say a few days, because it literally was a few days. The strips began to lift with general wear and tear that a retail career comes with, I am also a nervous nail-scraping-against-teeth type of gal, and I have to say these PERL strips, were a disappointment to me. I'm skeptical now of other nail strips type things, and honestly don't know if it'll just end up being a rather large disappointment. These strips come in about 17 different patterns and retail for approximately $9.00 including an almost $6.00 shipping and handling fee.

In my honest and humble opinion, these strips just aren't worth the money as they lift way too easy, and a top coat was not recommended, when I tried to put my seche vite top coat over top of a strip, it began to corrode.

You can find These strips HERE