What I'm Pop Culturing

I didn't get a chance to do What I Ate this week because, well, I just forgot to take photos of my eats! Instead I thought it would be fun to talk about what I've been pop culturing lately since I haven't done one of these in a while! Please add your own as I'm always looking for new goodies to explore!

Reading:
The Girl on the Train
Outlander series
Yes Please
Wild

On my list: continue with Outlander, any other recommendations for me?!

I have taken the plunge into audio books and have been listening to the Outlander series. I'm really enjoying it. Each book is about 40 hours (which does sound crazy!) but it's perfect for my walk to the office and on the train. I'm also simultaneously catching up on the show - see below. Recently I read The Girl on the Train, and I finished the entire book in one day. It was SO good. Everyone's comparing it to Gone Girl, but I think it was way better! For book club, I also read Yes Please by Amy Poehler and thought it was just ok. I also started Wild but couldn't get through the beginning as I found it to be too sad!

Watching:
There's just a never ending supply of awesome TV these days. I would happily binge on many more shows if I could keep my eyes open past 10pm. But alas, I cannot. Lately we've found ourselves watching more comedies than dramas because they are shorter and lighter and there is actually a solid amount of good comedic TV on right now. Shaun also prefers comedies usually, while I'm all about the drams. The more morbid, creepy, depressing the better in my book. My favorites on this list are Justified, Outlander and Shameless!

Justified
Kimmy Schmidt
Outlander
Blackish
Last week with John Oliver
Shameless
Jeopardy

On my list: finish Orange is the New Black, Game of Thrones starts again soon!, possibly catch up on Walking Dead, possibly catch up on Downton Abbey, Better Call Saul, and House of Cards is under consideration

Listening:
I'm definitely going through an inappropriate Broadway show phase lately. I've been listening to a lot of Book of Mormon (I'm kinda obsessed with this soundtrack!) and that spurred a rekindling of my love for the Avenue Q soundtrack.

Book of Mormon
Avenue Q
The Head and the Heart
90s rock playlist

On my list: This American Life, Hedwig and the Angry Inch --->we are going to see it in a few weeks and I need a music refresher!

Now it's your turn! What are you reading, watching and listening to lately?

The Book of Mormon

Last night I saw The Book of Mormon!

I really enjoyed this show. I laughed through the entire thing, from start to finish. The cast was so so good and I loved that the show didn't hold back from making fun of pretty much everyone. Note: if you are offended by poking fun at religion, copious curse words and sexual innuendos, or upset by the plight of those less fortunate, then this is probably not the show for you.

I've been wanting to see it since it came out but tickets were hard to come by and also cost a small fortune. This show is infamous for its high priced ticket, but we found a decent enough deal and bought the tickets in a frenzy a couple of months ago in order to get the deal. Shaun and I joined my parents, sisters and future BIL for the occasion.

I did think that this show was a bit overrated. While I thought it was hilarious, I think we all left scratching our heads wondering how it won the Tony for Best Musical. I feel like perhaps because it was such a shocker when it opened? And we are a little late to the party so it's been so very hyped up by now. Don't get me wrong, the music was great, the show was funny and the cast was wonderful, but the story was not fantastic. I'm glad we got a deal on the tickets for sure, and if we are comparing similar envelope-pushing shows, I don't think this has anything on Avenue Q!

In the end, it was just really fun to go to the theater with the family and have a grown-ups night out in Manhattan. There is nothing like it! Shaun and I are going to see Hedwig and the Angry Inch next month, and I feel as though that will be a very different show indeed! I'm also in the midst of finding a fun restaurant for us to go to after that one!

Have you seen any shows, plays or musicals lately? What are your favorites?

Simple Beauty Secret Weapon: Bold Lips

dolce & gabbana rubio (similar)/revlon colorbust lip butter in red velvet (similar)/younique lucrative lip gloss in luscious/model co in peony/estee lauder pure color in forbidden apple

One of the things that has really suffered since becoming a working Mom is my beauty routine. I really used to love getting a made up for the day, having perfectly funky manicured nails and just looking polished. Now on most days I have little time or desire to wear more than mascara. My severely baggy eyes are another story altogether.

My makeup routine has been minimized to a very light layer of foundation (sometimes this only makes it under said baggy eyes), blush and mascara. This helps but it still looks like I'm not wearing makeup on most days.

Enter my secret weapon: the bold lip.

This is my new favorite look. It takes a dull looking face and suddenly makes it seem full of life. My eyes look bluer. My teeth look whiter. My face looks more alive than undead. And I look like I gave a damn when I left the house that morning. A bold lip calls for simple makeup on the rest of your face as it demands to be the star of the show. I'm happy to oblige! I continue the above routine and then simply add some bold lipstick after I drop Penelope off at daycare for the day (that way I can smother her in kisses without worry of getting red lipstick all over her).

The above collage showcases some of my very favorite colors and formulas!

So tell me, what's your beauty secret weapon?