Holiday Beauty Swap

Are you a make-up junkie? Have a draw full of beauty products? Love getting product suggestions from friends? Well here is your opportunity. I am excited to announce the first Crystal Cattle Beauty Swap, and to help me this month is Jenny of j.l.d. Photography and Rural Housewives.

How does it work? Once you have signed up we’ll pair you with another beauty loving blogger. You’ll have a little bit of time to get to know your new blogging friend, and then you’ll send each other a gift of beauty products. Sign up for the Holiday Beauty Swap will take place November 18-25. We’ll send out the pairings by Dec. 1. Get to know your partner and be sure to get your package in the mail by Dec. 15.

Once you have received you box feel free to link up and share your new beauty finds! You don't have to have a blog to participate. Below is a list of a few rules and guidelines. We ask that you try and stick to the rules as closely as possible.

1. Follow the Crystal Cattle and j.l.d. Photography blogs or Facebook pages.
2. Email your partner within 72 hours of receiving your match. If you haven’t heard from your match after three days are up, let us know and we’ll pair you with someone else. 
3. Be sure to ask your partner questions about their likes and disklikes, skin tone, preferred colors, etc. or maybe they want to be surprised! 
4. Each box should contain a min. of $15 worth of product. Please include one full size item. You may also include samples of products with your one full size item. 
5. Items must be new, unless you’ve discussed this with your partner. (Perhaps she loves purple nail polish and you have bottle you know you won’t use anymore.) 
6. Packages must be shipped by Dec. 15. If possible it is a good idea to get a tracking number incase something gets lost. 
7. Once you receive your package create a post revealing what you received and link up with us on January 2.

Click Here to Sign Up

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Beauty: Miracle Worker Moisturizer

A couple weeks ago we had a good blog discussion about one of my favorite long wear lipsticks. On my Facebook page the question came up about moisturizers.

Quick story before I tell you about my new favorite.

Awhile back the Boy and I were having hectic night. I made a deal with him I would take care of supper if he could run to Walmart for me and pick up a few things before I headed out on another trip. Those things included a few groceries and an adventure into the beauty aisle to pick up some moisturizer for me. At the time I was using one of the Regenerist Olay moisturizers.

Upon arriving back from the store the Boy claimed I can't believe you use that stuff. I was curious as to why this was his reaction. "You use anti-aging stuff? Isn't that unfair to the ladies that need it. If you are already using this stuff at your age you won't ever age!"

This is how men think.

Now back to my new moisturizer of choice. This spring my old Olay standby wasn't working. I was having a combination of dry skin, redness and breakouts. It was time for a change. While I was in Ulta (Iowa's version of Sephora) I noticed the Philosophy Miracle Maker sample size in the checkout line. I figured that I would give it a shot since the reviews I had seen online were pretty positive. The results - I love it.

The moisturizer feels heavy when it goes on, but absorbs extremely quickly and isn't oily. My skin feels great, and although I don't know if it is preventing age from creeping in it doesn't seem to hurt. I can definitely tell a difference when I'm traveling and forgot it at home.

I have now gone through two regular size (2 oz.) jars since my sample purchase. Although, it is a little more expensive initially it seems to last a lot longer that what was in the Olay container.

What is your favorite moisturizer? And where do you love to shop for your beauty products. Walking into a Sephora requires a lot of self control from me!

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Beauty: Stila Long Wear Lipstick

Over the past couple of  years I have developed a love for bright colored lipstick. The problem is lipstick doesn't stick to my lips. I can use primer, lipliner, all the trick and it just wears off. However, that is when I discovered two of my favorite long-wear lipsticks Stila Long Wear Lip Color, and Mac Pro Long Wear (we'll talk about that one another day).

This was a candid photo the Boy snapped of me at one of our cattle sales. We were just gooding around, but I love the picture. 

Reasons I love Stila Long Wear Lip Color:

1. Great color: Intriguing is my favorite. It is a bright bold hot pink. If you are wanting a neon pink go with Exhilarating. 

2. Staying Power: This lipstick lasts. All day. Through food, smooches, working on the cattle, you name it this stuff lasts. 

3. Non-drying: I also really like the matte finish of this lip color. However, it definitely isn't drying. 

Now the bad news... Stila discounted this lipstick! I thought I was going to cry when I couldn't track it down on Sephora anymore. However, this week after some searching I found that Beauty.com still has some in stock. 

What is your favorite long wear lipstick? Have you learned any tricks over the years to keep your make-up in place? 

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A week of Instagram: Shellac, Beef and Poshmark

The weeks are flying by. I seriously can not believe that we are almost through May. When June 1 hits our crazy life becomes crazy. For work we have several big events that we are a part of that stretch over 42 day, and 30 of those days I am on the road. Oh, and did I mention we have to pack and move to our farm in there? Yes, it's crazier. But we are also incredibly blessed so I am just going to keep rolling with it. So what was going on this week?

We finished planting all our corn and soybeans! The boy, his family and the other members worked nonstop (and I do mean nonstop) to get all our crop in the ground. I spent a little bit in the tractor one night riding with the Boy. Now we wait for it to sprout out of the ground!

Poshmark = Addicting. I have sold more than $100 worth of items on Poshmark now and it has become additive to see what else I can find in my closet to sell. It has also really made me decide what I wear all the time and what can go. I figure the cash is helping pay for all those summer wedding dresses I bought and less clothes in the closet means less to move in July! (If you are on Poshmark leave a comment with your name, I'm Crystal Cattle). 

I had to share this cute picture of this baby calf we call Orb. He was born on the Kentucky Derby and therefore was named after the winner. I was really hoping we would have a Triple Crown Winner this year, but no such luck. This calf looks different than our others because he is out of this black cow and a Hereford bull resulting in the a color pattern we call brockle face. He's cute. 

I've been getting my nails Shellacked (is that how you spell it?) with all these weddings/events we have had going on. My Instagram capture for this was "I don't think this is what they meant by a statement nail." I was so good and went almost two weeks without picking at them. I got them redone the other night in a pale pink and would show you but my hands are a little pooped stained from working cows this morning. That's what farmers do - get poop on their hands so you don't have to. 

And speaking of food... this is some of the beef we raised. I am really proud of the beef the Boy and I are selling this year. We have sold a lot of it privately and then some will be available through Bass Farms in Mount Vernon, Iowa. We have got steaks sitting out for lunch (yes lunch) because tonight we jump on a plane for Canada to spent a weekend with my sister and rest of the family for her big bridal shower. 

I hope you have an awesome holiday weekend planned, and for my Canadian readers I hope you just had an awesome holiday weekend!

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This gal is a proud farmer and I like make-up

Trust me the two can go together.

I think one of the reasons why I love my life so much is I truly get to do something I am passionate about every day - farm, play with cattle, speak about agriculture, the list goes on. I found it funny last night when two of my Twitter friends, who are both agriculture girls, @LBelleoftheBlog and @jenlynndewey started chatting (tweeting) about our love for make-up, because frankly that is another passion of mine. I love make-up.

Laura - LBelleoftheBlog has recently moved to an area of the country that MAC make-up stores aren't that prevalent. Kind of like my no MAC stores in Iowa situation. She started to tweet about the MAC products that fortunately the mailman had delivered. Jennifer - jenlynndewey quickly joined in on the conversation. And it turned into what our new favorite make-up products are.

Jennifer is oohing over this Kat Von D Eye Shadow Palette.

My own recent make-up MAC purchases. I am loving this new Pro Longwear Lip Creme called Postively Dashing. It stayed on through the afternoon, burgers, guacamole, and sangria. Perfect for girls that don't have time to be touching up their make-up all the time. The eyeshadow is called Antiqued - kind of a red/brown/coppery color, and then Studio Fix Foundation. 

The thing is that we have spent plenty of time around livestock, pastures and crops, and yet we still like to have a little girly side. Maybe no matter how much you smell like a cow you can't hide you inner fashionista.

I changed by Crystal Cattle Facebook page profile picture today. I love these agriculture banners that Bella Spur has created. Check out this album to choose your own agriculture banner. Maybe they can make me one that say proud to be a farmer that love make-up!

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Calling all fans of barnyard beauty (and city beauty too)

Make-up, skincare, and lip balm

I am crazy about make-up. Some girls get crazy about shoes or boots, some love boutiques, I love make-up. I really have to use strong will power to control how much make-up I actually purchase. Living in kind of the middle on now where Iowa (this post explains it) has really helped keep thing under control.

This site makes me giddy. FYI no all this fabulousness is not mine. 

On Thursday (Jan 26) all of us make-up lovers can come together in the Rockin Rural Women Twitter and Facebook beauty chat! That's right a place for all of us ladies to chat about must-have-it products, best deals, where to shop online, home made remedies, etc. I know there are others out there. Just like this post from Debbie Lyons 

To join in all you have to do is follow the #rockinruralwomen hashtag on Twitter or visit the Rockin Rural Women Facebook page at 9 PM CST and join in on the conversation. I'll be moderating the Twitter chat and Amy Charest will be asking the questions on Facebook. Hope to chat with you! 

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Just me and my MAC make-up on the Prairie

Hello UPS man

Well, it has been two months since I have moved to Iowa, and I would say I am adjusting well. Although, the Boy would say I travel so much I am never here. I think my clothes and mail like the place.

My first online MAC purchase

Until the recent move I had spent almost eight years living in town (time in college and then my first big kid job). I absolutely love living back on the farm now, but I'll admit I had gotten comfortable with my life in the city. There was lots of shopping and dining options in my towns and Kansas City was 40 minutes away. Definitely close enough to fulfill my love of shopping and MAC make-up.

However, on the prairie (it's really not that bad I live outside a town with 6,000 people) there is no MAC insight. You see Iowans must not have discovered the wonderful line of MAC make-up. The one and only store in the state is almost three hours away.

I kind of had a panic attack last week when I realize there was only a drop of my NC15 foundation left in the bottle. Hello, online shopping and thank goodness MAC frequently has free shipping. What would use prairie girls do without the Internet?

Yes, the locals might not know me yet, but the UPS and FedEx guys sure do. Between work mail, online Christmas shopping and MAC make-up delivers they know our home well.

My mom and sister bought me this awesome MAC brush case for Christmas! Clean brushes make me so happy. Yes, I am a nerd. 

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Headed to the beach Turquoise Thursday

Sun and sand

I am a sucker for finding the perfect gift. This quite often this means blowing my budget, but what is more fun than putting a huge smile on someone's face. Last weekend it was the future sister-in-law's bachelorette party. I couldn't make it due to a friend flying in and another bachelorette party, but I made sure I sent a great gift.

So what is in this perfect turquoise package?

(Wrapping paper from Target)

A honeymoon survival kit for the beach. 

One of my favorite beauty products ever. It is a tinted oil-free daily face protector with SPF 40. Love this stuff. 

Two lip balms, also with SPF in them, because if Jaci is anything like me I will have lost one before the plane even leaves the airport. 

Waterproof mascara for all that time she'll have in the pool. Another little hint of turquoise. 

Tarte Bronzer to help work on that "tan."

This is another favorite of my. I grew up on Body Shop products, as they are a Canadian company. This body butter not only smells amazing, but it is super-hydrating and has help smooth a few sunburns before. 

What are your favorite beauty products for the beach or the ones that you'll be using this fall?

And don't forget to sign up for my giveaway.

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