Another week about FOOD!  This week's 5FF is about comfort food.  This might actually be harder to pick than last week!  I'll try my best to narrow to only 5.

||1} Lipton Cup-a-Soup:  When I would get a cold or flu as a child, my mother would always give me this soup.  It's still my go-to comfort food because it reminds me of her, and her nurturing.

||2} My Chili Dog Casserole: This is our favorite comfort food around here... it's not healthy AT ALL, but isn't that the point of comfort food?  You can see my recipe HERE.

||3} French Fries: McDonald's, Freddy's, Five Guys, Braum's, store bought, homemade, fried, baked...it doesn't matter.  ANY french fries.  I love french fries. I make some pretty mean oven baked fries.  I could seriously cut up a potato and make oven baked fries every single day of the week for lunch.

[but I won't... maybe... no.]

||4} Pistachio Almond Ice Cream: Mmmmmmmm.... That's all I have to say about that.  I love pistachio everything.  I even have a dedicated pistachio recipe board on pinterest ahah.

||5} Pizza: Preferably New York style but I don't discriminate.  I love all pizza.  One of my favorite places here in the midwest is Papa Keno's [pictured above].  They provide amazing east-coast pizza to those of us in Kansas.  The closest one to me is about an hour and a half drive though... So needless to say, I don't get it but a few times a year.  It's totally worth the drive though.

October  3rd:  Gateway Fandoms That Made Me Who I Am Today

October 10th:  Geeky Clothing Items I Need In My Closet Immediately

October 17th:  Characters I'd Love To Dress Up As For Halloween

October 24th:  My Must See List of Halloween Movies

October 31st:  The Halloween Candy I Always Hope For When Trick-Or-Treating

November  7th:  Comfort Foods That Always Make Me Feel Better

November 14th:  Smart Phone Apps I Cannot Live Without

November 21st:  Characters I Would Invite To My Thanksgiving Feast

November 28th:  Black Friday Purchases I Would Sacrifice A Night Of Sleep For

my nightly routine [for thinning hair]

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MoreIsBeautiful #CollectiveBias

Into my late 20s my hair started thinning badly.  I don't know if it was due to hormones, all the foolishness I put my hair through [bleach, color, teasing, heat damage] etc, but I was NOT happy about it.  I always had massively thick hair.  You know the type... that thick hair that looks like an actual horse tail when in a pony tail?  Needless to say, the thinning hair was really upsetting.

I tried every volumizing product under the sun.  Literally.  I used to work at a professional beauty supply store && had all products at my disposal.  Sure some products helped temporarily in "creating" a fuller hair look, but it wasn't a long term solution.  I still had thinning hair.

I discovered Women's Rogaine and it has helped DRAMATICALLY.  My hair is actually fuller && has more volume.  Before Women's Rogaine, you could clearly see my scalp through my hair and now it's filling in!

I take my showers at night, because I'm NOT a morning person.  I don't wash my hair every day.  It's usually every other to third day [I have very dry naturally curly hair, so I can't wash daily].  That's also what has impressed me with the Women's Rogaine... I apply this every night and it doesn't make my hair or scalp greasy, even if I don't wash my hair daily.

When I hop out of the shower [on hair washing nights], I apply some Neutrogena leave-in treatment to my ends.  Depending on the night, I'll either let my hair air dry or I'll blow dry it.  Once my hair && scalp is dry, I apply my Women's Rogaine.  Remember though: even if I don't wash my hair I apply the Women's Rogaine every night for optimal results.

Each can of Women's Rogaine has a 2 month supply, so a little bit goes a long way.  You only need a half a capful daily.  I don't actually put the product in the cap though.  I found it's easiest to use a little tray or soap dish and dispense the foam onto that.  From my tray, I get some product into my fingers && apply to my hair-parted scalp.  Note: this product is meant for your scalp, not your hair.  I part my hair into 3 sections and massage the product into my scalp.  This whole process takes LESS than 5 minutes!

I was able to trash a huge stash of volumizing products!  I don't need them anymore.  The LESS than 5 minutes it takes to apply the Women's Rogaine, has actually SAVED me time!  I no longer have to mess with several volumizing products to create a fuller hair appearance, because my IS fuller.

Once I started to see results from Women's Rogaine, I had to scout out my local stores to see if I could find it when I need to repurchase.  I easily found it at my local Wal-Mart in the Shampoo & Conditioner isle. Yay!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started using this product, but it has exceeded my expectations.  I have fuller hair, it doesn't take me as long to get around, && I have less product to deal with.  Women's Rogaine has saved my hair.  I am one happy girl.

a blog, a playlist [october 2014]

Through most of October I listened to several stations on Google Play Music.  Also, a veryyy guilty pleasure artist of mine put out a new album in October so I listened to that A LOT.  Last month I embedded several videos into my post, but I noticed that made the post slow to load for some people.  So this month I'll just tell you what I listened to ;-)

|90s|

I've been listening to a lot of 90s music this month.  Not sure if it's a nostalgia thing or what. I truly do enjoy 90s grunge && alternative music.  I found a great 90s station on Google Play Music called "90s Rock Relaxation" ahah.  I dunno if they're exactly relaxing buuuut... it's a good mix of music!  

Some of my favorites from the playlist include:

Goo Goo Dolls~ Iris

Third Eye Blind~ Thanks a Lot

The Wallflowers~ One Headlight

Ben Harper~ Show Me a Little Shame

Matchbox 20~ 3am

|Hip-Hop/Rap|

One of my favorite genres to listen to while blogging is hip-hop/rap/r&b.  I think it's the beat that I enjoy while in deep thought while editing photos.  This playlist had a good mix of newer songs && older songs.

My favorites from that playlist include:

Three Six Mafia~ Poppin' My Collar

Fat Joe~ Lean Back

Jay Z~ Big Pimpin

ScHoolboyQ~ Collard Greens

A$AP Rocky~ Purple Swag

|Gerard Way: Hesitant Alien|

I loved My Chemical Romance... I won't go into my emo phase here, ahah buuut I definitely had one.  I still listen to their albums though.  I really truly loved MCR.  I was supah excited when I learned that Gerard was coming out with a solo album.  It's really good && I've been really enjoying it.  I love Gerard's voice.  I could listen to him sing for hours and hours.

week 44 [planner love]

This week was obviously Halloween themed.  I chose purple, black, && pumpkins.  The jack o' lantern stickers I purchased at the Dollar Tree.  I chose these stickers because they reminded me of Jack Skellington!  When I think of Halloween I think of the colors black, orange, && purple.  So that's what I used!

The washi is the same group of washi I purchased from a local office supply store.  I don't have a massive amount of washi, so you'll see the same ones... I'm trying to use up what I have before I buy more.  I used the purple washi as a reminder for a business training at my non-blog job && for my POHS eye injection appointment.  The label with a quote I purchased from the dollar tree.  It says "Just because I cannot see it, doesn't mean I can't believe it!- Jack Skellington".  This week was another pretty bare week since it was eye injection week.  That usually takes me out of commission for a few days.

Aren't these pumpkin stickers cute??!  Again, not a lot going on here, just a few reminders.  Then the Halloween label also from the dollar tree.  I'm really loving these labels I purchased from the dollar tree.  They're so versatile.

I used a black frixion pen to write on my pages && a fine point sharpie for the labels.  And as always, I have my oliblock clip.

Is there anything specific you'd like to know about my planner?  Let me know in the comments below!

adorn your android: calendar widget tutorial

Since the 90s are making such a huge comeback [which seems odd because I like to think they weren't that long ago...] my November phone theme is inspired by the 90s.  I think I've just had the 90s on my brain lately.  From seeing fashion inspired by the 90s, to constantly listening to 90s grunge rock on google play music... I'm feeling nostalgic.

I chose a background of Seattle because one of my favorite things of the 90s is grunge music.  Nothing screams grunge music like Seattle.  I was flipping through my zooper widget for a good clock/calendar widget.  I found this one which is just a calendar, but I loved it && knew I could make it look 90s'ish.

You will need to download Zooper Widget from the google play store.

Once installed, you will choose your widget menu.  As you can see there's several sizes of widget to choose from.  I chose 4x2.

Once you place your widget, you'll need to tap it to start the customization.

Scroll through until you find the DaveDate widget style.  Then select it.

Here's where you will choose the different settings for DaveDate.  The setting menu is pretty self explanatory.  Choose the "layout" menu to change the colors of the background lines of the widget.

Once in there you'll see 2 "Rect" options.  The first is the horizontal blue line, and the second is the vertical red line.  I'll show you how to change these to the pretty pink && light blue I chose.  Select the first "Rect".

Just tap the color box and it'll bring up a color wheel to change your color.  You will do that in both "Rect" menus.  It's easy peasy.  Then you've got an awesome calendar widget!  It's totally customizable if you don't like the colors I chose... choose your own! <33

As a bonus, here's my lockscreen this month.  I'm really into glittery looking images right now.  I found this on cocoPPa and fell in love.

||info||

Find me on cocoPPa "emileeblogs".  All my icons && wallpaper were found on cocoPPa.  It's a free app that has a plethora of free wallpapers && icons to customize your phone screens.  To see my past phone themes && layouts, click on "phone" under the categories section in my sidebar >>>

october favorites [2014]

||contains affiliate links||

I've got an array of favorites for you this month from makeup/skincare, to food, to vape juice, to books.  October was a fairly decent month for me.  Had some issues with my POHS, but that is to be expected.  I was veryyy busy for most of October which kept me from some of my favorite Halloween traditions.  That's nobody's fault but my own.  I had to take some time to create a concrete work schedule for myself to keep me from becoming too overwhelmed.

Before we know it, it's going to be Thanksgiving then Christmas.  I love this time of year and it seems to go by faster && faster every year... Ahh I can't think about all of that right now ahah.  Too much to do before Christmas!  Well grab a cup of tea or coffee, and let's check out my favorites!

I was sent this product for review and I fell in love!  I've been using this for about 2 months && I've seen a noticeable difference in my skin.  It's firmer, more even, and overall just healthier looking.  I've mentioned before that I don't really get impressed by skincare products, but this HAS impressed me.  I use it every single night during my nightly routine.  It's made such a huge difference in my skin.  I will definitely be purchasing this on my own when I run out... however, I don't know what that will be because this is a big bottle and it appears to last forever!  You can find SANO Vitamin C Serum on Amazon for under $20 && a free eye gel comes with it.

Aldi has these amazing bags of chopped dates.  I used them A LOT in october.  They're perfect to throw into a smoothie [you only need a little bit] for added sweetness.  I've made homemade granola with them, && even sprinkled them atop salads.  These chopped dates have been a perfect sweet tooth cure for me.

This month I have been enjoying Ecto Cooler by Mt Baker Vapor for my all day vape juice.  Ecto Cooler is a sweet and tangy citrus vape, with hints of orange, tangerine and sweet and sour candy.  It's been a nice fruity break from the pumpkin spice that I was vaping daily for awhile.

I've been using the NYX eyebrow kit for quite awhile now.  I really like the wax that comes with it.  The powder works great too.  I use my real techniques eyebrow brush for a flawless application.  A newer addition to my eyebrow routine is the Anastasia Dipbrow pomade.  I absolutely LOVE this stuff!  It can either make or break your look though.  There's a learning curve.  It's pretty potent stuff.  Once you get the hang of it, it's fantastic.  I use my Mirabella brow brush with it.

I was sent this book for review.  I usually decline offers from companies for book reviews.  I have a reading list a mile long, and I don't want to add to it by accepting books that I have no interest in.  I did accept this one though.  [I received the book for free, I do not receive payment for my review.]  I accepted this book because I have an obsession with all things "marketing".  Honest.  I used to want to go to school for marketing [before I realized I'm not programmed to participate in college lol].  I really enjoy learning the ins and outs of marketing.  It is useful knowledge for all facets of life.  This book, Kama Sense Marketing was very informative.  Taking theory from the Kama Sutra and using it in marketing.

According to the ancient Kama Sutra, "Love is where physical, emotional, and spiritual experiences meet for the purpose of strengthening relationships."  Isn't this what modern marketing is all about?  Love is, in fact, the very peak of emotional marketing. Putting this philosophy into practice is not only a revolutionary concept, but it's also a guaranteed platform of success.

I can't say that I agree with all points mentioned in this book, but I found Levy's theories fascinating.  I really enjoyed reading his approach.  I highly recommend the book if you're into marketing like I am.  At .99 cents, this book is a steal.  You don't often find educational or informative non-fiction that cheap.  It's a great read.

That's my favorites for October.  What were your favorites of October? <33

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.