vanity.

I don't think a day goes by that I don't envision N and I finally having our own space. Our own master bedroom. Our own kitchen. Simply everything our own. A place for me to decorate the walls with our life, friends, and families. For now, and I'm completely content with it, really (!) we are living with my mom, where we actually have quite the space to ourself. 

She has a massive basement, complete with self constructed walk in closet (the thing is huge! It's more of a huge storage area turned into closet in which mr.ray and I can both get dressed in at the same time!), anyway, this basement is more like a little studio apartment for us at the moment and like I said - with the financial situation we're working to get out of by hopefully the summertime, this, for now, is perfect. 

Plus, who wouldn't choose mom's homecooking as long as they possibly can??? :D Especially my mother's! 

So here's our truly humble a bode:

cute huh. 

You may start to find this post super odd and especially girly, more so than usual, but I've been wanting to share this with you forever so you're going to sit here and like it. :) 

Well, I have this one thing I'm pretty proud of and that's my vanity. I have a.l.w.a.y.s. wanted a vanity. I've always hated putting my make up on in the bathroom, and I used to hate waiting for my bathroom mirror to unfog after the shower. Then last year when N moved to Michigan ahead of time without me, I started searching every thrift and vintage store in town to put together my own perfect vanity. Of course I could have just wished for an expensive perfect one from some catalog or store, but who's got that kinda $? :) At least I don't right now and thrifting it is so much better anyways. 

My table is actually an old sewing table. The top layer folds open and the drawers have tons of little spaces, perfect for bobby pins, extra make up and other girly crap you collect like that. 

two of my favorite things: the garter my mom wore on her wedding day that I then wore on mine, and my little sleep mask that helps me when I have a hard time falling asleep. 

A simple comfy chair complete with a vintage gold mirror, a mason jar to hold my brushes (I'm a big brush girl), my favorite picture of my godson, and my favorite item: my vintage jewelry box that I use to hold my make up. It might possibly be the best idea I've ever had. I saw this on another blog mooonths ago, when I first started blogging a good year ago and the other morning when I was doing my make up, it came back to me and so I'm recreating it here in my corner. If you want to play along, I created a linky that I'll keep open till the end of the week! :)

What's in your make up bag?

1.  Mary Kay Concealer - a woman's bf in liquid form. I don't use this everyday, but when I do need it, this Mary Kay Concealer is by far the best. 

2.  E.L.F. Sharpener - pretty self explanatory I believe. 

3.  Urban Decay Eye Primer - This was a piece of wedding make up I purchased. It's aaamazing and doesn't let anything run! But at almost $16 a bottle I use it very sparingly.

4.  E.L.F. Liquid Eyeliner - Impulse buy from Target just couldn't resist the silver, brown, and metallic black. This comes out on special occasions, but every time I do, I realize how much I love liquid eyeliner when it's done right!

5.  Stud Earrings - not a make up bag usual. But, unfortunately for my collection of dangly earrings, I can't remember the last time I've worn anything else but studs. I love my growing collection and I feel funny with danglies, unless it's out on the town. I keep these close in case I feel a sudden change of heart and need a different pair. 

6.  Bobby pins - gotta hold my bangs back somehow when applying my base ;)

7.  Maybelline Eyeshadow - I own a couple of these Maybelline sets. The color combos are always perfect and even though I don't use them that often on myself, they're the first thing I reach for when I'm asked to do someone else's make up. 

8.  Sephora "Perfect Lash Plumer" - I got a sample of this kind in my wedding make up and was so upset when it ran out. It's absolutely worth the $12. No clumps, slightly lengthens and thickens your lashes. 

9.  Make Up For Ever HD Fake Lashes - These were meant again, for my wedding day, but with the mascara I used my lashes were so thick already and my make up flawless that I just went without them. So I'm saving them of course for a special occasion. 

10.  Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in "Twilight" - a reeeeally deep deep red, also a special occasion only, but I love it that I always want to buy other colors from the brand. Since sometime last year I've fallen in love with lipstick and then cheated on that with lip stain. You just can't beat not having to worry about your lip color all day. 

11.  Mary Kay Blush in "Sunny Spice" - also something I just recently started using religiously. Now I'm on my second blush brush and experimenting with different shades. 

12.  Make Up For Ever "HD Foundation" #125 - Most amazing foundation that doesn't feel like foundation because it's so light, yet covers your face in a perfectly even shade and doesn't run whatsoever! Of course, from my wedding make up, but I can already tell you that when I run out of this bottle, it just might be the one make up thing I splurge the $35 on. It's fantastic. 

13.  L'Oreal "true match" pressed powder in "Buff Beige" - my favorite go to quick coverage when I've got the day off or just don't want to spend the 15-20min of putting on my full face :P

14. Labello Classic (the best and German chapstick) & CO Bigelow Apothecaries "mentha lip tint" from Bath & Body Works - I used to see them at B&BW and thought "I'd never spend $8 on lip gloss, but it's as if there's chapstick built right in! And for a girl who a) always has chapped lips or b) picks at her lips when they're dry, lip care is a must in my make up regimen. 

Hope you thought this was fun! I'd love for you to play along. So excited to share tomorrow's Hair Too{s}day with you!

xo . jess