A week ago my sister shared the content of her make-up bag and told you all about the products she loves and uses on a regular basis even though she doesn´t particularly like wearing make-up. I on the other hand love everything about it. I love trying new products, different looks and I enjoy the applying process as well. Not only will I get up extra early for my daily makeup routine, if you give me extra time, I will use it completely. And that is why I am taking over Beauty posts. As you can tell me and my sister are total opposites but I have to say it´s a nice feeling that I can teach my older sister about something for a change and share my beauty tips and tricks with her. Anyway, we thought it would be great to show you the content of my make-up back as well. Here it goes....
First things first I have to talk about my fave primer at the moment. I  only recently  made this step permanent in my routine, because it really makes a big difference. My skin feels smoother, the foundation blends better. Loreal Infallible Mattifying Base also mattifyes my skin for a while and it fills up the pores which leaves the skin looking a lot better and healthier.

I am currently trying out this new Maybelline foundation called Better Skin so I can´t really tell you much about it. I do love the finish, it is very smooth and slightly dewy, but I have to say even the lightest colors run a bit darker. I do think I will have to mix it with another foundation to make it perfect but all and all it seems like a great product. I will probably do a full review once I try it out some more.
I have been avoiding using a concealer in the summer, because I have a feeling it is the reason for slightly cakey looking face. But when I do need to cover blemishes I tend to stick to my all-time fave Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer. For my dark circles there is nothing better than Maybelline´s Instant Anti-age effect.

Other face products include Stay Matte powder from Rimmel, my most used bronzer from Essence, I guess it´s called just Bronzing powder and lastly a beautiful rosy blush from Gosh called Rose Whisper. It is my go-to blush when I´m going for a natural, healthy look and for some reason I always get compliments when I wear it.
I sometimes skip highlighting but I do feel it makes a big difference. I absolutely love Benefits High Beam highlighter. It really is one of the best out there. It is so easy to apply and lasts forever. I has a silvery shine. Also I love using Catrice Cosmetics Eyebrow lifter for highlighting under my brows, on the inner eye corners and on the cupid´s bow.
Lastly I use Essence dark grey eyeliner. I feel it looks a bit softer and more natural then a black eyeliner. And I add a mascara off course. I am not picky about my mascaras, currently I am using Catrice Cosmetics Better Than False Lashes mascara. And no look would be completed without a lipstick. I love pairing my rosy blush with Mac´s Angel lipstick. If you are looking for a pinky-nude Angel is the right choice.

I also keep my makeup brushes and eyelash curler in my make-up bag. Boring but o-so important. What is a constant in your make-up bag? Share in the comments bellow and don´t forget to come back next Tuesday for more Beauty tips and tricks.



N.

What if I was brave enough to put myself first and not let others influence my decisions? What if I was confident enough to make my wishes known and fight for what I was craving for inside? Would I make better life choices and be more proud of myself now? Would I avoid all of the humiliations and heartbreaks I suffered trough the years? Would that make me a better person or just more ignorant? Would I still be myself?

What if your insults wouldn´t reflect on my own prospective of my worth? Would I be better off without you in my life? What if I could trace back the time and erase you completely from my past? Would you erase me? What if I needed to get to know you just so I could realise what do I want from love in my life? What if I should be thanking you for being my teacher and friend?

What if one day I will be OK with never seeing you again and that scares me? What if I would tell you that I am happy now - would you be happy for me? Does it make sense to say that I miss how my life was then when we were an item and not really you?

What if all of this never happened, would I still find him? Would I be as happy as I am now and feel so lucky to have met so many new people who I call family today? Would I still be myself?

"You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that holds you down" - Toni Morrison

Darn it, this went on too long (wink). I admit, I have had a share of problems in my life and I have made a bunch of mistakes (like all of us do). But can I really be sorry for making them? Where they truly mistakes or just the natural flow of life? Some things are just meant to happen, there is no way around them. Have you ever been in a situation, where whatever you do, whichever side you choose - you are making a mistake? It is all about the prospective. You are going to question your decisions no matter what you choose to do. People are like that, we always second guess ourselves. Always. That is both great for us - so that we know what we did wrong and we learn something,- or bad - since we suffer while figuring stuff out.-

Here are a few things you should always forgive yourself for, because they were the right thing to do at that time.

1. The Way You Dealt With Pain

You may have said something you regret, you may have done something you are ashamed of. You probably humiliated yourself in front of others or yelled at someone who didn´t deserve that. Give yourself some slack, you were hurt, you weren´t thinking straight. Your mind was blurred with pain and you reacted impulsively and instinctively. You learnt something from that and now move on.

2. The Things You Changed Your Mind About

Once you may have said you wanted to be a doctor, veterinarian, an astronaut and felt so strongly about you future. Then you grew up a little and your plans changed, When you think about what you could have achieved, if only you stuck to your original plans, you feel guilty. Don´t.  It is like once you adored tomatoes and now you cannot stand to see, yet alone eat one of them.
People change, our hopes and priorities change and so do our friends, lovers and other things in life. Not all of them, off course. Some stay and some go. Think of love as a game and lovers as just players - even though they change, the game stays the same. The same goes for friendships, even your own wishes.

3. The Person Who You Unintentionally Hurt

There was a time in your life when you were selfish and maybe even ignorant of others´ emotions. Maybe you had a lot going in your life and didn´t stop to see what was happening around you. Maybe you were hurt yourself and didn´t care about anything at all at that time. Sometimes you may just be over all the drama and just want a break. Then something happens and you hurt someone. Even though a lot of time has passed since then, you still feel ashamed and guilty about that. If you said sorry and tried to make amends, you did your part. Let it go. Everyone has those kind of moments, you are not alone.

4. The Way You Treated Yourself

There were times you felt ugly, unnoticed, fat, skinny, dumb or whatever else was bothering you about yourself. As a result you treated yourself badly, you didn´t nurture your body as it deserves to be nurtured, you never stood up for you, you didn´t take chances and didn´t have any  trust in yourself. Since then you matured and realised your own worth but there is no going back. You feel guilty about all those if only´s and think about your past a lot. You can only live in the moment and look ahead. Let the past be where it is supposed to be - gone.

5. The Times You Embarrassed Yourself

The same goes for this one. Remember the bad times as true life lessons of what you are never repeating again. Be your own bad example.

6. The Things You Did Not Do

This one is kind of tough to get over, because we tend to be afraid of taking chances in the moment and then cheer our past self in retrospect. Why is that you see your potential in retrospect and not right here, right now? Funny creatures we are, aren´t we? Look ahead, i am sure you have a lot of things to excel at in your future. Be your own biggest cheerleader.

7. What You Are Not Ready For

If you are not ready for it, then it is probably not supposed to happen yet. Or ever, who knows. Believe in that! Life has a tendency to surprise us anyway and if things happen against your own will, they can turn out the be the best things that happened to you in your life. Do not swim against the stream, just deal with everything life throws at you.

8. All The Mistakes That Are Yet To Come

Future is not ours to see. Enjoy your here and now and keep your head up while looking ahead.

I don´t think we mentioned this before but just a month ago we got a little addition to our family, our cousin gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. And as soon as I heard I got an idea of making her an interactive mini scrapbook album that she could cherish forever. And you know how much I love patterns, you can check some of  my own here. Anyway back to the baby album. It took a few months planning and couple of weeks making the album, but I couldn´t be more happy with the result. Family means everything to me and we need to cherish our moments together. And then scrapbook about them! :)
Here are a few pictures of the finished result.


Lastly, I want to mention we currently offer 20% discount to all our digital products in our Etsy shop. Just use our Coupon code: SAVE20



 Stay creative,


N.

Our lives have become overwhelmed with stressful errands, unachievable wishes, impossible goals and overall temptations. We were brought up with the idea that we can accomplish everything if we try hard enough. So we put a lot of pressure on ourselves just to one day find out that everyone cannot be overly successful. We cannot all be rich and famous. Life doesn´t work like that. Then we dwell in sorrow of our incompetence. Because they said we could do it and we tried, a lot. But we become average or maybe not even that. The presence of failure wears heavily on our soul. We are depressed, sad and unhealthy in the end, because that is the last thing on our mind. This has to stop today. Be proud of what you have become, you are awesome in every way! You don´t need a lot of money or fame to be great. Start taking care of yourself today.


Every beginning is hard - that goes for lifestyle changes, diets and every other decision in life. It is the unknown that fears us. The thing is - changes in life are essential. We have to change, grow in body and mind and find a perfect way of living for ourselves. Each person is different and you will not find an universal recipe of healthy living that suits everyone. You may have allergies or are intolerant to something and you won´t get the same effect on your body and mind as someone else would. But there are some general rules on how to start living healthy.

Tips on Healthy Living:

Have a Balanced diet

Eat foods from every food group and do not follow any crazy diets. It is not worth it in the long run. Just listen to your body.

Drink A Lot of Water

Water will remove toxins from your body and make you feel energised. Hydrate and stay healthy.

Exercise

Stay active with different outdoor activities and sports. If you can, run, play football or badminton. If not, go for walks, swimming of cycling. Whatever works for your body.

Sleep

Get enough rest for your body and mind.

Find a Hobby

Do something you love and laugh a lot.

Learn To Say NO

Sometimes you just need to say NO to someone/something. You are not a martyr, you help if you can. But when you a really in a bind and will stress a lot by helping someone, just say no. If you say yes, you might resent them later anyway.

Love Yourself

Be kind to yourself and you will be kind to others.


These steps are really not that hard, if you think about it. With just a few changes, you will feel more energised and you will look healthier. It is a marathon, not a sprint.

I had my share of failure and feeling ashamed for who I am and what I do. Not because my life is bad or wrong. I just thought I would do better at this stage of my life, I would look more beautiful and I would be very happy. Here I am, with a few extra pounds, no job and not really that perfect. But thats OK, because I have so much love in my life. I paint, do photography, exercise, hang out with friends, have fun with my family. I am awesome in a lot of ways. I make someone´s day, I give change to the homeless every once in a while, even though I don´t have a lot of money. I buy someone coffee or sweets just because. I play with kids and I help others. I do a lot. I started to love myself more and am healthier for it. I got over the bad stuff (bulimia, weight loss, panic attacks, depression) and I am proud of that. I finished College and I am working on my Masters Degree. I have a lot to be thankful for. So do you, just look for the things in life you are grateful for and find beauty within.


M.

In the summer it´s important to feel as comfortable as possible while still looking cute. The effortless way to achieve both is by wearing a jumpsuit. They are very versatile, you can always dress them up for any special occasions or dress them down. Play with bright colors, fun patterns and flowy sillouets.

Products shown:

- Blue jumpsuit, Pull&Bear last season (alternative)

- Black lace sneakers, Bershka (alternative)

- Earings, Six


What is your fave clothing color for the summer? Let me know in the comments!


N.

I refuse to wake up an hour early to have a long morning routine. I am too lazy for that, I rather hit snooze and sleep in. But I do like my makeup products and I love the feeling when I am all dolled up for a special occasion. Every once in a while, off course.

The thing is I am not a huge fan of makeup and I do not wear it every day. Not even every week, maybe like once a week. Or less. I wouldn´t even have a MAKEUP BAG, if I haven´t received it as a gift. I know my sister´s makeup bag is the total opposite, so come by next Tuesday and you can read all about it!

Obsession with finding the right person, a so-called soul mate has been passed down for generations in books and romance poetry. But people didn´t seem to be so hot headed when it came to love in the past. There have been a lot of legends about true love, but people did not seek for the right person for so many years while changing their mind every other weekend. Do we live in a Hollywood-romance-movies-inspired world?

˝At the Beach˝ digital papers

If you have read our introduction post you probably already know here at NeverMind we looooove Art. Between the two of us we like to scrapbook, paint, illustrate, design clothing and patterns, photography and we could go on and on. So we decided to dedicate Fridays to Arts and Crafts where we will share are past and present projects, inspirations and plans.

Ice cream digital print

As this is the first introduction art post we want to share our current project, which is digital design and patterns. We just recently opened our Etsy shop, where we sell mentioned items. We would love it if you stopped by and support. If nothing else we hope that our work inspires the artist in you.

Eat icecream and nevermind digital print

Currently we are in love with summer images, bright colors and patterns. The ocean, sand, bright sun, ice cream and sunglasses....everything we love about summer.We also created our own digital prints to brighten up our walls in our work space.

˝Summer Fun˝ digital paper pack

˝Vintage Tea Party˝ digital paper pack

What inspires you the most? Share your inspiration in the comments and stay creative!


N.

The best part of putting an outfit together has to be accessories. There are truly endless possibilities. You can really make an outfit your own with adding the right piece. I love adding all kinds of jewelry to my looks and I am already looking forward for summer. Here are some of my favourite accessorie picks for the warmer weather.

Heavy Petal Circle Shades Nasty Gal, €18,22

Birds of a Feather Wrap Arm Band Nasty Gal, €18,23

ASOS Rose Flower Hair Garland ASOS, €16.44

Made Hair Crown ASOS, €34.25

Chevelle Chevron Watch Black Multi Prima Donna, $14.99

How ready are you for summer?  Will you be adding any of my choices to your collection? Let us know.

Every girl goes through trial and error when it comes to make-up and it´s o so scary to try new things and venture in the unknown when there are so much products and brands on the market. When I first started wearing make-up I remember thinking I would never wear a blush, because I hate my red cheeks and I could never understand why girls put on a highlighter, when their skin is already oily. If you´re reading this and thinking to yourself ˝That´s what I said!˝ I´m here to tell you we were both wrong! Let´s look into 5 things you need to make a part of your beauty routine, today.

1. Always apply primer

I use to think it´a an unnecessary step that will not only NOT help my oily skin but also make my foundation look cakey. Trick is finding the one that suits your skin type. I have been using Loreal Infallible Mattifying Base for a while now and I can say it really works. I find it diminishes my pores and leaves my skin smooth and matte. The foundation just glides on and it leaves my skin looking, for the lack of a better word, flawless. I will not lie to you, this will not mattify you skin for the whole day if you have really oily skin like me, but it will help tremendously.

Loreal Infallible Mattifying Base

2. Mix Foundations to suit your preference

I don´t know about you, but no matter how hard I try I can never find the perfect foundation. It´s either too light, dark, sheer,... Also it is impossible to wear the same foundation shade throughout the year. So before you throw it away or walk around with 3 shades lighter foundation, try mixing foundations together. This way you can create a perfect shade, texture and coverage foundation for any season and occasion. My favourite mix at the moment is Rimmel Wake me Up Foundation in 201-Classic Beige (Dewy and darker) and Catrice All Matt plus in 010-Light Beige (lighter with matte finish and thicker)

Catrice All Matt plus (left) and Rimmel Wake me Up Foundation (right)

3. Before you use mascara, curl your lashes

I have been dreading this scary little device that will poke my eyes out for a few years before I actually tried it and didn´t hurt at all, ha ha. Even better my lashes were curled, my eyes looked more open and you get the picture. But, honestly using a Lash Curler will make a huge difference in your make-up game, especially if your using fake lashes.

4. Highlight, highlight, highlight!

Another product essential in your make-up bag. I am talking brow bone, cupids bow, inner eye corner and cheeks. A little bit of highlighter on those areas will brighten your face and finish up the look. I used to use highlighter only on special occasions but it has become a part of my daily routine. I absolutely love Catrice Prime and Fine Highlighting Powder in the shade 010-Fairy Dust for my cheeks, which gives a golden sheen. A powder highlighter is perfect for oily skin. And for other highlighting areas I use Catrice Eyebrow Lifter in a creamy pencil form, which is a pinker shade.

Catrice Prime and Fine Highlighting Powder (left) and Catrice Eyebrow Lifter (right)

5. Blush, baby

And lastly is the blush I´ve been scared to use due to my naturally red cheeks. But after applying foundation the face can look dull and unnatural. That is why you with a light hand off course and a natural sheer color blush we add a bit of dimension. I usually apply it a bit above the apples of the cheeks and blend it up words. My fave choice at the moment is Mac´s Sheertone Blush - Peaches which I already talked about in last weeks post.

Mac´s Sheertone Blush - Peahes

Have you ever been afraid to try any make-up products? And I would love to hear about your make-up mistakes in the past. Let me know in the comments and be sure to check back again for more beauty posts, coming next Tuesday. Until then, have a blast and thank you for reading.



N.

It is true. I can give you so much evidence of this statement it is not even funny. That gruelling, awful and exhausting days when you feel like you have no time for even taking a breath make me question - why is the Universe working against me? Why do you hate me so much, U?

Lets take a recap of a day like that.

7AM

I wake up thinking I still have time for my daily morning routine and not sweat it. So I enter the kitchen and start to make my coffee. »Damn, I forgot to turn on the dishwasher the day before« – fine, I wash the dishes by hand, so be it. When I am finally about to make coffee, I come to find out, that we are out of it. »Damn. Fine – I will make myself a nice smoothie.« Except, all we have is a half rotten pineapple and a banana, no milk or anything else. »I have to go grocery shopping« – I decide I will do it later today. I eat the banana and go take a shower. That one goes pretty smoothly and I feel more energised after. After I start to do my makeup, no fuss - plain everyday natural makeup by using only a black pencil, mascara and a bit of blush, nothing else. But the tip of my eye pencil breaks as I am applying it and then I cannot even sharpen it, because it seems to be breaking every single time I try to. »Fine, I am OK with mascara only.« I wash the black smudge off my eye/cheek and apply mascara. No blush today, I decide. Hair in a pony tail and let´s go get dressed. I haven´t prepared my clothes the day before, so I am going trough my closet like crazy and - off course, find nothing to wear. Nothing I am pleased with, anyway. I put on a new blouse only to find out it is too wrinkled to be worn in public. I see an old dress of mine I used to love and I decide to wear that but it seems like it doesn´t fit me very well anymore. »Why? Why are you doing this to me? Damn.« So after deciding I need to lose like 10 pounds (sad face) I finally decide on plain Jeans and a white shirt – »Whatever, they are in this season«. I am almost out the door, but in the last second I decide to take the trash out, as I am already leaving the apartment. Pick them up and the bag breaks. »Seriously!?« Yup. Some weird stinky vegetable degrading liquid spashes all over the floor which took me like 5 minutes to wash up the floors. Thank god none of it got on my clothes! Double bag it, wash my hands and I am off. »Can it be super relaxed from now on?« The sun shines at me on this beautiful early summer morning and I feel like everything is going as planned from now on. Until I miss the bus into the city. It was the last FU of that morning. »Damn.«

12AM

After being late on one of my appointments (and saying sorry too many times), the day went on and I was feeling stressed because there was still so much for me to do that day. I had so many things on my list, I felt a bit sick and incapable of succeeding. I went to lunch alone, because I had to make a few of phone calls during that time. I missed a call from my mom, sister and my best friend (»Aren´t you busy at this time of day, people?« No, I am just kidding (a bit), I love hearing from you people, truly! If you wouldn´t call me, I would feel bad and unwanted – I can be depressing that way), so I returned the calls. As I was speaking and eating my yummy chicken sandwich, a big drop of sauce and tomatoes landed right on the middle of my white shirt. I felt like crying. I made a quick stop at H&M to buy a new shirt, because I had a meeting after lunch and didn´t want to look like a 3-year old after snack time. With 30 bucks less and a stress level higher I went on with my day.

Afternoon

It went pretty well from that point forward, if I don´t count trying to pay with my gym membership card at the grocery store. And bumping into my desk, a wall and probably something else. I am extra clumsy when I am in a hurry. Like really clumsy, you probably cannot even imagine (smiley face) how many bruises I can count off not even remembering where I got them from. Yup, all I needed was a break and I didn´t get one that day. I chillaxed when I got home, went for a good run and made myself and my man a great dinner. I managed checking every box on my list that day (done-zo!), with a few minor (wink) bumps on the road. I went to bed feeling extra capable and remember thinking – »The Universe is not against me, it just made me realise I can do anything, no matter what!«

Here are a few things you need to remember on "those days".

1. There Will Be Days Like This!

Always. So deal with it.

2. Keep Calm and Carry On.

Take your time, when you are in a hurry. Not like an extra hour to get ready, but in a sense of doing everything calmly. If you are ruuning crazy in a hurry, you will probably end up being more late in the end. It makes sense, belive me - if you are more calm, you probably won´t have to clean up after you spill something on your shirt or forget something at home and have to take a trip back to get it.

3. It Is All You

My day is probably not the Universes´ centre of attention, huh? It is just an expression, you guys. I know there is not someone sitting up there and watching me/us in a Big Brother style just to mess with me/us. Can you imagine how would that look like? A bunch of people (or aliens) sitting in front of computers in a call centre kind of way and pressing »Let´s fuck this one over today« Buttons. Nah, every one of us is in charge of our own little universe. Take care of it and be kind to yourself.


M.

Summer is my favourite season of all!! Nothing can beat laying on the beach, sipping cold drinks with little umbrellas, having water balloon fights, attending bonfires, eating fresh fruit and just feeling alive. For this occasion I made my own Summer Bucket List! You guys can get your own freebie by clicking on MY SUMMER TO DO LIST.
A lot of my best memories have occurred during the summer - sleepovers, camping without my parents, dancing and partying, first romances, swimming at night, going on road trips with friends, music festivals and adventures in general. Summer gives me the feeling of freedom, even though I am already a grown up. It is the feeling that lasts, a mix of excitement and nostalgia. Awesome stuff.  So here is what I am planning on doing this summer.

What about you? If you give me an awesome idea, I will steal it from you and add it on my summer bucket list :) More cool ideas, the better.

GET YOU FREEBIE
I wish you the best summer and I would love to see your summer to do lists, if you have one. Or even better - get your freebie, write down your own list and send me your version of Summer To Do List. I would be thrilled to get one :)


M.

This summer it´s all about flats, amongst those sliders are very big hit this season. My picks are quite simple yet perfect and fashionable for hot summer days. But what would summer be without a perfect pair of gladiators? I have just the perfect ones to show you. And since I prefer wearing neutral colored clothes for the majority of the time I just love adding a pop of color to my style with a pair of colorful shoes. If you still choose to rock a pair of hot heels, check out patterned platform sandals from H&M.

ASOS FENDALL Footbed Leather Sliders ASOS, €27.40

ASOS JOB ON Lace Up Leather Shoes ASOS, €34.25

Platform sandals H&M, €29.99

ASOS FATED Leather Sandals ASOS, €21.92

ASOS FLO Suede Tie Leg Sandals ASOS, €27.40

ASOS FENTIMAN Leather Knee High Gladiator Sandals ASOS, €47.94