Istanbul: What We Ate

Turkish food! Yum!

Chicken Schnitzel:

This one came with a side of bulgar wheat and fresh veggies. It was good, although the chicken reminded me of two frozen chicken patties, each folded in half, with cheese tucked in the middle. And yes, it's a pile of mayonaise and a pile of ketchup at the back of the plate.

Traditional Turkish Bread:

This was served almost every time we sat down to eat. This one was unique in that it had sesame seeds sprinkled on the top. This bread puffs up, but it never deflates. It has a very thin top and bottom and the inside is full of one big air bubble. Our 2-year-old enjoyed snacking on it quite a bit. 

Turkish Meat Pizza:

This was wonderful! A lovely dough filled with mild tomato sauce, meat, and cheese. Baked to perfection with a crisp outside and a soft interior.

Cold Appetizers:

Tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, hummus, baba ganoush, olives, tomato salad, etc. I love the oil, spices, and salt that are rubbed all over the olives. Such a savory treat!

Fish Casserole:

This was okay. We were assured that this casserole was boneless, but it ended up being far from the truth. Also, we were charged $50USD. Ouch!

Turkish Ravioli:

These are shaped more like tortellini, filled with a bit of meat and topped with a yogurt-like sauce and some reddish oil. Enjoyed this quite a bit!

Turkish Pancake:

This was available with a variety of fillings: cheese, spinach, potatoes, etc. Or, you can get it with everything, which we did! It was like a quesadilla, but not spicy at all. This restaurant was the only place we found the Turkish pancake. Otherwise I would definitely have eaten this more than once!

Children's Menu Macaroni and Cheese:

Some of the finest mac-n-cheese I ever did see! It was penne pasta, in a light white sauce, topped with parmesan cheese. Included were small chunks of rich, soft cheese. To top it all off, an egg, cooked all the way through, but not brown, was thrown in there. The egg sounded odd to me, but it ended up being quite delicious. We both helped our daughter finish off this kid's meal!

Chicken and Mushroom Crepe:

My final dinner in Istanbul. This was by far the finest meal I enjoyed. It was perfect. Inside the crepe was a generous portion of cubed white-meat chicken and large-dice mushrooms. The cream sauce was light, and the cheese on top was broiled and golden. On the side, the orange carrot ribbons were absolutely the sweetest carrots I'd ever had!

What ethnic foods do you enjoy? In your home country, or abroad?

Is your mouth watering?

Istanbul: Where We Stayed

Pretty amazing view, right? This view was from a rooftop restaurant where we ate a few nights ago. Our hotel, the Eski Konak Hotel, is the mustard-colored skinny building in the bottom of the photo. We're in the room on the top floor with the wall of windows. The domed tops of the windows below us are peaking out just above the dark flat roof in the foreground.

The mosque pictured above is the Blue Mosque, although it looks rather yellow all lit up at night. Here it is during the day from a different side:

Our accommodations have been clean and simple. As my dear husband said, "I recognize things here that were on the website, but let's just say they did a good job with the photography." That's not a complaint, just a reality. We ended up liking our homebase quite a bit for the four nights we spent there. If you click here, our room is in pictures 5, 6, 7, and 8. Our view of the water is photo 12. Or, here's our view on a cloudy day, emphasis on the awesome black and white hotel. Love the architecture!

How about you: Ever visited Istanbul? What was your experience?

Episode 14 "Lips" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.


Check out this pink picture of loveliness! (Hard to believe it wasn't too long ago that I was not much of a lip person. I've found so many things recently that I just love!) Note: Many of these sample-sized products are usually just kept in my purse.

My Lips Collection:

Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster in Sweet

Laura Geller Lip Shiners in City Lights

BareMinerals Pretty Amazing lipgloss in Fearless

Buxom Lipgloss in Sugar and Sasha

Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Naked

Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Buff 4

Maybelline Baby Lips in 30 Peach Kiss

Essence Glossy Lip Balm in Pink Dragonfruit

Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake Lipgloss

Philosophy Kiss Me SPF 20 lip balm in red

Revlon Lip Butters in:

Creme Brulee, Sugar Frosting, Berry Smoothie, Cherry Tart, and Sugar Plum

Elf Pout Perfecter in Glow

Elf Hypershine Gloss in Fairy

Stila Lip Glaze in Kitten, Pinkle Twinkle, and Dreamy

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Blooming pink

Napoleon Perdis Frontrow Red Lip Gloss

Napoleon Perdis Luminous Lip Veils in Sugar Plum and Rare Opal

Wow, that's a lot of stuff! Phew!

I don't want to travel with too many liquid things in my travel makeup bag, so here's what I think I'll toss in:

Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster in Sweet

Maybelline Baby Lips in 30 Peach Kiss

Essence Glossy Lip Balm in Pink Dragonfruit

I will have to put Essence's glossy lip balm in my quart-size ziploc bag to satisfy the TSA. But the others I should be able to have in my carry-on. Both Tarte's Lip Luster and Maybelline's Baby Lips are moisturizing and have a bit of color to them. The gloss just adds some shine.

What would you use if you could only use three lip products for the rest of your life?

Episode 13 "Mascara" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.

Maybelline Great Lash in Royal Blue

Revitalash Volumizing Mascara in Black

Benefit BADgal Brown Mascara

Look at my cute little mini collection of mascaras! Choosing which one mascara I would travel with was far from difficult! Hands down, when I want my lashes looking their best, I always reach for my Revitalash. That stuff is so awesome. It makes my invisible lashes really lovely! Welcome to the makeup bag!

Have you tried Revitalash products? How happy has it made your lashes?

Episode 12 "Eyeliner" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.

Eyeliner Collection:

Elf Liquid Eyeliner in: 

Black, Plum, Midnight, Cobalt Blue, Teal, Forest Green and Stardust

Maybelline Master Drama by EyeStudio in Midnight Master

Shiseido Automatic Fine Eyeliner in BR 602 Brown

Urban Decay 24/7 glide-On Eye Pencils in:

Underground, Demolition, Bourbon, and Stray Dog

Prestige Soft Blend Khol Eyeliner in 12 Haze

Milani Color Brilliance Eye Pencil in 02 Aqua

Napoleon Perdis Eyeliner in Gold Standard

I really am a fan of all my eyeliners. The only one I'm on the fence about right now is the Prestige Soft Blend Khol Eyeliner in 12 Haze. "Soft Blend" seems a little misleading to me as it doesn't seem to blend softly. I'm giving it another day or two to prove itself to me. After that it may or may not come with me at all!

My favorite eyeliners are definitely my Elf liquid Eyeliners. They are so cheap, but I love them. For this trip, however, I'm packing them away in a suitcase instead of my makeup bag.

Here's what I've decided to toss in... (I'm thinking simple here!)

I'm bringing my Maybelline Master Drama by EyeStudio in Midnight Master (a very soft-textured dark black) and my Napoleon Perdis Eyeliner in Gold Standard (a gold that is good for my waterline and inner corner). It's hard for me to be so simplistic, but I think those two will last me until I arrive in my new home and can unpack the rest!

What's your go-to liner of choice?

Episode 11 "Jumbo Pencils" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.


Winding down to the final three episodes here. Here's my jumbo pencil collection.

Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liners in:

Golden Beige, Moss, Navy, Espresso, Smoke, Silver Black

Benefit Gilded

NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils in:

Yogurt, Horseradish, and Purple

Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencils in:

Morphine, Sin, Juju, Rehab, Clash, and Delinquent

I love all of these.  Recently I'm using the NYX ones under my lower lash line since they tend to crease for me on the upper lid. The Urban Decay and Tarte ones, however, are "old faithfuls" to me when it comes to lid color. They are super quick to apply, they blend easily, and then they set and don't move throughout the day. What's not to love!

That said, I'm thinking I may not put any of them in my makeup bag.

Wow, as soon as I typed that, I changed my mind. 

I'm throwing in Tarte's Smoke and Urban Decay's Juju. They both are lovely. Smoke is a metallic gray and Juju is a metallic brown. How can I not bring them?!

I know a lot of people own the Tarte and Urban Decay pencils. What is your favorite?

Episode 12 "Eyeliners" is just around the corner!

Episode 10 "Eyeshadow Palettes" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.


I love eyeshadow. And I truly never know what I'm going to layer on my lids until I open my drawer in the morning. It's totally based on my mood, what's coming up in my day, and how much time I have. Here's my shadow collection:

Small Palettes:

TheBalm Shady Lady Vol. 3

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Walking on Eggshells

Elf Studio Single Eyeshadows in Sand Dollar and Oatmeal

CARGO Metallico Eyes

BareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 in The Cocktail Hour and The Playlist

Elf Essentials Brightening Eye Color in Hazy Hazel

Laura Geller Baked Eye Dreams Eyeshadow in Bellini

Too Faced Matte Eyeshadow Collection

Large Palettes:

Urban Decay's Naked and Naked2 Palettes

TheBalm Nude 'Tude Nude Eyeshadow Palette

Tarte TEN Eyeshadow Palette

So, right off the bat I eliminated the large palettes from my travel bag. They'll fit nicely in a suitcase, and I'll see them when I get to South Asia. That brings me to my small palettes. I know I want a neutral option and a color option.

After much pondering, I've decided I'm taking TheBalm's Shady Lady Palette Vol. 3. It has colors that would support a natural look and colors that support a more colorful work.  Congrats to the shady lady! (It's the giraffe-print looking palette buried under all the others in the picture.)

What one eyeshadow palette would you take with you if you could only take one?

Episode 11 "Jumbo Pencils" is coming up next!

What If I Never See Her Again?

for my sister...

As little girls, we once filled a hairspray bottle with ketchup, honey, shampoo, and vinegar with plans to “play with” our new babysitter’s hair. Ended up that we liked her so much we never used it. We made plans to run away from home with an afghan full of crackers and granola bars. We got as far as the corner of our cul-de-sac.

The relationship I have with my sister goes beyond friendship. As I gave her a final hug this weekend before our departure for South Asia my heart hurt. What if I never get to see her again? And I cried.

As my husband drove us back to our hotel, our 2-year-old chatted happily and our 3-month-old slept in the back seat. God spoke to me: “You get to spend eternity with your sister.”

Then other people came to mind: my South-Asian neighbor lady who is denied the privilege of leaving home without her husband, the man who sells chai in the corner shop, the little boys who play cricket in the street, the little girl who is learning to cook from her mother. I don’t have the guarantee of eternity with them yet.

I’ll have plenty of time to worship the King with my sister, but He is calling more to join the choir. That is why we must go.

 “How can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?” -Rom. 10:14

Episode 9 "Cream Shadows" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.


YEAH! Cream shadows! Woohoo!

By far cream shadows are one of my favorite makeup discoveries as of late. I thought I hated them for a long time, but I think I was trying the wrong ones. Here's my collection, and if I had my way, I'd bring them all! But, space and simplicity mandates that I pack some in the suitcase. Only a few things will make it into my travel bag.

Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadows in Whippet and Pug

Buxom Stay-There Eyehsadows in Sheepdog and Mutt

 Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Birthday Suit and Tidal Rave

Maybelline Color Tattoo by EyeStudio in:

(left to right, top to bottom)

30 Pomegranate Punk, 25 Bad to the Bronze, 45 Bold Gold,

35 Tough as Taupe, and 05 Too Cool

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in 555 Perpetual Purple,

999 Eternal Black, 997 Eternal Sunshine, and 333 Golden Sage

Help me out! I can't narrow it down. What cream shadows should I take with me in my travel bag, and which ones should I throw into my suitcase?

Help me decide! Also, of all of these brands what has been your favorite: Buxom, Benefit, Maybelline, or L'Oreal?

Episode 10 "Eyeshadow Palettes" is coming soon...

Episode 8 "Eye Primers" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.

On to eye primers... Here's my collection:

Elf Eyelid Primer

Elf Eye Primer & Liner Sealer

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden

Urban Decay Original Eyeshadow Primer (travel size)

Laura Geller Eye Spackle (travel size)

I have to say I'm definitely persuaded in this category to take a travel size with me. It cuts down on space and is less cumbersome. That said, I haven't been impressed in general by the LG Spackle as an eye primer. I actually find it does better as a concealer under the eye. 

For that reason, and for the fact that Urban Decay's primer just works consistently every time, I'm throwing the little purple bottle into my makeup bag.

Many people love Too Faced Shadow Insurance instead of Urban Decay's Primer Potion. What's your opinion?

You can read about why I'm doing this here.

Laura Geller Toast of the Town Kit Review

I got Laura Geller's Toast of the Town Kit for Christmas 2011.  I wanted to use the products for a bit before posting a review. This primer was also included:

Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer in Champagne

Right off the bat, I have to say that I passed two of the items in this kit on to friends.  First, the purple liner was okay, but nothing too spectacular.  It didn't slide on super easily, and I'm not very patient when it comes to dry, hard eyeliners.  This one wasn't the worst, but I just knew I wouldn't be reaching for it that often. I was glad to see it go to a new home.

Secondly, the two-sided brush was disappointing. The sponge tip looked like any normal sponge tip applicator, but the brush side was what really disappointed me.  The bristles were flimsy, a little misshapen from being in the box, and just didn't feel like they were going to perform well.  Again, I said goodbye and bit it farewell.

The other three products in this box, however, have really been awesome.

Some Swatches:

Laura Geller Baked Eye Dreams Eyeshadow in Bellini

four colors: brown, tan/bronze, pink, cream (barely visible)

Laura Geller Blush-N-Brighten in Mimosa

Did anyone else try this and just love the brush and the eyeliner? Am I way off in my un-impressed-ness?

Episode 7 "Concealers" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.


I never used to use concealers much at all, but I've been exploring options. My main "problem" areas I guess are under my eyes and a little redness around my nose. I'm not self-conscious about these areas, and I really think I look okay without concealer, but it's sorta fun to polish up a bit more from day to day.

Here's my collection:

Elf Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter

Wet n Wild Cover All Liquid Concealer Wand in 811

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in 01 Fair

Sheer Cover Concealer in light/medium

Everyday Minerals Aussie Perk Me Up Concealer

I think I've decided that for my foundation I'll take my Missha BB Cream, so I want a concealer that isn't a powder.  (Besides, I've been finding that my Everyday Minerals Concealer seems to be emphasizing my oh-so-fine wrinkles under my eyes.) So, I'm thinking maybe my Wet n Wild will travel with me. It's simple, not messy, cheap, etc.  Congrats, Wet n Wild, you're comin' with!

Does anyone else remember when Wet n Wild was kind of a joke brand. It was cheap, like it is now, but I think it was super poor quality too. I think they've come a long way!

Episode 8 "Eye Primers" is coming up next...

Episode 6 "Face Duos and Trios" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.

Finally, we're reached the much anticipated Episode 6, and here I will answer the questions of which bronzer, blush, and highlighter I will also throw in my travel bag.

Here's my face duos and trios collection:

Charlotte Ronson 3 x a Charm Shoshanna (trio)

Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Blushed/Bronzed

Smashbox Blush/Soft Lights Duo in AM/PM

I really do use all of these products pretty often. When time is of the essence, it's so much easier to reach for a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 product in the morning. I love all of these.  But one of them I actually bought with the purpose of easy travel in mind.  Drumroll please!

Charlotte Ronson 3 x a Charm Shoshanna!

Congratulations, Charlotte! You just won yourself a trip to South Asia in my travel makeup bag! This is such a handy product. I love the blush the best. It is so richly pigmented that I actually have to be extremely careful when applying it. A gentle hand is absolutely necessary. The highlighter is probably the weakest element and the bronzer is middle-of-the-road. But the big benefit is that it is truly a do-it-all face palette.

This reminds me a little of the limited edition NARS Danmari palette. Does anyone own both? How do they compare?

Episode 7 "Concealers" is coming up!

Episode 5 "Highlighters" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.


The next product I need to throw in my travel bag is a highlighter. I feel like a highlighter, or illuminator as some call it, really freshens my face and gives it a finished look.

My Highlighter Collection:

Tarte Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder in Champagne and Rose

Elf Studio Blush in Gotta Glow

Laura Geller Baked Body Frosting All Over Face and Body Glow in Sugar Glow (Such a long name!)

Benefit High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer

Elf Essential All Over Color Stick in Spotlight

So, I have a confession. I'm not bringing any of these highlighters! You'll have to wait until Episode 6 to find out what will serve as my highlighter instead!


Episode 6 "Face Duos and Trios" is coming up...

Episode 4 "Bronzers" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.

As I piece together what to keep handy throughout my travels and what can be packed away for a week or so, I've now come to the bronzer category.  I have such a tough time finding a good bronzer. Since I'm so fair, I have a hard time not over doing it.

Here's my tiny collection of bronzers:

My Bronzer Collection:

Tarte Park Avenue Princess Mineral Bronzer

Laura Geller Baked Body Frosing All Over Face and Body Glow in Tahitian Glow

(Phew! That's a looooooooong name!)

So, which one will I keep handy while I travel? Neither! You'll have to wait until Episode 6 to see what I'll bring along instead!

What bronzers have you tried and loved, especially for fair skin?

Episode 5 "Highlighters" is coming up...

I Surrender All

"I Surrender All" (Jadon Lavik Version)

We were in the car heading out for a quick fast food dinner tonight. My 2-year-old was singing in the back seat. Singing is a new hobby of hers and she is soaking up new songs like a sponge!

"Surrender all, Mommy!" she said.

"Okay," I said. "I'll find it." I shuffled through the iPod and found Jadon Lavik's version of the old hymn "I Surrender All." It's become one of our daughter's favorite. As I listened to the words, sung by Jadon Lavik, my little girl's voice was so sweet to my ears. Tears came to my eyes.

All to Jesus I surrender;

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

Refrain:

I surrender all,

I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit,

Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power;

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Do I truly trust Jesus daily, do I truly surrender all to Him? Even my little girl sitting in the back seat of the car? Even my newborn son who is so helpless and dependent on me?

I must, in fact, be like my son, fully dependent. I must realize that I can do nothing in my life to guarantee my well-being. That's fully God's department. And He's got a history of being good at it, too.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power;

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

What I hear God saying: I want you to truly trust me and have no fear.

Episode 3 "Blush" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.

Now onto one of my favorite types of makeup products: BLUSHES!!!

Here's what I've got to work with:

My Blush Collection:

Laura Geller Bronze-N-Brighten in Fair

Laura Geller Blush-N-Brighten in Mimosa and Apricot Berry

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Dollface and Blissful

Elf All Over Color Stick in Pink Lemonade

Elf Studio Blushes in Fuchsia Fusion and Pink Passion

Wet N Wild Color Icon Blusher in 831 E Pearlescent Pink

Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in 04 Plum Poppy

Hard Candy Blush Crush Baked Blush in 125 Living Doll

Milani Minerals Mineral Powder Blush in #201 Luminous

 Drumroll, please! And the winner, who gets to ride with me in my handy makeup bag:

Laura Geller Bronze-N-Brighten in Fair

I know, I know, you're probably thinking, that thing ain't even a blush! You're right, it's a "bronzer". However, it's too pink for me to wear as a bronzer. But I love it as a neutral blush.

Don't you need a pink blush, you may be asking...

Why, yes I do! And I will be taking another one, but you'll have to wait until Episode 6 to find out which one it is!

What one blush could you not live without?

Episode 4 "Bronzers" is coming up...

Episode 2 "Contouring" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.


This should be an easy choice, as I only have three products that I use for contouring. Even though a couple of them aren't "intended" to be used for contouring, I do it anyway!

My Contouring Collection:

Benefit's Hoola Bronzer

Laura Geller's Balance-N-Brighten Foundation in Regular

Laura Geller's Bronze-N-Brighten in Regular

I use Hoola very sparingly and on days when I want a bit more defined contour. I use a somewhat large fluffier brush with the LG foundation, as I don't have to be very precise. It's not super dark, but too dark for my foundation. Finally, I use the Bronze-N-Brighten sparingly, too. It's similar to Hoola, maybe pinker.

So, who gets to be my on-hand contour? The winner is easy: 

Laura Geller Bronze-N-Brighten in Regular

The other two products will have to hang out in my suitcase until we arrive in South Asia.

I chose LG's Bronze-N-Brighten in Regular because it's the smallest (mini size) of my three contour products. The packaging is easy to use, too. I don't want to mess with Hoola's box, and the LG foundation is a bit large for this situation.

What is your favorite contouring product?

Episode 3 "Blush" is coming up...

Julep Maven Box -- February 2012

Yeah, funky nail polish!

In January I received my very first Julep Maven box for just $.01!

As February approached, I had to make the decisions that Julep Maven members get to make each month...

1. Do I want my box, or do I want to pass for the month for no charge?
2. Do I want to have Julep ship my box to someone else as a gift?
2. Which of the five box options do I want?

I decided I wanted it.

Here's what it looked like:

And inside:

A special chocolate treat: (in the shape of an Oscar, of course -- 'tis the season!)

And finally, the three lovely colors:

 Rachel (rust-colored)

Oscar (gold sparkle - in honor of the Oscars)

Elizabeth (navy blue)

Top to Bottom: Elizabeth, Rachel, and Oscar

I wasn't going to continue to be subscribed to this service because I'm not much of a nail polish person.  However, I've been really impressed by their customer service, the quality of the polish (easy to put on, chip-resistant), and the colors this month just spoke my language!

If you're interested in Julep, follow the link on my blog in the upper right-hand corner. I get a point if you subscribe through me.

Also, use the code MAVEN5 or WELCOMEMV5 for your first box to be only $5!

Episode 1 "Primers and Foundations" - Missionary Makeup

You can read about why I'm doing this here.

As I try to figure out how to move my makeup with me, I knew the first step would be sorting. In order to document the progress, here was my setup.

I have my dear, sweet husband to thank for making me a light box to photograph my makeup in. He's into photography, so he uses it every once and a while, but really, I use it most. 

He simply took a cardboard box, cut holes in the left and right sides, and covered them with wax paper. This allows light from the flashes to go through. The flashes are triggered by the little flash on my camera. There's another hole in the top of the box, also covered with wax paper, so if I wanted, I could add another flash above for even more lighting.

Okay, onto the Primers and Foundations:

My Primers/Foundations Collection:

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum

Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer in Bronze

Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Make-up Primer in Champagne

Benefit's The POREfessional

Everyday Minerals Base in Ivory

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup in 10 Classic Ivory

Missha Signature Real Complete BB Cream in No. 21 Light Pink Beige

I honestly haven't figured out what I'm wanting to have handy. With all of my makeup, some will go in a bag that I won't open until we land in South Asia. Other stuff will be accessible throughout the trip, since we have a 4-day layover in Europe.

Which primer and foundation below would you recommend I keep handy, and why? (Factors to consider: mess, liquid/non-liquid, size, portability, ease of use, etc.) It's a conundrum! 

Any packing tips?

Episode 2  "Contouring" is coming up...

Missionary Makeup

I'm on my way to the other side of the world again. Missionary work is calling, and I can't wait to return! But what happens when missionary work and makeup intertwine? Well, I have to get creative with what to move and how to move it!

How do you take something like this:

and this:

and figure out what goes in the suitcase, what goes in the carry-on, and how?

Missionary Makeup, Episode 1 "Primers and Foundations" is coming soon...