FEBRUARY FAVOURITES

Today I took my guinea pigs to the vet. And today is the day that my pigs went from being boys... to, well... to unics. It's going to drive them nuts all the jokes I make at their expense. Mind you, it's hardly their fault if they're a little testy about it. What does this have to do with my February Favourites you ask? Absolutely nothing. I just wanted to make some jokes about balls. Come on, they weren't total junk were they? Onward and upward! I've had a lot of favourites this month so we best get on.

10 STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH WRITER'S BLOCK

In the past year or so since I started blogging, I've hit a few rough patches. There are times when I sit down to write and nothing seems to come out. Sometimes my brain just shuts down and other times I get down on myself for not being better or more creative or this or that. When this happens I need something to help me climb out of it all. I need a strategy. Well my friends, these are some of the strategies that I've relied on over time to help myself along in the creative process (and yes, I do feel like a douche saying creative process).

HIGH END MAKEUP STARTER KIT

Ages ago I did a Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit post. At the time I hardly felt qualified to follow up with a high end version, but now, seeing as I'm knee deep in the fancy stuff at work every day, I finally feel ready to do this. I've broken everything down into a category and given you my top recommendation for each one. Only, I thought I'd add an extra twist. I figured at the end of each recommendation I'd tell you whether or not I think it's worth the splurge or if you're better off with a trip to the drugstore. So here I go, stepping into my big boy pants, dishing you up a hot serving of outrageously expensive makeup.

FUN AND FABULOUS GALENTINE'S DAY LOOK

Just when you thought Valentine's Day couldn't be flogged anymore, I'm coming at ya with another tutorial. The last look was soft and sultry, so I figured we gone kick it up a notch this time. Ladies who are doing Galentine's, your friends will enjoy this one; ladies doing Valentine's... men might not understand this look. So today I kept the flirty cat eye, but this time I'm going bold with a double wing. To top it off I've got a red “stained” lip effect.

SOFT AND SULTRY VALENTINE'S DAY MAKEUP

I couldn't help it. Everyone is posting their Valentine's Day looks and I wanted in on the action. That, and I figured I haven't shown my face in a long time and maybe I should do that at some point. Just so you know that it is definitely still me. I am still alive... unless someone is playing a bizarre Weekend At Burnie's gag with you and they're using my body as a puppet. Stop now Holly. In the words of the great Buffy The Vampire Slayer wow if I knew I was going to go on this long I probably would have brought some water.

A TERRIFYINGLY HUGE SEPHORA GRATIS HAUL

Holy crow what happened here? I missed a few monthly gratis hauls so I decided to do one jumbo collective haul and it's grown into a monster. I had no idea how much I'd been given until I started gathering everything together for photographs. I'm not even sure how to handle a post this size. Do I talk about everything? Do I just list it all? In the end I tried to do something in between - a very brief synopsis of each product. Also, don't worry, immediately after this I'll go take myself out back and flog myself silly for being so spoiled (and not in a kinky 50 Shades kind of way, I promise).

THE BEST BEAUTY BLOG PHOTOGRAPHY

Today I'm going to keep my trap shut and let these images do the talking. Without further adieu, I present to you some of the most beautiful beauty blog photography I've come across. 

BRUSH CLEANING LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN

For a few years now I figured I had my brush cleaning game down pat (yeah, I get a lot of dates). I had my wonderful Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap and my Pro Hygiene Collection Brush Cleaner. I was set and, again, totally not lonely on Friday nights. But recently a few new products have come into my life. Friends, let me tell you, I can see clearly now the rain has gone.