Last Weekend (in pictures)

So it’s been nearly a week since I got back from my weekend/reunion trip. I had such a great time with my old friends. Isn’t my College so pretty?The weather was VERY hot and humid – my most-used item was blotting paper! This was my first solo trip since the summer of 2006 (before kids/pregnancy). It’s a really long gap – before that, I’d travel alone at least 4 times a year. It was fun to stock up on magazines and plan outfits and pack just for me again. I got some amazing packing tips from this slide show on the New York Times website. I implemented their clothes-rolling technique – such a space-saving and wrinkle-reducing tip!Here’s the make-up I took with me. The most important items were my brushes – especially my MAC 129 brush (for bronzer and blusher) and Bare Escentuals Handy Buki brush (the ONLY brush that applies mineral make-up in a natural way – providing great coverage – and NO cakey-ness!). For my eyes – I mainly used my Lancome compact and MAC gel liner. For my face – I used my Everyday Minerals base, Chanel blush in Utopia, Sephora “shimmerbrick” highlighter and MAC concealer. For my lips, I took 2 lipliners and 3 glosses (good for lots of different combos).This is my carefully constructed “liquids” bag – you can tell I love my label-maker, huh? I picked up some travel containers, but also re-used sample jars and bottles. I save a lot of the tiny containers I receive – I wash them out with hot soapy water, rinse them with 40% alcohol and keep them ready for decanting my toiletries into. Most of my toiletries are not generic – so I have a hard time finding them ready-made in travel sizes.I did manage to fit some shopping into my trip – my friends and I decided to replicate our *true* college experience – by skipping official events and heading to the mall instead! I finally found some good things in Forever 21 – I picked up a peach blouse, an enamel necklace and 2 flower rings (the white one is for my sister, although I love it to bits). From Sephora I bought the Amber Diamond Dior shimmer powder (It’s been on my wishlist ever since I read about it on The Gloss Goss). I also got Boscia blotting papers – I had Body Shop blotting papers with me – but I found these to be more effective – and generously sized too. I picked up these cuff links from Tiffany’s for my husband – I thought it was appropriate since he got me a Tiffany’s necklace on his last trip away. I also bought some toys for my kids (including the Pottery Barn doll pictured).Close-up of the rings – they are so cheap yet well-made!I had the best time on my trip – yet I was not sad to leave – which is the best way. I couldn’t wait to get home to my kids! And having them meet me at the airport – that was the best part of the whole weekend…as for the foreseeable future, I don’t plan on spending any more nights away from them 🙂