exposures on exposures

We recently acquired some left over sparklers from the Fourth of July. You know we had to do some long exposures, ya'll.

I'm using David's camera for this, which is a Canon T4i. All of the folks participating didn't really know how to do any designs and whatnot, and were too excited to see me demo first, so this is just what transposed during their fun.

I only did one myself, which you'll see at the end. Classic Nora exposure, I promise.

I've been absent, we won't get fully into that on this post, but I'll see you all again more frequently and regularly in the coming year. No promises, just truths. Enjoy the photos!

And of course, when I had my turn, I did my name!

A Reintroduction To Myself

hi. hello. welcome. what's up? I'm Nora.

It's the first day of May, and that's weird.

When I first started this blog I was trying to do things, I was trying to post in a pleasing way, I was trying to put out content.. a lot of content.. And honestly, I wasn't always happy or impressed by it. I was putting it out because it got views, because it made sense in regard to other people's posts. I think that's dumb. I realized a long time ago that I didn't see use in it, and that's why I was so absent for so long, I think. 

I'm 22 years old and as of January 2015, I moved out of my parents house for the first time in my life. That's a weird thing, man. No matter how normal that is supposed to be, leaving home is never normal. Even when it's a societal idea. 

I just finished at a community college. It took me longer than it was "supposed" to, and for that reason, I'm now seeing everyone I graduated High School with, graduating from university with bigger degrees than me. I let that hurt for a minute, but I'm here to say that school is what you make it, and how much you want. There isn't any kind of magic number, or perfect load of classes. I'm happy, and I'm not in debt, so there's that, ya'll. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I met my boyfriend in 2014.
I can't stop thinking about how he's changed my life, and it's exciting. I wake up thinking that I've never seen a sunrise look as good as this. I wake up thinking I've never seen someone look so honest in their sleep.  

I want to rewrite myself into blogging in a way that's honest, in a way that's helpful, and in a way that's better. If you want to hang out, that'd be rad, honestly. 

TAG: Beauty Blogger

The Questions...

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

My hair is ridiculous......ly curly. :)

2. What it your natural hair colour?

I was born with blonde hair, that progressively got darker as I aged.
It's a fairly light - medium brown on it's own nowadays.

3. Do you dye it yourself or do you go to a salon?

I do it myself, generally. It's the perks of living around the corner from a Sally's beauty supply shop.

4. How often do you wash your hair?

Every few days. It gets frizzy if I wash it every day or every other. So, I will wash it say Sunday night, style it Monday morning, then use a shower cap when I shower the other days, but not wash it til Wednesday or Thursday. I'm blessed with hair that stays pretty un-greasy. (I use Got2B Rocking it Dry Shampoo when needed, also!)

5. Do you wear the same hair style everyday or do you change it up?

No. Sometimes it's just too hard to work in the morning and it ends up just getting thrown into a top knot. Other days it's perfectly agreeable, and does whatever I want. Haha.

6. Do you do your own nails or do you go to a salon?

I've never had my nails done at a salon before. So, yes, I do it.

7. How often do you change your nail varnish?

Typically whenever it starts to chip. I always have a color in my purse, and sometimes when I'm outside on campus & bored, I'll just paint my nails out of boredom.

8. Do you always wear nail varnish on your toes?

I like painting my toes because it stays on forever, y'know, way longer than finger nails. I've had this plum color on my toes for two months now and no chips.

9. How long does it take you to put on your makeup?

Depends. Like if I have extra time in the morning, you bet I will use it all, but if I wake up late, I know how to move through things fairly quickly when needed.

10. What do you do first, your face or your eyes?

Face.

11. Do you collect makeup or just buy it when your need to?

I collect, mostly. I think I've been collecting my whole life really. My mom has been selling Avon for the past 20 years, so basically when she was pregnant with me.. So, I've always really been into makeup and the application.. and REALLLLLY into having it.

12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

I used to wear false lashes every single day because when I was younger I burnt my eye lashes and they basically look like shit now. They never quite grew back and it makes me really sad. But, I've found a couple mascaras that work for me right now, so I don't need to keep buying falsies. I'm looking to investing in the Too Faced Better Than False Lashes kit this Christmas. Hopefully it works as good as everyone on YouTube has said.

13. Do you wear a full face of makeup everyday?

Not every single day, no. If my skin looks good, I'm fine without wearing foundation. And if it's a lazy day, I won't wear foundation or eyeshadow.. I'll generally fill in my brows and put on mascara.

14. Do you wear makeup just around the house?

If I've come home from somewhere, I don't just take it off cos I'm home. But, if I wake up in the morning and I know I'm not going anywhere, then I won't put anything on.

15. Will you leave the house without makeup on?

Yes. I'm okay with going somewhere without any on. But, I'd still want to fill in my eyebrows and put on mascara. Haha. If I couldn't, then yes, I'd still be fine with it.

16. How many high end products do you have? 

I don't know. A few, I guess? I like drugstore, obviously because it's cheaper, but there are a few things I've splurged on. Plus, a lot of Avon products, which can end up kind of pricey so I'm thankful for the family discount.

17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?

Once a week, sometimes more if they look like they need it. I also use the Mac spot cleaner when needed between washes.

18. Do you plan what you will wear the next day, or when you are getting dressed? I generally consider my options as I'm getting ready for bed, and sometimes I'll dig through my closet to find a particular item I know I want to wear but know I won't have time to dig through and find in the morning. But, that's about it.

19. How often do you change your handbag?

I just mentioned this in a video I filmed today, haha. I have a white tribal print bag that I use for more seasons, but once winter and mid fall come into play I switch it out for a dark dark dark navy bag. I dunno.. it just goes with my wardrobe better, I think.

20. What time do you get up and go to sleep?

I get up at 6:15AM on Tuesdays & Thursdays for school.
Any other day I'll sleep as late as 9, 10, 0r 11 sometimes.
When I go to bed is kind of crazy, haha. On school nights I try to get to bed before 12am, that's always the goal. On days when I know I don't have to be up & I can go out with my friends, I typically won't get to bed until like 5/6am. Haha.

21. How often and when do you workout?

I do yoga 4-5 days a week, and then I have an elliptical in my garage that I try to do total of an hour on a week. After finals are over I'll bump that up, probably.

22. Left or Right handed?

Right and left.

23. How tall are you?

I'm 5'5 ish.

24. Do you speak a foreign language?

I took Spanish all through high school but I really remember nothing. 

I know a bunch of songs in latin, german, and french though from being in choir my whole life.

25. How many pets do you have?

I have two dogs, Penny & Jake.
I have one cat, he's orange, Max.
I have three black moor goldfish, Crabman, Joy, & Earl jr.
I have four female rats, Reggie, Maeby, George, & one that needs a name, haha.

26. How often are you on blogger?

I get on daily, even if I don't post, I'm always try to respond to stuff and keep up with other people. It's been a really stressful semester.

27. Do you read the comments posted?

Of course.

28. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

Yessss. I have one of those eStickyNotes on my home screen with a list of various things.

29. How did you come up with your blog name?

It's from an Elliott Smith song. Which I know isn't beauty related, but it means a lot to me, and it's something I knew I wouldn't get sick of.

30. What sort of camera do you use to take your photographs?

I use a Sony a200k

31. How often do you clean your room?

I generally keep it tidy-ish, but the more stressed I become over time the more crazy it gets. So, it's pretty bad right now, but I've decided that once this semester is over with I'm redoing my whole room.

32. What is your favourite colour?

I like black, pastel purple, maroon, gray, stuff like that.

33. What is your favourite magazine?

I really love Nylon. I need to renew that sub soon, haha.

34. Do you swear?

Often, yeah.

35. What are you going to do today?

Well, it's about 5PM right now, so I'm going to schedule this to post tomorrow while I'm at finals and probably get back to studying. ;p

Love, Noralee

face of the day.

face:  Mark: Primed for perfection, Covergirl Clean Oil Control, Covergirl pressed powder - Fair, ELF tone corrector - Apricot Beige, ELF pressed powder bronzer in Glow, Cheek highlight in Avon's 003, Nars in Orgasm.

eyes: Mark primer, ELF Eyeshadow Duo in Butterpecan - both shades, highlight from the sunbaked palette from sephora.

brows: wet n' wild brow pencil in - medium, & brow kit from ELF in light/medium.

lips: Peachy (matte) from nyx.

hair products: Aussie Shine hairspray, got2b rocking it dry shampoo, advance techniques frizz control.

**Also, this is the morning after using the Aussie Three Minute Miracle.. IT IS AMAZING.

Birthday Wishlist.

1. Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette

2. Fuiji Film Instax 210

(Which I am considering ordering as a gift for myself!)

3. Alice: Madness Returns for Xbox360

4. Sephora's Moonshadow Baked Palette; "In the Nude"

5. Urban Decay Single of YDK
(And honestly if I hadn't just ordered a fairly large haul from e.l.f I probably would've bought this single. I still really want it though. It is literally my favorite shade I've ever tried from UD. It is gorgeous.)

I'm not going to number this because it's kind of silly, but.... HARRY POTTER LEGO SETS! 

I took this photo of my lego Harry a few days ago for my 365 day challenge on tumblr. :)
Camera: Sony Alpha 200

 Haha. Last Black Friday I was at Target gettin' my Black Friday on. I found a package that advertised a mini HP Lego Set. You got Harry and a potions shelf. I bought it. I love Harry Potter, and I really had a good time putting the mini set together. I have it on a shelf in my room on display. A couple days later I went back to Target to see if there were other kinds available. Nothing. I was disappointed but figured as much. I looked on Amazon where I found not only huge sets but an xbox360 Lego HP game. It was cheaper than any of the sets on there, so I purchased it. I play it all the dang time. I will happily purchase Years 5-7 sometime before this year is out, I swear. 

On another Lego note, my boyfriend and I celebrated my birthday early before school started. He got me Pizza Hut for lunch, a really pretty card, and Lego Pirates of the Caribbean. He's the sweetest. I really like the game as well. I guess I just have a thing for Lego stuff. :)

The honest truth on how my birthday will play out is my parents are taking me to dinner, (food is awesome!), and depending on if I decide to get myself the Instax 210, there will be my present. Which I really am leaning towards. I do not expect anything from them except a dinner and probably a cake. They're awesome people and I appreciate all the little and big things they do for me everyday. That's enough. I just wanted to make a snazzy birthday wishlist because they're fun. It's like circling a million things in the Christmas catalogs my Mom used to get when I was 7 years old. I circled a million things but when it actually came to the day and not one of the things was there I never even noticed because I was so happy with what I got instead.  

I hope everyone's had a really great day and evening!

- Noralee

TUNES: 2:45AM

 If any of you have wondered about my URL. It comes from my love for Elliott Smith, and particularly this song.

 I'm going to have a birthday wishlist post coming up soon, thrift hauls, beauty hauls, and probably big ol' birthday post at the end of the week. :)

- Noralee