Fall Beauty Swap Product Review

It has been fun to finally get back in the Beauty Swap swing of things! It makes me so excited to see all of our swappers receiving packages in the mail and showing off their new products. If you haven't checked out the #ccbeautyswap hashtag on Instagram be sure to do so. And keep checking back this week as our swappers link up and review their products.

I was paired up with Taylor Truckey of Michigan. I think Taylor and I's paths first crossed on Twitter. She is a make-up lover herself, and often posts beauty tips on her blog College Girl Ag World. Taylor and I both have a love of bold lip color and she spoiled me with the perfect products.

Taylor's package included lots of fun items, but these are the five that I have dove right into. 

1. I have been noticing the It Cosmetics line lately at Ulta. This cc cream is different than my Stila or MAC cc cream as it definitely has more coverage, while still being really hydrating. I also like that it has an SPF of 50. Taylor has been wearing it herself and recommends wearing it over a primer. 

2. I was so excited to receive brush #115 from the It Cosmetics line. I can not get over how soft this brush is. Even my husband couldn't believe how soft it was. It is perfect to use with the cc cream or my MAC foundation to give an airbrush look. 

3. I was first introduced to the EOS Lip Balm through the inaugural Beauty Swap. I love the lip balm and was very excited to receive the hand cream. Our dishwasher recently broke so this has been perfect for my dry hands. 

4. Both of these lipsticks are from NYX. Which I've seen at both my drug store and Ulta. It is also a relatively inexpensive line of make-up, and I'll admit I have passed it up probably due to that. Call my a make-up snob I guess. However, the lipstick on the right the NYX Matte is amazing! It wears fantastic, and I like the rich color. The lipstick on the left is part of the NYX Simply Red collection. This lipstick also wears great, and has a rich glossy color. 

This is me wearing the NYX Matte lipstick in Merlot.

If you are interested in participating in the swap follow the Crystal Cattle Blog or Facebook page as I'll be sending out information the middle to end of November. And thank you to Ashley of Messy Kennedy for helping me host the swap. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Perfect Fall Cocktail: The Carmel Apple

Fall is officially here. Around the farm that means seeing not the Boy very much because he has been busy in the fields with harvest. The corn and soybean crop yields have been fairly good, and the late night have given him the opportunity to catch some beautiful sunset photos like this one. You can see more of his photos on Instagram by following @jjbcattleco.

In the evening I have been spending extra time in the barn halter breaking our heifers. Halter breaking means getting the heifers used to being tied up and then eventually teaching them to lead on a halter. We do this for two reasons, 1. We'll being exhibiting some of these heifers at cattle shows later in their lives so they will definitely need to know how to lead and act like a show heifer. Another group of heifers will be sold and we like them to be as calm and quiet as possible for the new owners. and 2. Halter breaking calms the heifers down. We try to get them as use to people as possible so there is less stress on them when we are handing them.

All of these farm fall activities make me crave other things like my Apple Cookies. And that recipe requires a little apple cider. However, it only seems that apple cider comes in a big containers. Which led to a quart of apple cider in the fridge and the boy creating the perfect, most amazing adult cocktail ever.

The Carmel Apple

3 oz. Apple Cider
1 oz. Spiced Rum



That's all you need for an adult beverage that tastes just like a Carmel Apple. Hope you enjoy, and while you are enjoying think of the farmers who are working hard to finish harvest and loving the farm life.