some big changes

Hello!  I'm super excited to share with you some new changes Artistically-Me has undergone!

First, we have moved!  Come visit us at www.artistically-me.com

I've set schedules, brainstormed, and worked my booty off working on this blog!  I now have two affiliates and I'm hoping to gain a few more by the end of the month.  I'm working on the design of the new site and I'm really learning how to hack into the benefits of Wordpress.  If anyone has any tips, let me know!

Finally, I have decided how the future of this blog is going to work.  I'm focusing on fashion, beauty, photography, music, and food!  I had originally begun this blog as a personal documentation of my life, thoughts, and rambles.  Over the years, those posts slowly dwindled and a new type of blogger took over.  I really love where this blog is headed and I feel like big things are going to happen!

Thank you for your support of Artistically Me and join us as we move forward!

-Meghan

musician of the week: Don't Call it a Comeback

To be honest, I'm not super into all of their music, but I do have some favorite songs!  I think this is a really down to earth group of guys who want to tell their stories to the world.  They are definitely more punk and harder rock than I normally listen to.  I think they try to cram too many words into the lines and end up sounding out of beat with the music.  But they do have good tracks!

My favorite album by them is A Little Bit Softer.  It's an acoustic album and I think it's pretty amazing.  They have some good lyrics and this way you can really hear it and appreciate their work.  My favorite song on this album is probably Most of the Sex in My Life Wasn't as Personal as that Kiss.  It's a little on the 'maybe don't play this around granny or your four year old' but it's so real, raw, and so so good.  My second favorite would have to be About Staying.  Both are amazing songs and have really true lyrics.

Please check this band out!  If you're into punk music, this is definitely a band to check out on bandcamp!

Do you have any favorite underground musicians?  Let me know in the comments and I'll check them out!  Have a fantastic weekend!

musician of the week: Corey Gray

This is a new series that I'm so excited about!  Music is my life and I am so obsessed with finding new artists that are just starting to make their way into the industry.  So once a week on Friday's I'll be sharing my favorite, indie musician!  Please check them out and give them your support!  Most have music for free download or for a couple bucks.

I'm going to be totally honest, I'm just as in love with him as I am his voice.  He has that kind of buttery, yet raspy sound that just touches you in your heart.  He started off doing covers on youtube (which is where I first found him) but then he began to write and release his own music.  I so wish he had more than nine songs, but I'll take what I can get!

His music is definitely pop, but it sort of has a blues feel to it.  It's very smooth with gorgeous chord progressions and he adds different elements to each song that gives each song a different mood. He has so much talent and he has really grown a lot since his first album was released two years ago.

My all time favorite song by him is Where We're Going.  I cry every time I hear it; the words are so moving and the way he sings makes it even more heart wrenching.  In this version, he stripped it down to just simple piano.  This gives it a raw, real effect.  It's a free download on bandcamp so do yourself a favor and go listen and download and cry on repeat.

He released a four song album, Let Loose, in 2012, my favorite song being You Found My Soul.  This album isn't my favorite collection of his work but there's certainly charm.He has some room for growth in his writing but it's still worth the $5!  Download here!

His newest album is amazing!  Y.O.U features four original new songs.  My favorite is Step Away.  It's one of his slower, more emotional songs.  Those seem to be my favorites by him.  He really shows growth not only in his vocals but also in his songwriting.  He experiments more with the style of music and the instruments.  Download here!

Please support Corey Gray and download his albums!  He gets most of the proceeds (I forgot how bandcamp's payment works) and I know it would really mean a lot if he could get new listeners.  I hope to see you next week when I introduce another of my favorite, lesser-known bands!

Do you have any favorite underground musicians?  Let me know in the comments and I'll check them out!  Have a fantastic weekend!

my Rodan+Fields skin care routine

Hello lovelies!  I hope your day has been absolutely fantastic!  Today, I'm going to walk you through my skin care routine.  I'm currently using Rodan+Fields acne care system with a few added products.  This has helped clear up my acne and keep it at bay.  I'm still dealing with dry skin but I feel like it has been more under control since using these products!

So here's my routine and favorite products!

my everyday makeup routine

My everyday makeup is super simple and easy to do because I have a tendency to wake up thirty minutes before I have to leave.  I use products that take a few seconds to apply and take minimal effort.  This is pretty much what I do every single day (I omit eyeliner and eyeshadow if I'm really rushing like in five minutes I need to leave rushing)


First, I use my Elf flat top stippling brush to blend in my Elf tinted moisturizer in the shade nude beige.

I also fill in my eyebrows lightly with the Elf eyebrow kit in the shade medium. I use an Elf angled brush to do this.

I start with swiping my NYX NYX Above & Beyond Full Coverage Concealer.  I rub it in with an Ulta professional concealer brush.

This step is only a sometimes thing.  If I have time I will apply eyeshadow but recently I've just moved onto eyeliner at this point.  When I wear eyeshadow, I apply my NYX cream eyeshadow pencil in the shade yogurt and iced mocha on my outer v.

I set this with a light pink shadow and a darker matte brown.  I also smudge the brown into my lower lash line.

Most days I just wear eyeliner so I use my Elf black liquid liner to draw a slight cat eye.

Finish off the look with a generous coating of Wet and Wild mega glam mascara.

Because my eye circles are so absolutely dreadful, I have to apply more of the pot concealer.  I also add it to any spots I might have.

I set my concealer under my eyes and my T-Zone with Rimmel's Stay Matte Powder with an Elf Kabuki brush.

And for an extra boost of life (let's be honest right now, I like to look like I got more than three hours of sleep!), I like to swipe a coat of NYC 16-hour smooch proof lip stain in the shade primrose pink.

And there you have it!  It may seem like a lot of products, but I've been doing this look since junior year and I've gotten pretty fast at it.  Like I said in the tutorial, I don't always apply eyeshadow but most days I wear my eyeliner just to give my eyes a bit more life and drama.

Enjoy this picture of me and let me know what your everyday makeup routine looks like!