Product Review : : H&M Velvet Lip Cream in Screen Siren

I'll be the first to admit that I love H&M. It's usually my first choice when I need basics, and for some reason, I ALWAYS find something.

There's a new H&M in Langenthal, near where I live here in Switzerland, and I noticed that they brought back their make-up line. There used to be make-up in H&M when it was still called Hennes & Mauritz but that disappeared when the stores started using the H&M logo.

I decided to try a few products, wondering if the quality of the products has increased, or decreased.

I'll admit, I love a bold red lip. Paired with the right look, a red lip is absolutely gorgeous. I wanted to try something new, so I bought the Screen Siren red, hoping that it would help liven up my otherwise rather bland face. It's a beautiful red wine color, reminding me of velvet, literally.

Little did I know, once the product is on, there is NO altering it, and almost no way to get it off. If you don't have make up remover with you, that it. It dries within seconds, and any attempt at trying to fix it only results in flakes and an uneven lip color.

I was wondering, am I the one doing something wrong? Is there any way to make the lip color better better applicable? I love the color, but there is on way I can keep using it in it's current form. I know it's supossed to be matte, but it's crazy uncomfortable like this...

new york, new york

oh how i love new york. whether it's spring, summer, autumn or winter, there is something in every season that i love. or is there?

i recently experienced a rather heavy snow storm while in the area and i have to say, the day after jonas said hello, the city was a mess.

sure,  the streets were being cleared and the efforts immensely helpful... for the most part.

but then again, where would they put all the excess snow?? 

how was it, at home?

yes, we just got back.

I finally got to go home again.

Well, what's home anyways? 'Home is where the heart is', 'home is where you are', 'home is where you poop most comfortably', or 'home is where the wi-fi connects automatically'? Everyone has a different definition of what, or where, home is.

waiting, waiting, waiting...

Many people have asked where I feel more at home, in the US or in Switzerland. What a hard question to answer. There is no country, no place, where I feel most at home. I feel comfortable both in the US and in Switzerland... is that weird?

The kids and I traveled 'home' to New Jersey on January 11th. It's so wonderful to be able to be in a familiar setting, showing my kids where I grew up; having them play with the same toys I played with when I was young.

We finally got to meet the familys littlest, Jackson. What a wonderful little man he is. He's like a little ray of sunshine, considering  he's from California, that comes easy. His eyes are big, taking everything in, looking around in interest. I'm not sure how fond he was of the touching and stroking from his two bigger cousins, but he took it like a champ and survived without a scratch.

Amelie loved being at my parents'. I told her once to be nice, that we're guests. She told me: "No mom, I'm at home here." I know my mother loved hearing that. Her and Jenna, the dachshund, became kinda-sorta friends. I think Jenna started avoiding her when Amelie decided that Jenna needed to be on a leash all the time... understandable, of course. We had the pleasure of heading to the Liberty Science Center with the kids while we were home. At the time, they had a Titanic: The Artifact exhibit.

 Poor girl had no idea why she had to stand there, with a little fan blowing wind in her hair. One day, one day she'll understand. She definitely enjoyed all the animals and activities there that are geared towards children. It's worth a visit, if you're ever in the area.

And then, there's just something about reading a book with Grandpa...

Finn, well Finn just loves it wherever we go. He feels right at home. For him, it's the little big things like helping dad make a fire, swinging on a swing set, bath time or roaming around outside during the snowstorm. As long as there is some kind of routine, he's good to go.

 He was a bit thrown off at the Liberty Science Center. There was so much going on that, I think, he was a bit overwhelmed. He wouldn't admit it, of course.

We've got this 'I don't want to eat my veggies' thing going on with him..  simplest solution for a little while? Plum organics. Sure, it's food for babies, but at least he's getting SOME veggies in. Fruits have never been a problem, but the veggies. He likes them, and I'm officially admitting to not being a perfect mom. Then again, who is?

During our time 'home', we also got the great pleasure of experiencing storm Jonas. For what felt like forever, it snowed. And snowed. And snowed. Amelie was outside most of the time. Relentless in her love for the snow and the cold. I almost had to force her to come in for lunch. When dad decided to go shovel the driveway, again, she was on his heels heading out, one step behind him. I remember being glad to come back in from the cold... not Amelie. She's our little snowman.

She also got to go skiing again. Vanessa and dad took her to Campgaw Mountain for a bit of fun. After the storm there was enough snow, and enough people..

Soon after that, we headed back 'home' to Switzerland. It always amazes me how fast two weeks can pass. Between seeing friends and family again, it's the fast, or slow, passing of time that shows me that no matter where I call home, I have to enjoy every moment I spend with the people I love.

important phone call

so much love can become frustrating..

jonas

i love you so much, until next time, seeesters.