Changing Your Name: Miss to Mrs

So I've been married a for a while now, and last month I finally changed my name! I had seriously been dreading this, but it was fairly easy. Here's a quick overview on what you need to do, but still check with your state laws for any differences or further actions you may be required to do.

First stop: Make sure you have your certified marriage liense, whether it's mailed to you or you have to pick it up from your county records department. This shows as proof that you're married and what your new name will be.

Next is changing your Social Security Administration and the DMV. It's best if you can make an appointment, the earlier the better! I was in an out of both Social Security and the DMV each after only 20 minutes. I couldn't believe my luck, I thought I'd be there for half my day at least.

The Social Security Administration's website is fairly user-friendly and your new card will be free! Yay!

The DMV will require you to take a new photo, so come prepared with good hair and some lipgloss. There also is a fee for your ID (in CA it's $25) and they will punch a hole in your current ID and give you paperwork as a temporary ID. Because of this, some restaurants, bars, travel places, etc can be sticklers about temporary IDs, so if you have something special planned in the next week, wait to do this step.

Now you're legally set! You'll have a new name on state records. Oh, but you're not done yet! You can't forget to update a few more items:

-bank information (this took me 45 minutes): all of your accounts and any credit cards will need to be changed
-passport: if your passport was issued within a year of your name change it will be updated free of charge, otherwise you need to pay for it again
-work: your paychecks, business cards, and work email will need to be changed
-Post Office
-bills
-voter registration
-insurance policies
-magazine subscriptions

There's still a few items I need to update (all of my magazine subscriptions), but I'm all set. Both SSA and the DMV said it would be a few weeks before I received my new cards/IDs, but I received them the next week. My biggest tips in changing your information would be to try and get it all done in one day, make your appointments or go to the establishments as early as possible, and bring some water and something to read in the likely chance you have to wait.

That's it ladies! Have you guys changed your name, what was your experience? Do you plan on changing your name after marriage? See my feelings about that here.

Too much?

I want to buy these Velvet Flats and embroidered them with my initials to make these Stubbs & Wooten Slippers on the cheap (that I of course found on Pinterest):

Yay or nay idea?

Product Review: e.l.f. Studio Daily Brush Cleaner

e.l.f. Studio Daily Brush Cleaner

By now I’m sure many of you have picked up on the fact that I love e.l.f. products. No? Oh, well check out all my purchases and review here. A few weeks ago I picked up this daily brush cleaner and thought it would be so awesome to clean more brushes more often and especially when I’m switching colors. 
 
From the site, the cleaner is "an anti-bacterial daily brush cleanser for quick cleaning in-between makeup applications. Disinfects brushes to provide a fresh and clean application every time. Helps to keep your brushes lasting longer for extended use."


To use, spray generously onto your brush and swirl your brush onto a clean cloth. You can also spray your cloth as well. The product can be used daily or for in-between more thorough washings.


Pros:
-The bottle is larger than I expected (8.5 fl oz)
-The product dries quickly
-Sprays evenly in a wide mist
-It disinfects your brushes


Cons:
-The scent is really strong and not so nice
-This is an everyday cleanser, it will not give you a complete wash

Here is the before (on the left) and the after (on the right) of my brush using the Brush Cleaner:

Here's what came off when I cleaned it:

Ok, so there's not much difference at all with the before and after pictures. The picture on the right (the after shot) is slight lighter than the before pic. I think if I just wiped off the brush on the napkin I would have had close to the same amount cleaned off.

I'll continue to use this bottle, for sanitation purposes, but I don't plan on purchasing it again. It does clean my brushes, but I think it's really for more of a light cleaning (think dusting vs spraying down and wiping everything up) and is better when you're using your brushes for someone else (to avoid spreading germs) and when you're using the same brush for an array of different colored shadows. 

Have you found any good spray cleansers? Have you tried this product?

Pumpkin Festival and Bug Fair

This weekend the family all headed out my alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona's  Pumpkin Festival and Bug Fair. It was so much fun! I'm so glad we went. I've gone before when I first moved to CA, but was never able to attend while going to school. It was Matt's first time going through a corn maze and we had a blast finding out pumpkins.

After the pumpkin patch we headed over to the bug fair, where there's 1000s of bugs on display, insects/products you can buy, and activities like cockroach races. Gross, right? It's actually really cool and the people who work the booths are very knowledgeable about the bugs/insects/animals.

Our school has a huge agriculture department and it's a beautiful campus, it was nice going back and visiting. We're definitely making this a tradition and we can't wait to go next year!

Hot Man Parade