Friday, June 29, 2012
Simple Pleasures: Tea
Everyone has a few things they experience in their day to day life that give them a little extra boost that brightens their day. One of mine is drinking a lovely cup of Earl Grey tea out of this adorable mug that I found at TJ Maxx a few years ago. I don't know what it is about drinking a warm cup of tea in the morning, but if I don't drink one, I feel like my whole morning routine has been shot. Am I crazy?
Friday, July 29, 2011
Color Craze: Blue
Here's the next installment of my color series. This time, it's all about the gorgeous color BLUE! While I don't use a lot of blue in my make-up routine, it's easily one of my most-worn clothing colors (which I'm sure is true for a lot of people!).
1. China Glaze in For Audrey: This spot on Tiffany Blue just makes me happy to look at, be it on my fingers, toes or in the bottle.
2. Blue necklace: I picked this up at my local costume jewelry shop. I tend to wear neutral colored clothing, and wearing big, chunky necklaces like this one easily jazz up and otherwise boring outfit.
3. Blue flower pin: I picked this up at a flea market for a whopping quarter. This has a permanent home on my plain cardigans during the fall and winter.
4. NYX blue eyeshadow. This particular color was depotted from one of NYX's trios (the name escapes me). I don't tend to wear it as a lid color, but smudging it along the upper and lower lash lines create a great effect that makes the whites of your eyes pop.
5. Box of matches: I just wanted to show off my adorable box of matches that I picked up when a local stationary store went out of business. Isn't it just the cutest?
6. The beach at Gulf Shores, AL. OK, my family and I vacation at Gulf Shores a lot, and I'd be hard pressed to find a more beautiful beach in the United States. Because I live in a land-locked state, I scooped up sand from the shores and collected shells during low-tide and created my own little beach-in-a-jar (note: removing sand may or may not be illegal-don't turn me in!)
What blue products are you gravitating towards?
1. China Glaze in For Audrey: This spot on Tiffany Blue just makes me happy to look at, be it on my fingers, toes or in the bottle.
2. Blue necklace: I picked this up at my local costume jewelry shop. I tend to wear neutral colored clothing, and wearing big, chunky necklaces like this one easily jazz up and otherwise boring outfit.
3. Blue flower pin: I picked this up at a flea market for a whopping quarter. This has a permanent home on my plain cardigans during the fall and winter.
4. NYX blue eyeshadow. This particular color was depotted from one of NYX's trios (the name escapes me). I don't tend to wear it as a lid color, but smudging it along the upper and lower lash lines create a great effect that makes the whites of your eyes pop.
5. Box of matches: I just wanted to show off my adorable box of matches that I picked up when a local stationary store went out of business. Isn't it just the cutest?
6. The beach at Gulf Shores, AL. OK, my family and I vacation at Gulf Shores a lot, and I'd be hard pressed to find a more beautiful beach in the United States. Because I live in a land-locked state, I scooped up sand from the shores and collected shells during low-tide and created my own little beach-in-a-jar (note: removing sand may or may not be illegal-don't turn me in!)
What blue products are you gravitating towards?
Monday, July 25, 2011
Furniture for The Monetarily-Challenged
I love spending a Saturday morning looking at the crowded stalls of my local flea market. During one trip, I crossed paths with a stool that could be simply described as a hideous, avocado-green, pleather monstrosity. I knew I had to make it mine! I had some scraps of fabric lying around that I picked up on sale, and I had an itch to cover something-this stool fit the bill. I wish I would have taken before pictures-but alas, all I have is the fantastic outcome (if I may toot my own DIY horn..toot toot!)
Covering this stool was extremely easy. All I did was unscrew the legs, position the fabric where I wanted it, and started stapling like a mad-woman. If you're interested in recovering a piece of furniture for the first time, I wholeheartedly recommend starting off with something like this-relatively small and square with a flat bottom that is hidden from judging eyes.
Here's a close-up of that awesome damask-patterned fabric. It was on super-clearance for like, $1/yard.
What craft projects have you completed to spruce up your living space?
Covering this stool was extremely easy. All I did was unscrew the legs, position the fabric where I wanted it, and started stapling like a mad-woman. If you're interested in recovering a piece of furniture for the first time, I wholeheartedly recommend starting off with something like this-relatively small and square with a flat bottom that is hidden from judging eyes.
Here's a close-up of that awesome damask-patterned fabric. It was on super-clearance for like, $1/yard.
What craft projects have you completed to spruce up your living space?
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Summer Travel Makeup
I'm taking a few trips this summer, and I think I've come up with my perfect travel makeup kit that will get me through almost any scenario.
Everything fits in this adorable Coach cosmetic case that I picked up at an outlet a few months ago for the grand total of $20-aren't outlets just wonderful?
*if you see my tiny reflection, give yourself a point :)
Anyway, here's my vacation makeup stash. It should easily take me from day to night. I don't know...is it too much? Technically I can get away with tinted moisturizer and mascara, but why not take it all if I have the space, right? haha
1. MUFE HD foundation
2. Benefit High Beam
3. Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm
4. mini Urban Decay Primer Potion
5. Erase Paste (shade 2): This salmon concealer works wonders when applied to my undereye circles. Pale girls: be careful to only apply in a very thin layer on your dark circles, or else you'll look orange!
6. MAC Hug Me: My perfect nude. I don't think it gets enough love, but I'll always sing its praises!
7. Revlon Colorburst in Coral
8. Revlon gloss in Peach Petal
9. MAC Viva Glam Cyndi gloss
10. Rimmel Spice lip liner
11. Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette: Honestly, if there were the only eyeshadows you owned, you'd be golden.
12. Nars Violetta eyeshadow duo: Perfect for a simple yet colorful eye.
13. MAC pencil sharpener
14. MAC Studio Finish concealer
15. Maybelline Dream Matte Powder
16. Maybelline One by One mascara
17. L'oreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black liquid liner: I wear it winged out for nighttime (or daytime if I've got the time)
18. Covergirl Cheekers Blush in Brick Rose: Yep, a single blush! This blush is perfect; it works with any eye and lip combo and as a bit of a contour for us pale girls (and it's a dupe for Nars Douceur too, apparently).
Phew, it seems like so much when you type it all out! What are you makeup travel essentials?
Everything fits in this adorable Coach cosmetic case that I picked up at an outlet a few months ago for the grand total of $20-aren't outlets just wonderful?
*if you see my tiny reflection, give yourself a point :)
Anyway, here's my vacation makeup stash. It should easily take me from day to night. I don't know...is it too much? Technically I can get away with tinted moisturizer and mascara, but why not take it all if I have the space, right? haha
1. MUFE HD foundation
2. Benefit High Beam
3. Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm
4. mini Urban Decay Primer Potion
5. Erase Paste (shade 2): This salmon concealer works wonders when applied to my undereye circles. Pale girls: be careful to only apply in a very thin layer on your dark circles, or else you'll look orange!
6. MAC Hug Me: My perfect nude. I don't think it gets enough love, but I'll always sing its praises!
7. Revlon Colorburst in Coral
8. Revlon gloss in Peach Petal
9. MAC Viva Glam Cyndi gloss
10. Rimmel Spice lip liner
11. Wet N Wild Comfort Zone palette: Honestly, if there were the only eyeshadows you owned, you'd be golden.
12. Nars Violetta eyeshadow duo: Perfect for a simple yet colorful eye.
13. MAC pencil sharpener
14. MAC Studio Finish concealer
15. Maybelline Dream Matte Powder
16. Maybelline One by One mascara
17. L'oreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black liquid liner: I wear it winged out for nighttime (or daytime if I've got the time)
18. Covergirl Cheekers Blush in Brick Rose: Yep, a single blush! This blush is perfect; it works with any eye and lip combo and as a bit of a contour for us pale girls (and it's a dupe for Nars Douceur too, apparently).
Phew, it seems like so much when you type it all out! What are you makeup travel essentials?
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Summer Travel Skin Care
Like a lot of you, I'm planning on traveling a bit this summer. For me this means two things regarding my skin care regimen: 1. SIMPLIFY and 2. FOLLOW TSA REGULATIONS! I refuse to check my luggage. This is because I've had one too many lost bags and also, many airlines actually charge you to check bags nowadays. It doesn't matter if I leave for a weekend or two weeks, I make sure everything I need fits in a carry on...and I make no exceptions.
So, I've culled my skin care to the bare necessities, and I've also made sure that the chosen few are 3 oz. or less.
1. Travel bottle of Cetaphil cleanser: This is my holy grail cleanser. Never breaks me out. At night, I wash my face twice (once to remove makeup, and another to actually cleanse the skin).
2. Zapzyt: The brand doens't matter, but I like using a topical benzoyl peroxide gel on any active breakouts at night.
3. Boscia oil-free daily hydration spf 15: I got a sample of this when I traded in my Sephora points a few months ago and I absolutely love this daytime moisturizer. I only use it when I'm traveling because of its airplane friendly size.
4. Clean & Clear Advantage Popped Pimple Relief Drying Paste: I'm guilt of squeezing a whitehead or two (naughty me, I know). I use this paste at night to help reduce inflammation, and it really works!
5. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion: This stuff is dual purpose. During the summer, I use it as a night cream and also as an all-over body lotion.
Actually, this small sample reflects my full routine pretty nicely. I by no means have perfect skin, but I've learned through years of trial and error that my skin looks its best with only a few, basic products. Too many harsh treatments leave my skin extremely red, irritated and congested-looking.
What are you skin care travel must-haves?
So, I've culled my skin care to the bare necessities, and I've also made sure that the chosen few are 3 oz. or less.
1. Travel bottle of Cetaphil cleanser: This is my holy grail cleanser. Never breaks me out. At night, I wash my face twice (once to remove makeup, and another to actually cleanse the skin).
2. Zapzyt: The brand doens't matter, but I like using a topical benzoyl peroxide gel on any active breakouts at night.
3. Boscia oil-free daily hydration spf 15: I got a sample of this when I traded in my Sephora points a few months ago and I absolutely love this daytime moisturizer. I only use it when I'm traveling because of its airplane friendly size.
4. Clean & Clear Advantage Popped Pimple Relief Drying Paste: I'm guilt of squeezing a whitehead or two (naughty me, I know). I use this paste at night to help reduce inflammation, and it really works!
5. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion: This stuff is dual purpose. During the summer, I use it as a night cream and also as an all-over body lotion.
Actually, this small sample reflects my full routine pretty nicely. I by no means have perfect skin, but I've learned through years of trial and error that my skin looks its best with only a few, basic products. Too many harsh treatments leave my skin extremely red, irritated and congested-looking.
What are you skin care travel must-haves?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Current Lip Love: Revlon Colorburst in Coral
Red lipsticks are a complete weakness of mine. I love how a quick swipe wakes up your whole face, and you can keep the rest of your face extremely minimal but still look made-up. One of my favorite night-time looks is bright red lipstick, a wash of nude, shimmery eyeshadow and a coat of mascara. 5 minutes from start to finish, tops!
Here's one of my favorite reds. Revlon's Colorburst in Coral is perfectly named. It's an orange-y red coral with a slightly shiny finish (a bit like MAC creamsheen formulation, in my opinion). It isn't a completely opaque formula either, so many may find this a less intimidating red shade to wear.
This swatch is pretty accurate. I built up the color with a few swipes, but one swipe still allows your natural lip color to peak through.
What are your go-to red lipsticks?
Here's one of my favorite reds. Revlon's Colorburst in Coral is perfectly named. It's an orange-y red coral with a slightly shiny finish (a bit like MAC creamsheen formulation, in my opinion). It isn't a completely opaque formula either, so many may find this a less intimidating red shade to wear.
This swatch is pretty accurate. I built up the color with a few swipes, but one swipe still allows your natural lip color to peak through.
What are your go-to red lipsticks?
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Decorative Pillows for The Monetarily-Challenged
So, I'm lucky enough to have a mom who has access to really amazing fabric samples. From time to time, she'll send me some scraps that she no longer has any use for, and I'll try to find a way to utilize them. This particular print just took my breath away. The colors and pattern was to die for. I know I had to use the whole square as a European-sized throw pillow. I went to my local fabric store and bought 1.5 yrds of cheap gray fabric to form the back. I was lucky enough to already own a pillow form in the size I wanted. So, for the price of the cheap backing fabric ($3) and the length of an episode of Judge Judy (I had to sew it by hand due to lack of sewing machine), I got a pretty awesome statement pillow.
Even if you don't have access to designer fabric samples, I see amazing stacks of vintage fabric and scarves at thrift stores and flea markets all the time. For just a few bucks, you can change up the entire feeling of your living or bedroom!
What do you do with any extra scraps of fabric you have lying around the house?
Even if you don't have access to designer fabric samples, I see amazing stacks of vintage fabric and scarves at thrift stores and flea markets all the time. For just a few bucks, you can change up the entire feeling of your living or bedroom!
What do you do with any extra scraps of fabric you have lying around the house?
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