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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

Color Craze: Gold

I think it would be fun to center an entire post around a single color.  And, given that we're in the glory days of summer, what better color to start off with than gold (with a hint of bronze)?

Here are some of my favorite things that help satiate my gold obsession:

1. Urban Decay Half-Baked: This shimmery gold shadow doesn't pull orange on my skin, which some other gold shadows have the tendency of doing. This paired with a dark brown in the crease is fierce.

2. Marc Jacobs Daisy roller ball: All I can say is that the full size of this WILL BE MINE! Such a clean, floral (without being heady) scent.

2. NARS blush in Luster: Leaves my cheeks with a warm, golden sheen. Perfect for the summer (and spring, and fall, and...)

3. MAC Melon Pigment: This isn't gold, per se, but when I use it has a highlight, it creates a wonderful golden peachy gleam.

4. Owl Necklace: I picked this up at a costume jewelry store here in town. It adds just a touch of quirky whimsy to any outfit without making you look koo koo crazy.

5: Orly Polish in Rage (rose gold) and Orly gold glitter: Rage makes your nails look out of this world without being in your face, and the gold glitter jazzes up even the most boring of neutrals. It also removes easily, which can't be said for all glitters!

What are you favorite golden adornments for summer?

Current Lip Love: MAC Sheen Supreme in Insanely It

Raise your hand if you love bright lips *shoots hand straight up*. A few months ago, MAC introduced their new Sheen Supreme lipstick line, and I popped by my local counter to check them out. I was a good girl, and only allowed myself one purchase, and I have to say, I think I came out with a winner.

Insanely It is a wonderfully shiny intense watermelon. Perfect for summer, but I love it so much I know I'll wear it all year round. The formulation is extremely shiny, however, I don't find it particularly moisturizing (although, it is by no means drying).

Here's a swatch of it on my lips, however, I think the picture fails to capture the true intensity of this shade.

I love these lipsticks, and I hope to add some more to my collection soon!

Current Mani: Lemony Lagoon (a bit of a fail!)

So, I just painted my nails with two of my favorite colors: Revlon's Blue Lagoon and China Glaze's Lemon Fizz. I thought, in theory, these colors should have gone together swimmingly, but on my nails it just looks blah. Maybe it's too pastel-y Easter egg without enough summer punch. Or, maybe just having the yellow accent nail would have looked better without the dots; they make the manicure look a bit adolescent in my opinion.

Anyway, I thought I'd post it to show you what the colors look like together.

So-what do you think? Are you feeling it more or less than I am?

11 Most Reached For Products

Easily one of my most favorite tags making its way around the internet! The name speaks for itself :)

1. MUFE HD foundation: I LOVE this foundation. It literally covers like a second-skin. I'd classify the finish as a velvet, it leans more matte, but it does have the slightest amount of dewiness. Can't sing its praises enough. It is painfully expensive, but I somehow justify it by saying it's my perfect color-match (#115) and makes my face look flawless with minimal effort.

2. Rimmel Airy Fairy: This lipstick has a HUGE following, and rightfully so. It's a pinky neutral that goes with anything. Throw it on without a mirror and head out the door! My type of cosmetic.

3.Maybelline Dream Matte Powder: Sets my foundation and keeps shine at bay for hours.

4. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20: Pair this super pigmented concealer with a fine, pointed concealer brush, and your blemishes don't stand a chance.

5.  Rimmel Spice lipliner: This is a magical lip liner. Use it alone all over the lips for a classic, polished look. Pair it under ANY lipstick and suddenly the lipstick color is transformed into something wearable yet interesting. I love pairing it with really bright lipsticks to tone the color down without muddying it up.

6. Cargo blush in Miami Beach: Honestly, I don't even know if this is around anymore. But it creates such a great glowy flush on my cheeks. If it is discontinued, let me just say, "you'll be missed!"

7. MAC Patina eyeshadow: This used all over the eye and smudged under the lower-lash line creates a wonderfully simple and modern smokey eye. It also pairs well with lighter colors and can be used as a daytime crease color.

8. Cetaphil: This is such a cheat (my bad!), the little bottle represents BOTH the lotion and the cleanser. I use both religiously and have yet to find a better combo.

9. Blistex: Moisture plus SPF 15-what more does my kisser need?

10. Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black: A classic for a reason. I don't have transfer or flaking issues w/ this. It makes my lashes look fake, but it a good way :)

11. Urban Decay Primer Potion: Don't waste your money or time buying the old packaging. This squeeze-tube is where it's at! No more wasted product, and my shadows don't budge all day!

What are your most reached for products?

Wall Art for The Monetarily-Challenged

So, I'm a graduate student. I live off of a teaching assistantship  that basically allows me to keep my bills paid and fridge stocked with just enough food. I don't have a lot of money left over to add the personal touches to my rental, but living with bare walls depresses me. With a few left over dollars and some creativity, I was able create wall art that is eye-catching (in my opinion, anyway!) without being overpowering. I simply took a walk around my neighborhood and picked some leaves. I then pressed those leaves between some heavy books (which I have a lot of, again, due to graduate school). I let the leaves dry out and then glued them to some basic poster board and hung them in cheap black frames I picked up from Ikea.

It kills me that I didn't straighten these frames before  I took this picture! But hopefully it gets the idea across :)

Hang a bunch of them together, and viola! You've got yourself and organic yet architectural art grouping. Eventually, I'd like to have a large enough collection to completely fill this wall space, but til then, at least I'm not staring at a simply stuccoed wall.

What are you favorite wall decorating solutions on the cheap?

Top Summer Polishes

My nails tend to fluctuate between two extremes during the summertime. I'm either sporting light, pastel shades or bright pops of color. Here are just a few of my favorites:


From left to right (sorry for the awkwardly cropped pic-I need to find a better place w/ natural light to take my pictures):
1. Revlon in Revlon Red: classic, bright red. Love the shade, but this particular formula can stain nails if you don't use a base first.

2. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Twisted Pink: vibrant hot pink with a touch of microshimmer. I love this nail polish brand and formula in particular. It goes on opaque in one coat, lasts a decent amount of time and has a wonderful price point! This line has some great, trendy colors too.

3. China Glaze in Flip Flop Fantasy: this picture isn't doing this neon hot pink justice. This is the perfect lounging by the pool color. Extremely bright. It also dries VERY matte. If you like that finish, then this polish is definitely for you. However, one coat of a clear topcoat creates a lovely, shiny finish if that's more your cup of tea.

4. China Glaze in Lemon Fizz: delicious, creamy, lemony yellow. I was scared that yellow would make my hands look sickly or lobster red, but this color works wonderfully against my skin.

5. Revlon in Minted: The formulation could be better, but this color is spot on minty. During the mint green nail craze, I wanted to add one to my collection that didn't break the bank, and this one fit the bill.

6. Revlon in Blue Lagoon: This blue has a hint of shimmer that  I only find noticeable when in direct sunlight. I personally love the look of this color against white, and since I tend to wear a ton of white cotton sun-dresses in the summer, I'm guaranteed to be sporting this shade a few times each month!

7. Love & Beauty in Lavender: This is a fantastic, inexpensive shade that I picked up from Forever 21. This creamy lavender has just enough depth to not look chalky, but is still light enough to look perfectly pastel. It's also completely opaque in one coat-for a polish under $3, you can't beat it!

So, those are my favorite polishes of the summer-doesn't it make a pretty rainbow? What are your favorite colors this season?

Back to Mac Love: Ravishing Creamsheen

I recently bundled up 6 empty  eyeshadow pots (de-potted but w/o pan) and headed on down to the Mac counter. Mac have a wonderful recycling program that I encourage you to read up on and take advantage of. If you bring 6 empty plastic containers to the counter, you get a lippie for free!
I knew I wanted to pick up a summery shade. My lipstick collection runneth over with reds, nudes and pinks-orange was what I was after!

I was instantly drawn to Ravishing-and I'm so glad it now sits nicely in my drawer and on my lips! It's just the right amount of Boca Raton granny without being too garish (well, at least for me, anyway!). I can play up the orange my layering over my beloved Revlon Coral Reef gloss or tone it down by slicking on a layer of Revlon's Pink Afterglow.

Either way I wear it, it's my perfect summer lippie!

What summer-y products have you recently acquired?

A Sample of My Current Favorite Peices of Jewelry

I don't own a lot of 'grown-up' jewelry (read: non-costume!); most of my collection comes from the thrift store or flea markets. These are great places to snag original, interesting and CHEAP pieces that add a lot of interest to even the most basic of outfits.

1. Black and Animal-Print Cuff: I picked this up at a local thrift store, and I tend to wear it alone. It's elastic, so it's super comfortable on my wrist.
2. White Beaded Necklace: I snagged this puppy at a flea market for less than a buck. It has a classic/vintage feel that I absolutely LOVE.
3. Cream Bead and Leather Wrap Bracelet: This is a Chan Luu dupe that I bought at Kohls a few weeks ago when it was on sale and I was able to use a 30% off coupon. I love how it makes even the most casual jeans and tee outfit more pulled together.
4. Flower Pin: This is yet another flea market find. For about $2 this lovely, vintage piece adds  sophistication to some of my plain, lightweight scarves.
5. Gold Earrings: These hold a special place in my collection. They were my grandmother's, and she handed them down to me before she passed away two years ago (can't you tell she had a wonderful sense of style just by looking at them?). Every time I wear these beautiful earrings, I think of her, which is priceless.
6. Multi-Stone Ring: I picked this gem up at Target of all places. I tend to wear it on my middle finger, and it works with almost any outfit. Loves it.






What are your favorite pieces in your jewelry collection?

Products I Regret (but am still trying to get through!)

As you may soon be able to tell, I LOVE tags! I think they're great ways to get to know an individual's personal style/taste and scope out some awesome products. Well, usually awesome products. In this case, I'll be reviewing some of the less than stellar performers in my collection. I typically spend a lot of time researching products before I buy them, so I don't have a ton of regrets...but I'm not without a few!

1. Benefit Bluff Dust powder: This yellow-toned powers is supposed to cancel redness, but I don't think it's anything special. In fact, I think it actually gives my fair skin a sickly-yellow tinge in some lights. It's not a terrible setting powder, but it certainly isn't worth shelling out the cash for. I'll be sticking to my Maybelline matte pressed powder instead.

2. Wet N Wild lipstick in 903C (Just Peachy): I bought this on impulse when Walgreen's was having a 50% off Wet n Wild sale. The color in the tube looks lovely- a perfect peachy shade. However, when I apply it to my lips, it goes on chalky and makes my lips look dry and flaky. I can make it work if I apply it very sparingly over a balm, but I prefer not to have to fuss with my makeup to make it work, ya know?

3. MAC Blackberry eyeshadow: I should have gone with my gut and purchased Trax instead of this matte color. The color itself is fine, but applying it is less than a dream. I find it goes on sheer and patchy and takes some work to build it up and blend it out. Definitely NOT one of my favorite MAC shadows.

What are some products sitting in your collection that you wished you skipped?

Current Mani

Just a quick snapshot of my current manicure. I've been sporting it for 4 days now, which reflects the wear! I took inspiration from all of those rose manicures floating around youtube and tumblr. However, due to laziness and a slight dislike of heavily decorated nails, I only donned these adorable flowers on my ring finger.

Base: Revlon's Minted-While I adore this color, it is a bitch to apply. Totally streaky/splotchy. Maybe I just don't have the magic touch :(

Roses: Revlon's Revlon Red, Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear in Bubblegum Pink

Leaves: Essies's Going Incognito

This manicure was wonderfully simple to achieve-I'm sure it'll be a summer staple!

What's your current mani?

Hello!

This is just a mini introduction to my new blog dedicated to everything I find lovely. This will mainly be a beauty blog with some personal touches thrown in. Thanks for reading :)

June Favorites

So, June is coming to a close- we're already half-way through 2011! I thought a good way to start off this blog would be to compile a few of the things I've been enjoying this month.

Clockwise from top-left:

1. Korres lip butter in Pomegranate-this is a wonderful 'my lips but better' color for my medium-pigmented lips. This leaves my lips with a slight shine, hint of pink  color and tons of moisture.

2. Maybelline Dream Matte powder in Cream- this is an excellent (and wallet-friendly) powder that keeps my shine at bay. It doesn't cake up, not matter how many layers I apply!

3. Mac Pigment in Melon-this is a wonderful multi-tasker. During the summer months I use it as a beautiful wash of color all over my lids or apply it as a sun-kissed highlight on my cheekbones. 

4.Maybelline Volum' Express One by One in blackest black-this mascara separates my lashes beautifully while adding length and slight volume. This is not a BAM! mascara-it doesn't deliver massive volume or Latisse-esque lenght; it's your lashes but better (is that even a term!?); great finisher to a light, daytime summer look.

5. Wet n Wild ColorIcon trio in Silent Treatment-this trio got a ton of well-deserved love all around the internet when it first made its way to drugstores. The colors are perfection: smooth, pigmented & complex. I especially love the the lightest shade all over the lid with the taupe-y purple in the crease. At night I'll darken it up by adding that wonderful dark brown in the outer V and lining it on my upper lash line.

Based on what I'm loving right now, can you think of anything I need to add to my next shopping list?