November Favorites

It's unreal that November is already over. My schedule this month has been a lot of very early mornings. I am SOOOooo not a morning person. I've always wanted to be one of those people who wake up and read the paper, leisurely sip a cup of coffee, and leave in enough time to make it to work early. Unfortunately, I just don't think I have it in me. Since most mornings my alarm clock has been going off at 5:00 A.M., I have been sticking to a fast, tried and true makeup routine. Most of my favorites this month are basics that get the job done quickly. Bonus: they are all from the drugstore!

1. Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Gel Shadow in Bad to the Bronze $6

 

It's obvious that this stuff is well-loved. First of all, it is so easy to use. I use my finger to put the color on my lid up to the crease and blend so there are no obvious lines. The color really does last all day, and I've never had any issues with the color creasing. And about the color...such a perfect every day shade. Somehow the metallic nature of this shade gives the shadow more depth and makes it appear as though there is more shading going on that just a single color across the lid. It has been a go-to for me a majority of the days this month!

2. L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Foundation $12

 

I am so excited to talk about this foundation! I have wanted to try this stuff for a long time, and one day I finally caved and bought it. And boy, am I glad I did! I have to admit I like this more than my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. It covers any redness or blemishes and leaves my skin looking natural, but perfected. If you don't use any powder over your foundation, it is definitely a "luminous" finish. I always set my liquid foundations with powder, and the result is more of a satin finish. This lasts all day for me, and I haven't had any issues with this foundation looking cakey or settling in any lines. I definitely recommend trying this one out!

 



3. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush $9

I am obsessed with this brush!! I've been using this with the Lumi foundation, and this tool makes it so easy to blend out foundation quickly. It doesn't leave streaks and makes foundation look super smooth and even on the skin. This is my favorite brush of the moment, and I can't wait to try more brushes from this line! You can find them at Ulta and some Wal-Mart stores.


4. NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Natural $6

 

After hearing several beauty gurus on YouTube talk about these cream blushes from NYX, I had to try them out for myself. This baby became a quick favorite! The color payoff is awesome, and it lasts all day. Natural is a soft pink that I think would look great on any skin tone. I use my fingers to pat the color on the apples of my cheeks and blend back and up towards my ears. The product is super blendable and easy to work with. Can't wait to try more shades!

5. Essie nail polishes in Bahama Mama and Jazzy Jubilant

I'm a huge Essie fan, and these two have been my favorite nail combination of the month. I wore Bahama Mama (a deep plum) with Jazzy Jubilant (a gorgeous multicolored glitter) on my ring fingers only.

 

6. Non-Beauty Favorite: Silly Cow Farms Marshmallow Swirl Hot Chocolate $6

 

 

Confession: The main reason I bought this was the bottle. Seriously, how cute is this thing?! Luckily, it turned out to be pretty tasty too! This stuff is SO good...definitely my new favorite hot chocolate. I debated between the Marshmallow Swirl or the original Hot Chocolate flavor. I was a little skeptical about the marshmallow flavor. You actually can't taste the marshmallow so much, and I can't really imagine the regular hot chocolate flavor to taste much different. It's rich and chocolaty. The perfect treat before bed :)  I got mine at Fresh Market. They have other flavors like Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Truffle, Chocolate-Chocolate, Peppermint Twist, and Udderly Milk Chocolate. I will definitely be buying more when this bottle is out!

 

 

Thanks for reading! Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!



The $20 Makeup Challenge: collab with In the Pursuit of Novelty

I am so excited for my first collab with Christina from In the Pursuit of Novelty. We bonded over our love of makeup, and she has inspired me to try new looks ever since!

For this challenge, you must come up with a complete look for less than $20, brushes and all! I'm not going to lie...I really struggled with this!! My strategy was to pick one feature to focus on. I debated between a bold lip or a smokey eye, and as I've mentioned before, eyes are my favorite to play up! Naturally, I went with the smokey eye look. I couponed like crazy to get under the limit. I managed to get away with a total of $19.64.

I came away with four products: Covergirl + Olay Concealer Balm, Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in #17, L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara, and Maybelline Eye Studio Master Smokey Longwearing Shadow-Pencil in Smoking Charcoal.

I used the concealer to cover under eye circles and to cover up redness. This actually worked really well under the eyes, but it got a little too dewy on the rest of my face.

 

Next, I started on the eyes. I had wanted to try this Maybelline pencil for a long time. I'm not sure I love it, but it is a super easy way to get smokey eyes really fast! It was a little difficult to blend if you didn't do it quickly. I started with drawing a line across the top lid and smudging it out to the crease with my fingers. Then I drew a V on the outer corner to add a little more depth and shading. After blending this out, I drew another thick line across the top lash line and blended this upward with the smudger on the other end of the pencil. To finish up, I drew a thin line across the bottom lashes and blended this out with the smudger. The mascara was by far my favorite products of the bunch. The formula was awesome, and the brush made it easy to get clump free lashes. Fast, easy, simple.

 



I used the same product for lips and cheeks. This is an awesome tip! When my blush has faded by afternoon, I've used lipstick to dot on my cheeks and blend in for a little more color.

And that's it! Just four products to get a whole look! Hope you enjoyed it, and don't for get to check out Christina's look on her blog!

 

A tutorial for bridesmaids!

Last weekend, I had the privilege and honor of being a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding. Diana is already beautiful, but she looked absolutely stunning on her wedding day! (See pictures below.) I did the hair and makeup for one other bridesmaid (also my best friend, Brittany) and myself. I think the look also works for a date night or night on the town.

I LOVED Diana's red lip! Perfection. Diana's makeup was done by Jackie of Rawwbeauty Makeup Artistry. Check her out on Facebook (don't forget to "like") and on her website!

 

Post-makeup with Brittany

 

A little clearer shot of the makeup. The gray shadow makes Brittany's blue eyes really pop!

 



 

If you like the look, here is how I got it:

What I used:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

MAC eyeshadows All that glitters and Shroom

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette eyeshadow in Pistol and Blackout



Maybelline Gel eyeliner in Blackest Black
Benefit They're Real! mascara


What you do:
(I've included real pictures as well as a sketch in case it's easier to see what I'm talking about.)

 

1. Start by priming the entire lid and bottom lash line. 

2. Sweep All that glitters over the entire lid up to the brow bone.
3. Work Pistol into the crease, forming a sideways V shape at the outer corner. This may sound weird, but just follow the natural curve at the top of your eyeball. To add a little more definition, use Blackout only on the very outside corner.
4. Following the bottom of the V, bring Pistol down on outer half of the lower lash line.
5. For a subtle highlight, use Shroom in the corner and inner half of the lower lash line. You can also sweep this shade across the brow bone.
6. Line the top lash line with the Maybelline eyeliner. Use whatever is left on the brush to line the outer half of the lower lashline.
7. Add at least two coats of mascara or a few falsies if you want!

To finish off the look, I used Revlon's lipstick in Primrose. This is basically how I do my eyeshadow on an every day basis. Try using the same shading with other colors. I usually stick to neutral shades like the Naked palettes.

Diana, you're wedding could not have been more perfect! I am so thankful to have been a part of it, and I'm so proud of you and Wil! You guys are such a blessing to me. I love y'all. And Brittany, thanks for trusting me! (haha) I love you too!

Perfect Nails at Home

Doing my nails is such a relaxing thing for me. It makes me focus and concentrate on one thing for a little while and helps me unwind. Over the years, I've learned some tips and tricks to getting the perfect manicure at home. It just takes a little time and maybe a little practice, but you'll be a pro before you know it!

What you need:

• Base coat. Here I am using Gelous Nail Gel. You may have seen this all over Pinterest. Most posts include this product in a tutorial explaining how to get "gel nails at home". I've tried following these tutorials, but I wouldn't say you should expect to get the thickness of a salon gel manicure. Even after layering this underneath and between two coats of polish, I still didn't notice the finished look appearing any different than my normal method. It does work well as a base coat. I will use it up but probably not buy it again. You can find it at Sally's Beauty Supply.
• Color. Use anything you want! I will be in a wedding this weekend, and the bridesmaids are using Essie's Sand Tropez. It's also an awesome neutral color any time of year. 
• Top coat. Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat is my absolute favorite top coat. It dries crazy fast, hardens your nail polish in no time, and leaves nails looking super glossy. I've tried the Sally Hansen fast dry top coats but have found I always get bubbles in the polish. I'd spend the extra few dollars on the Seche Vite.
• Cuticle Remover.  Sally Hansen got it right with this stuff. Easy to use, very effective.
• Cuticle Pusher. The one pictured is the Sally Hansen Push-n-trim Cuticle Groomer. I just found this little tool and am obsessed with it! I was previously using a metal one, but it would sometimes scrape my nail and be a little too harsh. The handle is rubberized for a comfortable grip, and the pusher end is made of plastic, so it is much gentler on the nail. The other end is a V-shaped trimmer, but I don't use this end. I highly suggest this one in particular!
• Nail file. My favorite nail files are made my Revlon. They do not make my nails peel, chip, or flake. In the step-by-step pictures, I am using the long Revlon nail file. I usually use the mini "Box o' Files". The files are smaller and easier to use, in my opinion. I just couldn't find them when I was doing my nails today!

What you do:
1. It does not matter if you do Step 1 or 2 first. Today, I started by using the cuticle remover. Squirt a small amount of the gel along the cuticle of each finger.

 

Let it sit for about a minute, and then use the cuticle pusher to push back any skin that has grown over the nail. This step is crucial! It makes a HUGE difference and really makes a manicure look professional. It also helps the polish last longer because it will adhere to the nail, not skin. Be sure to wash your hands after this step!

 



 

After:

 

2. Use the nail file to shape the nail to your liking. For me, I feel that the "squoval" shape is most flattering. For this shape, I like to file straight across, then round out the sides a bit. One important thing: always file in the same direction. Never saw back and forth. Wash your hands after filing to remove any "dust" before applying any polish.





 

 

 

 

Finished look:

 

Not too different, just slightly more shaped.

 

3. Paint on a layer of base coat. I did not have a picture for this step. I felt that it was pretty self explanatory, and the clear color wouldn't show up too well on camera.

 

4. Use one THIN layer of color. It is very important to do a thin layer! This first layer of color will be the foundation for the rest of the polish. The second coat will go on much smoother if you use a thin layer. Take your time, and leave a small amount of space unpainted between the outside edge of the nail and the skin of the cuticles. It makes the polish look cleaner. Allow this about 5 minutes or so to dry. It should not feel tacky. Most people complain about painting their dominant hand. Yes, this can be pretty difficult! Don't rush, and keep practicing!

 

 

5. Apply a second coat of color. You can use a thicker layer for the second coat. Let this dry a little longer than the first coat. I usually end up letting this coat dry 15-20 minutes. If you need it, apply a third coat, and let it dry until it isn't too tacky.

 

 

 

6. Apply your top coat. After a coat of Seche Vite, my nails are usually ready to go in about two minutes tops!

 

 

 

 

Voila! Perfect nails at home! I hope you found this helpful!



 









 

Twenty-Something

The past year has brought me several big life changes. One thing I have learned: life almost never turns out as expected. I am a hard core planner, and I don't handle it well when my plan gets changed. Another thing I've learned: my plan is not always the best way for things to happen. As a matter of fact, when things have not worked out how I had in my mind, it has been much better than I could have ever planned for myself. As is the nature of God's plan.

 

I've learned to be brave, to be strong, to be appreciative, to take every opportunity to travel and see the world that you can. Working hard pays off, even if it's absolutely miserable in the meantime. That you can learn something from every person who is ever a part of your life for any amount of time. That some friends will betray you and leave you, but true friends are priceless.

 

Most of all, I've learned you can always achieve more, be stronger, and endure more than you ever think is possible. When you realize that most of the limitations you face are in fact only those you put in place yourself, it is truly freeing.

 

I believe the key to being happy is embracing where you are in every moment. Enjoy the happy moments! Laugh, smile, love, kiss, hug, relax, dance! But it's okay to cry, to be sad, to be mad or frustrated. Just don't waste your minutes on those emotions. Time is much too precious. Choose to be happy. Choose to make the best of your situation. Choose to see the positive. Perspective is absolutely everything.

 

I have no idea where my road will take me in the next year. I could not be happier or more excited about that! I'm ready for any adventure that awaits me. 

 

"Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don't think that you've lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time." -Asha Tyson