New Makeup Eye Candy...

Happy Monday, everyone!! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

So I mentioned in my last post that this weekend I had done a bit of shopping...


As always when I go a bit crazy in Sephora, I created a little haul video for you all to share with you my thoughts on all the goods I picked up! While I tried on some of the lip colors in the actual video, I figured it would only be appropriate to share with you all some detailed photos of ALL the makeup goodies. Just because sometimes video swatches don't translate so well.

Enjoy all the swatch-y eye candy goodness.
Don't miss the video for more details on each item!


NARS And God Created Woman Eye Kit



Bite Lipstick in Retsina and Blush (from Cuvee)



YSL Babydoll Mascara



Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Secret



Fresh Sugar Honey Lip Treatment

 Sugar Honey on left, Chanel Secret on right

NARS International Velvet lipgloss



Dior Hydra Life BB Eye Cream


Chanel blush in Malice

Chanel blush in Rose Ecrin

Rose Ecrin on left, Malice on Right


Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Diffused Light




L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Review and First Impressions

Hello and Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you all have had a fabulous weekend! I've been spending lots of time with one of my great friends who came into town this weekend to spend some time with me. It's been nice being able to relax by the pool, do some shopping (hauls coming soon) and taking a bit of a break!

So today I'm bringing you my thoughts on a new and unique drugstore foundation. The Loreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder. Sounds exciting huh?  It kind of is...

As with anything, it's DEFINITELY got its pros and cons, so check out my video below for all the details and my thoughts on this new product I've been trying!




See you guys soon! Keep on the lookout for a HUGE beauty haul coming up soon ;) Can't wait to share it with you all! 


Fun (and cheap) tribal shorts OOTD... and a BIG Bendel box.

Happy weekend, everyone! 
Today I'm brining you guys all the outfit details from last night's look. I went out with a friend sort of as a late birthday celebration. We went to an amazing dinner, shared lots of girl talk, and I busted out my new shorts and clutch for the first time.
This outfit is actually super affordable. The clutch is really the only super pricey thing happening, but you could always find a cheaper alternative. 



I L.O.V.E this clutch because it holds just as much as my large bags. I mean I know it's technically a "clutch", but I like to refer to it as the "mega clutch". It's ridic huge.

Ok so I posed this question on my Instagram last night, but am I the only one that calls these types of shorts "a$$ front shorts"? Seriously.
You know, because they make you look like you've got an a$$ in the front.  I've seen some hilarious examples of this, however, I'm not about to embarrass anyone on here by posting pics so use your imagination...haha. I think it's the fabric. With this cut, if you go with a thicker fabric (like a faux leather or thick cotton), you can seriously have this front-rear situation going on.

Yeah, that's me trying to demonstrate this phenomenon. Not sure if it's translating....haha
But seriously, these shorts are not bad. The material really flows and lays nicely and looks more flattering rather than like a big ol' front butt. 
About wearing these shorts, they're super easy to style.  Pair them with a tighter top, like I did with the simple black tank when the weather is warm, or throw on a blazer with it when the cooler weather rolls around.  LOVE this exact look with a simple black blazer.
So what do you guys think about these shorts? Have you found any great ones of this style anywhere? I'm obsessed with these...

And birthday presents in big Henri Bendel boxes, apparently.



I know, I know.... I can't show you something like that without sharing the goods inside.


Is this not the cutest teapot you've ever seen?? Such an amazing surprise!

details:
shorts- Forever 21
top- Target
shoes- Forever 21
necklace- Stella & Dot
bag- Henri Bendel

New Powder Room Decor

So as promised in my previous post about this room's big re-do, I wanted to share with you a quick post about all the little decor details I've added to it during the past month.  Nothing crazy, just a few little touches that made the room feel complete.

This is how she looked last we left her.... Wallpaper free and with a fresh coat of pretty paint.


Here is what it looks like now from the hallway...



Normally not a fan of decorating a toilet, but I put this little tray on top I've had forever along with a silver Tory Burch candle and I think it looks pretty cute... But ugh, I hate seeing toilet paper. haha Is it just me? I may get one of those little toilet paper holders that hook to the tank. So I could put it on the right and it wouldn't show.  But I know, I know... It's a bathroom. Toilet paper is kind of a given.  Same little antique table to the left of the toilet which I talked about in the last post about this room.

The biggest challenge for this room has been finding a great mirror. So up until last week, that wall was bare until I couldn't take it anymore.


...and added this one that I hadn't found a great spot for yet. I like the way it looks and the way the different facets reflect the light. I WISH that it were more rectangular so it would be a bit longer, but it works.  Who knows, I may still find the perfect one for that space, but this one works for now.  The litte birdcage in the lower left holds extra toilet paper, although I'm not sure I love it there. I may store it away in a closet because we know how I feel about toilet paper.

What really pulled the room together, I think, are these 4 pictures that I'm in love with.



These were a lucky score from the Ballard Outlet in Atlanta. They each are unique and have beautiful little ceramic cameos depicting what appear to be Greek figures (?). I could totally be wrong.  Anyway, they were such a find because regularly they were a (completely unreasonable) $199 a piece. Unless Zeus made these himself, no thank you. Maybe not even then. But I scored them for $30 a piece at the outlet! I've had them for a few years now.

So that's that for this room (for now). Currently I'm tackling another bathroom project. I'm painting one of our upstairs bathrooms a gorgeous shade of satiny black. Cannot wait to share it with you!

Details:
paint color- Benjamin Moore Abalone
gold table- antique
mirror- Michael's
wall art- Ballard Designs
rug- Anthropologie

For MUCH more on this room and how it came along from this...

I apologize.

... check out this post all about it!

AND be sure to look out for a new beauty video coming up this week as well!

My Current Fav Hairstyle: Easy Half-Up Hair Tutorial

I'm coming at you today to start the week with a tutorial for my current favorite hairstyle. Let's call her the "modern pouf".
Like most of my hairstyles, this one just sort of came about naturally, maybe even by accident... I can't remember when exactly I started pulling my hair up half-way using this method, but I have been wearing it like this basically every day.  The name "modern pouf" came to mind because it has some lift at the roots, like a bumped hairstyle, but the lift is more even all around (even right at your forehead), rather than just bumped in the back giving you that sort of "alien" look. Let's just be honest...
We've all been there.

It's a very simple, almost everyday style. Which for me, are some of the best ones to know how to do! You can literally wear this anywhere with anything.  Thick or thin hair. Love this.

Hope you guys enjoy it!


Oh and dont forget to look for some more home posts this week! I've got one for sure planned for tomorrow, but I'm also venturing into black paint on the walls in a bathroom!  I'm currently smack in the middle of that project (literally, I just came downstairs to post the video and blog), but I can't wait to share it with you all!
Hope you have a great week, Loves!

THE BEST High-End Mascaras

So today I am FINALLY sharing with you all my "high-end" version of my top mascaras.


I know.  It's been a long-time comin'...
A few months ago, I posted the drugstore mascaras version of this (you can check out the blog post here or the YouTube video here). Ever since, some of you have been requesting this "high-end" version, so here it is!

I've said it so many times, but mascara is pretty much my favorite. Even if you don't like to wear a lot of makeup or if you are always in a hurry and have no time to apply makeup, you can always easily swipe on a bit of mascara and look fab. It always completes any look and I've been obsessed with it for a very long time!
Check out my top high-end mascara picks and more in the video below!



Mascaras mentioned in video:
Armani Eyes to Kill
MAC Plushlash
Benefit They're Real
Lancome Hypnose Star
Lancome Definicils Precious Cells
MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash
Chanel le Volume de Chanel
Tarte Multipleye Lash Primer



The day I turned 29 for the first time...

So some of you may already know that my birthday was a few days ago.
Before I get this post rollin' I've got to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you who sent along sweet birthday messages to me. It made me feel so warm n' fuzzy inside! :)
Truthfully, It was probably one of the most relaxing days I've had in quite some time.  I decided to take the day "off".  However, when you do what I do (blogging/YouTube) on the internet, you never truly have a day off. While it's great that I can make my own hours, I'm usually checking my channel, comments, posts, filming, editing, planning, emailing, communicating with companies I'm collaborating with, etc.  Weekends, late at night... all throughout the day, basically. It's truly more work than when I taught full-time (and was in school full-time). Wasn't meaning to get into all that, but that's what happens when I blog sometimes. Whatever comes into my mind sometimes just comes out onto the page.
I LOVE what I do, though. I always have loved the quote, "Love what you do and you will never work a day in your life." So true.

Anyway, my point is, while I was taking the day "off" (not really), I decided to go to our neighborhood pool for the first time. I felt like I was on vacation and the weather was absolutely beautiful.


While I was there, I got a message from a friend telling me the sad news about Talia's passing. It absolutely broke my heart. The rest of the time I was there, I remembered happy memories about our few brief moments we actually were able to spend together when we met at IMATS in LA this past January. She was seriously larger than life. Her personality and positivity were so huge that you didn't really notice she was just a small child. It's so unbelievable what she went through battling cancer at such a young age when kids shouldn't have to worry about life's heavier things like that.  When I was talking to her, I never even thought about that, though. She was so happy and sweet and I had so much fun talking to her, even for just a little while.


While thinking about what she endured, it's so inspiring to see how she handled it and turned it into something positive. Reaching out to so many people, bringing so much awareness to childhood cancer, and touching so many people's lives through YouTube.  We're seriously so blessed to have gotten to know her, even if only through the internet.  She'll always have a special place in my heart.



After the pool, with a heavy heart, I headed back to our house and did some cleaning.  
House cleaning. I know, birthday awesomeness.
I got ready for dinner, Brad came home from work, and we headed out to one of my favorite spots, Stoney River.
As we headed out the door, Brad gave me one of my birthday gifts...


It's by Michael Kors. It's bright gold. It has a chunky chain link band. I'm in love with it!  I had really been wanting a new and fun watch. This one is the perfect mix of being fun, classic, and stylish. 

This is us heading out the door...


Isn't he presh? I've got to make him crash my out-the-door ootd pics more often. ;)

Here's a better shot of my outfit.

details:
Ted Baker Dress, Target shoes, Michael Kors watch, cuffs from thecurrentcustom.com, Louis Vuitton Lumineuse PM

You may remember this dress from my post about my recent trip to New York.  It's so comfortable! I knew it had to be my birthday dress. :)

So off we went to Stoney River... Here's a few shots of our delicious noms.

This salad was unbelievably good. Sort of like a "caprese" salad, but with the little peas and fried onions (which Brad mostly ate), it was amazing.

 This was my meal. A filet mignon with mashed sweet potato casserole. These sweet potatoes are basically my favorite thing ever.

 This was Brad's. His steak was crazy huge with some yummy mashed potatoes with shallots. Delish as well.


And finally, Stoney River is awesome and brings you free chocolate cake on your birthday. It was yummy and fudge-y and delicious.


When we got home, Brad gave me the sweetest birthday card ever and these little Kate Spade elephant salt and pepper shakers.

Crazy cute, right?  They look perfect on our kitchen table.

Crappy iPhone pic, but they still look presh.
We then spent a relaxing night at home and watched The Big Lebowski... lol. I can't help it, it's one of my favorites.

So again, thank you all for making my day extra special! I hope you all are having a wonderful week!