It’s spring! OOTD

The weather is finally warming up a bit, and it’s staying sunny until the evening hours. I love the spring. Here in Texas, spring only lasts about a month or two before the sticky, hot summer weather comes around, so I’m enjoying the breezy spring while it lasts.

I’ve been trying to throw some color into my wardrobe, since I’ve been wearing mostly black, gray and brown along with deep, rich colors since winter. I paired two tank tops with a white military-style jacket and baggy, tomboy jeans, plus my favorite part, heels that have become my “go to” shoes for the season.

Starting with the best part, I guess…my favorite heels from Sam & Libby (purchased for around $15 at ROSS!). The only disadvantage to buying designer shoes at a store like ROSS is that I can’t get information on the style name, and they’re probably from last season. Still, a super cute pump that is incredibly comfortable to walk in.

They’re a shiny sort of taupe color with a ruched pattern across the top, and a three-inch or so heel.

Here’s a better look at the top half of the outfit. (The jeans aren’t too exciting — they’re Converse brand from Target, the Tomboy style.) I’ve got an army green tank from Forever21 as the base, with a green and white striped tank (with ruffles on the shoulders, but you can’t see them), and a white jacket with gold detailing over top.

Last fashion element to this OOTD, these earrings from Forever21. I love these little bows! I got them in a 3-pack (all bows, these black ones, along with white and pink) for around $3 or so.

For my makeup, I chose bright lips and cheeks, with more muted eyes. My blush is an NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, with Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush in Rose over top. On my lips, I went with NYX Lip Liner in Ever paired with MAC’s Do It Up lipglass.

Because the rest of my face was so bright, I went more understated with my eyes, just a peachy taupe shadow all over the lid, a medium brown in the crease and a darker brown in the outer v, with a dark brown liner and mascara to finish it off.

I love dressing for the spring. I can still layer cute jackets and tops but can get a bit more adventurous with the colors and patterns of what I wear. And for makeup, bright lips and cheeks are definitely a flattering look on anyone!

Another favorite thing about spring? (Well, this spring…) I got a puppy! Her name is Sadie, and she’s a mix of German Shepherd and boxer and some other breeds, and she’s absolutely adorable.

CVS haul – some deals!

I made a CVS trip recently (OK, this particular trip was a couple of weeks ago, but I still wanted to share my haul, since the deals were so good!) and got a few things from the last of the 50-75% off beauty clearance. Several times a year, CVS will run a 50-75% off certain beauty products that are either being discontinued or released with new packaging, and if you use coupons (including some coupons from the CVS Extra Care coupon machine in the store!), you can find some really awesome deals.

I got the last Coty Airspun powder that was marked 75% off. These are a staple in the beauty department of CVS, but they were clearanced during the most recent sale, and I thought about getting one each time I was in the store and finally did. I got this powder for about $1.75! A steal of a deal since it’s a tried-and-true favorite among makeup buffs, and it’s a fairly large size.

I also snagged this Rimmel Colour Rush Quad Eyeshadow in Smoky Noir, marked down to 75% off (can’t remember the final price, but it was in the $1-$2 range). Most of my eyeshadows are in neutral brown shades, but I’ve recently been loving a darker, black smoky eye and wanted to get some shadows that would help me create that type of look. It was fate that I found this quad for such a low price! The pigmentation isn’t bad at all, and it comes with a variety of blacks/grays that I can use for allover the lid, in the crease, and to darken the outer corners. Just wish that the pans themselves were larger so I got more product!

Even when CVS isn’t running its 50-75% off clearance sale, you can find some great deals in the store. These next two purchases from the same shopping trip are good examples of how you can find sort of spontaneous deals right in the store.

CVS is really great about marking down products and labeling them on the shelf with “don’t miss at this price” stickers! Sometimes, there’s a 25% markdown, but if you’re lucky, you can snag a great product, like this Burt’s Bees Radiance Healthy Glow Kit on clearance, sort of randomly! I found this kit for 75% off (not part of the great beauty clearance!), and paid around $3-$5 for it! That’s an amazing deal, since Burt’s Bees is a really great line of products that are all-natural and healthy for your skin, but usually a tad pricy. I love love love the Radiance line, since it does all of the great things that the main Burt’s Bees products do, but they add this touch of sparkle and glow to your skin. So gorgeous.

The other thing you need to make sure you do every single time you go into CVS is to visit the Extra Care Rewards Center, usually at the front of the store and often right next to the health/beauty/cosmetics section — easy, since you’re probably already there! You scan your CVS Extra Care card (and if you don’t have one, you need to get one! They’re free.) and the machine prints coupons for you right there in the store. I usually scan my card twice to make sure I’m getting all the coupons for the day. On this trip, I got an awesome deal — $8 off any Physicians Formula product!

I purchased this PF EyeBrightener in the shade Natural Eyelight, normally priced at $8.29, which means with my CSV coupon, it was just $0.29! This is a fantastic product, by the way…a great way to add a subtle shimmery highlight to your inner corner and brow area. Check out the swatch:

I love CVS, so if I need to visit a drugstore for health or beauty products, that’s usually where you’ll find me! On top of all the deals, if you have your CVS Extra Care card swiped every time you check out, you earn a percentage of your purchase back for quarterly ExtraBucks, which are like money to spend on anything in the store!

 

 

July favorites!

Yikes, I created a draft of this post the last week of July, thinking I’d have it published on the blog around July 31, but here it is, Aug. 3, and I’m still drafting. Time goes by so fast sometimes!

But yay, it’s August…love this month for one reason and one reason only — my birthday! I’ll be the big 2-6 this Saturday, Aug. 7. Not excited about the number, but I love my birthday, so I’ll deal with being in my (eek) late 20s.

Enough with the ramble, let’s get on to the things I was loving in July (and am still loving right now).

Makeup: Pink and coral lips
For me, summer has been all about playing up my lips, something I tend to neglect because they’re the last step in my everyday makeup routine. Usually, I toss on a generic berry gloss for some shine, and I’m out the door. But in July, I began experimenting with really pretty pink and coral lipsticks and glosses, and I’m loving pairing a neutral eye look with a pop of color on my lips, like I did in this recent Face of the Day. Favorite pink and coral lip products for July?

• Sally Hansen Natural Makeup Inspired by Carmindy lipstick in Baby Pink (This was in my Top 15 Drugstore Beauty Products list, and it’s a go-to for me when I’m in a hurry and can’t decide what I want on my lips. It’s a pretty sheen of the sweetest pink, but not too Barbie.)

• MAC Dazzleglass Creme in Do it Up (Got this at the CCO. I think it was part of a 2008 collection of Dazzleglass Cremes. Loooove the formula and the shimmery, blue-toned pink color of the gloss. I love topping a neutral lipstick with this. It’s just the right amount of “BAM!” pink. If you see this at your CCO, grab it up! So fun for summer. Excuse the sloppy swatch. Took the picture on my webcam, so it’s not great quality.)

• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef (one of the spring/summer colors in this line. LOVE that it’s bright but really wearable.)

• Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lip Glaze in Continuous Coral (I’m a sucker for Revlon glosses in coral tones, I guess! Here’s a recent face of the day featuring this gloss. See what I mean about pairing light, neutral eyes with a wow lip? Love it.)

Body: Sugar scrubs
I am all about lotions and body butter and all that jazz, but believe it or not, July was the first time I experimented with a sugar scrub in my shower routine. And? I shall never shower without sugar again! After washing my body and rinsing off the soap, I cover myself in the scrub and rub it in to lather before rinsing again. My skin is left so soft and smooth, and the scent is really sweet and pleasant.

I’ve been using a Bath & Body Works scrub in Japanese Cherry Blossom, but I wouldn’t say I’m above trying out different brands/scents/etc. Give me your sugar scrub suggestions!

Hauling:Sales!
If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good sale. And if there’s a second thing I love, it’s being able to use a coupon during that sale. And if there’s a third thing I love, it’s getting something good for nothin’ (or close to nothin’). When it came to hauling in July, I scored majorly by pairing clearance/sale finds with coupons and got some great buys for pennies.

You have to remember that steal of a deal from one of my recent Target hauls, right? Under a buck for tinted moisturizer and bronzer! The best tip I can offer for saving money when you know you’re going to be spending money is clipping coupons. It may only be $1 off, but if you’re getting something on clearance or during a sale, that $1 will be off an already reduced price and make more of a difference. And speaking of awesome Target clearance, check out these cute peep-toe flats I scored for under $5:

Super cute, right? And because I live in Texas (where the weather is either hot, or super hot), I don’t really have to worry about how seasonal something is. I’ll be wearing these babies in July, September, and even into October and November. Another good tip is at places like Target and Kohls — never buy full price if you can wait! All their items eventually make their way to the sale rack.

Reviewing: Organic products
One of the awesome things about beauty blogging is that I get to try out new products and help to spread the word about companies you may not know about. Two of those companies that I found in July feature awesome, organic, paraben-free skincare — Bubble and Bee and Passport to Organics Turmeric Cream. I owe you full reviews of both (coming soon, since I’ve had some time to test both out) but I’ve done quick first impressions here and here.

I’ve been testing out the Bubble and Bee organic lip balm and organic lotion stick, both in Rude Raspberry, and my lips and feet have never been happier! A+ to this company for super cute packaging, legit products and giving me a non-water-based lotion in a stick form, which is perfection for keeping my feet soft and smooth.

This turmeric cream lotion from Passport to Organics is doing wonders for my skin! Turmeric is a miracle ingredient…it’s an anti-inflammatory, so it helps with redness, which I have a ton of. The consistency is lightweight, so it’s moisturizing but not heavy. Really liking this.

Fashion: Casual, but pulled together
I love the combo of burnout tees (those warn, vintage looking shirts) or boyfriend tees over cute tanks/camis and gray wash jeans (I know, I know — it’s summertime and I shouldn’t be sporting jeans. I spend a lot of time in air conditioning, so no worries!)

You can’t really see the lacy green tank under this white pocket tee from Target ($8! the cheapest, cutest, most comfy tee you’ll find), but I love that I can be comfortable in clothes like this but not feel like a complete and total bum. I dress up for work (like I showed in this outfit of the week post) so when it’s time for going out on the weekend, I want to be young and fun. I pair simple, casual pieces like this with fun accessories, and overall, I end up with a look I’m really happy with.

And now for some July favorites that are sort of random and not on the fashion/makeup/beauty subject…

Food find: Cake Balls!
We took a weeklong summer vacation at the beginning of July to San Antonio and Austin (two of my favorite TX cities) and I made a very important discovery…

Cake balls. These are from Holy Cacao in Austin, and they are magnificent. Imagine your favorite cake ever. Now imagine that cake crumbled with your favorite frosting, formed into a ball and frozen, and then dipped in ganache. Yeah, it’s that good.

Listenin’ to: Tony Lucca – Rendezvous with the Angels
Tony Lucca is awesome, and if you haven’t heard his music before, what are you waiting for? His latest CD came out in July, and I’ve been listening to it nonstop. So good. I saw him live earlier this year and got a bunch of video for my YouTube channel, so check it out if you like amazing music (and I bet you do!).

7/16/2010 – Outfit of the Day!

Happy Friday! For those of us who work a 40-hour week Monday through Friday, there’s nothing like the start of a weekend.

So, to celebrate the awesomeness that is Friday, here’s my first ever Outfit of the Day. I love these types of blog posts and YouTube videos, so I hope my fashion interests you.

This is actually my Outfit of the Evening…during the day, I wore exactly this, but I had on a shirt with the name of my employer, which I didn’t want to post, and didn’t want to wear when I went out after work, so only the top is different from the day look! We’re probably just going to go out to dinner, so I’m keeping it casual!

My shirt was an awesome find from our trip to Austin, TX, last week. We ate breakfast one day at Magnolia Cafe (which you MUST do if you go to Austin; everyone eats here!), and stopped by Prima Dora, a shop next door to Magnolia that had shirts for the restaurant for sale! I found this super cute, thin tee that’s black and has adorable pink flamingos on it! I thought it was apt since the meal I got at Magnolia was called The Flamingo.

The jeans are a gray wash from Banana Republic Outlet (we went to the massive outlet mall in San Marcos, TX, on our vacation last week…it was a sensory overload!), and the shoes are the brand nicole, purchased at ROSS a month or so ago.

Ruffles are really on trend right now, and I love how the leg of the jean hits my foot so that the little ruffles on the shoes just poke out a bit. So girly and pretty!

I got the headband at Target — they have a TON of really cute ones in stock right now, very sweet and stylish. This is second-day hair, so when I got ready this morning, it wasn’t giving me much volume, so I just stuck the headband on it, and bam — looks like I put a ton of effort to style, and I didn’t!

As for jewelry, I went simple on the earrings, since I’ve got the jeweled headband up top, too. These are probably my favorite earrings of all-time. They’re from Forever21, and they came in one of those sets of 3 pairs of earrings for $3ish. Just cute little white flowers, and I get a ton of compliments on them.

I also threw on this rosary bracelet that I got from a local vendor at a craft show a few months ago. (I lost her business card, though, so I can’t find her name. I don’t think she had a website or anything.) I think pink and gray work really well together.

And a quick face of the day, list-style!

Products used:

• Laura Gellar Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer (fantastic primer, gives you a nice base of color under foundation)
• Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Concealer (I dot this under my eyes and blend in before foundation)
• Milani Cosmetics Secret Cover Concealer Cream (I use this to cover up any redness, blemishes, discoloration, etc.)
• Physicians Formula Healthy Wear  SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer in Fair to Light (Yes, the $0.74 score from my Target haul yesterday! Tested it out today, and I liked it. Very silky to apply, blended well, but I was left with a super dewy, almost oily finish — and I have dry skin! So, just set it with a powder, and it was fine.)
• MAC Just a Pinch Gel Blush – limited edition (Got this at the CCO in San Marcos outlet mall. I use it over foundation but under my finishing powder, then follow up after powder with a light wash of powder blush.)
• e.l.f. High Definition Powder (love this to set my foundation and cream products! It really softens the face and is not at all cake-y.)
• Almay bronzer in Sunkissed (I apply this with a light hand to my cheekbones, forehead and under my chin, just so I’m not so pasty white!)
• NARS blush in Orgasm (This truly is the perfect color, pinky-peach and makes you look so alive!)
• Laura Gellar Baked Body Frosting in Sugar Glow (this is the prettiest highlight! Goes above my cheekbones, on my browbone and in my cupid’s bow.)
• e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer (a total dupe for Urban Decay Primer Potion!)
• MAC Painterly Paint Pot (after the primer, this gives my lids a really even base to start applying shadow)
• MAC Phloof! (I use this eyeshadow all over the lid and in the inner corners, to open up my eyes and add some shine)
• Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow in Moccachino (I use my crease brush to softly blend this into the crease, adding some definition without making my lids too dark. Plus, it’s a matte, so it helps to balance out the shimmer of Phloof!)
• Smashbox Etch eyeshadow (Is this no longer sold in the Smashbox line? I got mine in a set through HauteLook so I’m not sure. Anyway, I tap a bit of this into my outer corners and blend to the middle of the lids.)
• Christian Siriano for Victoria’s Secret eyeshadow in Royalty (This was limited edition, and I bought at the VS outlet in San Marcos. It’s a gorgeous chocolate brown shade, and I use it to deepen the outer V.)
• Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Pure White (I line my waterline with this to open up my eyes and make me look wide awake!)
• Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Bold Brown (I line my upper and lower lash lines with this for definition.)
• Urban Decay Skyscraper Multi-Benefit Mascara (After curling my lashes, I apply this to my upper lashes. I have a mini-tube of this, and I love the control I have with the brush!)
• Upper Canada Naturally Lip Butter in Sweet Vanilla Fig (Holy gosh, I got this at a Buc-ees convenience store on the road during our vacation last week, and I LOVE it! Most conditioning lip butter ever, and I have super dry lips!)
• MAC Viva Glam Gaga lipstick (such a Barbie pink!)
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Lilac Pastelle (softens up the Gaga and gives me a baby pink pout)

Gosh, that looks like a lot in a bulleted list, doesn’t it? But remember, I’m doing a full face of makeup, and I’m not blessed enough to have such good skin that I can leave stuff out.

So that’s what I’m wearing tonight. Hope you like it! What did you wear today?

target haul!

I popped into Target on my way home from work today, just to browse and see what looked good (always a dangerous thing in Target!). I didn’t actually get too much, just a couple good deals.

On with the haul!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef (limited edition) - $5.94
These lipglosses are amazing, as I’m sure you’ve heard or read by now. I have a couple from the permanent line, but their limited edition colors for summer are really fun. Coral Reef is my third from the line, pictured below:

I also have Peach Petal (far left in the pic above, it’s a really pretty, milky nude that is great on its own or over a nude lipstick; I’ve even used it to tone down darker or brighter lipsticks), and Lilac Pastelle (the one on the far right — don’t be afraid of how lavendar it looks in the tube! This is a gorgeous gloss that gives your lips the pinkest, palest shimmer. So pretty).

Coral Reef is just as great as the others that I’ve tried. The consistency is really opaque and creamy, kind of like a MAC Cremesheen (my favorite formulation of MAC gloss). And the pigmentation? Insane! My lips look like I just ate a watermelon popsicle, awesome for summer:

I also picked this up at Target:

Studio Tools Crease Brush – $1.99

Not too glamorous, but I needed an inexpensive, fluffy eye brush for blending color into the crease. I’ve been using my $1 e.l.f. Blending Eye Brush, which I love, and I planned to get a backup at Target, but I couldn’t find it in their e.l.f. display. So, I went with this one that looks pretty similar. I love using these types of brushes for the crease because I don’t like a really strong, bold wash of color in that area…I like it to be really soft and blended.

US Weekly – $3.99 and People – $3.99

Not beauty-related, but I gotta have my fix of gossip magazines! I buy these two every week. Excited to read the People cover story on Carrie Underwood’s wedding — she made a gorgeous bride, and I hope they have info on which products they used to create her look.

Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Bronzer & Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 50 (Fair) – $0.74

Saved the best for last, I think! That price up there is NOT a misprint! I totally scored this gift set, around $14 regularly priced, for under $1! How’d I do it? Well, it was in the clearance section for $3.74, which would have been a great score on its own, but a few of the PF products in the regular display had peelies for $3 off any PF product, so I got it for $0.74! I’ve never used PF foundation or tinted moisturizer or bronzer, so not sure if this will work for me, but I dabbed a bit of the tinted moisturizer on the top of my hand, and the consistency seemed really soft and light, which is a good thing for me. Plus, I like that it has SPF! I’ll have to do a review or update after I use with my thoughts.

And, after I paid, I got a register coupon!

$2 off a BOOTS product! Score. BOOTS is a really popular brand in the U.K., and they have a limited version of their line available in the U.S. in Target. I’ve tried one or two things from this line, and I’m excited to try something new. I’ve swatched lots of their things in Target, so I know I like the pigmentation and texture of their cosmetics. Any suggestions for a great BOOTS product to try with my coupon?