I’m not quite sure why, but lately I’ve been in a little bit of a frump. Not necessarily in a bad mood or anything like that, but just feeling kind of lazy + unmotivated.
After spending an amazing weekend in Brooklyn with The Blogcademy…
…I’ve decided that I really need to just stop it.
And as Taylor Swift would say, I have to ” just shake it off.”
Happy October, y’all!
I don’t know about you, but I get really excited about stuff and then for whatever reason, that excitement fades. Quickly.
After an inspirational + extremely motivational weekend in Brooklyn, I am making an exerted effort to keep the excitement alive.
How? By challenging myself throughout the month of October.
I remember hearing that it takes 21 days to form a habit. I didn’t think much of it, aside from the fact that 21 is my favorite number thanks to 7th grade Spanish class, but it stuck with me. A month is more than that, so I’m hopeful.
Here are 4 ways I plan to challenge myself in October:
1. Gala Darling’s #lovetober. It’s the perfect photo challenge, period.
2. I will be following the One Room Challenge + challenging myself to spruce up a room of my own.
3. The Coast to Coast Challenge is a style challenge I participate in from time to time, but I want to commit to it this month and do each challenge.
4. Blog Everyday. If you blog you know that content is king. Even if you don’t blog you know that practice makes perfect. One really good blog challenge is #blogtober14. I personally won’t be doing this specific challenge, but if you need blog post ideas, it’s worth checking out.
Are you doing any October challenges? Or are you challenging yourself in another way? Follow me on Instagram to see how I doing, then let me know if you’re going to join so I can follow you as well!
I don’t wear makeup everyday.
But most days I do.
And while I haven’t quite yet hammered down a style uniform, my go to makeup look is a total no-brainer.
After attending the Monarch Workshop and hearing from Stephanie of Larissa Lake Makeup Artist & Co. a products she recommended I decided to give Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse a try. Stephanie said this was a great foundation for those with large pores.
I don’t have large pores, but this foundation was affordable, easily accessible, and effective. Anything that meets those three criteria must be purchased.
In July, I was able to join Birchbox for a LIVE Shoppable Hangout with Christina Zibler, the founder and creative director of Jouer. I loved hearing about her makeup philosophy and use some of my Birchbox points to buy the Jouer Conditioning Lip Treatment. Then after hearing from Stephanie that lip treatments are the best and really only truly hydrating product for your lips, it clicked, and I now use it on the reg.
I read a review that said Benefit’s They’re Real! Push-Up Liner was a waste of money. Luckily, I had already tried it prior to reading that review, because I wholeheartedly disagree. I wear eyeliner pretty much whenever I were makeup, and never, I mean NEVER, has any other eyeliner given me the same results. Especially when I want to wing out my look for a cat eye. It’s legit like eyeliner for dummies. Or lazy girls. Either way, I love it.
So, I bought e.l.f. mascara and a ton of other products because I found them for super cheap at T.J.Maxx. I did not expect for their Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara to become my favorite. That’s right, my favorite + it’s only $3 full price. Shut. The. Front. Door.
I have very thin and barely visible lower lashes. I know that you are supposed to apply mascara to them, but I never felt like it made a difference. Then jokingly at a Bon-Ton, I gave the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara a try and magically had bottom lashes. Like, what? And for $10, had to. This is also Goodwill Sale Coupon eligible through Saturday, October 4, 2014 at Bon-Ton.
I like to go bold occasionally, but typically (so that I’m not late for work) I keep it simple. These five products help me do just that. My everyday makeup essentials.
xx
Bet
I got my second VoxBox!
I have admit that I was not as excited about the contents of the Vitality VoxBox as I was for my first VoxBox. BUT, the Softlips Cube alone makes up for that. Plus, I was starting to run low on Playtex, so honestly I can’t complain.
Even though I didn’t like the Vitality VoxBox quite as much as the Spring Fling VoxBox, that’s not to say that I didn’t like it.
Burn cream is something practical that I didn’t already own and was extremely happy to have gotten when I burnt myself on hot glue.
Energy gummies are the perfect solution to those Mondays when you just can’t even.
I already knew I liked Pure Leaf tea, but it was nice to get to try a flavor other than what I typically drink.
And, I mean, Elizabeth Arden New York in a free Influenster VoxBox?! Did not see that one coming and I love it!
The manfriend and I don’t have any plans to get hitched, at least not in the near future. Now, that is not to say that we never will, I mean technically we are engaged, but just don’t currently have any plans.
When the opportunity came up to participate in the Lover.ly Dream Day Style Challenge, I couldn’t help but jump the broom at the chance! (I know, I know…but don’t act like you don’t have a wedding Pinterest board!)
Wedding planning can be very stressful. Even just pinning a fake one. Lover.ly is the bride’s digital BFF + helps to take that stress away!
The challenge?
Select one of the follow settings and style my perfect wedding dress.
Traditional Wedding
Beachside Nuptials
Rustic Soirée
Maybe it’s the Vermonter in me, but I decided to go with the Rustic Soirée.
I love this dress! It goes perfectly with the rustic theme. It is elegant without being too formal, a necessity for the reception!
I wanted the dress to really standout and be comfortable, so I went with a natural yet feminine look.
This challenge was super fun! And thanks to Lover.ly, it was a breeze to style. The manfriend may have to watch out…
Happy September + Labor Day!
New months always feel like a new beginning to me. I mean, who says you have to wait until January to try to change?
The other day, after climbing four flights of stairs, I found myself winded. I joked that I was getting to old, and had a student correct me and tell that I was just out of shape. As much as I wanted to tell the student to shut it, I realized that they were totally and utterly correct.
I used to run on the reg, but my feet would always hurt. Not enough to cry about it, but enough to discourage me from wanting to keep up with it for an extended amount of time. As a People StyleWatch Style Hunter, I was recently given the opportunity to test out the Rykä Flextras and they are seriously the most comfortable sneakers I have ever owned! So much so, that I am back at it and getting up earlier to run in the morning before work.
Don’t believe me?
Find out for yourself. Comment below about why you want to get in shape and you could win a pair!
This giveaway ends Friday, September 5th, at 11:59pm EST, so make sure to enter ASAP. Winner will be selected at random.
Don’t believe me about the running? You’ll have to take my word for it…
I love a good photo challenge.
I love People StyleWatch.
When I got the Go-To Style Guide, I thought why not challenge myself to try each of the style looks featured in the special issue. So that’s what I did!
Classic
Chic
Feminine
Glam
Cool
In case you haven’t already noticed, I am Birchbox OBSESSED. I have an annual subscription and try to remind myself of that whenever a new limited edition box comes out. Call me weak, because I just cannot resist!
The closest I have come to not caving was the limited edition Modern Mermaid box. (Now, mind you, this does not include when a box sells out before I am able to purchase, but I 100% blame those times on my serious #fomo.)
I was doing really well until I saw the Birchbox unboxing of the Modern Mermaid box.
Modern Mermaid box contents:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius Waterproof Topcoat (Deluxe Sample)
Atelier Cologne Cédrat Enivrant Cologne Absolue (Travel Spray)
COOLA Liplux SPF 30 Original Formula
Davines This Is a Sea Salt Spray
RUFFIAN Endless Summer Collection – Nail Polish Trio
Stephanie Johnson Mermaid Mirror (colors may vary)
Vasanti Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil in Electric Navy
The Vasanti Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil in Electric Navy did me in, and who doesn’t want to be a mermaid?!
And all of this for under $50? So worth it!
Often times, life gets busy. Sometimes, so busy that running errands becomes date night, and that’s just no bueno!
The manfriend and I have made it a point to do little things to show each other that we care.
Love notes. Cards are cool. Cards with money are great. Cards with sentimental messages inside are treasures. No card? No problem! Notes on paper are keepsake-worthy too.
Flowers, just because. Not only do the spruce up the place, it is alway a nice, pleasant surprise to get pretty somethings!
Writing on the walls. Well technically the mirrors, but you get the idea! I love this because with chalk markers, it’s another way to communicate that’s super fun and outside of the usual.
Pillow talk. Making it a point to catch up before bed gives us the a chance to talk about our days and connect one on one.
Back rubs. Massages are one of life’s luxuries that can be a little on the costly side. Not only does this save money, it means even more when exchanging endorphins with the one you love!
This post was sponsored by Paper and Twine.
A while back, I was nominated for a Liebster Award by Michelle Nguyen of Midwest Beauty on a Budget, a blogger with impeccable style. We met in a beauty + fashion group on Facebook, and I have been envious of her wardrobe ever since! Sorry, Michelle, I totally dropped the ball on that one…
I was given the chance to redeem myself thanks to my obsession with Instagram, where Liv found me! Liv is the voice behind Unbelievably Human + my BBFF. Her energy is undeniably contagious and there are SO many times she says something and I’m like, “YASSS!” or “Get out of my head!” (And yes, I had to spell it that way, because it is THAT serious.)
Thank you Liv, for being my BBFF, and also for giving me the chance to be a part of this blog tour!
What are you working on?
Currently, I am working on a style post that’s totally different then the ones I’ve been doing. I don’t want to give too much away, but it was inspired by People StyleWatch.
Aside from that, a giveaway, and a couple of other ideas, I am really just trying to focus on posting more often.
How does my work differ from other of its type/genre?
In a lot of ways what I do is very similar to others with similar blogs. BUT, I like to think that I’m more fun. I try to be informative + real, while giving you a little bit more of my cornball personality.
Why do I write/create what I do?
In all honest, because I needed a hobby that would last longer than a day. I mean, I have an English degree that I wasn’t really using, and in my book, this counts!
I really enjoy blogging. I allows to me tell people about things I care about. I know that the people that care about the same things can read it and the ones who don’t care, don’t have to. This is not always the case irl. When I talk, you listen. You don’t have a choice. When I’m passionate, I get LOUD.
How does your writing process work?
I’d love to be like, oh my process is A, B, C…but it’s not. I write about what excites me. New makeup, clothes, a fun date night. I try to plan ahead as best I can, but really my best blog posts are when I share what I am currently experiencing. I’ve also become aware of the fact that I am very easily inspired so when I do plan I come up with like five bazillion ideas, some good, other not so much…
Next up on the blog tour:
Christa of Beatrice Clay | I know I bring up Alt Summit quite a bit, but it is because I came away with so much for the experience. Including new friends. One friend in particular, Christa, was one of those people you meet and just know that you met them for a reason. She is so inspirational in a way that I can’t even begin to explain. One look at her blog and you’ll understand! Need a hug? Her Hump Day Hugs are simply the best!
Know someone with a blog that you think others should check out? Share in the comments!
xx
Bet