Work Style Inspiration

Hey guys!

As some of you may know, I graduated college in May with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies (Elementary Education Early Childhood - 6th grade).  I will start my first year of teaching in the Fall and am super excited! I have already starting coming up with ideas of how I want to decorate my classroom and also how I want my work wardrobe. Think KATE SPADE. I am really into Kate Spade lately and would like to carry that sense of style over into my classroom and into my wardrobe. I love the feminine, timeless prints with pops of colors. I have been especially loving polkas dots, gingham, leopard, pink, gold, and black and white. These prints and colors lift my mood and make me feel good (it's funny how prints and colors can do that). That's exactly why I want to surround myself with things I think are pretty. I always want to be in a good mood and be the best I can be when it comes to my future students.

So lately, I've took to Pinterest, as one does for inspiration, and have found quite a few outfits I think would be perfect for work while still incorporating the Kate Spade look I'm going for. I have picked out some of my favorite looks and just wanted to share them with you. I hope you find a little inspiration yourself while looking through these beautiful and fun pictures. Remember, work clothes don't have to be boring. Make your outfit YOU. When you look good, you feel good.

All the images are linked back to Pinterest. Feel free to follow me while you're there- thousands of others are ;P

What outfits were your favorite? What inspires you?

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How to Shop for Department Makeup

Hey guys!

I've wanted to do this post for a while and I've finally gotten around to doing it. If you're new to makeup, want to venture out into the luxury lines of makeup, or just simply have a hard time deciding on which products to try, hopefully this post will help shed some light on a few things.

First, I want to start by saying that I used to work behind a makeup counter and know that a lot of people are intimidated when they see rows and rows of products they haven't the slightest idea about. I know when venturing into an unfamiliar makeup line/brand it can be daunting and many times frustrating because you aren't sure which products are right for you and your skin type.

I will list some key points to keep in mind before, during, and after shopping for makeup at a department store.

1. What are you Looking for?

Go through your makeup drawers and figure out what makeup you want to purchase. Throw away old makeup you've had for a little too long and reassess the makeup you have. Look over the products that you really like and think about why you really like them. Are they long lasting, give your skin a glowing sheen, convenient to use, or suit your skin tone the best? Keep these things in mind when you begin your makeup shopping.

2. Know your Skin Type.

It is extremely important to know what type of skin you have and what your skin needs are. Are you excessively oily, extremely dry, have combo skin, or maybe just oily around the T-Zone area? You need to know how your skin behaves on a day-to-day basis so you have a better idea as to what to look for while you're shopping. Also keep in mind the time of year it is. Typically, we get oilier during the hotter seasons and drier during the cooler months. This means you may need to look for a foundation that may be targeted towards shine control or possibly one that is more moisturizing on the skin. You may also need to add a primer or moisturizer to your daily routine if you don't use one already.

3. Create a Budget.

When going shopping for high-end products, expect to pay the high-end price tag. Don't have unrealistic ideas of what things "should cost." Remember, these are high-end LUXURY items a.k.a. things you can't pick up at Walgreens or Walmart. Expect to pay at least $30-$60+ for a single foundation, or $10- $40 for a single eyeshadow. Come up with a realistic budget and stick to it. It may be a good idea to leave the credit cards at home and just carry cash, that way you don't go over your budget.

Tip: Make a shopping list. After determining the items you want, write them down (or type the list in your phone) so you don't forget or get side-tracked when shopping.

4. Do your Research.

Now that you have an idea as to what makeup you want to buy, I suggest doing a little research. There are thousands of reviews of products all over the internet- use them to your advantage. My "Go To" places for researching makeup products are Youtube, MakeupAlley, Sephora (depending on the brand), Google, other beauty blogs, or the makeup brand's website. You can find millions of opinions of certain brands and items.

Tip: Keep in mind that everyone has a different opinion. What may work for someone else may not work for you, or vice versa. The only way to truly know is to try out the product for yourself. (More on that later…)

5. Create a Plan.

After you've written down your list of items and done a little research, now figure out your plan of action. Figure out what stores sell the items you want. Then, decide where you would like to shop. Many times places like Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, Dillard's, or similar stores have an overwhelming amount of makeup and a ton of different brands to choose from. Don't be intimidated. This is what you've prepared for. When shopping, be confident and don't let the beauty consultants intimidate you or pressure you into buying things you hadn't planned on buying. It would also be good to go shopping by yourself. Sometimes our peer pressuring friends can get us side tracked and we may lose our focus or spend more money than we had intended. :) Remember what you came for and stick to your plan.

6. Look Around and Ask Questions.

When you get to where you're going, I would suggest looking around first and then asking the beauty consultant questions about the few products you had on your list to see what they say. Many times they have a little more insight about products and can give you more detail about what the products are really like. Also, use the testers they have out on display so you can play with the product to see how it looks and feels on your skin. A few things to keep in mind of the products are the texture, finish, and color.

7. Sample and Buy.

If you are on the fence with some of the items ask for a sample to try. They should be more than willing to provide you with a sample if possible. Keep in mind that sometimes you won't be able to take home certain items to sample such as mascara. If you know you have sensitive skin definitely ask for samples. Also ask about their return policy. There's nothing worse than spending hundreds of dollars on products that aren't right for your skin and not being able to return them. Then, after you've had all your questions answered and feel comfortable, make the move. Grab the items you want and go check out.

And there you have it. I know it may seem like a lot at first, but it's really not when you get into the habit of following the steps every time. And really, when you learn what works with your skin and learn what products typically work for you, you'll be able to cut to the chase and skip half of these steps. I really hope this helped some of you. I know when some people are venturing into the world of luxury makeup it can be pretty overwhelming. Trust me, I've been there.

Have fun makeup shopping! You got it girl!


Do you have any tips to share while your shopping for makeup? I'd love to hear them! 

Disclaimer: I will not be held responsible for any makeup shopping addictions started by using these steps. :P

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Review: Tarte To Brighter Days Complexion Essentials Set

Hey guys!

Today I bring you a review of the Tarte To Brighter Days set. I got this set about two months ago from Ulta for $29. I initially just wanted to try a blush from Tarte since I hadn't tried them before and spotted this little gem. The blushes are priced at $26, so for a few more dollars I figured why not go for the set?

The set comes with a full sized Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in the shade Adored, and mini sized samples of the infamous Pure Maracuja Oil, Detox Exfoliating Facial Mask, and the Smooth Operator Finishing Powder.

Adored is a cool, matte, baby pink with flecks of tiny glitters. Thankfully, the glitters are hardly noticeable on the face, which was something I was a little worried about at first. The pigmentation is great and can easily be built up if needed. I think it's a great color for Spring and Summer. It gives an adorable, innocent, sweet look to the cheeks that looks very light on the skin when well blended.

The Detox Exfoliating Facial Mask is awesome! My only complaint about it was that the sample size was so small. I wish it was a little bigger so I could've use it more than once/twice. Other than that, I would definitely purchase the full size. It is a thick creamy consistency with tiny exfoliating beads in it. When applied to the skin, you have to work fast because it can start drying within a matter of seconds depending on how thick of a layer you apply to your face. It might be better to work in sections. The beads against your skin feel great and you feel like it's actually working to slough off any dead skin cells. When it starts to dry, it becomes pretty tight and it may be hard to move your face to talk lol. But once you wash the mask off, your face feels so smooth and soft. My skin looked and felt amazing. This mask would be good to do once a week or possibly once every other week. It's definitely a WIN in my book.

The Smooth Operator Finishing Powder is like many other translucent finely milled face powder. It is similar to MUFE HD Powder but I don't find it to be as silky. It does fine to set makeup and works well as a mattifying powder for touch-ups throughout the day, but other than that nothing about this really stands out to me.

When it comes to the Pure Maracuja Oil, I think it might be a little overrated. I think it feels good on your skin after washing and exfoliating but nothing incredible. I do like that it's lightweight and hasn't caused any breakouts though. I also like that it comes with a dropper so you aren't wasting a ton of product by dumping it out into your hand. I have used this over a span of several weeks and it hardly looks like I've used any in the bottle. It really lasts a long time. I typically put this on after I get out of the shower at night and let it do it's work while I sleep. I noticed when I wake up in the morning I can still feel a little oily residue. I wish it would soak into my skin better but what can you do? I only use a couple drops so I don't think it's that I'm applying too much. Other than that, it's a good oil and this sample will last the rest of my life and possibly be passed down to grandkids, but it's nothing spectacular.


Overall, I think this was a good set for me to try a few Tarte products out that I wouldn't have tried otherwise. I definitely think the extra $3 for the set was worth it. I wasn't in love with everything that came with the set, but still think it's a good buy if you're looking to try a few different things within the line.


Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? What are your favorites from Tarte?

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Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs | Leg Makeup Review

Hey guys!

Today I bring you a review of the Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Lotion (Leg Makeup). This product is simply a makeup to hide imperfections on your legs and to make them look nearly flawless. It also gives your legs a nice glowing tan color. It really is beautiful. I bought mine in the medium shade because I felt that it would best suit my olive skin tone. It's actually a fairly dark shade so if your any lighter than me I would go for the lightest shade they have available. 

The picture above is a leg with the leg makeup and without leg makeup. The photo on the left looks smoother, with a nice tan and looks amazing. (By the way, all these pictures are untouched. These are my legs and all their glory!)

When you squeeze this lotion into your hands, it looks really dark. I like to pour some into my hands, rub my hands together and quickly apply the lotion to your legs. It is easy to apply and you can definitely see where you apply the lotion. You shouldn't have a problem with streaking because you can see exactly where you've applied it on your skin.

Ok, so this is a pretty awkward picture but I wanted to show you the color and the glow the lotion gives you. The color looks pretty light in the picture because of the camera flash, but I think it still looks good. This makeup is also waterproof and is easily washed off with soap and water in the shower. I also noticed that this lotion didn't transfer onto my clothes. Awesome!

Overall, I feel that this is a great product if you want your legs to look flawless and smooth. It adds a great color to your legs and never felt sticky or like there was a gross residue. I really love this stuff. I would definitely give this stuff a try this summer if you are attending a wedding or really any occasion where you want your legs to look awesome. I'm almost tempted to get the lightest and the darkest shades to do a bit of highlighting and contouring with the lotions. This lotion retails for around $13-14. It's a bit pricey but I think it's worth it because the results are so nice. 

Have you tried leg makeup? What are your thoughts?

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So Polished: You Boho Believe It

Helloooooooooo! *in a Seinfeld voice* ;P

While on my trip to NYC I picked up this nail polish from Duane Reade. If you don't know why I was in NYC, maybe you should check out my Instagram or FB :D You'll be super excited! lol I sure was. I may do a post about my trip soon. Anyways, I picked up this color and one other color that is more of a hot pink. I have that color on my toes. I have never heard of this brand but figured I'd give it a try because the colors were so gorgeous. I actually had 6 polishes in my hand at one point but ended up going with two. I didn't want to go overboard since I had never used this brand and I was also traveling back to Texas the next day. Overall, I REALLY like this polish! I'm kind of kicking myself in the butt for not getting more. Oh, well.

This color will change depending on what light you're in, but this is probably the truest to color. At times it can looks like a darker purple or even a deep red. Either way, I love it! It really pops and I've actually received several compliments on them. 

I think this is the perfect color to wear for the Spring and Summer seasons, especially since the year's color is radiant orchid. It's kind of orchid, right?


What nail polishes have you been loving?

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