Tarte Colored Clay CC Primer

Tarte Colored Clay CC Primer

I have long been a fan of the Tarte product line. Last week I mentioned a recent QVC purchase of Tarte products. One of the main reasons I bought the set was to try out the CC primer. About a year ago I jumped on the bb/cc cream bandwagon and had tried out a few different brands and really loved the concept. I have acne scaring and some hyperpigmentation that I like to cover up so a CC cream seamed the natural thing to try.This CC primer claims to brighten skin, even skin tone, blur imperfections and neutralize redness and discoloration all while giving a soft, matte finish. Sounds pretty perfect right? I should also mention that all of Tarte’s products are paraben free which is always a plus in my book!

To use this product you just apply the stick applicator to your face starting in the center and blending out. I like to use my fingers but you could use a brush if you preferred. Easy peasy! Honestly Tarte did a great job with packaging this one, you can take this anywhere for touch ups and the stick formula is completely no hassle. I have really enjoyed using this primer; it really does work as described! The color correcting aspect evens out my skin tone and gives me an overall brighter appearance. I am left with lines and pores nicely blurred and the formulation glides right on but isn’t so slick I feel my foundation will slide right off. The formula also won’t leave your face feeling weighed down and is nice and breathable.

I like to use this solely as a primer and wear it under my foundation. I did read a lot of reviewers who felt they were able to wear this on its own but for me it isn’t quite enough coverage. This does wear pretty well through the day, I do find touching up a bit more with my powder during the day but this product doesn’t claim to be 12hr + long lasting so this was to be expected. One thing I find common with Tarte products is their color range is a bit darker than you think. Normally I am a medium beige range but in Tarte products I have to buy products in fair. Overall I would definitely re-purchase this and if you have problems with redness and other discoloration you might want to test this product out!

Have you ever tried this product? Love another CC cream? Leave me a comment I’d love to hear from you!

Around the Web

Around the Web

Happy Friday all! Cheers to the weekend and enjoy this weeks links!

{January Jones has some crazy fierceness in these photos from Violet Grey. She is so unapologetically herself its like a breath of fresh air.}

I love watching Wheel of Fortune. The boyfriend and I always try to solve the puzzles before the contestants and it can definitely get into a heated competition. Check out this guy who solved this puzzle ridiculously fast with hardly any letters.

Ikea is a perennial source for cheap furniture. Recent college grads and current students alike can spot an Ikea piece pretty much any where. While they typically stick to simple designs (which to be honest I have never been the biggest fan of) you can check out these Ikea hacks that turns these mass produced pieces into something one of a kind.

I can honestly say I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love Jimmy Fallon. His segments on his late night talk show are always being talked about and this one of him and Billy Joel doing a duet to the Lion Sleeps Tonight is no different.

Growing up I always loved looking through my parents old photo albums. Something about getting to see my parents in pictures when they were growing up made me realize they were young once too (that song young, wild, and free comes to mind). I love checking out this Tumblr of old pictures of parents back when they were cool.

Baking is one of my favorite past times. Something about following a recipe and having what you make come out perfectly every time is calming to me. This recipe for brown butter chocolate chip cookies seems simple enough and is sure to be yummy.

The Mascara Handbook

The Mascara Handbook

If there is one thing I know best its mascaras. I am a total and complete mascara junkie. The longest part of my make-up routine is always my mascara. I almost always use 2 or more different mascaras on a daily basis. Call me crazy but I like my lash voluminous and long. With this extensive history of loving and testing out many mascaras I thought I would share my current favorites and some oldies but goodies that never fail. In the interest of mascara lovers everywhere I also asked some of my girlfriends to name their holy grail mascaras.

The Mascara Handbook by Jennifer Bates

My favorite mascaras:

1. Tarte Lights Camera Lashes - This mascara is what started my love for lots of volume. Tarte is pretty much known for this cult classic.

2. bareMinerals Lash Domination - I am currently using this one and have fallen in love with this mascara as it adds amazing volume to my lashes.

3. Maybeline Falsies Mascara - Another mascara that I am using currently. This drugstore mascara is one of my all time favorites. It gives great volume and length while still keeping natural flexible feel to your lashes.

4. L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara - This mascara is a classic you really can't go wrong with this one and the price point is great too.

5. L'Oréal Double Extend Lash Extensions Effect Mascara - I haven't used this mascara in years but I remember it always gave the best volume to my lashes. This was a favorite of mine all through college.

6. Lancôme Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara - Lancôme is known for their mascaras and this one lives up to all the hype. By far my favorite brush as it tappers down and really gives you great definition by getting down to the root of the lashes from corner to corner.

7. Tarte Lights Camera Flashes - This is the other mascara I am currently using. It doesn't give much volume which I usually go for but it does give the most amazing length.

8. Ready to Wear Lash Extension - This is more of a bonus item since its not actually a mascara. You use this in conjunction  with mascara and it adds crazy volume and length by adding fibers to your lashes. With out fail every time I wear this some one stops and asks me if my lashes are real. Honest.

My friends favorites:

1. Becky: Becky is a girl after my own heart. As soon as I texted her I received a reply with pictures and all. She knows just what this little blogger loves! Her favorite mascara is the NYX XXL Lush Lashes Mascara. Explaining that it’s great for a girl on a budget and the rounded bristle tip works brilliantly for getting in the corner of your lashes.

2. Bora: My friend Bora and I always joke that we are soul sisters. Both equally obsessed with beauty and watching YouTube videos on the reg. Her all-time favorite is L’Oreal’s voluminous lashes. This girl knows her stuff, I have to agree this one is great.

3. Ashley: Ashley is the glamour girl who is always dressed to the nines. She has a blog of her own over at Suburban Chic. All Ashley swears by is Benefit’s Badgal Lash, which has a cult following of its own.

4. Brooke: Brooke is the recent working mom of the bunch who’s no fuss no muss attitude makes sure she only has time for what really works and disregards the rest. Her favorite mascara has been a staple of hers for years and is L'Oréal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara.

5. Lynn: She is such a classic beauty whose makeup always looks perfectly put together. Her favorite mascara is MAC False Lashes Mascara. I have never tried this one before so I will absolutely be adding this to my list of future buys.

6. Alex: This mom of an adorable 3 year old is always on the run chasing her little munchkin but still manages to look amazing all the time. Her favorite mascara is a recent find from a company called Younique. It's the 3D Fiber Mascara that is a two step system of mascara and fibers.


So have you ever tried out any of these mascaras? Have any recommendations that weren't mentioned? Leave me a comment!

bareMinerals READY Bronzer

bareMinerals READY Bronzer

I am on a continuous hunt for the perfect bronzer. A couple of years ago I decided to quit using tanning beds so I am always looking for the best bronzers to keep me from looking my palest. I decided to pick up this bronzer from Bare minerals after finally chunking out my last bronzer that didn’t work to well (fyi it was this one from NYX). I read a lot of reviews on line and headed over to Ulta to do some serious swatching.

I ended up deciding on Bareminerals Ready Bronzer in The High Dive. I was drawn to this one for the waterproof formula that claims to last up to 8 hours. With any of my makeup purchases key words I look for are waterproof and long lasting. I have oily/combination skin and need to count on my makeup not sliding all over my face by lunch time. I love the sleek black matte packaging and the nice big mirror in this compact is a definite plus in my book.

The color of this bronzer is a perfect golden bronze not too matte or shimmery. I went with the darker of the two shades they offer since its spring now and summer comes pretty fast here in Texas.  I wanted something that would work for when I have a bit of a tan on my own. I have been using this for a couple of weeks now and I am obsessed. The formulation of this bronzer is so buttery and smooth. I can use it as an allover color or as a contour, either way this blends out so effortlessly and leaves you looking perfectly bronzed. I highly recommend picking this one up! What are your favorite bronzers? I always love a good recommendation!

Update your wardrobe for spring

Spring Fashion Edit

Spring is finally here and you might be thinking its time to update your wardrobe. If that's the case then keep reading for some of my tips on adding spring trends into your wardrobe.

 

1. Add a floral print jacket or blazer to your wardrobe. I find that this trend can dress up anyone's basic t-shirt and jeans.  $103.50

2. An inexpensive way to add some spring color in to your wardrobe is with a light weight scarf. This purple floral patterned scarf from Loft is perfect! $34.50

3. Shirt dresses are so effortless and perfect for spring. Pink is always the perfect color for spring and this dress is a staple for sunday brunches.  $194

4. + 5.  You cant forget about updating your jewelry collection for spring. One or two pieces in hues of pink aqua and purple will update any wardrobe pieces you may already have.  $79.5  $175

6. a light colored flowie top will always be an essential piece and this one from zara has the perfect embellished neckline. Pair this top with pastel colored jeans and you have the perfect spring look. $39.90

7. One of my favorite ways to add a pop of spring to my existing wardrobe is with a pair of bright colored pumps. These strappy pink sandals are a great statement piece that can be worn all the way through summer. $ 59.90

8. Pastel colored jeans are always a popular trend for spring time and this pair from Banana Republic would be a great addition to any wardrobe.  $69.90

9.  A lady like pastel jacket is a glamouras way to finish off any outfit from casual to dressy. thoughts of Jackie O come into mind when I see this one from Zara and I am dying to add it to my closet.  $89.90

10. My ultimate go to dress silhouette is a shift dress and this one from Zara in an updated spring mint is a winner in my book.  $59.90

Tarte Colored Clay

Tarte Colored Clay 7 Piece Collection

I have said many times that one of my favorite places to buy make up is from QVC. They always have the best value sets from all my favorite brands. One brand I have loved for quite some time is Tarte and ever since I found them on QVC its pretty much the sole place I purchase their products.
This set contains Tarte's most recent beauty release, their colored clay collection. This set contains 200 dollars worth of products for $72.50.  All full sized products for that price? You just can't pass it up! So here is a quick look at the products that came in the colored clay 7 Piece collection. I will be doing a few reviews on my favorite products from this set so be sure to look out for those in the coming weeks.

What you are getting:

0.68-oz colored clay SPF 15 liquid foundation and 0.51-oz colored clay CC primer in Fair, Light, Medium, Tan, or Deep

0.31-oz clay blush bronzer in Pink Bronze

0.27-oz LipSurgence Lip Gloss in True Love, a sheer raspberry shade

0.010-oz clay eyeliner in Black

0.24-fl oz lights, camera, LASHES mascara in Black

Bamboo foundation brush

Bonus Makeup bag

Around the Web

Around the Web

Spring is finally here and I couldn't be happier. My weekends are quickly booking up with all kinds of fun events! Some thing about spring always puts a little extra kick in my step. Are you like me and love spring too? I hope you all enjoy your first weekend of spring and this weeks links from around the web!

Tory Burch is having a private sale. Up to 70% off. I purchased a new wallet, you should treat your self too!

These donuts are so pretty and sound absolutely delicious. I would totally make these for a brunch with the girls!

I am obsessed with this necklace. It is the perfect accessory for spring!

Check out these amazing pictures of the sky. so beautiful!

Going along with the spring theme, here is a list of the best pieces of rain gear for this spring.

Lorac Breakthrough Performance Foundation

Lorac Breakthrough Performance Foundation

I purchased this product off Hautelook a couple of months ago, It was discounted pretty heavily so I figured why not give it a go. This product is described as an Oil-Free anti-aging foundation that will help keep skin looking youthful and radiant. This foundation has a satiny finish to it and is medium coverage. I did like the finish of this foundation a lot. I have used matte finish foundations for years and this was a nice change from that. At first I was worried that I would end up getting oiler in my T-zone faster than when I use my matte foundations but I really had no trouble at all! This is a lighter coverage foundation than I am used to so I did layer it up for a more full coverage look and it worked easily for this as well. This does contain an SPF of 14. Personally I don’t mind SPF in my day to day foundation; I do prefer no SPF in my going out foundation as it will make you look paler than you already are in pictures.

One thing Lorac has hit the nail on the head with is the packaging. I really enjoy the sleekness of this bottle and that it has an easy pump top that can be twisted closed. No worries about having any accidents while traveling with this! Overall I was pleasantly surprised with this foundation and while it won’t be something I reach for everyday it will be nice to use when I am looking for a different finish than my usual heavy matte coverage. If you like a lighter coverage with a satin finish then I highly recommend trying this foundation.

Lorac also recently released the POREfection foundation and I really want to try this one out! It claims to give a poreless and silky smooth finish. Have any of you tried this foundation? Let me know in the comments if you have!

Michael Todd True Organic

Knu Anti Aging Face Lift

I bought this night cream quite some time ago and used it for a couple months until I purchased something new and then this was pushed to the back of the drawer. A couple weeks ago I cleaned out all my beauty products and decided that I would dust this off and start using it again before it expires. I have to say I completely forgot how much I enjoyed using this product! I had heard a multitude of reviews for Michael Todd True Organics on YouTube and had found a promotion to get this product on discount (which you can always find discounts for this brand online just search for “Michael Todd True Organics Coupons”).

Here’s a rundown of what they describe this product to be. “Promotes healing, repair and natural collagen and elastin production over time for reduced density, volume and depth of wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Powerful antioxidants protect against further damage. The result - gorgeous skin that radiates youth. Our formulations are made without added water, parabens, sulfates, artificial dye or synthetic fragrance. Never tested on animals.”

This product is simply amazing! The formulation is not too heavy or greasy so it’s just perfect for my oily/combination skin type. You immediately feel your face tightening once this product is on and your skin starts to absorb it. This product really evened out my skin tone ( a major point in my skincare routine as I have hyperpigmentation from acne and other scarring) and left my face feeling toned and tight after a week or so of use. I don’t know why it took me so long to start using this product again because I love it! At regular price this is $150 dollars which is way more than I would be willing to pay to be honest but like I said above I always find discounts on livinsocial.com or Groupon.com usually bringing the cost down to around 30 dollars. I even decided to go back to the True Organics website and try out some new products, so be sure to keep an eye out for those soon! I also received a 25% off code (25off4me) this is good till midnight tonight so if you are interested in picking anything up now is the time!

Recent Purchases

Groopdealz.com and Jane.com

A couple of months back I found out about these two websites for finding great deals on everything from jewelry, home décor and clothing. I have yet to buy anything clothing or home related but I did pick up these necklaces and couldn't be happier with them! These were so inexpensive, I spent about 25 dollars total on these and they look just as good as any more expensive piece from Jcrew or Anthropology.

Here are some of my picks from the current available deals.

 Wall Art

 Chalk Board Labels

 Linen Cushion Covers

 Easter Burlap Banner

 Flora Jeweled Statement Necklace

Stud Wrap Watch

 

 

St. Patricks Day Recipe Link Up

Andes Mint Brownies

 

Last week I posted that I was joining a recipe link up for St. Patrick's day, the recipe I submitted was for Lucky Charm cookies. We were all paired up with other bloggers to test out someone else's recipe and I was assigned this delicious brownie recipe from Jenny over at The chronicles of we. I was super excited that I was given this recipe since I immediately was drawn to these brownies when I was looking over the list of submissions. Anna over at Bowties & Ballet Shoes was given my recipe to test out and I can't wait to see what she thought about them! Keep reading for the Andes mint brownies recipe!

4oz Semi-sweet baking chocolate (1 bar if using Ghiradelli)

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup & 2 Tbsp all purpose flour

1/3 Cup of finely chopped Andes Mints

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.First you will melt the butter and baking chocolate together in a medium saucepan.Once this has melted and is whisked together remove from heat and add the brown suger.Once mixed add the eggs and vanilla. Then slowly add all the dry ingredients (flour, powder and salt).Stir in the finely chopped andes mints. Pour the batter into a greased baking dish. Like Jenny's recipe I added any extra mints on top of the brownies( cut them into larger chunks).Bake the brownies for 25-30mins depending on your oven. My brownies went closer to 30 Minutes.






These brownies were like minty heaven, they were perfectly moist and delicous. I sent a container of these with my boyfriend to work so I wouldn't eat the whole batch!

Around the Web

Around the Web

This week has just flown by, and the weekend wont be slowing down any for me! I have a birthday party, wedding, and a crawfish boil all planned for this weekend. It's going to be a great weekend for being with family and friends! I hope you all have a lovely weekend as well! Be sure to check out some of my favorite things from around the web this week.

{I'm dying to try these waffles, recipe linked below}

I would love to get some of these Lush goodies in my easter basket.

I love breakfast food. Like could eat it at any time of day love. So these French toast waffles look absolutely sinful.

Have you seen this article about the health hazards of sitting?

Are you good at reading other peoples emotions? Take this quiz and find out!

Are you close to your mother? Do you consider her one of your best friends? Here are 10 great questions you can ask your mother to get to know he better.

A Summer Time Glow with Lorac TANtalizer

Lorac TANtalizer

Everyone loves a great looking tan. I always feel my best when I have that just back from vacation bronze. When I was younger I would tan in tanning beds but as I got older and wiser I knew that this was my skins enemy. I haven’t used a tanning bed in years and instead I resort to the self –tanner method. I try to keep up with a weekly schedule of using self-tanners and have reviewed several brands in the past (currently I’m testing out a new brand so keep an eye out for that.) but sometimes a girl doesn’t have the time! For those times my go to product is Lorac’s TANtalizer.

Lorac TANtalizer Body BronzerLuminizer is a streak-free body bronzer that gives you the most amazing glow. It’s an instant tan that only needs a few minutes to dry. This product goes on evenly and can even be mixed in with your everyday lotion if you want a lighter application. You have to know going into this product that it is not a self-tanner; this product will wash away when you take a shower. For the most part I never have issues with this rubbing off on my clothes (as long as you let it dry for a few minutes before dressing). I seriously love using this on my legs it gives such a nice luminizing effect that I pretty much use this every day during the summer. I usually just buy the small bottle and it lasts me a pretty long time since the smallest amount is needed.

Lorac Face Self Tantalizer:I recently picked up the Face Self TANtalizer to try out since I have loved the regular TANtalizer so much. This is supposed to be a gradual face self-tanner, so the more you use it you will build up a tan. This is also a bronze color so you will get an instant tan as well. While I do like this product it’s not as great as my beloved TANtalizer body bronzer. At first I was a bit worried with the dark color and while rubbing it in I found that it seemed a bit splotchy and not a smooth application (as always I exfoliated beforehand so this wouldn’t be the reason for the splotches). After a few minutes of it adjusting to my skin the splotches tended to disappear. I do find that it’s a little too much of a red base for me but still works well when I wear a foundation over it. As for the gradual tan build up I have yet to see any real tan form so that seems to be a bit of a bummer. It’s not the best product but definitely not the worst either. I did get this on sale so it wasn’t a huge bust for me. If I were you I would stick to trying out the TANtalizer Body Bronzer.

March Julep Maven

March Julep Maven

This months box was the Riviera Collection which is filled with fun colors for spring and summer, each box came with two polish colors and one Lip gloss. I love that the Julep boxes always ship so fast! I received this box last Monday and was ecstatic to open up the box and see what I got! Right now Julep has a mystery box featuring a 100 dollars worth of products for 24.99 (you get to pick 1 St. Patricks day themed polish and the rest is a surprise!). I seriously love getting these boxes at 19.99 they are a steal, this months products would cost you almost 50 dollars if you bought them separately!Like always if you are interested in signing up you can take this Quiz and get your first box free with code FreeBox.



 

Julep Lip Gloss in Adored- I love Julep lip glosses! they are not sticky in the least bit and smell like yummy vanilla! Adored is a perfect bubble gum pink. This gloss is sheer and looks perfect over nude lips or paired with a pink toned lipstick.

Julep polish in Elisa (Purple Shade) - This is a crème polish that is described as a Soft wisteria shimmer. I currently am wearing this shade and have gotten so many compliments on it the last few days! Its perfectly on trend for spring time! So far the staying power has been great, usually nail polish tends to chip after a day or two but this has stayed on chip free for almost 5 days now!

Julep Polish in Harriet (Coral Shade) -  This polish is also a crème finish and is described as Guava Coral. This polish is nicely pigmented and covers perfectly with only two coats. I already know I will be wearing this color all summer long!

LIEBSTER AWARD

Liebster Award

I was recently nominated for a Liebster Award by Eve over at Evedorith.blogspot.com  and Linh over at the fashion breeze blog. A liebster award is something sort of like a chain letter that has been floating around the blogger community. It’s a chance to recognize new bloggers; all you have to do is tag (Notify them on their blog) 10 of your favorite newish bloggers who have under or around 200 followers and create 10 questions for them to answer. In return they will nominate 10 new bloggers and create 10 new questions (and the chain continues). Be sure to link back to those who nominated you!  I really like the idea of this sort of “award” it’s nice to hear that someone is out there reading your blog! When you first start blogging it can be discouraging to think your content is not reaching anyone so when I received this it really kept me motivated to keep posting!

Eve’s Questions
1. What is your go-to clothing/accessory piece? I would say my most reached for piece of clothing is one of my many chambray shirts. You can dress them up or wear them casually I seriously find myself buying a new one every time I go shopping.

2. What store would you want to spend $5,000 in? I would say a department store like Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom. You could get the most brand selection here; I typically don’t like to stick to one store for a lot of purchases as you start to look like a walking advertisement for them.

3. If you could buy one designer piece, what would it be? I think it would have to be a Céline mini luggage tote in black or the Louis Vuitton W bag. Both are beautiful and I would love to get my hands on one!

4. If you could meet any person in the fashion industry, who would it be? I would love to meet Carolina Herrera because she creates such beautiful and feminine pieces and really knows how to create flattering clothing for woman.

5. What is your dream job? My degree is in public relations (currently I work in the Oil and Gas industry doing absolutely nothing related to this degree hah!) And if I had my dream job it would be as an event/PR coordinator of some sorts. I have always loved planning parties and events from birthdays to bridal showers. It’s just so fun and rewarding to see all your hard work and details pay off with a successful event.

6. How do you feel about the new slip-on trend? I love it! I remember these were popular a while back and loved them then too! It’s such a no fuss casual look that can easily be mixed in with high end pieces as well as more affordable options (basically anyone can rock this!).

7. Which fashion week would you most want to go to (Paris, Milan, London, New York, etc.)? That would have to be Paris hands down. I mean what girl wouldn’t love to see Paris during fashion week or any week for that matter! I have yet to visit Paris and it’s definitely something I hope to do someday.

8. What is your favorite fashion house/designer? I love watching runway shows online since I can’t exactly go to them in person. Watching these shows gives me so much energy and creative inspiration. It’s really hard to pick just one so some of my favorites are Marchesa, Valentino, Bagdley Mischka, Tory Burch, and Armani Prive. If you don’t notice a trend I love super light/airy/feminine/ornate detail. I really would have nowhere to ever wear most of these items but it’s always nice to dream (sigh).

9. Who are your style icons? I love Jessica Alba’s style; she’s fun and funky but never goes crazy with her outfits. I am pretty sure I you would never see her on a worst dressed list. I also love Olivia Palermo; she has such classic style and always looks so effortless in her outfits. I think that’s what makes any style great if you have confidence in what you are wearing then it just works!

10. Who are your top 5 favorite bloggers?
I hands down love Joanna Goddard from a Cup of Jo. She is just so relatable in her posts you feel like you are one of her friends. She’s so real with her readers and talks about everyday events from motherhood to fashion. For beauty related reads I always go to Vivianna from ViviannaDoesmakeup. She is a UK beauty blogger that I have followed for a few years now. She always has the best skincare picks. I trust every one of her recommendations. Merrit Beck of the Style Scribe is one of my favorite Style bloggers. Her taste is impeccable and she always looks effortless and never overly trendy. Rosie from The Londoner is my go to girl for lifestyle and food blogging. She is also out of the UK, and is always on some kind of crazy adventure/vacation and chronicles each step of the way.



Linh’s Questions:

Questions:
1) What's your favorite song at the moment? I really love the song Pompeii by Bastille. I always crank up my radio when it comes on!

2) If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be? I would love to be Rachel Zoe, she is around so much fashion I think it would be so much fun to be her for a day…. preferably during fashion week or award show season.

3) What's your middle name? Roberta (family name)

4) What is one thing that you really like about yourself? I hate questions like these… I’m going to go with something superfluous like I love how long my eyelashes are ;)

5) If you were stuck with one person in a lift/an elevator for six hours, who would you like to be in there with? That’s a hard question; I get irritated pretty easily so I think anyone would be terrible to be stuck with in an elevator with for that long. But If I had to pick someone it would probably be my boyfriend.

6) What kind of drunk are you? Hmm depends on the mood I was in that day, usually I’m pretty fun but all my friends would say that they rarely see me drunk.

7) Do you have any allergies? If so, what are they? I am allergic to two types of antibiotics… I am not even going to try and spell them right now.

8) Whose your celebrity crush? I love Dave Franco, He is hilarious in every movie I have seen him in and he is so adorable.

9) What's the best advice you have ever received? You will never succeed if you don’t try…

10) Why did you start your blog? I started my blog as an outlet for my creativity. I always loved sharing make up and fashion finds with my friends so why not share it with others?!

11) Confess something. I sleep in my make up all the time. I know it’s terrible but sometimes I am just too lazy and tired to deal with taking it off.

These are the 10 bloggers that I follow and enjoy reading. I know some of them have already received this award from others but honestly who cares? It’s nice to keep getting encouragement from fellow bloggers.

Molly: Thepreppyhostess.blogspot.com

Kathryn: kathjam.blogspot.co.uk

Grace: graceybloss0m.blogspot.co.uk

Diana: simplydianasmakeupchronicles.blogspot.com

Dee Dee: http://www.thejourneytoanewdee.blogspot.com/

Zoe: zoemountford.blogspot.com

Laura: fbl-savvy.blogspot.com

EmzyLou: http://emzylouhair.blogspot.com/

Brittany: perpetuallydaydreaming.com

Caroline: simplycarolinee.blogspot.com

And my questions are...
1. What is your favorite drugstore beauty product?
2. What is your favorite high end beauty product?
3. Who are your favorite bloggers to follow?
4. What is one goal you have for 2014?
5. What is your favorite dish to make/eat?
6. What is your favorite source for staying up to date on trends and current events?
7. If you could have anyone’s closet whose would you choose?
8. What fashion trend for spring and summer are you most excited for?
9. What  advice would you give to someone wanting to start a blog?
10. What inspires your blog the most?

St Patricks Day Recipe

St. Patrick's Day Link Up

St. Patrick's Day is one of my favorite holidays, I love all the fun that goes along with St. Patrick's Day and always enjoy spending the day with friends and family outdoors with a green beer and other festively colored food. I found this recipe while searching on Pinterest for some green themed treats to bring to next weekends events. These Lucky Charm cookies are sure to be a hit for whatever event you may have planned!

 

This recipe is from Emily over at Sugar Plum Blog.

Lucky Charm CookiesIngredients:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup Lucky Charm cereal pieces (not the mallows)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (225 grams)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but I like the flavor)
1 large egg
3/4 cup Lucky Charm marshmallows
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray a 9-inch round pan with cooking spray.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; whisk in 1/4 cup sugar until combined.  Bring mixture to a boil, until sugar is dissolved.  Stir in cereal pieces until combined.  Place in prepared pan.  Bake 5 minutes, stir, and bake an additional 5 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  In a large bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together butter, sugar, vanilla, and almond extract until creamy - about 1 minute.  Beat in egg until combined.  Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour mixture until just combined.  Stir in candied cereal pieces, marshmallows and chocolate chips until just combined.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto cookie sheets, spacing about an inch apart.  Bake 10-13 minutes, or until slightly crisp and starting to turn golden around the edges.  Cool 1 minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Around the Web

Around the Web

I hope everyone had a great week and you all have something fun planned for this weekend! Just a reminder to take some time this weekend to make your self happy! Hope you enjoy this week’s links from around the web!

Have you seen this story about a job bank chief and her reaction to young job seekers… I think the old saying if you don’t have anything nice to say applies here.

Have you ever been on tinder? I had a friend who tried it out once and it was all over the news from the Olympics. Here’s a look at what would happen if Disney characters met on tinder

Did you ever watch that late night show taxi cab confessionals? This guy writes about his experience with being an Uber cab driver

This is some amazing art by Heather Hansen that is created through simple body movements.

I would die to have this dress for spring it's so beautifull!

Sexy Hair Brand Review

 Brand Review: Sexy Hair

1. Straight Sexy Hair Smooth & Seal Aerated Anti-Frizz And Shine Spray
This is a finishing spray that is designed to help lock out moisture and keep your hair looking shiny and smooth. The product claims to condition and soften hair while providing shine and also will reduce static electricity (I don’t ever have this issue so I can’t vouch for this claim). I have fairly straight hair, I imagine if I lived somewhere with great weather and no humidity I could probably achieve a great blow out and not use a straightener. Unfortunately I live in Houston TX where the weather is mostly hot and always humid. I have been really enjoying using this spray. I especially like using this on my day two hair after I have put dry shampoo on my roots I will spray this on my ends to keep them from looking dried out. Overall I think this is great option for adding shine to your look, it’s light weight and you can spray as much or as little as you need to create your desired effect.

2. Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse
This one is an oldie but a goodie. I remember first using this ages ago and I went through a phase of using it all the time. I recently purchased this again remembering how much I loved this through my early college years. Root Pump Plus is a volumizing root mouse that gives intense volume and hold. I will say that if you use too much it can be a bit sticky feeling but once you have the right amount its pure gold. Use this at the root of damp hair and blow dry hair away from your roots. I like using this at the crown of my hair and then using a round brush to get the most volume.

3. Big Sexy Hair Powder Play Volumizing & Texturizing Powder
I love having volume in my hair, and I don’t know many girls who would disagree (think the higher the hair the closer to heaven… or everything is bigger in Texas). With that being said I really hate teasing my hair, I don’t like the damage it can cause and have a tendency to play with my hair during the day so teasing always looks like a hot mess buy the end of the day. That’s where this bad boy comes in, Powder Play adds instant volume when added to your roots and when rubbed through the ends of your hair can add great texture. I love using this when I curl my hair to really achieve that piece wave with some volume. You really can’t go wrong with this stuff.

4. Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri Wheat Leave In Conditioner
This is the best leave in conditioner that I have ever used. It keeps my hair super soft and really helped strengthen my damaged ends. After I wash my hair I spritz it about 6 times with this product and brush it through. This also really helps keep my hair tangle free.

5. Healthy Sexy Hair Color Safe Soy Moisturizing Shampoo and conditioner
The Color Safe Soy shampoo and conditioner are meant to be strengthening both created with soy and Cocoa and work as a mild Protein reconstructor. My hair is definitely damaged from years of straightening and other heat styling not to mention all the highlights and hair color throughout the years. I like to use a really good moisturizing conditioner to help combat my dry ends and I do feel that is one is a good option. I will say that a couple of times I felt it left my hair feeling a bit heavy. I’m not sure if this is from the product itself or just user error and not washing it out of my hair well enough. I have only used these for a couple weeks so only time will tell if I would repurchase this one.

Oscar's Best Dressed

Oscars Best Dressed

I love watching the Oscars every year mostly to see what everyone is wearing but this year I was pleasantly entertained by Ellen during the entirety of the show. There were a lot of great dresses this year from the show itself to the after parties. I rounded up my favorite picks from all the events bellow!

Sienna Miller : She looks to die for in this Alexander McQueen gown. She is so effortlessly stylish and I cant get enough of her arm cuffs.
Evan Rachel Wood : I am such a sucker for emerald green, and boy did she wow in this Elie Saab Fall 2013 number.
Kristen Bell : I thought she looked absolutely radiant at the Oscars and she really dazzled in her red Zuhair Murad Spring 2014 gown at the Vanity Fair after party. 
Cate Blanchett : I always love Cate’s award show dresses. She definitely didn’t disappoint this year in her nude embellished Armani Prive gown.
Lupita Nyong'o : She has been nocking it out of the park with her gown choices this awards season and her pastel blue Prada Oscar dress with minimal jewelry was right on point.

February Favorites

February Favorites

This month really flew by, I can't believe it's already March! I didn't buy too many new products this month but I did discover a couple drugstore products and started using some old favorites again. Keep reading to check out my February favorites.

Healthy Sexy Hairr Soy Tri Wheat Leave In Conditioner :  I really love this leave in conditioner. It keeps my long hair tangle free and super soft. The Sexy Hair brand really is one of my favorites, I have yet to try a product from them I don't love. Later this week I will have a post up reviewing several of their products so keep your eyes out for that!

Nars Danmari Pallet : This pallet is a few years old and for a while it just stayed in my purse to use as a mirror but lately I have been reaching for this more and more. I really like using the bronzer in Casino as a contour shade. All month I have been using the blush shade orgasm. This is one of Nars most popular shades and I totally understand why because its such a flattering color. I don't know why I ever stopped using it.

Nerium AD : This is a pretty new/ unknown product that is sold through the MLM business format. I know there is a lot of question in regard to these types of businesses so I will say right out that I am not affiliated with this brand in anyway. My boyfriend’s mom had an extra bottle of this and let me have it. There are a lot of reviews all over the web good and bad but all I can say is my personal experience. I actually have had this bottle for a few months and forgot about it at the back of my beauty drawer. A friend of mine was telling me that she and her mother had started using it and loved the results. With that in mind I dug this back out and decided to give it a go. I actually really like this product. Obviously I am young and don’t have many wrinkles or serous skin concerns so I can’t vouch for the extreme results some say they have had. What I did notice in my skin is that my overall skin texture and tone really improved with this product and I could tell a difference after only a couple weeks. It isn’t the best smelling product but scent doesn’t really deter me from using a product. The one nice thing about using this is I don’t have to use any other night creams or serums so it keeps my routine super simple.

Philosophy Hope in a Jar: This is a great everyday daytime moisturizer. I mentioned this in my morning skin care routine in January and I am still loving it.  It keeps my skin perfectly hydrated with out making it feel greasy.

Philosophy Microdelivery Peel : I use this once a week as my exfoliator. This is like having your own spa treatment at home. My skin is left feeling radiant and revived I highly recommend adding this to your skincare routine!

Origins Ginzing : I really can't tell you how great this product is I feel like I am constantly talking about it. If you ever have problems with dark circles this eye cream works amazingly!

Dior Addict Lip Glow: I have been using this everyday, it just gives the perfect amount of natural color and leaves your lips feeling so soft. You can check out my full review here.

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Shampoo and Conditioner: I ran out of my salon brand shampoo and conditioner this month and didn't feel like shelling out a lot of money so I picked these up at my grocery store one day. I completely forgot how great Herbal Essence was! This smells so amazing and leaves my hair perfectly clean and conditioned. My biggest pet peeve is when a shampoo and conditioner leaves my hair feeling weighed down and greasier looking than before I washed it. If your looking for an inexpensive option you should definitely check these out!

Herbal Essence Dry Shampoo: I use dry shampoo just about every other day, sometimes I can go through a can in as little as a week. I always like to buy the drugstore brands since it  would get a bit expensive having to buy a new salon brand bottle every week. I used to use the Suave Professionals dry shampoo and I started noticing that it was drying my scalp out. I picked this up at Target the other week and have been loving it ever since! It leaves no white residue and gets my hair nice and clean feeling.

Julep Gel Eyeliner: I received this in my February Julep box and I have been using it everyday since! you can check out my full review here.

Lancôme Color Design Ombre Mono Effects Sensationnels: I got this from Lancôme a couple years ago and hadn't used it in a really long time. I was rummaging through my make up drawer in an effort to rediscover some old favorites and decided I would start using this one again. This Quad can create so many looks  from natural to smokey and is super travel friendly.

{Top: Off the Rack, Daylight / Bottom: Sultry Mauve, Ciel Du Soir}

Studio Gear Prime Objective Face Primer: One of my favorite face primers ever. I have pretty oily skin especially in the t-zone and this primer helps keep my foundation set all day. I feel like I never hear enough about Studio Gear products but the couple of things I have tried from them have been amazing! I really should look into their whole range of products more.