NOTD: July 4th Edition

Patriotic Nails

Friday is the Fourth of July so I thought it would be the perfect time to get a bit patriotic with my Nails. I used two different polishes to achieve this look. I painted all of my nails with Deborah Lippman's Footloose it is one of my favorite colors, the perfect shade of red. As I have mentioned before Deborah Lippman is the ultimate brand for nail varnishes. On my ring finger I used a Julep polish aptly named America, it's the perfect polish for these patriotic nails since its a mix of different sized red blue and silver glitter.

 

Will you be wearing any themed nails this holiday? I would love if you shared them in the comments! 

 

Around the Web

Around the Web

This week has been a little off when it came to my blogging schedule, the internet at my apartment decided to make things dificult and kept going in and out of service. So I am sorry for only being able to put up a couple of new posts this week but all is fixed now and I will be back on schedule come monday! I hope you all have a great weekend!

The World Cup is in full swing! Are you watching? Here is the US team before their game against Germany.

If you are ever looking for free photos to use check out this great blog post with lists of websites.

Do you ever catch yourself comparing yourself to others? I really loved reading this article about how comparing yourself to others can really bring you down. Check it out here.

What do your hot dog toppings say about you? check out this fun diagram just in time for the summer hot dog season.

I have pretty much been obsessing over this new tote from Tory Burch.

The best 11 summer nail polishes by Harpers Bazaar.

Summer Sales

Summer Sales

All of the summer sales seem to be in full swing. This of course means I have put a bit of a whole into my bank account. I always make a point to stock up on quality pieces during the sales seasons to help boost my wardrobe for the coming year. Below are some of my favorites from the sales that are going on around the web.

Reiss is having a large sale with up to 50% off sale items. This is a quality designer whose threads will be sure to stay in fashion through the years. Now is the perfect chance to stock up on some great business attire as well as some fun pieces.

Jacket / Dress / Shorts

Calvin Klein currently has an extra 30% off sale items and other various promotions going on throughout the site. This means tops like this perfect leather tank are discount to just $20 dollars!

Lace Skirt / Lace Tank / Leather Tank

Last Call is one of my favorite sources for discount designer fashion and accessories. Currently they have a huge RED WHITE and BLUE promotion going on part of this includes an extra 50% off already discounted contemporary designers. That means these equipment blouses that usually run near $200 dollars are now about $50!

Snake Print Shirt / Orange Shirt

The limited is a great place to stock up on smart work tops. They currently have an extra 30% off sale items for a total of up to 70% off and a buy 1 get 1 free promotion of full priced items.  This is a great chance to replenish that workforce wardrobe! Check out this leather vest I scored for 30 bucks!

Faux Leather Vest / Sleeveless Top

Club Monaco always carries sophisticated and easy pieces. Right now you can score an additional 50% off clearance items with the code MIDSUMMER. I am loving this fun skirt and flirty peplum tank!

Peplum Tank / Skirt / Dress

Mary Kay Cosmetics

Mary Kay Haul

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine was hosting a Mary Kay party at her house (she is my go to for Mary Kay products, check her website out here). It was a fun night of trying on make up, sipping on some fun cocktails and catching up with friends.  I have to say that I never really tried Mary Kay products prior to this year but have been very pleased with everything I have purchased thus far. The products are top quality and affordable too! I ended up purchasing several things at the get together so I thought they would be perfect to share!

 

Mineral Cheek Color in Bold Berry- I have been wearing this everyday and I just love it! This is the perfect summer pink with hints of gold shimmer running through it. Such a flattering shade that blends smoothly and is highly pigmented. These blushes are really a great quality for such an affordable price just $12!

NouriShine Plus Lipgloss in Café Au Lait  - This is my new everyday lipgloss. The perfect natural shade with out any shimmer that can be worn on its own or over a lipstick. It's not sticky or heavy on the lips so I have no problem wearing this all through the day. This little guy is just $14 dollars!

Mineral Eye Color in Lavender Fog – I was actually gifted this lovely shadow for filling out a survey for my friend, how awesome is that! I really love this color, purple toned shadows have long been a go to for me. This one is called Lavender fog and is a purple mauve matte shadow. It has great pigmentation and blends like a dream. These shadows retail for $7.



 

True Dimension Lipstick in Coral Bliss and Natural Beaute - Both of these lipsticks are part of the True Dimensions line that are extremely moisturizing on the lips. They are a lot like the Revlon Lip Butters and extremely light on the lips while having great color pay off. These are priced at $18 a piece.

 

 

Coral Bliss is a fun orangie pink perfect for wearing in the summer time.

 

Natural Beaute is the perfect nude to wear all year long I really love this one! I always have a hard time finding the right shade of nude for me and this one was love at first sight!



Around the Web

Around the Web

This weekend marks the premier of the final season of my favorite TV show True blood. I am obsessed with this show and have read all 13 books that the series if based off of. I just finished reading the last book in the series just intime for the final season to start! Enjoy this weeks links and have a great weekend!

The final book in the True Blood series.... I read this in two days flat! If you want to start from the beginning check this one out!

Buy 3 get 3 free at the body shop. A great chance to stock up on everything from makeup to facewash!

22 times it sucks to be a blogger. All of these are so true, if you are a blogger this will definitly resonate with you!

I plane on making these blueberry pie bars for July 4th weekend... they look so yummy!

I just picked up this blazer on sale from H&M and am currently obsessed with it.

Laura Mercier Lip Stain

Laura Mercier Lip Stain

I seem to be somewhat of a lip product junky. Something about lip products get me everytime, the funny thing is I really dont wear lip color on an everyday basis. For some reason though I am constantly picking up new Lipsticks, glosses, balms... the list goes on and on. So it should be no suprise that when I saw these for sale on Gilt.com I instantly added them to my shopping cart!

My favorite type of lip products are ones that feel natural on the lips. I hate feeling like I have a pound of lipstick caked on.  With that being said the description of this product "Provides the visual effect of a stain with the comfort and sheen of a lip gloss. The long-term colour with a satin, balmy finish leaves the look of effortless polish and understated sophistication." spoke to me, I mean who could pass these pretties up?

I really love these stains as they go on so smoothly with out leaving your lips feeling super sticky ( a feeling I really cant stand!). You barely have to apply any for a great color pay off, while they aren't the most long lasting of lip products they do look lovely when they are on.

{Peach Glaze, Mulberry}

 Peach Glaze is a perfect color for summer time and peach colors are such a hot trend this summer! I plan on wearing it constantly. I really love the deepness and warmth of the shade Mulberry, it is going to be perfect for wearing this fall when the weather starts changing! These retail for $20 dollars a piece but I was able to swoop both shades up for that price! I highly reccomend checking out Gilt.com ( This is a daily deals site you can check it out HERE) every so often they have some really amazing beauty sales!

{Peach Glaze, Mulberry}

Korres on Hautelook

Korres Sale Event

 

 

I first tried Korres products years ago while in college and instantly fell in love with their all natural line. They really do have a fantastic assortment of cosmetics and can be found at several different beauty counters like Sephora.

Today on Hautelook (a daily deals site) they are having a Korres event. They have all kinds of beauty products on sale for more than 50% off! I managed to scoop up a whole slew of items for under a $100 dollars (including a couple foundations, primers, body butters, and face powders).

 

If you are interested in this sale you can visit Hautelook.com and if you dont have an account yet feel free to sign up through my refferal link HERE. Don't miss this chance to stock up on some great products at a fraction of the cost!


Picture from Hautelook.

The Perfect Face Palette for the Girl on the Go

Bobbi Brown Face Palette

 

 

I purchased a Bobbi Brown today special value from QVC a while back (you may have seen my post here) and this face palette came in the set.  I was pretty excited about getting to test out a wide array of Bobbi Brown products as I hadn't every really used any of her line before. This palette contains her cult classic under eye corrector and concealer along with her foundation stick and a sheer finish setting powder.

 

This palette is the perfect size to keep in your purse or take on any travels you may go on! It has everything you could need for a full face of foundation and all the products are high quality and give a flawless finish. I have been toting this around with me everywhere I go for all my touch up needs. You can get this on QVC for $58.

Sara Happ Lip Scrub

Lemonade the lip scrub

Sara Happ's scrubs are definitely not new, they premiered on beauty shelves back in 2008 but over the last year or so their presence has become wide spread. I have been seeing her products all over the beauty universe and as a sufferer of dry and often flaky lips I have been yearning to get my hands on some.

While I was on vacation I saw a collection of her products one day when I was out shopping and decided to go ahead and pick one up. I purchased the lip scrub in Lemonade, a limited edition scrub for the spring and summer.

I have been using this on my lips every few days to keep them soft and supple. The scent and taste is divine like a sugary lemon I would probably eat the entire container like it was candy if I could. This is a 1 oz. jar that retails for $24 dollars. I imagine this will last me for quite some time as you only need the smallest amount to rub into you lips and exfoliate.  I recommend testing her line out as they have quickly become a cult classic!
 

Julep Maven June Box

Julep Maven June Box

 

I skipped last months Julep box since I was going to be on vacation most of the month and figured I would be spending plenty of money in NYC (which of course I did). This months boxes didn't really peak my interest to much except for the core box that came with the Beach Tonic Dry Body Oil and the Bare Face Cleansing Oil.

Beach Tonic Dry Body Oil

For the last year or so I have given up on regular moisturizers and have turned to using oil formulas. This has been the best thing I could have done for my sensitive skin so I am always on the look for new body oils to try. This one from Julep is a total find! It's user friendly packaging and quick absorbing formula works great for on the go. All you have to do is spritz your damp skin after a shower and rub the oil in. Easy Peasy! Plus the smell is wonderful for this time of year it brings me back to days at the beach! Regular price is $23 and maven price is $18.40.


Bare Face Cleansing Oil

 

I have seen this on the Julep website for a couple of months now and always see all the rave reviews so I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to test it out. I have to admit that I have never used an oil cleanser before and was a bit scared of the idea of using oil to cleanse my already oily skin. all I can say is I was worried for absolutely no reason! All the reviews are right this product works like a dream. Removes all my makeup and leaves my face feeling perfectly moisturized and balanced. Why have I waited so long to try an oil based cleanser?! This retails for $28 but is on sale right now for $19.60

If you are interested in becoming a julep maven member and getting a box every month for just $19 a month you can sign up through my link Here. You can get your first box free using code FREEBOX too! I also have a 30% off coupon code that lasts through July 31st just use code SPRINGPERK!

Check out my past months boxes HERE, HERE , HERE, and HERE.

Fathers Day Gift Guide

Father's Day Gift Guide

 

Father’s Day is this weekend so I thought it would be nice to share some gift ideas. No matter your budget there is a gift out there for your dad whether you made it by hand or bought it from a department store your dad will be sure to love anything you give to him.

 

 

 

 

1. The cocktail connoisseur : If you dad loves entertaining and making fun drinks for friends and family then this is a perfect gift him. He can proudly display these bar "tools" amongst his collection.  Available from Nordstrom for $40.

 

2. The fitness minded dad: Whether your dad has been a long time gym rat or he has decided to improve his health a fitbit is the perfect way to help him reach and maintain his goals. Out of all the similar products on the market I really like the fitbit for providing more information and being extremely user friendly.  You can purchase this from the FitBit website for $99.

 

3. The adrenaline Junky: If you have an adventurous dad who loves an adrenaline rush give him the opportunity to film his adventures with a GoPro. Now you don’t have to just listen to his stories you can see them too! This one can be purchased from REI for just under $300.

 

4. The fashion minded dad: For the dad who loves to dress well, this tie clip would be the perfect addition to his closet. This is an inexpensive gift that can get use everyday! Available for $25 from Nordstrom.

 

5. The well groomed dad: If your dad is big into his skincare routine than he will definitely enjoy this travel set from jack black. This is my favorite brand for men’s grooming products and I always give their products as gifts for the men in my life. You can purchase this from Nordstrom for $52.

 

6. The king of the kitchen: A great gift for the dad who loves to cook is a fun new cookbook. This book is perfectly tailored for a guy and is chalk full of manly and healthy recipies. Pick this up at Nordstrom for $25.



 

Around the Web

Around the Web

The boyfriend and I started a 10 day cleanse this week so as you can imagine we don’t have anything to extreme planned for this weekend. No one wants to be tempted by booze and fried food while on a cleanse. I will probably spend the weekend writing new material for next week. Hope you enjoy your weekend! Below are some of my favorite links from this week!

Hermes has recently released a new line of bath and body products ranging from shower gels to hand soaps. Wouldn’t that be the ultimate fancy soap to have in your guest bathroom?

I am a huge fan of the movie pitch perfect and have probably seen it at least 30 times. If you love it as much as me then you will want to read these facts about the movie,  I was dying of laughter watching the blooper real at the end.

Some great Instagram tips and tricks for the perfect photo.

15 Facts of life that are totally true and hilarious.

Have you ever thought about actors and their body doubles? Probably not but I found these pictures of actors hanging with their body doubles kind of interesting. Some look scarily similar while others are just comical to think they look alike.

Everyday Nude Eyes

Everyday Nude Eyes with Bobbi Brown

I have a new favorite nude eye pallet. You may have seen me briefly mention I had bought the Bobbi Brown Nude Basics set before I left on vacation. I basically haven’t used any other eye shades since this baby came in the mail! I thought I would share my easy everyday look using this pallet. Keep reading if you are interested!

Firstly I suggest using an eye primer; my personal preference is too faced shadow insurance. For me I need to use an eye primer every day to keep my shadows put since I have oily skin.

1. Use shade Ivory all over your lid. Pat the shadow on your lid from the lash line up to the brow bone. This shade gives a great base for the later shadows.
2. Apply shade Naked from the lash line right up to where your crease starts.
3. Next apply Rich Caviar into your crease and blend out using your favorite blending brush. Re-apply until you are comfortable with the intensity. For day I use a light application but for a night time look you can make this look more smoky and intense by building up the color.
4. I like to use the shade Hot Stone as my transition shade, for this you will use fluffy blending brush (this should be not as dense as the brush for step 3) and blend shadow in the crease to just above the crease. This step insures your shadows are nicely blended and will give a softer appearance as opposed to a harsh line of eye shadow.

That’s it! Pretty simple right? You can add the glitter shades to the inner corner of your eyes to add an extra wow or use any other favorite highlight shade (mines Mary-Lou Manizer from The Balm) as well. The only thing left is to complete the look with your favorite eyeliner and mascara. This is an easy neutral eye that I love wearing to work! What’s your go to everyday eye look? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

 

Aerin Parfum Amber Musk

Aerin Amber Musk

Aerin Lauder is the great grandchild of the esteemed Estee Lauder. I have been a longtime fan of the estee lauder brand, they have beautiful products with exquisite packaging. A little while back Aerin expanded her lifestyle brand into beauty by debuting a few make up goods into the Lauder line.

 

Last November Aerin added to her line including 5 fragrances. I was pretty much obsessed with these as soon as I saw the promotional material. They are bottled in the most stunning packaging with a stone on top that makes these the perfect bathroom counter top addition.

While on vacation in New York we were able to get some shopping done and while in Niemans I decided to check out the 5 different fragrances Gardenia Rattan, Amber Musk, Lilac Path, Ikat Jasmine, and Evening Rose by far my favorite was Amber Musk (the sales woman informed me it is the most popular of the line).

Amber musk is described as “blending sensual florals, distinctive amber and creamy musk. Ambrox makes a velvety first impression, contrasted by a succulent burst of coconut water and the femininity of rose centifolia absolute. Like the glow of amber flames, lingering benzoin and musk infuses the fragrance with warmth” This fragrance definitely has the amber/vanilla scent which I do love in perfumes and definitely gives of a smooth and warming vibe. I think this is a really beautiful scent and would make a lovely addition to any collection especially for winter/fall.

I decided to splurge on myself since I haven’t been able to get this line out of my head for months. The bottle is a smaller size at 1.7 oz retailing for 110 dollars. I know fragrances can be quite expensive but Im not sure if this one is completely justified. I can see spending the money for a designer like Tom Ford but I’m not sure if Aerin has quite the stock to be priced so high. It is a lovely scent and a beautiful bottle so if you don’t mind spending the money you might want to look into her line!

Bite Lip Lab

 

 

Bite Lip Lab NYC

 

During my first day visiting NYC the girls and I stumbled upon the Lip Lab store front while shopping around near SOHO. intrigued we stepped inside for the pretty Fantastic Experience of having a custom lip shade created.

 

 

 

Bite is a beauty brand out of Toronto Canada, I have seen their lip products before in Sephora and have recently scene them on the YouTube beauty circuit. They are an all natural brand with lipstick made of 100% food grade ingredients so can feel good about what you are using on your lips!

 

 

When walking in you find yourself taking a seat at a long skinny table  covered with every shade of lipstick imaginable. The lab tech gives a brief over view of what will happen then gets right into asking what you are looking for in a lipstick.

You get 3 finishes to choose from a matte, crème, and one with gloss. I decided on the crème finish and told my tech about the constant struggle to find the perfect nude. She immediately whipped up a combination of shades that I tested and LOVED! She mixed up another shade a bit darker for me to try as well but the first mix was a homerun for me.

The next step is picking your favorite scent to have added to your lipstick. The choices are mango, vanilla, mint, rose, lavender, blueberry, cherry and lemon. I chose mint as my scent since I am addicted to mint lip products! The tech continues on by melting down the perfect proportion of shades along with the mint oil, pouring into a cast and then In what I can only assume was baking it. The whole process took about 30 minutes and was such a treat.

Here is my personal shade of lipstick that is the ultimate nude for my lips! I am pretty happy with this purchase. This would be a fun experience for any lip product junkie, they only have the one store in NYC so if you are ever in the area be sure to check it out!