Living and Dining Room Design Ideas

Decorating Ideas for the New House

If you checked out last Friday's post you might have read that my boyfriend and I are in the process of buying our first home! One of the first things I started doing was thinking about how I would decorate the new place.  Naturally I want to share all my inspiration and purchases, I'll probably have a few posts like this over the next couple of weeks so keep a look out for them if this is the sort of thing you are interested in!



Living Room

I would describe the aesthetic I am going for as modern industrial, I really like the clean simple lines of this look and the boy tends to be ok with it too. Most of our living room furniture will stay the same we already have a great couch and coffee/end table combo we love. We do want to update our media cabinet though as our current one was a carry over from college.

1. Crystorama Cameron Ceiling Mount Light in English Bronze - My mom was able to get me a great deal for our light fixtures. This one and the chandelier below only ran me $400.

2. Crate and Barrel Casement Black Large Sideboard- This is really supposed to go in a dining room but I love the glass doors and simple clean lines, I feel it would look great as a media cabinet in the living room.

3.  Restoration Hardware Belgian Heavyweight Textured Linen Drapery. - I am such a sucker for Restoration Hardware anything these curtains will really help to elevate the style of the rooms.



Dining Room

I will be continuing the modern industrial theme through to the kitchen and dining area, I picked up a similar chandelier as the ceiling mounted light for the entry way. I also plan on carrying the same black linen curtains through to the dining windows. The curtains and lighting should help the rooms flow cohesively.

1. Magnussen Karlin Round Dining Table- We bought this new table but plan on using our existing dining room chairs. Our current table will become part of our outdoor dining area ( I plan on doing a separate post over this).

2. Restoration Hardware Belgian Heavyweight Textured Linen Drapery.

3. Crystorama Solaris 6LT Pendant, English Bronze Finish- I have always been a huge fan of these spherical chandeliers I just think they add great character and this one goes nicely with the flush mount ceiling fixture for the front entry way.

Around the Web

Around the Web

Things are starting to get pretty crazy over here in my world. I feel I have to apologize now for the lack of regular posting. The boyfriend and I are currently under contract to buy our FIRST HOME!  It's a really exciting time but also a bit stressfull. The next few weeks will be spent packing, moving, unpacking, and decorating. So bare with me through the slow down in posting and look out for a few more posts centered around decorating and home improvement projects! Enjoy this weeks links and have a great weekend!

(A fitting quote for this week. Curtesy of Pinterest)

 

 

If you are on instagram you need to start following these adorable animals.

A few common decorating mistakes to avoid.

check out this rapid fire 73 question interview vogue did with Blake Lively.

I love getting home inspiration from the pages of Domaine. Here is Jessica Alba's bedroom makeover I am obsessing over.

My favorite pair of nude flats are seriously on life line, I probably should have tossed them months ago (I mean I wore them on a rainy day while visiting NYC... not pretty). I think these will be my replacement pair.

Korres Vitamin E Face Primer and Quercetin Oak Anti Aging Eye Primer

Primed and Ready

For as long as I can remember I have been using primers before applying my makeup. I think the whole step of primer became really popular when I first went off to college. Primer's can have many different purposes especially all of the new versions that are available today. Some act as a mattifier, other are almost like skin care with all of their packed with good for you ingredient lists. All usually claim to prolong the life of your make up. I am sure this is something that I have stated about 10,000x by now but I have oily skin and all of these qualities sound like a plus in my book; naturally I jumped on the bandwagon and am a firm believer in using primers.

Vitamin E Face Primer: This isn't the first time I have purchased this Korres face primer, in fact I used it for quite sometime when I was in college ( my roommates and I were all on a Korres obsession for a bit). When I saw it come up for sale on Hautelook I remembered how much I had liked it in the past and getting this at just $12 was such a steal (it retails for $28) . It was a no brainer adding this to my shopping cart. I find it really helps keep my skin mattified during the day. While I am a big fan of primers all to often my oily skin does not agree with the silky silicone based primers. These silicone based primers leave my face feeling slick as in if I barely touch my face all my makeup will slide right off (completely the opposite of what you want a primer to do!) . This primer is 100% silicone free and still applies incredibly smooth without that slick feeling. I think that is why I like this primer so much and I really see an improvement in the wear time of my foundation when using this.

 

Quercetin & Oak Anti Aging Eye Primer: I have tried a couple different eye primers but for the most part have been a loyal user of the too faced shadow insurance. I knew I was almost out of my beloved primer so I picked up this one from Korres thinking it couldn't hurt to try at only $9 (normal retail price is $21). This primer claims to be 3 in 1 acting as a primer, corrector and antiager. It has an apricot undertone that is for correcting darkness and imperfections. You can use this on your eyelid as well as under your eye as a primer for your concealer. I find this as such a great idea, multi tasking products are key in keeping a streamlined morning routine (which is imperative for the perpetually late person i.e. me). So far I have been really loving this, It keeps my eye shadow in place and doesn't crease at all.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Beauty Exclusives

The Nordstrom anniversary sale is in full swing and they have a whole slew of beauty exclusives available so I thought I would share the 10 products I would purchase.

1. Kate Sommerville 3 steps to gorgeous - This brand can be a bit pricy so I would take this opportunity to try out this great brand for much less. Its on sale for $98.
2. SuperGoop SPF 30 - Its summer so that means lots of sun, be sure to protect that skin! 
3. Deborah Lippmann Recipe for Love - Its no secret I love Deborah Lippmann so of course I had to put this set on my list. This retails for $29.
4. MAC Cosmetics Look in a box - For just $49 you can pick up this MAC collection. Their are several different color set to choose from as well!
5. Balenciaga Rosabotanica Perfume - I won't lie the bottle is what really drew me to this perfume. This would be a little luxury to have. This is on sale for $121.
6. Bobbi Brown Nude on Nude color set  - This retails for $85 and has an amazing eye shadow palate with 12 colors, a full size gel eyeliner, and a full size mascara.
7.Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Collection - Jo Malone is known for his luxurious collections of perfumes so this the perfect opportunity to get his products at a discount. This is on sale for $88.
8. Perricone MD The Science of Plasma - Perricone MD is a great skincare brand and this set is a complete steal at just $98.
9. Voluspa Maison Jardin Candles - These are one of my favorite brands for Candles they last forever and have great scents. This 3 pack goes for $29.50
10. Living Proof  Perfect Hair Day - I have been dying to try out this line of products. This would be such a great starter set at just $45.

Around the Web

Around the Web

This weekend marks the start of Nordstrom's anniversary sale. This is such a great time to find designer pieces at great prices! The sale ends August 4th so be sure to check it out. I will be sharing my beauty picks from the sale on Monday so keep an eye out. Happy Friday and happy shopping!

Check out the apartment of set designer from Sex and the City, she was able to keep key pieces from the set and used them in her house!

Mary Kate and Ashley have created an amazing wedding dress. See it here.

Loving this Kendra Scott necklace and at an awesome price during Nordstrom's current sale.

I really want this piece of furniture from Crate and Barrel, I think it would make the perfect TV console.

Tips for pulling off summer whites.

Nail of the day

Sally Hansen Gel Nail Polish

 

For almost a year now I have done my own gel nails at home. I find it is super easy and really helps save money. Don't get me wrong I love a good Mani + Pedi but cutting back on my trips to the nail salon has allowed me to spend money on other beauty products. My bestie knows I am always doing my nails so she ever so kindly gifted me this polish in the color Jaded for my birthday. Its such a fun summer shade I just love it!

 

I have a few other colors from Sally Hansen's gel line, for the most part they work well. I find they have great coverage and will stay on my nails for almost 2 weeks completely chip free. albeit I have had a couple colors that didn't have the best coverage and this color would fall into that group. You have to really layer up the color to get the intended pay off. Not a terrible problem to have but sometimes too thick of a coat will make your gel polish chip off faster. In all I really like this color and the Sally Hansen Gel line in general it gives a great inexpensive alternative to salon looking nails! You can find this line in just about any drugstore/grocery store if you are interested in it (you will need a special lamp to use)

Have you ever tried gel nails at home?

Korres Body Butters

Korres Body Butters

I posted a couple weeks back about a huge Korres sale on Hautelook, well my shipment finally arrived so I have all kinds of goodies I will be sharing with you all! The first thing I opened was this set of Body Butters. These were such a steal I paid $14 dollars for a set of 6! I even ordered extras to stock up for Christmas stocking stuffers (it's never to early to find great gifts!).

 

These are 1.7 OZ each so they are the perfect size for throwing in your bag and using on the go. The scents that came in this collection are mulberry vanilla, basil lemon, jasmine, bergamot pear, apple blossom, and guava. All of these smell amazing, nothing is overly powerful so if you are sensitive to strong smells you won't be overpowered. These body butters are super moisturizing and rich and keep my skin feeling great all day.

Check out a similar set from Korres HERE.

Not a member of Hautelook? Sign up here.

June Favorites

June Favorites

I know its already half way through July and I am just now posting my June favorites. I have been such a slacker and then on top of that I managed to loose my camera battery and while hoping it would turn up I  came to terms with the fact I will probably never find it. So for the time being I am back to taking pictures on my IPhone. so as a disclaimer I am sorry about the photo quality!

Bite Beauty Custom Lipstick - When I was on vacation a while back I was able to visit the bite beauty lip lab in Soho New York. I had the perfect nude lipstick shade created and I haven't stopped wearing it. You can read all about the experience HERE.

Dead Ever After – You might already be aware that I am a huge True Blood fan and I am so happy it is back on! I also love reading the books the HBO series is based on probably more than the show itself so I had to pick up the last book in the series to read before for the final season of the show! I am so sad that I there won’t be any more books to read in this series!

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow Pallet : Things have been pretty busy this past month so I haven't been experimenting too  much with my shadow looks. I pretty much have been sticking to this pallet for my everyday eye look. You can check out my previous post HERE.

Sarah Happ Lip Scrub: I have been using this every couple of days to keep my lips smooth. You can check out my original post on this HERE.

Tarte BB Under Eye Corrector: I mentioned this product a while back HERE. It was a bit too dark for me a few months ago but now that I have a tan it's the perfect shade. This really helps to cover any dark circles I may have.

Amber Musk Perfume: I also picked this up while on vacation and have been obsessed with the scent wearing it everyday. See the full review HERE.

Julep Lip Gloss in Timeless: This is the perfect sheer nude gloss. It looks great over any lipstick and I have been wearing it over my bite lipstick for added shine.

Around the Web

Around the web

 A behind the scenes look at some iconic american photographs like the one above of Audrey Hepburn.

I'm not really a huge Vanessa Hudgens fan but it is nice to hear that her new bongo campaign is completely un re-touched check it out here.

Blake Lively can do no wrong in my book. She is beautifull, classy and married to one of my favorite actors. She is now launching a lifestyle site a-la Gweneth Paltrow. Check out the article here.

Jcrew is having a huge sale on their sale. An extra 40- 50% off to be exact.

If you didn't know Jessica Simpson got married this past weekend, you can get a sneak peak of her dress here.

And 1 extra for good measure.... why didn't I think of a kickstarter campaign for potato salad!?

Beauty Sample Box

HSN Total Beauty Collection

I used to be a beauty box addict, I think at one point I was subscribed to 4 different boxes ( I know I had a total problem). Currently the only subscription box I am signed up for is one from Julep. I really like it and since I signed up when they first started I was grandfathered into being able to skip a box whenever I want ( I honestly don't know if I would have signed up for it with the current terms of being able to skip every 6 months).

With that said, when I saw this little gem of a beauty box up on HSN I thought it was the best of both worlds getting a beauty box with out having to sign up for x amount of months and also getting to see what exactly you are buying. I plan on doing a full review of the products in the box but just wanted to share the box with my fellow sample box junkies! It retails for 19.95 with free shipping and includes 9 products (they are listed below) and a coupon code for $10 off a full size beauty purchase from one of the brands featured in the box (I already have my eye on a Too Faced shadow pallet). If you are interested you can purchase here!

Box includes:

.07 oz. nyakio Kenyan Coffee Face Polish
.25 oz. nyakio Kenyan Coffee Body Scrub
.07 fl. oz. nyakio Hydrating Face Oil with Kola Nut
.25 fl. oz. TanTowel Half Body Plus Towelette
.24 fl. oz. NYX Glam Lip Gloss - Beat Goes On
.3 oz. Ruby Crystal Ruby Falls Sugar Scrub
.5 oz. Serious Skincare Glycolic Gommage Exfoliating Facial
1.69 fl. oz. SOAP & GLORY Righteous Butter Body Moisturizer
1.5 fl. oz. Taya Copaiba Resin Volumizing Elixir
.12 oz. Too Faced Lip Insurance Lip Primer
.5 fl. oz. ybf Perfect Prep Face Primer

*picture from HSN.COM

Combat Oily Skin During Summer

Beat The Heat

Having oily skin usually means that summer is not my skins best friend. Living in Houston means HOT HOT and very humid summers leading to my skin getting more oily and my make up breaking down faster. So over the years I have learned what products work the best and a few tricks to keep oil to a minimum.

 

1. Light Oil Free Moisturizer - It is still important to keep your skin hydrated during the summer, dry skin will begin to over produce oil so a moisturized face is key. In the summer I like to use a lighter moisturizer during the day and save the heavy moisturizer for night time. I am currently loving this one from Mary Kay.

2. Face Primer - I use a primer everyday before I apply foundation. I know some feel primers do not do much but for me personally they really  help extend the life of my foundation especially during the hot summer months. My current favorite is this one from Tarte.

3. Long Wearing Foundation - During the summer I skip the dewy light coverage foundations and choose a longer lasting foundation I know wont break down easily. An old favorite of mine is Revlon Color Stay Whipped foundation.

4. Powder Foundation for Setting Powder - In the summer months I prefer to set my make up with a heavy duty powder like MAC's Studio Fix Plus Powder Foundation. You don't need much just a enough to set your T-Zone. I also like to use this as a light touch up around noon.

5.  Oil Blotting Papers - It is pretty much inevitable that my face will get a little oily during the day so in order to keep this to a minimum I use blotting papers. I usually do a light touch up of powder during lunch but before this I use blotting papers to absorb any oil that might be present. This gives a nice clean surface for my touch ups. These blotting papers from E.L.F. cosmetics are inexpensive at $1 and do the job perfectly.

Lush Cosmetics Haul

Lush Cosmetics Haul

 

This past weekend we celebrated my 25th birthday along with the 4th of July. I decided to take today off from work and have a relaxing day to do whatever I felt like. One of those things was stopping by the Lush store to do a little browsing.

This weekend I primarily spent my time soaking in the sun in the pool so my skin was feeling a bit dried out from all the sun and chlorine. I wanted to get some products that would help moisturize my skin back to normal.

The sales girl helped me pick out a few things that would help sooth my dry skin and gave me a sample of their new shaving soap D'Fluff.

 

 

I picked out two bath bombs one in Twilight which is made with lavender and the other one is Honey Bee which is made with honey and toffee which will be great for softening the skin.

The next item I purchased was the King of Skin Body Butter a solid moisturizer that is used in the shower and made with bananas and avocados.

 

The sales lady also helped me with this bath melt, she said to use it in conjunction with the bath bomb I chose the Mango bath melt, its a mix of mango and lemon and it smells like heaven.

 

 

 

The last thing I picked out was a face mask I had heard a lot about a while back and had actually gone into purchase but they were all out. Its the Mask of Magnaminty , Its supposed to work wonders on deep cleaning pores so I can't wait to try it out.

Summer Reading List

Summer Reading List

With summer in full swing and the July 4th weekend just a couple days away I thought this would be the perfect time to share the list of books that I am currently reading and wanting to read this summer.


1. Gone Girl

If you haven't already read this one its a must. Even if you have re-read it before the movie comes out.

Overview: "On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? "

2. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Mindy Kaling is like my favorite best girl friend, she is hilarious and completely relatable. If you are a fan of her work in the Office or on The Mindy Project then this is the book for you.

Overview: "Mindy Kaling might be the star of her own TV show and a respected comedian, actress, writer, and producer, but, if we are to believe her debut book, she is also a victim of chronic low self-esteem, not to mention shopping compulsions, insecurities with both sexes, and obsession with snack foods. With the help of this paperback and NOOK Book, you can master life-complicating topics including best friends, non-traumatic things that make you cry, why not to peak in high school, and why men put on shoes so slowly."

3. The Gold Finch

This book won a Pulitzer prize and has been highly talked about. This is the next book on my to read list!

Overview: "Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.

As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love--and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle."

4. The Night Circus

This is one of my all time favorite books. Its whimsical, fun and adventurous. Just what you need in a summer read!

Overview: "The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance."


5. Beautiful Ruins

Another one on my future read list that has high marks from many.

Overview: "From the moment it opens—on a rocky patch of Italian coastline, circa 1962, when a daydreaming young innkeeper looks out over the water and spies a mysterious woman approaching him on a boat—Jess Walter's Beautiful Ruins is a dazzling, yet deeply human, roller coaster of a novel. From the lavish set of Cleopatra to the shabby revelry of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to the back lots of contemporary Hollywood, Beautiful Ruins is gloriously inventive and constantly surprising—a story of flawed yet fascinating people navigating the rocky shores of their lives while clinging to their improbable dreams."



What books are on your summer reading list? Share in the comments!!


* Overview and pictures from Barnes and Noble.

An Affordable Self Tanner: St. Moriz Tanning Mouse

 



St. Moriz Self Tanning Mousse

 

 

A few months back a friend of mine had suggested I try out this affordable self tanner she found at Ulta. She swore it gave amazing color with no streaking and at a great price. I of course had to try it out.  I have been using self tanners for years and always struggle when it comes time to shell out the cash a new bottle of my favorite high-end self tanner brand so I am always up to try a cheaper alternative!

 

 

I bought the mousse version which retails for 12.99 along with an Ulta brand applicator mitt. I always recommend using a mitt especially with a mouse formula this will really help prevent streaking and discolored hands.  I use this at night before going to bed. To apply be sure to exfoliate and then moisturize dry areas like your elbows and knees. The product dries fairly fast so be sure to rub it in all over in a circular motion quickly but be sure not to miss any areas! The product is colored a dark brown so you will be able to see the areas you miss. In the morning shower off the product and your left with a beautiful golden brown tan!

For the price this is such a great self tanner, the color is a nice golden brown without a hint of orange tint something that is typical in less expensive self tanners. I wouldn't say this is my favorite self tanner but it is definitely a contender especially when I am on a budget! What are your favorite inexpensive self tanners?