Christmas Gift Shopping

I am almost done with my Christmas shopping this year & I am contributing it to my organizing system. In five simple steps you can plan your holiday present list.

1           1.  Who am I buying for? It is impossible to know what you need to get if you don’t even know who is on your present list.

2           2.  How much can I spend? Set a budget and stick to it, no matter what. My husband and I sat down about a month ago and decided how much money we had to spend on each person. This is crucial. Do not splurge just because you really like something. Do not spend your entire savings for one day, the memories with family and friends are more important that debt. I also used several coupons this year to stretch our budget.

3          3.   Research. Look up ideas on Pinterest or blogs, and browse Sunday ads in the newspaper. This is just to inspire you, no need to stress yet.

4           4.  Make a grand list. This should include who, how much, and a brief list of ideas. Make it compact, so you can stick it in your purse and reference while out in the stores. Once again, look on Pinterest for a free printout, or if you are good in excel, make your own.

5           5.  Go for it! Go out and search for the items on your list. Maybe you prefer to go out a couple times and get as much as you can carry. Others like to take smaller trips. Either way, take your list and stick to it. Reevaluate and possibly edit if it doesn’t work out.

These may seem like simple ways to conduct your shopping, that’s because they are! I usually just go out and buy whatever, and I always go over budget and forget who I still need to buy for. I am also using a huge list for my Christmas cards, so I don’t forget anyone.

Merry Christmas!

$3 elf bronzer

I have been attempting to save money recently, which includes not splurging at Sephora. And means I miss not trying out new products. I found a solution! Ms. Goldgirl mentioned the $3 elf bronzer recently on her YouTube channel  I decided to pick it up.

It is a pressed bronzer that includes 4 different shades in one. I was skeptical but decided that the risk was worth it. 

 Here are all 4 shades swatched. They are not overly pigmented, which works perfectly for my fair skin. Darker skinned ladies may not be able to use this one. I tend to use them separately as eye shadow or the lightest shade under my eyebrow to highlight. 

This is a swatch of all 4 shades mixed together. I usually swirl a makeup brush around and apply a mixture. It has a nice glowy sheen without being glittery. 

Even though I was hesitant, my $3 splurge was worth it!

6c4abfb3e854d57590585e514e59b3bfc49e0e70df649467e5

Outfit of the day: polka dots

Happy fall! I hope everyone is doing well. I thought I would share my outfit of the day for errands and dinner out.

My sweater is from Old Navy last year. (Similar here, here, & here) 

Black yoga leggings are from Victoria's Secret Pink. (Similar here) 

My black faux-suede boots are Steve Madden and are starting to look a little rough. There are scuffs on the toes and the sole is coming loose but I love them! They are so comfortable and can easily be casual or dressy. 

It's hard to see my makeup because it was cloudy and rainy this day but look at my lashes! I used the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara (here) which is one of my faves. I am also wearing Bite Beauty lipstick in the color fig (here). My earrings are from Buckle.

One of my errands included stopping at my PO box & I got my Julep Maven box. Are you interested to see what's inside these boxes? Let me know.

I have been enjoying the cooler weather by eating & drinking everything pumpkin flavored. 

6c4abfb3e854d57590585e514e59b3bfc49e0e70df649467e5

Fall Fashion: black leggings.

Happy fall! We are finally getting some colder weather here, so I thought I would share some of my go-to fall outfits. I love to wear black leggings and here are some options to wear with them.

The first option is a yellow cardigan from Walmart, of all places, black tee from Victoria's Secret Pink, and a leopard print scarf from JC Penney. This is extra comfortable and warm for those cold, rainy fall days.

The second option is a navy and periwinkle leopard print blouse from Franscesca's paired with a light grey cardigan from GAP. This is my absolute favorite cardigan!

The third option is a chambray button-up from Old Navy. It was pretty cheap and so versatile. Sometimes I pair it with a colorful tank underneath or a scarf, but I honestly just like it by itself.

The fourth option is an extra long tee from Target. It is a little longer in the back, which makes it absolutely perfect with leggings. I put a dark charcoal military-style jacket from Target over it. This is lightweight but warm.

Obviously I wear more than leggings, but they are what I find myself reaching for the most in the fall. They pair perfect with Ugg boots, flats, or converse. What do you like to pair with black leggings?

Empty product review

Hello everyone. Happy fall 🍃 I hope everyone is doing well. I have been saving empty product containers to do a review for you. Here they are.

These are the ones that I saved packaging from. I didn't want to save shriveled up toothpaste tubes and deodorant containers. Secret Clinical Strength is my favorite, as you can see, I always repurchase it. I like the disposable Venus razors because they are cheap and work great. I always repurchase the cotton rounds from Target because they do not fall apart like some store brands. The Creat 3D white toothpaste, my husband and I share and always repurchase. This was the first time I had tried the Sephora make up remover cloths. They remove makeup thoroughly and would repurchase but I have not yet. This Oral B floss is my favorite. However, Target was out of it and I bought something else, which I really regret. 

These are a few recurrent products. I use the Aveeno brightening face wash every morning in the shower with my Clarisonic. It is cleansing but gentle. The Opti-Free Replenish is also a favorite, it cleanses and is gentle on my sensitive eyes. I love the Tresemme Thermal Creations and repurchase it every time I use it up. The top broke after I dropped it in the floor. I always buy coconut oil to shave my legs with. I have a hard time finding it, so I buy whatever brand is available. I really like the Sephora cleansing water. It removes all my makeup- even eye makeup, easily.

I have already repurchase the Tone body wash because the scent is nice and it is moisturizing. Here are a few Bath & Body Works travel size shower gels. I got them with free coupons! I always like them. I always repurchase the Bath & Body Works foaming hand wash too. The John Frieda Frizz Ease shampoo is something I always repurchase. It keeps my thick, tangly hair in check. 

I like the Sephora primer but I wanted to use up what I have before rebuying. I love love love the Ole Hendriksen truth serum, but it is crazy over-priced. I love the fresh lip treatment as well, and scraped every last bit out of it. I'm forcing myself to use up other lip balms before repurchasing. I liked the Josie Maran hair serum but haven't bought it again. The other products are not jumping out at me to rebuy. 

These charcoal face wash samples were nice to try out. The Biore was extremely drying but the Garnier was something I'm thinking about picking up. The pink plastic bottle was homemade eye makeup remover. I thought I really liked I, until I tried the Sephora cleansing water. The Jergens Shea Butter smelled nice. I cut it in half to scrape out what the pump couldn't reach. 

I know that in my last blog post I raved about this dry shampoo. I need to remove that statement. The top is now clogged and nothing will come out, even though I have half a bottle left. I have run it under hot water and tried to unclog with a toothpick. Air will not even come out, which is a shame because I liked the dry shampoo. 

I hope my reviews helped you. I post these, thinking that you might want to know about products before you buy them. Do you have any product recommendations? 

*i purchased these products with my own money, unless otherwise stated (free samples). I gave my honest & unpaid opinion. 

New hair color

Hello everyone. I have some super exciting news to share with you: I dyed my hair darker! Check it out below. 

This is not the best lighting, I assure you. However, you can see that it is quite dark, with burgandy undertones. I really wanted a change & I am loving it!

Along with the new color, I have been following a new hair routine. My hair was so dry & brittle & frizzy from all the years if bleaching, that it needs some serious TLC. I previously washed my hair every single day. Well, not anymore. I have been washing it about every 3-4 days. I hope this also preserves my color. Here are some items that help out my hair style: 

This is the herbal essence color me happy instant clean dry shampoo. I just spray a little around on my roots. Once it is a little "dryer" I flip my hair over and rub my fingers through it. This creates some volume & texture, plus soaks up the oil if your hair is a little less than clean. 

This Goody styling brush is good to tease and smooth. These bobby pins & clips help keep my hair out of my face. I picked them all up at Target. 

These are my current hair staples. I have been loving these new things I picked up, along with my new hair color. What do you think? 

New found lip combo

Hello everyone! Hope you are staying cool on these hot, humid days we have been having. I was experimenting a little with some products I haven't used very often and found this lip combo.

This is what it looks like. Now the question is, how did I achieve this? 

I used the Benefit lollitint. It is a purply hued stain. I applied it to my lips and topped it with eos lip balm because it is pretty matte. This was comfortable and stayed on throughout dinner. 

I have been trying to use more lip products lately. Normally I just use Chapstick or a plain lip balm. I'll share some of my favorite lip glosses in a later post. 

Have a great day. 

Makeup brush cleaning

Hello everyone. How often do you clean your makeup brushes? If you're like me, not often enough. I always put it off because I have a ton of brushes and it takes forever. Also, the makeup gets all caked up and won't come out without some serious scrubbing. I decided to try something new this time. 

I had always cleaned them regularly, dispite the messy & lengthy process because I am a germaphobe. I do not want all the dead skin cells and bacteria that collects on the brush to be reapplied to my face day after day. That would most definitely cause breakouts. 

I'm going to show off my new and improved brush cleansing routine. 

This cleanser was created for the beauty blender, which is the original egg shaped sponge used to apply foundation. I have a beauty blender and decided to go ahead and buy this, hoping it was helpful.  I am so glad I did! I should mention that I picked this up at Sephora, where they have all the little random things by the register.

When you open up the little container, there is a circular bar of soap. I wet the makeup brush and swirled it directly into the little, round bar & then rinsed under runningb water. It was magic! All the makeup rinsed right off and myaleup brush was clean! It was so quick and thorough. I sped through my entire collection of makeup brushes and layed them out to dry.

I also wiped off the handles with a makeup remover wipe. I was shocked at how well this cleansed my utensils and how quick it was. No more slaving over a sink of goozey, makeup caked mess! When I finished, I simply rinsed off the little round bar of cleanser and put the lid back on. Project complete!

Sweet summertime

Hello everyone. Yesterday I was off from work and went out and about to do a couple errands and meet up with my mom. I thought I would share my outfit details.

I wore a neon peach racer back tank. It was from bobi & I got it a little local boutique. I paired it with destroyed boyfriend capris from American Eagle & white, sparkly flip flops from Buckle. My purse is also from Buckle. 

Here is a better look of the tank. The lighting was bad in my kitchen because it was cloudy and humid. 

I sprayed my second day hair with surg spray from bumble and bumble & pulled it back into a low, messy braid. 

Here are some details from my look. The bumble and bumble surf spray, naked eye pallet, benefit they're real mascara, bar Turkish delight lip gloss, & benefit coralista blush. These last 4 products are a few of my absolute favorites that I use constantly. At the top of this pic is a leopard makeup bag I just picked up from Victorias Secret. 

Here is a less glamorous detail of yesterday:

The day before I tripped while cleaning off my treadmill & twisted my ankle. It was sore but alright. However, yesterday my ankle was swollen & multicolored. Mom insisted I get an X-ray, so I did. & it is a really bad sprain that needs rest and wrapped. Fun times. 

Empties: products I've used up with a mini review.

Hello everyone. My empty products were starting to pile up so I thought it was time to share them with you.

I used a Tresemme thermal creations heat tamer. I really like this product. I apply it before I blow my hair dry to prevent heat damage. I have already repurchased it. The Tresemme 4hair spray is my favorite because it has good hold without being crunchy. I buy these gigantic cans because they last a long time. The Paul Mitchell super skinny serum is one of my favorite products also. It really beats frizz during high humid days. I'm forcing myself to use up some other products before I rebuy this one. 

I have had this Olay face wash lingering around in my shower for a long time. It lathers a lot but is pretty gentle. I would buy it again but there are other face washes that I prefer. The Bath & Body Works shower gel is my absolute favorite. I used up Be Enchanted & Strawberry Sparkler. I liked both of them and have tons more to use. The Frizz Ease Smooth Start shampoo & conditioner are my new favorite. It really does help with my frizzy hair and decreases the tangles. I have already repurchased this duo. 

The Ole Henrikson pure youth reactivating serum. It contains vitamin c and is extremely hydrating. I used it at night and woke up with really nice skin texture.  I really miss this product but I  not allowing myself to repurchase until I have used up a ton of my other products I have laying around. The Pacifica coconut water cleansing wipes were really nice. They removed my makeup and left behind a hydrating later of coconut water that was not oily. Also these smelled great! The Loreal youth code texture perfecting primer is a wonderful serum to apply before makeup. It created a balanced skin tone to apply makeup to. I love it but I think $20 I a steep price to pay for a drugstore product. 

The Olay BB cream is technically not empty. I've had it for over a year and haven't used it for months. I grabbed it to try again about a week ago and noticed a weird smell. I was afraid to use it. The Sephora rose mask was really nice. It was a sheet mask and was very hydrating. When removed, a moisturizer was left behind to rub in. I really liked it and would like to but again. The CoverGirl master shaper for eyebrows ran out really quick. It was waxy and a good shade for me. I'm currently trying out something else. The benefit they're real mascara was one of my favorites. I used up this little size and have already repurchased a new one. The nior tease body mist is my new favorite. It smells great and I like to keep a little bottle like this in my purse.

This Bath & Body Works foaming hand wash is my favorite to put in my bathroom. This island breeze one was turquoise and matched my bathroom. This scent was alright. The Secret clinical strength  invisible solid in completely clean is my favorite deodorant. It works well for my 12 hour nursing shifts during this humid weather we have been having. I have repurchased it over and over.

I love using up stockpiled products. It really gives me a feeling of accomplishment. Reviewing them also helps me remember If I should buy them again or not. Let me know what you think. 

Mini haul.

Hello everyone! I hope all is well. I have been incredibly busy, but I thought I would add a little something since I have a few free minutes.

Here are a couple new shirts I bought yesterday. The one on the left is from old navy. I picked it up because it is very classic but has a little something extra. The short sleeves are a little bit longer than a regular tee and the bottom is rounded. The pic is hard to see, but the foiled part is a light golden. The blue one on the left immediately caught my eye because in person, it is a very intense blue with navy chevron on then pocket. It is from Buckle. I swear, every time I go in that store I buy something (as you will see in the next post). The sleeves are 3/4 length, which will carry right over into fall. I also didn't have anything this bright and gorgeous blue. 

I am going to stop at sephora this after noon, maybe I'll add a post about what I grab! Any recommendations?

Talk to ya later. 

Skincare Diary: Face Masks

Hello! About twice a month I like to use a face mask. I really like to put one on and then take a hot bath, but usually I put one on while I am doing homework. Occasionally I'll apply a face mask while I'm cleaning. Regardless of what I'm doing, it is nice to feel pampered by a face mask once in a while. Lately I have been snapping a couple pics of them & thought I would let you know my thoughts.

This is a cheap mask that I picked up off of an end cap in Walmart. I had heard about paper face masks & thought they looked like fun.

Haha...here it is. This looks absolutely ridiculous. It felt nice on but didn't do anything for my skin. It was more of a novelty item.

This one isn't a proper mask. I saw a DIY on Pinterest that said to use honey as a face mask. It went on just like you would assume: sticky & smeary. It felt tight & sticky on my face but after washing it off, my skin felt incredibly soft.

This is the famous GlamGlow YouthMud mask. It is popular in YouTube world & among celebrities. I got it as a free 100 point perk from Sephora, which was exciting considering how much this stuff costs.

I understand the mud part of the name. It looks like a greenish gritty mud with pieces of leaves in it. It tingles a little bit when it is on your face, but feels really good. I loved the results. It is one of the only face masks I have ever used and like so much. My face felt clean & clear afterward & my makeup applied smoother the next morning. GlamGlow is worth all the hype.

Last & most definitely least: the H2O Aqualibrium Sea Mineral Mud Mask. I picked this up in a H2O set at Kohl's.

It is a vibrant shade of blue! It felt fine while it was on, but the next morning I woke up with terrible breakouts all over my face. I must have been allergic to something in this one. It was fun to put on because of the brightness, but I won't try it again, which is a shame because there are several more uses in the tube.

How often do you apply face masks? Which ones are your favorite? & do you put them on simply for the fun factor, or do you feel like they help your skin? Leave me some feedback.

Empties: products I've used up.

Hello there! I have been hoarding all my empty product containers so I can review them for you. It makes me feel great to know I'm actually using up products.

The first item is girlfriend sexy tanning lotion. I've been laying in the tanning bed so I will be tan for my wedding. This wasn't my favorite but it got the job done. I've repurchased a cheaper one. Item number 2 is amber blush body wash from Bath & Body Works. I love these shower gels and this was a great scent. Item number 3 was H2O Spa sea salt shower gel. It was alright, but not much of a scent. The last two are Herbal Essences Naked shampoo & conditioner. It was lavender mint. In my opinion, it smelled awful and made my hair into one giant tangle. I forced myself to use it up. I will definitely not be repurchased! 

Item #1 in this pic is the Ouidad curl shaping gel. It was nice for loose, beachy waves. I would put it in my hair while it was still damp and it held up pretty well. I'm actually sad to see this one empty, but I need to use up other hair products first. Item #2 is Josie Maran argan oil light. I absolutely love love love this oil! It moisturizes my face and feels so great. It didn't make me break out either. Thankfully, I have another one, so I did not run out! Next is the Maybelline color tattoo 24 hour eye shadow in Barely Branded. It was a soft, shimmery cream that brightened up any eye look. I was almost to the bottom and it dried up, so I bought a replacement. Next is the Boscia  makeup breakup oil. It was slippery and slimy. (Not to mention it wouldn't rinse off) what a mess! It didn't even take off my makeup. I did not enjoy this product. The True Blue Spa glycerin foot cream from Bath & Body Works is so amazing. I rubbed it on my feet post shower or before bed & it was super silky. I've boticed my feet are becoming much rougher since I ran out of this. I need to go get me some more! Lastly in this pic is the True Blue Spa super rich hand cream. I really like this and even cut the top off the bottle to scrape out the remaining product.   

At the top left of this pic is the Paul Mitchell sculpting foam. I added this in with serum to add texture & create messy waves. I just added it to wet hair and let it air dry. The next 2 are the John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start shampoo & conditioner. It is the holy grail of hair care!! My hair is no longer full of tangles after a shower. I have them into shower currently and have no desire to get anything else. The Sensual Amber shower gel was a little to warm for spring, it's more of a fall scent. I liked the ROC eye repair cream but it was hard to squeeze out of this little tube, & the metal ended up getting a hole in the side and going everywhere. Needless to say, I'm currently trying something else. The large jar is hard to see in this pic. It is Loreal Power Moisture Rush Mask. It made my eyes burn and didn't smell good. However, it really helped moisturize my dry hair. The H2O spa hand and nail cream was so great. I bought it a Kohl's in a whole kit. It has a slightly floral/clean smell and is super moisturizing. I'm sad it's empty. Lastly is the Aveeno brightening cleanser. It smells faint and is my favorite face product to use with my clarisonic. It doesn't get too foamy or strip my sensitive skin. I already have another one in my shower. 

I hope you enjoyed looking through my trash! I love finishing products. I have so many & I am forcing myself to use up te majority of them before buying more. 

OOTD: red toms

Hello everyone! Today was my first day off in over 2 weeks! No work or school :) I took my kitten to the vet, got my car looked at and finished my wedding invitations. It ended up being almost 70 degrees today but it was windy. I wanted something comfy and casual.

My capris are apt 9 from Kohl's, white tee and grey cardi from GAP, scarf was a birthday present and red Toms are from Journeys. 

I just blew my hair dry and added some surf spray and hair oil to make it more textured. 

What is your go-to day off outfit when you are running a bunch of errands? 

Ootd: rocker tee

Hello everyone. I just bought a new tee the other day and thought I'd share it with you.

It is from Buckle and is from the brand day trip. I paired it with my favorite jeans from American Eagle. 

Here is a close-up of the tee. If you can't tell: the front of the shoulders is black lace, which I think adds a cute detail. It is also the most comfy tee ever.

OOTD: mint skinnies

Happy St. Patricks Day! To celebrate my Irish background, I wore my mint green skinny jeans today.

These jeans are from Rue21. This black tee is my absolute favorite & I wear it constantly. It's from Victorias Secret Pink.  I wore a denim jacket from Walmart & leopard scarf from Kohls to add warmth. I threw on my black ugg boots to keep my feet happy. 

I was looking for a comfy outfit when I got dressed because we got about a foot of snow last night & I got stuck at work from 3pm to 7am. Therefore, I slept all day and didn't get up until 2pm. Talk about jet lag. Too bad it's not from traveling!! Since my body was sleep deprived and confused, I didn't want to wear anything complex.