Shoes - Aldo (similar here + here), Voluspa Makassar Ebony & Peach candle, China Glaze polish (similar here), Benefit They're Real mascara, Sephora lipstick in Serial Dater, Benefit creaseless cream shadow in birthday suit and busy signal.
3/30/14
3/28/14
Week In Links #2
Pick of the week: *Essie Polish in Find Me An Oasis - This pastel blue polish with an opaque white base from Essie's spring collection is everything!
Must read: *Style Lessons from Rihanna - She's one badass beautiful, sexy and stylish bitch and the recipient of this year's CFDA Fashion Icon Award. We could all learn a thing or two from her approach to personal style.
Blog lovin': *MailModels.com - If you're anything like me, ie: a major sucker for letterpress and pretty stationary, you'll love this blog! Get lost in Erika's "written wardrobe" of beautiful notes.
You gotta make this: *Toasted Garlic Naan with Tomato Anchaar & Raita - Much of what's come out of my kitchen as of late has come from BigGirlsSmallKitchen. Cara's recipes never disappoint and I have a strong feeling this deliciousness will be no different. Let me know if you make it.
Totally share worthy: *Billy Joel & Jimmy Fallon Form A 2-Man Doo-Wop Group - I think the title speaks for itself - just do yourself a favour, stop what you're doing and watch this right now! Then click replay again and again. (PS, I totally need to download this app.)
How to: *How To Style A Kitchen Island - Even your kitchen island deserves a little sass! The uber darling and ever creative Renee Reardin gives us a step-by-step run down of how to make our kitchens look like they belong in a magazine.
3/26/14
Pink Pinspiration & Zara Mini City Bag
If I had a dollar for every time I've said "I'm not a pink person"…
You can see where I'm going with this. Anyone who knows me knows I own/wear very little pink and it's certainly not my first choice if given the option. Looks like I need to eat my words this season. I can't get enough of all the soft pastel pinks, blush tone nudes and dusty roses filling up my Pinterest newsfeed.
My first foray into pink is this utterly awesome Zara Mini City Bag in light pink. I must have added it to my cart a half dozen times before making this purchase and I am so happy I finally did! It's boxy tote shape with great zipper details totally channels a Celine vibe but with a price tag I don't feel guilty about.
So what's next on my pink wish list? I've got my eyes these:
Spring Lip Line-up
When in doubt - apply lipstick.
It's a motto I live by - especially since I keep the rest of my make-up routine pretty neutral. My growing collection of lipstick is a mixed bag of true blue reds, deep burgundies, outrageous oranges and hot pinks and you're more than likely to catch me lugging around at least 6 tubes at any given time (one time the count got up to 11!). With spring's palette of soft pastels and pale pinks, I've realized my lips could use a mini makeover, so I'm fishing out some tried and trues and introducing a few new hues.
*Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Lodhi - Unlike their velvet matte lip pencil (Damned is my fav), this finish glides on remarkably smooth. And let's talk about the actual colour! It just might be the perfect 'not-to-bright but just bright enough' peach for spring. It really brightens my face without screaming "hey, look at my lips".
*Rimmel Show Off Liquid Lacquer in Celestial - I'd been eyeing these at Shoppers for a while now after reading about them on several beauty blogs. I resisted the urge to grab vibrant reds and pinks and instead opted for this beautiful shade of dusty pink. I actually surprised myself with how much I loved the colour on my skin tone.
*Benefit Silky Finish Lipsticks in Skinny Dip (nude) and My Treat (warm pink with a hint of coral) - I really can't say enough about these Benefit lipsticks. They're so moisturizing, it's almost like applying a lip balm but with all the saturated colour of a satin finish lipstick.
*Essence Stay Matte Lip Cream in Smooth Berry - $2.99! Need I say more? But if I must, I'll tell you this - the formula is super rich and jam packed with pigment. Don't let the price tag fool you, this budget buy delivers intense long lasting colour and the fact that it smells like fresh baked vanilla cupcakes is literally icing on the (cup)cake.
3/24/14
ELIZABETH MAYVILLE "TOP KNOT" PRINT
If you're the observant type, you may have gleamed from my profile pic that I dig a good top knot. I also have a thing for water colour illustrations - I've even dedicated a whole pinterest board to said love. So what would happen if top knot met water colour? I give you exhibit A - Elizabeth Mayville "Top Knot" prints. Available on Waiting for Martha (here + here)
Trying to achieve that perfect 'I woke up like 'dis' messy top knot? Try your hand at this tutorial.
3/21/14
This Week in Links
Pick of the week: *LoveFresh Key Lime Coconut Lotion - this stuff literally smells like keylime pie. Besides the delectable scent, it's all natural formula, rich with avocado oil is incredibly moisturizing leaving my skin feeling hydrated and smooth.
A must read: *Why adults should embrace glitter nail polish - Confession, this is an internal struggle I battle with all the time. I love glitter polish! I swoon over others #notd pics. I want to wear it but when I finally decide to do, I walk around all week feeling like a 12 year old. Say it with me - 'embrace your glitter side!'
You gotta make this: *Flourless Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies with Sea Salt - Did she just say "chickpea blondies"? Hell yeah I did. And I'll make you this promise, if you make these insanely delicious squares of heaven this weekend, you will 100% not regret it.
Totally share worthly: *A bulldog is a girl's best friend -Warning, cute overload. Pretty sure, I've gone back to this article about half a dozen times this week just because it makes me smile.
How to wear it: *Find your orange lipstick soul mate - Yesterday, I professed my love for orange lips. If you're looking to jump on the band wagon, Refinery29 just did a brilliant round up of orange lipsticks for every skin tone.
3/20/14
Lip Talk: Hourglass Liquid Lipstick in Riviera
Its been a cruel cold winter filled with endless days of heavy coats and clunky boots - some days it seems like the only way to inject a little bit a life into sub-zero temperatures is with a bold bright lip. For me, Hourglass Opaque Rouge liquid lipstick in Riviera is as bold and bright as they come. I mean, holy colour Batman! They describe the colour as tangerine and it totally appears that way on the wand - however once applied I feel like the colour is really more of a vibrant coral red. The texture is super rich and highly pigmented with a velvety matte finish which I truly love about the product. If you're not used to wearing a heavily pigmented lipstick - you might find the application a little tricky at first. I recommend starting with a clean bare lip that's been treated with a moisturizing balm (great options here + here). After applying, keep your lips apart for 10-15 seconds to let it set. Resist the urge to press your lips together - you might feel silly but I promise its necessary for ensuring longer wear. I can't say it delivers the 14 hours of promised long lasting wear but it certainly packs some serious staying power. Pair your orange pout with black liquid liner (I'm constantly replenishing my Stila Stay All Day liquid eye liner) and volumizing mascara (try Benefit They're Real mascara).
3/17/14
The Best Boyfriend Jeans & What to wear with them
Ah, the boyfriend jean... I'll admit, it took me some time to properly embrace the true glory of their fabulousness. When they first grew in popularity, I struggled to find a pair that looked cool but still flattered my figure. Once I found the right style, there was no turning back. They're perfect for a casual weekend of running errands but with the right accessories can certainly be amped up for dinner with the girls or a hot date.
Wondering how to style your boyfriend jeans? Here's my four step foolproof equation...
1. Find a pair of boyfriend jeans that work for your body type (the level of distressing is a matter of choice).
2. Pair them with a simple top. If your boyfriend jeans have exaggerated ripping and distressing, stick with a slouchy white tee or a grey sweatshirt. A crisp white button down will look great with almost any pair, especially when tucked in the front.
3. Top it with a cute coat! A retro varsity jacket will keep the look laid back while a tailor peacoat in classic navy or a great print will up the chic factor.
4. Complete the look with great accessories. Add a punch of colour to your otherwise neutral look with a red tote and don't forget a killer heel or bootie.
3/15/14
A Striped Affair
I've never met a stripe tee I didn't like. They are an essential closet staple and probably get the most wear out of any top I own. But why stop there - a good stripe makes for a unexpected sneaker like this Tory Burch pair or these slip-ons from Joe Fresh - a steal for only $24. For a super chic effect, try layering your stripes. Don't be shy, throw on your bold stripe coat over your favourite striped tee - just be sure the stripes have a good variance in their thickness.
3/11/14
Colourlust: Black, White & Red
Shoes - Vince, Tee - J.Crew (similar here + here), glasses - J.Crew, skirt - Joe Fresh (similar here), notebook - Kate Spade, cosmetic pouch - Forever 21