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Sunday, May 31, 2015

Sunday Shopping: Essence Cosmetics

I have enjoyed testing out some amazing products from Essence Cosmetics over the weekend. I loved what I tried, so I went online to learn more about the brand & was shocked at the prices. All of these amazing products below are under $5! After using them, I had no idea that quality like this was possible at prices like that! The lipstick is very moisturizing & long-lasting, while the bronzer smells amazing (I didn't know that was even a thing!!). I am still a bit of an eyeshadow newbie, so I'm hopeful that the nude eye palette will help me try out the fun colors available for Summer!

What budget beauty buys do you stand by?

Essence Cosmetics provided me some free samples, but all reviews/opinions are mine. 
Interested in trying Essence for yourself? It is now sold in most Ulta stores

Friday, May 29, 2015

Chloe + Isabel Giveaway

I am just in love with Chloe + Isabel jewelry, especially their gorgeous Bridal Collection that I had the pleasure of wearing to last week's wedding festivities (as seen in yesterday's outfit post). 

And now you can scoop up a piece of the Bridal Collection too! My Chloe + Isabel representative Tammy is giving away the same earring & necklace set that I wore! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter! The randomly chosen winner will be announced next week.

Giveaway: Swept Away earring + necklace set (as seen above #2 & #3, worth $160)


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow Chloe + Isabel representative Tammy online: Shop // Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest // 

Thursday, May 28, 2015

wedding ruffle

Another wedding went into the record books this past weekend. My good friend got married here in Nashville, & my recipe for wedding guest success is below:

1. Humidity protection. The Living Proof "No Frizz Styling Spray" is worth its weight in gold. We have had some very rainy days here lately, & my curls stayed frizz free without being oily & slicked down. 

2. Dancing dress. I love this dress from Entourage! All of their clothing is super affordable & their new Summer arrivals are on fleek!

3. Lawn friendly heels. While the wedding was in a church, I knew I needed some all terrain heels for the garden reception. I love my Steve Madden nude heels, & with the help of the SoleMate heel protectors, they become resistant to sinking into grass. Of if you are a clumsy city gal like myself, they protect you from ripping your leather heels on city grates too! Check out how seamlessly they blend into your heels in the photos below.

What are your wedding guest survival secrets?

Stay tuned for a giveaway for this necklace + earring set tomorrow!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

seeking the sun


**Get 10% off your next Nisolo order using this unique referral link: http://nisolo.refr.cc/JXVHV36 
(I also get $10 for each person that uses my link)


I have been living in my straw sunhat (now 30% off!) all weekend long - first on the river, then for poolside dining, & Nashville exploring! Not that I need another, but how amazing is this ombre one?! 

Shop my favorites below, & enjoy the Memorial Day sales at both J.Crew & J.Crew Factory!


I have spoken of my love for Shabby Apple before (see the last post here), & this site continues to be a go-to for both work & play dresses. This is my new Summer favorite that easily goes from work to play, although, after this week, I have 6 weeks of all play! #teacherlife
(I even attempted my hand at a little DIY, cutting off the front wrap pieces from the dress, making it a bit more streamlined) 

Shop all of my current favorites from Shabby Apple below - now 20% off!
My Summer outfits are best punctuated with yummy cognac accessories. Shop my favorite belts & sandals below:


Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Summer Staples

Good Morning! I am guest posting over on my friend Elle's blog, Living in Color Style, talking about my top staple for Summer! Check it out here
{ outfit 1 // 2 // 3 }

Monday, May 18, 2015

Bloggers Who Budget: Florals for Less

The Bloggers Who Budget are back with our favorite trend for May: Floral! Be sure to check out the bloggers above for budget friendly inspiration of how to rock these fun prints!

I adore this skirt! I dressed it up with a chunky belt & heels for brunch, but it was also perfect with flip-flops & a knotted tee in Vegas.
{ What I Wore: J.Crew Factory tank // boutique belt // skirt ℅ Chicwish (shop more floral skirts at the bottom of the post) // DSW mules (similar styles under $70: 1, 2, 3 + a splurge style for $150!) // Ray Ban aviators }

Shop my favorite budget friendly floral skirts below:


Sunday, May 17, 2015

Sunday Shopping: Nashville-based Shopping

Nashville has some amazing boutiques & businesses started here in Music City. I love what is happening with the fashion scene here & I just had to share some of my favorites with you! (I just wish more of them had online shopping!)

I regret that I haven't been able to put together a Sip, Shop, See post in a while, but hopefully this Summer I can explore & document some more Nashville neighborhoods!

Any Nashville stores catching your eye lately?

Thursday, May 14, 2015

where are they now?

As a blogger I have certainly enjoyed the perk of receiving free beauty products to review. I can honestly say that of all the products I have happily welcomed into my home, none have been hated, but there are a select few that have firmly planted themselves in my daily routine. Many I have gone on to purchase with my own money after my sample ran out, & the rest, I will if I need to (shameless plug to receive more samples if anyone is listening!)


You can check out all my beauty product review posts, I especially love this one when I finally embraced moisturizers after year of distain & disgust (AKA where I had to eat my words because these moisturizers are amazing), and shop my forever go-tos below: 

{1} Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Creme - I am not the biggest fan of using heat on my hair (1 part lazy, 1 part protective of my locks) - so if I style my hair, I want it to last for DAYS! With this product, my curls last at least 2 (over my usual half the night)!

{2} Murad Daily Cleansing Foam - this is the product that made me enjoy washing my face. Super refreshing, without leaving my skin feeling tight (as evidenced on Instagram).

{3} Dermalogica After Sun Repair  -  my husband burns like a piece of toast (is that a saying?) & this has come to our rescue many times. A quick application when we get inside from the pool is a miracle worker.

{4} By Terry Rose Lip Balm  - a splurge for sure, but this super smooth & amazing smelling balm makes my lipstick stay put & properly moisturized for hours. I tend to get super self conscious when I wear lipstick (Is it on my teeth? Did it smudge? Has it all cracked off?), so the price tag is worth it to me.

{5} Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme - life long nail & cuticle biter here. Still working on my recovery, but a quick swipe of this while we watch TV at night is certainly helping keep things less scary around my nail beds. 

{6} Murad "Invisiblur" Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 - a fairly recent addition to the family, but it is here to stay. The Invisiblur is a daily SPF & primer/perfecter all in 1. One of the things that I appreciate most about Murad is their thought process not only in the product itself, but also in the packaging, & the experience that you have when using it. This product is very easy to use, & I LOVE that with 1 pump it delivers the perfect amount - not too much, not too little. 

{7} Murad Acne Clearing Solution - I'm still waiting on my teenage acne to go away TOTALLY, but for now, a nightly application of the Acne Clearing Solution keeps most of it at bay.

{8} Jergens Natural Glow Daily Firming Moisturizer - I enjoy going to the pool, but slathered in SPF 50. So to add color (+ a little firming action too!), I try to apply this Jergens gradual self-tanning lotion every 3 days after my shower.

{9} C.O. Bigelow Lemon Sugar Body Scrub - The only way I will shave my legs now! The smooth skin I get from using the sugar scrub & then razoring the fuzz away is leagues above!

{10} Murad Skin Smoothing Polish - the more I read about exfoliation, the more I want to do it on every inch of my skin! I really appreciate that this Skin Smoothing Polish is a gentle enough scrub that I can do it every couple of days, & it feels so good!

I am also super excited about the new Living Proof "No Frizz" Line that landed on my stoop this week - still in the testing process, and I can't wait to share it all with you soon!


What are the beauty products you buy again & again?

Monday, May 11, 2015

neon scallops

{ What I Wore to a wedding: J.Crew Factory dress // zig-zag wrap ℅ The Poshmina // ShoeMint lace up heels (similar linked below) // Clare V. leopard clutch // J.Crew Factory "Clare" cardigan (if you are a cardigan person, you need this in every color!) // Kendra Scott cuff bracelet and tassel necklace }

That awkward moment when you ask your significant other for fashion feedback & they say the exact opposite of the idea you were seeking validation for… & then you have to either take their advice & act like you value their insight, or just go with what you wanted to do in the first place, & risk getting them to play along with your little fashion shows in the future… not like anything like that has happened to me before…

In fact, I took both the wrap & black cardigan to wear with this neon dress to our friends' wedding in San Francisco. I was leaning towards the colorful wrap, but when I asked Tyler, he was solidly team black cardigan. Which one would you have worn?
Everything is 60% off + an additional 20% at J.Crew Factory! Shop my favorite wedding guest dresses from there below:
(this neon number has an especially awesome back!)


Sunday, May 10, 2015

Sunday Shopping: All Things Bridal

When I was engaged, I really wanted to take advantage of wearing bridal white to all of my events - engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, & even on the honeymoon! But one of the most surprising wedding fashion dilemmas I faced? Finding stylish white dresses that hit the right tone (not too fancy, not too casual) at a price point that I needed - let's be honest, weddings are already expensive for everyone! 

If you are finding yourself in a similar situation, let me introduce you to your stylish little white dress source - Maggy London! I love the feminine details of these white dresses & feel confident that they could be fabulous wardrobe additions, that are worn even after you say "I Do"!

Psssst -  if any of your friends are engaged, earn some brownie points by sharing the LWD secret!

 

Friday, May 8, 2015

New Face: Nashville

Part of what I love about blogging is connecting with people both near and far. When Jordan reached out to me about relocating from San Diego to Nashville, I was not only excited to share my favorite local places with her, but also wanted to extend and big Nashville welcome to her by introducing her to you as well! Jordan is a wedding coordinator and would love to connect with any brides looking to get married in the Nashville area! Check out some of the gorgeous pictures of her weddings and read more about her below!
Jordan, please introduce yourself a little bit:
Hi, I'm Jordan Dull, a Portland native who has been residing in San Diego, and now ready to call the south my home. My husband and I have been married for nearly 4 years, and love the adventurous life we lead. My husband is an engineer and a mechanic, and I am a wedding and events coordinator with a passion for decorating the home and making beautiful events. We couldnt be more opposite, but he is truly my best friend. 

What inspires you?
Inspiration for me is anything that speaks to me in a creative, beautiful way. I find it in books, on the street and in gatherings. I live for a well set table and a group of friends gathered around, talking about life and enjoying the finer things in life. I find the most inspiration in the people I surround myself. I have placed a group of people in my life who set fire to my dreams. They give me the passion I need to think creatively and newly. I couldnt be what I am today, without my people. 
What are you looking forward to most in Nashville?
Good ol' southern hospitality! Living in Southern California, I am ready for a change. Just the times I have visited Nashville, I am in awe of how friendly and slow paced people are (for the most part ;) ) I am excited to make new friends, book new brides, and launch something I truly believe in, in a place that speaks to my heart. 
If you are interested in finding out more about Jordan's wedding coordination services, please check out her website, or shoot her an email!
Have a great weekend!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

all season long

{ What I Wore: dressMaggy London (shop this dress + my current crushes at the bottom of the post} // Steve Madden heels // vintage clutch // Toloni scarf // Ray Ban aviators }

With a wedding season that stretches from March to September this year, my wedding guest attire is going to have to get creative!

Thankfully I was recently introduced to the amazing cocktail dresses from Maggy London - the cuts are super flattering, with unexpected finishing touches like mesh tops, low dipped backs, and exquisite embroidery, patterns, and colors. While the temps are still a little chilly at night, the dress I picked out is perfect with a light wrap. But seriously you have to see this dress in person to really get all of the amazing details!

Shop my favorite Maggy London picks below (the dress I'm wearing is now available here - it was just released today!)

What are you best tips for surviving wedding season as a guest?

Monday, May 4, 2015

piano keys

{ What I Wore: J.Crew tee (similar styles linked at the bottom of the post) // Paige Denim jacket (in "Westward" wash) // vintage bead necklace // skirt ℅ Chicwish (shop all of my current favorites under $60 below!) // Steve Madden heels // Coach purse ℅ Dillard's Green Hills }

This is officially my preferred length of skirt. Perfect to wear while teaching, but still fun & modern enough to wear out & about! Chicwish is killing it with their skirt selection right now. I love the thick pleats on this one, & can't help but think about piano keys every time I see it! I about died with I saw this sequin number ($50) on Jackie's blog post, & then couldn't stop thinking about the swan skirt ($33) after spotting it on Instagram (still trying to remember whose profile it was!) I just got this floral maxi skirt ($60) & know that the cobalt blue eyelet gorgeousness ($42) is coming home with me next! 


And on the topic of graphic tees - I have had this one from J.Crew since college (it says "seize the day" in Italian), & have yet to find an outfit that it doesn't work well with (see how I've worn it in the past), but when I pulled it out this most recent time, I noticed several holes front & center (how does that happen? snagging on zippers??) #bummer. While it can still be worn tucked in (I have a hard time getting rid of things!), I am looking to add a few new graphic tees to my collection - good thing all of these on my wish list are under $25 (with most under $18!):