Instyle: May 2012

It's the time again for my Instyle recap! I absolutely loved this issue, all 406 pages were filled with spring outfit ideas as well as the latest trends, beauty secrects and my favorite part...

the best beauty buys!!

I went through and made a list of items that I am dying to try! Here are my favorite picks..and I will warn you, it's pretty lengthy :)

 Eco Tools $3-$10 (Found at Target!!!)

These durable, densely packed brushes, made of sustainable materials like bamboo, come very close to most upscale lines. The only difference: Eco is easier on the wallet.

 Exude Lip Creme $29

go to instyle.com/bbb for a 20% discount!!
The ingenious bullet is protected by a plastic barrier, and all nine colors are infused with vitamins C and E to leave lips lush. And you'll never over apply-one click delivers the perfect amount of color every time

 Fresh Brown Sugar Body Scrub $65

 This wonder polish, a feast of fine brown-sugar crystals marinating in jojoba, almond, and apricot-kernel oils, gives skin a vacation from dullness, eliminating dry, dead cells and re-hydrating skin simultaneously

 Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment $18

This apple-scented balm is the first thing I reach for in my makeup-kit says N.Y.C makeup artist Lucky Smyler. It heals delicate lip skin with argan oil and leaves a pretty pink tint. Bonus: The packaging is recyclable.

 La Mer Lip Balm $50

It's incredible hydrating, has a silky finish, and makes a great base for color. Some makeup pros swear it plumps lips

 

 Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer $42

It moisturizes, gives a hint of color, and has SPF. It's a one stop shop

I have heard SO many great things about this product that it is #1 on my list!

 MAC Eye Kohl $15

Sharp enough to draw a defined line yet creamy enough to blend, this pencil liner wont smudge and comes in every color imaginable 

 Mason Pearson $170

Pros sing the praised of this boar-bristle brush so often, they could practically use it as a makeshift microphone. it detangles, stimulates the scalp, redistributes natural oils for incredible shine, and last for years-maybe even a lifetime

 Nars Powder Blush $28

In 25 shades, the is from Nars has a vast color selection and it's a great value. You get so much product in the pan

How can you go wrong with Nars?!?!

 Sally Hansen Double Duty $5

Double Duty is a misnomer. N.Y.C nail pro Gina Viviano uses this product three ways-"as a base coat, a top coat and in between manicures when I don't want to wear color. The pantheonol-infused formula actually enriches nails without ever yellowing

 Shiseido Foundation Brush $30

It's a compact for total control and has densely packed synthetic bristles for cream, liquid, and powder foundations. The slightly  angled flat head ensures there's no streaking, so foundation becomes one with skin

 Shu Uemura $20

It has a long bed plate that actually curls lashes. (Other curlers simply blend them, which can damage fragile hairs). And its curved angle gets every last stray.

 Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay $37

Lavish, refreshing, nourishing-dermatologists lay the praise on pretty hick for this non-drying mask. Not that you'll need to apply any more than the thinnest layer to see results. It relies on "natural earth clays and botanicals to unclog pores, while hydroxy acids get rid of the dead layer of skin. And unlike so many other clay masks, this one never feels crusty.

 Smashbox Photo Finish $36

It evens out skin tone, shushes yawning pores, and creates the perfect canvas for foundation. The velvety formula is also teeming with antioxidants, so skin begins to look smoother all on its own

 Stila Convertible Color $25

Can be used on bare skin or over foundation. The sheer formula doesn't feel waxy and leaved a bit of sheen

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour $25

It makes skin look good, and it's good for skin. Loaded with protective antioxidants and skin-firming clay, this finely milled blush gives a natural glowly sheen. True to its name, it lasts all day and comes in impressive shades including vibrant berry, soft peach, and delicate rose

Phew! That was quite long, but I couldn't resist!

Please let me know if anyone has used any of these products and let me know what you think!

Xoxo

M

Hello everyone! Hope everyone had a great weekend :)

Friday night Michael and I left for Charleston to celebrate his brothers wedding. He was a best man and I was a bridesmaid but funny thing...we didn't get any pictures of the two of us together. Honestly  I didn't take any pictures the ENTIRE weekend (worst blogger award) however I was able to snag a few off of people's Facebook who went :)

The wedding was so beautiful and I cannot for the photographer to email us all the pictures, then I'll do a post with all the professional pictures..not iPhone uploads!!

Also on Friday afternoon all the girls went to get mani & pedi's one at the salon. I got a gel manicure, which I have never got before and let me tell you..they are absolutely the best and I will never get a another regular manicure again!

The polish lasts over 2 weeks and looks like acrylic nails because the polish is so thick! I love it!

Highly recommended!

Sunday afternoon we spent the day in Charleston..and of all the great food, we end up at Andolini's pizza. Our thoughts were just a light meal because we were so stuffed and Michael got a calzone and look how big it was!

 

 I said it looked like an elephant tusk because it was so massive!

Sunday evening I took a stroll after dinner with my family. It was so nice to catch up on the crazy weekend because they also went to another wedding, so we had a lot to talk about! But look at the gorgeous sunset

So pretty. But hope everyone had a great weekend !

Xoxo

M

New Gym Bags for Motivation

Phew, I am alive believe it or not!

It's been just crazy lately and I am not going to make any more excuses because that's all I have been doing the last two weeks :)

Any who, so now that spring has finally sprung it's swim suit season! 

For me, that means hitting the gym a little harder and eating a little healthier so I feel confident in my suit! AND what better way to make going to the gym a little more fun and exciting by adding a new gym bag!!

Throwing out the old, and getting a new bright/fun bag is a easy way to make the dreadful trip a little more fun because you can walk in with one of these little babies on your shoulder and be more than happy to show it off!

(I am taking my own advice and ridding of my monogrammed LL Bean bag that I currently use!)

Now here are a few pictures I found on my phone of the last few days:

Mikey making me cupcakes because I was/still am sick and all I wanted was a cupcake...so he made me a dozen :)

Dinner at Dockside, a favorite local seafood resturant that's right on the water

Here is the view.. it's just gorgeous at sunset!

This picture cracks me up only because my mom is SO obsessed with Pintrest...honestly she is worst than a teenager and might need to go to Pinners Anonymous because I think she is addicted. Lately she has came up with all these crazy craft ideas, recipes, and lord knows what else but found these devilved eggs. She was dying to make them..when just the basic deviled egg would have done the trick.

 

And here is how here's turned out:

 It was the funniest thing I have ever seen. They were absolutely horrible. But I do have to give her a 10 for taste because they were absolutely delicious..just not very presentable.

Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week!

 Happy hump day :)

Xoxo

M

 
 

Oh school...

I swear I am not neglecting my blog and all my followers on purpose! I am swamped but I have only three weeks of school left thank goodness and I will then resume my normal posting

I hope I can return before the weekend (which I am crossing my fingers I will find a spare moment to blog a little). If not, I'll have a lot to catch everyone up on! This weekend is my boyfriends-brother's wedding and I am one of the bridesmaids so I am excited for all the festivities to begin..Lord knows I need a relaxing weekend after these past two weeks!

Xoxo

M

P.S. To those who have tagged me in posts, commented, and newly followed I promise I haven't forgot about you! I will say though to everyone who has commented thank you so much and I love reading what everyone has to say, it just makes my day!

My Thursday and Friday

Sleeping in till 8:15 this morning felt wonderful!My body is so used to getting up at 5:40 every morning for the gym that it is impossible to sleep in till 9, but I hate sleeping in too late because I feel like half the day is wasted! 

But any-who..

Here's my last two days at a glance.

Yesterday in the midst of running errands, typing papers and creating power points, I stopped downtown to meet up with a close friend. A few days ago I remember reading this on Facebook:

Eat Sleep Play Beaufort is a legit source because I think it is actually done by the city of Beaufort so I knew that it had to be true.

So I hop out of the car, and the two cars beside me were on empty so I figured everyone got the memo that parking will be free for summer.

Wrong.

Me and the other two cars all had tickets. I was so confused because I thought it was free.

So I call the number on the back of the ticket and explain to her how parking was free and that I read it on Facebook. She put me on hold and  went and pulled the status up on Facebook where I got it. She comes back on the line and was like well I see where they said that but if you look closely it was on April 1st.

And I was like okay what does that have to do with the matter. And she was like it was an Aprils fool joke.

I just wanted to die, how embarrassing.

Long story short she dropped the ticket because she probably felt bad for my blond moment and before she hung up she said "Now don't believe everything you read on Facebook from now on."

I didn't know what to say besides thanking her and wishing her a Happy Easter.

Then I was off to the salon to get my hair highlighted for the first time ever.

I wanted to go a tad lighter but nothing too extreme because..well I was scared. I have a wedding that I am in next weekend and I knew I needed to spruce up the boring light brown color I had, so I bit the bullet and got an appointment.

 

Here's my OOTD yesterday

 

J-Crew top, Banana Republic white denim jean capris

For jewrely I kept it to a minimum with two Stella & Dot bracelets and MK watch

Today is surprisingly cool outside so jeans it was

AE dark skinny jeans, linen top to balance the jeans because hello-it is spring after-all, and old Target flats.

This weekend family is coming in from out of town for Easter and I am so excited to see everyone because it has been a few years since I have seen a few of them!

If I don't post before Sunday, hope everyone has a Happy Easter!

Xoxo

M

What a week

Oh my goodness, where has this week went? 

For the last two weeks, I have been putting school on the back burner and now I am paying for it and will continue to pay for it for the next two weeks.

I knew I had two major projects, power-point presentations and 5 page papers due that are all major grades but refused to get a head start on it (bad idea!!) 

So that's what I will be doing for two weeks and I will apologize in advance for my lack of blogging! 

This is how I feel:

Completely exhausted.

I do not have to go to school nor work tomorrow so look forward to a more structured and meaningful post. My brain can not handle thinking anymore this evening.

Tonight while I am sleeping I will dump by brain of everything I did today and wake up hopefully feeling refreshed and accomplished from everything I did today

So until then, good night TGIalmostF

Xoxo

M

Florida via iPhone

 Hello darlings! 

Who knew relaxing could be so exhausting? Maybe it was the car ride home or the fact I got so sunburned? I don't know but I am not complaining because this weekend was so fun and I enjoyed spending quality time with my family!

Here's just a few pictures I snapped with iPhone:

Side note:

Does anyone else only use Instagram only to edit pictures?! That's the only reason I have it. If you were to follow me you would see the most uninteresting and boring pictures because I only use it to edit before I upload pictures onto my blog.

Usually I would say follow me by clicking "here" but really...you wouldn't want to. I am a boring instagramer.

I am going to keep this short and sweet today, I have unpacking to do and just need to get settled in! (We literally just walked in the door and I grabbed my mac and sat on the couch..so much for helping unload!!!!)

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Xoxo

M