2/06/2013

January 2013 Favorites & Unfavorites

The things I loved (and did not love) this past month!

January Favorites

1. Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo. I thought I'd never find a dry shampoo better than my beloved Batiste, but for a quarter of the cost and just a fraction less quality, this stuff does the trick. The only thing I really hate about it is the overtly citrus-y smell, but it doesn't last too long. And it works! Last month when I was trying the Tresemme dry shampoo, I had to wash my hair every other day because it wasn't working well, but I'm back to washing it every 3-4 days thanks to Suave!

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pink Pop. I absolutely adore how well this pops out in such a lovely way on my face! It's the perfect pink to be more than just "my lips but better" but not too much to take away from any of my other makeup. I have a feeling I'll be wearing this all spring! See it on me here.

3. Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick - Kate Moss Collection in 06. I bought this kind of on a whim but I'm SO glad I did. This is definitely a bright pop of pink, but I LOVE it. I LOVE PINK, GUYS! And this is relatively long lasting and an be found at any drugstore for cheap. See it on me here.

4. NARS Foreplay Blush Palette. Love love love this palette. I don't know if I'll ever go back to my other blushes. This has my favorite three colors to wear. I find myself kind of avoiding the highlight color, but 3 out of 4 is great odds for me in this palette. See my review for this product here!

5. Banana Boat Summer Color Sunless Tinted Lotion in Light/Medium. I am trying my absolute hardest to completely stop tanning in a bed. I've only had a handful of tanning packages in my life, but I know it's terrible for me and I am not trying to age my skin or bring on some skin cancer. Hence, I've started shopping around for self-tanners. Which is what I consider this lotion. It's called a "tinted lotion" but it gave me some great color after just two layers of it. I went with light/medium to be safe but I'll definitely be picking up the Deep shade of this lotion. It goes on well and looks even and truly tan and lasts for a good 3-4 days I'd say. Love it and highly recommend it!

6. Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in Rich Raspberry. I saw this polish sitting on the counter of my mother's bathroom and I immediately stripped off my current polish and applied this. It's so pretty! To me, it's a winterized version of fuschia. Which is another shade of pink. My favorite. See it on me here. It lasted long and seemed to go with literally whatever I wore. Love it! Definitely picking up a bottle for myself soon.

7. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Neutralizer Concealer. THE PERFECT UNDER EYE CONCEALER HAS FINALLY BEEN FOUND. Thank God. I've been going through concealer after concealer trying to find one that didn't make my under eye area look like a grandma. Blech. This concealer is quite thin and sheer and often needs two layers, and I don't think I'd recommend it for normal blemishes (just too sheer), but it works wonders in the under eye area. RE-BUYING FOREVER. <3

8. My new Fuschia purse from Love Culture. I can't even decide what color this is. At first I was calling it magenta (it looks a bit more magenta in person) but it also looks fuschia. I don't care. I judge not against a purse this adorable and functional. It's small, super super structured and expensive looking and I only paid $20 for it.

9. Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt. I hardly ever eat normal ice cream anymore. It's just too high in calories and I can't stop eating it once I start! Instead, I try to treat myself to frozen yogurt. In the summertime, it's much easier to get my hands on some frozen yogurt because all the frozen yogurt bars in town are open, but unfortunately they close in October around here. A few weeks ago, I found this little treat at the grocery store and decided to try it out. I actually hate normal Greek yogurt. It's just too bitter for me and I don't like the flavor. But this stuff is AMAZING. I can't believe how rich and creamy this frozen yogurt is. The frozen yogurt comes in little 100-calorie cups and is the most lovely and delicious treat EVER. And it has 4g of protein!  Can't beat a sweet treat with some protein!

10. Gossip Girl. It started off slow. I watched a few episodes and was rather annoyed by all the teenage drama and unbelievably plots. And then before I knew it, I was sucked in, trying to sneak in an episode at every spare moment and threatening to quit going to the gym and going to work because I need to stay home and watch more Gossip Girl. Let me be clear about something: the plot of this show is absolute, utter trash that conflicts with my morals and values every time I watch it. But I AM SUCKED IN. I need more Serena. I need more Chuck Bass. I need more high-end fashion I can't afford.

January Unfavorites

1. Veet Hair Removing Strips. I've had this box of strips for about a year at this point and I just have to admit to myself that I don't like them. They work pretty well for how I use them, which is above my lip and in between my brows (I keep up the overall shape of my brows by tweezing). I hate going to a salon to get those areas waxed when I know I can do it at home. But this kit always always always gives me little white bumps after I wax, even if I use rubbing alcohol on the spot after I wax. Also, I just waxed a week ago and already feel some hair growing back, which leads me to believe it broke off at the root as opposed to being completely pulled out. Not cool!

2. Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket Mascara. I bought this because the brush reminded me a little bit of the they're Real! mascara brush (minus the annoying spikey end part), but I'm just not diggin' it. Even after 3 weeks of wear, it's still a bit clumpy. It definitely makes my lashes thick and voluminous, but it also makes them really "crispy", and a nightmare to try to remove later. And I didn't even get the waterproof kind. So I'm trying to use this up and enjoy the look of my lashes, but I definitely will not be re-buying this.

3. Milani Brow Fix in 01 Light. I've been using a brow powder from NYX that just feels like it makes my brows darker than they need to be. Being a chemical-blonde (not natural, obviously!), I'm always self conscious that my brows are way too dark for my hair. My stylist promises that they aren't, but I still try to use a lighter brow powder to fill them in. I bought this Milani brow powder because I've had my eye on it for months, but it has the same problem I keep finding with many "light" brow powders-- it's too red. And it doesn't apply smoothy at all or look natural. And I really wish I had a wax component in this palette because powder alone doesn't quit cut it for me. Meh!

2/04/2013

Blue & Yellow & Atlanta

Top: Gap, $9
Skirt: Charlotte Russe, $16
Shoes: Shoedazzle, $11
Scarf: Target, old



Raise your hand if you're sick of seeing photos of me inside this hallway.

You can't see it, but both hands and one of my feet are raised. 

I really do like this outfit though. I'm trying to find more ways to wear this blue skirt, and I like this one. Who knew that yellow shoes don't look awful with a blue skirt?

...Right?

So how about the Superbowl last night? Anyone else wishing they would've watched the Puppy Bowl instead? Not me, though. Oh no, I love a good long 5+ hour football game. As far as my husband knows, anyway. As far as you're all concerned, I just love puppies. That's all I'll say.

Also, today is the day I leave for Atlanta. So as you read this, I'm probably being frisked by airport security and spending $4 on a water bottle. When in Rome, right?

2/02/2013

The Obvious Look.

Blazer: H&M, $35
Top: H&M, $18
Pants: Forever 21, $23
Heels: Forever 21, $20
Necklace: Forever 21



When I first got this tweed blazer, this is the outfit that came to mind first. But whenever I got ready for work and wanted to wear this blazer, it's like a tried to come up with something more creative than "the obvious look". And therefore, did not wear this look until 2 months after owning this blazer.

Which was stupid, because I think it's cute. Boring, albeit, but cute.

And there's something about this blazer that makes me want to wear my glasses. Hm.

I'm leaving for Atlanta on Monday. Can I get three shouts of glory for the absence of this in my life?:


Snow, not work. Work is fine. Snow is not. Snow can rot. But thankfully, the weather for Atlanta reportedly will be in the 50's at least. I'm going to Atlanta for a conference with  my husband's work so I will be inside most of the day anyway, but it's lovely knowing that should I look out the window, I won't see a foot of snow laughing at me.

I'll still be posting throughout the week though, so I'll still be around. You were all going to miss me, weren't you? ;)

2/01/2013

Feb 1st: Date Night Link up w/ Jenna!


Jenna (click the image above to get to her) & I came up with a monthly link up featuring your most recent date night, date styles, ideas, etc, on the first of each month. For my first one, I'm just going to show y'all a bunch of pictures from me and the Mr's most recent date. This post is a bit link heavy, so click below if you dare!




1/31/2013

Fitness Friday Link-Up!



I'm linking up again with Desirae @ Going with the flow! Here is my Weekly Workout Log for this past week:

Saturday - Rest
Sunday - 45 min. cardio (arc trainer)
Monday - 30 min. cardio (arc trainer), arms + lower body
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - 50 min. cardio (25 min. arc trainer, 25 min. run)
Thursday -  30 min. cardio (run) + lower body
Friday - Planning on resting today because I have work and haven't had a lot of time to spend with Matt this week. If it weren't going to be 10 degrees tonight, I'd love to get a walk in, but such is winter. Freezing and awful and punishment.

Looking back, I wish I'd done more cardio this week, but it's been hard getting myself to the gym this week. It's been ridiculously rainy and snowy all week, and all I talk about all day with Matt is how I just want it to be warm enough to ride bikes or walk around outside. In the summer, Matt and I would go on walks probably 2-3 times a week, walking anywhere from 3-5 miles each time. It was so nice to have that time without distractions and to just be able to talk and enjoy the warm nights. Gah! Only about a month left until it's warm enough to at least not get caught in a snow drift on the side of the road. Hopefully.

One thing I've been really enjoying lately though, as I mentioned a bit last week, is lifting weights!

Me, at the gym, lookin' crazy. But lifting!
I've always been afraid of lifting weights. I think a lot of girls are, for the same reason: we're afraid of "bulking up". But I love the effect that lifting has been giving my body. I'm definitely toning up everywhere! And I still lost a pound and a half this week, when I anticipated that I wouldn't drop weight for a couple weeks due to me gaining some muscle. I really encourage you ladies to not only do cardio, but lift weights as well! Squats on this machine and lunges with weights are my favorite. Gotta get that butt into shape.. though it may be hard to believer with all this gross weather, spring and summer aren't too far away!

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