lets talk product

After a splendid long weekend of wedding festivities and long overdue bonding with my best girls, I find myself back in sticky, humid, rainy Florida and desperately missing South Carolina with her balmy 80 degree weather. swoon. Now you may be thinking: Ummm hasn't it been like a week since the aforementioned wedding?? Yes friends, a week it has been. Allow me to explain. My precious MacBook also made the journey to SC for the Tiller- Rosenlund nuptials. Sadly, along the way she got a little reckless and met a can of beer libation that did not agree with her internal logic board, thus resulting in her untimely death. It has taken me an achingly long 6 days to get my new (beverage free) MacBook up and running and let me tell you... I'm feelin' productive and particularly bloggy!

The 3 plus trips I made to visit my new besties at the Apple Genius Bar (shout out to David!) allotted me plenty of dangerous time to wander the isles of the adjacent Sephora store. most good. Of course I am physically incapable of leaving a Sephora without some kind of new goody in one of those precious black and white striped bags. Lets just say that I tried my best to exert will power...and FAILED...sorry Becks!

That being said... lets talk summer beauty products!

current summer beauty obsessions

HAIR:

Bumble & bumble Tonic Lotion: This has become my new haircare staple. I spray down my roots before brushing out my hair after every shower. It works wells to add shine and control frizz whether my hair is straightened into submission or loose and wavy! It is a MUST HAVE!

Josie Maran Bohemian Waves Argan Hair Mist: I love a great texturizing spray, especially if it leaves out the crunchy curl factor! yuck! This mist gives me glossy, voluminous mermaid hair minus the cheap coconut scent of many other products. 

SKIN:

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream: There is nothing better than a thick, super hydrating eye cream, especially for night time. Bobbi hit it out of the park on this one. I glob it on every night and even sometimes during the day if my skin is feeling particularly dry.  

Clinique All About Eyes: This is my first time trying Clinique's famed under eye cream. So far so good! It goes on light and smooth and eliminates my lingering dark circles. My makeup also glides over it flawlessly! 

Clinique Age Defense BB Cream: My miracle product!! I've tried around 3 different BB creams (yikes!) and this one has my full endorsement! It is extremely hydrating, has just the right coverage and best of all...it matches my skin tone PERFECTLY! (with only 3 shades available this was a happy surprise) It is beautiful worn on its own, especially if you feel the need for some extra coverage on a beach day (its SPF 30!!!). I also use it as a primer over my daily moisturizer and under my foundation for a little extra coverage.  

MAKE-UP:

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H: In the Florida humidity, a long-wear foundation is a MUST. Lancome's formula is one of my favorites. There are numerous of shades to choose from and it really does last all day long! No touch-ups at all!

Benefit Benetint: I am having a relationship with my bottle of Benetint. Seriously. This stuff is MAGIC. I dab and blend a few dots on to my cheek bones for a perfect rosy glow or use it as a lip stain..sometimes both at the same time. Don't be intimidated by its liquid form, it is SO easy to use!

Benefit Sunbeam: Meet Benetint's hunky bronze brother! This slightly thicker formula is great for adding a sun kissed sparkle to your cheek bones. I apply it just like the Benetint, even adding a dab to my brow bones for extra luminosity. 

MAC Matte Powder Blush in Smile: Good News: I've found the perfect coral-pink blush!! Bad News: it was hiding at the bottom of my make-up case for months and is now discontinued. Sorry ladies :(

Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara: I figured that if Adele endorsed a mascara then it was surely worthy of a trial run! I am not disappointed! The unique skinny brush design (there is a curvy version too) lengthens and coats my lashes into glossy black perfection. Not a clump in sight! Now if she would share all of her beauty secrets.... 

DiorShow New Look Mascara: I am truly a sucker for all of Dior's mascara products and I still use the original DiorShow religiously. Of course when I had the chance to cash in my Beauty Insider points for a trial size of the newest DiorShow creation I JUMPED on it! This is truly a "new look" for the product. The brush is much thinner than the original and appears to be made of synthetic structured fibers. It wears beautifully, fully defining even my smallest lashes without getting clumpy. A+   

Sorry for the marathon post... beauty just gets me going!!

+M

pedi-cure for everything.

Ohh goodness, was today a good day! I spent the majority of my morning zipping around town with my sweet momma, eventually landing at her dear friend's home where we spent the remainder of the afternoon. My mother has taken up a new and rather time consuming hobby over the past 4 years...quilting! How cute is she, right?! It keeps her busy, relaxed and best of all makes her heart so happy! After years of watching her work her magic, I decided it was time to see what the fuss was all about! This afternoon we spent a few of hours at her best quilting partner's home working on her latest creation. I got a real wakeup call to all of the time and detail that goes in to one of these masterpieces! I spent hours methodically trimming and slicing squares of various fabrics that I proudly helped to pick out (hint: its going to be a pretty special quilt for a pretty special someone, so of course I had to get in on the decision making!) Four hours, lots of laughing at my mistakes and 72 perfect wedge squares later, it was time to head off to our next mother-daughter activity......

!!!!!MANI-PEDIS!!!!!

Let's just say that this girl right here has a deep and passionate love for a good trip to the nail salon (no doubt inherited from my mother)! There are few things in life that I enjoy more than leaning back in a massage chair, toesies soaking in warm water, and devouring a fashion magazine intellectually stimulating book. ;) Now with summer in full swing, you can bet your Birkin that I went for a nice bright lacquer! I won't lie... I did heavily consider a saucy cornflower blue from Essie's new summer collection, but with a wedding to attend this weekend (yay Teal & Marty!), I opted for something more subdued but still sassy! Thus, I present to you....

Cascade Cool, also from Essie's new summer collection.

(excuse the grainy iPhone image & the fact that this is a picture of my feet...weird?)

Coming from a girl who could quite possibly be a nail polish connoisseur (pink nail polish to be exact), I can confidently say that this shade is my favorite to date. It is just the right pale pink with subtle purple undertones and an almost neon affect when painted on the nail. It also makes my little toes look extra tan in all my summer sandals! Zing! Folks, this shade might even bump my "all time, every time perfect, go-to" polish, OPI's ElePhantastic Pink, out of the running...yes B, you read that right. GASP! Girls, if you are due for a mani-pedi or just have an obsession with nail polish like me, GO TRY IT!


phew... all that typing and no chips!

+ M

PS- If you love pink polish check out OPI's new Vintage Minnie-Mouse Collection, If You Moust, You Moust is definitely going to be my next polish change, provided I can get my hands on a bottle (looking at you J)! :)

the cure for a rainy day...

CANDY....err well in this case....ARM CANDY!!

Today has been a typical summer day in central Florida...rainy, thundery, and lazy. With the outside air registering in at about 10000000% humidity, I have had little to ZERO motivation to tame my unruly locks into shining perfection, moisturize, prime AND put on my "war paint" (as my father so charmingly puts it) or dress up in some chic, totally blog/instagram/twitter worthy ensemble. Today my friends, I have settled for a pair of Nike shorts and a staple ADPi shirt (shout out to Zeta Nu). Don't worry, I still exfoliated, moisturized and gave myself a mani (I haven't totally given up!) That being said, its time to talk about the glitz I actually did bother to put on today... I mean even a rainy day needs a little fancy!

There is nothing that brings me more joy in this world (aside maybe from one of these) than a nice, eclectic arm full of jewelry! Honestly though, I cannot remember the last time I wore just a single bangle, wrap bracelet, ring or cuff. More is more my pretties!!

Here is a little glimpse of my wrist today:

gotta add a little color to this dreary day!

Can you tell that I am really feeling the neon obsession right now? I love the idea of mixing some classic silver/gold pieces with a few eccentric neon friendship bracelets (my new scores from Anthro!) Also, 9 times out of 10 you will find my little wrist clad with a timepiece of some sort. It could be this ceramic number by my girls at Kate Spade, a classic MK menswear watch, or my coveted vintage Rolex (inherited from my incredibly stylish grandmother), either way there is always a ticker there to tell me how late perfectly on time I am running! 

Now if you will excuse me, there is a little chocolate labby staring at me to remind me that I am late perfectly on time for our nightly walk!

Meet Lilly!

Stack em high & keep em glittery!

-  M 

an introduction of sorts

I've always considered myself to be a "west coast girl"...by Floridian standards that is. Growing up in a mundane central Florida town, I found myself consistently escaping to my own paradise in the form of  sandy gulf coast island, Anna Maria. 22 years of calling this island my second home has left me with salt water in my blood and a very special place in my heart for the explosion of color that is a west coast sunset. (pictures to follow for all of you AMI virgins)

After a whirlwind four years in the tiny college town of Clemson, South Carolina, where I proudly earned by Bachelors of Science in Marketing, I have come home to the place I love...but not for long! The next chapter in my book happens to be taking me to the "real west coast." Los Angles, California.  I will be attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (from here on out referred to as FIDM) to further pursue my passions.

I hope for this blog to become a creative outlet for me. Somewhere to jot down my random thoughts, share things that I find inspiring, muse about trends that I am particularly fond of and track the steps of my journey West! (very Oregon Trail, no??)

+ M