Beauty Round Up

Do you ever get a point where your entire beauty bag needs refreshing. Lately I have felt I run out everything all at the same time which is such a heavy hit to the wallet {which also begs the question - why is it totally impossible to walk into Sephora and only buy one thing?}. To make matters worse a lot of the products I was using had since been discontinued {insert sad face}, including my beloved perfume, which we all know is so hard to find one you love. So I asked around to my girlfriends what products they like to use, took their recommendations and went about starting a new daily beauty regimen for myself. For my skincare I have been so happy with these all natural products and these for my anti-aging care. First was finding a new scent. I luckily stocked up on a few bottles when I heard my beloved signature scent was being discontinued but decided to keep looking for a replacement and thankfully to some free samples I fell in love with Hermès Le Jardin de Monsieur Li and have been smelling my wrists non stop since my husband surprised me with a bottle. All my other beauty favorites are below. 

Beauty Roundup

Ever get tired of every single product you own? I do. While I am definitely loyal to a few tried and true beauty items i.e. mixing Calypso Vanille & Lavende for my signature scent & my beloved drugstore mascara, I was pretty much done with everything else that I was using. While there was nothing wrong with my previous products it was fun to revamp my cosmetic case with some new products in new hues for Spring. Some of my new favorites are below with notes below on how I wear them. I'd love to know what is your favorite beauty product?



When I walked into Bloomingdales for my new products my goal was a dewey natural sun kissed glow. Yes that is a whole lot of adjectives to pretty much describe that I wanted to avoid looking tired and dry from this horrible New England weather. I decided to not spend all my money at one counter and visited a few different brands for some favorite products I knew and loved as well as some new ones to help me achieve the best version of myself. Let's start with the face. My skin is dry, like sahara dry...so I need a great moisturizer stat! While I use this lotion after cleansing before bedtime with my "unwrinkle pads" {that I use on my face, neck & hands}, I decided for my everyday desired "glow" the MAC Strobe Cream would be a great morning lotion to help soften my skin before the application of makeup. I then apply my tinted beauty balm {in vanilla glow} with my favorite applicator for even distribution. On top of that I use bb cream concealer {in light} to hide the dark circles that take residence under my eyes. Then I apply a soft coating of bronzer {in laguna} all over and a bit of blush {in dame} on my cheek bones. Once the face is complete I move to my eyes. I am not sure if this is the right way but I then apply mascara {in black noir}. Followed up with a layer of MAC pro longwear paint pot {in painterly} as a base. Another soft swipe of shadow {in naked lunch}. I then line my eyes with a plum pencil {in boredeauxline} topped with another soft swipe of shadow just over the liner part {in beautiful iris} a hue that I believe works with for eye color. Finally, the lips and my most favorite. I personally never find a single color that is just right so I always like to mix of a few. I first start with Nars Matte Lip Pencil {in sex machine} then a soft coat of Lipstick Queen {in crime} for an added pop of pink pigment. For touch ups I turn to my favorite gloss {in the pink} for a sheen and softening element. 

Weekend Wear - The Real Deal

I always enjoy putting together the weekend wear posts. They not only serve a purpose for my own inspiration with clothing I already have in my closet but they allow me to find items that I am coveting at great prices like that coat below. I have been craving a parka for New England's chilly winters but have yet to pull the trigger on purchasing one. Today's post just might motivate me to do so. While I love sharing outfits that boast beautiful high heels or feminine details like lace, what you will usually find me in is my favorite denim with a silk blouse and my favorite comfy flats.  I always opt for a cross-body bag for strolling around the city to keep my hands free and some simple jewelry, including the little diamond studs I have had since I was sixteen. So I thought I would keep it real and share an outfit inspired by my real weekend wear would look like. 

Mango Leather Sleeve Parka // ASOS Lie Down Ballet Flats // Joie Natelle Top //  TopShop Denim Leggings // Juicy Couture Studs // Stella & Dot On the Mark Necklace // Rebecca Minkoff MAB Mini Tote // Mac PlushGlass in "Posh it Up"

Thank you for reading & have a great weekend!

Beauty Round Up

Morning friends, hope you all had a great weekend! I am sharing a few of my favorite beauty products below. I know I can't live without mascara or lip gloss, I never leave the house without them but I have to say I generally need a lot more then those two products to get me through the day without looking like an old lady. Check out my must haves and do tell me your favorites, I love trying new products!

Lips - I am a full fledged lip gloss addict. I can't get enough of the stuff. I must put it on at lease one thousand times a day and new shades of gloss & lipsticks are my all time favorite to shop for. While my everyday color is a velvety nude shade {aka the color "sex machine"} from Nars topped with a MAC creamy gloss in "Right Image". I love the Trish McEvoy Sweet Berry pencil for going out at night, as seen on my fb cover photo, my nighttime lip care is always with L'Occitane's moisturizing lip balm.

Eyes - I am not huge on wearing a lot of eye make up everyday. I however cannot walk out of the house without my favorite black mascara. I usually save the eyeliner in a dark purple shade and a neutral eyeshadow palette for evenings out or special occasions. 

Skin - Aging is a bitch, these "unwrinkle" pads help me feel better about those pesky lines. I use them every night before bed and moisturize with this afterwards {not shown}. Neutrogena's make up remover pads are seriously the tops. I can't live without them, they remove my make up and give my skin a dewy glow. Before I start any of my make up a good concealer and tinted moisturizer act as my base. For my everyday bronzer, I fell in love with Victoria's Secret baked bronzer, I go with the lightest shade and love the little bit of shimmery gold it has in it. My blush hasn't changed in years, "dame" from MAC is mine forever. 

Tools - The beauty blender is seriously my favorite tool. I use it to blend the tinted moisturizer and avoid any creases or lines along the jaw line. Everyone needs one of these little nuggets. While the blender takes care of the wet make up applications, bronzers and blushes are applied with this little set. I store all my favorite products in a cute pouch for easy packing and throwing in my everyday handbag.

Thirsty Thursday - Coke Slurpee

When I was a kid one of my favorite summer time treats was a coke slurpee. I remember riding my bike to the local seven eleven with my friends to get one and thoroughly enjoying each and every sip. As we got older I remember spiking the frosty treat with a little vodka to bring to the beach and not being detected by the fun police who were always patrolling us sunbathers for drinking in public. What I didn't realize back then was the amount of calories I was consuming in each little delicious sip. That however doesn't stop me from enjoying it from time to time. Since seven elevens aren't all too common where we live I thought I would whip up a version for my husband and myself. I followed this recipe and was pleasantly surprised how it instantly brought me back all those wonderfully nostalgic memories of being a kid in the summer on Long Island and how fitting it seemed for today's cocktail, because honestly is there anything more americana then coca-cola???

glasses // straws

Happy Fourth of July everyone! What are you doing to celebrate???

fourth of july clip art // mac nail polish // j.crew etta pump // j.crew rose necklace // j.brand denim // ALC breton stripe top

shes a grand old flag

more party decor inspiration

This Fourth of July I will be heading to my folks place on Shelter Island for some Summer fun. The house will be an absolute zoo with three dogs, two kids, two cousins, two parents, and two couples.  I absolutely cannot wait for the madness to begin. So today is all about the birthday of our beloved country and all things themed USA - with style of course!

Recipe

Red White & Blue Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

This recipe was totally my speed since I am a terrible baker. I mean who doesn't love strawberries dipped in chocolate and lets face it, anything with a splash of glitter sugar is that much more fabulous. It was super easy and so delicious, I of course ate three the second they were ready and was debating eating the remainder but felt too guilty.  This is such a fun and quick recipe that I will definitely be making again with my nieces over the holiday weekend. 

Patriotic Nails

Ensemble

Go Shopping

T Bags Navy Maxi Dress
similar here
$82 

Tory Burch flat leather sandals
$195

Lilly Pulitzer Striped Clutch
$118

Kate Spade earrings
$38

Ray-Ban Aviators
$195

MAC Cosmetics Highlighter
$24 

MAC Lip Gloss
$16

MAC Cosmetics lip stick
$16

Gorjana "Star" Gold-Tone Ring
$30

Finally Keep those paws safe with fireworks & or sparklers - I adore this DIY for the little humans in our life!

image

Seaside Chic - Part Two - Get The Look

I have already confessed my complete admiration for the color combo of navy & white. It is perfection in the warmer months and when combined they just scream take me sailing or at least to dinner on the water. These two ensembles would be the must haves for my packing list for a weekend at sea!

Go Shopping

Calypso St Barth Linen Tunic
$125

J Crew graphic shirt
$98

Alice + Olivia Cotton Flare Pants
$264

Diane von Furstenberg One Piece Bathing Suit
$275

Badgley Mischka High Heel Sandal
$95

Forever 21 metallic flip flops
$7.50

Tory Burch Handbag
$250

Kate Spade Clutch
$268

Chain bracelet
$121

Ray-Ban aviator shades
$150

MAC Cosmetics lipstick
$16

MAC Cosmetics lip gloss
$16

Zebra Hide Towel
$225

Kate Spade New York, Sailor's Knot Hoops
$68