Friday Favorites - Make-Up Edition

And we made it to Friday - yay!  My day has been good so far.  I slept in a little late after girls' night at the movies last night and by late I mean 7:30am.  I got a great workout in and then met a friend for lunch.  I love my summer Fridays off.  

For Friday favorites this week I thought I would share some of my make-up favorites with you.  I am a make-up junkie.  I love it.  Always have, always will.  I have a whole drawer full of it in the bathroom and when Rayla comes to visit she loves to help Auntie Cole pick out her lipstick.  This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I'm highlighting my faves in your standard make-up categories.  This might be a long post, but if you love make-up, it might be worth your while.  (Dad, you can stop reading now...)

1.  Perfume

I LOVE perfume.  Love it.  I always have several in rotation and pick a scent based on my mood or what I'm doing that day.  Some have been favorites for a long, long time and others are new to rotation.  And one you can't even get anymore #sadtrombone

Back row: Burberry Brit | Pink Sugar | Dior Escale a Pondicherry

Front row: Amazing Grace | YSL L'Homme (Phillip's) | Ralph Lauren Romance 

 

Left to Right: Tory Burch | Nest Dahlia | Banana Republic Classic

The one I reach for the most lately is Tory Burch followed by Nest.  I love the floral Dahlia when I'm dressed to go out and about.  I generally use when I've got a tank, jeans, and sandals on #woreittoday.  The Tory Burch has been my go-to for work lately.

2.  Primer

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer

Moment of truth here, y'all.  I thumbed my nose at the idea of primer for so so long.  And then I stumbled on this Urban Decay primer at Sephora and after the first time using it I was SOLD.  A little goes a long way so this tiny tube will last you a long time.  You definitely get your money's worth.  I've ventured into more than just a pale, nude eyeshadow every day and the primer helps it stay put.

3.  Concealer

 Urban Decay Skin Concealer in Light Neutral (Left) and Medium Light Neutral (Right)

I originally bought Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer in the light color for under my eyes but it was too light so I went with the medium light and use the light color on my nose and cheekbones as a highlight.

4.  Face Powder

Lancome Dual Finish Pressed Powder in Matte Clair II 

This is my go-to, my every day, no matter what I put this on.  I don't usually wear foundation unless I am 1. being photographed for an event  2. attending said event  3.  a special occasion.  Otherwise I go with this Lancome Dual Finish Powder.  It provides the perfect amount of coverage and feels weightless on my skin.

5.  Foundation

Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation | smashbox Liquid Halo

  With that said, when I do have to wear foundation I reach for one of these.  I hate the feeling of foundation on my skin.  I have tried a million different kinds.  This is why you won't see BB or CC cream in this list.  The second I put them on, I feel like they are just sitting on my skin.  The Lancome and smashbox are the two that I have found that don't feel heavy on me and I hardly notice I'm wearing them.

6.  Eyeshadow

Urban Decay Naked2 Basics

This is my every day eyeshadow choice.  The Naked2 Basics.  Just for everyday, I take the farthest left color and swipe it all over from my lashes to my eyebrow.  Then I take the third from the left and add that just to my lid.  Then I take the second from the right and add that to my crease.  It takes me about 60 seconds total to do both eyes.  Easy peasy #lemonsqueezy

  

Urban Decay Smoky Palette

This Urban Decay palette is what I reach for when I have an occasion and I want to do something a little more dramatic. If I do go with this kind of eye I will barely use blush and stick with a nude lip.

  7.  Eyeliner

I am realizing now that I forgot to grab a pic of the eyeliner.  #sigh.  What I reach for most days is either Kat Von D or Stila liquid pen eyeliners.  They wear great and I can use a little or a lot.  Both of these go on smooth as silk and stay put all day.  I have dry eyes and need to use eye drops several times a day and even with that these eyeliners do not budge, yet come off easily with make-up remover.   

8.  Eyebrows

 Benefit Instant Brow in Medium | Sonia Kashiuk Eye Brow Pencil in Haze

I have very thin brows.  I love my natural shape, but I need a little help filling them out.  These two are my favorites.  And the Sonia Kashiuk one is only $5.99.  #truevalue 

9.  Mascara

  Maybelline The Falsies | Lancome Definicils

Another moment of truth - up until about 8 years ago, mascara was not part of my daily make-up routine.  I know, I know.  I can't believe I was so remiss either.  But I was introduced to the error of my ways by my cousin Kelly and I have been a convert ever since.  My current faves?  The Falsies and Lancome Definicils.  I'll even layer them.  Definicils gives me great length and The Falsies gives me thicker, fuller lashes.

10.  Blush

 Benefit Cheekathon

 I have always been a blush fanatic.  This little baby right here allows me to get all the versions I love in one handy little package.  This is from benefit and it's called Cheekathon.  It's got 5 versions of their blush:  Dandelion which is a pretty, soft pink; Hoola, a bronzer; Rockateur is an amazing rose-gold blush and is my hands down favorite; Dallas is a rosy bronze; and Coralista is a peachy-pink.  You can layer them, you can use the bronzer with the blush, it's so versatile and I don't have a million little blush containers floating around my drawer.

11.  Lips

Clinique Chubby Sticks Fuller Fig (Left) and Richer Raisin (Right)

 

These Clinique Chubby Sticks are my every day choices for lipstick.  Weekend, daytime, work, it works everywhere.  They glide on smooth and give a great tint.  Not heavy, they don't leave lipstick marks all over my coffee cups.

 Ofra Liquid Lipstick in Havana Nights

 Clinique Lipstick in Vintage Wine

These two are my go-to options for a night out.  It's so hard to find the perfect red and the Vintage Wine is mine.  The Havana Nights is slightly more brown/orange, but it still pops well.  If I wear these then I do a very soft, neutral eye.

12.  Travel

Urban Decay Naked on the Run

I love this palette right here for travel.  I just pop it into my case with my face powder and a couple of brushes and it has everything I need.  A slightly red but still nude lip gloss, blush and bronzer, eye liner, mascara, and eye shadow.  All in one case?  #perfection

13.  Bonus

 Kevyn Aucoin Contouring Powder

 Cynthia Rowley Illuminator

  I've got two bonus items for you today.  The first is the Kevyn Aucoin Scultping Powder.  I use it for contouring.  It blends beautifully and gives a nice bronzy glow.  I look super healthy when I use this, ha ha.  The second is the Cynthia Rowley Illuminator.  I few dots on my cheekbones, eyebrow bones and it brightens my whole look.

Those are my make-up favorites!  I reach for them most days and they are all very easy to use.  My make-up routine takes me about 5-7 minutes, so easy to use products are a must.  Hopefully you found some new items to try!  Have a great weekend all!

xoxoxo

What's Up Wednesday

It's that time again - the last Wednesday of the month:

  
What We're Eating This Week - My brother and his wife were here for the weekend and we took them everywhere, so what we're eating this week is salad.  Lots and lots of salad.  
 

What I'm Reminiscing About - 16 summers ago (wow, I can't believe it has been that long!), I worked a summer position at the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival.  It was the best summer job I ever had.  I got to work with high school students and international students for the summer and we had a blast.  No matter how cold the water was, those kids always wanted to go to the beach.

What I'm Loving - Stella and Dot.  Have you tried their jewelry?  They have seriously helped me to up my accessories game. 

That really cool gold necklace?  S&D.  I promise, you will not be disappointed in their items.

What We've Been Up To - Louie and Katie came to visit this weekend and we did everything!  First up, Friday night we hit up Chicken Scratch/The Foundry for some live music and fried chicken.  It's a great, low-key place and family friendly too.

On Saturday, we ventured out to the Fort Worth Stockyards and got to see the cattle drive and Katie got to sit on a bull:

Saturday night, we went to Top Golf with Jim and Beej and it was such a fun time.  I am not a golfer by any stretch of the imagination and I had a blast.  One of you should look into opening one in New England, you'd make a killing.

   
Last week we had orientation for our new international students.  It's still one of my favorite things to do.

 
What I'm Dreading -  Hot, hot, hot weather.  And the humidity.  We've had a pretty mild May by Texas standards.  It's generally been in the low 80s, but this week has been all about the humidity and my hair is not having it. 

What I'm Working On -  Now that Commencement is over and I am between classes, I am going to catch up on some reading.  Currently I am reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo and The French Beauty Solution by Mathilde Thomas (the founder of French skin care company Caudalie)

What I'm Excited About - Disney!  And Miche's wedding!  Some fun travel coming up.  I'm heading home solo for Miche's wedding (can we say girls weekend?)  

 
Then in September Phillip and I will meet up with my family in Disney.  I cannot wait.

 

What I'm Watching/Reading - I know I'm late to the party, but Making a Murderer is in play while I'm at the gym and also The Americans.  It's on Amazon Prime people - check it out!  So so so good. 

What I'm Listening To - ESPN Dallas.  Generally in the car I listen to sports radio, or if there's a new episode of The West Wing Weekly I'll listen to that too.  If you are a fan of the West Wing, you need to check this out.  Josh Malina dedicates a podcast each week to an episode of the series.  They are currently up to season 1, episode 9.  #bartlettforpresident #letbartlettbebartlett

What I'm Wearing - a lot of jcrew, banana republic, and loft.  Summer skirts and dresses people - it is that time of the year.  Oh and I am COVETING these shoes

What I'm Doing This Weekend - X-Men: Apocalypse on Saturday night and then Sunday I am off to Denver for the NAFSA meeting. 

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month - June = my birthday.  Yay!  I have some travel but mainly I am looking forward to Summer work hours (Fridays off).  I've got some things lined for those Fridays that I'm excited about.

What Else is New - Not much, just trying to decide on a wedding photographer.  #imopentosuggestions
 
What Are You Looking Forward to This Summer - A five day July 4th weekend/mini break.  Yay! 

What's new with you?

Friday Favorites

Well friends, we made it through another week!  This has been a long week with a lot going on.  Here's what I'm loving this week...

One

Commencement!  If you've been following along with me, you know I work for a college and on Monday we held our annual Commencement ceremonies.  This was my first year as co-chair and the first year we held two ceremonies as we had outgrown holding just one.  A little high stakes, but it went so well.  Commencement has always been one of my favorite things about working in education.  Students attaining their goals!  What is more rewarding than that?

Two

This munchkin. 8 years ago this spring I adopted Katia from the Wake County SPCA.  She was a teeny, tiny little thing.  Her favorite place to be is next to you.  She's never been a lap cat, she doesn't want to be held, but little miss nosy wants to be where the action is.  Even if that means crashing out next to me on the couch while I work.

Three

 Quiet nights on the couch.  Phillip and I have busy, crazy jobs. #dontweall #especiallycommencementweek So anytime we can have a quiet Sunday night and just relax on the couch and watch the ID Channel #murdertv or Game of Thrones #yeahsansa, is a win in our book.

 Four

Starbucks.  After the first Commencement ceremony I dashed across the street for Starbucks.  What I really wanted was a s'mores frappuccino.  But I have fitness and weight loss goals #thosestubbornlasttwentypounds so I opted for a skinny iced mocha instead.  I got my caffeine hit with a bit of sweetness and didn't wreck my day.

Five

My gorjana hoops.  I love these earrings.  They are my go-to hoops.  They look great dressed up or dressed down.  I love everything by gorjana.  Like these rings, and this necklace.  If you're looking for something simple and classic that will wear well with everything, check out this line.

Six

Rent the Runway.  My sister used this for my brother's wedding last year and I am going to do it for a wedding I am attending in August.  #yeahmicheandderek  Instead of buying a dress you'll wear once, you rent a dress and then return it.  They have all different price points and a ton of designers to choose from.

Seven

NothingPink.  My cousin Kelly has started a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women get genetic testing for the BRCA genes.  I am so proud of Kell and what she has accomplished with this organization.  

Those are my faves this week!  What are yours?

xoxoxo

 

Life Lately

Spring was crazy around here - I had a ton of travel, more than usual.  It's good to be home though, so what have we been up to lately?

Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.  The critics panned it, but we both really enjoyed it.  Henry Cavill is a little flat as Superman, but Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot as Batman and Wonder Woman make up for it.

For the second year in a row, we competed in the The Vineyard Run 5k in Grapevine.  Up until this point I have won every race we entered.  Until this one.  Phillip beat me by a minute.  Boo.  To be fair, he has been working very hard at getting his speeds up...and I have not.

I had my first Drybar experience.  Oh wow.  I loved it.  I will definitely use them again. I'm okay at straightening my own hair, but it's so nice to have someone else do it.  And it came out great.

I went to Drybar because I took Phillip out to dinner for his birthday.  The big 3-7 for him deserved a very nice steak dinner at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse.  I cannot recommend this place highly enough.  He had a steak. Of course.  I had the crab cakes, which were probably the best ones I've ever had.  And coming from this east coast girl that is high praise.

And the summer blockbuster season has begun.  We went to see Captain America: Civil War opening weekend.  So so so good.  It's still relatively new so I won't say much for those of you who haven't seen it yet.  I'll just say that I think it's the best of the Marvel movies so far.  They really outdid themselves this time.

Sunday wouldn't be Sunday if I didn't FaceTime with this munchkin.  She's getting so big!  Three and half going on thirteen.  She has quite the personality.

We rented Macbeth last weekend.  Visually stunning.  Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard were incredible as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  My only nitpick was that it was in the full Shakespearean language.  It's been awhile since I've been immersed in that and it took some getting used to.

I know I'm late to the party on this, but I finally started Making a Murderer on Netflix.  I'm only one episode in, but I'm hooked.  I've been watching while I've been on the treadmill Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Showing off my new Stella & Dot necklace.  Isn't it pretty?  Most of my statement necklaces are S&D and they've really helped me elevate my accesories game.  Interested in trying for yourself?  Let me know and I'll set you up with my stylist.  She's awesome and helpful and you will love everything you buy, I promise.

I mean, this kid, come on.  

This is from earlier today.  I was researching wedding photographers and Kate crashed out hard next to me.  She snores, ha ha.

That's a peek into my world lately.  What's new with y'all?

xoxoxo