"After a hurricane comes a rainbow"...Katy Perry

In NY we are all gearing up for the storm. To all my East Coasters, please stay safe!

Easy Beauty the French Way

The lovely Audrey Tatou

Many French women focus on skincare, less on make-up. I focus on both! But I like to at least try to keep my skin in good condition so I can maybe skip a full face of make-up when I am really lazy. I lucked out in High School as far as clear skin, but then BAM! I had bad acne in my early 20's. My skin has bounced back, but it's far from perfect. That's ok, perfection is boring.

Here I am sans make-up.

A very French look is natural hair and a bold lip. A shot of red or pink. Something dramatic. I can't say enough about these Revlon Colorburst lipglosses! I have a bunch of them and I just picked up this red called Fire. It is so pigmented you can wear it over lipstick or on it's own.

Red hot! It's FIRE 

Amazing how a little red lipgloss makes you look instantly pulled together. Gotta love the French. 

What's your go to product for an easy make-up look? 

15 Weird Facts Tag

What a fun tag I found on the lovely ttsandra's channel. She tagged all of her viewers so since I don't do videos, I put it on here! I am tagging Kandie, Monroe Steele, Sing, Jessi, Bessie and Marina...and all my followers.

I'd love to see your videos or blog responses! Here are my answers, prepare to be surprised by my weirdness.











#1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?
My husband calls me E-dawg sometimes. That's about it. 

#2. What's a weird habit of yours?
I like the bottles in my shower or anything I use really to have the label facing me. It's not such a big thing that I insist on, but I do prefer it that way! 

#3. Do you have any weird phobias?
I am HORRIBLY claustrophobic, I hate small spaces, heights and bugs. I don't like driving through tunnels. I also have a fear of  being in a plane and it crashes into the ocean and being buried alive. Also mosquitoes since I am allergic to the bites. Those are my top few but I'm sure I have plenty more since I frighten easily, lol!

#4. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast and belt out when you're alone?
I have two...Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus and
Troy by Sinead O'Connor

#5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?
Parents who don't discipline their children. So really not the children, but the parents tick me off. 
I love children but I don't like bratty behavior or parents who allow that. 

#6. What's one of your nervous habits?
When I get really nervous, I bite the skin on the sides of my fingernails, but not my nails...gross I know. One day I saw my grandma's fingers and they looked the same so it's genetic.  I haven't been nervous lately so my fingers are in good shape.

#7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
The right side.


#8. What was your first stuffed animal and what was its name?
I liked dolls more than stuffed animals. I have a Strawberry Shortcake doll that I have to this day. My boyfriends used to buy me teddy bears though and I never named them. Don't they already come with names?

#9. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at Starbucks?
Pretty basic really...In the summer, Iced Coffee with Milk, two teaspoons of sugar. Winter, a cafe latte. Always tall sized. 

#10. What's the beauty rule you preach... but never ACTUALLY practice?
Use lipstick as blush 

#11. Which way do you face in the shower?
I always have the water hitting my back.

#12. Do you have any weird body skills?
Not so much, but I am very good at stomach isolations. Like what Shakira does.

#13. What's your favorite comfort food that's bad but you love to eat it anyways?
Chocolate chip cookies

 #14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?
Oh for crying out loud. That prevents me from cursing but I have found a new one that I love. Someone said it on Chopped...I'm calling shenanigans! Like when you call someone out on their lies or shady behavior.

#15. Time to sleep- what are you ACTUALLY wearing?
I wear the most UNPRETTY things to sleep during the summer. And in size XL since I don't like tight pajamas.  Literally a stretched out tank top and pajama pants that don't match. During the winter I  wear matching flannel pajamas with cats or something like that on them.

Military Jacket at Target

Mossimo Supply Co. 

$29.99

I have been wanting a military looking jacket for a while. It's a very trendy look and lots of stores are carrying some version of this.

I was close to buying one at the Gap but it didn't fit around my hips properly. And when I go up a size it looks sloppy on top. Jackets are always a bit of a challenge for me since I have small shoulders, but need a little more room on the bottom.

The Gap jacket was more substantial and this jacket feels more like a shirt, but it fit nicely and has the look I wanted. Plus it has cute drawstring waist.  It's available at Target stores, I checked and it wasn't available online.

Another option...

Keep or Toss?

Do you know the expiration dates on make-up? So sad that I was going through my make-up kit and had to be real with myself and part with some items I like. Including a Chanel lipstick that was celebrating yet another birthday. I loved it too.  So much that I was saving it for special occasions and didn't use it as often as I should have! Note to self: Use my make-up! I am making a habit to really use everything I have now.

Here's a quick rundown of expiration dates for make-up...


Oil-Free Foundation: 1 year
Cream or Compact Foundation: 18 months
Concealer: 12-18 months
Powder: 2 years
Blush and Bronzer: 2 years
Cream Blush: 12-18 months
Powder Eye shadow: 2 years
Cream Eye shadow: 12-18 months
Eyeliner: 2 years
Liquid eyeliner: 3-6 months
Mascara: 3 months
Lipstick: 2 years
Lip liner: 2 years
Lip gloss: 18-24 months
Nail Color: 1 year


Do you stick to these dates or are you a little lenient with expy dates?

Can't Be Tamed

I bought this dress at TJMAXX for only 12 dollars. I have tons of leopard but no dresses. Fun for a night out! Kept everything very minimal to not compete with the dress (minus my fuchsia lipstick)

Red Carpet Rockstar

More Alexander McQueen...

Here's my latest look from ShopStyle. A look for Hayley Williams of Paramore.

Topshop Review and Steve Madden Rules

While in NYC, I went over to Spring Street (I used to work around there and it's a great shopping area, not that I shopped during lunch or when my boss was at the DC office, oh never ;).

This area is split into two shopping experiences. There first area  has a few cobblestone streets with all of my dream stores...Chanel, Catherine Malandrino, Anna Sui, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, ahhh.

Good place to look out for celebs too since I once saw Macaulay Culkin around there. He was a little older at the time, not the kid he was here...

We have something in common,

that's my face after realizing I can't really afford my dream Chanel shopping spree.

No biggie. I snap myself back to reality and head to the shops on Broadway which are nice too and where I can shop without having to declare bankruptcy.  I saw a Topshop store and I've heard so much about that store. I was looking for Marc B flap bag available at the UK Topshop that had a Chanel-esque look to it. It wasn't there, so I checked out the clothes. Wasn't that crazy about them! It was like a higher priced H & M. $70 for a denim vest! No dice!
  
*My husband was so cute, he kept calling the store "TopHat" by mistake. 

I later picked up this satchel by Steve Madden. I just love Steve Madden satchels.The handles are always so comfortable and the bags themselves hold up really well. This one has a pebbled texture that I like. It looks similar to this Marc Jacobs...



Here's my bag. It's shown here in black, but the my brown version does look a lot like the Marc Jacobs.  Especially with that little nameplate on the front.

Night Out in NYC

The day started out nicely, here I am before the rain! Off to NYC for singing and eating!

Indian cotton shirt: Marshall's

Shorts: Forever 21

Suede Mocassin Fringed Boots: Airwalks

Here is the style of boot I am wearing, these will transition easily into fall...

Now, come with me to NYC...

View from the car.

Horse drawn carriages are always somewhere in NYC. I've never had a ride in one. I felt bad for the horse. He looked like he needed a nap and it was raining :( I tried to get him in the shot but failed and only got the tail end of him, lol.

It stated raining so badly and I didn't want to ruin my suede boots so I put these socks on with my sneakers! They're from Payless. (I keep socks in my glove compartment and my sneakers in my car in case I have to walk or it rains!)

 Yes Virginia, there really is a Soup Man!

Miso glazed salmon, veggies and rice

Pink flower on top of the food and another in a vase.

I love pink flowers, did they know I was coming? :)

Want more NYC? Flashback to my NYC post from last year here and here!

Summer Looks of 2011

As you know summer is coming to a close soon so I am looking back on my favorite warm weather outfits this year! You may remember some of these and the stories that went with them:)

I usually alternate between black and white followed by pops of color. I am wearing one neutral via the cream colored dress. I wear more earth toned neutrals during fall.

Bye Summer 2011, Hello Fall!

The star of this outfit was my H and M denim vest

 Basic black and white with a little blue

 A creamy departure for me

 My favorite Aztec scarf from Forever 21

 Rainbow colors brightened my day! 

 Rolling in the Deep karaoke outfit

 Hippie skirt met structured thrifted blazer 

Ugly Pretty Necklaces

These are two necklaces from Forever 21 I just love! My husband took one look at the gold one and said "That looks like a bunch of spoons." Men usually have a hard time understanding what Tyra Banks calls "ugly pretty". Or unconventional gorgeousness.

What's your favorite way to look "ugly pretty"? 

Everywhere I Go by Lissie

Just discovered this beautiful song. Wanted to share the video and the cute elephant.

Fuschia Lips and Smokey Eyes

I manged to build up some points at MyPoints. So I was sent a Target gift card and decided to buy some make-up.

I am wearing  Revlon Colorburst in Fuschia,

L'oreal eyeshadows in Pearl and Lush Raven. 

MAC blush in Her Blooming Cheek.

First, I picked up the ELF Eyebrow kit. This one was the darkest one available and I worried it would be a little light for me. But it looks natural and gives my brows a soft look. Then I bought two L'oreal eyeshadows in Lush Raven and Seashell. The Lush Raven wears more like a soft gray and the Seashell is a good highlighter.

I also picked up two Revlon Colorburst lipsticks in Rosy Nude and Fuchsia.  Fuchia lipstick in general is very wearable on many skin shades! Then there's my favorite HiP eyeshadow in Charged.

Lastly, I decided to try out the Jemma Kidd shadow in Dramatic (blue) since it was only 3 dollars down from 16. It is very pigmented.

Five Things I Like About the Fall

I am a self-professed summer girl when it comes to fashion. It's fun to be able to wear cute outfits and not worry about finding matching socks or the right coat to wear. But the fall is nice too. Wearing a cozy fall outfit while walking outside with a warm cup of coffee. I love that!

Here are five things I enjoy wearing every fall to do just that! 


1. Cozy knit sweaters.  It's usually not cold enough to wear coats, so chunky knit sweaters are the next best thing for crisp autumn days.


2. Boots. I have always loved boots! So many to choose from too...suede, leather, knee-highs, I love to play with the endless possibilities.


3. Jeans. Nothing is cozier than your favorite pair of jeans.


4. Scarves. Try as I might to wear a "summer" scarf here and there, it's during the fall that that my scarf collection really makes the scene.


5. Leather jackets. When it gets a little too cool for just  a sweater, I have my uniform of a leather jacket and a skinny turtleneck on hand.

What are your favorite pieces for to wear during the fall?