Favorite Quick Neutral Eye Palette

I have tried lots of eye shadows, and I always go back to my neutral brown eyes. So I was on the hunt for palette that only contained the colors I wanted--and I actually found it and cheap too! This is the only product I own by them, but I've hit pan on all of them. "Avon Neutral Palette" (the bottom brown palette in the picture) The colors are rich and last the entire 12 hours I work! Even though I have never needed to touch-up my eyes, it is a small enough palette and cheap enough to just throw it in your purse for emergencies. It contains a highlighter for under the brow bone. A light shadow to put in the corner of the eye. Plus a couple different browns, some matte and others with some shine to give you that perfect sultry brown natural eye look.

Philosphy Products

Because of my combination skin, moisturizers are just something I have always had a problem with. I don't like gell moisturizers like Clinique puts out--it makes your face slippery, yet I don't feel hydrated. Anything that does soak deep into the skin, has always seem to be too oily and then it's the "battle of the shine"...UNTIL

I tried Philosphy Hope in a Jar. Wow, this stuff is amazing. I went and got a sample at Sephora, then I ordered it online.


Oh MY, this product goes on my "thankful list" this year.

Favorite Drug Store Products

I have tried many many mascaras from low to high brands and I always come back to Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black. It thickens my lashes and gives it volume. I get the brush that is curved and that adds some length too. It does everything you would want it to do, all for a cheep price! I have found nothing to top this!



My other staple is Revlon's Color Stay Liquid Liner. The brush is stiff, so it is easy to put on the liquid line. It lasts for 12 hours with no problem...doesn't smudge. I don't EVER EVER EVER use anything but this product. I am sold an in love.

Murad Oil Control Mattifier

Murad Oil Control is crazy expensive, but I got it on sale a while back. This stuff is amazing. I had little bumps on my face that I could not get rid of. My face was shining ball of glistening shine...but this stuff has come into play. I no longer have tiny bumps on my forhead. I rarely have shine. This stuff is MATTIFYING let me tell you! My face is so smooth. It is almost extremly drying, but you only use a pea size. I only use it on my forhead and nose so I have high hopes that this will last me for quite a while. I cannot begin to explain just how non-oily my face is with this stuff. I have never felt this way...or at least I don't remember the days. It acts for me as a primer. I have never seen a difference with primers--but this gives me the look that a primer should give you. I don't use it all the time (because I forget) I usually do it if I'm not going to use my balance and brighten.

Laura Geller Balance & Brighten

One of my co-workers always looks so amazing even after working for 12 hrs. I asked her secret was and she whispered "Laura Geller Balance and Brighten" So I went and watched Laura talk about her products on QVC and was completely sold. The only thing that held me back was the price. After much deliberation, I gave in. It only comes in 2 colors. Fair and Regular. I have the fair one. I bought the brush that goes with it on ebay for 7 dollars and it is so soft. What this product does is gives me a foundation look that lasts my 12 hour shift. Not around my nose, because I have severe redness, but the rest of my complection is even. It is quite subtle. When I first bought it, I thought I could not tell a difference. My mom loved it, but I just put it in my makeup stash. Two wks ago, I put it on just to put it on. 5 am I looked in the mirror and could not figure out why my face looked so complete after running like a mad woman all night--it then dawned on me--my balance and brighten. So it is a subtle thing. I don't want to stash out that money again, but I think it is going to last me 6 months--so that is 5 dollars a month.

Colors and Handbags

I have this huge love for mustard and brown colored handbags--not sure why. Maybe it's having brown hair and being an autumn color supporter.
Pictures from polyvore.com

Mustard Handbag & Gladrags by Frances..x featuring Melie Bianco bags

Items in this set:
Bottega Veneta dress, 615 GBP
Shopruche.com dress, $37
Bottega Veneta sweater, 320 GBP
3.1 Phillip Lim cardigan, 120 GBP
Red Herring cardigan, 10 GBP

Luv Large Brown Bags

Handbags & Gladrags by Frances..x featuring Marc by Marc Jacobs bags

Here I go again...mustard and brown!

Gold & Brown Handbag by Frances..x featuring 1928 jewelry

Items in this set:
Vena Cava dress, $715
Forever21 dress, $18
Buckle.com t shirt, $70
Arden B top, $38
Vivienne Westwood Anglomania skirt, $337

I think red sometimes is too brass. I bought some red boots last Christmas and ended up taking them back because I thought it look "brass and too bold" for the type of person I am and wanting to protray.
I WILL though, carry a red purse. I bought one last year and just picked it lately and it is a new found love.

Red Handbag & Gladrags by Frances..x featuring Dorothy Perkins

Items in this set:
Oli.co.uk dress, 83 GBP
Oasis-stores.com dress, 35 GBP
Norma Kamali top, 315 GBP
Dorothy Perkins t shirt, 6 GBP
Ann Demeulemeester jacket, 505 GBP

This color combination is beautiful, but I don't care for the purse. Too stiff and shaped odd.

Pink/Green Handbag & Gladrags by Frances..x featuring Balenciaga bags

Items in this set:
Mytheresa.com dress, 2,344 GBP
Tara Starlet dress, 75 GBP
TopShop dress, 55 GBP
Old Navy top, $8.50
Victoria's Secret t shirt, $697

I'm Coming Back To Me

I'm coming back to the old me. I went through this really long period (months) of wanting to just look professional and plain. Well, I decided, plain is not me and never has been quite me. I am professional in dress always--but there is always a distinct adorkable-ness me. I've always kind of dressed over the top...all the way up until I graduated from college, then I just lost it and all I thought about was being plain. Well, my old style has been resurrected and I am coming alive once again. :)
I got these plaid shirts where the sleeves roll up to the elbows and these are like pastal and brown fall colors and they they are quite long (goes over the back pockets of pants) then I'll wear them with slim pants, a large necklace and a big purse. I bought these shirts on sale at JC Penny for 8 dollars each!
I wish I had time to post pictures--they are highly adorable.

Embracing New Styles

I would not mind embracing this style. I think I would look too big in the pants of the top pics though (pictures from justbecausefashion.com)

OPI "Mod About You"

So, I purchased my first OPI nail "Mod About You". I debated and debated over actually paying 8 dollars for a bottle of polish, then after wks, I gave in and I luv it. :) I fell in love with lollipop26 wearing it (http://www.youtube.com/user/lollipop26#p/u)...it is just gorgeous on and so natural. I think I could even wear it to work at the hospital.

I really like this OPI and China Glaze haul... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHm-YzBNUYk&feature=related)

(Picture from google images)

Waisted Shirts, Blogs & Boots

I JUST DISCOVERED a website today looks uh GREAT!
http://www.kaboodle.com/ Can hardly wait to look and see what it is all about. The styleboard gallary and blogs might be something I've been looking for... :D

I love these types of waisted shirts. I am in need of a dressy black one like this.

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=373960&CategoryID=41778

But I would never pay that much money for something that I did not try on first, and it kind of looks too thin for the winter.

I'm also on the lookout for cute dressy boots. I saw these at Debs the other day for 30 dollars, and didn't try them on because I just don't feel like I should fork out that much money for a pair of boots. If I can rational that I am going to wear them frequently then I would invest... I think they are really cute and don't too uncomfortable....
http://www.debshops.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3735999&cp=3371588.3365352

Sephora

I think I want this...
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P242126&categoryId=C10214&shouldPaginate=true

I pretty much only wear a neutral brown eye with good mascara. I feel self-conscious (weird, because I sure played it up in college) in juicy lipcolors, but prefer a natural medium pink lip color.

Since mascara is my new way to be subtle and dramatic, I about flipped when I saw this new gift set....
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P247392&categoryId=C8330&shouldPaginate=true

but then discovered there is no water-proof mascaras in the stash. I was going to ease my conscious for making the purchase by giving my mom the water-proof ones, but there is none, so I think I must resist this purchase. I should not look at it anymore, or might wilt.

My mom picked up a sample of this http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P9889&categoryId=C10905 but I have not tried it yet.

When Rachel got a makeover by the smashbox artist, I told Rachel I would buy the foundation. But I literally screamed in the store when I saw the price and opted for ebay.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P228100&categoryId=C10905


FYI: I went to Bare Minerals for the first time over my holiday as well, and was completely disappointed and think the place is for the birds.

Shopping and Such

Charlotte Russe has become my new fun store to shop in. I go through stages where I only like one store and well...this is the one I'm on right now. Well, that and Sephora. My style has dramatically changed since college life. I could never be bright enough, match enough and stand out enough. I am not sure why I've changed and even my family thinks that I've lost my personal signature, but I just don't feel comfortable like that anymore. I love brown, earthy colors. I feel more professional in neutral colors, yet colors that compliment my complexion. I'm still in the babydoll look to some extent.

http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3769175


http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3732580

The Twist

I enjoy doing this when my hair is kinky



Step 1
Make a side part. Starting with the bigger side, gather front section from the ear to your part and smooth it so the hairline then twist several times upward toward your part.
Step 2
Secure the hair along the line of the twist with several bobby pins. At the end of the twist, criss-cross bobby pins to anchor the twist in place (what I do for my sister) or use a little clips if you have a lot of hair like me. Repeat on the smaller side.
Step 3
Spray into place
(pictures compliments of totatbeauty.com)

Milkmaid Braids?

I don't really like the way I look in braids, but I wish I could pull these braids off. I just might try it...



(teamsugar.com)


(beautyglam.com)

Poofy Scarves

I love poofie scarves!



Check out these scarves at www.mckernanscarves.com/