i heart halloween.

I really really love Halloween. If I could dress up in a costume once a week I totally would. This year I've been crafting for a month for making 2 different costumes. Wearing one Friday and the other Saturday. I even colored my hair to get into character. Hope everyone has a very SAFE weekend and cannot wait to see your creative costumes!

bling bling.

I cant decide if I feel twelve or trendy when I do this. Last week at work I noticed my friend Erica's manicure with just her thumb nails blinged out with a glitter overcoat. She said she read it in Cosmo - just do it to your "texting" fingers lol. I don't think I can get away with this at 40 so I'm gonna bling it out while I can. Try it!

allure: best of beauty 2010

The issue is out! Thank you Lindsay for letting me know! This issue is a must- but what is even more helpful is the iphone app. You can find all of the winning products and where to buy them on this app. It really helps out when shopping! Eight products I have blogged about made the list! Pretty cool. Go get the magazine or app! Peace out my lovelies. 

Brand alert- Artistry

One of my very best friends in NC, Meagan, is selling Artistry makeup through the link below. This is one of the world's leading brands of makeup. Artistry sponsored the Miss America pageant, the goody bags from the Kentucky Derby contained Artistry products, and there are so many more things that Artistry is doing.  If you are willing to spend a little extra dough- this is the way to go. I used some of their skin care products in high school (when my mom bought me things lol) and I plan on purchasing some to test out and tell you all about! If you find something you want me to test out- comment about it and I will check it out! 

*great for Christmas wish lists and gift ideas for others!
 
http://www.amway.com/mooneydrake

functional and fabulous.

Since I was VERY young I have been prone to pick out the "pretty cups" to drink just good old OJ or water. I just think that if you have the choice- why not pick the pretty cup? My husband has the total opposite view and prefers a new plastic cup every time he pours himself a drink. Opposites attract? Well, I decided to put all that dinner wear to use around the house. I use tea cups to store jewelry, hair ties, and wine corks. I use a champagne glass for my makeup brushes (keeps them clean too). I use a large floral bowl to hold random things that are cute and display it on my vanity counter-top. My sister, Victoria, uses a lovely glass cake stand on her vanity to place all her bottles of various products. I love anything that is functional and fabulous.

Va-va-VOLUME

 
Quote from my lovely sister, Victoria "I like reading your blog but it makes me want to buy things which isn't healthy for a college student."
 
Hahaha- so what do I do? I make her buy three products as she is on the phone with me in Wally World ONLY because she asked how to make her fine, thin hair look voluminous. However- these are CHEAP products.  Treseme's line of 24 hour body products work. I really like the root boosting spray and finishing spray. They give you lift and smell wonderful. If you have really fine and thin hair I recommend using a moose from the line before you blow-dry your hair. This will thicken it up. Finish off with Velcro rollers when your hair is 90% dry. Leave them in as long as you can and apply just a little heat. They will not give your curls- simply VOLUME. My best friend Brittany straightened her hair and then put them in before work. It gave her a little twist to her everyday look.
 
Now- if you want to spend a little extra I HIGHLY recommend Big Sexy Hair products. Ummm- they are incredible. The "play and spray" hair spray is the best hair spray on earth. I used to carry a sample bottle in my purse when I would go out so all my ladies and myself could give ourselves a quick touch up. Not sure how but on one of these occasions it fell out of my clutch 2 floors up and into the streets of downtown Greenville. Ashleigh and Alicia knew how much it love this stuff so they actually went and rescued it. Sorry for the random unnecessary story but it always comes to mind when I think about Big Sexy Hair.  

the best way to make your face last all day

Primer! Apply after moisturizer to entire face. I L-O-V-E Smashbox’s primer and illuminator duo. They come in same tube and you just blend together to apply. It makes you “glow,” gives you a smooooooth surface to apply foundation, and will keep your makeup on all day long.  I have a small sample of Sephora’s own brand primer and it works great as well. Urban Decay has a fabulous eye primer. It’s seriously the best stuff out there for a flawless, all-day eye makeup look. It just won’t budge. I use primer anytime I need my look to last 12+ hours. On my wedding day I applied my make up at 1pm and it lasted til 2am without having to reapply. Touching up is the last thing you want to think about on your big day. Try some out and let me know how it works for you! 

spice it up.

I feel like fall is a good time to revamp your life. The best way to start at that is with the superficial stuff. I mean- who doesn’t feel like a new person after purchasing an entire new wardrobe?  However- this isn't financially the most brilliant thing to do every year. So here are some little things I like to do to spice up my look. 

• Change up how you do your makeup. Buy a new lipstick and make it your own or try a new way to do your eyes. I like to keep it simple during the day - however, I LOVE color eyeliner on my top lid. It creates a different look without going overboard. Right now I’m using a lot of N.Y.C's super cheap ($4 and under) color eyeliners- in sapphire, teal, and lavender.  
• Accessorize. A skinny belt over a sweater or loose blouse can transform your outfit. Also- HUGE necklaces are everything right now. They make a plain tee look like you had a stylist in your closet. Also patterned tights. I am scared to try out the ones I purchased (don’t want my legs to look larger) but im just going to go for it.
• New shoes. Fall is a fabulous time to buy new shoes (especially boots). They can make your outfit look very put together and stylish in a second.
• Outerwear.  Don’t wear a jacket simply to keep warm. Make it part of your look and incorporate it into what you pick out to wear everyday.
• Do dark nails. I love dark nails in the fall. This is just my personal opinion.

Here are some non superficial ways I like to refresh in fall. 

• Sit outside and stare at the trees once a week for at least 30 minutes. Just let your mind go where it wants to go.
• Start a new book.
• Turn off the TV and just do something else. Save it for when it's too cold to play.
• Take a mini fake vaca. Nick, Leslee, Keith and I rented a hotel room in Dallas for a night to go see Citizen Cope. We checked in at 3 and laid on the rooftop pool before having dinner and going to House of Blues. It actually felt like we were out of town and it was a really nice way to feel like we went on vacation.
• Get back into a workout routine. Endorphins are your BFFs.
• Spring cleaning needs a follow up by the time autumn arrives. Motivate yourself with some Starbucks and dominate the areas you despise- dust boards, the fridge, the laundry room, that closet. . . 

BRAND ALERT- Judith March

When Ashleigh came to visit me in Texas, I took her to some of Denton’s little boutiques on the square.  We spent a gooood amount of time in La Di Da and discovered the brand, Judith March.  We wore our new dresses to the first Clemson game. I bought one for my sister and she rocked hers beautifully! They pretty much specialize in game day attire for ladies in southern schools (where we treat tailgating like an informal cocktail party).  I really love their designs and I follow their blog now. You can find them in most small boutiques in the southern states. It isn’t cheap but it isn’t too overpriced. I like to think I’m supporting them because the girls that started up this company look to be in their mid-twenties and I would die to work with them/be them.  Check them out!