How to hide dark circles.

I have been doing some SERIOUS research on eye creams. What I’ve learned is that there is a difference between dark circles under the eyes, puffiness under the eyes, and under eye bags. All annoying- but different apparently.

First- we must face the facts ladies (and gentlemen), under eye issues are just as hereditary as your eye color.

Next- identify your issue [mine is puffiness: this post is dedicated to the dark circles (bags and puffiness coming later- after I DEFEAT them)].

Finally- start the battle:



Decrease them:
The best product I’ve found (and has HUNDREDS of great reviews) is Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum. Pricey for a drug store product (around $18). But it is worthy. This tiny bottle provides hydration as well as working on making your dark circles disappear. It has small light reflecting particles which help disguise the darkness under your eyes. With time it shows results. It also helps prevent wrinkles from forming; as well as filling in the ones you have so they don’t look as dramatic. Unfortunately- I have not found it beneficial in curing puffiness. I apply at night and in morning on the outer corners of my eyes and right below lower eye lid. Goes on smoothly and works well under makeup. (some reviewers use around lip area to prevent wrinkles there as well).



Hide them:
A YELLOW TINTED concealer should be your best friend. The color will blend in after applying foundation or powder. DON’T MAKE YOURSELF into a raccoon though. Use an applicator brush (ELF has great ones, all for $1) to blend out from your eye. I prefer Physician’s Formula brand.

Helpful hints:
SPF under your eyes (use it on your entire face for reals though)- the sun will make them worse.
Allergies are the cause of dark circles in many cases- so get on your meds.
Iron deficiency/anemia can cause the darkness- take some supplements.
Dehydration- I’m telling you, 8 glasses a day will change your world.
Sodium intake- too much could make them worse. Chill out on the salt.
Vitamin K and C topical creams have been proven to help with blood circulation in the eye area (which is essentially what that darkness is- bruising under the skin)

i need an excuse to wear this dress.

i die dresses.
simply no reason to buy them though. 
so i'll just pretend. 

 dinner and a rock show please and thanks.
[urban outfitters]

Black and White pleated maxi dress-we should probably be going to the ballet and then to a swanky lounge together.
and little yellow dress- ill wear you to brunch the next day.
[urban outfitters]

 dinner on a boat.
[modcloth.com]

 best dressed at the christmas party.
[modcloth.com]

 

art gallery opening. 

[lulus.com]

let's go dancing.

[lulus.com]

Written by Casey Cline

http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/9184/deathbed. Watch it. My BFF is so awesome.

Today was terrific.

Sold our xbox kinect which we unfortunately never use for some ca$h moneeey.


Got to go on a "field trip" to meet a client @ work. Very rare and was very awesome. Got to go home after sooo I had some spare hours to myself...

Went to mall. Spent exactly the amount of ca$h money I got from the kinect at Ross on these awesome finds:


Got a massage at the mall. Don't hate. Seriously try it.

Attended my 100th jazzercise class of 2011.



Annnd ended the day with $2 margaritas. Yay.


Days like today make me realize we gotta appreciate mundane days to enjoy the simple things that make days like i had today special.

Gah that was sappy.

this weekend according to what i drank.

totally didn't realize i was documenting this weekends activities on my iphone. i just like taking pics of delicious substances annnnd i'm currently obsessed with the adobe photoshop express app (thanks megs).

Cupcake Red Velvet Wine = i've gotta new favorite. paired perfectly with my homemade spaghetti.

Thanks hunny for forcing me to try this protein drink. good for you and motivation to get my PUMP on.

Blue Moon garnished with an orange. you never get old.

ohhh  nonfat nowhip pumpkin spice.  you make me excited to be  productive and i thank you for that.

festival fashion.

Fun Fun Fun Fest 6 in Austin, Texas was, well serious fun fun fun. A perfect combo of great music and people watching. And the ladies in Austin know how to rock fall fashion. I got into stealth mode all for the sake of bringing my blog readers some pics of great outfits. 

Current trends that I saw and am loving:

1. shorts with boots

2. fringe everything

3. over sized tops

4. leg warmers under boots

5. tights under shorts

homemade costumes from Black Swan.

You may recall this post from last year.

Seriously, Black Swan is my all time favorite movie.

It’s just perfection in my mind

(disturbing & beautiful)

Since I work with feathers (check em ouuuut here, great Christmas gifts), and I literally have a TON of feathers and hot glue laying around, I really wanted to make a swan costume.

As did my lovely friend Erin who completely agrees with me about the greatness of Black Swan.

The result: I was the White Swan and she was the Black Swan. I made the feather bodices and feather head pieces for both costumes. We bought tutus and leotards from a local dance store.

Here is a step by step photo guide of the creation experience:

 I used Velcro to attach the feather bodice to the leotard.

We used my old Pointe shoes from WAY back in the day. 

  I did our makeup to mimic Natalie Portman's in the movie. With a lot more glitter involved.

 I made two of these for the White Swan headpiece and I used a featherband for the Black Swan.

Watch The Soulfeathers rockin it.

Click here to watch The Soulfeathers on YouTube.


This band brings me back to college immediately. They were just starting up when I was at Clemson and played at my friend’s house parties all the time. My roomies and I were the girls dancing around in the front row the entire time. My best friend, Alicia Cato (yea, that pretty blonde one in the video) was asked to add her lovely vocals to the band. They played at our college graduation party and my engagement party. They do some amazing covers but their original music is incredible. Now they are rocking it all over South Carolina. Like them on facebook so you can get updates on their gigs. Nicest guys EVER; oh, and that chic is a gem herself.

how it’s made: lady gaga

I don’t think I need to explain that I’m an avid little monster. If you know me/read this blog it’s quite apparent. So- naturally when our department chose the theme “Rock Stars” for Halloween (it’s a big deal around here) I automatically knew it was my chance to be mother monster.



· Purchased the wig from Planet Halloween online.
· Dress- I thrifted from Buffalo Exchange in NYC
· Gloves/ tights / shoes- forever21
· Did drag queen make up with red lips
· My tea cup was the perfect accessory. I collect them. No- I’m not 80 years old.
· Telephone hat- I bought a Styrofoam bell at Michaels (perfection). Then bought a Styrofoam square and balls to make the actual phone part. Painted it black. Held together with toothpicks. Used thick white paper and number stickers to make the dial on the phone. The base that the bell was glued onto was some really weird hat I found in a kid’s bin at Michaels. I used it to glue on the phone so I could then attach to my head with bobby pins (which didn’t really work out as predicted). It was REALLY difficult to keep on and unfortunately the hat fell and broke but luckily right after the costume judging (won best homemade!).

how it’s made: Ariel from The Little Mermaid

the little Mermaid


What girl DOESN’T want to be a Disney Princess or mermaid? I mean for real, and at the ripe old age of 24 last year, I decided it was my time to be one. Here’s how I did it.


· The seashell worn on the top is from my Victoria’s Secret bathing suit. Took it off the bandeau top and used to hold the lavender fabric together.

· Purchased lavender bandeau top from some cheap Rave-like store in the mall.


· Purchased glittery lavender fabric for top from Hobby lobby- just folded it so it was the same width as bandeau. I used tape on Velcro on the back to keep it together

· Purchased the fabric for my “fins” from Jo-Anns Fabrics. It was quite perfect with the scale detailing and slight sheen. Basically, I made it into a double wrap skirt; one didn’t cover enough, so I did another going the opposite way on top of the bottom layer and VOILA – looks like a wrap skirt. Multiple safety pins were involved. Especially for the tail- just picked up some green mesh, tied strips of it, then pinned onto the bottom of the skirt.


· Makeup: Lips- Love That Pink from Revlon. Did Lavender on top lid and green on the bottom with mucho glitter to give that glistening “I’m a mermaid” effect. Also used a TON of that spray on multi-colored glitter they sale everywhere around Halloween.

· Hair- Natural Instincts in Raspberry Crème. I literally dyed my hair mermaid red for the costume. Then kept if for almost a year. I just googled the hair color and one of the (bad) reviews is “I look like Ariel.” Hahaha- well that’s PRECISELY what I was going for, and I loved it even out of costume. Oh- and I bought a star fish from Michaels and hot glued a hair clip to the back to make my hair piece

I bleed orange.

As my mother would say in my college essay to Clemson University “I bleed orange.” [and yes- my mom applied to Clemson for me because I thought I had no chance at getting in since they raised their standards, and to my surprise- I did; it was the best decision my mom ever made for me].

While I was only born and not raised in this amazing southern town, I consider it to be home. It’s where pretty much all of my family graduated from and currently live. I’ve gone to games since I was in the womb. In college I didn’t miss one football game. Nowadays- I look forward to the 2 games I get to attend a year as much as Christmas [when I say games, I mean “tailgating” because my attention span with sports doesn’t really allow me to stay focused on football that long]. It’s all about the atmosphere. This town could take anyone’s breath away on a game day.

For years now, the fraternities make these amazing floats on Bowman field at Homecoming. As a child- they were works of art. As a college girl [drinking a beer and helping “pomp”] it was a party. As a graduate, it made me oh so nostalgic.


Here’s a picture taken in 1992 and one taken this year trying “recreate” the awkwardness. Haha- enjoy!

*side note on the ’92 wardrobe choices.
Mom- you look AWESOME. Loving the leggings and oversized striped turtle neck.
Sissy- the bowl cut was not a good choice (like you had one at 3).
and to myself- my grandmother dressed me and I appreciated every cheesy coordinated outfit she gave me. Don’t hate.