Orange Crush

As a warning, this post may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I seriously CANNOT get enough of orange colored lips. There's something so fierce and energetic about a firey pout that it basically gives me an instant boost of self confidence every time I rock one. Plus, orange just screams summertime. Spicy lips, bronzed skin, beachy waves...what's not to love?

Today I wanted to share five of my favorite lip products for channelling my inner sexy salsa dancer. If orange seems way outside your comfort zone, I challenge you to take the plunge and give it a try! It's an extremely flattering color on light and deep skintones alike, but much like its oh-so-basic cousin pink, it's all a matter of finding a shade that works right for you.

Super Summer Sale at Sephora!

Exciting news, everyone! If you haven't recently checked the sale section of the Sephora website, it appears to have exploded with a ton of amazing new things. It looks like there's a giant selection of Tarte products at reduced prices, as well as some other incredible finds. Fragrances, nail polish, skincare sets, brushes, makeup...there's basically a little something for everyone! But remember, these products are probably in limited quantities, so you'll want to act fast if there's something in particular that's calling to you because I'm sure they'll sell out quick! Here's a quick look at just a few of the awesome things you'll find on-the-cheap!

Everyday Makeup Summer 2015

Hey everyone! You know what I haven't written in an eon? An everyday makeup post. For someone who is constantly wearing makeup, testing makeup, and talking about makeup, I probably should make more of an effort to show you what I've got on my face most days, and the types of looks I'm currently digging. This summer I've been all about bold lips, a flawless complexion, and neutrals on the eyes. There are quite a few products in my stash that I rotate through to get this kind of look, but here are a few of the ones I'm hooked on right now!

Beach Day (Minus the Getaway)

Summer is FINALLY, officially here! The hot, sunny days. The warm, breezy nights. I absolutely adore this time of year, and fully intend on savoring every moment from now until the leaves start turning. I wish that I could constantly be adventuring in the outdoors or lounging on the beach, but my 8-5 job makes that pretty difficult. Fortunately, whenever I'm feeling the pangs of being landlocked, I can turn to my beauty stash for a little mental escape. A sunkissed glow, tousled waves, and sweetly perfumed skin are easily recreated at home with these beautiful, beach inspired products.

New in at the Drugstore (Summer 2015)

I can never stay away from the beauty aisles of the drugstore for too long. With amazing deals and lots of coupons it's hard to resist new beauty at a fraction of the price! This time around I picked up a small assortment of things to try, most of which are relatively new to the shelves. I've got two recent styling products from my favorite drugstore haircare brand, Not Your Mother's, one of the uber hyped La Palette Nudes from L'Oreal, a multi hued-blush from Physician's Formula, and a gorgeously mattifying foundation from Maybelline.

Festival Essentials

With the coming and going of Coachella, the festival season is finally underway! As a latecomer to the party (as I so frequently am) I had never been to a music festival until my boyfriend/partner-in-awesome and I decided to spontaneously buy tickets to Firefly last year. It was an exhausting and exhilarating experience, and the only reason we aren't going back this year is because we weren't too enthused about the lineup. Alas, even with only one festival under my belt I definitely learned a thing or two about what to pack. While a lot of the fun of attending a festival like Coachella or Firefly is in sporting flowy, skin baring clothing and fun, colorful makeup, there are also some practical necessities to consider. Like how to not feel absolutely disgusting after four days in the sun without a shower. Or end up with a horrific sunburn. So, before you start picking out eyeliners and flash tattoos, consider these total lifesaving beauty products that, while perhaps a little less glamorous, will totally help you to look and feel your best during your trip!

Sephora Summer Sale Haul

Even though the weather has decided to get a head start on things over the past few weeks, it is finally officially the first day of fall! As much as I love the summertime, my inner New Englander does appreciate fall just about as much. From the changing leaves, to pumpkin everything, to apple picking, to breaking out the boots and sweaters and scarves there is a lot to look forward to over the coming months.

I have SO many things I have to share with you all. Right now I literally have about 5 different posts in progress - my September favorites, my Birchbox and Glambag reviews, a quick overview of the awesome haul I got at the Grand Opening of the new ULTA a few towns over, and my thoughts on the timeless red lip. I have had such a crazy week though, and this is the first day that I'm actually able to sit down and write. So...expect a lot of updates over the next couple of days as I'm finally able to wrap things up!

In the meantime, I have a long overdue review of my haul from the Sephora Summer Sale. A lot of these products are still available at the discounted price, so you may able to snag them if you are interested.

Summer 2013 Favorites

I can't believe the summer is finally coming to a close. When you aren't someone with kids or who is going back to school themselves, it's easy to be in denial about the whole thing. The weather has still been warm and beautiful as ever, and there's a little part of me that wants to believe that it'll just keep going on forever....and then I'll walk into just about any store and see that everyone is already in full-out Halloween mode, and realize it's only a matter of time before I have to begrudgingly pack away my flip flops and sundresses.

But, instead of mourning over the passing of my favorite season, I figured it would be much nicer to celebrate the warmer months by recapping some of my favorite products from this summer.

Garden Party & A Fresh Summery Makeup Look

It's Monday.

I'm not exactly thrilled that the work week has returned. I had such a lovely and relaxing weekend, and I really wasn't ready for it to end. 

A friend of mine threw a get-together on Saturday at her parent's house. They have a spectacular back yard. My inner photographer was seriously geeking out. Now, when I say spectacular, I mean complete with an abundance of picturesque plants and vegetation, a Koi pond (with mini waterfall, of course), a pergola, and an enormous vegetable garden. So, on top of being constantly inspired to take beautiful pictures, I also got to sit back and enjoy the beauty of nature with a glass of wine in my hand, surrounded by the company of good friends.

I can't really think of much else better in life.

So, without further adieu, here are some of my favorite shots of the day.

Lazy Day Look & Free Sample Friday

I love the summer.

The heat, the sunshine, the longer days, trading in regular coffee for iced, shoes that show off my latest pedicure...everything about the summertime just makes me feel a little bit happier to be alive.

I think I'm in a little bit of shock that it's already July. The summer months always seem to fly by so quickly, despite my attempts to savor them as much as possible. As a birthday gift to myself I decided to take the 3rd-5th off from work and it has been FANTASTIC. I've already had a whole weekend's worth of time and it's still only Friday!