love lists: september 2013.

September 2013 was a month of nose-to-the-grindstone, blood-sweat-and-tears kind of work, in school as well as in other aspects of my life. It was a month of unrelenting to-do lists, days with far too few hours in them, & some - unfortunately - tearful moments spent in front of Statistics homework. But, I've made it through to the other side, & I'm ready to begin October with renewed hope, renewed enthusiasm, & renewed faith. But first... let's talk about the things I loved in the ninth month...

1. Archer Farms' Pumpkin Spice K-Cups. I'm a big lover of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte [yes, I'm one of the very many who line up the first day of September - or really, whenever it's released - to taste that first sip of fall-time-in-a-cup], but I've found this to be a lovely little alternative, which is much more cost-effective than a $4-per-day cup of joe. Thank you, Archer Farms.

2. NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in 723A Pink Cheek Glow. With the cooler months comes me wearing even more makeup than I already do. This, of course, means more blush, which is probably one of my favorite makeup items. This particular selection gives a rosy glow. Perfect any time of year, really, but especially beautiful for right now.

3. elf Contouring Blush & Bronzer Duo in blushed/bronzed. Another bargain, this bronzer has been compared to Nars' Laguna, & I can see why. I've really enjoyed it this month, & I find its pigmentation a pleasantly surprising experience each time.

4. Victoria's Secret Pink Body Lotion & Body Mist in Warm & Cozy. This one is a quintessential fall-time scent for me. Sweet, warm, & soothing, I've been slathering & spritzing it daily.

5. Homemade "Do" planner. Sometimes it just feels good to take matters into your own hands & design a planner. That's what I've been doing for the past couple of months, & it's something I plan to continue. Even though I'd like to add a Filofax to my organizational ranks come 2014, I will still be cranking out these homemade planners, to function as both a journal, as well as a rough-draft-planner, to map things out before neatly documenting them in my Filofax [hello, nerd alert].

6. The Wet Brush. A gift from my Mother-in-Law, I'm so glad to have this brush as part of my routine now. It can brush through the most difficult, tangly hair [read: mine] with ease & comfort. Note: your hair doesn't have to be wet to use it. That's just what it's called.

7. New Girl. I have a big love for Zooey Deschanel, so it didn't really surprise me when I took a liking to this show. But beyond her, the supporting cast is fantastic, hilarious, & lovable. Justin & I spent many-a-night laughing in front of this show. Love.

8. Glade candle in Fall Hayride. My new favorite candle. Go smell it & see/smell for yourself. It can easily compete with all of the Bath & Body Works favorites [the fall selections of which I need to stock up on soon].

Into watching vlogs?

Check out my corresponding September 2013 Favorites video here, or simply watch below!

What were you loving for the month of September? I'd love to hear about your favorite things.

LSC

love lists: november.

read on to learn what devices & products i was loving in the month of november.

1. conair 2-inch curling iron. as you'll learn in my video [if you watch it], curling irons can burn you. so be careful, especially if you're a klutz like me. all joking aside, this curling iron works really well for the kind of curls & waves i like to achieve. 
2. wal-mart teasing comb. super cheap & works great. highly recommended by both me & my mom.
3. aussie mega hair spray flexible hold. another product with a small price tag, this stuff smells awesome & prolongs your style without the crunch-factor.
4. bath & body works brown sugar & fig triple moisture body cream. one of the most delicious-smelling lotions i've come across in a long while. i'm fairly certain this scent is seasonal for the fall, but it may still be available in some stores. i'm looking forward to scooping up a few of them next year.
5. bath & body works candles in mahogany teakwood & chestnut & clove. i can't resist the 2-for-20 candles, & i'm so glad justin & i chose these. if you like a deliciously warm, holiday-smelling abode, these are for you.
6. clinique dramatically different moisturizing gel. this stuff works to really smooth out my skin, especially before applying makeup. the gel part means it's not too heavy for those who are on the oily side [like me].
7. nivea a kiss of milk & honey soothing lip care. this may very well be the first chap stick i ever actually use up. the texture is so smooth, & it helps to heal my easily-chapped lips. i use this at night before bed, but i'll soon be purchasing one to stay in my purse, so it can come everywhere with me.
8. estee lauder advanced night repair. since beginning to use this consistently, i've noticed a positive change in overall texture of my skin. plus, it feels great going on, right after you've cleansed your face, right before moisturizer.
9. maybelline color tattoo 24-hour shadow in bad to the bronze. everyone has this shade because it's the best. whether used as an outer-v darkener, or all over the lid as a shadow base, this creates an effortless, dramatic smoky eye.
10. maybelline instant age rewind dark circle eraser treatment concealer. does it need this long of a name to get its point across? probably not. but that's not what's important about this product. what's important about this product, is that it works. dramatically.

into watching vlogs?

check out my corresponding november favorites video here, or simply click below to watch!



despite the justin bieber face i'm making in the thumbnail, i can assure you that this is not a music video.

what's in my makeup bag + video.

as i discussed in this week's volume of the sunday currently, last week i was experiencing some major bloggers' block. for that reason, one afternoon, i plopped down in front of my laptop & was struck with the sudden inspiration to revive my beauty-video-making. 

for those of you who don't know, i am a huge proponent of the youtube beauty community. i watch beauty videos during my workouts, in the evenings, in the mornings while getting ready... long story short, i watch them a lot. 

and since i put out a monthly love list, i had started incorporating a video into my posts. however, when i went back home to shreveport to finish planning my wedding, i had to leave my macbook with justin in north carolina, causing the videos to take a seat on the back-burner. but now... they're back!

e.l.f. eye shadow palette in netural.

wet-n-wild color icon palette in sparkle til morning.

benefit 10 powder.

mac mineralized skin finish natural in medium.

urban decay all nighter long-lasting makeup setting spray.

nyc smooth skin bronzing face powder in sunny. 

laura gellar blush n brigthen in honey dipped.

e.l.f. tinted moisturizer in porcelain.

e.l.f. blush & bronzer duo in blushed & bronzed.

e.l.f. blush in blushing rose.

e.l.f. blush in candid coral.

e.l.f. blush in pink passion.

rimmel london fix & perfect pro primer in 002.

prestige brow perfection shaping studio in light to medium.

estee lauder double wear light foundation in intensity 2.0.

milani eye tech liquid eye liner in black.

e.l.f. mineral infused mascara in black.

estee lauder sumptuous mascara in black.

hard candy glamoflauge heavy duty conealer in light.

mac paint pot in painterly.

maybelline instant age remind dark circle concealer.

garnier skin renew anti dark circle eye roller in light/medium.

revlon colorstay eyeliner in black.

revlon colorstay liquid foundation in nude.

mac eye shadow in all that glitters.

mac eye shadow in espresso.

ecotools limited edition beautiful expressions kabuki set.

neutrogena healthy skin liquid makeup in natural ivory.

l'oreal voluminous carbon black mascara.

e.l.f. wet gloss lash & brow clear mascara.

into watching vlogs?

check out my corresponding what's in my makeup bag video here or just click below to watch.

getting wedding ready: skin care edition.

with my wedding date closing in at warp speed (115 days & counting!), i've kicked my beauty routines up into over-drive. i thought i'd feature a little series in the coming weeks, titled getting wedding ready. not only will this documentation coerce me to keep the good habits up, but perhaps

everyone would benefit in being reminded to take a little bit of extra special care of ourselves,

whether nuptials are in your near future or not. [goodness knows, i always need a reminder!]

with that intro out of the way, it's time to dive in to this week's theme: skin care.

the arsenal:

as you may have gathered from the above depiction, there are certain products i use in the morning, certain products i use at night, & then a little gathering of products i use either/or.

now, let's start with the early risers. these products only come out in the a.m. i use my neutrogena oil free acne wash pink grapefruit cream cleanser every morning when i wake up. why? because it smells absolutely delicious, has citrusy scents that do their darndest to perk me up in the morning, & gives me a fresh canvas for moisturizer. then, following moisturizer, which i'll discuss in the swingers category, comes sunscreen. i slather a pea-sized dollop of my aveeno active naturals continuous protection sunblock lotion, spf 30, onto my face, ears, & down my neck. this formula is specifically designed for the face. it smells like the beach & keeps my skin protected from the sun. what more could you ask for?

next up, the night owls. these products only come out - you guessed it - at night time, before bed. my night time routine begins with makeup removal. these trusty equate micro dermabrasion exfoliating cleansing towelettes are perfect for taking the day off. bonus? they are a terrific value. my two current favorite exfoliators - aveeno active naturals skin brightening daily scrub & proactiv solution renewing cleanser - fall into this category because it's better to exfoliate your skin at night. don't believe me? watch this video. that was all the coercion i needed to move these products into the nocturnal range. it's no surprise that my olay regenerist micro-sculpting cream is p.m.-only - its rich, creamy formula needs time to sink into the skin. to top my night time routine off, i pat a small amount of my yes to cucumbers soothing eye gel under each eye. gotta keep those peepers looking fresh!

and finally, let's discuss the swingers. these products easily transition between day & night time. some of them show up in both routines, such as my proactiv solution revitalizing toner. i squirt a generous amount of this onto a cotton ball & spread it across my face, after cleanser & before moisturizer. speaking of moisturizer, my go-to day time hydrator - clean & clear advantage acne control moisturizer - is perfect for keeping your skin spot-free. both my noxema the original deep cleansing cream, as well as my queen helene mint julep masque, are included in this category because they are used sparingly. and, last but not least, my cetaphil gentle skin cleanser is a swinger because it lives in my shower, & i use it absolutely all the time. 

into watching vlogs?

check out my corresponding getting wedding ready: 

skin care edition video here, or simply click below to watch.

so there you have it! that's my current method for working toward clear, glowy skin! i hope this helps anyone who is searching for the motivation to revamp their routine.

link-up: wedding wednesday \ something charming

love lists: may.

here are the products i've been picking up over & over again in the month of may!

1. sally hansen diamond strength no chip nail color in 420 nude shimmer.

this is a great neutral for summer time! it has a bit of iridescent shimmer to it - i think it's a really fun shade. thanks to emilynoel83, of beauty broadcast, for mentioning it. 

2. got2b fat-tastic instant collagen infusion mega lift root boosting spray.

i love using this product to give my hair a little bit of extra lift at the roots. i favor this over dry shampoo on my clean hair, because it doesn't leave a residue that - ironically - makes my hair feel dirty when it's freshly washed.

3. aveeno active naturals skin brightening daily scrub.

this has been a favorite of mine for almost an entire year now. this light scrub is great for every day use - it exfoliates & gives my skin a healthy glow. 

4. cetaphil gentle skin cleanser.

there's a reason everyone swears by this product - it is SUCH a great every day cleanser. mine lives in my shower, & i use it first thing when i get in. it is good at removing makeup (but you made need to use a makeup remover wipe on the eyes - it isn't fantastic at removing mascara) & is extremely gentle.

5. caress evenly gorgeous exfoliating body wash.

this body wash smells so great - it's warm, sweet, & relaxing. the exfoliating 'crystals' are large - so this scrub is a bit on the harsh side; however, i use it every time i shower. i will be re-purchasing this soon, as i am nearly out.

6. bath & body works fragrance mists in sensual amber & coconut lime breeze; body lotions in sensual amber & coconut lime verbena.

i can't get enough of the sensual amber scent - & you may have guessed that from some of my previous favorites videos. buying the fragrance mist was definitely a smart move. i love spritzing it on before bed (and all the time, really). coconut lime verbena has been a summer favorite of mine, so i was heartbroken when i popped in to bath & body works to replenish my supply & found they no longer carry it; however, coconut lime breeze is an excellent replacement, so i picked up the fragrance mist in this particular scent. yum!

7. lola, by marc jacobs.

this perfume is quickly becoming a staple in my fragrance collection, right there along-side burberry brit. thank you to my sister, kara, for introducing me to this warm, sweet, delicious perfume! favorite.

8. coastal scents 88 warm palette.

the credit for this purchase (over two years ago now) goes to my all-time favorite youtube beauty guru, meganheartsmakeup. i have gotten an inordinate amount of use out of this palette, & it's still going strong! even though i am more a fan of cool eye shadows, this warm palette is something i reach for again & again. 

9. nook color.

justin has absolutely spoiled me rotten by buying this for me! i love it so much, & i tell him that often (he's probably tired of hearing me squeal over it). it took a lot for me to give into the hype surrounding e-readers: i'm one of those people who likes the smell of a new book. however, i decided to give it a go, & i love it. thank you, justin! 

10. my low-lighted hair.

with my wedding coming up in october, i wanted to go a bit more natural with my hair. when i was in shreveport at the beginning of june, i had an appointment with my long-time hair dresser (cathy aitken at just friends hair salon), and i asked her if we could darken it up a bit, so it'd look more like my natural color. my hair really loves me for this decision - it looks & feels healthier. i love it!

honorable mentions: 

avon green flash quad.

at my shower a couple weekends ago, my future mother-in-law gave me this palette, & i adore it. look for it in my june favorites video!

laura's blog, little louisiana.

nothing makes me happier than when one of my in-real-life friends starts blogging! one of my oldest, dearest friends (who actually thew me the shower i mentioned above), has started a blog! YAY! go visit her here. she's just getting started, & i can't wait to see what she writes about. 

into watching vlogs?

check out my corresponding may favorites video here, or simply click below to watch!

love lists: february.

as the saying goes,

better late than never...

here are ten things i was loving for the month of february:

1. gossip girl.

i still haven't gotten completely caught up, but i plan to tackle that responsibility soon.

2. peonies.

directly related to number one. but it's true; i am now in love with them.

3. revlon lip butter in the shade berry smoothie.

when will i stop buying these things? probably never. this one is my favorite so far.

4. wet-n-wild's spring nail polish line.

at $1.99 a pop, & with a salon-style brush, how can i resist? i currently own four of the shades (wet cement, through the grapevine, on a trip, & i need a refresh-mint). but if i'm honest with myself, i know i'll soon have scooped all of them up. my favorites so far are wet cement & through the grapevine.

5. wearing earrings in my second piercing in each ear. 

does this make sense? i am wearing two earrings in each ear - pink sapphires my parents gave me for my birthday, & some smaller pearls. 

6. reading timeline, by michael crichton.

my dad has been suggesting this book for ages, & i decided it was time to give it a read. i'm on page 128, & it's starting to get really good.

7. taking part in the february photo-a-day challenge over on fat mum slim.

i loved it so much, i'm doing it again this month. i plan to post the photos in 10-day increments this time, instead of every monday, like i was doing for february. you can see my february posts here, here, here, & here (and there will be one more coming to wrap up february).

8. white roses.

justin was sweet enough to have flowers delivered to me on valentine's day this year. alongside my long-time favorite - orange roses - he chose white roses. he told me they signify new beginnings, of which we are currently experiencing a lot. i love it. thank you, justin!

9. if you have to cry, go outside, by kelly cutrone.

this was our selection for february's book club meeting. i loved her, & i can't wait to read her other book.

10. the purchase of my wedding dress.

no explanation necessary.

into watching vlogs? 

check out my corresponding february favorites video here, or simply click below to watch!

cute still frame, huh?

love lists: january.

january has been a whirlwind month of planning. with a big move coming up, as well as an impending wedding, & you'll understand why i've been a busy, excited girl. although january is definitely one of my least favorite months, i still managed to pull together a list of things i've loved. 

1. bath & body works 'be enchanted' spray.
2. nyc high definition volume mascara.

3. essie 'jag-u-are.'

4. urban decay naked2 palette (esepcially 'ydk').

5. garnier nutritioniste moisture rescue refreshing gel cream.

6. simple jewelry.

7. 'parisian chic,' by ines de la fressange.

8. top knots.

9. c.o. bigelow mentha lip tint in 'violet mint.'

10. revlon lip butter in 'pink truffle.'

also, since i enjoyed filming my first ever vlog so much, 

i thought i'd film an accompanying video for my favorites:

here's hoping february is both productive & relaxing.

starbucks sunday: a vlog.

as i sipped on my tall nonfat caramel macchiato on this lovely starbucks sunday,

i thought it was finally time i tried my hand at vlogging.

as a lover of the beauty gurus on youtube, i have thrown around the idea again & again of making my own videos. however, as i do not yet have the appropriate equipment to properly film makeup tutorials & such, i have opted to film the accent tag today. this tag has been floating around the internet for what feels like an eternity, & i have watched what feels like millions of these uploads, but i thought what the heck...

so, there you have it! i hope you enjoyed my forray into the vlogosphere.