Tuesday Tips 17: Happy National Lipstick Day!

Hi Beauties!

Happy National Lipstick Day! Today's tip has to be the greatest of all time! I have been preaching it to all my friends and could not leave you out! In honor of today's holiday, I wanted to give you all the best money saving tip you will get when it comes to lipsticks!

Let's start from the beginning. Have you seen something like this?

Clinque was one of the first companies to come out with this concept when they introduced their Chubby Sticks ($17). It changed the way people lipsticked forever. I was excited when I tried them but I was not blown away like I usually am by their products (moisturizer is god-sent).

A few months later, my sister, a lipstick queen, told me about the Revlon ColorBurst balms. This time I was blown away, far far away! Revlon seriously has it down to the T with this product. It has great application, vibrancy, consistency, texture, pigment, and best of all, it is long lasting! They retail for around $7-8 and are worth every penny! Save your $ and stay away from expensive lipsticks and stains from Sephora and try the Revlon ColorBurst balms instead! They come in two different finishes, Balm Stain which has a shinier finish, and Matte Balm which has the perfect non drying matte finish.

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm: HERE
Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain: HERE

These lip balms have become my family's must-haves! Seriously...even my grandma rocks it! Hope you give them a try!

Prancing In Peach!

Hi Beauties! 

Cropped tops are in every girl's closet this season. They show the perfect amount of mid-drift without going overboard on the inappropriate side. My favorite one true pairing this summer are high waisted  skirts and cropped tops. I love that they meet right at that itty bitty waist making me feel very feminine and glam. 

I don't wear this denim cropped top (Mandee's $11) nearly as much as I love it, but it is always front and center in my closet. I paired it with a peach skirt (Forever 21 $13) and a matching peach/gold tiered necklace (Forever 21 $8). For other accessories, I slipped on gold silver stoned bangles (Macy's), a peach/white flower bouquet ring, and my comfy nude heels.

I hope you enjoyed this post! What is your favorite one true pairing?

Tuesday Tips 16: Cool Your Polish!

Hi Beauties!

Most likely you paint your nails on an impulse when you are bored. The next time you want to paint your nails, put the nail polish in the fridge beforehand for fifteen minutes. This will allow your nails to dry faster with a smoother application. Any amount of heat can activate the solvents in the nail polish which is the reason for the clumpy and thick texture. As you wait for the polish to cool, make sure you remove any dirt on your nails and smooth out the ridges.

Hope this helps! I cannot paint my nails properly to save my life, but this helps me fake a great manicure!

Brighten Your Day!

Hi Beauties! 

I was feeling a little bright this day, even though Mother Nature was having mixed emotions. The sun was blinding me in the morning but an hour later, I was drowning in buckets of rain. Get it together MN because you almost ruined my lunch date!

True story, I took these pictures before lunch just incase I came back drenched. I am a firm believer that you will feel a certain way on the inside depending on what you wear on the outside. So I wore something fun and colorful to brighten up such a dark and gloomy day!

This dress became my summer wardrobe's favorite a few years ago when I bought it from Forever 21 (approximately $15). I like how it speaks for itself and does not require too many additional accessories. I tied my infamous chambray shirt (H&M $18) around the waist and accessorized with my bold yellow purse (Forever 21) and white sandals (Charlotte Russe $15). I kept the jewelry simple with my gold watch, bracelets, and white studs (Forever 21 $5).

I hope you enjoyed! What helps you turn a gloomy day into bright one?

Tuesday Tip 15: Oh, Stop! Don't Make Me Blush!

Hi Beauties!

Wearing blush is one of the easiest makeup step in the entire world! There is no serious blending, dabbing, and precision but it can make you look more awake and youthful with just a dab! However, here's the catch... if you do not place it correctly you may end up looking like the embarrassed emoji!

Just follow the Rule of Thumb: Apply blush starting two fingers away from your nostrils on both sides of the nose. This will give you that subtle and al natural contouring and definition effect.

If you have not yet mastered the technique of wearing blush, I hope you try this out!

03 Bonnie and Clyde

Hi Fashionistas!

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to attend the most anticipated concert of the summer to see the most powerful couple in the music industry! The On The Run tour was one of the best concerts I have ever attended, and as per usual Queen B was breathtaking...absolutely gorgeous! Every time she did an outfit change and walked out, all I could think was "How does she look like that? How is she even real?" #ThisIsNotRealLife

 

I never know what to wear to concerts but since the genre of the music did not acquire a certain theme of clothing, I went for comfortable, casual, cute, and something that could keep me cool in the high 70 degree weather. Looking at my wardrobe, I thought "Well, nothing beats the combination of solids and prints!" 

I just bought these pants from H&M ($5 on clearance), they looked fitting but were very flexible. The material was light enough to keep me cool in the sun but thick enough to keep me content during the night. I traded in my usual everyday small studs for larger white and gold studs from Forever 21 ($5). I didn't wear a necklace this time since I wore my DIY body chain! :)

Heels for concerts are a no-no for me since I like to dance and sing along from my seat freely without toppling over. I went for these flats (Tory Burch) as they were a safer and cuter option with the gold detailing. To hold my personal items, I took my purple cross-body purse (Forever 21 $15) which matched perfectly with the purple details on my pants.

A nanosecond after Jay-Z said "Light up this stadium with your phones."

I hope you enjoyed! Remember to bring your shades with you if the concert is outside. Trust me, you will need them if you have to wait an hour like I did for the official concert to start. But what concerts are you guys going/gone to this summer?

Tuesday Tips 14: Lipstick Ready!

Hi Pretty Girls!

I've been having a blast this summer but unfortunately, yesterday I had to put on my big girl hat and have my wisdom teeth pulled. So at this moment, as I write each and every word, I look like a serious chipmunk.

After my gums heal, my lips need some serious TLC! Since I had massive amounts of gauze in my mouth yesterday, my lips have dried out and are so flaky! No matter when or where, chapped lips are not attractive and lipstick on chapped lips is even more unattractive!

If you are looking at your lips right now thinking the same thing, fear not because I have a recipe for a simple lip scrub that can help you beat the chap for CHEAP!

You will need: 

1 Tablespoon of Sugar

1 Tablespoon of Honey

1/2 Teaspoon of Olive Oil

Lip scrubs are manufactured by numerous companies and brands but you can make an easy one in your kitchen that will exfoliate, replenish, and restore just as well. Best part, you only need a few common ingredients! Put all the ingredients in a small bowl or jar and mix until combined. Scrub it onto the lips in a circular motion and wipe off with a damp washcloth or luke warm water...just like a face wash!

I hope you enjoyed! Make sure those lips are lipstick ready!

Party In The USA!

Hi Everyone!

Tomorrow our girl America is turning 238 years old and surprisingly she doesn't look a day over 200! Can you believe that it is already July?! Where is this summer going? But with July, comes our favorite holiday, the fourth of July! :) I am sure that this weekend many of you will be enjoying the holiday fun with parades, barbecues, family get togethers, and of course the customary fireworks!

Whenever the end of June comes around, I start to plan my red, white, and blue outfit even though it is clearly weeks in advance! I feel like this is truly the one day (or weekend) you can dress like the American flag and actually look cute.

I am very excited to write this post today, because not only do I have a few Independence Day themed outfits, but also some DIY food ideas that you can make quickly and easily if you have a cookout to attend or just want something festive to munch on! I hope you enjoy! Please follow the blog and "like" it on Facebook!

Outfits:
One Hundred and One Spots! 
This is my favorite outfit! I wanted to stay true to the red, white, and blue color scheme without going overboard and looking rambunctious. I wore a satin top (Mandee's $7) over these new blue and white pants from H&M ($5 on clearance)! I wrapped up the outfit with my white lace canvas shoes and a red/white necklace!

Peter Pan meets George Washington! 
This outfit is more formal. I pulled this navy sheer top from the back of my closet (Marshalls $15) and paired it with an off-white circle skirt (H&M $10) along with a pair of nude heels (Steve Madden). I skipped wearing a necklace since the shirt already had a detailed peter pan pearled collar, but to finish the patriotism, I incorporated this leather clutch.

Live Your Life! 
This is a great outfit for outdoor fun. I tucked my shirt (American Eagle $15) into my navy shorts from Forever 21 ($15) and slipped on my favorite red TOMS to keep it casual yet fun. Incase I wanted to cuddle up in the summer night breeze, I took along a chunky net cardigan (Urban Outfitter's $25 on sale).

Food:
First thing first, I cannot cook. I cannot bake. I cannot prepare anything without burning it. I am useless in the kitchen. Honestly, my mom has nicknamed me "useless." Now, since we got that out of the way, let me introduce four easy as can be food ideas you can make for the Fourth of July..and I don't lie!

Pop, Lock, and Eat it! 

One bag of microwaveable popcorn

One bag of M&M's

Pop the popcorn in the microwave, pour it into a bowl and let it cool. Then, add only the red and blue M&M's to the bowl. It is so easy that a two year old could do it, but regardless of the age, everyone loves popcorn and M&M's!

Guilt-free Guilty Pleasures!

A box of Betty Crocker brownie mix

Handful of strawberries

Handful of blueberries 

A pack of skewers

Bake the brownies according to the instructions on the box. Meanwhile, cut the strawberries in half or in slices. When the brownies are done baking, put them into the refrigerator or freezer to cool. They must be cooled before you put them on the skewer, or else they will fall apart and crumble. When the brownies are cooled, cut them into small one inch bites and arrange them onto the skewer with the fruits. Best dessert to satisfy any sweet tooth and it is a lot healthier than having one normal size brownie!

I Pledge Allegiance To The Pesto?

One mozzarella cheese block

20-25 Cherry tomatoes

Handful of blueberries

Pesto spread

This turned out to be everyone's favorite! It is an imitation of the popular caprese salad, but I substituted pesto for the common fresh basil.
Start off with a white square or rectangular plate to represent the shape of the flag. Place blueberries in a square bowl and set it to the top left hand side of the plate. Cut the cheese (hehehe) into small cubes and arrange them onto the plate like shown. Cut each cherry tomato in half but before placing them on the plate, pipette a small amount of pesto under each tomato half. Leave a cup of toothpicks on the side of the plate so everyone can serve themselves.

Cheers To The Freakin' Weekend! 

Water

Ice

Strawberry slices

Handful of blueberries

10-15 Mint leaves

Lemon or Lime slices

Everyone opted for a glass of this refreshing flavored water versus the other sugary soft drinks that were being offered. Fill a jug with ice, water, the fruits, and mint leaves! Make sure to prepare it 30 minutes in advance before serving so there is time for the flavors to submerge into the water. 

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the weekend! 

"Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall." 

--John Dickinson

Tuesday Tips 13: Luscious Lashes!

Hi Beauties!

The loveliest ladies in magazines have the boldest and most glamorous lashes. Unfortunately, they are not real, often, if not always, they are wearing falsies. False eyelashes can dramatize any look and make the eyes appear intense! However, if you are not a pro at putting on lashes it may be a hassle and you will end up looking like a hot mess. Today I am going to share with you a simple trick that can help your lashes look voluminous and bold with just your favorite mascara and baby powder! 

Steps to luscious lashes:
1. Lightly apply one coat of mascara to your lashes
2. Take a small eyeshadow brush
3. Dip the brush into the baby powder
4. Brush the baby powder on to the lashes
5. Apply a few more coats of mascara till satisfied

Picture By: Saleha Blogs

Your lashes will look thicker and more voluminous with baby powder than ever before and there will be no flaking since the mascara will act as an adhesive for the baby powder. Hope you gals try this out!