Amazon bookstore haul

2 days away from December - I'm holding holiday posts until then (just so I seem remotely sane). This post is long overdue! A few weeks ago, at the beginning of November, everyone in Seattle was surprised with the opening of the Amazon Bookstore. Renovations had been going on in the building for awhile, but everything was kept very hush-hush. There were no announcements about the opening, and the windows were kept covered and shut during the preparation. My opinion? SMART. Everyone was stoked to see such a surprise in University Village, and it's right around the holidays...Amazon knows what they're doin' folks. 

Since I work right by where this opened, I had to go check it out, but I waited a few days for the crowds to calm down a bit. I decided to spend my day off doing a few little errands in U Vill - returning RedBox movies, doing some grocery shopping, getting a coffee, and visiting Amazon. I headed down to the village in my cuffed Madewell jeans (I wear these like they're pajamas because they're so amazing), quilted slip-on Steve Madden sneakers, a basic dolman tee from Old Navy, my favorite herringbone vest from J.Crew, and a fuzzy blanket scarf from H&M to stay nice and cozy.

As I walked into the village, I spotted baby Christmas trees and all sorts of wreaths and holiday style plants at Ravenna Gardens, which is pretty much the cutest place ever, so I obviously stopped in to check everything out.

Even with my bundled scarf and down vest, I was getting a bit chilly, so I grabbed an extra-hot coffee real quick (toasted graham before they run out, don't forget to ask to add whip cream) to warm up. And yes, I know it's a red cup ;) One of my favorite things about the village is all the gorgeous festive lights around all the trees.

After a few more errands, I headed over to the Amazon Bookstore. From the outside, it looks super sleek!

It was pretty busy inside, so weaving my way through the people in a place much smaller than I expected was definitely a little difficult. The organization of the bookstore is great. All the books are face forward, so you can see the covers of everything with a description of the book below, along with it's average star review on Amazon.com. The selection wasn't huge, and mostly consists of top-rated books from online, but if you're looking for a cheap stocking stuffer, a recently released or highly-rated book, or something just to check out, it's great! There are about two whole bookshelves for each genre (biography, sci-fi, business, non-fiction, fiction, etc.), and there are some cool items like the Fire TV Stick, and some other little gadgets here and there. The only thing I wasn't fond of is how there aren't prices on anything...everything sells at Amazon.com prices, so you can either look them up on your phone, or use a scanner located in the store (which can be difficult with lines of people). Also, they only take card, which nowadays isn't really a big deal, but it could be an inconvenience to some. Reading some reactions to Amazon's appearance in U Vill, there were a lot of customers upset that a Barnes & Noble wasn't placed there instead. In all honesty, as a student and saver, I'm very excited to see this store here. There's nothing else like it in the area, Barnes & Noble is extremely expensive, and it's something different and new!

I ended up with a little bag of goodies leaving the store at the beginning of this month, and went back in for a few Christmas gifts a week ago!

The two books I purchased the first time around were I am Malala and Invention of Wings. I just finished reading The Shack, so I'm excited to start these newbies.

How do you guys feel about the Amazon Bookstore's surprise arrival? Have you taken a visit yet or would you prefer to stay online? What books are you diving into this month?

15 must-have fall shoes

Happy Thanksgiving, loves! I hope you enjoyed your turkey day, celebrated all we have to be thankful for in our lives, and stuffed yourself so full of food that your pants needed to be unbuttoned and unzipped towards the end of dinner.

IT'S ALMOST DECEMBER GUYS. Prepare for many favorites post. You're going to get sick of them. Prepare for many holiday themes and items. Loving Christmas runs in my family, and we start getting excited well before Thanksgiving. The fact that you haven't seen these posts yet is just me having decent self-control and holding back. But really, all day long all I think is Christmas. I set up my baby tree and stockings the day after Halloween, and Fitz went to town and started eating the leaves...thanks, bud. Have fun poopin' out fake pine. My grandma starts Christmas shopping in September, and is done before Thanksgiving. She keeps a detailed journal of all she bought and the prices on everything, so she can keep everyone even, most adorable woman I've ever met. Okay, enough about my crazy Christmas family.

Now that a new season is approaching, the sandals go away in a box in the back of the closet, and some new styles of shoes need to make their way onto the shoe rack. There are some new fall shoe styles that I'm loving right now, so I thought I'd put together a little guide of 5 heels, 5 flats, and 5 boot must-haves for this season!

1. Sole Society Maia // Loafers are a major essential for this fall. They are the step up from flats. They make any outfit classy, and there are some super chic ones from Sole Society and Nine West especially. I'm a sucker for pointed toe flats, black patent ones are so chic and classy with a pair of black capri slacks, but these burgundy ones from Sole Society really caught my eye. They would dress up a pair of cuffed jeans with a cream blouse for the holidays perfectly.

2. Steve Madden LeCrew // Lace-up flats have been blogger fantasy for awhile now, and there are finally some affordable styles from Steve Madden and Topshop in both neutral and bold colors. I love the suede ones from Steve Madden. Black goes with everything, suede is such a comfortable material, and finding sprays to rain-proof the material is super easy. They look ballet-esque paired with a chiffon dress, or you can pair them with cuffed jeans and a boyfriend blazer for an effortless look.

3. Steve Madden Ecentrcq // A pair of simple, comfortable sneakers for errand days are a wardrobe must. These leather quilted sneakers from Steve Madden look super stylish, but are comfortable and can be worn with a really casual outfit to stroll through Target or the grocery store on any given day.

4. Sole Society Cammila // Like I said, sucker for pointed toe loafers. But, also a sucker for glitter. Put those together and man am I sold. For the holidays (okay let's be honest, glitter is excusable at any point or season), you have to have something, anything, glittery in your closet. 

5. Madewell Mira // If you guys follow my Instagram account, you know that I posted these Madewell flats on my page about a week back. They are probably the most chic shoes I own. The slanted cut on the front of the shoe is beautiful on the foot, and the suede and build of the shoe just feels luxurious. They are classy with any look, and they're just so beautiful I can't get over them. Sole Society recently started carrying this similar model in black and bright indigo, and everything on the site is 30% till the end of tonight! Imagine the deals on Cyber Monday...

1. Sole Society Ayla // Another one of my classic favorites is a simple suede heel with an ankle strap. Ankle straps are great because they make heels 1000x easier to walk in. They look even classier in a mid-heel height like the Ayla from Sole Society. The ones in my closet are in this beautiful hunter green shade, which is perfect for the holidays. If you are a shorter figure, try sticking with thin ankle straps like these, because thicker ankle straps can really cut off your legs and make you look shorter.

2. Steve Madden Kissses // An essential from summer to fall to winter to spring is a classic nude heel. I have worn my nude heels for almost every job interview I've had. They go with everything, and they're great for when a different piece of your outfit needs to make the statement. Nude heels are great in leather and suede.

3. Sole Society Mallory // T-strap heels are more of a sexy style of shoe, especially in a deep red like this one. They look stunning with dresses and skirts. Red is one of my favorite colors; these Mallory heels from Sole Society are gorgeous.

4. Sole Society Chels // Another must-have for fall is a plaid heel. Sole Society has multiple styles of heels that come in plaid with red and black, deep green, and navy, and they're all amazing. The plaid styles are unique and add a big statement to a simple outfit. I have these ones on in a post from a few days ago!

5. Aldo Sorbara // Similar to the ankle strap favorites of mine, ankle-tie heels are a new favorite. The nice thing about ankle tie heels is that those with very narrow ankles sometimes have issues with the ankle straps not fitting quite the way it should, so ankle tie heels are a perfect solution. The tie adds a pretty element to the shoe as well. These ones from Aldo come in a gorgeous bordeaux suede, it's as a dark as burgundy can get without being pure black, and they're stunning. Good luck buying any of their shoes before tonight though, they have a waiting list to even get on the site today because everything is 50% off!

1. Sperry Saltwater // Last season, the duck boot trend was released with all the craze over the 'bean boots' from L.L. Bean. They sold out crazy fast. I was so excited to see Sperry had some, because their shoes are always unbelievably comfortable. Mine are burgundy on the bottom, and the fabric part of the boot is a light tan. They're so cute with tucked in skinnies and some scrunched crew socks peeking out. The best part? Rainproof, and fleece inside, so no need to double up socks to keep your feet warm.

2. Aldo Barra // Over-the-knee socks have been a big trend for awhile, and I've never quite found a way to pull them off. I'm also insanely picky about tall boots. They have to work just right with the right jeans, right socks, and they have to flatter your calves, fit them right, and flatter your thighs. I've had the hardest time finding boots that flatter me in these ways. When I was looking through some of my favorite bloggers at the start of fall, I saw them wearing these stunning boots that covered the knee and tied in the back of thigh. Before buying, I had to take measurements and do price checks all around because they're pretty spendy, and they have to fit your thigh well. All the bloggers were wearing was Stuart Weitzman, $700+, not quite my price range! I found a pair on Aldo's website that were extremely similar (I got mine in taupe), and had overall great reviews. Remember to shop the sales and coupons on retailmenot.com. Also, first shop at Aldo.com is 15% off with your email. These boots are amazing quality, and the fit is so flattering. They do run very narrow (which is great for me since I have very narrow feet, but I'd recommend to size up if you have wider feet).

3. Hunter Original // Living in Seattle, there are some popular trends - Hunters, North Face vests, white converse, and military jackets. 90% of female students on campus will be wearing at least 2 of these things around campus in fall, don't trust my statistics by the way ;) Hunters are great, comfortable, stylish rain boots. They now come in adjustable calf sizes, and a lot of colors. They are spendy, but well worth the price. I got mine for Christmas a couple years ago and wear mine all through the fall. They only come in half sizes, so I recommend sizing up to wear wellies inside for extra warmth. My favorite ones are the matte black pair.

4. Sole Society Lyriq // Having a thick-heeled casual bootie for days out to lunch with the girls is another closet essential. These ones from Sole Society are suede and come in tan, army green, and navy. I love the navy and army green because they are a little different, but they still pair well with everything. They look great with casual dresses, or vests and cuffed jeans.

5. TopShop 'Basing' Chelsea // If you need to limit yourself to one fall shoe purchase, buy yourself some chelsea boots. I wear my chelsea boots more than any shoe in my closet! I put Superfeet in the bottoms for extra comfort and wear with some patterned cozy crew socks with some cuffed jeans. I have a pair in brown with a pull-tab on the back that make them easy to put on, and they're super casual. I also have this black leather pair from Topshop that are more on the dressy side. Leather booties are great for when you need to pack in some thick socks or toe warmers secretly to keep your tootsies nice and warm during the fall, but when you still need to dress an outfit up a bit.

What are your must-have fall shoe styles? Where is your favorite place to shop for shoes? What shoes are you going to be rocking during the holiday season this year? I'd love to hear your faves below!

Fresh faced

Every once and awhile, I'll have those days where I just want to skip the dramatic eyeliner, the spider-eyed mascara, and the long morning routine, but I still want to leave the house not looking like I just rolled out of bed. A simple, fresh faced makeup routine is essential for these days. So, I thought I would share with you guys my under-10-minute fresh face makeup routine, along with all the products I use to achieve it. Seeing all the products, it seems like there's no way it could take 10 minutes, but I promise, it's easy peasy lemon squeezy, and every product I've used is linked down below!

The Steps

Pre-Application // Make sure to apply all your makeup to a clean and moisturized face! For me, this takes the first 3-5 minutes of my 10 minute makeup. I cleanse, tone, apply serum and oil, then eye treatment and facial cream.

1. Primer // I use Kiehl's skin perfector as my primer, but use whatever works best for you! I like this primer because it is meant to blur large pores, so it makes makeup apply much smoother.

2. Corrector // To add an extra step to cover my very dark under-eyes, I apply Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque underneath my eyes.

3. Concealer // To hide my tired under-eyes, I apply concealer in a downward triangle shape under my eyes, as well as any dark spots or pimples I want to cover. I blend all of this with my Beauty Blender, but your fingers work just as well if you press the formula into your skin to apply. My concealer of choice is MAC Mineralize Concealer in shade NW15.

4. Mineral Powder // For days where I want to look fresh and simple, I use mineral powder instead of liquid foundation. It is a faster routine, and easier to apply evenly. I've been using the Mary Kay Mineral Powder for years, in the shade Beige 1.

5. Buffing Brush // I dip a buffing brush in mineral powder, and rub in circles all over my face, pressing the powder into my skin.

6. Bronzing // To add a healthy glow and dimension, I apply bronzer in the areas I would contour on a normal day. Right now, I love the glow that MAC Bronzing Powder gives, I use the shade Refined Golden.

7. Tapered Brush // To apply bronzer, blush, and highlighter, I use the 129 brush from MAC. I first use this to apply bronzer to the hollows of my cheekbones and my hairline. I also apply bronzer under my jawline and under my chin, to add dimension and structure to my jawline.

8. Mineral Blush // Using the flat end of the tapered brush, I apply blush to the apples of my cheeks. I use MAC Mineralize Blush in shade Dainty, for a natural, pinky glow.

9. Highlighter // To add more natural glow, I use the tapered end of my brush to apply a small amount of highlighter to the highest part of my cheekbones, the center of my nose, cupid's bow, and underneath my bottom lip.

10. Mascara // On days like this, I usually skip the curling of my eyelashes and just apply mascara directly. My favorite mascara is from Marcelle. It adds a lot of natural lenghth, and it doesn't clump or add unnatural amounts of volume.

11. Setting Spray // Since mineral powders can be very mattifying, I like to use a setting spray instead of setting powder at the end of this routine. It adds a luminous glow, while holding the makeup in place for the day.

The fresh faced look

How do you change your makeup routine so you can run out the door looking fresh and natural? What are your go-to products for these days?

MAC hits and misses

As you guys know, I have been obsessed with MAC's lipsticks and lip pencils for quite some time, causing me to collect a few. I've talked about the MAC Cosmetics store and my visits there with rave reviews. The employees are always so helpful finding shades that are good for my skin tone, recommending good products, as well as providing their honest opinions on products that aren't their faves. After I fell in love with their lipsticks and lip pencils, I was interested in trying to find a few other products from them, in hopes I might love them just as much. A few months ago, I went in looking for a bronzer, blush, and highlighting powder that would suit my skin tone, and work well for the fall season, since my sunkissed glow has officially disappeared. Since I've tried a few more products from them, I thought this would be a great opportunity to share some "hits" (great products) and "misses" (almost there, but not quite) from MAC. Since you guys have already read about my love for their lipsticks and pencils way too many times, consider them in the "hits" category, and I'll skip over those, and talk about some of their products that I haven't talked about with you guys much before. Here is a video where I talk about the hits and misses as well.

The hits

Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden // (Top left) With these chillier months, I tend to get really white really fast. I start to miss my shimmering, sunkissed summer skin, so leaving the house without bronzer is a no-no. I like to place my bronzer in the contouring areas (under jawline, hollows of cheekbones, sides of nose, hairline and sides of forehead). I still haven't mastered learning to contour, so I use this powder to add structure to my face as contouring would, as well as a glow in areas that tend to be sunkissed in the summer, like my hairline and nose. I love the shimmer that this powder has to it. For swatches, check out the video I'm posting on youtube about this post tonight!

Mineralize Blush in Dainty // (Top middle) Since I am quite fair naturally, a light pink or peachy blush suits my skintone best. When one of the MAC store employees put this on my cheeks, I was sold. It's such a pretty pink, and gives my skin tone the perfect glow. I love that this powder has some shimmer to it as well. The packaging is magnetic and kind of a pain to open, but I get over it once I put this on every morning.

Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle // (Top right)For a long period of time, I was using a light shimmering eyeshadow on my highlight areas because I didn't own a highlighter. It was a pain in the butt, hard to apply and blend, and wasted eyeshadow that I was really fond of. I finally decided to get an actual highlighter, and I couldn't be happier. The shade Soft and Gentle is absolutely beautiful. The glow it has is amazing, and very little goes a very long way. One finger swatch is very pigmented, but it blends out so easily. I apply this on my highlight areas (upper cheekbones, center of my nose, cupid's bow, and under my bottom lip). I went home about a month ago, and my mom asked me what I was wearing, she said I was glowing, guess what is was? 

129 Brush // (Far right) All my life I've owned standard makeup brushes, nothing fancy. I own 4 brushes, an angle brush, an eyeshadow blush, a buffing brush, and a powder brush. Since I use my bronzing powder in my contour areas, I wanted a brush that would help me apply this best. When I went to MAC in search of a brush, I told them I didn't want to spend a lot, and that I was looking for a brush I could use to contour, highlight, and apply blush. The brush he recommended was $52, and I wasn't willing to spend that. The 129 brush that I purchased was $35, and I've never owned a brush I've loved so much in my life. All my brushes are itchy, synthetic hairs. MAC brushes are all real hair, so they are extremely soft, and they last a very long time. I love this brush because it is tapered at the end, so I can use the thin end to get in smaller areas like the center of my nose and hollows of my cheeks, but I can use the bigger, flat side to apply blush.

Mineralize Concealer in NW 15 // (Bottom left) Finding a concealer that doesn't crease and doesn't dry your undereyes is a true feat. I love this concealer for remedying both of these things. It is hydrating, and the consistency is so nice and blendable. The only thing I don't like about this is the packing, it comes like a nail polish would, and I find it a tad unsanitary to be applying directly and then placing right back into the tube.

Paint Pot in Groundwork // (Bottom center) I can't rave enough about these paint pots. They come in a fancy glass container, with a screwable lid (when these containers are empty, you can take 6 in for a free lipstick). It is a creamy consistency that you apply directly to your eyelid. You can use this as a primer in a neutral color if you need something to ensure your eyeshadow stays longer. Or, you can use this in place of an eyeshadow, as I do. They are very pigmented, but very blendable. The consistency feels amazing, and it stays on all day long. You need a small amount, this glass pot will last a long time. Online advice says to store the pot upside down to make it keep longer.

Fluidline in Blacktrack // (Bottom right) In place of liquid eyeliner, I now use MAC Fluidline. It is a gel eyeliner that you dip your angle brush into, and apply to your lashline. While a precise brush is necessary for a product like this, the consistency of the gel is so nice, and it wears so well.

The misses

In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascara // (Left) Luckily, I got this mascara in a value pack with the fluidline mentioned above (the fluidline was worth the price of both). I absolutely fell in love with the packing of this mascara. The lid is so easy to grip and open, the packaging is cute, the mascara wand is sturdy and applies perfectly, but the formula itself is what turned me off. By the end of my work shift, I had mascara under my eyes, on my eyelids, everywhere! And when you serve people as your job, that's not super attractive. I loved everything about except the mascara itself, I was super disappointed to find such a flaw. I wish it stayed on my actual eyelashes longer, then I'd love it!

Eye Kohl in Smolder // (Middle) I had the same problem with this eye pencil as I did with the mascara. I loved the consistency and the way it applied, and it works great if you're going for a smokey eye or smudged liner, which I have done before. However, as a regular lashline eyeliner, it moves all over the place, where it shouldn't! At the end of my shift, I had excessive amounts of eyeliner in the creases of my eyelids...but hey, I'm sure somebody out there is into the zombie-look, right?!

Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage // (Right) From the get-go, I fell in love with the consistency of this primer. I hate primers that feel silicone based, and this primer feels more like a lotion or moisturizer, which feels fantastic when you apply it. However, at the end of the day, I didn't feel like it made my makeup stay on much better than it does when I just moisturize pre-makeup routine (especially not $31 worth of better, thank goodness I got the sample size for free first). I feel like I'm crazy though, because the ratings on this primer are just prime...;) 

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! I would love to hear if you'd like to see a hits and misses post again, since it's something I'd never done before.  P.S. Use coupon code MAC at checkout online to get free 2-day shipping on your $45+ MAC order!

What are your favorite beauty brands? What are their "hits" and "misses"? Do you have any awesome beauty "hits" you'd be willing to share with me?

Red plaid

This weather, and all the lights and red colors in University Village are making me crave the holidays, and I know it's way too early. So, you'll see me in a lot more holiday-esque attire...lots of vivid reds, hunter green, and glitzy jewelry, because that's the fashion I absolutely love this time of year!

I love looking at street style fashion, especially NYC street style. I think one of the biggest trends of being a true New Yorker is bold shoes. You guys know I love me some heels. All of mine make some sort of statement, so if I'm wearing one of those, I like to keep the rest of my outfit nice and simple.

The look

Recently, I've been loving the look of a blouse underneath a neutral sweater. So, I paired a simple white blouse from H&M, that I got about 3 sizes too big, so it would be nice and drapey, with a black structured sweater from Madewell. I love this sweater because it is thick like a sweatshirt, so it is super warm, and it has a cool grid print on it, which makes it really unique. Wait to shop Madewell clearance till they have sales (every few weeks they'll do a 20-30% extra off clearance, check retailmenot.com for coupon codes). I put on my ankle length skinnies from H&M to keep it simple.

Sweater: Madewell // Similar

Blouse: H&M // Similar

Jeans: H&M // Similar

The accessories

As you guys know, I'm a sucker for gold jewelry, I've never been a fan of silver. But, with the holidays around the corner, I've start loving silver and glitter, so I thought I'd add some to this look. Two of these bracelets are very sentimental to me, because Jason had them attached to part of my prom corsage years ago. The third bracelet (pearls with silver crystals), I got from a really unique boutique in Bham that I love, that I'll link down below. Since my bracelets were nice and simple, and I skipped a necklace, I wanted my earrings to be big and flashy, so I chose these long studs from Sole Society. 

My red plaid shoes were the perfect pop of bold for such a simple outfit, and this black and white clutch was a nice simple addition to have something to carry my lipstick in.

Heels: Sole Society // Similar // Similar

Earrings: Sole Society // Similar 

Clutch: Madewell // Similar

Pearl bracelet: Studio Beausoleil

Hair & makeup

For this look, I pulled my hair into a high ponytail, wrapping a few hair strands from underneath my ponytail around the black holder to hide it, and bobby pinned into place. 

I used my Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette on my eyes, with a deep brown shade on my inner and outer corners and crease, with a light caramel shade on the center of my lid. I used my MAC fluidline gel liner to create the winged eyeliner effect. I applied a bold red lip with MAC Russian Red lipstick and MAC Cherry lip pencil.

Eye palette: Coastal Scents

Lip pencil: MAC

Lipstick: MAC

Eyeliner: MAC

What are some of your favorite styles right now? What is your favorite pair of bold shoes that you own?

November 10 beauty favorites

The wind is howling, the rain is pouring, and the cold is creeping in. So, you guys will be seeing lots more reviews, favorites, and holiday must-haves (shot indoors where I am safe and cozy in slippers and jammies). If there's anything you want to see on the blog during the Holiday season (or anytime), please comment below and let me know :)

Every few weeks or so, I'll cycle through loving and getting sick of certain beauty products. I'll love a scent, wear it too often, throw it in a drawer, and pull out something I haven't worn in months, loving that one again. Because of this, I want to start doing monthly 10 faves! Honestly, narrowing down to 10 was super difficult, but I found tried my best....so, let's start this monthly post tradition! Here is a video I made to go along with this post.

The November 10

1. Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk // One of the best things about fall and winter is that you can cover up greasy hair with a hat, a knit headband, or a hooded jacket. But, when I know my hair is greasy, I just can't walk out the door. Of course, there are days with no time for the hair shower routine, or when we're just feeling lazy! During winter, the pipes at my place get really cold, and showers are brutal. What I would love to be a steaming hot shower, is a bone-chilling ice bath, so quick showers are key. For those days where I'm chilled to the bone already, and I don't want to suffer through the cold just to wash my hair, I spray some dry shampoo on my roots for a quick cure. This Klorane dry shampoo has a nice natural scent, and it works great! I get mine on the Birchbox website.

2. Kiehl's Creme de Corps Grapefruit Whipped Body Butter // With these chilly months, our skin dries out and we need heavier creams and lotions to keep our skin hydrated. Body butters are a great way to do this. As soon as I caught a wiff of this one (with my grapefruit obsession), I had to have it. I got it a few months ago and I'm trying to use it sparingly, but I'm almost out. Get it soon, because it's limited edition! There is a soy milk scent too, and I love that one too. This one will definitely be in a few people's stockings this year...

3. Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil //  I originally heard about this cleansing oil through one of my favorite youtuber's, the adorable Ingrid Nilsen. She raved about this as both a cleanser and a makeup remover, and as soon as she recommended it I had to try it. A bunch of places are sold out now, including Birchbox and Anthropologie, but if you're willing to pay full price, you can still get it on the One Love Organics website. This stuff is really as amazing as she says. If you guys remember my travel post from about a week ago, I talked about the travel sized Cailyn makeup dissolver, which I love, but it doesn't feel so great when it leaks into my eyes (which is hard to avoid with makeup remover). This cleansing oil can be used for a lot of things, but I apply before bed to my dry face, and it melts my makeup right off, no matter how much I have on. It also has an incredible smell. One small pump goes a long way, and it doesn't bother my sensitive eyes at all! No more cotton balls and makeup remover needed! I just pump once, warm it up between my fingers, and watch the makeup melt away, then rinse off and start my Kiehl's routine.

4. Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palette // I'm not really a big eyeshadow buff, I tend to go for winged eyeliner and a single eyeshadow base color, or no eyeshadow at all. But, every girl has to have a palette in her collection, right? I'm not eyeshadow savvy enough to spend the bucks on a Naked 2 palette or anything fancy, so when I found the Coastal Scents palettes, and saw they were all under $20, I sprung for one of those. Ever since I got it, I've been using eyeshadow much more often, and the Revealed 2 palette has some great fall mauve and burgundy shades. I love the packaging of the palette, and I love the mix of shimmer and matte shadows.

5. Sparkle Hair Clip // During the holidays, some sparkle never hurt a girl whether it's a sequin top or flashy shoes, but I like to go more on the subtle side. I love this hair clip from Urban Outfitters. It's super cute and strong, so it holds a lot of hair. It's great for pulling back the front sections of my hair, and adds a little more flair than bobby pins.

6. Mary Kay Translucent Loose Powder // Translucent powder is a woman's must-have because, as Mary Kay says, "it's every woman's perfect shade". This is a great way to set makeup. I've been using this one for a long time, and I really love it. It's lasted me forever, I just dip a powder brush on the lid, and rub in circular motions all over my face. It simultaneously blends my bronzer and highlighter, while setting my makeup in place for the day. I also dab it under my eyes with my fingers to set my concealer and prevent creasing. I've heard that the Laura Mercier setting powder is basically the best on the market, but I think the Mary Kay one is great, and it is way more affordable.

7. Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector // I've never been one for primers. I've tried a ton of samples, and I've never fallen in love. I loved the way Smashbox Photo Finish Primer made my makeup look, but there's something that freaks me out about having a silicone base all over my face, and locking it in with liquid and powder, how can that be good for pores? I love watching Wayne Goss' videos, and he feels the way I do about primers, so when he recommended this one, I knew it must be good. And dang was he right. This stuff feels great on your skin, doesn't feel heavy, works to clear your skin over time, and it really helps makeup go on smoother and stay longer (especially on the cheeks and skin near the nose for me). It's definitely more on the spendy side, but if you shop at Kiehl's often or use their products like I do, there are always super great coupons and gift card rewards being sent your way. I didn't pay nearly full-price, but tons of people out there are saying it's worth full-price value. It says to use day and night, but I just use as a primer during the day.

8. Bobbi Brown Corrector 'Light Bisque' // Another Youtube favorite, Essie Button, uses this in her skincare routine every day. I started using it after her recommendation, as an extra step before concealer. I have ridiculously dark undereye circles and have a heck of a time covering them. I really like this corrector, it really brightens up my undereyes and it doesn't crease, which is difficult to find.

9. Peppermint Essential Oil // I'm not a holiday peppermint lover. I'm a year-round peppermint lover. I've had this peppermint essential oil for over a year now, and it's so potent that it's still well over half full. I use it a lot in sugar scrubs, in tea or water (it's great for when you're sick), I use it for smelling (it clears your sinuses), and for house scents. This stuff is amazing for so many uses, and really any brand of peppermint essential oil is good, so here's a cheap one from UO. Amazon is another great place to find cheap essential oils. There are a million different kinds, and all the oils do different things, here is a little more info on them and their uses.

10. Taupe Nail Polish // As you guys know, I was super excited when H&M released their new beauty line a few months ago. So, I had to try a little something from them, so I went with a fall nail color. It is called 'Go-To Griege' (which of course, they are now out of), but there is a similar one here called 'Nutmeg'. I really love the color, it's the perfect fall taupe! If you like higher end polishes, here is a similar color from OPI. 

Pretty please comment below and let me know if you guys want me to continue this and do a December 10 next month! What are your November 10? 

Touch of leopard and gold

I've been having so many blog post ideas in the middle of the night, mostly fashion ideas, but this weather isn't making my ideas easy to execute. I've been trying to figure out how to do that 'vintage inspired' curly hair, but it's useless with the wind and rain shoving everything every which way. So, I've had to try and take pictures super quick, and find hairstyles that will be forgiving of this crazy fall weather. As it starts to get more like this outside, you guys will definitely be seeing more reviews, favorites, and stuff like that on the blog. If I have to shoot a couple outfits in my house, I might give it a go and see how it works out. With that said...let's get into the look I shot today!

Sometimes, simple black and white is just the way to go with an outfit. It's classic, and any accessory can be paired with it. Now, this is when the pop of pattern or color comes in, whether it be a bold lip or a patterned bag, or both!

The look

A pair of black capri slacks are a closet must-have for a classy night out or an interview, whatever it may be. I got mine at H&M ages ago for a job interview, and have worn them a million times since. They are high rise, so tucking in a blouse with a blazer looks very put together. They have leather lined pockets, and side slits, which add a little flair. I paired them with a white crepe top with a keyhole button back from H&M (only $15). This top is so simple, and the high neck works so well with long necklaces, or short and dainty ones.

Top: H&M

Capri Slacks: H&M // Alternative

Add a touch of warmth

In all honesty, I froze my buns off shooting this look. I came inside, heated up a cup of tea and honey, put on sweatpants and a long sleeve, huge socks, fuzzy slippers, cooked some basil and rosemary rice, and got right under the blankets. Since this cold weather is coming around, I would never leave the house in this look without a jacket. I love this boucle jacket from H&M (shop these when they have sales, it's worth the wait), the shape is really drapey and flattering, and it is part wool, so very heavy and warm!

Boucle: H&M // Alternative

The accessories

I love a good pair of flats, but finding ones that I love (I'm very picky), that go with everything, and that are comfortable, is a real challenge in itself. Right now, I'm freaking out about these ones from Madewell. They've had the Mira heel for a very long time, and finally decided to come out with the Mira flat. They come in beautiful colors, but I fell in love with the color 'Castle Rock', which is like a very deep taupe. The flats are gorgeous, suede, and they just feel luxurious. The cut is so beautiful, I can't get over them! To add my touch of pattern, I grabbed my leopard clutch with a black tassle, from Sole Society. This clutch is very soft, and unfolds, so you can fit a wallet and a bunch of other purse must-haves in it, which is awesome. Since this leopard clutch is very bold, I wanted to keep my jewelry dainty and simple. I went with a simple gold necklace from Sole Society (shop their jewelry clearance section, they have great stuff for much cheaper), and some crystal and gold cuff bracelets from Nordstrom.

Flats: Madewell // Alternative

Clutch: Sole Society

Necklace: Sole Society // Alternative

Bracelets: Nordstrom

Hair & Makeup

To keep this look clean and classy (and keep the hair out of my face), I did something a little different. I left a two-inch strand at the front of my head from each side, and pulled the rest of my hair back into a low ponytail. I curled the two-inch strands towards my face, and brushed them out, so that the curls lay together. Then, I pulled about 5-6 strands of hair, leaving them in front of my face, pulling the rest of the curls back into my pony. I took the bottom of the pony, pulling the ends up towards the ceiling, then tucked all the strands into the ponytail holder, to make it look like a bun. The hairstyle turned out really great! It looked really simple and effortless. The twists of curls on the side made the bun have a little something extra.

For my makeup, I used my Coastal Scents Revealed 2 Palettte. I used mauve shades on the inner and outer corners of my eyelids, and the crease. I used a shimmering cream color on the center of my lid. I lined my eyes using an angle brush and MAC Fluidline in 'Blacktrack'. I then applied my Urban Decay fake lashes. I put on MAC 'D for Danger' lipstick and 'Beet' lip pencil for a bold fall lip to finish the look!

 Palette: Coastcal Scents

Liner: MAC

Lashes: Urban Decay

Lipstick: MAC

Lip Pencil: MAC

Curler: Conair

What styles of jackets are you guys using to keep warm this fall? What are you favorite pop accessories?