movin' on up!

hello hello!

on saturday i got to make our plans to move in october official! 

we now have a beautiful new apartment with a view waiting for us!!

i was in a hurry when i visited the other day but i took a few pics of the office area as well as my ootd.

i definitely felt like i was in my element in this outfit. very me. 

love this coral lip combo of maybelline coral gleam lipstick and mac cremesheen glass in geo pink with a touch of mac dazzleglass creme in sublime shine in the center. 

floppy fedora: dollar general

bar studs: nordstrom rack

stick necklace: forever xxi

dress: rachael & chloe (thrifted)

feather handbag: elliott lucca

navajo sandals: jack rogers

beautiful view from the back of the office building. 

i'd like to give credit to the four-year-old recruit i had take these pics. she was a hoot and her mom was so sweet. 

office building! there is a spa upstairs (not affiliated with the apartment complex but still). 

can't wait to move so i can share our new space with y'all. wish us luck because moving in hard.

until next time.

XOXO.

-B 

"a peek inside my..." part 4: haircare bin!

this post was a request so i hope y'all find it interesting!

i know that when i like someones hair i want to know what they use.

i keep my current hair favorites in a bin under my sink so they are easily accessible. 

here we go!

^^this is said hair bin^^

hair care products

it's a 10 silk express smoothing balm:

i like this product because it is light and doesn't weigh down my curls. it acts as a conditioner when i apply it to damp hair. 

matrix amplify volumizing texturizer:

i've used this stuff for a long time! i just spray it at the roots of my hair and it doesn't get cakey or weigh down my hair. 

agadir argan oil hair treatment:

i use a dime-sized amount of this once or twice a week and it makes my hair feel dramatically different and more moisturized than any other product i've used. that says a lot considering my dry hair usually takes a lot to show any sort of results from products. 

it's a 10 miracle leave-in product: 

i got this sample at ulta. i've purchased the full-sized version of the keratin formula. i like that the consistency is thin and light enough to spray all throughout my hair, but i can't say that i have noticed any dramatic difference in my hair since starting this product. 

styling products

garnier fructis flexible control hairspray:

i love the smell of garnier products! this hairspray is perfect for loose, soft curls; my down-hair style of choice. it doesn't ever leave my hair feeling crunchy. if you want a more structured and stiff style you might want to try the stronger formula. 

bumble and bumble curl conscious curl cream:

this cream was given to me and i am definitely going to purchase it after i'm done with this bottle. i use it when i go to sleep with my hair wet because it accentuates my curls and i wake up with a decent style. it saves me a lot of style time, preps my hair and gives it texture so my heat styling stays intact longer. 

bumble and bumble texture hair undressing cream:

i use this product to add texture before styling my hair and a little to rough up my hair after i've styled it. did i mention it smells SO good?!

bumble and bumble styling creme:

i usually use this  interchangeably  with the conscious curl cream. it doesn't have as much hold so i use this more when i'm not curling my hair. 

also pictured above are my teasing brush and my wide-toothed comb.

i find that a teasing brush works better than a teasing comb on almost all hair types when used in a back-combing motion. mine is a teaze by phillips brand and i got it at sally's beauty supply.

i use my wide-toothed comb when i brush my hair when it's wet. i don't brush my hair often because it ruins my natural curl but when i do this does the least damage and gets all the tangles out smoothly. 

that's about it for my shpeal. 

if anything, my BIGGEST recommendations when it comes to hair products are to try bumble and bumble products and to use argan oil as a treatment. both, in my opinion, are just about life changing. 

until next time... :)

XOXO.

-B

"a peek inside my..." part 3: nail polish collection!

i wanted to do my nail polish collection as a part of this series because i have

A LOT

of it.

an absurd amount. 72 actually.

(not including the ones accidentally lost under my bed or

 left in one of my purses, which i know there are) 

i also have strong opinions about certain nail polish brands.

i'll get to that later.

i couldn't fit them all in one, good picture so i organized them by color ranges. 

here is my neutral- gray collection. neutral colors are my favorite to wear on my nails. 

i also included my matte top coat, my pro quick dry clear coat, and my glow-in-the-dark top coat. 

quick tip: don't make your top coat too thick! it can actually make your manicure chip faster, or worse, peel off in one piece. 

here is my gold/yellow- turquoise collection. i don't use these colors very often, but hey, a girl needs options! 

here is my purple- black collection. i didn't realize until i organized these that i have about two dozen shades of red... 

might need to cut back. 

least favorites // why: 

sally hansen hard as nails extreme wear in white on // 

it is common for white nail polish formulas to be difficult to work with but this one is particularly difficult. it's thick, it doesn't spread and it chips off in big chunks after only one day. 

mary kay nail lacquer in coral stone//

i purchased this when mary kay first came out with their polish line so maybe the formula has gotten better over time. this polish doesn't spread easily and goes on cakey. 

pretty promise nail polish in red glitter//

i have two of these glitter polishes and what bums me out about them is that the glitter doesn't stick. no matter how long i let it dry it still moves around on my nails. shame.

maybelline color show in vintage leather plush plum//

i love the color of this polish but the texture is supposed to resemble vintage leather and i don't think the idea came through. it has chunks in it that ruin the leather-look and, to me, it just looks like a chunky matte color. no bueno.  

favorites// why:

nyc matte me crazy mattifying top coat//

this is my second bottle of this top coat. i love how smooth it looks over my polishes and it is of equal, if not better quality to the more expensive alternatives. 

maybelline color show in audacious asphalt//

i just recently purchased this color but i already know it'll be on heavy rotation come fall.

hard candy nail color in sugar rush//

this polish looks like the "jaw breaker" type polishes. i use it as a top coat for my neutral colors and it makes my nails look just like candy. nice, subtle nail art. 

revlon colorstay nail enamel in bare bones//

my all-time favorite nail polish. i've already stocked up in case they discontinue it. this is my perfect neutral.

revlon colorstay nail enamel in rich raspberry//

this is one of my favorite bright colors. the deep fuchsia shade works well with my skin tone. 

revlon smoldering//

i recently purchased this as part of a set and i ADORE this color as an accent nail color with my lavender polishes. SUCH a wonderful combination. reminds me of mermaid scales...

revlon posh//

another bright color that i actually keep reaching for. i love jewel tones with my skin color. 

revlon dreamer//

when i first purchased this baby blue shade i wore it for months straight. it made it's way to the bottom of my nail bag but i think it's the perfect time to resurrect it! 

in conclusion: i love revlon nail polish. it is my #1 polish brand even after trying essie and opi. it lasts the longest and has the prettiest color range (ok essie has an amazing color range too). 

i'm a sucker for a fabulous accent nail so i keep a variety of nail stickers in my nail accessory stash. sally hansen has my favorite stickers but i've also had a lot of luck at the dollar store recently.

i hope you enjoyed this little peek inside my nail polish collection. i hope to do a full makeup collection soon but that might be a looong post... what do y'all think? let me know!

XOXO.

-B 

"a peek inside my..." part 2: shower!

here's part two of the series as i promised!

if you haven't seen part one i recommend it :)

what's in my shower?

lets find out!

my lovely ombre shower curtain is from the threshold brand at target. 

i love the shower area in my current apartment. the tile is pretty and it has a deep, garden style tub. 

i organize my products based on what they're for. this corner is for my face products. this section is closest to my sink so when i wash my face outside of the shower all of my products are within arm's reach.

equate gentle face cleanser:

i use this in the morning when i don't need to remove any makeup, just oils i produced overnight. 

neutrogena clear pore cleanser/ mask:

my face loves this stuff. it has tiny granules that act as a gentle exfoliant. i use this to wash my face at night and as a mask on troubled areas of my face. 

st. ives blemish control apricot scrub:

i use this when i need more serious exfoliation. it's perfect for my sensitive skin.

clarisonic mia:

i don't use this as often as most people that have one do. i have two brush heads so i use the sensitive skin brush head on my nose because it removes blackheads and is a little harsh for the rest of my face. i use the under eye brush head if i want to use it all over my face. again, my skin is realllly sensitive. 

this section is my hair and body section!

rusk sensories calm shampoo in guarana ginger:

i use this because it has no sulfates and it has argan oil that helps with my dry hair.

redken color extend conditioner:

i purchased this because i was dying my hair blue and wanted it to last. the blue didn't work out, but hey, it smells really good. i don't use this every time i shower. just when i'm in a hurry. 

two little blue travel bottles:

these are full of body washes that we took on our honeymoon. we're trying to empty them out but the poor things keep getting forgotten about. 

heb feminine wash for sensitive skin:

may be a little tmi but i'm a tmi kind of girl. it's normal. no perfumes = good for you.

bath and body works shower gel in oahu:

just purchased this the other day and i immediately replaced my current body wash. the coconut smell is so strong and lingers forever! 

organix moroccan argan oil intense moisture treatment:

most days when i shower i use this instead of a regular conditioner because i  have such dry hair. i've used more expensive hair masks like macadamia and it's a 10 in the past but they didn't perform as well as i hoped so i purchased this just to replace those when i finished them. any tips on how to fix this dry hair problem?! i research tips, buy products, don't heat style it often, EVERYTHING! still dry :( 

isle of luxe coconut glowing body polish:

i love scrubs. this one is all natural and contains sea salt and coconut oil. i love how moisturized it makes my skin feel. 

tree hut shea sugar scrub in coconut lime:

i bought this one because of it's amazing summery scent. sugar scrubs and salt scrubs make my skin feel completely different so i love to have both options readily available. 

i call this kodey's section. the only thing i use here is the foaming acne scrub. i use this for my back after i work out so i don't break out where my sports bra collects sweat. more tmi maybe? 

i keep this little guy in here just in case i'm feeling snazzy. this orange and wild orchid scent from anthropologie is my all time favorite. 

here's my shower rack! you may have noticed we use bronze fixtures in our bathroom. i love how warm and laid back bronze details look.

up and up shave gel:

i always use some sort of shaving cream, gel or foam. i tried the whole 'using conditioner' thing and i didn't like it at all. i am not particular about what brand of shaving cream i use. i do, however, enjoy a nice scent.

dog shampoo:

kind of irrelevant. obviously not for me haha. 

men's gillette razor:

i was strictly a schick quattro girl until i jacked this puppy from kodey. he hasn't used it since. mine. 

nail brush:

i like my nails on the longer side... and on the cleaner side. just good hygiene. 

heart lush soap:

my boss gave this to me so i don't know what scent or type it is but it has lots of glitter in it so i use it on  days when i want to be extra sparkly. 

micro-pedi:

i just replaced my pumice stone with this electric pumice contraption. i hate how the actual stone feels in my hand so hopefully this little doo-hicky will have me treating my heels more often. 

exfoliating mit:

i use this little pad to exfoliate my underarms. it's not good to let deodorant residue build up over time. 

back sponge:

i don't use this very often but it's good if you want to get a good scrub in a hard-to-reach place. 

hair clip:

i use this to clip up my hair while i'm deep conditioning it to keep the conditioner from rinsing out while i'm doing the rest of my shower routine. 

hair tie:

orrr sometimes i use this!

shower poof:

kodey likes to use this one. haha! 

that's about it! hope you enjoyed getting to peek into my shower. i might follow this series up with a routine series. let me know what you think! 

can't wait until tomorrow. 

XOXO.

-B

"a peek inside my..." part 1: handbag!

i want to go ahead and start this post by introducing my new series.

every day this week i will give my amazing readers a peek into a different aspect of my fashion/beauty world. 

i'm not going to list any specifics as to what day i'm doing what because i might just get a brilliant idea mid-week and change everything. 

all you have to know is that this week i'm giving all of you a free pass to snoop through my stuff. 

the reason i'm doing this is because i'm one of those people who loves to observe and learn about the people around me through seeing what they have, love, how they keep organized etc. i think it provides a lot of insight into who a person is behind closed doors. 

#bloglife = no closed doors

enjoy snooping!

side note: i usually post late in the evening because that's when i'm most productive. don't be disappointed if you check early and there's no post. bonafide night owl here. 

welcome to my handbag!

this elliott lucca bag is my new favorite! it was my only purchase from the nordstrom anniversary sale. it's made of ivory pebbled leather with black hardware and features a hand painted feather. there are two short straps that are only long enough to wear in the crook of your arm and a longer strap to wear as a cross body. this bag is very spacious so if i don't stay organized things get lost very easily. i usually start my day with everything in its designated place but by the end of the day there's a pile of change, receipts and bobby pins in each corner. 

inside my bag i keep my rose gold leather marc jacobs zipper pouch. in the past i've used this bag as a clutch but i thought the black hardware would go well with the handbag and help keep things nice and organized.

content details: 

 tokyomilk handcreme // smells woody and coconutty 

scope breath spray // good for times when i drink coffee and gum is inappropriate

estee lauder pocket mirror // i like a covered mirror so it stays protected in my bag

bath and body works hand sanitizer // necessity. this one is in the scent sunflower citrus. if you didn't already know i'm obsessed with sunflowers

mary kay eye shadow single in crystalline // i usually put this on my cupid's bow when i touch up my lipstick to make my upper lip appear fuller

hair elastic and bobby pins // because you always need one or the other (or both)

mini lint roller // i have two dogs and a cat so life can get pretty hairy

stevia to-go // i've been trying to get away from chemical-filled sugar substitutes and a lot of restaurants don't offer stevia so i always have it on me

ysl manifesto roller ball perfume // this little travel sized fragrance is perfect for a mid-day refresh. the scent is really light and summery

shout wipe // because accidents happen and a stain can ruin an otherwise perfect ootd

tampon // because i'm a girl and we must always be prepared... for ourselves or a sister in need

bandaids // i believe in the idea that once you put on a pair of shoes you are "married" to them. so instead of ending the day carrying my heels i have these puppies as blister back-up 

the rest of my items are just thrown into the main part of the bag.

canon power shot // i rarely remember to grab my actual camera when i want to take a pic but it's good to have

dollar store sunglasses // these are easy to grab and go. i probably use these as a headband more than i use them to actually shade my eyes 

moleskin notebook // for my "brilliant" ideas, random contact info, to-do lists, etc.

carnival pen // from our honeymoon. good times :)

keys // i got my beaded strawberry keychain when we were in honduras

michael kors wristlet/ wallet // i got this at buffalo exchange for a bargain and it is the perfect size for a little cash and all my membership cards. in it i have a few "just in case items" like my bath and body works coupons, my spa certificate, and my friend brittney hiett's business cards for her photography business. she's amazing if you want to check out her website (brittneyhiettphotography.com)

receipts and change // pretty typical 

maybelline lipstick in pink me up // my everyday lipstick

nyx mega shine lip gloss in beige // it's actually more pink than beige. my everyday lipgloss

flower lip stick // i love this brand's rose gold packaging. it has three different shades of pink that you can switch out

burt's bees lip balm in mango butter // my all-time favorite chap stick. this stuff has saved my lips multiple times and smells and tastes amazing

crystal light peach mango green tea packet // i can't get enough of this stuff and i don't drink soda anymore so this is a great alternative for on-the-go if i get a craving

special k strawberry pastry crisps // i usually have a snack with me because i can get very hangry (angry because i'm hungry). i'll keep something like this, a zone bar or a cliff bar with me just in case

that's all folks!

i hope you enjoyed getting to sneek a peek into my handbag. 

i'm also including today's ootd.

i got to join my boss today as she did some real estate business. it was a good learning experience since i'm currently enrolled in real estate classes. 

another side note: the handbag in this pic is different from the one above because it matched my outfit but 80% of the time, recently, i've been wearing my new elliott lucca bag.

pearl studs: walmart

statement necklace: nordstrom (bauble bar)

faux leather shell: express

denim skinnies: victoria's secret (thrifted)

gold watch: fossil

handbag: kate spade new york

faux leather heels: payless

stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow!

XOXO.

-B

mi familia

yesterday kodey and i visited family to celebrate his little cousin's birthday. 

it felt so good to see his whole family in one place since we live a while away. ate a lot of junk. got stopped on the way home by a herd of cows in the middle of the road. good times. 

earrings: forever xxi

sheer top: sugar lips

corset dress: target

feather handbag: elliott lucca

sandals: jack rogers

also!

i tried all the new lays potato chip flavors so i could vote online for the new permanent flavor.

 here's my verdict: 

cheddar bacon mac and cheese: tastes exactly like a loaded bake potato but smells like dog food. eh. 

cappuccino: really does smell and taste like a cappuccino but shouldn't be a chip. sorry.

wasabi ginger: the winner! not too spicy and so satisfying. yum!

mango salsa: my second favorite. kind of tastes like a light version of their bbq flavor. 

tomorrow is the kick off of my new "a peek inside my" series where i will share what's in my bag, my product collection and more! see you then! 

XOXO.

-B

july 2014 faves

it's august! 

summer is coming to a close and "fall" is in our sights. here in texas we'll be feeling the summer heat for quite a while still. 

i'd like to share some of the items that i've just about worn out this past month.

my faves: 

i wanted to include a little bit of everything: home, edible items, apparel, beauty. 

whenever i can't figure out what to wear i automatically reach for this pair of bullhead shorts. i love the laid-back destroyed look and splattered paint details. i purchased these at the goodwill outlet for approximately sixty cents. score! 

i've also been wearing my dainty kendra scott necklaces almost every day. they're so feminine and never take away from a cute outfit, just enhance it. 

i received my first pair of haviannas as a gift this month. so comfortable. so durable. i don't know how i've lasted this long without a pair. i used to be against rubber flip flops but lately i've discovered there are so many cute options on the market.  

for my home item i chose my adorable espresso set (a wedding gift). i have two sets that each came with a cup, a spoon and a plate. this set acts as a pretty backdrop for ordinary snacks. 

speaking of snacks, my favorites recently have been crystal light drink mix in peach mango green tea and miss meringue tahitian vanilla petite meringue cookies. i use the green tea as a pick-me-up if i don't feel like drinking coffee. the cookies are the perfect amount of sweet to satisfy my raging sweet tooth without any fat or chemicals. 

for beauty i chose my tom ford perfume in black orchid and my hard candy glamoflauge concealer. i rarely use my tom ford fragrance because it's a very robust scent and a little heavy for summer but recently i've been loving it for date night where the scent feels a little more appropriate. i really hate how foundation makes my skin feel. with this glamoflauge concealer a little goes a long way so i just use a few dots of this as the base for my make-up. does the job and deletes a whole step from my makeup routine. 

where to find these products: 

bullhead shorts // (typically) pac sun

kendra scott necklaces // kendra scott store or kendrascott.com

haviannas flip flops // nordstrom or haviannas.com

espresso set // macy's 

crystal light and meringue cookies // heb

tom ford fragrance // nordstrom

glamoflauge concealer // walmart 

i hope you enjoyed my favorites from july! i'm going to make this type of post a monthly deal. 

i'm starting a new series soon so stay tuned!

XOXO.

-B