Taking Advantage

... of the last of the warm weather, anyway.

Which really is just silly, because I can't WAIT for it to be cold. Late fall and winter are my absolute favorite times of year. The smells, family, holidays, decorations, chill of the air - everything. I love this time! But last Sunday, it was in the low 70s and I could still get away with bare legs and no jacket. My gifted Forever 21 floral dress hadn't made it out of the closet in quite a while, so I decided to give it a last tights-less spin of the season.

dress: Forever 21 (gift from Rachel)

shoes: Gap via Whitney

necklace: Zales, 2007 Christmas gift from Hubs

belt: came from another dress

(full Little S. outfit post)

So, I'm having a weak moment about my hair cut. I *really* miss my long hair! I'm so thankful that my locks are healthy and that it only takes 10 minutes to dry and flat iron or curl now, but the cooler weather is making me really wish I had pretty, long, thick hair for hot rollers and side swoops. Hindsight, right, my friends?

Graphic

I have never been one for graphic art on t-shirts, but when I found this beauty on my maurices shopping trip last week, I couldn't leave it behind. The burnout lace fabric is so unique and I love that I can layer black or white underneath or get a little sassier with bright colors. I also dig the rhinestone details on the top that makes it just a bit more feminine while the design is edgier than my "usual." I decided to play up the cobalt cami with some bright blue bow flats and heavier eye make-up.

top: c/o maurices

cami: Wal-Mart

skinnies: Charlotte Russe

flats: Gap via Whitney

earrings: New York & Company

eyeshadows: all 3 from e.l.f. studio palette from Vanessa 

white kohl liner on inner corners: jemma kidd

upper lash liner: milani

mascara: blinc and l'oreal million lashes

lipstick: revlon in barely there

lipgloss: e.l.f. Goddess

on cheeks: bareMinerals Rose Radiance

I feel like I've been living in my Charlotte Russe skinny jeans over the weekends. They're so comfortable and go with just about everything I own. I was a little skeptical to pair them with a fitted top, but I think it worked out better than expected. And the more I look at the outfit, the more I like the graphic tee, which is just so strange! I've never been drawn to them before.

Have you ever tried something completely out of your comfort zone and ended up really loving it?

Get the Green

Yesterday was singlehandedly one of the busiest days I've had in months. Little S. and I left the houseat 11 in the morning and didn't come home 'til after 4:30 in the afternoon. We got shoes for my BIL and future SIL's wedding this weekend (I'm a bridesmaid), ruffly socks for Little S. (she's the flower girl), dresses for us to wear to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, had lunch (at Target, because we roll like that), dropped some items off at the post office (I feel like I live there), went to my dentist to get a release and send stuff to a *new* dentist... I feel like there were more errands, but I'm scatterbrained and don't remember anything past those. 

I took the erranding opportunity to get dressed for real, which I haven't done almost the entire time I've been off work this month! I was glad to find that my skinny jeans fit me, again! And I haven't had the chance to wear this shirt since I bought it last year. I purchased it online from New York & Company and when it arrived, it was the ugliest shade of mint green and made me look completely sick. My skin got all yellow and it was really not becoming, so I pushed it to the back of my closet. When I pulled it out in April, it didn't zip on the side, so I slapped it in the yard sale pile. Ugly color + too small? Forget about it. Well, I decided to give it a new life with some RIT dye and overdyed it to a darker green. Then I kept it in my "we'll see if I can wear these clothes in a few months" pile. Voila. 

I'm still not sold on the color, though. What do you think?

blouse: New York & Company

jeans: Charlotte Russe

flats: Gap (handed down from Whitney)

Wow. My boobs look really good in this top.

Did I just say that?

NEEEXT!

I won these beautiful earrings by Cat Moore Design from a celebratory giveaway on Fatale Fashion! I love them so much and can't wait to wear them all.the.time! Thank you to Cat and Ariana! These babies are so lightweight, I don't even know I'm wearing them!

Here's to a busy rest of the week! We're heading to VA tonight, getting new tires on the car in the morning (not by choice, but out of necessity... ughhhh), driving from Husband's parents' place to mine, staying the night there, then traveling to the DC area on Thursday to start celebrating wedding festivities! Hopefully I'll have some posts pre-written, but rest assured there will be LOTS of pictures upon our return! Husband is the best man, I'm a bridesmaid, and Little S. is the flower girl. We'll be dressed to impress all weekend long! Then it's back to work on Monday! 

Crisp & Classic

I've been so envious, lately, of the skinny minnies wearing skin tight jeans and crisp white blouses. Ashley Hebert (the Bachelorette) does it all.the.time. And now, a few of my favorite bloggers are in, too. Check out Leslie's take on the trend. Isabel's done it recently, too! While I'm not far enough into my weightloss venture to try tucking a top into skinny jeans, I did recreate the look with my straight leg denim from Gap.

jeans: Gap

blouse: H&M

belt: Old Navy

shoes: Target

watch: NY & Co.

necklace: Christmas gift from Hubs (Zales)

Perhaps my clothes are still a bit ill-fitting, but I'm not going to moan about it. I was able to button these pants for the first time in a year and I took it and ran. And the top? I bought it last year when we went to Boston and the tags were still on it this morning. I couldn't pull it over my boobs 'til now, and although it's snug, once again, I ran with it.

To the dingbat who said I need a hair makeover, well... fine, I'll give that to you. HOWEVER, that was not a critique of the blog, so, yeah.

I hope everyone's having a really nice holiday weekend (if it's a holiday for you)! Be safe and don't drink... more than you can handle. I'm off for three weeks, now, and have TONS of stuff I need to catch up on. For instance, I'll have to get a big ol' prize package together! Today's the last day to enter my ginormously humongous 400 Follower Giveaway, and I'll be announcing the winner, tomorrow!

FBFF: You're Beautiful, It's True

Today's topic for Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is Beauty Products.

I have to admit, I'm definitely more into clothing and accessories than products, but as the days pass, I get more and more interested. I'm especially a fan of anything that will accentuate my blue eyes and long eyelashes. 

For more information on FBFF, to link up with today's questions, and to read everyone's answers, please visit Katy's blog, Modly Chic!

blazer: Christy Miller via TJ Maxx (or possibly Ross?)

polka dot top: Motherhood (and no, I'm not preggers. It's just cute!)

Adorablogger who IS preggers, though? ANDIE!

blue cami: Faded Glory via WalMart

skinnies: Charlotte Russe

blue bow flats: Gap (from Whitney)

gorgeous, sparkly necklace: Banana Republic (Christmas gift from ML!)

{one}

What's your favorite drug store makeup product and your favorite higher-end product?
 

Well, I don't use many high-end products, just because I'd rather spend my "fun" money on clothes! So, most of my make-up is from the drug store, Target, or WalMart. I have to say that I'm a huge believer in 

L'Oreal's Voluminous Full-Definition Mascara in Black.

My favorite high(ish) end product is definitely my Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. It's so buildable and goes on sheer, just like a tinted gloss. If you keep layering, though, it gives your lips a soft, beautiful, berry stain. I have to definitely give a big shout-out and THANK YOU to Louise, of Coffee & a Cardigan, for suggesting this product to me. I'm a lifer! I was SO afraid to wear lipstick until this one!

{two}

Is there one type of product that is your go-to, can't live without?

YES! I'm addicted to face cleanser. Am I so weird, or what? Wait... don't answer that. While most women don't leave the house without their lipstick, gloss, or mascara (and trust me, mascara and C.O. Bigelow's methyl lip shine are definitely close to tie for second), I ALWAYS have some sort of skin cleanser or oil blotter with me! I have seriously oily skin, so I really like oil blotters, like the ones from Clean & Clear. They help control and mattify without taking make-up off, which I really appreciate. I also swear by Estee Lauder's Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser. It's changed my life.

{three}

What's the best hair product you've ever used?

I use Avon's ADVANCE TECHNIQUES Daily Shine Dry Ends Serum every.single.day. I curl, straighten, or blow dry my hair at least every other day, and this stuff is a smoother, anti-frizzer, softener, and shiner upper all in one. Love it!

{four}
Fess up, what's the worst beauty look you've tried to rock and look back at now with a little shame or apprehension that you actually did that? 

Umm.. white eyeliner. Oopsie. When I was a cheerleader in high school, all the Varsity girls wore white eyeliner.ON the TOP lid.Well, at least I thought I was cool. In all reality, I think I looked like a sick little monster. Ahh, retrospect is a beautiful thing.

{five}

When it comes to beauty products, we all use the same basic products. What do you use that helps show off your personal flare and personality? 

 I am really basic with beauty products. In the shower, it's shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I use the skin cleanser I mentioned above, and my make-up is generally very simple: a little blush, some gloss or lipstick (if I'm brave that day), eyeshadow, and mascara. The one thing I really do like to play around with is eyeshadow. I like to come up with different combinations, highlights, accentuate my crease, and play with colors that accentuate my blue eyes and yellow flecks around my pupils! I always try to make sure, if I don't have time for make-up, that I at least wear mascara. I'm thankful for my long, flirty lashes, and I never want to discount their ability to make me look awake, even if it's a fib.

Don't forget, friends! You have until MIDNIGHT, tonight, to enter my giveaway!

Hurry! Go! Do it!

And then have a WONDERFUL weekend!