Lusts: Summer, Mint & Pink

I am adoring mint and pink this summer.  Though I haven't jumped on the colored jean bandwagon yet, I did stop by the Lilly store Sunday and took a look-see at the Skinny Mini Worth jean and loved them.  I think I'll be jumping on that bandwagon sooner than later!  Here are some other mint and pink loves and my summer skincare and nail polish favorites.

{1.  Tunic}  {2.  Lilly Skinny Mini Worth}  {3.  Bridier Baubles}  {4. Lilly Pulitzer Goldie belt}
{5. J. Crew sunglasses}  {6. Kate Spade Imani}  {7.  Chanel Mint Chevron}

{8. Bare Minerals: 7 Layer Cake}  (9. Sunscreen}  (10. Pur Minerals Under Control}
{11. Maybelline Age Rewind}  {12. Essie Pink-A-Boo} {13. Cetaphil Lotion}

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

Friday Misc.: Lallieisms, Sweet Valley High, Organization, Photo Book, Eye Makeup Remover

Lallie

When I picked Lallie up from school yesterday she had a paper clip.  This was the third day in a row she had shown me a paperclip, so I asked her teacher what this was all about.  She said that Lallie had been bringing them home since at least January to which Lallie responded "Yes, I have a box in a special place at home, for my paper clip collection" (pronounced co-lack-tion).  So, somewhere in our house is a collection of paperclips.  We had no idea.

Lallie also sees my preserved wedding dress in my closet.  She asks consistently is she can wear it when she gets married.  Last night, she told me this.  "When I get married, I want my girls to wear rainbow dresses and crowns so they can be like princesses.  But I'll be the queen."

Gosh, we love that kid.

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Sweet Valley High

Recently, I came across this book.  It's about Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, the gorgeous identical twins of Sweet Valley High, ten years after the conclusion of the high school series.  I had completely forgotten about the Sweet Valley series and had never even read many of the books.  I was more of a Nancy Drew girl, but I do remember others reading the series.  So when I added Sweet Valley Confidential to my Goodreads, I said to myself "I can't read this book without knowing the back story!"  

So enter my latest ebay purchase.  Yes, that's 51 books.  I've already read the first four and admit that I am loving them (and I'm not a series girl....at least, not long series books like this one).  

Is this shameful?  I feel embarrassed to even admit this.

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Organization

Here is my organized life:

• the check register on my work computer
• my blog ideas scribbled on a notepad in my purse
• my passwords on Evernote
• my favorite websites on a pad of paper on my desk
• my schedule half in my outlook/half in a bound calendar
• the summer schedule on the fridge
• meal planning - no such thing (though I've tried)
• Auto maintenance - in the cars (I think)
• Home inventory - nonexistent

Get the drift?  Now, raise your hand if you're just like me.  Enter Iheart Organizing.  She has adorable customized printables that you can download day after day, year after year, and keep all in one binder.  I can't wait for mine to be finished so I can get started on getting everything together.  And in one spot, for both myself and Husband if he ever needs anything for any reason.  I'll let you know how it works out!  Check out her shop HERE.

 

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Pictures

Speaking of organization, Lallie's pictures are a mess!  I have them here and there and everywhere.  Some on my iphone, some in shutterfly, some on two or three different laptops.  Madness!  

I was good about her first year, I even made an adorable scrapbook (back when I still had time to scrapbook) and I did print all her first few months of pictures and label them into an album.  

After that....nothing.  

A couple nights ago, while Husband was a church council meeting, I organized all the pictures onto our external hard drive, which we affectionately call "The Brick."   It really does look like a brick....a grey one.

My plan is to take the best pictures for each year of Lallie's life thus far and put into a photo album.  I ran across THIS  photo book review website which led me to MixBook.  I love the automix feature, where you can pick your pictures and then MixBook will automatically format and drop into the sections for you.  I'm going to try out one book and take a look at the quality.  I'll let you know how that turns out too.

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Eye Makeup Remover

Last but not least.  Eye makeup remover.  A few days ago, a ran across a blog about eye makeup remover not working (I canNOT remember the blog, I wrote down the recipe.  If you're reading this, let me know so I can give you proper credit!).  I haven't needed eye makeup remover for some time (see THIS post) but since I started wearing eye makeup last week, I've noticed I do need the remover.  My poor rubbed and red eyes desperately need it.  Anyways, she had a homemade recipe that she tried and loved, so  I made my own version.  After all, I already had all the ingredients and she's right, it works great!  Just mix 1 cup of water with 1 1/4 tsp baby shampoo (tear-free) and 1/8 tsp. baby oil or olive oil (I used olive oil).  Let me know if you like it too!

Happy Friday Y'all!

Favorite New Beauty Products

It's that time again for my current favorite beauty products.

The Wanderlust Beach makeup collection from bareMinerals.  I LOVE this stuff.  Y'all know I'm not a big makeup person.  Skincare, yes!  Makeup, not so much.  I wear powder, blush and mascara and that's all I've worn for years.  I have received compliments on my very natural look and certainly enjoy the two-minute makeup routine each morning.

But, with my aging skin....it's time to branch out a bit and draw attention away from the aging areas.  At my last trip to ULTA, I picked up this kit thinking I could pull off the beach look.  Despite my lack of knowledge in using eyeliner (and therefore, the many wandering lines created with the eyeliner), I finally completed this new look.

I love how the green coupled with the sparkly cabana (brownish) color brightened my eyes and the eyeliner really defined them.  The powder added a little sparkle to the cheek line as well.  The lip gloss is a very neutral and natural tone, which I love (I never wear lipstick and rarely glosses outside of the natural or light pink tone).

The only downside....it now takes ten minutes to do my makeup.  Hmmmm......

Insert awful picture....but you get the drift of the makeup look.  I'm still practicing the eyeliner part.

Next up.  Where have you been all my life and why have I been holding out????? 

The Chi flat iron.  My frizzy, naturally curly hair, after years and years of dealing with Florida humidity is finally straight and not frizzy!  I am in LOVE!

But with all that 375 degree heat, I need a little extra protection.  In conjunction with my still favorite leave-in straightening conditioner from Garnier, I'm using the Chi Silk Infusion.  It not only protects my hair from the extreme heat, but gives it a beautiful shine (yes, I've already noticed in just a few applications the extra little shine) and it smells SO good.

I was seriously thinking about cutting my hair short again like below (close your mouth dear Husband who wants my hair to be as long as possible....no worries).  Now that I found the Chi, I'm not so ready to cut off my untamed hair.  In fact, I'm actually loving it!

Excuse the over zealousness of the Lilly below.  I took this right after my boss looked at me and said, "Could you possibly sport any more Lilly?"  This is just how I was thinking of cutting my hair again.

Last but not least, the Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask.  I've used this three times and already notice a tightening of my skin and reduction of redness (in my cheek areas).  My pores also feel and look cleaner.  It really does what it claims to do.  It does say to leave on for 20 minutes but I have a hard time with leaving masks on that long after they've dried.  I do not like the dried skin feeling at all.

That's it on the beauty front for now!

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Now only Monday Mishaps.

Seriously not happy.  The fax machine / printer combo leaked ink ALL OVER my Ann Taylor slacks and Ann Taylor leather shoes.  The shoes are fine, my pants....not so much.  Oh, and my toes are stained black, not even nail polish remover would get it off.  And where it leaked onto my legs through the pants, I look like I have some crazy bruising.  The ink went all the way up to my knees!  What a way to start off a Monday!

Graduation pictures of sweet little Lallie coming tomorrow!! 

Happy Tuesday Y'all!

Time is Marchin' Across my Under Eyes - HELP!

"Honey, time marches on and eventually you realize it's marchin' across your face."

Truvy - Steel Magnolias

And marchin' it is!  Across my particular face!  Ick!

The past couple of weeks, I've noticed these lovely little age spots and discolorations under my eyes.

I've written multiple posts in the past about my makeup and skincare regime and I have to admit that I'm not always as ontop of it as I should be.  I need to be better and more consistent.

But I've always been consistent with my makeup.  I don't change products much because I like what works and I generally don't wear much makeup.

• Mineral Powder
• Blush
• Powder (general use)
• Mascara

And that's it folks!  I don't wear eye makeup and I use the green tinted concealer if I have a break out, but other than that, I'm au naturale (well, as much as one can be).

But with the recent development of these age spots, I need something different.  A time turn-around cream maybe?  A concealer or coverup for underneath the eyes.  Not only are there age spots but that icky blue-tinted discoloration as well.

But I don't want to look made up nor do I like the feel of makeup.  When I have too much on, I feel uncomfortable and yes....I must say it....I feel dirty.  Too much makeup makes me feel

like my skin can't breathe.

So my questions to you is.....

What do you use for your under eyes.  Creams?  Makeup?  And how do you apply?

I'm looking forward to hearing your suggestions!

Happy Thursday Y'all!