My Makeup Routine

My Makeup Routine

Happy Tuesday friends!

I had to stop myself from writing Monday there.  Having the holiday Monday has thrown my week off!  Hopefully everyone had a relaxing weekend and is excited to be one day closer to the weekend.  I stayed home and had some bbq with my friends and fam during the day and had a bachelor watch party in the evening.  It was a great weekend combining my 3 favorite things: friends, family, and food!

I'm excited to start this short week off with my summer makeup routine.  All of these products are what I use during the summer, but I don't use all of them everyday.  Typically, I like to stick to a fresh-faced look with a little pop of pink lipgloss!






From left to right:
hoola bronzer- I use this for contouring and for the outside of my eyelids
nyx jumbo eye pencil in "milk"- I use a little on the inner corners of my eyes to brighten them up
ulta eye shadow in "elegance"
benefit "they're real" mascara in "black"- this mascara is amazing, it lengthens and volumizes more than any mascara I've used before
elf eyeliner- so cheap, so effective
victoria's secret lipgloss in "strawberry fizz"
urban decay lipstick in "naked"



remmington concealer in "fair/light"- I use this as an undereye concealer and apply it with a wedge sponge.  I got a pack of them from Target for under $2!
mac studio fix powder in "NW25"- I apply this if I look a little shiny
garnier bb cream in light/medium- I use this everyday because it has sunscreen in it.  If I'm in a hurry, this is all I use on my face, and it works great!
nars concealer in "custard"- by far the best concealer out there.  I apply it in the morning and never have to worry about touching it up
baked highlighter- an effective and cost-friendly hilighter



I love seeing other people's routines to get new product ideas.  I hope this provided some information and let me know if you have a makeup routine you swear by!

Hope everyone has a fab short week!

Xoxo, Al

Rose(é) All Day

Rose(é) All Day

Happy Memorial Day, feeling thankful to be in the land of the free because of the brave!

These last couple of days I haven't had much going on (does keeping up with the Kardashians count?!) so I took the time to try a couple DIYs from my Pinterest boards.  I've had a vase full of fresh roses in my house all week and when I came across a rose petal sugar scrub on my Pinterest timeline, I knew I had to try it!  It's a super simple recipe with only 4 ingredients and only took 5 minutes to mix up.  They're ingredients that are found in most kitchens making it a really easy DIY.  Because of this also, you can easily use organic ingredients for an organic scrub!

The ingredients I used:

3 ROSE BUD'S PETALS

1/4 CUP ORGANIC COCNUT OIL

3 TBSP ORGANIC OLIVE OIL

2 CUPS WHITE SUGAR

After you've combined everything, toss the contents into a food processor and pulse for a few seconds.  I added one drop of red food coloring to add a pink tint and scooped the scrub into jars.  The smell is light and refreshing, perfect for summertime!

Have fun with this little DIY :)

Xoxo, Al

Memorial Day Weekend Sales

Memorial Day Weekend Sales

Memorial day weekend has always been a special time in my family.  Having grown up in a military family, I've always been surrounded by people dedicating their lives for our country.  This weekend we honor those who have been laid to rest by honoring our country.  Whether we observe the holiday with friends or to visit memorials with family, may we remember their sacrifices.  How lucky are we to be able to live in a country that soldiers surrender everything for what it stands for?!

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Some stores offer extra military discounts this weekend as well as sales for the public!  I've put together a list of stores that are offering sales for the weekend.  I'll continue to update the list as new sales are announced so check back for updates :)

BANANA REPUBLIC - 40% off your purchase with code BRTAKE40

BANANA REPUBLIC FACTORY- 40-70% off entire store, no code needed

BATH AND BODYWORKS - 20% off your entire order with code SUMMER4U

GAP - 40% off everything with code HAPPY
J.CREW - 30% off your purchase + sale with code WEEKEND + SALESTYLES
J.CREWFACTORY- 50% off no code needed
LILLYPULITZER - beach gifts with purchase
LOFT - 40% off new arrivals + 60% off sale items no code needed

NORDSTROM - up to 40% off thru June 5

OLD NAVY - 50% off shirts + shorts + swim no code needed

VICTORIA'SSECRET - 7 for $27.50 panty party

Xoxo, Al

Memorial Day Outfit

Memorial Day Outfit

    

          

top: similar here (mine is old from Charming Charlie) // pants: Old Navy (less than $50) // shoes: Target in "chestnut" (less than $30) // watch: Charming Charlie // earrings: similar here (for less than $10!)

Happy (almost) Memorial day weekend!  I hope everyone has fun plans with friends or just to relax a little!  The weather here in Virginia is supposed to be really nice this weekend, so I put together an outfit I can wear to a cookout with friends.  Seriously, how cute is the back of this top?!  The bow just screams "American sweetheart"! Also, these shoes are a lookalike to the Steve Madden version, but for 1/4 of the price!  I hope this provided a little inspiration for your weekend.. Let me know what plans you have for the holiday!

Xoxo, Al

Off the Shoulder Top

Off the Shoulder Top

top: similar here & here // shorts: Banana Republic // wedges: similar here (mine are old from Charming Charlie) // watch: Charming Charlie

This off-shoulder top is a perfect casual summer staple you'll wear all season long.  I find myself pulling it out of my closet for shopping with my girlfriends, meeting friends for lunch, or even for a date night! The detail in the crochet sleeves add a wow factor to the outfit and pair well with any statements necklace/earrings.  Definitely a low maintenance outfit that is easy to throw together that will stun!

While we were shooting this outfit today, we met these African Mastino "puppies", Kongo and Mako.  They looked more like bears to me!  At 120 pounds, they were only 6 months old... They're supposed to reach 200!!  As intimidating as they look, they were the sweetest things ever.  They licked and snuggled up against me when I was petting them.  So here continues the streak of puppies featured in my posts, I just love them!

Xoxo, Al

Resort Style

top: Lilly Pulitzer // shorts: Lilly Pulitzer // wedges (on sale for less than $100): Jack Rogers // earrings (less than $10!): Target // scarf: Kate Spade 

I'm planning my trip down to Destin this week and it has me in the mood for resort style!  I love crisp whites at the beach, gold accents, and a pop of color (in this case pink).  And the top is sweater material, perfect when the weather is a little cooler in the evenings.  The Jack Roger shoes and the voluminous hair gives this outfit a classic touch that will turns heads this summer!

On another note, who watched the bachelorette last night?!  There are some cuties this season *insert heart eye emoji*.  I had my friends over for a watch party and we take the show a little too seriously... I'm talking we take notes on the guys and even have a bracket! 

Ok now that you know my weird side haha... What did you all think of the guys?!  I really like Jojo and think it'll be a fun season!

Xoxo, Al

Bride Tribe

Bride Tribe

Mondays: "My momma don't like you and she likes everyone"

I hope everyone's weekends were fun and fab! 

I spent mine in Ocean City, NJ for my friend Kelly's bachelorette weekend! 

 She has a huge bridal party (the more the merrier amiright) of 14 bridesmaids.  We packed up a few cars and road tripped it up to the Jersey coast and stayed the weekend right on the beach!  The sun did not grace us with its presence but we made the most of our time anyways.  

The houses there were so beautiful and regal.  The inner Christina El Moussa in me was obsessed with the design of each one!

I've never been to OCNJ because my family usually vacations south along the Florida or Georgia beaches, but I loved it!  It was something different and the boardwalk there was nothing like I've seen before.  Aside from alternating pizzerias and ice cream shops, there's mini golf and roller coasters right along the beach.  Its definitely a family town and the entire area was so well kept up.  Because the weather didn't really allow for any beach time, we found ourselves heading back to the boardwalk several times over the weekend.

On Saturday night, we ate at a historical restaurant called the Tuckahoe Inn right on the water.  We all dressed up and tried to get a picture outside but because a class 8 hurricane decided to roll through this weekend, we ended up with more "windblown" looking shots.

(Ft. Marilyn Monroe over there on the right)

After dinner, we went back to the house and changed into matching "bride tribe" tanks that Kelly got us and headed back out for our last night together.

The weekend as a whole though was SO fun!  This was my first time at a bachelorette weekend and I had such a great time.  It seriously felt like an entire week! The bonds all of us bridesmaids made over the weekend will make the wedding so much more special :)

I'm back home now and starting my first day at Panera.  I've been a loyal customer over the years and me and my best friend decided to apply and work there over the summer, wish us luck!!

Xoxo, Al

The Festival LBD

The Festival LBD

Dress // Sandals // Similar Bag // Monogram necklace (chain length- 18")

This is the dress every closet needs for summer.  Whether its vacation, shopping, or a concert, this LBD works.  Its a fun take on the classic style with its ruffled bottom and tribal print.  And for less than $25, its a great addition to your summer staples!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! It's feeling more and more like summer every day :)  I'm headed to the beach for my friend's bachelorette weekend so fingers crossed the weather holds up for us!

Xoxo, Al

Sunshine Yellow

Sunshine Yellow

Yellow ruffle dress (I got mine from Sundee Best boutique but it isn't online yet!) // shoes similar here (mine are old from Charming Charlie) //  bag similar here // watch (only $25!) // sunglasses

I went to a dinner at the most beautiful winery in Stafford, Va.  The name of it was the Potomac Point Winery and Vineyard and it seriously felt like I had stepped into Tuscany.  Its located on a huge property and the restaurant overlooks the rolling hills filled with grape vines.  The architecture of the building is stunning and its no surprise there was a wedding taking place that night!  

On another note, I love love love this dress.  If I had to live in one dress all summer this would be it.  I just wanted to twirl around all night long!  Its an easy dress to throw on for dinner or even over a swimsuit during the day.  Plus its a steal for only $36!  Its definitely a dress I'm sure you'll see again ;)

Xoxo,  Al

My Love

My Love

Cue Justin Timberlake...

...

Ok exiting Spotify now.  

I've seen some blog posts with What I Love Wednesdays and I thought it'd be fun to do a beginning of summer edition!  The beginning of summer is always so refreshing.   Flowers are still blooming and plants still have that light green tint to them.  Morning are cool and days are long.  There's so much time until we have to go back to school (for us college students out there!) and potential to make it an unforgettable summer.  

The beginning of summer is like the New Year's (fraternal) twin sister.  Its the beginning of a new season and a new you!  Maybe its just an excuse to have a second chance at my resolutions, but I feel like its a clean slate.

So for the beginning of the summer, here's some new products I've been loving:

Vanilla Comoro Black Nighttime Tea

I stated drinking this the last few weeks of school when things got really stressful.  My roommate has always made it and I decided to try it one night and absolutely loved it.  This tea is so calming and I just love anything vanilla.  Naturally caffeine-free, its a great before-bed drink.  When I make it at night, I know its time to start wrapping the day up and mentally prepare myself for bed.  I found that I fall asleep much faster and more peacefully, something that really helped during a crazy week of finals!  And if nothing else, the bags look super cool, I think they look like little pyramidal holograms :)

Coconut Sandalwood Bath and Body Works Candle

Another roommate find... I came back to the apartment one day and thought I had just walked into a beach heaven.  This candle is seriously the essence of summer.  I have the three wick candle and it seriously lasts forever.  Plus B&BW has periodic sales that have this candle for half off!  Definitely stock up when these happen.

Garnier BB Cream

Y'all I love this stuff.  First of all, I've never smelled makeup that smells good, but this smells amazing.  It just smells like it was made for summer.  It has a great coverage for the summertime.  It brightens and evens your skin as well as providing just a little bit of coverage, perfect to put on right before a beach or pool day.  I also think its a great dupe to the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Cream.  I used that all last summer and I feel like so far the Garnier BB cream works just as well, and for 1/3 of the price!  I use the shade "light/medium" / "normal to dry skin".

Sally Hansen Gel Nail Polish in Greyfitti

I love a cool gray in the summer.  It complements a tan nicely and its neutral tone goes well with any outfit.  Its a color I always go for if I'm getting my nails done and I want to keep one color on for a while.

Daily Moisturizer Plus Firming Tanning Lotion

This is another amazing product and that is so affordable.  The original product is Jergens brand, but I picked this up one time at Target when they were out of Jergens and found the generic brand works just as well.  Its also a few dollars cheaper (yay!).  I usually use this at the beginning of the summer season or spring break before I get a base tan.  Its a great alternative to the tanning beds and lasts a pretty long time.  I use it 3 nights in a row after a shower and then I'll use it here and there to keep the tan up.  It gives you a nice even color without the orange.  The only things you have to keep in mind is to make sure to rub it in evenly on hard to reach places like your back and to wash your hands after. I use the shade "medium to dark" to get a deeper tan!

What are some products you're loving right now?

Xoxo,  Al