Sister Style: Simple Skirt

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tee: Hanes, scarf: Old Navy, skirt: Target, sandals: Forever21

Shel wore this out shopping on Labor Day. Her style is simple and fun with scarves thrown in! She started student teaching this semester at White Oak ISD where our mom graduated from, though her passion doesn’t lie with teaching. Like me, she wants to lead worship in a contemporary setting. She finished up a worship internship at our church this summer and learned a lot about what it means to plan a service, what’s involved, and how to deal with people.

She’s 21 and single and you know what that means! That she has a cat she really loves. 🙂

So everyone say hello to Shelby! Everyone, Shelby. Shelby, Everyone. You can find more about here HERE.

🙂 Happy Thursday!

xx

Hump Day

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men’s button-up: thrifted, jeans: Target, sandals: Old Navy, bracelets: H&M/Target, necklace: estate sale

Come on! Who knew the light in this parking lot was going to be so good? The blank slate of the parking lot was so good it was just begging to have me take my pictures in it. My sister Shel and I took our Labor Day off and hit the town shopping. We had a blast drinking coffee, strolling around Target, and buying things we don’t need. 🙂 Oh and hello, do you know the wonder of TJ Maxx?! I’ve only shopped there less than five times in my life but I can’t for the life of me figure out why. THAT. PLACE. IS. AMAZING. I almost bought a $30 Steve Madden crossbody that was so beautiful and I am regretting it now. My sister bought the most gorgeous leather and studded bag and I keep wanting to snatch! We did get new wallets that we love though. Mine is blue with tons of little compartments and cute gold zippers. I had a cheap snap one from WalMart which served its purpose but kept unsnapping in my bag and change would always spill everywhere. Flarp! Moral of the story, never underestimate TJ Maxx. Ever. Ok?

Next we hit up Target and since ULTA is right next door… 🙂

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I have a hard time controlling myself in that store. It was very uncrowded Monday, which was surprising. The amount of samples and testers out sets my little swatching hand a racin’! That’s why in the picture below there’s a hot blue swipe of eyeliner. 🙂 NYX you get me every time! 🙂

Now on to the outfit details…

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Happy Hump Day! It’s almost the weekend again… Eek!

 

xx

Beauty Tuesday: Hot Pink and Black Flick Tutorial

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Hey guys! Happy Tuesday! Today I’m bringing you my first tutorial. 🙂 I’m using all (except for one!) drugstore/inexpensive products that are longwearing and natural with a little kick. 😉 Keep reading to see how to get the look!

STEP ONE:
This product isn’t shown, but I used a sample I had of the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in Light/Medium. I’m not really a fan of this product. In my opinion, I wouldn’t waste your money! This is basically a tinted moisturizer that has a pretty slick texture and I wouldn’t recommend it for oily skin folks. It isn’t going to cover much redness or blemishes, so be prepared to use a concealer. If you do use it, be sure to set it with a powder. I used the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Buff Beige.

STEP TWO:

Conceal! I’m using the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Concealer. It’s a liquidy concealer that comes through a domed sponge making it very easy to apply. I only apply this to my under eyes since it’s not very thick and just blend it with my fingers.

concealer

STEP THREE:

Bronzing and contouring. I’m using the ELF Cool Bronzer pallet. I’m taking an ELF Powder Brush and pinching it to give me a more targeted application. I use the bottom left shade and contour from my ears to about halfway down my cheek toward my mouth and blend it out so I don’t have a harsh line. I’ll also blend my brush over the entire pallet and apply it to my temples or all over my face to warm up my skin tone.

bronzer

STEP FOUR:

Blush! I’m using the ELF Studio Blush in Pink Passion. Don’t be scared! This is a very bright pink but is sheered out once applied on the face. I’m using a Sonia Kashuk Angled Blush Brush and applying it on the outer apple of my cheek and blending towards my hair line. Putting blush too close to the nose gives a look of redness and we don’t want that!

blush

STEP FIVE:

Highlighting! I’m using one of ELF’s newest product, their Baked Highlighter in Moonlight Pearls along with a cream stick in Spotlight also from ELF. First I’ll put down the cream and layer the powder on top. Moonlight Pearls is a very shimmery champagne color so be careful and don’t apply too much. We don’t want a look of oiliness! I apply this down the bridge of my nose and on my cheekbones. Other places you can apply are on the chin and between the brows. I choose to skip this since my skin tends to lean towards the oily side and any shimmer will just enhance that.

highlighter

STEP SIX:

On to the eyes! I’m using a new product from Jordana called the 12 HR Made To Last Eyeshadow Pencil in Continuous Almond. It’s a nude, matte skin tone shade that when layered under shadow helps it to stay much longer! You can find this brand at any Walgreens. It’s very affordable! Check out some of their other products as they are longlasting and inexpensive. 🙂

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STEP SEVEN:

Eyeshadow! I’m using my original Naked pallet from Urban Decay. First, I’m going into the shade called Naked on my ELF shadow brush ($1!) which is a little deeper than my skin tone and putting that all over my lid. Second, I’m taking Buck which is a warm, orangey brown and buffing that into my crease to give me a natural depth. Lastly, I’ll take a little of the shade Virgin, a shimmery white, and pop that into the area around my tear duct to brighten up the area. Be sure to blend everything out with a bare fluffy brush.

eyeshadow

STEP EIGHT:

Eyeliner! I’m using my Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black. Draw this along your lashline and draw a cateye flick on the outer edge of your lid. Since this is in the form of a pen it makes it very very user friendly. Just hold like a pen and write with it! Much easier than using a gel liner with a brush or a liquid liner. This product has been lasting me quite a while as well so don’t worry about it drying out.

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STEP NINE:

Mascara! I’m using the Jordana Best Lash Extreme. It’s $2.99 at Walgreens and is a great formula. It comes out a little clumpy on the brush so I like to clean it off on the tube before applying. If you like, curl your lashes before applying. For this look, leave mascara off your lower lashes to make the cateye stand out!

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STEP TEN:

Lips! I’m using the Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Tropical Frenzy. This is an excellent hot pink color that is easy to apply because it’s in a big pencil form! This product is moisturizing and very pigmented. Even after the shine is gone there will be a noticeable stain on the lips.

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And there you go! A hot pink and cateye look wearable for day and night. 🙂 If you want to go a little more glam, add a deeper colored eyedshadow on the lid and smudge some on your lower lashline. For even more glam add false eyelashes! Hope you have fun with this look and let me know if you try it!

 

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Cut It Out

image(76)image(73)image(75)image(71)image(74)image(72)cut-out chiffon blouse: Forever21 (thrifted), skirt: Target, sandals: Target, necklace: H&M, cuff: estate sale

This is the first time I’ve worn this shirt since getting it several months ago. And by several, I really mean several. Like, six months ago. :/ Oops! The triangles are actual cut-outs which is cool until you catch a finger or the edge of a gold cuff and nearly rip them off.

In other news, I really need a haircut. It’s cool to have long hair and all but it has really gotten out of control. My mom chopped off some of my dad’s hair the other day but then forgot about me. Thanks, Char.

So what are you doing for Labor Day? The daycare is actually closed! Woohoo! So I’m going shopping with my sisters to buy things we don’t need. What a way to celebrate labor! By not laboring.

For those of you that started back to school, how’s it going!? College? High school? Middle school? My youngest sister started her freshman year of high school last week! Aww! She’s in the marching band and plays clarinet. We went and saw her very first game last Friday night. Hello, Friday night football! I missed you. She was so great! We can all tell she’s having a blast even though she tries to act cool in front of us. 🙂 Go Rudy!

Let me know in the comments how school is going for you! And look out for my very first makeup tutorial tomorrow. 🙂 I’m pretty excited!

Happy Monday!

xx

I Have Ten Kids

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When I left UT Tyler in May I was confused, scared, and optimistic. When my divorce was final the month before my life stopped and I thought it was over. I tried moving on but I couldn’t let go. I committed to pray for God to restore my marriage, to restore me and show me my worth in Him. I was almost in a constant state of prayer during that time about myself, my marriage, and my new life out of the university. I thought finding a job that made me feel worthwhile would be easy. Ha! From the moment I graduated I started applying to jobs. A friend told me to look for secretary or receptionist jobs to ease myself into the working world. Well, looks like God didn’t want me there. I probably applied to fifty jobs and either didn’t hear back or was told I wasn’t qualified enough. (How?)

A month went by after graduation and God put Jason back in my life. I was… elated. And still am. And while there’s a lot of work to be done still I’m happy about where I am. God showed me who I am in Him through this horrific situation, and while I wished it wouldn’t have happened I am better for it. I found strength I didn’t know I had. I found the mercy and grace of Jesus in a new and beautiful way. I found love. I found peace. It took fire to refine me and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Another month went by and Jason’s mom offered me a job in her daycare. I turned down the first offer purely out of fear and worry. Thankfully she had another position open and I snatched it up. I didn’t know what to expect. Me? In a daycare? 10 babies to take care of? Yikes. I was pretty scared. I mean, I’ve never had a full-time job before and this sounded hard and I’d have to meet new people and start all over somewhere else and blah blah blah. I could’ve come up with a million excuses but I accepted the job and started the following Monday. I walked through the door and started training. For the next half hour I learned the ropes and rules. That whole week was school for me. I learned hundreds of things I never knew before and developed relationships with my coworkers and the babies. They’re my kids now and I can’t believe I get to take care of them all day. I think about what kind of homes they go home to and if they’re loved as much as I love them. I pray for them and their parents and their lives and pray they’re blessed and happy and healthy. I can’t believe how much I’ve come to care for these tiny humans in just two short weeks. It’s odd for me. But I’m in love. I’m happy and at peace! Never thought I’d get to say that.

While I’m still searching for other opportunities in a field more in line with my passions, I’m loving where I am right now. I’d love to find jobs or paying internships in fashion and makeup/hair. This blog has really opened up a new part of myself and developed new fiery passions and hobbies so for that I am thankful!

It’s been a wild, wild year so far. I have learned more about myself and Jesus in 9 months than the entire 22 years I’ve been alive. I feel blessed, happy, free, and peaceful.

We’ll see how I feel when I start my two online classes today! Intro to probability and statistics and Biology/Lab I. Yikes.

 

Happy Monday 🙂

6 Free iPhone Apps You Should Download

Hello! Been looking for something to do on that iPhone of yours? I’ve come up with six FREE and unique apps you should download. Experiment with them and let me know what you think!

 

VSCO

VSCO Cam
This is my number one photo editing app. There are dozens of filters! Be sure to download all they offer for $5.99 for a limited time!  They still add new editing tools so you don’t get comfortable with the ones you first downloaded. Only downside is there is no full rotate!
TIP: Sign up for their in-app photo share stream, The Grid, and explore their tutorials and blog posts within the app, too.

 

Secure

Secure Safe
Have a lot of passwords? Word document or desktop sticky note getting really full? That was the case with me until I found this app. It alphabetizes all passwords and usernames by the name you choose. You can add the URL and a comment if you want. Want to keep track of documents too? Never fear! There’s space for that here!
TIP: If you double tap the home button it will log out of your current session and not save the entry you were in the middle of inputting. For safety!

 

Park Mobile

Park Mobile
For you big city folk this is perfect. Parking on the street in front of a meter has never been easier. It will alert you before your time runs out and you can pay for more time right within the app! There’s a neat feature called Find My Car. Forgot where you parked? The app will keep track of it since you put in your license number and state of registration. (Handy if it gets stolen too, maybe?)
TIP: You will need to input your credit/debit card information to register, but it does not save it within the app.

 

Dragon

Dragon Dictation (Not optimized for iPhone 5)
Know that dictation button within the message app? This is basically the same except it picks up on your speech a little better. You can also post status updates to Twitter and Facebook! Perfect if you don’t want to stare at a screen. PSA: Don’t text and drive!
TIP: To add punctuation say the type of punctuation within your statement. To have the app dictate “How are you?” I would verbalize How are you question mark.

 

lumosity

lumosity
If you feel sluggish and not quite as quick on the draw, this app can fix that! It’s SO much fun! I’ve been out of the education loop for a few months so this swept away some of the cobwebs. 🙂 However, I know there is an option to buy a membership on their website but this hasn’t asked me for that.
TIP: You’ll need to register!

 

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Seat Geek
Suggested by my friend Kait! She says, “Say you’re in Dallas or something and can’t find anything to do. You can search for cheap seats at the Rangers stadium!”
TIP: She says it’s really better to use the closer to the date of the actual event to get more of a discount.

 

So that’s it! Have you used any of these apps? Want to add some to the list that you use all the time? Leave them in the comments and share your genius! (After you use the lumosity app, of course. 🙂

 

 

xx