Beauty Tuesday: Nighttime Skincare

- Melody

Happy Tuesday! I thought for today’s Beauty Tuesday I’d give you guys a little insight into my nightly skincare routine. It’s short, boring, and mundane. Let’s take a look!

face

To take off all of my makeup I either use Philosophy Purity Facial Cleanser or Neutrogena Naturals Facial Cleanser. I recently discovered the Neutrogena when I ran out of my 32 oz. of Philosophy. It’s about $7 and it takes literally every stitch of makeup off of my face. The smell is so good, like a Jolly Rancher, and so far it doesn’t dry my face out, which most scented products tend to do for me.
I started using Philosophy Purity about six years ago and never really looked back. My mom saw it on QVC one night and we just decided to order it. The power of advertising, amiright?! It’s the only thing that doesn’t mess with my skin and still takes off all my makeup. (The only reason I bought the Neutrogena was to save a little $$!) Bonus, it lasts me quite a while! I normally buy the biggest bottle which is 32 ounces and that lasts me several months. However, the biggest sold in stores is 16 ounces!

face2

For breakouts I’ve found that Murad Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel is the only thing that won’t make my skin worse! It’s just so darn expensive and I’m literally on my last drop of this stuff. Sucks to suck it up and buy some more, but it’s so worth it! For spot treatment Murad Spot Treatment can’t be beat. I love it so much!

face3

For a moisturizer, which I’m finding I need more lately, my mom gave me Philosophy Hope In A Jar when she was over it. Haha! It smells like sunscreen, which I like but some don’t, and has a unique texture. It’s almost like it has shimmer in it because it makes my skin sparkle when I put it on. The texture is airy and light and it takes it a second to rub into my skin but once it’s there it’s moisturized, baby!
Once I run out of this I’m hoping to try Boots Expert Moisturizing Lotion. It’s cheaper and I’ve heard good things!

So that’s it! A pretty basic nightly routine. What are your favorite products to use? Favorite moisturizers? Spot treatments? Cheap things you’ve found that work well for you? Let me know in the comments! I wanna know! 🙂

Happy Tuesday!

Some Encouragement…

- Melody

image(18)

This was recently said to me in reference to my divorce, but it applies in so many other areas of life that I thought I’d share it with all of you. I hope you find some encouragement in it. 🙂

 

x

Affordable & Stylish Plus Size Swimsuits

- Melody

Ever feel like clothing companies are giving plus size style the side eye? Me too. I get frustrated walking into Target and seeing the trendy, cute bikinis and walking to the back wall and seeing black, ruched plus sized swimsuits. Where are my fringed, tribal suits?! Fear not! I have rounded up a few bold plus sized suits with some outfit ideas for your summer vacation.

 

pinksuit

suit ($27.80): Forever21, polish ($8): Essie, shades ($14): Jack Threads

printedsuit

suit ($45): Old Navy, towel ($43): Black (UK), hat ($17): Target

mintsuit

suit ($90): ModCloth, towel ($18): Target, shades ($22): Dr. Jays

printed

suit ($45): Old Navy, bag ($40): LOFT , towel ($26): Kohl’s

There you go! A few swimsuit ideas for the beach. You’re going to the beach, right? 🙂

Have you found any unique swimsuits yet? Link them in the comments! I’d love to see! And send me a picture of you in it. I know you’ll be working it!

Hope you’re having a good week!

I Putt You Putt

- Melody

DSC_1777DSC_1850DSC_1780DSC_1842DSC_1851

blouse: Target, skirt: Target, sandals: Forever21

For part two of Mother’s Day we took my mom to Outback and then played a rousing game of putt-putt Monday night. Complete with trash talk and crappy playing. The weather was absolutely beautiful and it was a great start to the week. I plan on going to pick up some final projects from the school and spending most of the day taking pictures around campus. I was hoping to get to that earlier in the semester when it was cooler but there was never really a good opportunity. So I’m going to force my sister to come with me and hang out. Bonus! The campus will be desolate so I should get some good shots.

What are your plans for the week? Any putt putt competitions? I can give you some pointers!

Nobody Looks Good In A Graduation Cap

- Melody 3 Comments

vscocam383vscocam384vscocam387vscocam386

dress: c/o eShakti, heels: Target, earrings: H&M, ring: c/o InPink

Finally! I’m blogging about this dress! eShakti sent this to me last fall and I never had a fancy enough occasion to wear it to. Looks like graduation was the ticket. 😉 The sizing of this dress is perfect. There’s a hidden zipper in the side and an elastic waistline. I will say that the sheer sleeves are too big for my liking. I’d much prefer it if they were more skin tight. I’m sure I can persuade my mom to fix that. 😛 Oh! Did I mention there are pockets?! Perfect for hiding my lipgloss and phone in while I waltzed across the stage last Friday night. 🙂

Wanna see a picture of me in my grad garb? Okay, fine. Here I am in all of my robed glory.

vscocam382

This jumping picture is a tradition when I graduate. This is the third in my series of jumping pictures. 🙂 I was supporting End It Movement on my cap. I hope I spread at least some interest and curiosity!

vscocam388

Upside down. Nice. 😉

Funny story about that robe. My friend Megan and I were backstage and I wondered why hers, which was the same size as mine, was so much smaller. We looked at the tags and I bought a plus size robe. That would explain why my hands and arms disappeared. 😛 We had a good laugh the entire ceremony, but I still rocked it, right? Right.

I’ve begun applying for bid kid jobs and it’s kind of scary! I’ve applied for three so far, all secretary related. I’m thinking I’ll get a semi-easy job and save up some money while figuring out where God wants me for the musical part of my life. It’s scary and exciting at the same time! Wish me “luck”! 😛

Happy Tuesday!

*Thanks to eShakti for sending me this dress and allowing me to graduate in style. 🙂

In Storage

- Melody

vscocam376vscocam378vscocam380vscocam377vscocam379

blouse: Old Navy, pants: Target, sandals: Old Navy, earrings: Target, glasses: thrifted

My sister affectionately refers to these pants as my grandma pants. Affectionately is the key word in that sentence I think. 😛

I graduated last Friday. 🙂 A lot of emotions were happening that day. Gratitude, sadness, goodbyes, happiness that I get to go back in the fall, annoyed that I get to go back in the fall, :P. I got to sit next to one of my best friends while we graduated. We started out at the same junior college and graduated there together and finished out together. 🙂 It was a blast! It made me want to go back for my masters. Maybe. 🙂

My grad party was Saturday night and we played games and had Mexican food and margaritas and laughed and laughed. I’m going to miss my group of friends but I have a feeling it won’t be long before I see them again.

Seriously, thank you to everyone who had a hand in getting me to this point. I don’t think I ever thought I’d have a bachelor’s degree. I’m proud of myself and want to push myself even harder towards my career goals. Thank you!

Happy Monday! It’s summer for me! Better find a job. 😛

vscocam381