Movement

A little "About Me"video shot by Dustin Lane. I posted this over the summer and have been toying with the idea of doing more outfit posts in this way. Thoughts?

Paint It On

When I was in college, it wasn't unlike me to roll out of bed, throw on a t-shirt and jeans, toss my hair into a messy bun and head out the door. On exam days, however, things were different. You see, I've always been a believer that if you look and feel your best, you'll perform better. So, every time I had an exam coming up, I'd carefully pick out what I was gong to wear the night before (usually a dress) and get up a little earlier so that I could take more time with my hair and makeup.


While I'm most certainly not a makeup expert (my frosted eye shadow phase lasted waaaaaaay longer than I care to admit), I enjoy the stuff just as much as the next girl. Here's a look at the products I currently can't live without: 


1. I'm not always the best at picking out complimentary eye shadow colors so I love kits like this one from MAC. All of the purple-grey colors in this palette work beautifully together.
2. I've been searching for the perfect matte pink lipstick for what seems like years now, so you can imagine my excitement when I finally found one—Lancome's Pink Preview.
3. Over the years, I've tried other foundations thinking I might find something I like better, but without fail, I always revert back to Bare Minerals. My tip for a great foundation finish? I Layer Estee Lauder's Shimmer Powder in Gold Pearl over my Bare Minerals—it instantly brightens up my complexion.
4. Nothing works as a better primer for my collection of MAC eye shadows than the Paint Pot in Painterly by MAC. A friend of mine introduced me to this product and I've been hooked ever since.
5. Day in and day out, I rely on Lancome's Hypnose mascara in brown, Lancome's Le Stylo Waterproof eyeliner pen in bronze, and Benefit's High Brow pencil (especially when I haven't had time to wax my eyebrows) to keep me looking well-rested.
6. Quick and easy, Almay's eye makeup remover pads are the best I've found.  I love the smell of Caudalie's Nourishing Body Lotion and Urban Decay's All Nighter setting spray is my most recent obsession.
7. If I'm not wearing Lancome's Pink Preview, you can bet I've got on #R06 by Sephora. It's a beautiful orange-red and lasts forever. Another plus? It's cheap!
8. Bathina Body Balm by Benefit is luxury in a tin can. I keep one with me at all times.

One Woman's Trash

 {Thrifted kimono, vintage shirt, Mavi jeans, Bamboo booties, Michael Kors watch, Anna Sheffield ring, wrap bracelet—unknown}


When wearing vintage clothing, I can't help but wonder about the person who owned the piece before me. Did they truly love the item? How did they like to style it?


While it's likely that most of my vintage treasures spent their lives overlooked in the back of closets, I always like to imagine they meant something more.


My top three tips for vintage shopping:
1. Take a walk. Vintage/thrift stores can be overwhelming. If nothing grabs your attention within one sweep around a store, I recommend moving onto another.
2.  Imagine the Possibilities. Find a great piece but it's too large? You can always alter it. I once found an emerald green Christian Dior silk skirt at a thrift store for eight bucks. The only problem: it was four sizes too large. After a trip to my alterations lady, it's become one of my favorite items in my closet.
     3. Be Ruthless. There is no great deal or designer find that can make permanent stains or holes look chic. Be realistic about what can be repaired and what cannot.

Casual Sunday

{Mavi jeans, Steven Alan button down, Mac and Jac jacket, Better Than Cashmere scarf, Forever21 oxfords and bracelet, Michael Kors watch}

Hi, all! Hope you're having a wonderful, lazy Sunday!

Vintage+Neon

{Vintage blazer, Gap tank, Mavi jeans, Forever21 heels and studded bracelet, vintage clutch and bracelets,  Micheal Kors watch, Macys wrap bracelet, ring—unknown}

Over the years, I've become quite good at deciding within one trip around a vintage or thrift store whether  there's anything I need to take home with me. What I have not perfected, however, is deciding how I'd like to wear an item once I've actually gotten it home. Case in point: this very yellow vintage blazer I purchased well over a year ago. Though I liked it instantly, almost every time I put it on I felt it was too preppy, too grandma, or just too...yellow. As my vintage collection continues to expand, I'm learning to rely on modern accessories, like studded bracelets and metallic bags, to keep things feeling current. Red lips never hurt, either. 

Double Duty

 {David's Bridal dress, vintage sweater, Zara pumps, Gap clutch, Forever21 bracelet, earrings—purchased from a street artist in NYC}

I've been in a lot of weddings. I'm talkin' like ten or more so you can only imagine the number of bridesmaid dresses I have amassed over the years. Recently, I got to looking at all of them—lonely and unworn in the back of my closet—and thought about how each dress had been chosen by the bride in hopes that I'd one day be able to wear it again.

So, I thought I would.

My tips for getting some use out of a bridesmaid dress once the big day has passed:

• Experiment with different dyes (you can find some good ideas here), and when in doubt, remember— black is always a good option.

• Have your dress shortened to a more desirable length. I've found that most bridesmaid dresses are a bit longer that what I find myself wanting to wear on a day-to-day basis.

•  Hack the top off your dress and alter it into a skirt. Some of my most commonly worn skirts were once dresses.

•  Don't want to commit to anything? Throw a sweater or jacket over a strapless dress like I did here.

A Christmas of Firsts

{DIY candlesticks via the Centsational Girl}

The Holidays have always been, without a doubt, my favorite time of year. Though I'm older, to me, the holiday season will forever be that feeling I got when I rounded the corner at my grandparents' house (Nanny and Pepaw) to see that the old Santa Clause with the punched-in nose was finally lit up. It's carefully unwrapping ornaments to hang on our tree and listening to my mom tell the story behind each and every one of them. It's those moments of anticipation when Christmas morning had finally arrived and my parents would make us wait to come out of our bedrooms until my mom had put on a pot of coffee and dad had gotten out his video camera. This is the first Christmas that my family and I will spend without our sweet Nanny, which will be hard, but I know I have memories of Christmases past to get me through the season. And as the first Christmas my boyfriend and I will spend together as a "living in sin" couple, I can't wait to decorate our apartment and start some traditions of our own. Here are some of my favorite Pinterest images that are inspiring me as I get into the holiday spirit.

{Martha Stewart }

{Via Better Homes and Gardens}

{Country Living}

 {Martha Stewart}