Hot Man Parade

Tell me this isn't one of the hottest pics of David ever!

Fair, Food, and Fun!

A few weeks ago, the Hubs and I went to the LA County Fair with some of our friends (you may remember their baseball themed wedding) and it was my first time in years. I love the fair, all the random things to buy, the animals, rides, and especially all the food!

We bet on some horses, Matt was the only winner!


Ate the obligatory fried fair food- this is avocado.

Checked out the petting zoo, one of my favorite fair events!


Took some wacky pics

And lastly, rode the terrifying ferris wheel! 

It was such a blast and I'm so glad we got to go with our friend Katie and Cameron. They're such a fun couple and the perfect pair for the fair!

New Cheapie Beauty Finds

So I've been using some awesome beauty cheapies, some new and some I've used for a while and wanted to share them with everyone. I love high-end products like MAC just like the next girl, but sometimes it's not always budget friendly and sometimes the cheapie stuff works just as great or better for some products. 

First up, I bought e.l.f. Mineral Mascara in Black on a whim and I've been using it ever since. It's seriously an awesome product! It really coats your lashes in just one application and is awesome to layer with other mascaras like my Holy Grail Maybelline Lots of Lashes (check out the review here). Whatever typ of mascaras I'm using, I usually will layer this on with it as either the base or middle coat. It's also great to add thickness to lengthening mascaras.

This Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in Brightener 60 may not be a secret, it's all over blog land and I think almost everyone uses it now. I've used it for over a year and love it! I've turned several of my friends and family onto it. It's awesome at brightening up any area, especially under your eyes and inner corners. I'll even use it on the sides of my nostrils as a highlight. I don't think this is going to cover up really dark eyes, but it really lightens up the area and brightens it altogether. It helps make me look like a barbie doll when I feel like a zombie. 

Finally, Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss, and I think I'm the last one to hop on this bandwagon. It's seriously only $2.99 (I saw it at Ulta for $3.99) and really enjoy it. Not like I needed another lip product, but I couldn't resist the price tag. It glides on really easily and feels really slick on your lips. I don't think this really moisturizes my lip, but I love the hint of color it adds without feeling like I have something heavy weighing on my lips. Plus, my favorite part is the soft nude color with a hint of shimmer it adds

These are just some great products I've used for a while now and have been really happy with my purchases. Not always you pick up something great just on a whim. What are some of your favorite cheapies? Have you used these products?

OOTD: Mint & Glitter

Hi Everyone!

I just got back from Utah yesterday after spending 8 days with my family.This week's posts will be some that I had scheduled last week, but didn't feel it was appropriate to post with what was going on. Once I'm less emotional, I'll probably do a post about my trip, but for now I just wanted to thank all of you for the support and love you gave! Your comments, emails, tweets, and texts meant so much to me. My Grandmother's passing was very difficult, she meant the world to me. Despite the circumstances, my trip home was wonderful. It was so great to see family, some of which I haven't seen in years! Thank you again for being so sweet, I can't tell you how much your words made me smile and lifted my spirits. Hope you all have an amazing Monday and great start to the week!

Everly Shift Dress

Old Navy Glitter Belt

Gap Skinnies

Nine West Wedges (old)

Jewelry: Michael Kors Watch, Bracelets Derng and Tiffany

I love transitioning dresses into fall with some dark skinnies! THis will look great with some riding boots.

Do you wear your dresses over skinnies or just put them away for next season?

Grandma

“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” Marjorie Pay Hinckley

 Grandma

I love you and will always remember your hugs and kisses and the lessons you have taught me.

1931-2012

You Were Always the Best

You have always been one of the most important and influential people in my life. We have so many wonderful memories together that I will always cherish and am so happy that we have spent so much time together.

Some of my favorite memories among them that always bring a smile and a chuckle to me:

-Icing Christmas sugar cookies with your homemade frosting (and how you had to hide them outside so the family wouldn't eat them all)

-Wearing your gorgeous nightgowns around the house pretending to be a princess

-Your hot chocolate with mini marshmallows every morning

-Playing in all your jewelry and being allowed to wear it to church

-You playing the piano while Grandpa, Karli, and I all sang and danced

-The hours we spent playing games together and how upset you would get when Grandpa cheated

-Your empty threats: "I'll snatch you bald headed" "I'll give you a swift kick in the rear end"

-All of the support you have given me, coming to every game, recital, holiday

-Bouncing on your knee while you sang "I love you, a bushel and a peck"

-All the trips we went on together camping, fishing, to Yellowstone, Hawaii, and San Diego

-How you gave the biggest hugs and always made everyone feel extra special

I'll love you forever and will always strive to be the woman you were and have given me as an example.

Thank you everyone for all of the love and support. This has been really difficult and I really appreciate everyone's kind words. Thank you very much.

Love, True Love

 Grandma and Grandpa. 

Two of the most important people in my life. 

A testimony of marriage and true love.

The reason I survived childhood and adolescence.

These two people have meant the world to me and have shown me by example of who we are to be as a spouse, parent, grandparent, and neighbor.  

My Grandmother passed away this past Friday and I'm in Utah for the week. 
My postings will be slim this week, but check out my guest post at Haute Child in the City.

Hot Man Parade

OOTD: They Call Me Mellow Yellow

H&M Dress (can't find on the site)

Nordstrom BP Belt (old)

Qupid Wedges from GoJane (old)

Jewelry: F21 Necklace, Bracelets Derng and Tiffany, Michael Kors Watch

The more OOTD pics I take the more I realize we need a better camera, my hubs need to take photography classes, and I need to learn how to use photoshop.

This dress is one of my new favorites, in real life it's almost a neon yellow. I love the lace overlay on the white, it's so fun and chic. I saw the dress a little bit ago at H&M, but the sizing just didn't fit me right and the price was great on it's own, but not low enough to also have it altered. Then H&M had it for half off over Labor Day weekend, boom. Sold. I couldn't wait to wear it before having it altered though so I just belted it. I plan on having it taken in because I'm almost swimming in it and then it will fit perfectly. I think it will look cute this fall with some boots and a trench.

Product Review: e.l.f. Studio Eye Primer & Liner Sealer

e.l.f. Studio Eye Primer & Liner Sealer

When I was in SD visiting my sister, I picked this primer (and a lip primer, still being tested for reviews!) up on a Target run. You seriously cannot go to Target and walk out empty handed. It's ridiculous. Maybe I should just get paid in Target gift cards. 

Well, I've had a love and hate relationship with elf, some items are my go-to and others are meh. I've tried their Mineral Shadow Primer and did not care for it, you got what you paid for with it. I like to use primer mostly when I'm going out and what my shadow to really stick, but the heat this summer has seemed to be more than the normal summer and I've found I needed something for my lids even when not using shadow, but just to make my powder last longer. I've been using UD Primer Potion since my engagement photos and love it, but recently ran out. Then came my Target run.

From the website:
The Prime side sets your eyeshadow in so your color won’t fade, bleed or crease. The Liner side transforms your favorite eye shadow into a waterproof, smudge-proof liquid liner with this unique clear liquid and built-in felt tip precision eyeliner brush. Now you can have your eye makeup lasting longer for no fuss no budge color.

My review:
-Ok, this is going to be one-sided because I've only used the eye primer and I'm not interested in the liner sealer. When I saw it, I thought it was like a sealer for your liner (like the name) and so I put on my liquid liner and when it dried I put this sealer on top. Big mistake, it made my liner bleed! Then I read the box, it's to transform your shadow into lasting eye liner! Duh, I'm a dork.  I haven't used it like it's supposed to be used and don't plan on it, it's just not a product I need.

-I like that the primer is a light "natural" color, some primers I've used have been too dark and this one is a perfect shade

-Goes on and blends easily

-Doesn't alter or intensify your shadow like other primers (which can be seen as a pro or con depending on your preference)

-Lasts several hours without fading and creasing

-Here's a pic of my shadow after wearing neutral colors (MAC Blanc Type, Phloof, and Honesty) for 11 hours. I put on my shadow around 5am and this pic was taken around 5-530pm. I checked my shadow on one of my breaks and it still looked good on hour 8. There's obviously some creasing and disappearance and ew, my liner is bleh.

-The primer works better with some shadows than others. My MAC shadows have worked awesome with the primer, where my UD Naked Pallettes have creased and disappeared a lot sooner. 

Overall:
It's totally worth it's $3 price tag, I'll be buying this product again for sure. UD Primer Potion is still superior and I'll be replacing that one soon. This elf primer is fabulous for everyday-no-big-deal use, not mega nights out or important days where you need your make-up to last a lifetime.

Do you use a primer? Which is your favorite?

OOTD- Sparkles

Old Navy Blouse (here)
F21 Skinnies (here, most comfortable jeans ever!)
Nine West Wedges (old)
Nordstrom BP Head Band (here)
Jewelry: Michael Kors watch, Tiffany Bracelet, Derng Bracelet, Junghwa Necklace

I love this top, it's so versatile and really comfortable to wear. I also like that it's so long, I think it will be fab over some liquid or printed leggings and will be super cute tucked in with a skirt. I think next time I wear it, I'll tuck it in and pair it with a leopard belt.

I'm obsessed with this head band! It's so gorgeous and really sparkles in the light and is gorgeous next my darker hair. Ever since I posted about fall trends, I went out and picked it right up! I can't wait to wear it with a cute messy bun. I really wasn't ready for fall, but it's slowly creeping in and I keep finding myself wanting dark nails and cozy sweaters.

Hot Man Parade