Sunkissed Summer

The Sunkissed Summer tag is one of the latest tags that has been circling aound the web! It features many of my current summer favorites. Check out the questions and answers below!

1. What is your go-to product for a sun kissed summer glow? (bronzer, self tanner, etc.)

My go-to product for a sun kissed glow is the NYC Sunny Bronzer. I don't use self tanner so to get that bronzed glow, I usually will go for a matte or brightening bronzers. Check out my review of the NYC Sunny bronzer here!

2. What book would you recommend for a summer read? 

A great summer read is Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly! I mentioned this in a summer favorites post (here) a few years ago and still recommend it, especially those who like young adult books. Seventeenth Summer is a classic summer fling book but is interesting to read since it was written in the 40's (don't let that turn you off, it's written like any young adult book today). Some other great reads are Along With the Ride by Sarah Dessen (perfect for those who are headed off to their first year of college) and, of course, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

3. What's your signature summer scent this year?

I don't wear perfume or body spray everyday, but every summer I usually reach for the Bath and Body Work scents "Sweet Pea" or "Forever Sunshine". This summer, I have also been reaching for their lotion in the scent "White Citrus".

4. The sun is shining and it's time to get outside! What's your favorite thing to do?

I love sitting outside on my cushioned porch swing and either read or go on my computer! Sitting on the swing is the epitome of summer for me.

5. You're on the boardwalk and your stomach is grumbling. What's your go-to summer beach food?

Ice Cream! Although it may not be bikini food, when it's a warm summer day, you can never go wrong with big scoop of froyo, ice cream, or gelato!

6. Sunscreen is always important, but it's a MUST in summer! What's your favorite? (Face, body, or both)

Neurtragena Clear Face SPF 30 sunscreen! I recently bought this sunscreen since I have very oil skin and I figured that an anti-break out version would be suited for oily skin. This sunscreen doesn't dry on greasy and doesn't make my skin any more oily than it already is throughout the day, which I love!

7. After a day in the summer sun and heat, what do you do to cool off?

One of the best ways to cool off in the heat for me is with refrigerated watermelon! I find that watermelon tastes the best when it's cut after being refrigerated, since it tends to be more cold, crispy, and sweet!

8. How do you wear your hair in the summer? (down, ponytail, ombre, dip dye, etc.)

My hair usually goes up more in the summer than any other season. If my hair isn't down, I will mostly likely have my hair in either a super high top knot or a high pony tail.

9. Must-have nail polish for summer 2014?

I have been loving turquoise nail polish recently, particularly the Essie nail polish in "Turquoise and Cacaos". It's a beautiful turquoise color that's the prefect amount of blue and green and is also bright enough for the summer while not being as bright as a neon color.

10. Sometimes it just feels good to chill out and watch Netflix. What shows do you recommend for summer? 

Right now, I am currently watching Lost! I just started watching the show this summer and I am pretty addicted and trying super hard to pace myself so that I don't watch all the episodes and season in one week. I have also been watching Awkward and the Bachelorette.

11. Do you wear liquid foundation, BB cream, or tinted moisturizer in the summer?

I don't typically wear any sort of foundation during the year, let alone in the summer. I am, however, considering to buy a BB cream that has SPF to further help protect my skin in the summer.

12. It's super bright outside! Do you reach for sunglasses or a hat?

Sunglasses! I'm not much of a hat person and I have pretty sensitive eyes so sunglasses are a must during the summer. I also think that sunglasses are more practical to wear on an everyday basis.

13. What is your summer jam this year?

Some songs that I have been currently loving are "Come With Me Now" by Kongo, "Rude" by Magic!, "A Sky Full of Stars" by Coldplay, and anything by Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan.

14. Do you have a summer bucket list? If so, share some things on the list.

I don't have a very long bucket list, but some of the few things on the list include cooking more, reading a few books, and eating out at some restaurants that I have been wanting to go to for a while. I also want to take more photos for my blog, since I don't have the time to do it while at school.

15. Bikini, tankini, or one piece?

I'm more a bikini person. Although I don't feel totally confident in a bikini, I find that bandeau tops and bottoms that are not too cheeky make me feel as if I'm not showing as much skin as compared to triangle and string bikinis (even though they are all pretty much the same concept). Bandeau tops also prevent you from having awkward tan lines!

16. Summer means heat... and sweat! What's your favorite sweat proof product this year? (Skincare, makeup, anything!)

My favorite sweat proof product is the Rimmel Stay Matte powder. Powder is an essential product to beat the heat and the Rimmel powder is an affordable product that prevents shininess for several hours.

17. Summer wouldn't be complete without a scoop (or two) of ice cream! If you could create your own ice cream flavor, what would it be?

My dream ice cream flavor would be a vanilla been ice cream stuffed with different kinds of filling, similar to Ben and Jerry's 'Everything But The..' ice cream flavor. I would have the vanilla ice cream stuffed with brownie pieces, oreo pieces, heath bar pieces, cookie dough pieces, milk chocolate chunks, and a chocolate drizzle throughout the ice cream. Is that so much to ask for?

I hope you enjoyed this post!
What's your favorite sweat proof product for the summer?
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Get the Look: Mila Kunis's Marie Claire Cover Makeup Look!

Mila Kunis was glowing on this month's cover of Marie Claire, wearing a bronze makeup look that is perfect to recreate for a summer night out. On the cover, Mila Kunis had bronzed and illuminated skin and for the eyes, Mila Kunis wore a smoked out bronze look featuring colors similar to the eyeshadows in the Maybelline The Nudes palette. To balance the bronzed skin and smokey eye, Mila Kunis wore a peach toned nude lip color that nicely complimented the face makeup.

Face

Start off the makeup with a Foundation or concealer to smooth out the skin. Next, warm up the skin and add a bit of contouring with Bronzer by applying to your temples, hollows of your cheeks, and down the jaw line. Add a bit of color by applying a little bit of a Warm Pink Blush to the apples of your cheeks. Mila Kunis also had highlighted cheekbones and to achieve this, apply a Pearl Highlighter to the tops of your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and to your cupids bow.

Eyes

First apply a Bronze Eyeshadow Base all over the lid so the eyeshadows apply on more vibrantly and last all day and night. Next, apply a Satin Bronze-Plum Brown Eyeshadow all over the lid up to the crease and then take a Matte Taupe Eyeshadow with a blending brush and blend into the crease (this will serve as a base transition color for the next eyeshadow). Next, taking a pencil crease brush, blending a Matte Dark Brown Eyeshadow into the crease and outer corner, blending well to prevent any harsh lines.

Take a Light Champagne Eyeshadow and apply to the inner corner and tear duct area. Next, take a Matte Dark Brown-Black Eyeshadow with a pencil brush and apply to your bottom lash line and blend well. To darken the lash line, apply a Black Pencil Eyeliner to the tight line of your upper lashes and apply a thin line to your upper lash line, smudging the line with a smudge brush. Finish off  the eyes with a Black Mascara. Next, apply a Tinted Brow Gel to thicken your lashes similar to Mila Kunis.

Lips

To get Mila Kunis's natural peachy pink l lip color, apply a nude peach-pink lipstick with a shimmery nude peach lipgloss on top.

I hope you enjoyed this post!
Do you get makeup inspiration from magazine covers?
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Favorite Mascara Discontinued

I am always on the hunt for a great mascara that adds length and volume while separating the lashes without any clumping and is waterproof. Is that so much to ask for? Apparently one mascara thought otherwise. I decided to buy the Maybelline One-By-One mascara since it had many good reviews. After buying it and giving it a shot, I slowly began to fall (deeply) in love with the mascara. It did everything I was looking for plus more!

Unfortunately, I recently heard that the One-By-One mascara was possibly going to be discontinued. However, after checking the Maybelline website, the mascara was still on the website and I didn't think I had anything to worry about.

After having the mascara for several months and using it everyday, I have been running out of the product and decided to go on the hunt to repurchase it. However, after checking a lot of stores, such as Target, Ulta, Walmart, and Rite-Aid (I barely have even been to Walmart and Rite-Aid before the 'hunt'), I couldn't find the mascara.

Now it looks like the Maybelline One-By-One has been discontinued and probably replaced by the Pumped-Up mascara. I had a review post prepared for the One-By-One mascara, giving the product many accolades, but it looks as if I will have to replace that post with this post. I know it may seem silly posting about a discontinued mascara, and it is, but I was surprised that the mascara left without any warning, which would have been nice.

So now I'm on the hunt for a new mascara and have bought some new ones to try out.
What is your favorite mascara?
Please comment below! I would love to read your answers!

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Timothy Lake

Last weekend my family and I took a small day trip near the mountain (Mt. Hood) to Timothy Lake, a large lake with a beautiful view of the mountain. It was the perfect day to go out on the lake since the weather couldn't have been better. The lake was gorgeous, especially when you could see Mt. Hood against the clear sky. Although all we did was take a walk around part of the lake and had lunch, it was none the less beautiful. There were plenty of spots around the lake with little to no people, so it was easy to relax in the solitude of being in front of the still backdrop. If you happen to live around that area, I would recommend checking it out, even if it's just for a small day trip.

I hope you enjoyed this post!
Where do you enjoy going to for a small day trip?
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Tuesday Ten: Summer Dress Trends

1. Shift dresses are dresses that do not cinch at the waist and are often above the knee. Shift dresses are great way to make an outfit look effortless and come in many styles. If desired, a belt can be added to articulate the waistline.

2. Mint colored dresses are a great if you are looking for something that looks good against a tan. Mint suits all skin tones and is bright enough for summer without being too bright. Mint dresses also look fantastic with white accessories!

3. Scalloped edge dresses have been in style for a while, however, it's a trend that I don't see dying quite yet. Scalloped edges are a delicate detail to a typical dress and a scalloped trim on the bottom of the dress can help elongate the look of your legs.

4. Striped Maxi dresses combine two big summer trends: stripes and maxi dresses. Put the two together, and you have the perfect, casual summer dress! This dress can be worn with a wide range of shoes and accessories and are great for a either a lazy day or a day out with friends!

5. Colorblock dresses are a trendier piece and are often a statement piece on it's own. There is no need to add accessories with colorblock dresses, so it's a great piece for those who want to throw on a dress and look immediately put together.

6. Watercolor print dresses are the new take on the popular floral trend. Watercolor-like prints are great for those who feel as if they have out outgrown florals. Watercolor prints are delicate and not as harsh as some floral prints and look beautiful during the summer.

7. High neck dresses are one of the newer trends this summer that will most likely spill into the fall. These dresses are more modest than some other typical summer dresses but still look beautiful, since the straps look as if they goes around the neck rather than over the shoulders, leaving the shoulders bare. This trend can also be seen on both casual and more formal dresses.

8. Cut out dresses have been in style for a few seasons now, however, summer is probably the most appropriate time to wear the trend. Cutout dresses that don't show a ton of the skin (like your whole stomach) such as the one shown above, and can be found tastefully "cut-out", making it appropriate for almost (not all) occasions.

9. Crochet dresses are more on the casual side and are a more current take on the lace dress. Crochet can be styled in various ways, such as with simple wedges or even a pair of cowboy boots, depending on your style. Crochet dresses are a fantastic must if you're looking for a versatile piece!

10. Off- the-shoulder dresses tend to fall into either the "hate it" or "love it" category. Off-the-shoulder dresses can be tastily worn if the dress is not extremely tight and more on the flowy side. Off-the-shoulder dresses can also be worn effortlessly during the day as well as a great piece for a summer night out!


I hope you enjoyed this post!
What is your favorite summer dress trend?
Please leave a comment below!

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Get the Look: Olivia Palermo Makeup Look!

Olivia Palermo is often seen with a natural makeup look with dewy finish that is perfect for all year round, especially during the summer. My take on The City star's look includes an illuminated and bronzed face makeup look with a pink-toned eyeshadow look, which she is often seen wearing in her more natural makeup looks. Olivia Palermo then usually finishes the look is a natural rose color to compliment the dewy makeup. This look would be great during the day, but could also be smoked out a little for a more natural look.

Face

• Foundation: Olivia Palermo is often seen with flawless and luminous skin, so to recreate her look, start the makeup look by applying foundation is desired.
• Bronzer: Olivia Palermo has a bronze glow with not too much heavy contouring. Using a large bronzer brush, apply to the hollows of your cheeks, temples, and down your jawline for an overall bronze look while contouring a little.
• Light Pink Blush: To add a little color, apply a little bit of blush to the apples of you cheeks.
• Champagne Highlighter: To get her dewy look, finish off the look with a bit of highlighter to the top of your cheekbones and a little down the bridge of your nose and blend well.

Eyes

• Pink Champagne Eyeshadow: Start off the eye makeup look by applying a pink champagne eyeshadow all over you lid, up to your crease. A great eyeshadow for this look would be the Urban Decay eyeshadow in "Sin"!
• Matte Taupe Brown Eyeshadow: Using a fluffy brush, apply the eyeshadow to your crease and outer corner and blend well for a little definition. Next, apply a little with a pencil brush to the outer corner of your bottom lash line.
• Black Gel Eyeliner: Olivia Palermo is often seen wearing eyeliner and to recreate her look, apply a simple thin to medium line of black gel eyeliner from the outer corner of your eye to the inner corner of your eye.
• Black Lengthening Mascara: Finish off the eye look with a lengthening mascara to your upper lashes and a light coat to your bottom lashes.

Lips

Lastly, apply a rose pink lipgloss, such as Revlon's Colorburst Lipgloss in "Peony" to finish off the makeup. This color will compliment the eyeshadow and bronzed skin beautifully!

I hope you found this look helpful!
Who do you look up to for beauty inspiration?
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Beach Fashion | Summer 2014

Items shown above: Aerie Bandeau Swimsuit | LC Lauren Conrad Flip Flops | RVCA Ruffle Maxi Dress | Beach by Florabella's Wide Brim Hat | Madewell Tote Bag | Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses

Beach fashion is one of my favorite parts about summer! Beach fashion is often very relaxed and easy to put together. This summer, maxi dresses and stripes have been in style and are great ways to freshin' your wardrobe. A white maxi dress is a classic clothing summer clothing staple, especailly for the beach and striped swimsuits and tote bags are a great ways to add some details to your outfits. Sunglasses and a nice white sun hat are also fantastic ways to protect your face from the strong rays while in the sun.

I hope you enjoyed this post!
What are your beach fashion essentials?
Please comment below!

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Lazy Day Tag!

We all have our lazy days. Those days where we don't feel like putting effort into the day and how we look and would rather lay on the bed or sitting on the couch all day. The Lazy Day Tag has been going around Youtube, and since it's been a while, I thought it was time to post a new tag. I think that this tag in particular is appropriate for summer, because I usually associate summer with being laid back and more than often lazy.

1. What is your lazy day skin care routine? 

My skin care routine is pretty much the same everything, but if I'm in a hurry in the morning, I keep it simple by using my Clean & Clear Continuous Control Cleanser. I then moisturise with my Neutragena Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin and Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel.

2. What is your lazy day makeup? 

If I'm not feeling like wearing a lot of makeup, I will usually just keep it simple by applying my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer and curl my lashes and apply the Maybelline Mega Plush mascara. I will also usually quickly groom my brows with the Maybelline clear mascara. I will then finish off with a little bit of Rimmel Stay Matte translucent powder since I very oily skin.

3. What is your lazy day hair style? 

I don't usually do my hair on an everyday basis, so on a lazy day, my hair routine doesn't usually change. I will usually either keep my hair down or throw it up in a high pony tail or top knot.

4. What is your lazy day outfit? 

My lazy day outfit would definitely be yoga pants and a sweater. On a lazy day, I don't like feeling restricted in jeans, so yoga pants are a go-to look.

5. What is your lazy day scent? 

On lazy days, I will usually skip on the scents, but I will sometimes just wear a scented Bath and Body Works lotion. It is easy and it's like hitting two birds with one stone by the lotion being both moisturizing and scented!

6. What is your lazy day pampering product/routine? 

On my lazy days, I will usually not pamper myself. The most that I will pamper myself on a lazy day would be by just watching a good reality television show.

7. What is your lazy day snack/food? 

My lazy day food would probably be either soup, pasta, or chocolate. Soup and pasta are both very easy meals to make and chocolate is always a quick and satisfying snack.

8. What is your lazy day drink? 

I will either just drink water or tea. I don't usually drink soda or soft drinks and usually instead go for tea since it's relaxing and soothing.

I hope you enjoyed this post?
What is your lazy day routine?
Please comment down below!

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Peach | Summer Trend 2014

Items shown above: Lulu's Tank Top | BP. Lace Trim Scarf | Lulu's Maxi Dress | ASOS Cami Top | Marc By Marc Jacobs Shoulder Bag | Lulu's Envelope Skirt | BP. Stone Bracelet | Blu Pepper Skater Dress | Benjamin Adams London Pointy Toe Pump | J.Crew 3" Oxford Shorts | Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in "Peach of Cake" | Bobbi Brown Blush in "Nude Peach"

Peach is a soft and elegant color that adds a bit of delicateness to any outfit. Since it's more pink-toned than nude colors, it won't 'disappear' in your outfit. Peach also looks great against a nice summer tan and is a great way to add a subtle pop of color to an outfit. I personally think that the combo of white and peach (such as a peach top and white shorts) is a great easy summer outfit that is still on trend and chic. Peach colors are also easy to find when it comes to beauty products. Many brands have peach toned nail polish colors and blushes. Peach is definitely a color to try out this summer!

I hope you found this post helpful!
Will you be wearing peach colors this summer?
I know I will! I would love to read your answers below!

Thank you for reading!

Get the Style: Taylor Swift Summer Street Style

When doesn't Taylor Swift get it right? Taylor Swift can always be counted on if you're looking for a style icon who has classic style. This summer, she has been seen wearing a lot of shorts and skirts with her classic oxfords, but has also been wearing brighter colors that are perfect for the summer! To recreate her outfits, the most basic clothing pieces can be put together to get a perfect casual summer outfit. And don't forget to finish the outfit off with a classic red lip!

Outfit #1

Striped Tee, Jean Shorts, Black Satchel, Oxfords, Necklace, Sunglasses

This outfit is a classic Taylor Swift outfit combining stripes with oxford flats! This outfit would be perfect for a casual day out with friends or family! Start the outfit by pairing a basic black/navy and white striped tee with a pair of cuffed denim shorts. For shows, Taylor Swift was wearing a pair of heeled oxfords, but any pair of brown oxfords would work for this outfit. For accessories, wear a black satchel and small pendant necklace with a pair of red wafer sunglasses!

Outfit #2

Dress, Bag, Heels, Earrings, Lip Crayon

This outfit is more bold and colorful compared to many of the outfits seen on Taylor Swift, while still being classic and well put together. This outfit is fun and perfect for anything from a day out with friends to family get together. The center of this outfit is Taylor's beautiful and colorful dress. Start off with a short white dress with red floral prints. Add a green crossbody and green heels to accent the dress. Although it can't be seen the in photo above, Taylor Swift was also wearing a pair of gold or silver butterfly earrings. Finish off the outfit with a classic brightened red lip color.

Outfit #3

Top, Earrings, Skirt, Bag, Heels

This third outfit that Taylor Swift wore reminds me of something that she would have worn in her "Begin Again" music video, since it is a more vintage look that incorporates lighter and delicate colors. To get this look, start off with a white flowy blouse paired with a light blue skater skirt. For shoes and handbags, any pair of low gray suede heels would look perfect with the skirt and faded brown purse. Lastly, for jewelry, even though you couldn't see what earrings Taylor was wearing, she is often seen with gold or silver studs, which would work well with the faded and subdued colors in this outfit.

Outfit #4

Sweater, Shorts, Shirt, Heels, Bag, Rings

This outfit is a more professional outfit than the previous outfits shown, but can still be worn for a day or lunch out with friends or family. To recreate this outfit, first pair a white collared button down shirt with a navy cardigan or blazer. For the pop of color, pair a pair of dark fuchsia shorts with the outfit. For shoes, Taylor Swift was wearing a her classic pair of brown heeled oxford. Lastly, finish off the outfit by accessorising with a gray satchel handbag and few gold or silver rings.

I hope you found this post helpful!
Who is your summer style icon?
Please comment below!

Thank you for reading!

Maxi Dresses | Summer Fashion 2014

Items shown above: Revolve Clothing Strapless Maxi Dress | Red Dress Boutique Strapless Maxi Dress | Lulu's Striped Maxi Dress | Lush Knit Maxi Dress | Red Dress Boutique Maxi Dress

One of the biggest fashion trends this summer is maxi dresses. They can be found at almost every clothing store and in every color and pattern. Maxi dresses can be dressed up with a pair of wedges or heels or can be worn more casually with sandals or a chambray shirt. They are very comfortable and effortless while being an outfit all on their own! If you are worried that a dress will be too long for you, it can be easily hemmed to your desired length. The best part about the maxi dress trend is that there is no shaving required!

Maxi Dress Outfit Ideas...

Dress, Jacket, Sandals, Handbag, Earrings

Dress, Sweater, Heels, Necklace, Earrings

Dress, Shirt (unbuttoned and rolled sleeves), Heels, Handbag, Necklace

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Will you be wearing maxi dresses this summer?

Please comment below!

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Blue, White, and Stripes | Happy 4th of July!

Items shown above: Top: Forever 21 (similar here) | Shorts: American Eagle | Belt: American Eagle (similar here) | Sandals: Jessica Simpson (similar here) | Nail Polish: Essie nail polish in "Fiji"

Happy Fourth of July! This my first ever 'outfit of the day' post, and what better way to start off than on Fourth of July? Ever since I have started using Bloglovin' and following fashion blogs, I have always wanted to post some outfits on my blog. However, I never got around to it because of school and I'm not entirely comfortable posting pictures of myself on my blog (but I'm trying to get over that 'fear') so posting this post is kinda a big deal for me. I am also still trying to figure out good locations, posing, and how to make my photos better quality. I am also by no means an expert at styling outfits and don't have a very diverse closet since I don't typically branch out with fashion, so finding outfits that are barely cute enough to put on the internet has been a little bit of a struggle. I have, however, been trying to make more effort into exploring different kinds of clothing and trends.

As for the outfit, I have always been a sucker for stripes and thought this navy and white striped top from Forever 21 would be appropriate for the Fourth of July. Since I'm just going to a casual Fourth of July BBQ get-together with some friends from home, I just paired the casual top with some white shorts and white and gold sandals. As for representing red in my outfit, I'm thinking about painting my nails with a red polish to truly make this a red, white and blue outfit!

I hope you enjoyed this post!

What are your plans for the Independence Day?

Please comment below! I would love to read your comments!

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Americana Fashion | Summer 2014

Items shown above: J.Crew Boatneck Tee | Icon Eyewear Aviator Sunglasses | J.Crew Muscle Tank | Francesca's Stars and Stripes Kimono | TOMS 'Classic American' Slip-Ons | Forever 21 Americana Cut Off Shorts | Lulu's Red Dress | Soprano Skater Skirt | Fossil 'Key-Per' Crossbody | Keds Lace Ups

The Fourth of July is just around the corner and I thought it would be appropriate to write a post on the Americana trend that I have been seeing in stores. The Americana trend crosses with the nautical trend, involving stripes, but also stars and almost anything "American" related. The Americana trend includes clothing items that not only involve the American Flag, but also clothing items that include stars and stripes and are red, white or blue. It can be more subtle with a star printed skirt or more on-point with American flag printed shorts or tees. This trend is not only for America's birthday, but is a summer trend that is casual and effortless.

I hope you enjoyed this post!
What are you planning on wearing on the Fourth of July?
Please comment below!

Thank you for reading!