March Favorites

March is over already.  According to the weather it seems like the month is just starting, but hopefully Spring will make an appearance soon enough!  Here are my March Favorites...

Fashion Wishes: Spring

With the weather finally starting to get warmer, clothes are beginning the annual shift in colors to light and bright spring shades!  I went on a closet cleaning kick this week (yes Liz, Jess, and Ray - "new" clothes coming your way) and realized that I need to do a little spring shopping.  It's always hard for me because I just want to buy tank tops and wedges for the summer, but it is not that warm yet!  Here are a few items on my wish list to find this spring.

Why I Deleted My FaceBook

 

I decided about 6-7 months ago that I wanted to delete my personal FaceBook.  On Thanksgiving last year, I had my little sister change my password and deactivate my account, deleted the app off my phone, and logged out from my laptop.  I literally have no way of getting back on unless I go begging my sister for my password.  I sound like an addict!  But, in all honesty, I was!  I would check my FaceBook multiple (we're talking >10 times a day), and I came to the realization that it was just completely unhealthy.  As of today, I am officially 4 months FaceBook free!

Review: Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

My current foundation routine uses the CoverGirl 3-in-1 foundation.  CoverGirl claims: "All-in-one foundation with a long-lasting formula that fuses primer, concealer, and foundation in one easy step! The 3-in-1 formula provides a flawless look that lasts all day long." source

I have purchased this foundation twice, and it has become a holy grail product for me!  I wear shade 832 - Nude Beige and it matches my skin pretty darn well. 

I apply the foundation with a damp beauty blender (invest in one, it's totally worth it), follow up with under eye brightening concealer and some heavy duty concealer if I have any blemishes.  I also set this foundation with a light-weight translucent pressed powder (for reference, I have combination skin).

The coverage of this foundation is medium and it is definitely buildable.  I have a pretty light hand, but could have much heavier coverage if I wanted to.  This foundation has a really nice semi-matte finish, which looks great on the skin and in photos.  The 3-in-1 foundation holds blush and bronzer nicely and lasts on my skin all day (sometimes even through a workout!).

If you're looking for a new foundation, this one is worth a try at around $10.  Let me know if you love it, or what your favorite foundation is!

#4. Create a Gallery Wall

On a trip to Target Sunday night, I was surprised to find everything in home décor on sale... plus a 15% off coupon in the CartWheel app and 5% off with my RedCard, it was time to tackle the gallery wall!  I spent about $95 total, and filled in the selves with frames and other things I had around the house.  I am so happy with how the wall turned out.  There were a few curse words thrown at screws and a hammer along the way and some frames may be hiding a few extra holes, but it was very much worth the effort.  Here is everything I picked up from Target:

The first thing I did was get my tools together and lay everything out on the floor to figure out the placement.  After moving each piece around a few times, this is the layout I came up with.

Since I wasn't hanging all square pieces or things that needed to line up perfectly, I just kind of went for it.  I started from the bottom (now I'm here) and worked my way up the layout.  The shelves were a pain to hang because I had trouble getting the wall anchors in.  I ended up eliminating one of the smallest shelves, adding three frames frames and a little wooden saying that we got for our wedding.  I printed out a "G" and an "S" for the two dark frames, a "Home is wherever I am with you" printout (you can find here), and switched out a few things I originally planned to use on the shelves.  I am really happy with the outcome and crossing another thing off my list!

 

What you should have learned - don't let you walls be boring!!! Every morning I walk downstairs and see my new gallery wall, it makes me smile.  Spending a little time and money can make a huge difference in your home.

 

The Blogmopolitan Quiz

Get to know me a little better!

 

DIY Edible Arrangement

I love being creative in the kitchen, especially with desserts!  For my co-worker's birthday this week, I had a bit of a challenge.  He doesn't eat a lot of sweets, so cookies, cakes, and whoopee-pies were out.  A few of us tossed around the idea of getting an edible arrangement, but once I saw the prices I knew I could do it for less!  This project totaled around $15 (including the mug, skewers... everything!).

Here are all the ingredients I used:

Grapes, cantaloupe, pineapple, clementines, strawberries, baking melts, wooden skewers, floral foam, floral tape (shown but not used), mug, and gift "grass."  Not shown in this picture are the cupcake liners and rainbow sprinkles I used.

First, I prepared all the fruit.  I pulled off all the grapes and washed them, balled the cantaloupe like a true baller, slice the pineapple and cut it into stars, peeled the celementines and got all the annoying hairs off of them, and washed and sliced the strawberries.

The baking melts are melting in my Little Dipper crock pot.  Also shown, cupcake liners and rainbow sprinkles.

Next I cut the skewers to varying heights and skewered all the "filler fruits" (grapes, celementines and cantaloupe.  Notice how I left some space at the top of a few of the skewers.

 

I dipped some of the pineapples and strawberries in the melted chocolate baking bits and sprinkled a few with the rainbow sprinkles.  I set them on parchment paper and let them sit in the fridge for about an hour.

To size the floral foam to fit in the mug, I placed the mug on top of a block and pressed down to create an imprint of the mug size.  I used a serrated knife to cut the block to shape, and pressed it into the mug.

Finally the fun part!  I filled the mug to the brim with the green "grass" and added all of the filler fruit skewers.  I put the chocolate dipped fruit on top of a few skewers, and added cupcake liners around the pineapple stars for some (more!) color.  I kept the arrangement in my fridge overnight, and it still looked amazing the next morning.

This project was super easy and came out awesome.  My co-worker was happy to find it on his desk, and everyone thought I bought it - they were surprised to find out I made it!  I will definitely make more of these in the future, it was really so easy!  I hope this tutorial was helpful if you're thinking about making an arrangement!

 

February Favorites

Holy cow - it's March already?!  Let's take a look back at a few of my favorite things from February...

1. Memory - Justin Timberlake Concert

 

 

Where do I even start?!  After being in love with him since elementary school, my friend Melissa and I finally saw JT in concert last week, and he was incredible!  He put on an amazing show and everything from his dancing, to his band, to his stage was really unbelievable.  I took the picture above (without zoom!) of him giving me an air hug.  I mean, obviously he is looking right at me - right?!

 

2. Make-up Item - The Body Shop All-In-One Blusher - $16

 (02 - Ginger)

 

 

On a quick trip to the mall this month, I picked up this blush on a whim.  I was actually looking for a new product from MAC but they sold out (whomp!).  I tested this color in the store and it was so gorgeous, there is a bit of shimmer but it acts more as a highlight.  It is definitely an all-in-one product and has pretty good staying power over my foundation.  I have reached for this everyday since I bought it, and plan to try more make-up from TBS!

 

3. Hair Product - Living proof Perfect Hair Day Styling Treatment ($26)

 

 

Oh my gaasshhh this stuff is good (which it better be for the price)!  I run a quarter-size amount of this through my damp hair before I blow dry and it is really amazing.  The name is totally appropriate - my hair looks super soft, shiny, and frizz free.  It smells amazing - it has a fresh citrus scent - and I have been loving it and the matching shampoo.  Next purchase, the conditioner for sure!

 

4. Find - Popcorn Obsession

 

Yep, my husband and I found this place on the way to Lowe's.  I saw I sign and he said we had to stop in.  They have over 70 kinds of popcorn, vintage candy, tons of jellybeans (my fav!) and old school sodas!  We could have gone crazy picking out a ton of flavors, but ended up getting a few "mini" bags to try out.  We picked up Birthday Cake, White Chocolate Oreo, Cheesecake (surprisingly a favorite), Salted Caramel, and White Cheddar.  Finding places like this is so fun for Scott and I, and it will definitely come in handy around the holidays!

 

What are some of your favorites this month?