"Clothes are your uniform for the battle of life" - Karl Lagerfeld

Hey all! I just recently got my hands on the newest issue of Glamour, and as always, I'm head over heels about every last thing they've decided to share with us little people of the world! This issue is the "Fashion Edition" which, in my mind, incresases the excitement factor for all women and men (?) that care to indulge in the fashion tips and advice provided by the best professionals in the business. Speaking of the best professionals in the business...another reason this issue ups the ante? Their guest editor for this September issue is Victoria Beckham! You know, the ultra posh (get it?) fashion icon with one of today's most sought after clothing lines...she definitely knows her stuff. I hope my previous ranting and raving got you encouraged to go out and get a copy of your own. BUT if for some odd reason it did not, I'm going to share a few of my favorite fashions from this issue in an effort to get you as addicted to the mag as I am. :)
Every season, fashion trends change and adapt. In general, fashion is all about being new and fresh!However, some ideas and concepts within the fashion industry are recurring or repeated throughout time. So, a couple of your favorite pieces from a few years ago could very well have another 15 minutes of fame headed their way.  All that being said, I want to show you some of the brilliant and fun ideas and pieces I will totally try this fall -all thanks goes to the fashion experts at Glamour!

1. Baroque embellishments.
Throughout the magazine, I noticed a number of embellished and embroidered tops and dresses. "Baroque" style can be very diverse depending on designer, colors used, ect. All in all, SO CUTE!



 2. Pull Over Sweaters

Fall calls for comfortable and cozy pull over sweaters. You may have a couple of these stored away from a year or two ago!

3. Patterned or Printed Pants
I've been seeing these every where and I LOVE them. You've got to work the confidence factor in a pair of these!



Just a few of the ideas that I found myself going back to throughout the magazine. I've officially decided that my wardrobe needs a make over... There are a million different styles to try out this fall and I can't wait!

make-up must-haves

If you are at all like me, you tend to look like a lost puppy the minute you step up to the make up counter at Macys. You wander the aisles or display cases having no clue as to why you even decided to take your chances here in the first place. There are so many products, so many colors, so many choices!

Take foundation for instance. One would assume this has to be one of the easiest products to buy, as all you THINK you have to do is match your skin tone. However, there are many more things you need to take into consideration before you drop the big bucks and make a purchase. (Quality make up is NOT cheap these days...) For example: What is your skin type: dry or oily? Do you want liquid foundation or powder? If you want powder, do you want pressed or loose? Do you want an application brush? If so, do you need the liquid application brush or the powder application brush? What brand do you want? The same goes for mascara, eye shadow, eye liner, blush, EX CETERA. It may be one of the most overwhelming shopping experiences a woman will ever go through. So maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but make up products have seriously not done well by me, so I have a right to hold a bit of a grudge.

Nonetheless, I've put together a post that lists my favorite products that I have been lucky enough to discover prior to spending hundreds on random beauty products just to realize I have bought the wrong shade...and I've already opened it so there is no chance of a return.

If there is one thing I've learned about make up, it's that quality matters. If you want make up that lasts an eight hour work day AND that doesn't make you look like you have eight pounds of make up on, then you have to be willing to pay the price. You cannot get by using the cheap purple N.Y.C. eye shadow you bought in the the seventh grade. Don't even try. My two most coveted make up brands are Clinique and Mary Kay. I like to think that each of these brands sits right in the middle of the road in regards to pricing; not as cheap as CoverGirl or Revlon, but also not as spendy as Estee Lauder or Lancome. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of quality products you can purchase from the less expensive brands, I just wouldn't make a habit of it. So, here are my favorites!

Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer 

I love tinted moisturizer in the summer because it is light and airy. You definitely don't feel as if you have a heavy layer of foundation plastered on your face. Another plus is that there aren't many shades to chose from, leading to LESS confusion as to which will look best with your skin tone. This particular moisturizer also has an SPF of 30 to protect your skin from harsh sun rays! 

Clinique Blush - 108 Cupid

I love Clinique blush! This is the same blush my grandma used to have and I loved using it, so I got my own! It stays on all day long without any issues! If you look a little sleepy, a small amount of bright blush will make you look a little more awake!

Clinique Eye Shadow - 101 Buttermilk & 84 Twiglet

Clinique eye shadow is awesome for a number of reasons. First, it is very soft and smooth. Second, it's light weight AND long-wearing. Plus, all of their shadows have been clinically tested for even the most sensitive eyes.

Almay Liquid Eyeliner - Black

I use liquid eyeliner because it's much easier to apply, leaves a cleaner line, and stays put through a long day. It looks like a really tiny bottle because it is, BUT it lasts and lasts. Almay is a pretty nice brand as well! Very user friendly :)

Clinique Lash Power Mascara - Black Onyx

I have never been able to find a mascara that stays on my lashes from morning until night. I don't rub my eyes or cry on a daily basis, so I didn't know why nothing would last. Then I came upon the long-wear formula from my beloved Clinique. It is the only mascara that I have EVER used that literally stays put for an entire day. Plus, it comes with a tiny little brush to get great extension and volume.

Mary Kay Lip Gloss

You just need the tiniest bit of this gloss for your lips! It definitely adds a little pop of bright color for a summer face!

Well, that's all I've got! It's not much but it's definitely a start! Each one of these products is awesome and I highly recommend them for anybody looking to try a little something new! ALSO, the ladies at the Clinique counter are usually incredibly helpful. So, if you go there looking as lost as myself, you'll be most likely be in very good hands. Oh, and if you have any advice you're dying to share about your make up must-haves, post a comment!

 

Summer TO DO!

Good afternoon blogosphere! I have officially finished my sophomore year of college at CU Boulder and with all this extra time on my hands I hope to channel my focus and energy into my blog! So, here it goes!

As most of my close family and friends know, I am an avid list maker. I LOVE lists. I also love being able to cross each item off with a sense of great accomplishment. I like to think of each list as a series of goals that can help and/or better me in any which way. I mean, without goals how are you supposed to have the necessary determination and drive to accomplish anything in life? Take that deep life lesson and run with it...

Okay seriously though, my post today is a list of "to dos" for this summer. I'd like to make this summer the best it can be; milk it for all it's worth. To do that, I tried to think of a few things that would not only make this a summer to remember, but also take a majority of my time off to complete rather than a few simple tasks that can be finished within a day or two. Here's a list of the top 5 things I hope to achieve for the summer of 2012!

1. Learn to cook - Maybe I'll buy my very first cookbook after wandering the foreign aisles of Williams Sonoma or Peppercorn. Or, say I'm feeling quite adventerous... I could take a cooking class?! The possibilities are endless. And since I'm starting from scratch there's so much to learn. It will most likely take me all summer to gather my patience and learn the very basics, but you've got to start somewhere!
2. Get in touch with my crafty side - This summer I plan to put Pinterest to the ultimate test. I continuely find adorable and creative ideas to pin to my "Things to do" board (that's another list entirely in itself). I hope to take the time to attempt a craft or two...or 20! Stay tuned! I'll definitely post my adventures throughout the summer!
3. Explore Colorado - I realize that this is a fairly vague concept. It could mean anything... and it does! There is so much to see and experience in Colorado! Festivals, art shows, concerts, farmers markets, sight seeing, national parks, museums, famed local restaurants, and the list goes on. I want to see it all, try it all, do it all! It's an entirely impossible idea, but it's worth a shot to at least discover what I'm missing, right?
4. Go on solo hikes - One of the best features of Colorado are the mountains. They are one of the most beautiful sights a person may ever experience, and being IN the mountains is a whole other story. The peace, serenity, and high of making it to the top are incredible feelings that just might allow me to accomplish this goal. It may be the toughest thing to get myself to do, but in the end it will be worth it!
5. Immerse myself in music - The music scene out here in Colorado is unlike anywhere else. The variety of genres, musicians, and venues is truly boundless. I've been told that one of the most unbelievable places to see a concert is at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. It's this amazing venue built into the giant red rocks of Morrison, CO. To make things even better and all the more enticing, the line up for this summer is pretty impressive!

This seems like a very short list to last me the entire summer, but when you think about it, each one of these aspirations encompass' a great deal of activity. I can hardly wait to get started and I hope you will keep checking back for updates as the summer continues! In the mean time, what are your plans for the summer?

getting closer!

The first day of spring has offically come and gone, and out here in Colorado it seems as if we are getting closer and closer to the lovely weather that accompanies such a beautiful season. So far, temperatures have reached the upper 70s with all kinds of warm sunshine. With this kind of weather, I can't help but get antsy to do all sorts of fun seasonal shopping!
Last post, I filled you in with the details of skin tone and complemntary colors in an effort to excite you about wardrobe updates! However, no wardrobe is complete without a killer pair of shades. I am currently in the market for some new sunglasses as the continued abuse to my trusty Fossil glasses has finally gotten the best of them. After much consideration, I hesitantly decided that it's time to invest in a pair of "big girl" sunglasses. Considering I usually tend to lose, ruin, or break sunglasses more often than not, this decision to invest is fairly significant. That being said, I did a bit of research on which glasses would best frame my face before dropping a load of cash on the first pair I set eyes on. Afterall, when purchasing a pair of $100 shades, you expect to look stylishly chic, right? Well, in an effort to keep myself and you all from looking foolishly passe, I've decided to share the valuable tips I've discovered when on the search for a new pair of trendy sunglasses.
While shopping around, one of the most important things to keep in mind is your face shape. Typically there are five major face shape categories:  round, heart, oval, square, and oblong. Each face shape is complemented most by specific frames of glasses.
ROUND: if you have a round face, like mine, you will notice there very few angles in your cheek bones and jaw lines. The lack of definitive angles allows for the width and length of your face to be measurably similar. Frames that best complement a full, round face, are glasses with hard angles such as square or rectangular frames. It would be in your best interest to avoid round or oval frames as they add a look of fullness to your face.
HEART: those of you with a heart shaped face generally have a wide forhead, high cheek bones, and a pointed chin resembeling an outline of a heart. Since the upper part of your face is broader than the lower, you want to look for shades that are wider at the bottom of the frame to balance out your proportions. Try to steer clear from smaller frames, as that will accentuate the width of the forehead and the narrowness of the jawline.
OVAL: the lucky ones with oval faces can wear just about any frame they please and look stellar while doing so. Oval faces are nearly perfectly proportioned. The only thing to keep in mind is to match the proportion of your face with the size of the frames.
SQUARE: individuals with a square face are characterized with a broad forehead and prominent features from the cheek bones to the jawlines. A tip to keep in mind when looking for glasses is to stick with round or oval frames that soften the pronounced angles on your face.
OBLONG: you have an oblong face when it is longer than it is wide. Look for particularily wider frames to balance width with your length. For example, shades with detail on the temple can give the illusion of a wider face.
Well, there you have it. I invite you to take advantage of this information so as to look knockout gorgeous this season. For more information on face shapes, ideas of specific glasses that would look great on you, or a quiz to find out what shape your face is, go to the site I used by clicking here!
Until next time, dare to be remarkable and rock your shades with confidence!

i'm back!

Hey fellow followers, I'm back! :) I had to take a bit of a hiatus due to switching schools mid-year, travels, and holidays. But, not to worry, I've got fun things planned for the next few posts! So, I say we just get to it, yes? Here we go!

Unfortunately, groundhog day brought us bad news this February...six more weeks of winter! But in my opinion, it's never too early to plan a wardrobe for Spring of 2012, am I right?! Before we dive into this Spring's must-haves, there are two EXTREMELY important questions to answer. First, what skin tone do you have? And second, what colors look best with your skin tone? Let me break it down for you...

There are four different skin tones to which you can be categorized: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Those in the spring category generally have gold undertones in the pigment of their skin, blue or green eyes, and strawberry or dirty blonde hair.

Individuals in the summer category are characterized by pink or blue undertones, pale or milky skin, NATURAL blondes or brunettes with pale, soft eyes.

 

Features of autumn skin tones are exactly like the leaves in the fall. Gold undertones, brunette or auburn hair, and stark brown eyes.

Those with winter complexions, like summer, have blue or pink undertones. Unlike summer, those within the winter category usually olive skin, brunette or black hair, and dark, intense eye colors.

Now that you know the characteristics of each complexion, you can decide which category you belong to. Next question to address: what colors complement your skin tone?

Spring skin tone: colors that look best with gold undertones are soft, warm hues of brown, gold, and camel. Springs should generally avoid stark, dull colors.


Summer skin tone: light, pastel colors compliment the milky complexion of Summers. Stay away from high contrast colors like black.

Autumn skin tone: like Springs, colors such as: beige, gold, and brown look best on Autumns. Refrain  from wearing colors with blue or pink tints.

Winter skin tone: sharp, crisp colors like black and white look great on Winters. Icy hued blues and purples flatter their olive skin.

I hope you guys use this information to your advantage! Before you do some wardrobe updating, take into consideration your skin tone in an effort to find pieces that will make you look radiant this Spring! What skin tone are you? Do you know what you're going to look for the next time you go out on a little shopping spree?

for more information on which colors flatter your skin tone, click here!

my apologies!

Followers, I am so terribly sorry for the lengthy hiatus I've taken from blogging! I have been all to busy with the last few dismal weeks of this fine fall semester: homework, finals, and work had taken over my life. Alas, I am finally free from classes, papers, and presentations, even if it is only for a short four weeks! I am now left with a rather significant question...what do I do with this time I've been given?! Surprise, surprise, I actually have a majority of this lovely winter break planned so as to make the absolute best of this next month! Here we go!

To start out this week, my amazing parents are coming out to visit for the holiday weekend. I cannot wait to spend some quality time with my family and simply enjoy each others company! The whole family will be together again for the first time since this last summer!

Christmas is in a short NINE days and I cannot even explain how much I love Christmas! The entire family together: parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles, the festive music, games, memories, and cookies of the holiday season can really open your eyes to how much you have to be thankful for. Spending this Christmas with my entire family is all I could ask for this Christmas!

Another two short days after Christmas and it's my 20th birthday! I am well aware that 20 is not that big of a deal to most people, but it is to me! I will no longer be a "teenager". Yay! So much to look forward to as an optimistic 20 year old :)

A few days later, in the beginning of January, I'll be traveling back to the good ol' homeland. I can't wait to see all of my friends and family that continue to reside in the great state of Minnesota! I have a number of fun things planned for my short time home. But most importantly, I'll get to see the people I love most and spend great quality time with them!

As soon as I get back to Colorado, I have transfer orientation for CU Boulder! I am so beyond stoked to be starting at the college of my dreams! However, along with the joy of excitement for bigger and better things comes a large amount of nerve wracking stress. So much to do in so little time before I'm in a totally new place in my life!

I've got quite a winter break ahead of me! What are your plans for the holidays?!

cutesy cupcakes!

A few days before the Thanksgiving holiday, my friend Adri came out for a quick visit! She was in town to spend the holiday with her family, but I stole her away for a day and took her down to 16th Street Mall in Denver for some shopping, gossip, and treaters! Before we knew it we were standing at the most adorable little cupcake stand called Gigi's Cupcakes. We thought we may have missed out on our chance for some gourmet cupcakes, but to our surprise, the kiosk was still open, hooray! Gigi's Cupcakes is situated right in the middle of the mall in just the cutest stand...





Gigi's Cupcakes!

  



A little Gigi's history



Not only were Adri and I shocked that the stand was still open, but to our joy, all the cupcakes were buy one get one free! Twice the deliciousness for the price of one! We couldn't believe our luck! So we each made the tough decision on which two cupcakes caught our eye the most! In a few short minutes we were walking through the mall each carrying these cutesy cupcake boxes..

The box itself was just the cutest, but what was sealed inside was even better...




chocolate mousse & wedding cake!

 

After getting these in my hands it only took a few short minutes to devour one of these little guys. They were insanely delicious! If you're ever in Denver and looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, I most DEFINITELY recommend you check out Gigi's Cupcakes at the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver...so amazing!




chocolate mousse with a pilgrim hat for thanksgiving!

 




just about gone!

 




and finished in under five!