Beach Days

We went to the beach yesterday. It was so nice. We're going to Disney tomorrow! I hope you all have a great start to your week!

-Carrie

Weekly Favorites/2

Hi everyone! Welcome back to my weekly favorites! I hope you'll join me by linking your post below in the comment section.

This week, I loved my Pantone Radiant Orchid makeup bag from Sephora (I bought this with my Beauty Insider Points). It's perfect for throwing a few makeup bits in and putting it in your purse for touchups throughout the day. 

I kept grabbing my Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara. It seriously has the best wand I've ever tried. 

This week, I also kept reaching for my Naked 2 palette. I think that one explains itself.

What were your favorites this week?

-Carrie

[Side note: I accidentally deleted my social media handles-I'll try to have them up ASAP. Today I'm headed to Florida for vacation, so I am going to post a few sporadic posts of what I'm up to, but I won't be doing any product reviews, wednesday posts, or summer related posts! You can keep up with me via Instagram and Twitter and also Bloglovin'. Have a great weekend and week!]

Wednesday/4

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Hope you're having a great week!

-Carrie

BB Cream

Hi, everyone! Today's review is Garnier's Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream. This is the first BB Cream I've ever tried. I never really jumped on the BB Cream bandwagon because I'm more of a full coverage girl, but I thought I'd give it a try since I'll be visiting a few theme parks next week. I picked this up at Target for around $12. I thought it would be a great base if I'm outside and need a little bit of coverage. This product includes SPF 15, which is nice. Although the color range is terrible, it's great for mixing with a foundation. I picked the light/medium shade and it's really dark for me, so I  usually only use this when I fake tan! 

The consistency is quite thick. It's very moisturizing and lasts for a few hours (I would not suggest this to oily skin gals). If you are going to be wearing it for a while, I would suggest applying a bit of powder over it. It does have a tinge of smell-it doesn't smell bad, it's just a different smell. However, it does go away once the product dries. Because it does tend to cling to dry spots, I usually put a bit of moisturizer on the dry patches. Overall, I think this product is good for a few hours of running errands, a day by the pool and you want some coverage, or if you're going to be out for just a little bit and want minimal coverage. 

Have you tried Garnier's BB Cream?

-Carrie

Weekend/2

This weekend I joined my friends and went to Birmingham to see Gary and hang out! We went down Friday after work and spent our time playing Mario Kart, stopping by Sonic for happy hour (had to take a photo of my slush because it's my favorite color!), visiting Pepper Place Market, eating Greek food, and relaxing. 

What did you do this weekend?
-Carrie

Weekly Favorites/1

Today I'm starting a new post series on Fridays called "Weekly Favorites." This is where I'll share with you what I loved throughout the week whether it's a nail polish, drink, song, book, etc. I would love to make this into a linkup because I'd love to see what you all are loving during the week! If you're interested, send me an email or comment below. So, here goes nothing!

This week, I've been loving "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. I just started reading it two days ago and I've completely flown through it. It's so good!
I bought Essie's Bachelorette Bash last weekend and I'm in love with it. It's such a cute pink with a hint of red and purple!
I redeemed some of my Sephora Beauty Insider points to get this Nars lip gloss. I've been reaching for it every day this week. I can't stop!
I've also been loving this Tarte Amazonian clay eyeshadow palette this week. There are so many beautiful colors for summer!
For music, I've been loving the song "Best Thing" sung by Anthem Lights. It's so cute. You can listen here!

What have you been loving this week?
If you do a post similar to this, please link it down below!
Have a great weekend!
-Carrie

Favorite Summer Products/2

Today is part 2 of my favorite summer products! You can find part 1 here. [I will be doing product reviews on one or two of these products soon]
1. Tresemmé Dry Shampoo: This dry shampoo is perfect for your roots after a few days without washing your chlorine-stained hair.
2. Tanwise Tanning Mousse: I haven't tried too many fake tanners, but I picked this tanning mousse up because I knew I'd be inside all summer working. Let me just tell you, this stuff is awesome! It smells like coconuts and one layer will last five days. So. Awesome. (and perfect for a sun-less tan for the summer!)
3. Neutrogena Triple Moisture Leave-In Cream: For the extremely dried out (pool water) hair, this leave-in cream is perfect to make your hair feel softer and silkier than ever.
4. Suave Moroccan Styling Oil: I talked about this oil last summer and it's still in use! This oil is perfect for giving your hair smoothness and holding down fly aways while not letting the humidity ruin your do.
5. Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser: I just bought this cleanser recently and have absolutely fallen in love with it. It dissolves all your makeup from the day while cleansing your face from the humid summer day.

What are your favorite summer products?
Let me know in the comments below!
-Carrie

Wednesday/3

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"And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you."

-The Chaos of Stars

Nearly Naked

Today's product review is about Revlon Nearly Naked Liquid Foundation. I bought this from Target a little bit ago because I've been trying to find a drugstore foundation I really like so I can save my $42 Make Up For Ever foundation for longer days/special occasions ($42 on foundation adds up quickly every few months!). I picked this up for around $9-$10 in the shade 120 or Vanilla (1 Fl. Oz.). 

I have found that the best way to apply this to my face is with a damp beauty blender. It clings to drier patches, so I focus on applying moisturizer to my dry spots before applying this foundation. The foundation sinks into the skin relatively quickly. In my opinion, it's more of a light/medium coverage. It is definitely build-able. The lasting power of this product is around five hours and then it begins to break up. The finish is more of a dewy look, so I would not suggest this to you if you have oily skin. The point of this foundation is not an airbrush look, it is a "your face but better" type of foundation, so the results are expected.

Overall, it works for me. It's not outstanding, but it gets the job done especially if I only need to go out for a few hours to run errands or if I'm at work for only a few hours. 

Have you tried the Nearly Naked foundation?

-Carrie

Weekend/2

This weekend Gary came home, we saw The Fault In Our Stars, I spent a lot of time with my family, had some really good curry, we celebrated my dad, spent time with friends after church, and I had the best strawberry lemonade ever. It was a really good weekend.

How was yours?

-Carrie

Favorite Summer Products/1

Hi, everyone! Today I'm going to share part 1 of my favorite summer products. Without further ado, let's get to it! 

[I've already written reviews on a couple of these products, so I will link them in the product names]

1. Pure Maracuja Oil: This oil is perfect for keeping your skin moisturized and glowing all summer long. Just put a few drops on your fingers and pat it onto your face and neck for smoother skin.

2. L'Oreal's Infallible Eyeshadow: Along with this eyeshadow's super long lasting power, the color range is absolutely beautiful-perfect for summer!

3. Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream: This is a recent purchase, so I haven't tested it too much, but from a handful of wears, I think this will be my go-to effortless summer makeup look.

4. Smith's Strawberry Lip Balm: The perfect lip balm to keep those lips moisturized with a pop of color.

5. Maybelline the Rocket Volum Express Mascara: Mascara for the hottest of days that won't budge, no matter what.

6. Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation: This foundation is not only light-weight, but it also gives a dewy finish on the skin-perfect for that no-makeup makeup day. 

7. The Body Shop Body Butter Duo in Vanilla: This is the most moisturizing body butter. One side is perfect for the extra dry patches like feet, elbows, and knees. The other side, perfect for everything else.

8. Rimmel Natural Bronzer: A bronzer that's not orange, lasts all day, and adds a healthier look to any skin tone.

9. Covergirl Lipperfection Jumbo Gloss Balm #210: One swipe and the lips are not only moisturized, but have an effortless color!

10. Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment: After those late nights with friends, use your clean ring finger and dab a little bit of this treatment from the corner of your eye, out to the end of your eyebrow for a less tired look in the morning.

11. Rimmel ScandalEyes waterproof eyeliner in Nude: Apply this to your waterline to look more awake in the morning when you're on your fourth cup of coffee and feeling too tired to function.

12. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Memorable: Apply this to your cheeks for summer-approved sun-kissed cheeks. Not to mention that it'll last throughout the whole day!

13. Elf Makeup Mist & Set: Spritz this mist to set your makeup for those ultra hot summer days to help your makeup last all day and all night. 

14. The Body Shop Body Butter in Mango: The same body butter as mentioned before, but with a scent that will last you all summer long. 

Come back next week for part 2 of my favorite summer products!

-Carrie

Wednesday/2

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"Faith is the deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time."

-Oswald Chambers

Railroad Park & Dinner

 

On Saturday, I drove down to Birmingham to see Gary because he's staying down there for the summer for his internship. We spent the hot, sunny day eating a burger and fries with a sweet tea on the side from Saw's Soul Kitchen and walking around Railroad Park. Yesterday, my mom and I made dinner full of our favorite snacks. 

What did you do this weekend?

-Carrie

St. Louis

Hi, everyone! Like I said a post or two ago, I went to St. Louis with my family and some of our friends last week. I had a great time going to my first MLB game, trying frozen custard, seeing the Arch, going on a tour of the Budweiser Brewery, wandering through the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, and eating, eating, eating. The photos above are from the few days we were there!

-Carrie

Words

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1. "Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." William Faulkner
2. Don't knock it until you try it.
3. Maturity doesn't depend on your age.
4. Young love is beautiful.
5. It's never too late to apologize.
6. Invest in good luggage.
7. Looking people in the eye is wise.
8. Just because you have an opinion doesn't mean you have to share it.
9. Slow dancing with your significant other can make you fall in love all over again.
10. Don't marry someone you haven't fought with.
11. Be a good listener first.
12. If you say you'll do something, do it.
13. Smiling at strangers can make your whole day so much better.
14. Always say "thank you."
15. Read books for fun.
16. Learn a new language.
17. Stick up for yourself because no one else will.
18. Write thank you notes.
19. If someone talks untruly/bad about you, make them liars.
20. Work as if you're working for God.
21. Giving to others brings joy to your life.
22. "A moment of patience in a moment of anger saves you a hundred moments of regret."
23. Remind others often that you love them and care about them.
24. Set your goals high, but attainable.
25. Don't take other people's criticism to heart.
26. Be genuine.
27. "Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way you're right." -Henry Ford
28. Write love letters to each other.
29. When you're away from your parents, call them every once in a while and let them know that you love them.
30. "Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle."
31. There are seasons of life. One may be full of heartbreak and sadness, but the next may be filled to the brim with joy.
32. Don't complain about something unless you're willing to do what it takes to change it.
33. When you go out, you represent yourself, your family, your friends, and your church.
34. Laughing is good for the soul.
35. "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21

-Carrie

Wednesday/1

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"And most important, I'll choose to believe that sometimes the happiest ending isn't the one you keep longing for, but something you absolutely cannot see from where you are."

-Shauna Niequist

Revamp

Lately, I've had some really creative thoughts. Which is unusual. Usually, right before bed, maybe three times a month, I'll have a really good idea. However, recently, I've had some really good (at least I think so) ideas almost every day. So, why am I telling you this? Well, I'm going to get to work on a total blog revamp. I want to change up the look, feel, and content of this blog. Right now, this blog is mostly me rambling about products and throwing in bits of my life. Which I don't hate, but I don't want to bore you all with the same content.
I have journaled dozens of ideas for posts and blog appearances, so I really want to start implementing them. Right now, I'm struggling with making a posting schedule. I find this to be really hard because I don't know what life is going to throw at me each day, mostly because every day is different. Therefore, I'm going to just feel it out and see what I like by trial and error. I hope you all bear with me through this revamping process!

-Carrie

Iced Latte

Hi, everyone! I'm trying to get back into the blogging swing of things slowly, but surely since I've been on vacation and I've been staying at Gary's house since my family has been out of town. This past weekend has been non-stop busy, so forgive me for not posting as much! Today's review is on L'Oreal's Infallible Eyeshadow. When my sister was getting her makeup done for prom, the makeup artist used the most beautiful eyeshadow on my sisters eyes. The shadow made them pop like no other. So, as I was dying to know what she used, I asked her what she used and she told me about L'Oreal's infallible shadows. The next day, I went to Target and picked up Iced Latte for around $6.99. Let's just say, it was a great investment. I love the pressed powder formulation, the color, the packaging, the lasting power, everything. It says the shadow lasts up to 24 hours, but like I've said before, I don't know of anyone who wears makeup 24 hours a day, but in my testing of this product, I can say that it does last a full 8 hours. This shadow is very easy to apply-all you need is your clean ring finger, take a swatch from the package, and blend it on your eyelid-how easy!

Have you tried L'Oreal's Infallible Eyeshadow line?
-Carrie