What I've Been Reading: May

Hi girls, happy Wednesday to you. This month (and this week really) is almost over so it's time for the monthly question I do with some of my favorite fellow bloggers. This month's question comes from Andi: "What is your favorite holiday, and why?"

This one is super easy for me. Hands-down my favorite holiday is Halloween! It's funny because I actually don't care for dressing up. I do enjoy the costumes, but I'm never creative with mine. I know friends who literally slave over their costumes, painstakingly putting together every single aspect of their "character" for the night. Me? I just wear what I've already got hanging in my closet! Or my fiance and I come up with some half-brained idea at the last minute. Either way, I think the reason I love Halloween is because of the start of Fall. The weather is usually still warm here, but the leaves are changing colors and the nights get chilly. The smell of Fall is in the air, and I love that smell! I don't know, there's just something about it. And Halloween is the catalyst.

Here I am three years ago as a sailor girl. Generic, but still cute right?!

So, what is your favorite Holiday? It can be a vacation too. I was going to write about that, but this post would have been very lengthy :)

• Beautygirl24 - Noelle wore denim shorts for the first time this year. See how she has worn them in the past, and how she wears them now.
• Ella Pretty - Ella's been decorating - come and take a house tour!
• Lilly's Style - Lilly's wearing a colorful lace skirt from H&M.
• Saltwater Dreams - Andi learned a new technique for creating a flawless foundation finish, check out the easy steps here!
• Schnelle Couture - Danielle is brightening things up this summer with her new favorite color- yellow.
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette is playing with the colorblock trend with a silk top and a navy skirt.

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A Night Out

Tank - J.Crew, Blazer - Frenchi Via Nordstrom, Lace skirt - Francesca's, Heels - Guess (old), Necklace - F21, Bracelets - TJ-Maxx and Etsy, Ring - H&M, Bag - Elliot Lucca via TJ-Maxx, Nails - Essie Van d' Gogh and Orly

A night out was precisely what I needed after a crazy, stressful week. I went out with my best friend in San Diego and it was the perfect antidote.

♥ Noelle

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ElevenSkin Winner

Hi everyone, I hope you are all enjoying the long holiday weekend! I just wanted to formally announce the winner of my ElevenSkin giveaway. I used Random.org to generate a winner, and it is...

Julissa F!

Congratulations! I emailed you, so please check your messages as soon as possible so you can try out the goodies.

Happy Memorial Day!

♥ Noelle

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Footprints in the sand

Summer season is fastly approaching, and for some of us, it's already here. That means it's time to dust off your sandals and show of those pretty pedicures. If you are looking for a new pair this year, here are some gorgeous options:

Sam Edelman Gigi

The color "rose dust" is my pick

Sam Edelman Gwyneth

This one has tiny spikes on it, but the gold keeps it soft

DV Dolce Vita Archer

I've seen this sandal in almost every magazine. Love it in snakeprint.

If you are looking for a great alternative, I am obsessed with these by Merona.

Merona Esma Braided Sandals - Target

They come in a multitude of colors.

I have two:

Plus my Reef flip flops - you have to have at least one pair of those!

How incredibly gorgeous is this?!

Somehow, I'm never this done up at the beach. Maybe I'll try harder this year;)

But you know, for me Summer is all about simplicity. Get those bare feet in the sand and take a walk along the surf with someone you love.

* Images via Pinterest *

♥ Noelle

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Short Season

Blouse - H&M (recent), Cardigan - J.Crew, Denim shorts - American Eagle, Cognac flats - Shoemint, Watch - Michael Kors (similar) 

This was the first time this season wearing my denim boyfriend shorts from American Eagle. I own two pairs and literally have worn them to death for the past two Summers. Need proof? (One, two,) I thought I had more than just two posts featuring them, but I guess not! Well I promise I wear them all the time. Longer shorts or midi shorts are great for casual weekends and lazy days. I personally love the way Laura wears hers (here & here). She has been inspiring me to wear shorts with unexpected pieces.  Dress them up with a blouse, blazer, and cardi. Dress them down with a flowy boho tank and sandals. Voila! Instant Summer :)

♥ Noelle

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Sherbet

Skirt - Halogen via Nordstrom, Top - F21, Pumps - J Crew Mona Suede Pumps in Wild Berry, Leather Belt - J. Crew, Bracelets - J.Crew, Stella & Dot, Michael Kors,  Ring - H&M, Clutch - Elliot Lucca Via TJ-Maxx, Lips - Lancome Corail in Love

This is what I wore for dinner and drinks at the best little Italian place in my town - Gourmet Italia. My fiance and I don't treat ourselves too often, but when we do, we like to indulge!

Happy Sunday!

♥ Noelle

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ElevenSkin {Review & Giveaway} ***NOW CLOSED***

A couple of months ago, maybe even longer than that, my blogger friend Andi emailed me about her friend's new skincare line called ElevenSkin. As you know, skincare is a huge subject for me these days. I remember when I was younger, I committed cardinal sins against my precious skin. I would sleep with my makeup on, I wasn't very worried about applying suncreen, and I really didn't have much of a product routine. I just didn't care.

Fast forward to last year, when I started noticing some changes. Although I don't break out on my chin as often as I used to, there is something else to take its place - little fine lines between my eyebrows, as well as some dryness on my cheeks, underneath my eyes, and around my nose. To clarify, I do have combination skin. My t-zone still gets rather oily throughout the course of the day, but my cheeks stay dry.

I was very happy with my skincare before I started using the ElevenSkin line, but am even more thrilled with these new products. If you'd like more backstory on how and why the line was created, please visit Andi's blog post. She explains it much better than I ever could!

Anyway, onto the review and giveaway!

I was sent four products: A day cream, a night serum, an eye cream, and a cleanser

Let's start with the day cream:

It's aptly named Protect, because that is exactly what it does. It contains SPF, soaks right into the skin after application, and feels very lightweight. It does vaguely smell of sunscreen, but the scent goes away after you blend it in. I alternate between using this as my daytime moisturizer and Clinique's moisturizing gel. However, now that I'll be outdoors more often, I will use Protect full-time.

The eye cream is called Smooth. This is incredible! I've never used a thicker cream underneath my eyes before. My beloved Kiehl's is much thinner than this formula. I just love the richness. I've been using it every night and have noticed a difference in how my under eye area feels. Plus, I know this will last a long time since only a tiny amount is needed.

The Hydrate serum is hands-down my favorite product from the line, and one I will repurchase the moment it's gone! This is also incredibly rich and creamy. I apply it at night to my face and neck. It made me nervous when I first tested it because I thought it would be too oily and therefore cause breakouts. Thankfully, none of these products irritated my skin. I really have noticed a major difference with this product. My skin looks and feels so much softer and more radiant. I think I was suffering from a bit of dullness due to the dry weather, but this has infused all of that lost moisture back into my face. Love it!

By the way, this and the eye cream are virtually fragrance-free. I do detect a slight scent, but it's very light.

Last but certainly not least is Refresh. This cleanser in my opinion is extremely similar to Cetaphil, my go-to cleanser. I say this because they have that same clear liquid consistency, are great for all skin types, and feel gentle when applied. This lathers a bit better than Cetaphil, and it has more of a tea scent. I'm very happy with it and so is my fiance who I catch occasionally using it ;)

Overall, I'm very grateful that I have these products in my life! I really do love the line, and I would recommend ElevenSkin to anyone with any skin type. The products are all natural and marine derived, which means no harsh chemicals that are going to strip or damage the skin.  The line is all about hydration, and it really is the key to better looking skin.

So it's giveaway time! (This will be a four piece kit like the one I have)

All you have to do to enter is:

1) Like ElevenSkin on Facebook

2) Leave me a comment that you did so with your email address in case you are the winner

This contest will run until Friday, May25th. You have a full week to enter. I will announce the winner on Monday, the 28th.

Good luck girls!

♥ Noelle

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Favorite Jewels

 "Fashion is nothing without accessories." I used to have that quote framed and hanging on my wall for good reason. I go crazy at the mere site of handbags, scarves, and especially jewelry. As much as I try to stay away from the sparkling treasures displayed under glass at J.Crew, or the racks upon racks of colorful bits at Forever 21, I always seem to wander over to the jewelry department. "How did I get here?" is what I end up thinking to myself as I walk away with yet another chunky necklace or pair of simple studs.

In an effort to try and reel myself back from buying more and more, I decided to instead appreciate the stand-out pieces already in my possession. I do have some clear favorites that I wear over and over. I know you've seen these at some point, so no real surprises I'm sure.

Rings

Necklaces

Bracelets & Earrings

They cross the spectrum from higher end (Chanel, YSL) to mid (Sonya Renee, J.Crew) to cheaper alternatives (Forever 21, H&M). I'm no snob! When it comes to jewelry, I love it all!

Of course, I will keep adding to my favorites. Bracelets are my new obsession this season, and I want to add more for layering purposes. But, I will be more discerning on future shopping trips. I think quality over quanitity wins out.

What are your favorite jewelry pieces? What are you looking to add to your own collection?

♥ Noelle

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Weekend Beauty

I did some beauty shopping this weekend at Sephora and MAC. This is what came home with me:

1) Viktor & Rolf La Vie En Rose (Sephora exclusive). Okay, I thought that this perfume had been discontinued. When I finished my previous bottle, my fiance searched high and low for it. It is his favorite scent on me, and I wore it when we got engaged so it holds a special place in our memories. Funny how powerful a certain scent can be! Although I love my Prada Candy, nothing can compare to La Vie En Rose. I thought I would never find it again, so I was shocked when I walked into Sephora and it was right there on a display! Sephora must have repromoted it because the bottle looks a bit different. However, it is definitely the same scent. I want to wear it when we get married next year.

2) MAC Fix + is a product I've mentioned on the blog numerous times. I like to use it before bed after applying my moisturizer and eye cream, as well as when I want a quick pick-me-up during the day. I don't use it to set makeup, as I prefer Urban Decay All Nighter for that purpose. But nothing is as refreshing as Fix +.

3) Buxom Lip Creme in White Russian. I used this as soon as I bought it! Best nude ever! It's everything I've looked for in a nude. It doesn't wash me out, it actually brightens my face and makes my lips look fuller (although I don't need much help in that department). I highly recommend it. I wouldn't say it tingles, just feels very cooling on the lips. If you're a fan of the Kim Kardashian nude lip, I think you'll find this one to be supremely wearable, especially if you have lighter skin.

4) DiorSkin Nude Hydrating Concealer. I haven't tried this just yet, but am looking forward to testing it out. I've read great reviews. I will update very soon!




While we are on the subject of beauty, I am quite pleased with the Color Club polish I picked up last week in Modern Pink. It's such a beautiful neon. It isn't too outlandish, if that makes any sense. It stands out, but still walks the fine line between trendy and chic.

♥  Noelle

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Nailing it

Just some nail polish looks I'm loving from Pinterest. I love brights, neons, pastels, and glitter. People are getting so creative these days! As I've stated before, I think as long as you keep your nails manicured and relatively short, you can get away with almost anything.

I posted these on Instagram: New polishes in Flip Flop Fantasy by China Glaze and Modern Pink by Color Club. My girlfriends and I are long overdue on pedicures, so I'm bringing one of these along on our next pamper session.

I hope this gave you some ideas!

♥ Noelle

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Go Green

Leopard blouse - F21 (old), Green lace skirt & pink necklace - Francesca's, Bracelets - Michael Kors and Stella & Dot, Pumps - Nine West, Nails - Essie California Coral, Lips - Lancome Corail in Love

This is what I wore while winetasting on Sunday for my friend's birthday. What does one wear to such an occasion? Why leopard and green lace of course! Naturally, right? The tropical colors of my outfit livened things up. I can't get enough of the color green. First it was this dress. I liked it so much that when I spotted a lacey pencil skirt in an equally vibrant shade, I jumped at the chance to make it mine. It's the only pencil-type skirt I own. Tragic, I know.  I feel like I could wear this anywhere, anytime. It was quite the hit at the wineries :)

Oh, one more thing! I just discovered Instagram and it's so much fun! I never joined before because I have an android, not an iphone. I wasn't aware that there was Instagram for android users. Needless to say, I'm obsessed already! Follow me there (if you like) at Beautygirl24.

♥ Noelle

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Cinco De Mayo

It's so nice when a certain someone acts as my photographer!

Except when he does this:

Hmmmmm...

Floral blouse - Express (Similar), Skirt - Gap, Suede wedges - Target (here in Taupe), Necklace - H&M (old, but similar here), Rings - H&M (old) and YSL, Nails - Essie California Coral

This is what I wore yesterday. I know Memorial Day weekend is the official (unofficial?) beginning of Summer, but for some reason, Cinco de Mayo always jumpstarts the season for me.

Speaking of jumpstarting, I have been really into some new music. I do a lot of driving for work these days, and I swear I would DIE without good tunes to listen to. Some current favorites include:
1) Noel Gallagher's new record
2) Naked and Famous "Young Blood"
3) The Shins "Simple Song"
4) M83 "Midnight City"
5) The Black Keys

If you haven't heard any of these, whatya waiting for? I hope you had a great weekend!

♥ Noelle

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