Not everything is black and white...

But my latest fashion picks are. I just wanted to share a few things that I have purchased recently. I haven't posted a fashion haul in a long time so I thought I would do a tiny one today. I am really loving all of the things I picked out. Yes, they are black...and white...and gray...with a little splash of tan ;) I don't know why I gravitate towards neutrals this time of year, but I can't help myself. Don't get me wrong, I love color! I swear I do! But there is something so appealing about buying pieces that will work with the things I already own in my closet. Neutrals are great because you can incorporate them with anything. Mix a little this with a little that, pair this new jacket with an old tank, belt this dress over a cardigan I've had for months, and Viola! Adding some basic neutrals can really create endless possibilities. And they don't have to be boring either. I like to play with color, print, and texture when it comes to shoes and accessories. Or, as Rachel Zoe likes to call them, EXCESSories. Oh, how I ♥ you Rachel.

Long tank from Nordstrom. I just love the print. It is a bit sheer so a cami underneath is a must.

This cardigan is from a store called Cutesygirl. I think they have a website as well. I like the herringbone -type detail and the 3 quarter sleeves. Looks great with dark jeans and really high heels.

This dress is so pretty! The top half is a bit blousy because I am lacking in that department ;) But I plan on wearing this with a cardigan and a wide belt, so I think it should work out just fine. I really love the lacy pattern on it, smaller at the top and then gradually getting larger towards the bottom. And the neckline is trimmed in black chiffon. The Go International line is a great way to get designer pieces for a fraction of the price. I can't wait to see what designer Target will feature next!

This is my favorite purchase and this picture does NOT do it justice. I have been lusting after a tweed/boucle jacket for months now. I even blogged about it a couple months ago. Well, this one from Arden B took my breath away when I tried it on. I had that tingly feeling just holding it at the register! Problem? Yeah, I know.

~Thanks for reading~

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A Tale of Two Hair Savers

By now, I'm sure everyone knows that I'm no hair genius. In fact, I really have a love/hate relationship with my brown locks. At times, I am tempted to chop it all off and just start fresh but I know I would instantly regret that decision. I just wish it didn't have a mind of its own! During the colder months, my hair gets extremely dry and static-prone. However, my roots are also oily so I don't feel comfortable going more than a couple days without washing it. I know all the hair gurus out there claim that you should only wash your hair two to three times per week, but that just sounds impossible for someone like myself who has a lot of hair, albeit thin. If I went more than a couple days without shampoo, I would look like a giant grease ball. So I continue to wash and condition the hell out of it in hopes that after a good blow-out, my hair will actually obey me. Two products that have really been making a difference for me are Moroccan Oil and the Kerastase Oleo-Relax serum. While my hair is still damp, I mix a dime-sized amount of each into my palms, rub my hands together to warm the mixture up, and then I apply it to the ends of my hair before blow drying. These products are amazing. I bought the Moroccan Oil about a month ago after my hairstylist begged me for months to give it a try. The only reason why I ever held off was the price tag - $39. A little steep in my book. I'm in trouble now! I love it so much that I can't imagine not having a bottle on hand. It smells like the tropics, coconutty and delicious ♥ And a small amount is all you need. The Kerastase was actually a gift from my boyfriend's sister who happens to be a hair stylist. She uses it in her salon and swears by it. Again, I never purchased any Kerestase products because they are quite expensive, but I know the Oleo-Relax serum will last me a long time as well. If it works for Jennifer Aniston, it works for me! Using these two products together has really tamed my frizziness, and my hair looks and feels softer and shinier than ever. Yes, these hair savers aren't cheap, but I could honestly throw out all of my other hair products and just live with these two. I would rather invest in a handful of things that really do the trick than buy a bunch of products that may be less expensive, but don't work that well for me. I guess that's how I'll justify it from now on ;)
Has anyone tried these?

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Kirkland Signature Brushes and Update

This is a review (more like a rave!) of the Kirkland brush set I received for Christmas. I got a few requests to do this, and I apologize for the late post. This set can still be found at your local Costco to my knowledge. Because this was a gift, I do not know the actual price, but I was told it's around twenty dollars which is amazing! Here is a reminder of what the entire set looks like:

It comes with eight full sized brushes, a black quilted brush roll, an eyelash curler, and a mini four piece brush set with a tiny roll to travel with, or in my case, to keep in my purse!

I've decided to share with you girls my favorite brushes from the collection: Sorry for the appearance, they are a bit dirty at the moment from using them this morning!

The HUGE fluffy powder brush is so soft! All of these brushes are super soft, much softer than any of my EcoTools, Essence of Beauty, and even my MAC brushes! The powder brush is perfect for applying...well, powder of course! I use it to set my makeup. I could touch it to my face all day long, it feels so nice and soothing! The flat top brush is great for contouring and applying bronzer. The flat eyeshadow brush reminds me very much of MAC's 239 brush, which I have always wanted to own. Not so after this kit! Similarly, the crease brush is THE PERFECT crease brush for my small lid space. I find a lot of crease brushes to be too fluffy, but the one here is small enough to be precise. It fits right into the creases of my eyes. Lastly, the double ended angled brush with spoolie works for taming my brows, as well as applying gel eyeliner.

Now on to the brushes I don't care for:

The angled brush is just a bit strange. It is very flat. I guess I could use it to apply a powder highlight to my cheekbones, but I never find myself reaching for this brush. It feels kind of flimsy to me. The sponge tip applicator is a waste in my opinion. I would have much rather prefered an actual smudger brush, like MAC's 219 instead. The sponge tip is a total filler item in this (almost) perfect set.

I also want to mention the brush bag and the mini set of baby brushes. The bag is really nice, and I am currently using it to store old brushes that I have no use for at the moment. Brushes of all sizes fit nicely into it. This will come in handy when I travel. The mini brushes I keep in my makeup bag are sort of flimsy, but they are perfect for mid-day touch ups .

 ~Pros~

* Great value for everything you get. Just one MAC brush costs more than twenty dollars, and in this kit you get eight!

* The quality of the brushes is amazing. They are so soft and well-made! I have not noticed any shedding whatsoever with any of them. I want to mention that these are synthetic. They are not skunk brushes. The tips of them are just dyed white.

* The handles are sturdy and the black makes them look very chic.

~Cons~

* I just don't particularly care for the two brushes that I mentioned. But...that is my only con!

~Overall~

If you are in the market for affordable, yet well-made brushes, then definitely go to your nearest Costco and at least check them out! I reach for these now more than any of my other brushes, and I am so happy with them.

In other random news, I got a few requests in my last haul to post swatches of my new lipsticks as well as the Sephora by OPI nail polish in Nonfat Soy Half Caff.

Here are the lippies:

                                                                                

                              

  Left to Right: Make Me Pink, Pink Please (Maybelline) and Myself (MAC)

And here is a NOTD featuring the polish. I must say, I am not thrilled with the color. I thought it looked much more beautiful in the bottle. On my nails, it just looks a bit orange. Plus, I needed three coats just to get any semblance of actual color. I might return it, since Sephora is so lenient on their return policy. What do you girls think? Be honest!

 

Wow, that was a long post! I hope my review was helpful. If you guys have any further questions, please feel free to ask! And let me know what you think about the polish!

♥ Noelle

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~New Makeup~

Hey Girls, I just wanted to do a quick post featuring some new makeup I bought recently. I went to CVS, MAC, and Sephora. The best part is I used gift cards at the MAC counter and Sephora, and CVS was having  a buy one get one 50% off on Maybelline products. I am so excited to use my new finds. If a product doesn't meet my expectations, or if a product exceeds them, I will let you know!

All of my goodies ;)

Maybelline Color Sensational Lippies: Make Me Pink (Left) and Pink Please (Right)

From MAC's New Collection "All Ages, All Races, All Sexes." Beauty Powder Blush in Personal Style and Lustre L/S in Myself. Love these natural, go-with-everything neutrals! I am wearing the l/s right now and it is my new favorite aside from Way To Love and Nude Rose ♥

From Sephora: NARS Albatross Highlighter (a cult fave), MUFE Mat Velvet + Foundation in 30, and another (yes, another) Sephora by O.P.I. polish in Nonfat Soy Half Caff ( perfect nude-pink).

So that's my haul. I never, ever buy this much at once but then again, that's the beauty of gift cards. I am really hoping that the MUFE foundation works for me. I have heard really good things about it and the girl who helped me at Sephora said it's good for combo/oily skin like mine. We shall see! If you guys have used it, please let me know what your thoughts are. If you want any reviews or swatches, also feel free to ask!

♥ Noelle

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