Glo Minerals Cream Stay Shadow Stick

I was sent these products by Glo Minerals a couple of months ago, but as with any beauty post, I like to really take my time on reviewing them so I can fully test how they will wear. It seems disingenuous when I read beauty blogs and I can tell they have only used the product once. Major eye roll!

Anyway, cream eye shadow products have never been a staple for me. I have fairly oily eyelids so cream products don't exactly make much sense. However, Glo is such a great brand with a heavy leaning towards skincare so I kept an open mind and wore these in several ways.

First, I tried them all over the lid on top of my favorite primer. The formula felt sticky for a few seconds and I worried about creasing. However, after going to dinner and a movie one night, my eyes still looked nice six hours later. Admittedly I was surprised because I was certain the color would wear off. There was a bit of creasing, but nothing a little light blending couldn't fix.

Next, I tried layering a similar powdered shadow on top. This is probably my favorite way to use these, as the powder provides an extra barrier and there was zero creasing. Plus, the cream stick underneath made the look more intense in color. The lasting power would be perfect for a long day at work or evening out.

Lastly, I have used these as liners smudged into my lashline. The black is perfect for a smokey eye, but I also love the browns and plums for a sultry yet still natural wash of color. They are super easy to blend.

From left to right: 

Beam, Gold Blush, Keepsake, Metro, Concord, Pitch

Beam is hands-down my favorite because it can be used to highlight anywhere! I use it in the inner corners of my eyes, underneath my eyes, and on my brow bones. It's such a beautiful champagne shade that I don't plan on buying any similar products anytime soon.

Gold Blush and Keepsake are the shadows I have been wearing the most on my eyes out of the six. The brown/bronze is the most flattering and easiest to wear on a daily basis. I just sweep them on and go, especially when I'm extra lazy about wearing makeup. They blend together perfectly and should really be made as a set.

As you can see, some have shimmer and some don't. The shimmer is more of a subtle gleam. You can barely see Beam on my hand, which is why I love using it to highlight. It translates to a bright, wide-eyed look on my fair skin. The rest swatch very true to how they appear on the eyes. The pigmentation is rich and goes on smoothly. It dries down to a powder, but still looks more glossy than regular eye shadow.

Out of the six, I recommend Beam (as a highlight), Gold Blush, Keepsake, and Pitch (as a liner). Metro and Concord are gorgeous, but I don't gravitate towards smokey eyes so I haven't had much use for them.

If you have any questions, let me know! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend 😊

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Just Ride & Be Grateful

Wearing //

H&M blazer

Express tank

Express jeans

Gigi New York bag

Stella & Dot bracelet (you need it)

Stella & dot choker and necklace

I have a picture hanging on my loft wall that says, "Though she be but little, she is fierce." My best friend gave it to me as a housewarming present, and as I sit here typing this, I can't help but read it over and over again. I think you know I've been in a mood for a few weeks. I haven't decided what triggered it, but I was struggling to function as I normally do and I was falling back into bad habits and negative thinking. All the work I'd been doing to increase my mood seemed to be slipping away, and I honestly didn't even care. Being positive takes energy! It doesn't come easily for me like it seems to for some, but that's mostly my fault. I have to make a conscious effort to be happy and instead of asking for help, I tend to sulk. I was stuck in a rut until I went to visit one of the only people that can snap me out of it. I was honest with her about some things that had been troubling me, and you know what she did? She said that everything is going to be okay, and that she loves me. And just like that, I was back to feeling like myself again. That's it. Those words were what I needed to hear, as simple as it sounds. I don't need a self-help book, or a new pair of fabulous shoes, or a giant glass of wine (though I love all of those). I just need to remember what's really important, who's really important. In times of weakness, I need to remind myself to keep going, and that eventually I'll find peace through my own strength, in my own time.

It's almost Thanksgiving here, and now more than ever, I really want to thank those of you who stop by to read. Your kindness means a lot to me, and I appreciate every single one of you who take the time out of your day to come by and comment. Or to those that come by and don't.

I'm taking a few days off from blogging but I'll be back next week. Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your friends and family.

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Beauty Dilemma

I'm not afraid of changing my hair. I know a lot of women feel that theirs is a security blanket, and I completely understand that. But it's just hair, right?! It grows. If we are one of the fortunate ones blessed with good health, I think it's a little childish to be so committed to something so trivial as hair. I saw a woman yesterday at the store and struck up a conversation with her in the checkout line. She was wearing a scarf over her head, and was flipping through a magazine with Reese Witherspoon on the cover. She whispered to me that she missed having long beautiful hair, but that she was going through chemo and radiation and so she was losing quite a bit of hers. I instantly felt like an idiot for ever complaining about mine. If this woman can endure such a painful process, I can certainly stop caring so much about what mine looks like.

The whole thing got me thinking. I've hated my hair since I was a kid. My mom used to cut it into a bob, and sorry ma, but you did a pretty bad job (she knows this lol). I always wanted to be blonde with long straight locks that never frizzed up. Obviously I didn't inherit that in the DNA department, so I did what I could to highlight and straighten the hell out of it. I grew it long in my twenties, but after getting married, I chopped it off and it's been fairly short ever since. Now that it's growing out, I'm tempted to change the color and go a bit lighter. But do I really want the hassle? To spend the money? I like my hair dark because it's low maintenance, and it costs hardly anything to take care of. But I'm getting that itch to just go for it. It's hair.

I'd also like to start doing more with it, and by that, I mean putting it back in a bun. So feminine! I've picked some things from Pinterest to show you.

Here is the color I would absolutely love! Still natural like I prefer but definitely lighter than what I have currently.

What do you think (keeping in mind that lovely woman I told you about). It's a shallow question, but one I feel safe asking about on this blog 😊

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Classic Pairings

Wearing //

Loft top

Loft jeans, similar

Gigi New York bag

Chanel flats, similar here and here

Stella & Dot necklaces here and here

I hope you are having a great week so far! I'm in the midst of two final projects for school and really need to get in gear because so far, I have NO clue what I'm really doing. Marketing campaigns are a whole new world for me. Anyway, this little red bag is definitely my last fashion purchase for 2016, and I think I've picked wisely. The color is stunning, and I love the shape which actually holds a lot more than I expected. It pairs nicely with neutrals. I've always been drawn to this color combination for Fall and Winter, so I'm sure you'll be seeing it a lot this season.

Are any of you taking a break from shopping for yourselves? I know it's hard to do with so many tempting sales! 

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Therapist, Life Coach, BS Caller

I've seen a therapist off and on since I was a kid. The first couple were really odd, but maybe that's because I wasn't old enough to express myself and I didn't know what to say. I can't remember a time in my life where I didn't feel nervous and afraid. I joke with my mom that she must have had a stressful pregnancy because I was born and immediately wanted to turn back around. Things got better my senior year of high school. I didn't need to see a therapist and I was coming into my own. That natural quest for autonomy and independence took over, and I relied on friends and my studies to distract myself from all the noise I've always had in my head. I felt like I hit my stride, and I finally came out of my shell and became more social. Of course the anxiety didn't disappear, but I had my priorities straight, my confidence grew, and I figured out that I'm a damn good student.

So when I graduated college, I really struggled. I felt so incredibly lost, and I definitely went through what is now referred to as "a quarter life crisis." I even read a book about this by that same title, and it convinced me to begin seeing a therapist again. I called someone that Nate's friend was suggested, and she has been my sounding board ever since 2010. What I love about her is that she isn't typical in any way. She lets me vent when I need to, but she doesn't just sit back, nod politely, or take notes. She actually calls me out on my bull, tells it like she sees it, and steers me into the direction I want to go in. She gives advice and suggestions but ultimately it's up to me to put in the work. Because of this, there have been periods where I stopped seeing her. I would hit a wall because the work was too emotional for me, so I skipped appointments or just stopped going for a few months. I discovered that's what I do when I let my anxiety win - I isolate, retreat, and stop wanting to be around people at all, even friends or family.

Lately the brain fog is so severe that I have days where I don't want to get out of bed. I force myself to, but it isn't easy. I'm seeing my therapist regularly and that definitely helps. Just like a personal trainer, she pushes me to want more for myself and to do the absolute best I can to cut the crap, stop feeling sorry for myself, and keep going. I hope you ladies all have something or someone similar in your lives. Obviously it doesn't have to be a therapist! Just someone you can rely on to get you through rough times. I'm lucky enough to have a few, but therapy is the one thing that keeps me accountable.


I hope you enjoy your day. I'm off to San Diego to see my best friend. You could say that's therapy too.

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Hit or Miss

Wearing //

Old Navy blouse

Old Navy flats

Loft jeans, similar

J.Crew Factory clutch, similar

Stella & Dot necklace and ring (you need both)

I used to shop fairly often at Old Navy, but the quality of their clothing has always been hit or miss for me so I stopped going there for awhile. Recently, I decided to give them another look and I was pleasantly surprised with my purchases. I'm trying to cut back on shopping and have even decided to put myself on a ban for the remainder of the year. That might seem drastic but I'd rather focus my energy on re-styling the pieces I own and have recently bought, rather than constantly clearing out my closet for new things. But back to Old Navy. I really love the feminine lace detail at the neckline of my blouse, and the color is stunning. Jewel tones are my favorite this time of year, and although it's nothing ground-breaking, I like to mix them in with neutrals. The flats are also a great find. I've been wanting a pair of camel flats for months and I'm glad I didn't have to spend much at all on these. My Stella & Dot jewels pull it all together! Love them.

I hope you ladies are doing well. I've been in a funk for the past few days so I'm trying my best to shake it off. Maybe once the election is over tonight I'll feel better! We can probably all agree on that.

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