3.27.2015

     Now that it's Spring, and love is in the air as the cliche goes, I'm in anticipation of wedding season. Two of my girlfriends are tying the knot to their long-time loves, and they are the last of my circle to get married. I just love weddings. If I could be a crasher, I probably would take the risk. I could blend in, right? Anyway, the only problem I'm facing is that I have no clue what to wear to either. Ridiculous...some style blogger I am! Both weddings are outside on a lawn, and both will undoubtedly involve the Temecula heat. Keeping cool is a major concern of mine. My husband is in both weddings, but I for once can watch as a proud guest. I love that I can just sit back and relax this year and let him squirm while he gives a toast.

Here are two dresses I'm thinking about, both already ordered.

 Unfortunately, this one by Olivaceous is already sold out at Bloomingdale's but they come back in stock quite often so I will let you know when I find another. 



This dress is originally from Express from a few years back. Bottom line - I once was the happy owner, but then donated it on a whim and it was such a mistake! The color and the style are beautiful, and I think it'll be perfect for an outdoor wedding. I did receive this already from an Ebay seller but it doesn't quite fit so I'm going to work hard to get back into shape and make it work. 


Some other pretty contenders, just in case any of you are on the same hunt as I am:

I've wanted this Eliza J dress since last Summer so I think I may just try it. It comes in petite too. You can find it at Nordstrom . I would wear this beauty anywhere! 


Here's another maxi from Eliza J. It's quite pricey, but I think it's versatile enough for a lot of people. You could definitely dress it up or down. Also found at Nordstrom.



I have this pinned on one of my boards. I think it would be adorable for a more casual wedding. 



I'll let you ladies see what I end up going with. I want all of these dresses just for Summer, not even necessarily for a wedding. They are all gorgeous!



Speaking of gorgeous, I just received my first Rocksbox in the mail yesterday and I couldn't be happier with the three pieces they sent to me. If you haven't yet heard of Rocksbox, it's monthly subscription service that gives you three jewelry items. For 19 dollars a month, you get a personal stylist that curates a box of baubles for you that suit your style. You can either buy them or swap them out for something else. Get your first month free with code BEACHFIRENKXOXO!



Stay tuned next week to see how I style these. 


Happy Friday!

3.25.2015






Wearing //
Express cami (love)
H&M blazer, similar
Beauty //
Lips - YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Pink in Devotion
Essie nails in "Find me an Oasis"




When I saw this watercolor floral cami, I knew I needed it. Okay, so I need more of these suckers like I need a hole in my head.  I also know that florals for Spring are nothing new or ground-breaking, but the pattern of this was unique enough for me because I don't have anything remotely like it. These camisoles are so great for layering. They don't add any extra bulk underneath a jacket or blazer, something my chubby little arms can appreciate. In fact, I'm beginning to count how many I own and I'm at number six! That's very close to portofino status! When I find something I love, I'm guilty of getting it in multiples.

How are you ladies? I apologize for my lack of posts, but I spent all weekend with friends in San Diego and then I came home to nurse an injured pup. Thankfully, I think the craziness is about to slow down. I'm trying to get serious about not only my physical health, but also my mental these next few weeks. I'm determined to finally lose some weight, start cooking at home more often, spend my free time doing an activity to get my body moving, and just a general detox from all the stress (and fun) I've been experiencing lately. I'll keep you posted, if anyone cares ;)

3.19.2015

I've picked up a few beauty products in anticipation of Spring. Not that we have seasons here, and not like I really need an excuse to shop for cosmetics but that's what I like to tell myself anyway. Being that I'm a lip junkie, three of my new goodies are products I can slap on my pucker.




This is also referred to as "one luxe balm" and that is an accurate description! I first heard about it a few months ago on a beauty blog, and made a mental note that I wanted to try it. While scrolling through Nordstrom's website, I stumbled across it and knew I had to make my purchase. I've been wearing it ever since receiving it in the mail. It literally melts on the lips and saturates every little dry patch. It smells slightly floral and slightly sweet, but I can't put my finger on the exact note. Whatever it is, it smells rich as obnoxious as that sounds. I will never be without it now. By far the most beautiful product I own. 




I'm not much of a lip gloss fan these days, as I prefer wearing lipstick. It seems to last longer, and my hair never gets caught in it. I bought this on a whim while at Ulta, and this is probably the closest I'll come to a gloss. It's non-sticky and moisturizing, and the coral color gives me naturally "juicy" looking lips almost like I've just eaten a popsicle. The wand is wide and flat, so it covers a good amount of my lips in just one swipe. It's also a small tube, which I appreciate because I know I can actually get through it before the product goes bad. I'm tempted to try it in another bright shade. 




I'm also not a huge fan of lip liner either, but I decided to give this one a try after seeing it on a YouTuber. Urban Decay is probably my favorite makeup brand, and if I ever want to experiment, I usually look to them first. "Native" is a neutral pink lip liner that is a great base for any lipstick you put on top. It's one of those "my lips, but better" shades. As you can see, I need to sharpen it again because I've been using it daily. I not only line my lips with it, but I also fill them in and then put either the lip slip or the lip lover on top for a great everyday look.




Now a couple of non-lip products:


I love Real Techniques. The brushes are affordable, well-made, and carefully thought out. The Bold Metals collection is a bit more expensive, but this brush in particular is so worth it! It can be used to apply a variety of powders, but I've been using it to apply blush. The shape is perfect for sweeping color across my cheeks. The bristles are ultra soft, and the handle is nice and sturdy. 





This was also in my Nordstrom order along with the lip slip. I have very mixed feelings about this nail polish. The color is a beautiful whitish - pink, a shade I think many women love because it goes with everything and doesn't show wear as noticeably as bright colors. However, I was disappointed with the actual formula. It was a bit clumpy, and although it only required two coats to look opaque, it chipped within a few hours. I can't justify the price either. I linked it above, but I don't exactly recommend it. Try Essie's "Urban Jungle" instead and save your money.