In anticipation of fall

Our beautiful mountains during my favorite time of year

 (This blog is from a column I wrote for the newspaper this week. I'm so excited for fall)

The leaves are just starting to change their hue, the nights are starting to cool, my favorite fashion magazine has released the September issue and Starbucks has already started to offer the pumpkin spice latte. Oh yes, I’m ready for fall.
Despite the warm days this week, I know fall is making its way around the corner. I get an indescribable feeling when I start to see the signs of my favorite season. There is something about fall that just makes me smile. Though I know it means winter will soon follow, I see fall as a time to slow down and really enjoy the beauty that surrounds this area. I could spend hours taking my time and walking through the rich colors of the season. And there is nothing like being surrounded by shades of orange, red and yellow while driving through the mountains.The beauty that comes with the fall season is part of the reason why I love it so much, the other is all the experiences that come with it.
I love the comforting fragrances of fall. Warm pumpkin pie, apple cider and cranberry are just a few of my favorite scents that I associate with the season. I’m looking forward to unpacking a few of my fall candles and making my home smell warm and inviting. Just thinking about it makes me want to light a candle and get cozy under a warm blanket with a good book. Along with the candles, I enjoy decorating my home during the fall. Once I pull the fall bin out of storage I will sprinkle my home with knick-knacks of ceramic leaves, pumpkin candy dishes and scarecrows. It’s one of my favorite ways to decorate the house, second only to Christmas time. I also love the fashions of fall. Those closest to me know how excited I get when I’m able to start wearing boots again. As I flipped through the September issue of my favorite fashion magazine this week I was inspired by the oversize blazers, suede textures and long skirts. Part of me wants to go shopping, but mostly I can’t wait until I can start layering my fall wardrobe and feeling warm and comfortable in the crisp weather. One trend I am most looking forward to is patterned knit sweaters. I tend to gravitate toward solid colors, but the unique stripes, Fair Isle patterns and textures are inspiring. I’m looking forward to pairing them with rich colored pants and, of course, boots. It is also a piece that will work for weekend wear. So, in case you haven’t guessed, I love fall. Now that August is coming to a close and Labor Day is upon us, I will start to watch the weather in anticipation of cooler temperatures and an excuse to break out my favorite seasonal pieces. In just a few more weeks I will be able to don a warm sweater and take in all the wonderful things that come with the season.

Polished Up: Sally Hansen Trouble Maker

I know it's still summer, but I couldn't help but reach for this gorgeous purple polish that is perfect for the upcoming fall season. I love the Complete Salon Manicure polishes by Sally Hansen. This shade is called Trouble Maker. One coat was almost completely opaque, but just streaky enough that I applied two coats. I love the wide brush that comes with all the polishes in the line. It makes polish easy to apply.
I've been wearing this shade for over a week now and have very minimal wear on the tips of my nails. 

Weekend Wear

It has been a while since I've posted, mostly because work has kept me very busy. I love my job and though I work hard, I wouldn't trade it for anything. But with working hard comes the opportunity to play hard and enjoy my weekends as much as possible. Even on the weekends there is an opportunity to step out in style. Below are some weekend outfit ideas for whatever you decide to do on your days off from heading out to the farmers market to a girls' night out.

 

 
 

Work to Weekend

As some of you may already know, I recently received a promotion at work and with that my work attire will change a bit. I currently spend most of my time in front of a computer and don't spend time with the public. Therefore, my work wear consists mostly of jeans, tees and blazers. In my new position I will spend much more time with people in the community and I want to step it up for my position in a more traditional office setting. Below are some looks I've put together to stay chic in an office setting while still remaining comfortable. I also threw in a cute weekend outfit to finish the week. I hope this inspires some of you for your next office look.

Ulta and Coastal Scents makeup haul with swatches/reviews

Hello, beauties! Today I have a collective haul from brands that are new to me. I had never tried Coastal Scents or Ulta products before, so I'm glad I was able to play around with these and give you my opinion of the products.
I ordered the Coastal Scents eyeshadow in Kokomo Cafe along with a Go Pod for storage. I spent less than $4 for both items and was sent a sample quad with my order. Kokomo Cafe is a lovely matte shade that is great for creating dimension in the crease. My favorite out of the quad shades is Camel Taupe. The shadows are very pigmented, but also have a little fallout when applied (I place a tissue under my eye when I apply and that takes care of the issue). They also have nice staying power over a primer.
I received the Ulta items from a friend who received them as sample items with an order. The eyeshadows were not as pigmented as I though they would be and are very powdery when applied (the swatches below have two layers of product). The soft blue shade (Mosaic) is my favorite as the light pigmentation makes it more wearable for daytime. The lip gloss in Illusion is a lovely nude shade and is great applied over a nude lipstick. It applies nicely and is not too sticky. I was disappointed with the blush as it is not very pigmented. The shade is beautiful, but does not come off very well on my cheeks. This shade contains glitter particles. As for the nail polish, you can find my review here.

Coastal Scents eyeshdows in (left) Kokomo Cafe and (right from top) Berry Grey, Camel Taupe, Steel Grey, Wishy Washy

Ulta eyeshadows in (from top) Sahara Sand, Sunkissed, Mosaic and Glittering Sand; blush in Sweet Cheeks; polish in Fuchsiamania; lip gloss in Illusion

Coastal Scents swatches from left: Kokomo Cafe, Berry Grey, Camel Taupe, Steel Grey, Wishy Washy

Ulta eyeshadow swatches (from left): Sahara Sand, Sunkissed, Glittering Sand and Mosaic

Ulta blush in Sweet Cheeks

Ulta lip gloss in Illusion

Happy shopping and I hope these reviews help you in your next purchase from these brands.