Graduation Day

It has been a long journey, filled with nervousness, stress, anticipation and joy. But I could not have gotten through without the support of my family, friends who always keep me laughing and a husband who has stood by me through it all. This past weekend I graduated with my B.A. in English with a minor in communications. Now I'm preparing for my next steps in life. I'm excited to see where God leads me.

Almost at the End

For those of you out there who are still with me I want to offer up my thanks. It's been a while since I've posted and I'm hoping to get back to blogging within a few weeks. This is just a little update to let you know I'm still here, but just really busy.
I'm graduating in less than three weeks (yay!) but that also means final projects will be due soon. I'm up to my ears in essays and papers. I'm also starting a new part-time position this week at our town newspaper (double yay!). Needless to say I've been a busy gal.
So bare with me just a little longer. I'm hoping to at least get a nail polish blog up to you here and there (and maybe and outfit-of-the-day for my first day at my new job).
You all are great :)

Polished Up Tuesday: Sally Hansen's Peachy Keen

Out of all the neutral colors in my collection, this polish from Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure line is my favorite. It gives a soft wash of color on my nails and it is not completely opaque (making the look more natural). This polish is in the shade Peachy Keen. It gives smooth and easy application with the brand's large brush. The staying power for this line is also phenomenal. Even without a base or top coat it lasts on my nails for almost a week without any chipping. The look above took three coats to achieve. I usually only apply two coats for everyday wear, but today I wanted the camera to pick up the true shade of the polish.

Fall Neutrals

I feel like it's been forever since I've done an outfit post. I just made it past the middle of the semester and was it ever crazy! Papers, presentations and midterms have taken up most of my time these past few weeks. But the good news? I graduate in 6 weeks! :-D

Today I gravitated toward the neutrals in my closet and put together this ensemble. I love this past-the-knee skit because it keeps my legs warm in the cooler weather. I also like the combination with the sheer cream blouse and thick, braided, brown belt. I finished the look with my favorite fall accessory: boots!

P.S. I broke out the Christmas music this weekend! I couldn't help it, Christmas is my favorite :)

What I'm Wearing: 

Blouse: Daily Look

Skirt: Old Navy

Boots: a.n.a (JCP)

Belt: NY&Co.

Ring: Forever 21

Earrings: JCP

Watch: Relic (JCP)

Polished Up Tuesday: OPI's I Break for Manicures

This week I'm donning OPI's I Break for Manicures. This deeeep eggplant color from OPI's Touring America collection looks almost black on the nails. It applied evenly with two coats for the look above. I began wearing this color on Friday (to my college's homecoming dance) and today it is only showing some tip wear but no major chips yet. This is a great fall/winter color. 

Three Years Ago Today...

My husband and I were married three years ago today. I couldn't ask for a better man to share my life with and I'm looking forward to the many years in our future. I'm excited about new chapters in our lives and all the things we will share together. 

I love you, Tony! Thank you for being a wonderful husband.

What's in My Purse?

I love watching "What's in My Purse?" videos on YouTube so I'm bringing that into the blogger world and showing you a few of the things that live in my handbag. :)

 

This purse (from Guess) was given to me by a friend for my birthday a few years ago. It's a medium-sized bag with faux snakeskin and silver details. I love this because I can pair it with black or brown and it looks chic. It adds a little edge to my outfits. (This bag was seen in my last blog here)

What's in my Purse?

1. Kenneth Cole Reaction Wallet (have had this for years)

2. Soap and Glory Hand Food (hand lotion)

3. Tide to Go pen (because I'm a messy eater)

4.mark. hook-ups with Scanda-Lash mascara and Glow Baby Glow lip gloss in Pink Crush

5. BIC Atlantis pen (my favorite pens)

6. Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss

7. EOS lip balm in Summer Fruit

8. Purell hand sanitizer (for my husband who doesn't like girly hand sanitizer)

9. Purse hook (JCP; Christmas gift a few years ago)

10. Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer in Tropical Berries (for me who loves girly hand sanitizer)

Leopard and Leather

The sun is shining, the leaves are changing and it's the perfect temperature to throw on a jacket over a light and airy blouse. This leopard and leather look is accented with pops of red in lipstick and my favorite pair of heels. I especially love the leopard blouse that is perfect for the fall. The mixture of leopard on the blouse and snakeskin on the handbag are also fun and don't compete with each other because they have a similar color palette. This look is great for a night out with the girls or to add a little edge to your everyday style.

What I'm Wearing:

Leopard Blouse: mark.

Leather Jacket: a.n.a (JCP)

Jeans: St. John's Bay (JCP)

Heels: Jessica Simpson

Earrings: Forever 21

Sunglasses:  NY&Co.

Handbag: Guess (about 5 years ago)

Lipstick: mark. (Color in Cha Cha)

Polished Up Tuesday: Wet n Wild's Wet Cement

This long-lasting polish from Wet n Wild in the color Wet Cement was an awesome find at less than $2. I really love this pretty taupe color. The brush for this polish is large (and you know how much I love my large brushes). Just one swipe of the brush on my pinky finger nail and it was covered perfectly with polish without any excess on my fingers.

It took two coats to achieve the look above. One coat was almost completely opaque but not quite as much as I like. The only issue I have is a few bubbles showed up here and there in the polish.

My Favorite Fall Lip Shades With Swatches

In a continuation of my celebration of everything fall I wanted to share with you my favorite fall lip colors. I'm always a little sad to put away my bright pink and coral shades, until I grab one of my deep berry colors. Not all of your lipsticks in autumn have to be dark and deep. Below is a range of shades I tend to lean toward this time of year (and often into winter too). Each shade adds a nice amount of warmth, which is nice as my skin starts to become more pale from less sun exposure. Also, don't be afraid to wear those deep shades. The trick is finding what works well with your skin tone. I have fair skin and even the darker shades in this post work for me. You can also use your finger to sheer out the shade for a less intense look.

Here are my lip colors :) 

 Left to Right: L'Oreal Colour Riche in Fairest Nude; Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey; Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle

 Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Rose Gold; e.l.f. Conditioning Lip Balm in Blissful Berry

 Sephora Maniac Mat Long Wearing Matte Lipstick in Mat 04, Maybelline Color Sensational in Plum Paradise

 Left to Right: Fairest Nude, Honey, Pink Truffle, Rose Gold, Blissful Berry, Mat 04 and Plum Paradise

Me and my fair skin with Maybelline Color Sensational in Plum Paradise

Polished Up Tuesday: Sephora's Prom Night

Have you ever used a makeup product for the first time and found yourself saying "Wow" at the first application? That is what happened to me when I used Sephora's Prom Night for the first time this week. This color is so smooth and VERY opaque. It applied like a dream and with a rich pigment. It only took one coat to achieve the look above. 

This gorgeous forest green color is part of Sephora's collection of mini-bottled polishes, which are quickly becoming my new favorite brand. This is not the Sephora by OPI collection, but the brand's own line. It has long wear; I only found minor tip wear after one night at work (my hands go through a lot while I'm at work).

Polished Up Tuesday: Orly's Coffee Break

I have a secret with this polish...50% of the reason why I purchased this creamy brown color is because of the name. Orly's Coffee Break spoke to my inner barista (I work at a coffee shop on my college's campus). Doesn't it remind you of a perfect cup of delicious, creamy coffee?

This polish goes on smoothly. I wish Orly's brushes were a bit larger but I was still able to work with the standard-size brush provided. It took two coats to achieve the look above.

Layered Layers

My first favorite thing about fall fashion is boots, but my second favorite is layers. There is nothing like being cozy and warm under layers in early morning fall weather. Even though these pics make it look like I was out in heat, the bright sun was an illusion to the 50 degree weather.

This sweater and plaid combo kept me warm as I walked to my 9 a.m. class this week. While everyone was complaining about the cold air, I was perfectly comfortable. The socks under my boots also added some extra warm while showing off my love of layers.

What I'm Wearing:

Sweater: JCP (a.n.a)

Plaid Top: JCP (Arizona)

Jeans: Forever 21

Knee-High Socks: Forever 21

Boots: Madden Girl

Watch: JCP (Relic)

Polished Up Tuesday: Sephora's Stormy Pink

I'm bringing you an older Spehora color today in the shade Stormy Pink. I purchased this polish years ago at a Sephora store. Unfortunately I don't think they make this shade anymore (sorry, ladies). But  I had to show off  this gorgeous cranberry-colored polish that is perfect for fall. The camera picked up the color a little lighter than it truly is. Imagine the shade above about two shades deeper.

The application is incredibly smooth and is completely opaque in two coats. Like most Sephora polishes it has amazing staying power.

First Day of Fall

I'm so excited today is the first day of fall! Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year. The air will soon begin to crisp and I'll get to spend my days in boots and corduroy. My friends and I will  cuddle beneath a blanket to watch football games. I'll watch the mountains turn from green to a blanket of rich orange, yellow and red. Not to mention my wedding anniversary is also in the fall (only about a month away from celebrating three years with the love of my life).

I also love the smells that come with fall. As I am typing this the scent of a pumpkin spice candle is filling my apartment.

My outfit is my welcome to my favorite season. I'm wearing one of my favorite pairs of boots (because, let's face it, they're all my favorite). These boots in particular I saved from a nail polish fiasco so I'm a little overprotective of them. My blazer is the perfect color for fall and thick enough to keep me warm when the temperatures start to drop.  I'm also wearing one of my favorite necklaces from Forever 21. It's a typewriter! :)

What I'm Wearing:

Blazer: Forever 21

Tank: Forever 21

Jeans: JCP (St. John's Bay)

Boots: JCP (a.n.a.)

Necklace: Forever 21

Earrings: JCP (Decree)

Sunglasses: NY and Co.

The Blues

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! :)

What I'm Wearing:

Denim Top: London Jean

Jeans: Sears

Sandals: Target

Sunglasses: Liz Claiborne

Necklace: NY & Co.

Earrings and Bracelets: JCP

Polished Up Tuesday: OPI's Don't Pretzel My Buttons

The air is beginning to turn more crisp here in the mountains and the feel of fall is all around. Today I'm donning one of my favorite neutral shades from OPI's new Germany collection. This creamy beige color is called Don't Pretzel My Buttons. It has a very smooth application and is a great neutral shade for fall. I did have a small problem with bubbling on two of my nails.

This is my first time wearing a color from this particular line so I'll let you know how it does in terms of longevity. Most of OPI's polishes have about a 3-4 day staying power. It took two coats to achieve the look above.

Summer to Fall

I really wanted to do a proper fashion post for you all this week, but unfortunately a cold has decided to pay me a visit. Since I'm feeling a bit under the weather (with a red nose as well) I decided to bring you another Polyvore blog of what my husband likes to call my paperdoll creations.
So fall is just around the corner (yay! my favorite time of year!) and I love looking at videos and magazines for inspiration on how I can transition my summer wardrobe into the cooler temperatures. Below are looks I created on Polyvore.com to show how I plan to shift into the fall season. I can't wait to kick up some leaves with my boots! :)

Summer To Fall by lovieduck82 on polyvore.com

Polished Up Tuesday: Sephora's Jealous

I'm so excited for fall, but I wanted to get in one more bright and fun summer color before I switch over to my more neutral and autumn-inspired shades. This mini-bottle in the color Jealous from Sephora's line is the perfect little pop of color to say farewell to summer.

The deep pink coral shade took two coats to achieve this look. The first coat was almost enough but wasn't as opaque as I like. The color has a very smooth application. The most amazing thing about this mini bottle is the size of the brush. It has a full brush that reminds me of the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure brushes. It makes applying the polish quick and easy.

Wear it White

It's almost Labor Day so I'm going to wear my white as much as I can. This comfy white cotton dress was a steal on the clearance rack at New York & Co. I haven't had too many opportunities to wear it this season, but I'll be taking a cruise in January so I'm sure I'll bring it out again to enjoy that one week of warm weather away from the snow.

Hope you all enjoy your Labor Day weekend! Stay safe and have fun :)

What I'm Wearing: 

Dress: NY&Co.

Cardigan: Victoria's Secret

Shoes: JCP

Necklace and Bracelet: NY&Co.