Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Spring Sephora Sale

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Sephora's Spring Beauty Event kicked off yesterday and like any good Sephora addict I've been waiting (not so) patiently for this for a while now!  I like to use Sephora's biyearly beauty events (where you get 15%-20% off your entire purchase if you're a Beauty Insider) to stock up on things I use throughout the year and to try some new products.  Since I've been waiting on this you can bet that I've had a list ready for some time now (#TypeA) and have everything together to make my purchase.  Here I have for you everything I'll be purchasing at the sale - both the new and the old standbys, and I'm breaking it down below.  (By the way if you're planning on shopping the sale yourself make sure to read this post which tells you how to get the most out of your Sephora shopping trips.)

I am really big on exfoliation and think that it's one of the most important things you can do for your skin.  I like to have both chemical and physical exfoliators (learn about the difference here) on hand and I tried this chemical one a few months ago when I got a deluxe size sample from Sephora.  It made my skin so soft and glowy that I knew I needed to get it when this sale came around.

I tried this when I got a deluxe size sample of it from Sephora (man, I'm really a sucker for those) and I talked about it in this post.  This mask uses honey, royal jelly, propolis, and Farmacy's Echinacea GreenEnvy to hydrate, gently cleanse, and provide antioxidants to your skin.  I've also found that it has even helped to clear up my skin when I'm having a breakout and it just makes my skin look great.

I love Sunday Riley's products and was so excited when they released their newest moisturizer.  It hydrates the skin and provides it with a dose of high-potency, advanced vitamin C.  The vitamin C works to "visibly repair the effects of aging, environmental stress, and pollution-induced damage."  This moisturizer is high in antioxidants and will also help to brighten skin.  I was able to get a small sample of this to try before I buy and I loved it just as much as I thought I would.

Sephora carries these little mask minis from Origins that are perfect little two or three use packets.  I haven't tried this one before, but love this one and also have a few others in my arsenal right now.  With the warmer months coming up I like to have a purifying mask and this one gently, but deeply cleans, and refines texture and pores so I'm going to pick it up.

I am super picky about mascara, but am always a fan of the ones from Dior.  I started using this a few months ago and switched to something different for a little bit, but I missed this so much that I'm going back to using it!  The formula of this combined with the wand make it the perfect mascara for me.  This volumizes my lashes, stays put, and never gets clumpy.

This mascara is made for your bottom lashes and is the only mascara that actually stays on my bottom lashes and doesn't wipe off underneath my eyes.  I started using this a year ago and I don't think I can ever not use it again, it's that good.  If you have trouble with mascara and your bottom lashes this is a must have.

I have been using this brow gel for a while, but I don't like how it makes my brows feel and look a little crunchy.  I did a ton of research on brow gels because I want one that leaves my brows soft and think that this one will give me the results I want.  I will definitely report back on how I like this once I get it.

I've used the Clarisonic Deep Pore Brush Heads for as long as I've had my Clarisonic and recently switched to the Radiance Brush Head.  While I liked the Deep Pore brush I'm liking the results from the Radiance one even more.  It really does make your skin radiate and I feel like it gives me that "glow" I'm always after.

I've talked about this countless times on here and the bottom line is in my opinion I think these are the best.  They use lactic and glycolic acids to gently exfoliate, and lemon peel and licorice root to brighten skin.  I use them morning and night and notice a big difference in my skin if I forget to use them.

I never realized how important a setting spray is until I tried Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray.  I recieved a deluxe sample of it in my December PLAY! by Sephora box and now I feel like my makeup isn't complete without it.  My only complaint about it was that it left my skin a little too matte and feeling dry, but Chill is a hydrating version of it, which I think will be better for my skin type.

This set contains Sunday Riley Good Genes and Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil.  These are two holy grail products for me and I love that I can buy them in a set and save money.  Luna is a retinoid oil that moisturizes, shrinks pores, reduces wrinkles, calms redness, and improves skin smoothness.  Good Genes is a pharmaceutical-grade, lactic-acid-based treatment that works to exfoliate, plump fine lines, reduce hyperpigmentation, increase circulation, and firm skin for instant radiance.  I layer Good Genes on top of the Luna Sleeping Oil for seriously amazing skin.

I'm also in need of a new physical exfoliant because my favorite one has (sadly) been discontinued.  Again I did some research (because I'm a beauty nerd) and decided to try this.  It works to gently exfoliate and dissolve dead skin cells, refine pores, and more.  It also got amazing reviews on Sephora's website which really sold me on it.

I'm a skincare fanatic (which I'm sure you can tell from this post) and do not like to wear a ton of makeup, which makes BB and CC creams perfect for me.  I decided to try the It Cosmetics CC Cream a few months back after hearing so many wonderful reviews.  I am so glad I gave this a try because I love how it works and this will be my second bottle of it.  I'm such a big fan that I got my Mom and sister hooked on it too.

My skin is really dry so I love to use gentle (and non drying) micellar water in the morning to cleanse my skin.  I was using a drugstore brand when I got this as a deluxe size sample from a Sephora Beauty Rewards kit and had great results from it.  It feels super luxe and it does a great job of cleaning my skin and helping to prep it for moisturizer and makeup.

In addition to these I will also be grabbing some sheet masks.  My favorite sheet masks include this, this, this, and this.  While some of the new ones I want to try are this, this, this, and this.  Last but not least I need a gift for Mother's Day and have a few ideas that I could grab from Sephora, but I can't share them on here since my Mom reads along (hi Mom!). 

Will you be shopping the Sephora Spring Beauty Event?  If you are what will you be getting?

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Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Today I'm linking up with Midweek InspoOh Hey Girl!I Feel Pretty, and Trendy Wednesday.

Monday, April 10, 2017

What to Wear: Early Spring

Jacket  |  Earrings  |  Top
Joggers  |  Sunnies  |  Top  |  Pants
Heels  |  Mules  |  Bag

Spring has finally sprung and with a new season comes new clothes!  I'm sure you've already figured out from my collage that I'm a big fan of neutrals for spring.  Over the last few years I have grown to really love a neutral palette and there are so many great neutral pieces out there for this spring.  Since spring can be kind of tricky I like to wear things that can easily adapt to the weather.  In the Northeast longer pants are still a necessity, but I love wearing them in a fun color like this pale pink pair to make them feel more seasonal.  Right now I am also really loving joggers because they're so on trend and I am dying to pick up this pair (which also come in black and a bright blue!).  Pretty tops that can be worn alone or with a jacket or sweater are a must for this time of year.  This top is simple, but has a touch of elegance with the lace, and both ruffles and stripes are very big right now which makes this top a great choice.  We are also seeing a huge rise in the bomber jacket trend recently and I am obsessed with this one I recently picked up that is just perfect for the weather we get right now.  Thankfully it's finally time to switch out boots for flats and sandals and if you're in the market for either of those both this pair and this pair are very in and perfect for spring.  Lastly it's important to have spring-y accessories like colorful sunnies, tassel earrings, and a sweet scalloped bag.  The great thing about the pieces pictured here is that most of them can be worn through the whole season and even into the summer!

Adding any of these pieces to your wardrobe is sure to freshen up your look for spring!  What pieces are you loving for this time of year?

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Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Today I'm linking up with Hello Monday#HowISpringWeekending, and MIMM.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

D.I.Y. Unicorn Easter Wreath

I've been dying to make a tulle wreath for sometime now and I figured Easter was the perfect time to actually go for it.  When I went into this project I had a completely different method/design in mind to create this wreath, however I love what I landed up doing even more then what I originally wanted.  This wreath was a tad bit time consuming, but super easy to make (seriously anyone can do it!).  The great thing about this is that you can use any color tulle you want, which means it can be made for a variety of different holidays and events (I want to make a patriotic one for the summer!).  I chose to do this wreath in Easter Egg colors, but it also looks very "unicorn" to me too!  In my opinion you can leave this up all through spring, not just Easter, especially if you are making it as a unicorn wreath.  Scroll down to to learn and see how you can make an Unicorn Easter Wreath for yourself.

Disclaimer: My one big piece of advice when creating this is to not use glittery tulle to make this.  In my wreath the pink and blue tulles were both glittery and they created the biggest glitter mess I have ever seen.  When I was done making this wreath I was so covered in glitter that I had to take off my clothes and shower immediately because I was so itchy.  Needless to say I will never be using glitter tulle again!

Supplies:
-5 different colored rolls of 6 inch by 25 yard tulle 
(I used five different colors of tulle and you can always do less colors, but still make sure to get 5 rolls)
-Scissors

Instructions:
-Cut out 7 inch long pieces of tulle in each color (you will need 72 pieces of each color, if using five colors, and 360 pieces of tulle total).
-Tie tulle onto the wire frame in a knot, face the knot one way and the "fluffy" tulle the other way.  Pull apart the each piece of the "fluffy" side of the tulle so that it becomes larger.
-Alternate tulle colors on the wire, it helps to create a pattern for yourself to follow.  The wreath frame I used had 9 sections in total with 4 wires in each section, I created a pattern (seen in the images below) in which I used 2 pieces of each color tulle on each piece of wire and 40 pieces of tulle total for each section.
-Tie the different color tulle onto until the wire wreath frame following your pattern until the frame is completely full with it.
-Fluff together the "fluffy" side of the tulle so that it looks thick and full.
-Hang the wreath with the fluffy side facing out and the side with the knots toward the door.
-Enjoy!
~Use pictures for reference.


If you have any questions at all please feel free to leave them below or to email me!

  
                
Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Thirsty Thursday with Bai Bubbles

A few weeks ago the people over at Bai were sweet enough to give me a few cases of all their drinks.  I've been having so much fun trying everything and even mixing up some cocktails.  I've been told before I'm a little (ok, more like a lot) heavy handed with the alcohol when making cocktails.  Luckily my Dad is a bartender and seriously talented at making drinks!  A couple weekends ago my sister and I spent a night creating cocktails with my Dad with Bai Bubbles.

Bai Bubbles are one of Bai's newest drinks and are "flavor infused with antioxidants for a carbonated twist."  They make a great mixer because they don't only taste good, but are super light on calories too!  Each can only contains 5 calories and 1 gram of sugar so they are delicious and not bad for you either.

It was really cool to see my Dad mixing up different concoctions because to say that the drinks I make don't come out that good is a major understatement!  My sister and I also enjoyed taste testing everything so it would be perfect to share.  We had so much fun with this post and put together three signature cocktails to share with all of you, check out each of the recipes below.

Low Cal Pinã Colada
-1.5 oz coconut rum
-6 oz Bai Bubbles Peru Pineapple

Pour ingredients over ice and stir well.  Garnish with a pineapple chunk and serve.

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Blood Orange Breeze
-1.5 oz vodka
-6 oz Bai Bubbles Jamaica Blood Orange
-0.5 oz grenadine

Pour ingredients over ice and stir well.  Garnish with an orange slice and serve.

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Pineapple Coconut Crush
-1.5 oz coconut vodka
-3 oz Bai Bubbles Peru Pineapple
-3 oz orange juice

Pour ingredients over ice and stir well.  Garnish with a pineapple chunk or orange slice and serve.

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I really loved each of these and know you will too.  Let me know below if you'd like to see more cocktail recipes and I will get my Dad to come up with some more!

  
                
Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Today I'm linking up with Thursday Fashion Files, #WIWT, and Spotlight.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Wish List Wednesday

With the new season in front of us I've been wanting a few things to help me usher it in.  Each of these things are definitely wants and not really needs right now so I decided to put them all together in a Wish List to share with all of you.  Below are eight items I'm currently wishing for.


I got a deluxe sample of this from Sephora and fell in love with it.  Honey is one of my favorite skincare ingredients since it is both moisturizing and antibacterial.  This mask combines honey, royal jelly, propolis, and Farmacy's Echinacea GreenEnvy to hydrate, gently cleanse, and provide antioxidants to your skin.  I've found that it has even helped to clear up my skin when I'm having a breakout.  I think the best part about this mask though is that it warms when you rub it onto your face, which makes the experience feel super luxe.  I cannot wait to pick up the full size of this!

I have been eyeing these chic Karen Walker sunnies for a few years now.  I just love the shape of them and the look of the tortoise shell.  I've only ever worn black sunglasses so I think that these would be a fun way to change up my style a bit.  I'm thinking that since I've been lusting after these for so long I'm going to treat myself to them for summer.

This is another product I tried because of a deluxe size sample I got with a Sephora order and am totally hooked.  I like to alternate between chemical and physical exfoliants throughout the week (I exfoliate three times a week!) to give my skin the best exfoliation possible.  Right now I am using this chemical exfoliant and while I do really like it I'm almost out and wanting to try something new.  The few times I used the FAB Peel my skin was literally glowing the next day so I think I definitely need to add this into my skincare routine.

4. White Top
I feel like I'm always on the search for cute white tops since they go with everything.  I really should get a few different ones for the spring and summer since I don't have that many and this one is my top choice so far.  It is so cute with it's sweet scallop detail and is a steal at $25.  I think I might have to pick it up in white and black!

I never realized how important a setting spray is until I tried this.  I recieved a deluxe sample of this in my December PLAY! by Sephora box and now I feel like my makeup isn't complete without it.  This makes your makeup stay put all day or all night and I never have to touch up my makeup when wearing it.  I seriously cannot say enough good things about this amazing product and I can't wait to get the big bottle of it.

6. Colorblock Espadrilles in Black and Ivory
These are another item that I've been lusting over for a while and think that I finally need to take the plunge and purchase.  They're so cute for spring and summer and will go with so many things.  I've really been wanting the Chanel pair like this, but they're a bit out of my price range right now so I think I'm going to get this equally adorable pair from Tory Burch.

I am totally obsessed with Sunday Riley so naturally I want to try their newest moisturizer!  C.E.O. not only hydrates the skin, but provides skin with a dose of high-potency, advanced vitamin C.  The vitamin C works to "visibly repair the effects of aging, environmental stress, and pollution-induced damage."  This moisturizer is high in antioxidants and will also help to brighten skin.  I'm hoping to get a sample of this to try and see how I like it and if I want to buy it.

I have been in love with these since last year and they are yet another piece I think I need to have for this summer.  I love the sweet scallop on these as it is feminine, chic, and on trend.  I am also a huge fan of neutral colors and know these will go with so many things I already have in my closet.  I'm hoping to pick these up in the next few months so I have them ready for warmer weather.

What is on your wish list right now?

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Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Today I'm linking up with Midweek InspoOh Hey Girl!I Feel Pretty, and Trendy Wednesday.

Friday, March 24, 2017

Friday Favorites

Favorite Flatware Pastel Tea Spoons
These spoons from Anthropologie are the perfect spring addition to your kitchen.  They are a great way to add a subtle pop of color and would look so sweet for any Easter events.  I honestly don't even drink tea and still want to pick these up - I mean they could totally be ice cream spoons too, right?!

Favorite Cute Flower Crown Bunny
How cute is this sweet little bunny?  I'm loving her little flower crown and she looks so ready for spring!  Her name is Poteto and the best part is is that she wears flower crowns on the regular.  Check out her Instagram account here.

Favorite Living Room Gray & Pink
I have been swooning over pink couches lately and love this one I found on Pinterest.  This living room is so chic and those copper accents are the perfect touch.  Seeing this space and how it is decorated has definitely left me wanting a pink couch now more than ever.  

Favorite Blooms Hydrangeas
I'm only recently getting into flowers and was never a huge fan of them in the past.  Now I am really loving them though and picked up some hydrangeas last week to try my hand at flower arranging and was so happy with how my little arrangement came out.  I found this image on Pinterest and really loved how the colorful hydrangeas looked mixed with other beautiful blooms.

Favorite Office Space Pink Organization
This office is serious #goals!  It's so girly and perfectly organized, which really speaks to my type A personality.  I also really adore that wall calendar and am wanting one for the little office space in my bedroom that I'm putting together.

What are you loving this Friday?

  
                
Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

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