High Five For Friday

Hey guys!

I hope that you all had a great week! Today my spring break starts and it also marks the warmest day of the year so far (70s!). So there is a lot to be excited about! Here are my top five highlights from the past week! Let me know what your favorite moments have been!

Caitie <3

I Heart Drugstore Makeup

Hi guys!

So this makeup tag went around Youtube last fall, but I decided it might be kind of fun to do it here on my blog. Recently it seems like I’ve found a lot of great finds at the drugstore, and I think it’s always fun to see what other people love from there, since there’s often a lot of hits and a lot of misses. Here are my answers to the questions!

1.    What is your favorite drugstore makeup brand?

This is kind of a hard question for me because I think I love all drugstore makeup brands pretty equally. I’ve had good things and bad things from them all. A lot of the others that have done this have said Revlon. I think this probably would have to be Maybelline for me, with ELF and actually Covergirl as runners up.

2.    What are your favorite face, cheek, and lip products?

My favorite face product from the drugstore is probably ELF’s Mineral Infused face primer or Revlon’s BB cream. Both have really impressed me and are super similar to high-end versions that I’ve enjoyed. Because I dislike lipsticks and I really don’t wear lip gloss all that much, my favorite drugstore lip product would have to be Maybelline’s Baby Lips.

3.    Least favorite product?

The Falsies

Without a doubt it would have to be Maybelline’s the Falsies mascara. I don’t know if it was me, or the fact that I didn’t try to the flared version (which is supposed to be better), but I was so disappointed in this mascara. It was super wet, super clumpy, and was impossible to remove. Another least favorite was probably Garnier’s BB cream was also so disappointing! It’s definitely not meant for people with oily skin.

4.   What is the best makeup bargain?

Walking on Eggshells

There are several that I can’t choose from. It’s so hard. First, I’d have to say that I love Wet n Wild’s eyeshadow in Walking on Eggshells. Considering this is a dupe for Sin, Naked, Buck, and Virgin in the Naked palette (this is the answer to number 7!), this definitely makes it a great bargain. Plus the quality is just fantastic. Another that is a great bargain is the ELF Mineral Infused face primer, which goes for $6 and is just as good as the $17 Sephora kind I used previously. Both I use constantly and love.

5.   What is your favorite underdog product?

Shimmering Sands

My favorite overlooked product would have to be Covergirl’s Shimmering Sands eyeshadow trio. I know this is an online favorite, but compared to ones like Wet n Wild’s, it doesn’t get near enough attention. This is my absolute favorite eyeshadow from the drugstore, and I think it deserves a lot more credit than it gets.

6.    A drugstore product that is overpriced?

I don’t own any drugstore foundations, but I’m always shocked by how much they cost! Revlon Coverstay and the Nearly Naked kind are like $12! To me, drugstore makeup should be $10 and under. Plus, if I’m going to spend that much on a foundation, I want to make sure it matches me perfectly and that it reacts to my skin well. For $30, I can try it out beforehand, get color-matched by a professional, and return it, even if I used it, at Sephora. So that’s probably why I wouldn’t be tempted to spend that much on something like Revlon’s Nearly Naked.

7.    Best drugstore dupes?

Like I said earlier, I think Walking on Eggshells is the exact dupe for my favorite shadows from the Naked palette. I’m always super impressed by how similar they are.

8.    Drugstore product that isn’t worth the hype?

Walking on Eggshells

Without a doubt, it would have to be Covergirl’s Lash Blast Volume and Fusion. I hate these mascaras with a passion. I hate the brush because the bristles are way too small to separate lashes. I don’t like how wet the formula is. I just think they are awful mascaras and that there are much better ones out there.

 

What are your favorite drugstore products? Favorite brand?

Decorating Your Dorm Year to Year

Hi guys!

So earlier this week you saw some of my early brainstorming for my senior year apartment I’ll be living in next fall. I’m super excited for it, to say the least. Anyway, it got me to thinking about some advice I have for college students that are preparing for their living situations next year. After having gone through like three multiple times before, these are things that I have done or wished I had done before moving into my new space from the old year.

1.      Have a Plan

It’s so important to know where you are living for the next year. Sign up for your new dorm, house, or apartment early so you can start to plan what kind of things you’ll need, and what you want to decorate. If possible, find a floor plan of your space (many colleges and apartments offer floor plans of their rooms online, so be on the lookout). This will help you prepare for about how big your space will be, where windows, doors, and closets are located, and any other notable things to plan for.

2.     Decide the Theme

If you are matching your room décor to your roommate’s, figure out a theme (nautical, Victoria’s Secret, flowers, etc). If you are just planning your own space, decide on the colors and feel you want it to be. Find something that inspires you and then design around it (usually for college spaces, I’d recommend centering it around your bedding, since that’s the biggest element in a small room). For instance, I have my heart set on the Urban Outfitters chevron duvet in black and white, so I know that I’ll have a black, white, and pops of red theme.

3.     Make of a List of Things to Buy

Once you know what your space will look like and what theme you want your space to have, make a list of things to buy. My advice to poor college students is to try to pick a theme that allows you to use most of the stuff you already have. It would break my bank to decide I don’t want to use any of my red stuff anymore, so I know I should stick to my same colors I’ve used the past three years. If you know you’ll need new bedding, pots and pans, plates, and other kitchen items, break it down into several months of buying things. Don’t save it all for August right before school because that can kill your budget. For example, I’m planning on buying a duvet and an insert here in the spring, and then buying the rest of my apartment items throughout the summer. If you are moving from a dorm to an apartment or house, make sure you discuss with your roommates who is purchasing staples like pots, pans, kitchen utensils, bathroom shower curtains, TVs, coffee makers, and big things like that.

4.    Pack Efficiently

I know this is harping on this subject early, but remember at the end of this semester when you pack up your stuff you currently use, try to pack intelligently. Pack your kitchen/eating items together (don’t forget to label!!), bathroom things together, bedding together, and so on. Pack the things you will want to use over the summer together too, so you don’t have to go through each box looking for things like your iPhone charger. It makes next fall when you go back to school so much easier!

5.     Watch Sales!

If the bedding you’ve been eyeing goes on sale in April, jump on it. Don’t always wait until school starts because that’s when things get picked over. However, if you don’t absolutely love it, know that new things will come out over the summer just for kids that are going to college.

Do you have any advice for preparing for next year? What’s the biggest decorating changes between living in a dorm versus an apartment or house?

My Top 5 Favorite Mascaras

Hey everyone!

I don’t know about you, but the most purchased makeup items for me are always without a doubt, mascara. I think that’s the case for a lot of people. Why? Because even when you find one you like, you are always hoping that there’s another out there that is better. At least, that’s my excuse.

What makes mascara hard is that for some odd reason, each kind reacts totally different to each person. There is no universally perfect mascara unfortunately. There are good ones, really bad ones, and just okay ones. But not one single one that has everything.

Because I’ve been trying mascaras out like crazy recently, I thought I’d highlight my top five favorites…ever. That’s pretty lofty, and sometimes it’s hard to choose, but these have always been mascaras that work for me.

1.    Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara

Colossal CatEyes

What’s funny about this mascara, is that online the reviews of it aren’t that great. I was actually super hesitant to buy it originally because people hated it so much. But I’m so glad that the packaging (it’s so cute!) pulled me in! What I especially love about this mascara is the wand. It has the thick, bristles (not the plastic type), that defines my eyelashes so well. I love the curved wand, as it makes the outer corner of my eyes so dramatic (the packaging promises full and spiked outer lashes). The formula is great. I’ve repurchased this and probably will in the future too.

2.    Covergirl Clump Crusher

Clump Crusher

This is another curved wand mascara that I love. I like how this makes my lashes long and defined. This has a plastic wand, but something about it makes it super easy to just brush out your lashes. The formula is definitely on the dry end, which is both good and bad. I don’t like wet mascaras at all, and this is definitely the opposite of it. I’ve also repurchased this mascara as well, and will do so in the future.

3.    Maybelline The Rocket



The Rocket

This is another recent favorite of mine. As my blog has highlighted, this mascara and I have gone through ups and downs. For some time I definitely wasn’t a fan of this mascara, but what made me go back to it is the dramatic, volumized look it gives my lashes. It’s pretty defining and doesn’t take a lot of coats to make my lashes dramatic and black. While I’m not a fan of the gel consistency of the formula or how the brush kind of hurts the base of my lashes, I do love the consistent, dramatic look of it.

4.   L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes

 

Volumious Million Lashes

This was my mascara love of the summer. I think this mascara is an all-around solid mascara. While it can get a little clumpy, the formula, brush, and packaging are all great. It’s easy to use, and very flattering on my lashes. They define and add volume. This is one that I’m hoping to try out again soon.

5.   Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes!

Lights, Camera, Lashes!

This is the only high-end mascara on my list (mostly because it’s the only high-end kind I’ve tried). If there were such thing as the perfect mascara, this probably would be it. First, it has good ingredients that are meant to make lashes healthy, it’s cruelty free, and has super cute packaging. It’s great at both adding length and volume to lashes. While this is not the waterproof version, it has fantastic staying power. It’s not the type of mascara you need to comb through your lashes continuously, which is a great bonus and time-saver. The only negative is the price. But I love it.

What are your favorite mascaras?

Senior Year Apartment

Hi guys!

I don’t know about most colleges, but at my school, the time to decide where to live for next year has come and past. It seems like the rush for housing seems to come earlier and earlier.

Anyway, I love planning what my room will look like. As you probably already know from previous posts, I love trying to come up with new fresh looks for my dorm rooms. It’s something like a fresh slate that always gets me super excited!

For next year, my living situation will be much different than years past. Next year I will be living off campus in an apartment with one of my littles! I’m super excited for this change! Seeing as how it will be my last semester at my college campus (I’ll be student teaching next spring, hopefully in my hometown), this will be a great transition into adulthood. The other things about this that I can’t wait for: my own bedroom and bathroom! Guys, this will be the first time in my life that I’ll have both!

So you can imagine my excitement!

Another reason I’m really excited: that means I have lots of planning and decorating to do! While it’s still early on, here are some things I’m hoping to see in my future space! Here are some things that are bringing me inspiration for next year:


Sources: Duvet, Monogram, Home Print, Inspirational Poster, Chalkboard (Urban Orchard Interiors), Dottie Mugs

10 Things About Me

I take a lot of dorky self-portraits…hopefully others do this too…

1.     I love doing laundry.

2.    My favorite thing to do with my boyfriend is cuddle while watching Friends. Or Boy Meets World.

3.    My favorite flowers include daffodils, sunflowers, mums, tulips, dahlias, and poppies. I like flowers a lot.

4.    I’m 4 foot 11.

5.    My go to drink at Starbucks is an iced white mocha.

6.     I’m extremely shy. Especially around new people.

7.    My favorite animal is a prairie dog. What? I think they are adorable!

8.    When I was little, my dream was to become an interior designer. We’re talking about first grade. I’m guessing not too many first graders dream of becoming that.

9.    I didn’t pierce my ears until my freshman year of college.

10. I couldn't be more excited about the fact that my boyfriend and I have now been dating officially a year and a half. As of today. It's been the best 18 months of my life.

High Five for Friday

Hey guys!

Just one more week until spring break! I think I can make it, but we’ll see. Here are the highlights from the past week!

 

1.    Last weekend I made my first ever trip to a Lilly Pulitzer store. This was huge for me. I love Lilly (even though I can hardly afford to buy anything there). And the nearest store is hundreds of miles away. I picked up this scarf to mark the occasion, and I love it!

2.  Falling in love all over again with Essie’s Chinchilly. I can’t get enough of this color.

3.   Getting to spend a day with my boyfriend to celebrate our 18^th month anniversary. Of course at Red Robin.

4.   Wearing outfits you genuinely love. I wore several of those this week, and nothing is a better confidence boost.

5.  Passing a midterm and a lesson plan that I thought I would both fail massively (I got a 100% on the midterm! I was shocked!)

So what were your highlights of the week? Are you looking forward to anything?