Online Shopping Haul: Back to School Pieces

I have done some online shopping in preparation for going back to school! I start my senior year at Maryville College on Wednesday, August 24th! I was searching specifically for a few off-the-shoulder tees. My friend Stasia and I tried to make some ourselves but failed pretty miserably, save for an old Led Zeppelin shirt that came out good. So finding some cute off-the-shoulder tees was my focus, as well as some cute items for back to school! Here are a few pieces I picked up from Forever21.com, Delias.com, and Ae.com.

From Forever 21.com:
Wayfarer Sunglasses, $1.50 each in Black and Turquoise

Ikat Contrast Top, $15.80

Striped Geo Burnout Tank, $14.80

From AE.com:

Off-Shoulder Ribbed Back Tee in Black & Runway Purple, only $10.00 each!!

Off-Shoulder Lace Inset T in Dark Pewter, $29.50

From Delias.com:

Deep Dollman Tee, $22.50

Elle Chiffon Dress, $44.50

Box Shape Hi/Lo Hem Blouse in White Multi, $34.50

Taylor Williamsburg Wash Low-Rise Super Skinny Jean, on clearance for $19.99!

Tomorrow begins the tax free weekend, and I am getting up bright and early to go shopping! I going to Target first, then Office Depot to get some school supplies. Who knows after that? I will be sure to post a blog about my new goodies! Are you going shopping this tax free weekend?

As always, thanks so much for reading!

Review: Skin Perfection Gel

I received a sample of the Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel in Radiant, a medium beige color, with a Sephora.com order a while back. I had seen the product on the Sephora website before but I hadn't heard too much about it. The sample size was quite small, but a little goes a long way so it lasted for 4 complete applications, which I used for 4 consecutive days. It's a mousse like product that glides on skin and makes it look smooth and polished, diminishing pores and imperfections, but the coverage is so light that it doesn't look like you're wearing anything! It's AMAZING. Even better than a tinted moisturizer, in my opinion, since it covers flaws, looks natural, and leaves a silky satin and not greasy finish. On top of that, it's a natural product that doesn't test on animals, is oil free, fragrance free, paraben free, and contains antioxidants and vitamins A and E. It didn't irritate or break me out after 4 days of use, just made my skin look gorgeous!

The full size (1 fluid ounce)

My sample size. The product was in the little clear bubble (sorry about the flash). Yes, it really lasted 4 days! You can see the color range on the right side on this package as well--Translucent, Luminous, Radiant (my color), Rich, and Decadent. Even though this is a sheer product, I like that there are more options than the usual 3 shades of Light-Medium-Dark, as well as a translucent shade that ensures every single person can use this product, regardless of skin tone.

This product almost lives up to its namesake of 'Perfekt' except for one small detail. Are you sitting down for this? The full size, one fluid ounce, costs $57.50. INSANE! I could never pay that much for an ounce of make-up. I know that it would probably last quite a while, and it is a phenomenal product, but that's around 60 dollars for make-up. No thank you.

However, there may be a loop hole. Sephora offers a To Go size that is 0.25 ounces for the much more manageable price of $17.50. Still, very high for 1/4 of an ounce, but if it lasts as long as my sample indicates, it might be worth it. And forking out around 20 dollars is so much easier than 60. I believe I will add the To Go size to my Sephora.com Shopping List, and I will report back on whether it's truly worth the money based on how long it lasts after I purchase it.

The 0.25 To Go size ($17.50)

Thank you so much for reading! Have you tried the Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel? What did you think about it?

Pool Party Cupcakes!

I made these cute Pool Party (or Beach themed) cupcakes recently! Aren't they cute? And really simple too. You'll need:

-Cake Mix

-White Icing

-Teddy Grahams

-Gummy Life Savers

-Sweet Stripes Mints

-Cocktail Umbrellas

NOT PICTURED:

-Blue food coloring

-Fruit Roll Ups

-Powdered Sugar

Prepare and bake cupcakes according to the directions. Place icing in a bowl. Add powdered sugar to stiffen icing so it holds it shape better (optional) and blue food coloring until the desired color is reached. I added about 8 drops.

Ice cupcakes. I used a round tip for this, but you can use any tip you like or simply spread it on with a knife.

Now, get your teddy grahams ready by putting a gummy life saver around their stomach. It works better on the ones that have their arms up. 

Now stick onto your cupcake. Add a cocktail umbrella and a sweet mint as a beach ball. They end up looking like this:

You can also make a float out of fruit roll ups (I used strawberry). Just cut out a small rectangle and make a little pillow at the top by turning about 1/4 inch of it down to mimic a real pool float. Put a little icing on the teddy graham's back so he'll stick. I found that the ones with their arms down worked best for this.

If you're wanting a beach theme instead of pool, crush up some teddy grahams in a sandwich bag and sprinkle onto half the cupcake as the sandy shore line.

Thanks so much for reading, have a wonderful day!

About to finish:

MAC Haul!

Lately I have been less of a Sephora junkie and more of a MAC addict...and I'm okay with that! Here are my most recent purchases.

• Mineralized Eye Shadow in Clarity from the Semi-precious collection, $20.00

I had never seen an eyeshadow like this before! It's described on maccosmetics.com as light pink, off white green, gold, and black. Isn't that the most interesting mix of colors? This is the swatch from the website:

It was hard to get a focused swatch because the eye shadow is so prismatic!

On the lid

Smoked out in the outer V for a simple smoky eye

I love this color! It's a gray with green undertones and lots of glitter (so if you aren't a glitter fan, stay away from this one!). I wore it to a baby shower because it was the day after I got it and I was so excited to to wear it, but it's probably better suited for a night out. Loooove it!

• Paint Pot in Rubenesque, $16.50

I love my Painterly Paint Pot so I decided to give this one a try. It's a golden peach with a golden frosty sheen.

• Plushglass in Ample Pink, $18.50

This is my first plushglass and I love it! It makes my lips look so soft and bigger than they naturally are. The color is such a full, soft rose that is perfect for everyday wear.

Thanks so much for reading! Any MAC products that you recommend?

Now reading:

Review: Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Shower Cream

Let me start off by saying that I love Bath & Body Works. They have so many wonderful scents and I have been a big fan of their body washes for as long as I can remember. They recently came out with these new Triple Moisture Shower Cream body washes that come in an 8 ounce tube and claim to be a new formula, enticing you to try it by saying "Feel it to believe it."  Well, I tried it, I felt it, and I am not that impressed. The particular scent I bought was Midnight Pomegranate, a smell I love. The scent lasts for hours on the skin, especially when paired with the coordinating lotion. But the body wash was a very thick white cream that was hard to lather and made my skin feel just as good as their regular formulas.

My biggest issue with this product is the packaging. The tube is hard to squeeze for me, especially when you get down to the bottom. I know there is still product left in my tube but there is no way for me to squeeze it out since it's so thick, which is a waste. And the second or third time I used it, the print on the outside of the tube began flaking off, so there are tiny metallic flakes all over my tub and often on me when I get out of the shower. If I am paying $12 for 8 ounces of body wash, I expect for the labeling to at least hold up! So that was very messy and annoying. Now my next complaint might be downright nit picky, but it really bothers me: the cap lets water get in and the next time you pick it up to use it, a splash of cold water from the last shower gets all over you. I hate that! It's so unpleasant, and it holds quite a bit of water in there.

Feel it to believe it! Bah...

Look how much of my label has flaked away!

Tiny metallic flakes from the label. These get absolutely everywhere! In my shower, on my puff, and all over me!

Look closely at where the cap meets the bottle....see that slight opening? That's what allows water to collect in it and the next time you use it, a splash of cold water comes out and is very unpleasant.

Pros:

• Scent lingers on the skin for hours

Cons:

• Tube is difficult to squeeze & get all of the product out, which wastes the last bit
• Labeling flakes off and makes an ungodly mess
• Water stores in the cap for an unpleasant surprise next time you pick it up for use

Overall, I would skip this formulation and purchase the signature shower gel. It retails for $10.50 in store for a 10 ounce bottle....cheaper and more product, that to me has the same skin benefits in a much friendlier packaging. 

Have you tried out the new formula of Bath and Body works shower cream or lotions? What did you think?

Summer Reads

As a jobless college student, summer means a blissful break from the strenuous school year....which can often times translate to sheer and utter boredom. Now that I am not continually busy with something, I don't know what to do with myself! Thus I have fallen back in love with reading....not the dull, dense assigned reading that I'm used to for class, but reading for my own pleasure. Here are some books I have recently read, have purchased recently to read, or are planning to purchase or check-out from the library.

Have Read: 
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne
This novel is for young adults, but I wanted to read it anyways. As with all novels about the Holocaust, it is sad but interesting. I also watched the movie that was adapted from the book.


The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
I was inspired to read these Holocaust books because of my Western Civ 390 summer course, and this one especially because I had read when I was younger but didn't quite grasp how touching and extraordinary it. Highly recommended.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
This book is what I'm currently reading, and I am completely absorbed in it! A great thriller and mystery. I can't wait to see the movie that is coming out soon.


Heaven is For Real, Todd Burpo
I am not usually one to read religious books, but I got this for my mom for Mother's Day and she insisted I read it. I read this over Memorial Day Weekend.


Purchased today:
The Girl Who Played with Fire, Stieg Larsson
I ran out and bought this today! It's the follow-up to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. 


Little Bee, Chris Cleave
Honestly, I bought this because it has a cool cover haha.

Water For Elephants, Sara Gruen

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wroblewski

Devil in the White City, Erik Larson


Plan on purchasing or checking out from the library:
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Steig Larson

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

The Hunger Games Trilogy, Susanne Collins

The Room, Emma Donahue

Something Borrowed & Something Blue, Emily Giffin


Catch 22, Joseph Heller (had to throw in a classic)


What are your recommendations for summer reads?