BEST FACE FORWARD: MY MAKE-UP BAG.

Just like my wardrobe, my make-up routine is constantly changing. Trust, this is coming from a girl that used to wet her eye-shadow brush in the sink so that her PURPLE shadow would go on darker. Purple.  To be fair, it was to match my favorite scoop-neck purple belly shirt that I highlighted with a stretchy puka shell choker. Thank gawd there was no Instagram back then. Hot times people, hot times. Anyway, on to my current, slightly more mature face. These are a few of my favorites in my rotation today:

1. SMASHBOX PRIMER / 2. MAYBELLINE FIT(Color: 120)
3. MAKE UP FOREVER(Color: 128) / 4. NARS BLUSH(Color: Orgasm) / 5. HOOLA BRONZER
 6. BOBBI BROWN BRONZER / 7. BENEFIT BROW / 8. MAKE UP FOREVER LINER
 9. NARS BRONZER(Color: Laguna) / 10. RIMMEL LINER / 11. LOREAL MASCARA / 12. YSL
 13. SEPHORA BRONZER BRUSH / 14. TARTE SMOOTH OPERATOR

Obviously everyone's skin is different, but mine is pretty dry. For a while, I shied away from primers because I was worried they would dry my skin out more, but the Smashbox Photo Finish primer is perfect for me. It is super smooth and helps my make-up go on evenly and pretty much last all day long. Also, I know you might be wondering why I am highlighting THREE bronzers here, but the reasoning is two-fold. One, I have found that each of these works better for me, depending on the shade of my faux-tan. Two, I like to use the darker two (Bobbi & Nars) for contouring purposes to attempt to make my face look Kate Moss-skinny. It's an on-going battle. I promise to update you as my make up bag grows, but right now the only thing I can commit to is this episode of Vanderpump Rules.

GIFT GUIDE PART 3: STOCKING.

The stocking is here to prove that good things DO come in small packages. Sometimes this is the hardest part of my shopping, I swear! My dad LOVED Christmas more than anyone ever, and he absolutely passed that love down to me. Instead of just opting for filler, I make sure every stocking stuffer is well-thought out and meaningful. Have I mentioned that I am a total shopping obsessed lunatic? About 394 times? Oh, perfect. Moving on..

1. ON/OFF MUG 2. EPISLIM 3. ROLL-UP FLATS 4. MATCHES 5. RING 6. TRAVEL BAGS
7. KATE SPADE GLOVES 8. CHEERS CANDLE
9. BOWTIE 10. TOM FORD SOAP 11. BEARD LUBE 12. SHAVE BRUSH 13. CUFFLINKS
14. FLASK 15. WHISKEY STONES 16. J.CREW GLOVES
As always, click each link above to shop!

See what I mean?? The stocking is SO much fun. I love mixing cheapies like that cute little sweater-clad flask from Nordstrom (literally less than $10!!) with higher end finds like those timeless Kate Spade gloves (that are also smartphone friendly!). Even Kate knows some of the hottest texting happens in colder weather, am I right? Amen. Also super important..useful hair-removing gifts like the fuss-free Epislim, as well as that old school little men's shaving brush I found at Target for just $19. Let's all vow to remain fuzz-free until warmer months. It's just nicer that way.

GRAY SUNDAY.

I had every intention of doing an outfit post today, but it is currently monsooning in Atlanta, rain forest style, and has been all weekend. I swam to work yesterday morning & we were dead, dead, dead. Rain tends to make people forget that they need to find a new apartment. Since I've been trapped inside, I have had some idle time to browse around and these are the latest items I am coveting:

1. This ear cuff from Baublebar keeps calling me back to it.

2. These Rag & Bone booties have been torturing me for a while. Very much needing.

3. I got a sample of this Perricone MD OVM skin cream & after using it for a week, am dying to buy a full-size jar. 

Back to packing. We leave Thursday, so today I took my sweet Coco kitten to my Mom for safe-keeping until we get back. My apartment is a little quiet and lonely tonight without her! Let's all try and forget that tomorrow is Monday, deal?

Packed & ready for Grandma's.

HEALING WATERS.

Are we all still alive after a Star Spangled Hammered weekend? Recovery is imminent and there is no better place to do it than the lake. I woke up in DC this morning, tonight we are flying back to ATL, and from there I will be making the three and a half hour drive up to NC to spend a few days of our annual week at Lake Summit. Basically, I am family hopping from the BF's to mine. Put me in a lounge chair on the dock immediately. I am exhausted just talking about this day of travelish things, but in preparation for the most relaxing and carefree few days of the year, I couldn't resist sharing a few of my lakeside essentials:

Marysia Swim Scalloped Bikini / Tory Burch Thora / Mara Hoffman Tote / Stella Dot Necklace / Fedora / Ray Ban Aviators / Supergoop SPF30 / John Frieda Sheer Blonde / Beach Towel / Uganda Be Kidding Me

Last year, being very casual.

Hope everyone had a Happy 4th! I'm off for three more days and fully intend to soak up every minute…starting now, with this airport Blue Moon.

STAR SPANGLED TANNER.

Happy 4th, babies. The only thing more American than rocking your red, white & blue is doing so with a solid bronzed glow. Let's face it, nobody is singing Country songs about pale legs in cut-off shorts. I like to consider myself a self-tanning connoisseur (HELLO...I have a certificate from Ultra Tan that says so), and these are a few of my all-time faves for long-lasting and natural looking color:

Just add shorts & sunnies, and you are a festive Fourth of July vision.
Bronze on, beauts.