I picked up this faux shearling vest at a small boutique in Vermont in the fall, and was surprised to see both how warm it was, and how much I reached for it to pair with outfits during the week. I've worn it over and over this fall/winter with sweaters and different colored tunics! I found this dupe online for less than $70 and it looks almost exactly the same. I love it with the Valentino booties, but I found a few less expensive shoe options that look really similar - here and here.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday! Random, but if you're a Star Wars fan you HAVE to go see the new movie. I saw it a few days ago and thought it was hands down amazing. My dad and I used to watch them when I was little, so he pretty much turned me into a Star Wars fan since I was a baby. :)
Good morning and happy Friday! I haven't done an instagram roundup in quite a while, so I thought today would be the perfect day for it. I don't know about you guys, but it was a tough week after the holidays! Enjoy...
If you live in Charlotte (or are visiting!) you must swing by the 7th Street Marketplace for a coffee from Not Just Coffee. By far the best coffee I've ever had... especially the vanilla sugar latte!
I hope everyone has a wonderful, relaxing weekend!! If you didn't catch my hair post from this week, be sure to check it out - I'm answering all of your hair questions & also filmed a video! Check it out here. :)
First off, apologizes for the super long post. But since it's the beginning of a new year, I thought it would be fun and different to show you my best buys of 2015... including makeup, skincare, clothes, etc. I tried SO MANY different products this past year, some I liked and some I didn't, but these are all tried-and-true winners. Everything is split into two categories (beauty and fashion) so let's get started...
BEST BEAUTY BUYS OF 2015:
Moisturizing lip balm: C.O. Bigelow's Rose Balm was a favorite lip balm for this entire year... if you can find the "mint" one, that one takes the cake. I put this on my lips before bed pretty much every single night this year! At the beginning of the winter, I discovered First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Intensive Lip Balm and immediately fell in love with it, so I had to include it too. This is heavy duty stuff - the texture is pretty thick - but it does an AMAZING job at moisturizing your lips, especially during the winter time. It's a little pricey but it's my #1 pick and is definitely worth it.
Coral lipstick: I wore the heck out of MAC's "impassioned" lipstick this year. It started last spring and continued on through the summer, fall and even winter. It's a really bright coral color and can (in some instances) pass as a red lipstick. I love, love, love it in the summer - it looks most beautiful with a tan.
Mascara: Two winners here, because you can't have a favorite mascara without applying a favorite primer first! I have been using L'Oreal Double Extend's primer for years and years, and will probably never stop using it for as long as they make it. I've tried other primers (even expensive ones) and nothing beats this one - it not only makes your lashes longer but fuller as well. This year's favorite mascara was by Too Faced and works really well with the Double Extend primer underneath. I LOVE the brush - it's really fluffy and does a great job of reaching every lash.
Face primer: For a long time I didn't really understand the purpose of face primer, but once I started using Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer I had an "a-ha" moment. This stuff is really great for reducing your pores and making your foundation go on smoothly. I highly recommend.
Pink lipstick: Two favorite pink lipsticks this year: YSL's Tropical Pink was one that I wore throughout the summer on several vacations. I love the name of it, and the color suits it well - it really is a tropical pink! Next on my list is Lancome's lip crayon in Drive to Pink. It's a little bit of a darker pink, very pigmented and soooo beautiful. It would look gorgeous on any skin type.
Foundation: I'm a huge fan of Covergirl + Olay's Tone Rehab liquid foundation. Not only is it a drugstore buy, but it's super hydrating and moisturizing and goes on so well with a foundation brush (I love this one). I wore this foundation all throughout the spring and summer - the color "buff beige" really matched my skin in the summer. I also like Laura Mercier's Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide Foundation, and found that it was a really good match for my skin during the fall/winter months when my skin is pale. Downsides are that it is really expensive, and I think the Covergirl foundation lasts longer.
Under-eye highlight: This BB Cream for the eyes is my favorite - I use the lightest shade, but have to be careful in the summer months not to apply too much (otherwise my under-eyes are too light).
Perfume: I've never been able to wear perfume because I get really bad headaches from it (usually), but this winter I started wearing Dior's j'adore. This scent smells amazing - I don't even know how to describe it - but people always compliment it! Now I can't live without it.
Makeup brushes: Hands down best brushes award goes to Sigma Beauty. They sent me an array of brushes to try out during the summer, and I loved them so much that I bought more. The are incredibly high quality for the price, and they give your makeup that airbrushed appearance.
Makeup brush cleaner: This brush cleaning glove (also by Sigma) made cleaning my brushes so much easier this year. You just put a little soap and water on the glove and swirl your brushes around on the ridges of the mitt - very quick and no cleanup.
Face wash: I discovered this face wash around three months ago and am now a cult follower of it. My face is pretty sensitive and this stuff is very gentle and literally melts your makeup off. I love it!
Top coat: Best top coat I've ever, ever used is Seche Vite. I received one years ago at a blogging conference and once I tried it I was hooked - it makes your polish dry really fast and last an incredibly long time. Try it once and you'll be hooked too!
Hydrating serum:Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate was a godsend this year. I was suffering with really dry, dull skin at the end of summer, and this stuff saved my skin. I apply it every night after I wash my face. The smell is so soothing and relaxing, it helps lull me to sleep at night, and I wake up with brighter, more moisturized skin.
Face mask: I bought this Indian Healing Clay on Amazon after reading the thousands of positive reviews. I mix the powder with an equal amount apple cider vinegar and apply it to my face once per week (usually on Sundays). It forms a hard mask on your skin, and what's weird is that you can really feel your skin pulsating once it dries! (You have to experience it to know what I'm talking about.) The mask really does clean out all of your pores... it can make you break out the first few times since it is literally pulling all the junk out of your skin. My skin is also red once I take the mask off, but for the next few days it is super glowy!
BEST FASHION BUYS OF 2015:
Wallets: I love pretty much any wallet by Tory Burch. During the spring and summer I carried a hot pink one - it was really bright and pretty so I wore it as a clutch with some outfits. Halfway through the year I upgraded to this Prada flap wallet (mine is light beige). It's really roomy, has a mirror inside, and I love the flap opening because it's really easy to get into.
Makeup bags: Theres no doubt that Tory Burch makes the prettiest makeup bags for the summer - I used a cute one with pineapples on it most of the year (similar to this one). Her designs are always bright and beautiful, and perfect for vacations when you need to pack and store your makeup. I recently got this Louis Vuitton makeup bag - it's actually from the men's department (lol) but you would never be able to tell! This one in particular is larger than the ladies makeup bags, AND it has a special interior that protects against product spills and makeup. The ladies makeup bags all had leather interiors, which would get ruined if product was to spill in it.
Jewelry: The two jewelry items I wore the most this year (and often wore them together) were the Michael Kors Bradshaw watch and this David Yurman bracelet. I think I wore them almost every single day of 2015! They are both such classic pieces.
Handbag: Favorite handbag purchase of the year was this Chloe crossbody bag, which is so surprising to me because I really debated before buying it and almost didn't. However, it goes with virtually any outfit since it's two toned, and I love that it's crossbody so it's hands-free. It will transition perfectly into summer!
Phone case brand: My favorite phone cases of 2015 were all by Sonix. Their cases are SO cute, a lot of them are clear and have cute/fun patterns on them. My favorite the whole year was this cactus one I took with me to Cabo!
Rain boots: The best rain boot awards goes to Hunter boots, for both their functionality and how cute they are. I wore my red pair more than any other - my favorite part is that it rains year-round, so you can wear them year-round (they look cute with shorts and dresses!).
Warm boots: 2015 was the year the Ugg made a comeback. Seriously! Haha. I have this pair in all black and I love wearing them with leggings to run errands in during the winter. They are my go-to! I also wear them to Pure Barre since it's always freezing in the mornings.
Summer heels: My best shoe purchase this year was a pair of nude ankle strap sandals (mine are a different brand but look the same). You will be surprised just how much you'll wear these heels!! I wore them with dresses, jeans, skirts, white pants, etc, and they go with literally EVERYTHING. Invest in a pair for this spring and you won't be sorry!
Summer sandals: My favorite pair of summer sandals are these Tory Burch Miller flip flops. They are really, really comfortable and incredibly versatile (they go with every outfit, just like the nude heels). I took them to the beach this summer, on errands, wore them to airports, on trips, basically all summer long and they held up so well that they still look brand new. These are an investment but so worth it.
Jeans: My favorite brand of jeans in 2015 had to be AG Jeans, particularly this pair of jeans that I wore more than any other pair this year. I wore them the entire year long and still love them just as much today as I did at the beginning of last year. I love AG Jeans in general because they fit SO well, they don't stretch, and they have some of the best high-quality ripped jeans available.
Leggings: Best leggings award goes to Zella's live-in slim fit leggings. I actually have two pairs of these - one to work out in and one to wear with clothes! You've probably seen them a lot on my blog... I love wearing them with oversized sweaters and black booties or over-the-knee boots. The texture is really smooth and they're not like your typical leggings - much higher quality.
Well that's it, folks! My most loved products of 2015. If you have a question about one of the products or you want to know about a category I didn't mention, feel free to ask in the comments and I will respond to you there. I hope everyone has a great Monday!
P.S. The reason I didn't mention any hair products is because I just did a dedicated blog post on my haircare routine. If you want to know my favorite hair products, check there first!
If you follow me on instagram or snapchat, you may know that I'm on a family vacation right now in Lake Tahoe. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been... from the snow-covered evergreens to the blue waters of the lake. This was my outfit for our first morning of exploring... I feel like I've worn so many neutral outfits this winter, I really needed to bring some color into my wardrobe! So that explains why this outfit is so colorful :) My mint-colored coat is on sale today, and most of the sizes are still left (I'm wearing a 0). J.Crew comes out with a different version of this coat every year, so it will basically never go out of style! I also want to brag about these Hudson jeans because they are SO comfortable. We walked around all day in the snow and it almost felt like I had leggings on! They also don't stretch at all, which I LOVE!
Today we are either going snow tubing or snowmobiling... (my hopes are on snowmobiling!). Be sure to follow on snapchat (cmcoving) to see some behind-the-scenes!
On our second day in California, we drove into Tahoe City to see the actual Lake Tahoe (although I love our resort, it isn't on the lake! But it is about five minutes away). There's something so majestic about seeing the blue water next to snow-covered mountains... it is jaw dropping beautiful. I wore this outfit to explore... I love all of the different blue tones going on! My sweater is less than $60 and comes in six different colors... and these UGG boots are actually weatherproof! So they withstood all of the snow and ice & kept my feet toasty at the same time. :)
If you read my post yesterday... we decided to go snow tubing yesterday afternoon, and booked snowmobiling for today. My mom actually injured her ankle while we were tubing though - there were big walls of snow/ice on the side of the tubing lane, and she swung into one and slammed her ankle into the ice. Hopefully she feels better this morning!
I bought this Ralph Lauren coat several months ago when we first planned our vacation to Lake Tahoe... the good news for you is that it's now on super sale with all sizes left! (I'm wearing a size small to fit sweaters underneath.) I believe if you use the code TAKE20, you can get an additional 20% off! I love the faux fur on the hood... it automatically makes you look like you have more hair! Haha :) Anyways, I wore this outfit most of the day yesterday (the boots are borrowed from my mom). It started snowing like CRAZY in the middle of the night and didn't stop the entire day. We had a snowmobiling session that was so much fun but WOW it was exhausting! I had no idea. I drove for half the time, and I had to grip the handles so hard while we were driving while snow was pelting out faces at what felt like 50 miles per hour... it was hard work haha. They actually had to end our session early after an hour because the weather conditions were so bad!
The weather is supposed to continue to get worse over the next couple days... luckily, we are flying home today. I have loved the cold, snowy weather but I am itching to be back home with my cat! Haha (yes, total cat lady right here). I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday!
This is my last blog post from Lake Tahoe... on this day we took the Squaw Valley tram up to High Camp and had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the entire valley of mountains - it was breathtaking! (And also FREEZING.) I loved the outfit I wore that day - a bright pink sweater, blue beanie and a white puffy jacket made the perfect combination of color and warmth. I borrowed my mom's Sorel boots too... if you are looking for good snow boots, these are amazing. They're supposed to keep your feet warm even in -25 degree conditions... mine were toasty the entire time!
I got a lot of questions regarding the place we stayed in Lake Tahoe... we stayed at the Resort at Squaw Creek, and after five days there I would HIGHLY recommend it. We stayed in one of the "fireplace suites" and it was so nice because there's a fireplace built-in (with a simple on-off switch), and tons of windows with gorgeous views of the valley. (Here's a tip... when picking your room, you can choose a forest view or valley view, and the valley view is definitely the better of the two.) The resort is about a five minute drive from Tahoe City where the actual lake is located. Other than leaving to see the lake and go snow tubing, we didn't really stray too far from the resort. They had everything we needed there - ski slopes, great restaurants, a huge lobby with a fireplace and tables for checkers, even a small Starbucks. My mom and I went snowmobiling one day, and the hotel provided us all the information we needed to book. They also offer dogsledding that leaves right from the resort!
Anyways, we had a blast in Lake Tahoe, one of the prettiest places I've been and I would highly recommend it to anyone! I've heard it's just as beautiful in the summer too! Happy Monday!
If you've been following this blog for a while now, you may know my slight obsession with anything tasseled. It was mainly a spring/summer obsession, but it seems to have transferred into Winter, once this Rebecca Minkoff tassel handbag came out. There are a few different styles (even a cute leather backpack!) and honestly I would love them all haha. For this look, I wanted the bag to be the main focus, so I kept it simple with an oversized white blouse & jeans.
On another note, does anyone watch the Bachelor?! We have girls night every Monday with a group of my girlfriends in Charlotte, and this year we each created a bracket for who we think is going to win. I wasn't a huge fan of Ben until last night - I was so happy when he stood up for Jubilee when the other girls were attacking her! (haha my last statement is an indication of just how dramatic the show is!) And I absolutely can't stand Olivia! Would love to hear your thoughts :)
I don't know about y'all, but every year about this time I start to get the itch for spring. Christmas has passed, I've experienced the cold and snow, and I'm starting to get reallyyyyy tired of bundling up every time I set foot outside my apartment. Although spring is still a long way away, there are some really great spring-y products out right now (can you tell I'm loving lots of color?!). My favorites are this multicolored tassel handbag and these royal blue heels - if only it were warm enough to wear them! If any of you have a tropical vacation planned... these items would be perfect. Or even if you don't - you can incorporate a bright handbag into your wardrobe right now! Update: the name of the MAC lipstick shown in the collage is Saint Germain! It's a beautiful BRIGHT pink color!
Also, if you have a request for any special blog posts or videos (night routine, shopping haul, skincare routine, how I make product collages, etc) please let me know! I want to write blog posts that you guys really want to read... so let me know your ideas :)
Hello loves! I wanted to share some recent instagrams with you all, from my trip to Lake Tahoe & since I've been home. Check back in a few hours because my Lake Tahoe VLOG will be up! (I'll insert it at the bottom of this post!) If you haven't already subscribed to my YouTube channel, you can here.
Ever since arriving back home, I've been in a "spring" mood (too much snow will do that to you I guess!). You've probably seen this handbag on my blog/instagram already, but I am in love! It comes in a few different styles if you don't love this one.
This baseball tee is the softest thing I've ever put on my body haha... it's a little oversized, so be aware when you are ordering! I'm wearing a small and should have gone with an XS.
On another note, my best friend since 9th grade has created a fitness blog and yesterday she interviewed me about my fitness routine. Read the post but be sure to check out her other posts too - she explains how to do simple moves like a push-up or sit-up with correct form. I am on a health kick lately so her posts are incredibly helpful!! Plus she is my BFF! :)
I had to laugh at the title of this post - I'm making a big deal out of wearing sneakers because I NEVER wear sneakers. (I wear them to work out, but not usually with normal clothes.) The whole time we were taking pictures, my mom kept saying, "You look so different with sneakers on!" I had been wanting these Adidas Superstar sneakers for a while now and finally pulled the trigger. I love them because they're really chic and different than normal tennis shoes, and can be worn with casual outfits for running errands around town. (FYI they do run large, so order one whole size down!)
As for the rest of the outfit, I am obsessed with this baseball tee because it is so so soft and comfortable. It feels like wearing a sweatshirt! The pink bag is cute with it, I wish they still made them in the neon pink color :(
What are everyone's weekend plans?! We are supposed to get five inches of snow, so I may be stuck inside all weekend!
Over the weekend, Storm Jonas dumped inches of snow and ice all across the East Coast. I was snowed in at my boyfriend's house for most of the weekend (we made crock pot chili & watched lots of movies!) and didn't even attempt to leave the house until Sunday. I actually wore this cobalt blue sweater for most of the weekend since it was the warmest thing I had packed... and it is now on major sale! Not only do I love the color, but the back is really cool - it zips all the way up (you can see it a little bit in one of the pictures).
Did everyone have a good weekend? Hopefully everyone stayed safe & warm indoors!!
I feel like a variation of this outfit has been my winter uniform lately... ripped jeans and an oversized sweater with booties. I love this purple sweater for several reasons - first and foremost, it is only $23! Secondly, I love how long it is and how it has deep side slits, it is very flattering! I wore it on instagram a few days ago with tennis shoes (see it here).
Now for my weekly Bachelor rant... Olivia has gone off the deep end! She comes across as crazy and so self-centered! And what did you think about Ben sending home one of the twins? I didn't really see him having a connection with either one. Who is your favorite?!
Happy Wednesday, friends! Valentine's Day is coming up soon & all of these items would make for great gifts (especially the Hunter boots or curling wand - you'll use those all year long!). Whether or not you have a significant other, it's totally okay to "treat yourself" - a cute pair of earrings or some pink and red nail polish is the perfect thing to get you into the Valentine's mood. If you need perfume ideas, try the Dior J'adore scent - it's my absolute favorite!
I'm currently in NYC on a girls trip for a few days... follow along on instagram or snapchat (cmcoving) for some behind-the-scenes!
Sorry for wearing the same jeans/booties combo for the second time this week... I didn't bring many clothes to NYC with me, so this was what I ended up wearing since it's so comfortable to walk around in! (Don't worry, I had on a coat as well.) This neon sweater I found in-store on MAJOR sale (more than half off!) and so so soft. If you haven't noticed, I've been wearing brighter colors lately - since we're in the dead of winter, it makes me happy to wear colorful clothes :)
We are still in NYC for the morning, but I fly home later this afternoon. For such a quick trip, I am exhausted! We walked almost everywhere in the City and my legs are actually SORE from walking so much. Thank goodness for comfortable booties!
Sorry for the short post today - I got back from NYC late last night & am so exhausted! I am SO happy that Friday is here... I have a lot to do this morning, and my boyfriend gets into town later tonight - we have some friend's birthdays to celebrate this weekend as well as a baby shower!
I love Valentine's Day for many reasons, but the main one is because it incorporates two of my favorite colors: pink and red. (Haha that is not a joke!) Seriously, I will take any excuse to wear those colors! So you can bet that I'm in love with this red blouse from Charming Charlie. The best part is that it's only $25 (I'm wearing a size small!). I also love all of the heart jewelry they have online right now... I layered two of their gold necklaces for a trendier look... and these open heart earrings are my absolute fave - there are three different colors in the set! Not only is there stuff so cute, but you SERIOUSLY can't beat the price! Order now in order to receive by Valentine's Day :)
Speaking of Valentine's Day, what are everyone's plans?!
SHOP THE POST:
*Thanks to Charming Charlie for sponsoring this post
This is one of my favorite looks I've worn all winter... although I can't say exactly why. Maybe it's this patterned cardigan that adds a pop of color to a wintry day, or maybe it's the wool hat (that's on sale right now!). Either way, I plan on being a repeat offender & wearing the cardigan again with jeans and booties this week!
Also - completely random but if you are looking for a new book to read, I just finished this one & it is SO GOOD. My friend Emily recommended it to me while we were on the way to New York, and I ended up reading it in just two days... I literally couldn't put it down! Emily and I have the same taste in books so we are always giving each other recommendations. If you liked Girl on the Train or Gone Girl, you will love this one!
I think my readers in North Carolina will agree with me - for the past few days, it has felt just like spring outside! I even had to turn on the air conditioning in my car yesterday... and I love it. I even busted out my white pants in celebration of the amazing weather. My striped tee is so comfortable for running around town in - mine is a size small - and it is only $35! And speaking of good deals, this handbag is almost an exact dupe for a Chloe bag and it is only $36!!! It is pretty nice quality (although not nearly as nice as the real thing because it's not real leather) however it is definitely worth $36.
Also - sorry for all the hats I've been wearing lately. The truth is I haven't felt like washing my hair (lazy!) so hats are the perfect alternative. :)
Hello friends! Today I'm blogging about a question that you guys have asked me over & over... how to make a product collage. Whether you are a student, employee, teacher, blogger, or just curious, knowing how to make a collage is a handy skill to have. Although it can be a complicated process, hopefully I can answer most of the basic questions you have.
First off, let's talk about programs. I use Photoshop Elements to create all of my product collages. I took a class in college that taught me the basic uses of Photoshop Elements and since then I have learned a lot just through trial-and-error and by teaching myself. (The easiest way to learn is just by diving in!) You can also create collages in the full version of Photoshop, although I stick with Photoshop Elements because it's a lot simpler and easier to use. Anyone can learn how to use these programs, however, they do take some effort and a bit of trial and error. If you get stuck on something, try looking it up on YouTube (I've had to do this so many times!). Anyways, I highly recommend Photoshop Elements for collages and photo editing in general... so let's get started on how I make collages using the program.
Step One: Find the images you want to use in your collage
The first step is determining which images you want to include in your collage. I usually pick a theme for my blog posts, whether it is "spring products" or "save vs. splurge items," etc. and then look at different online retailers to find products that fit into my theme. I create a specific folder on my computer for these images, and I title the folder after the name of the blog post I'm working on. Once I find an image online that I want to include in the post, I right click and save it to the dedicated file on my computer. When searching for images, make sure you are paying attention to the background - a white background will make the whole process 20,000 times easier - trust me.
If you don't want to save the images to your computer, you can also take a screenshot of the product. On a Mac computer, press Command, Shift, and the 3 key at the same time to take a screenshot.
Step Two: Create a Blank File
Next, open up Photoshop Elements and choose File > New > Blank File. Everyone will have a different dimension depending on the width of your blog posts. For example, my blog posts are 640 pixels wide, so I set all of my collages to 640 pixels wide. You can make the length whatever you choose. Make sure the background contents is set to white.
Step Three: Import the Images
Click File > Open and choose the images that you rounded up for your collage. They will each open up in Photoshop Elements as a different document.
Step Four: Copy and Paste
Remember that blank file you created? Now you're going to copy and paste each image onto that document. Using the rectangular marquee tool, outline the image that you want, copy it (Command + C), then paste it onto the blank file (Command + P).
Once the item is pasted onto the blank file, you can resize them using your mouse - just hover over the corner of the rectangle and it will turn into a resizing tool.
You'll have to play around with the images to get the best arrangement of products. Try making them bigger and smaller, and moving them around until they all "fit" together.
Step Five: Add Text
To add text to your collage, click the horizontal type tool on the left hand side. Above, you can change the font, size and color. I always play around with fonts to determine the best one to fit the collage. Once you've written the text, you can move it around on the page.
Step Six: Add Shapes
Adding shapes is pretty simple. Select the custom shape tool on the left. From there, you can select the exact shape you want (circle, arrow, heart, etc.) and draw them onto your collage. You can also select the color of the shape.
Step Seven: Save Your Collage
Once you're happy with how the collage looks, it's time to save it! Right now it's still a psd (photoshop file), and you will need to change it to a jpeg in order to put it on a website. Click File > Save As. Under the Save As portion, name your collage. Under Format, make sure that it says JPEG. Then hit save!
And voila! Your collage is done. This one happens to feature some items I'm loving right now... and most of them are less than $40!
You can purchase Photoshop Elements here. I know that some of those steps can be kind of confusing... If you have any questions about Photoshop Elements or any of the steps, feel free to leave them in the comments!
Are there any other blog-related things you'd like to learn? If you have an idea, let me know!
