Browse Tag by budget
Beauty, Blog

My Top 10 Sephora Sale Picks

sephora vib sale

The Sephora VIB Sale is such a great opportunity to try new products and to restock personal favorites with up to a 15% discount!

sephora vib sale

sephora vib sale

If you’ve been watching my instagram stories over the last couple of weeks, you’ve already heard about my first, and all-time, favorite pick: REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic – yall, I cannot express how much of a game changer this tonic has been for my skin. I love how it’s completely transformed my skin’s texture and clarity. Plus, the bottle is huge and a complete steal as its price is only $35 (that’s without the 15% discount!).

Included below is my full list of my top ten picks:

  1. REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
  2. Bobbi Brown Face Mist
  3. Laura Mercier Lip Glace
  4. NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer
  5. Kat Von D Lock-It Edge Foundation Brush (featured in this post!)
  6. Kat Von D Lock-It Edge Concealer Brush
  7. Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder
  8. TATCHA Pore-Perfecting Moisturizer & Cleanser Duo
  9. STILA Huge Extreme Lash Mascara
  10. Peter Thomas Roth Acne Duo

What are your absolute favorite, beauty must-haves? I am always up for trying out new products and would love to hear your recommendations!

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xoxo, M

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Beauty, Blog, Marriage, Weddings

Top 5 Reasons to Do Your Own Hair and Makeup for Your Wedding

Hey y’all, welcome back! Today I decided to share why I chose to do my own hair and makeup for my wedding, because I think in the wedding bliss (and frenzy) brides can often feel pressured into overspending and making quick decisions for the sake of the day and sometimes end up with a look that is totally different than what they had imagined for themselves. Before we get started, this list is with the assumption that: A. You are confident in your abilities to create the look you want, and B. This is something would provide stress-relief, not additional anxiety.

  1. Time for Yourself & Your Bridesmaids | No matter what your big day’s itinerary is like, time to yourself to decompress, breathe it all in, or simply just take a minute to calm the nerves, is very limited. In growing and learning more about my personality, I have found that I am an outgoing-introvert; which for me means that although I love getting to know people and going to events, extended social interactions can be very draining. Some people thrive off of others’ energy. Although I totally wish I could be, I am simply not one of those people. In knowing that, and preparing to be one of the main focuses of over three-hundred peoples’ attentions, I had to stay super chill the morning of our 3 p.m. wedding. I did my makeup alone at my house before joining my bridesmaids at our church to finish my hair. It was such a fun way to kick off a day full of celebrations with the people I love the most. Reflecting back on how relaxing it was to go through this routine and truly soak in the start of the day, I am so glad I chose to do my own hair and makeup. 
  2. One Less Person to Coordinate | As I mentioned in this postunforeseen things do come up, and unfortunately people seem to always get sick or lost at the worst times. Between coordinating the wedding party, your own family, your spouse’s family, and all of the other event dealers (caterers, musicians, dj, photographer, etc.) there are already quite a lot of variables at play. Hair and makeup is such an easy one to take out of the mix.
  3. No One Else Knows You Better | Before I decided to do my own, I was adamant about having someone else do it and take what I thought would be a stressful factor off of me. My mom and I went to four different hair salons (a lot, I know..), and tested out two makeup artists. Even with sharing pictures beforehand, the look I had pictured wasn’t happening, and the style would become limp and fall within the following hour. No one knows your hair or your vision of what you want it to look like better than you do.  If, after testing it out a few times, you still aren’t seeing what you’re trying to describe, take an hour or so out of your afternoon one day and see what you can do. You very well might surprise yourself.
  4. Big Budget Saver | Aside from the costs of the day-of services, trial runs can be pretty pricey too. For the majority of the salons I tried out, the bridal trial run fee was between $55 and $75. If the outcome isn’t what you’re picturing and you keep attempting it with other stylists, those initial fees can add up surprisingly fast, and you haven’t even gotten to the big day yet.
  5. Flexibility | Since the trial run fees can get pretty steep, most brides end up only having that one session with their artists before the wedding. But what if you change your mind a few weeks before, or even that morning? Of course, stylists and artists can adjust, but the possibility of a last minute change of mind that they haven’t had the chance to do with you reopens the potential issue in Reason #3. Whereas if you’re doing your own, the complications from changes are minimized.  Not feeling the shimmery eye you’ve been doing, and want to go for a light smokey instead? Do it girl. Want to wear your hair down instead of up? No biggie, you’ve practiced other options, and you know what works for you.

No matter what you choose to do, be confident in your decision and know you are beautiful inside and out!

 

 

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Blog, DIY Projects, Home Decor, Moving, The Home

$10 DIY to a $200 Chandelier

So this is quite possibly one of my favorite DIY projects so far, simply because I love chandeliers but really don’t love their price tags ($350 is average? Not good when you’re on a moving budget!) In total, this project cost me about $10. I already had a lot of the supplies thanks to their versatility and reusability on a wide range of projects. BUT even if you are starting from scratch, this DIY project is still very kind to the wallet and easy on the eyes 🙂

Supplies:

Blue Painter’s Tape

Silver Metallic Spray Paint 

Mess Towels or Tarp to cover the floor (Dollar General)

Cardboard

Mod Podge in Gloss

Aluminum Foil or Saran Wrap

Acrylic or Actual Crystal Pieces (I used acrylic ones here for much less than crystal!)

Small Paint Brush

Silver Metallic Acrylic Paint

Thin wire (Christmas Ornament Hooks work perfectly)

Special Note: Before you begin, if you are comfortable removing the chandelier from the ceiling, do that and take this project outside. However, if you are like me, and prefer not to mess with the wiring/electrical mess, get a sturdy step ladder or chair and make sure it is secure before you start. Stay safe y’all!

Step 1: Clean the chandelier. Wipe that ugly thing down, and make sure to get into all the nooks and crannies that hold dust. It’s important not to skip this step, because you want the spray paint A. Not to clump, and B. To actually adhere to the fixture.

Step 2: Using the saran wrap or aluminum foil, seal off the light bulbs and their respective bases, and secure with the blue painter’s tape. You definitely do not want spray paint getting into any electrical portion of your chandelier, or onto the white bases!

Step 3: Cover the floor/tables/furniture/remove ANYTHING you do not want paint to get on. Since we are doing this inside, this is very important, as spray paint tends to travel more than you would think.

Step 4: Hold the cardboard behind the chandelier, and begin spraying! Move the cardboard as you move with the spray paint as a shield from the spray traveling beyond the chandelier. Even strokes are best, and be sure to let each layer dry before layering on the next stroke, as it will drip excessively if not. Some dripping is normal and is totally okay!

Step 5: Allow the paint to dry ~ 30 minutes or so

Step 6: Seal using Mod Podge in Gloss, by taking a small to medium paint brush and coating it on. Allow to dry ~ 30-40 minutes.

Step 7: Using your acrylic or crystal pieces, take the hooks and literally hook them around the lights’ bases. The wire will not show if this is done properly. Do three around each base (or more if you prefer).

That’s it! 7 easy steps to a totally upgraded, yet cost effective chandelier!

 

Additional Tip: If you see any spots you missed with the spray, take metallic acrylic paint and simply go over them with a brush!

 

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