Pretty in Ink: Choosing to Sink or Swim

Life doesn't always go the way we plan. It isn't some simple, straightforward equation; it's messy. There are unexpected ups, downs, and the crazy twists and turns in between. More than anything, though, it's an experience. What's the good in having a routinely planned life with nothing to challenge you or to sweep you off of your feet only to show you something more wonderful than you ever imagined?

Sometimes, the only option is--please excuse the cheesy pun--to sink or swim. "Enjoy the ride" doesn't quite seem to cut it: some experiences aren't meant to be enjoyed. There are times for laughter and fun, but there are also times for pain and healing. The important part is knowing that there are bits and pieces to be picked up from each new adventure.

This whole past summer has been a whirlwind for me. My plans for jobs and internships didn't work out the way I initially wanted, while some other really amazing opportunities ended up presenting themselves, leaving behind memories I will never forget. More often than not, I dwell on the "ideal" direction I want to go in and end up in a completely different direction. Take my school for example. I was absolutely set on ending up at one, and I was crushed when it was the only one I wasn't accepted in to. The school I ended up going to though? It was never even on my radar until I got an invitation to apply for free. Quite honestly, I never even visited until my orientation (I know, crazy). Now I feel crazy for having ever even considered going somewhere else. Tulane is my home. I am in love with New Orleans. I know I'm where I'm meant to be.

That's the funny thing about life. Things have a knack of working out somehow. So embrace it, take what you can out of each and every day, and don't be too afraid to venture out of your comfort zone.

Much love,
Madison

Beauty on a Budget: Top 10 Under $10

Girl on a budget? No problem. I, like many of you, am like a child in a candy shop when I walk into Sephora, Ulta, or any store carrying makeup for that matter, and my wallet does not appreciate it. The good news is that there are several more affordable products in the drugstore sector that don't sacrifice quality. While I still love my NARS blushes and MAC lipsticks, I don't always need to spend a fortune to get a quality product that I love. 

 

1// e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit- Medium
My relationship with my eyebrows is a constant struggle (particularly with the left one; it does some crazy things). The underlying shapes are fine, but my actual eyebrow hair is thin and somewhat sparse; without filling my brows in, I feel like my face is bald. Eyebrows are SO important for framing your face, and I love using this product to fill them in. I love that the gel is smooth to apply, unlike pencils that can pull brow hair out, and tends to hold my brows in place better due to the waxy formula. However, for a bit more of a natural look or simply to set the wax, I like that it also comes with a powder on the right side.

*I personally like the trend of more sculpted brows, but I find that a lot of girls apply their products with a heavier hand than is my personal preference. Here is my favorite video of how to fill in brows--while I use less product, this is my favorite quick, easy technique. 


2// L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes-Blackest Black
This product is wonderful. It separates lashes to keep them clump free while making them--and keeping them--fabulous all day. Spending money on high end mascara is definitely not a requisite to get great lashes.
 
3// Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner- Blackest Black
Firstly, I love the versatility of gel liner: it can be smudged out for a smokey effect, or drawn as a sharper line similar to that of liquid liner (best set with an eyeshadow to keep it in place). This particular liner is easy to apply, and is buildable enough to range from more of a charcoal color to black on its own.

Speaking of color range, here's a tip: when setting your liner to keep budge-proof, you can use whatever color of shadow you want. I use all sorts of colors, like gunmetal, dark brown, or even gold for a unique layered effect.
 
4// e.l.f. Studio Under Eye Concealer- Glow/Fair
I cannot say enough about this product. If I have one thing that I put on my face (aside from mascara, of course), this is it. It is the perfect brightening concealer for under my eyes and on my lids. It's not too cakey for the eye area *gross*, and it's a bit lighter than the rest of my face, which gives a brightening contour effect without being crazy and unnaturally white (Sorry, Kim K). The highlighter portion can be used sparingly if the under-eye area is especially dark, but I mainly use it as a browbone highlight and in the inner corners of my eyes. It leaves me fresh faced without looking overdone.

Disclaimer: I don't really have bad dark circles, so I'm not sure how well it works if yours are severe.

5// L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick-  Fairest Nude
As a staple nude color, this lipstick isn't too flesh-colored or too pink. It's perfect on it's own or with any color of gloss on top. It's easy to apply and low maintenance; everyone needs a go-to neutral lipstick.

6// Nyx Cosmetics Butter Gloss- Strawberry Parfait AND L'Oreal Le Gloss- Baby Blossom
 Okay, I think I've mentioned in several posts my obsession with lip products. So, naturally, I couldn't choose between my favorite glosses... hence, a tie. The Nyx gloss is very creamy, as the name implies, and not sticky at all. The pigmentation is great--it can be worn alone and show up as a pop of beautiful pink, or worn over a lipstick. For a more toned down color, it's great over Fairest nude.

Baby Blossom is the only color I've tried from the Le Gloss line, but it makes me want to try more. Also not too sticky, it applies smoothly and with a nice wash of more subtle color. It is great for toning down lipsticks or adding a tinge of pink. Plus, I'm a sucker for the packaging.

7// Essie's Madison Ave Hue
 Admittedly, part of the reason I was drawn to this color was the name, BUT, I am also in love with the color. It's a gorgeous cool pink with a bit of fine sparkle. I feel like this color is unique to a lot of pinks I see on nails, and it's a refreshing pop of color that can still be ladylike, as it isn't too wild or neon. What can I say? The name was simply fate.

8// Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Anti Humidity Hairspray
 Great hold, great formula, great finish. It keeps my hair smooth in my Miami/New Orleans habitats without making it crunchy, and it actually does give my hair a shinier finish. A+.

9// Olay Pore Minimizing Cleanser + Scrub
 One of the most important parts of any makeup routine is getting it all off at the end of the day. I use this cleanser every night, as the microbeads are gentle enough for daily use, and it leaves my face feeling clean, smooth, and not dehydrated. Bonus: the swirly design in the bottle looks pretty cool.

10// Almay Longwear & Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads
Keeping with the topic of night time routine, eye makeup remover is a necessary evil. I have yet to find one that is quick and entirely simple, but that seems to be the nature of the beast. Though it takes a little patience to remove all of the eye makeup, this product will get it all off. It conveniently has the remover soaked into the prepackaged pads, making the grueling process a step shorter, and because they are so thin, it makes getting all traces of under-eye/lash line smudges easy to reach.


I wear use several of these products on a regular basis, and I don't find that I am missing out on the quality of higher end and higher priced products.

Here are a few pictures of my face today, where I am wearing several of these products, including the mascara, brow product, concealer, lipstick, and the Baby Blossom gloss. Unfortunately, I was out of the hairspray on this extremely muggy day, so my hair was an uncontrollable ball of frizz, not to mention that everything I did to style my hair came undone within 10 minutes--I digress.

The unfortunate downfall of lip gloss: my hair always ends up in it.

All body and curl GONE. Missing my favorite hairspray.

What are your holy grail products, drugstore and high end?

Much love from a beauty addict,
Madison

Lazy Days

Every once in a while it's wonderful to have a day, or at least an evening, to do nothing but unwind and relax, i.e. to be lazy. Today was certainly all about the TLC for me. For starters, I've been lounging in a robe all day, a.k.a. I've just been living uninterruptedly in my natural habitat. Other items to be reviewed: Playing with new makeup trends (loving the Kylie Jenner lip), drinking copious amounts of hot tea, and enjoying a marathon of Gossip Girl. 

 *Speaking of Gossip Girl, I've recently started the series, and I know that what I've been lacking in time I make up for with enthusiasm. Obsessed.*

However, I must say that the highlight of my evening was discovering that Funny Face is on Netflix (!!!), and there are few things that I love more than movies with glamorous, iconic actresses--Gone With the Wind is among my favorite movies, after all--and musicals. Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire were darling in this movie. Plus, when the movie started and Maggie, the stylish fashion editor, was singing about making everything pink, I was certainly in my happy place. If you haven't already, you should absolutely go watch it.

P.S. Can I have this dress for Formal?

As a prelude to the movie, I painted my nails in Revlon's "Fresh Linen" from the Parfumerie collection. It's a great pearly ivory, it just takes patience and three coats to apply. And yes, it does really smell like fresh linen while it's drying. Not to mention, the bottle is adorable.

A few more of my favorite movie-watching and relaxation time include my Anthropologie Voluspa candle in the scent Saijo Persimmon, The Republic of Tea's "Get Gorgeous" red tea, and some cozy lamp light.

Now, off for a nice face scrub and early bedtime. What about your favorite keys to relaxation?

xoxo

Barbecues, Beaches, Bikinis, Oh My!

Hello lovelies! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July weekend; I know I did! We had guests in town, and it was a blast. We went to the park, ate great food, and visited the beach.

I changed clothes more times than I'd like to admit that day, but the opportunities presented themselves, and who was I to deny fate? Though these outfits were fitting for the occasion, they're still great for relaxed summer days at a barbecue, at the beach, or just around town shopping. Here are a few snapshots of my weekend adventures and some favorite casual styles.

A classic sibling photo-op: nobody is looking in the same direction, and Coco is trying to break free of her festive bonds.

  But alas, I managed to keep her in her shirt that *coincidentally* matched me for long enough to take this picture.

I'm kind of loving the matching red lips, belt, and clutch combo because they're all small accents. Maybe it was a bit matchy-matchy, but it was the 4th of July after all. One thing is for sure though, this Stila lip glaze in Strawberry has been a go-to for years. It's the perfect glossy red.

And of course a cheesy salute was necessary in honor of the land that I love. 

This combination of a gingham button down, lightweight daisy-lace shorts (similar), and a cute belt is so classic (and SO easy) for a casual day of hanging out with family and friends. 

 On the beach I was loving this piece I got last year from Ralph Lauren that is unfortunately no longer available (especially since I managed to drape it over recently stained outdoor furniture... which was not done drying. Tragic.), but here is a tunic that offers an entire beach cover-up rather than just the top half in a similar material. Paired with some favorite cut-off denim shorts and my polka dotted bikini, I was ready to go!

Side note: I fulfilled my lifelong dream of becoming a mermaid. The sand covering my top half unfortunately kept cracking, so I settled for just the tail.

Another favorite? Fireworks. They're like a bright, loud handful of glitter being thrown into the sky. Sorry I haven't quite figured out how to get great shots of fireworks (feel free to leave suggestions in the comments).

Well that concludes my holiday style favorites. If you have any casual summer staples, post them below! Any favorite holiday memories?

xoxo
-Madison

Pretty in Ink: Sparkle and Shine

This post is particularly special to me. The woman in the photograph is not simply a glamorous, perfectly styled, elegant icon fitting of her captivating era. This woman is Dottie Williams, or more fondly known throughout my childhood as "Granny". Though I never met the woman in this picture, I did know a fabulous mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, who was just as stylish (even in her silk pajamas) until the very end. More importantly, I knew a woman who fiercely held onto her beliefs, her loved ones, and had a tenacity for loving life.

Aside from all of her exciting stories and wonderful sense of humor and aside from the glamor, her most notable quality was her big heart and unfailing kindness toward all people. Friends, family, and new acquaintances alike, she was always there as a shoulder to lean on or to offer a helping hand. These qualities--not beautiful clothes, perfect lipstick, or artfully coiffed locks--are the bits of sparkle left behind and remembered by all.

 I can only aspire to one day live up to the legacy of such an amazing lady. While that beautiful lipstick or chic new dress may put a little extra pep in my step on the way to my destination, I hope to have that extra sparkle of a positive attitude and a kind heart to contribute to the world.

P.S. Here are a few more pieces of her excellent style. She used to collect flower pins as a staple accessory. I've styled a few of my favorites on a mesh dress form previously used to hang earrings from. Aren't they adorable?

Never forget what (and who) is important, and always remember that we all have our own personal brands of sparkle. So throw on your signature accessory and take on the day with a smile.

xoxo
-Madison