The Secret's Out

My mom just sent me this set in a care package (thanks momma!)

I haven't been using it for too long but this might take the cake.

The creams smell uhhh-mazing. 

My foundation goes on super smoothly on top of the Total Moisture cream. 

I am definitely a Benefit fan in general 

(Roller Lash mascara is my absolute fave)

so I was excited to try out their skincare products. 

So far, SO good!

One of my favorite blogs (Somewhere Lately) has posted and snapped about this skincare line a lot lately so I caved and ordered :)

The cleanser foams really nicely and 

I love that the cream is both night and day. 

I'm a huge probiotic fan so I was curious about this topical technology.

I have combination skin with a tendency for an oily T-zone.

My skin is very smooth after several weeks with no breakouts.

Thanks for the recommendation, ladies!

I have used Dermalogica products for years and I always go back.

This line is natural, no-frills, and consistent.

They have a ton of different products lines; 

anti-aging, acne, teen, etc.

If I had to pick my favorite product it would be the Skin Smoothing Cream.

My mom uses this cream, which is a testament in itself.

(Woman does NOT age!)

They have reasonably priced smaller kits so you can try a few different products before committing to the big, pricey bottles. 

I also use these small bottles for traveling. 

Great Target finds! 

I have the Aveeno absolutely ageless in my shower right now.

I always like to keep an salicylic acid cleanser on hand 

in case I feel a breakout coming on. 

A face lotion with SPF is essential, especially under the eyes.

I like Eucerin's but it can be a little drying, 

so I add a touch of coconut oil to it sometimes.

Thanks for stopping by :)

It's time for the

Method Daily Shower Spray: 

Method is very green-conscious which is why I love this product line. 

Your shower will smell like a spa day #nojoke

Eucalyptus-mint, not too harsh, and it actually 

smells better after it dries. 

For less than 3 bucks it cuts that filmy grime between deep cleans. 

Go get it.

Target Soy Candles: 

Guys! I am a candle connoisseur and these are

hands down the best for the price ($10!)

They are on the end-cap in the frame/home decor section. 

I have tried over 20 scents, at least. 

My current faves are Lush Amazon, Cozy Nights, and Pink Peony. 

There are new scents every single time I look. It's magic :)

Rebecca Minkoff Avery Cross-body:

How gorgeous is she?! 

I just jumped on this cross-body trend (super late, I know) mostly because my everyday bag can almost double as a suitcase. 

I needed something that was hands-free, realistic for nights out, and 

suuuper pretty.

I love the gold chain and the white color actually goes with everything. 

Red Stamp App:

This app has made me such a better friend/daughter/girlfriend. 

You pick a card, add a pic right from your phone, and they mail it for you for THREE dollars. 

Three. 

I'm serious. 

I can't even buy a card at the grocery store for $3. 

Give it at least a week from app to arrival. 

Great quality, cute designs, free app. 

Brilliant. 

Redken Color Extend Magnetics Conditioner:

This literally smells like bottled butterflies and rainbows. 

It adds some girly pep to my early morning shower. 

It doesn't make your locks too silky either. 

And well.. it's hot pink, so.. ;)

Lorac Unzipped Gold Eye Shadow Palette: 

What a great find. 

If you know me, you know I am a gold girl.

I actually use every color in this palette, which is a personal win. 

This is my second Lorac shadow palette. 

They are pigmented nicely and blend really well. 

A mix of matte and sparkle shades. 

Probably the best collection of colors I've found to date!

(PS-the lorac primer that comes with it is key)  

Thanks for checking back in.

What are you wearing?

 Selfie game=Strong.

Blog post game=Weak.

Sorry bro-- I've been slacking on the updates.

 

I wanted to share what I've been wearing lately.

I discovered a new boutique and I am in love.

Many of these pieces are from Insypre.

There are 3 locations in the Denver area and you can also shop on their website. Score.

 

Faux fur is basically a staple this season and adds that fancy little touch.

This is the Juno vest from Inspyre. Perfect for date night.

I paired it with an olive top (also from Inspyre)

and my new favorite booties (best purchase ever) by Jeffrey Campbell.

 

.....

 

 I've been playing with bold lip colors recently.

This shade is Ruby Woo by MAC and it's perfect for the holidays.

This fun fur-hooded vest is from my other favorite boutique, Target :)

 

.....

 

 Can you say elbow pads?? I literally can't even ;)

This cozy long cartigan is also from Insypre.

As much as I love sweaters, I find them to be super bulky.

This is a little more figure flattering.

 

.....

 

It's scarf season!

This gold, orange, gray beauty is called the Carmen San Diego scarf.

I love anything with maps on it (probably because my name is India? No clue..) so I had to add this to my winter wardrobe.

I paired it with a basic black heel and black top

so it was all about the bass scarf.

 

Happy Holidays, gorgeous.

 

Quick Glimpse

 

 Just a quick glimpse into my current faves:

-Kitten heels are IN. Love them for fall. Being understated is a fashion goal of mine, always.

-I bought this Gold Bar necklace to layer. I am eyeing it in Rose Gold, too :)

-I drink more Chocolate Coconut Water than I do regular water...Oops. It's like Yoohoo for grown ups!

-This Foundation is FLAWLESS (&pricy!!!)

-I love this teeth whitening system because it's so simple! I dab it on with a Q-tip and leave it for ten minutes a few times a week and add a squirt every time I brush.

-This is the only Pre-Workout that doesn't make me lethargic and jittery.

My favorite flavor is pineapple mango. I call it my 'special juice' ;)

 

Happy October!

 

 

 

 

 

Big-Hair Secrets

I LOVE big-hair.

Victoria's Secret Angel, volume for days, bombshell hair.

I am probably the only 20-something woman I know who doesn't know how to use a curling iron.

No joke.

I own (an expensive) one... I've watched the Youtube tutorials... I've had girlfriends try and teach me.

Nope.

 I have no clue which way to twist and it takes at LEAST an hour.

What busy lady has time for that? Not me.

So... I am a loyal hot roller lady.

The number one question I get asked about my beauty routine is probably

"How do you do your hair?"

So here are my

 I have a few different curler sets, but make sure you are using the big guys for this look.

I use the metal hooks, NOT the plastic clips that also come with the set.

The clips leave huge creases.

Not cute.

Key Products:

1. Beauty Protector- Protect and Detangle Spray: This is one of the few products I ordered from my Birchbox. It is basically a detangler that smells SO good. Think pretty-girl mixed with cotton candy. I can't say much about it repairing damage, but it does do its detangle duty. Don't use too much, as the hair will get too soft and the curl won't hold as well.

2. Big Sexy Hair Root Pump- My holy grail. I've linked this to Ulta, but you can usually find it for $7-8 dollars less at TJ Maxx and Marshall's.

If you use any volumizing product, make it this one.

After spraying my ends with the Beauty Protector and my scalp with the Big Sexy, I part to the side and brush the crown straight back.

I'm not a huge fan of a super straight part, but do what you're feeling that day.

Once you have your product and part in place, hit the blow dryer.

I always blow-dry upside down to maximize volume.  

Run a brush through once you're dry.

I always roll in 3 different sections. Grab a clip and tie up 2/3 of your hair. You want enough to split the bottom layer in half and use two rollers.

Make sure you are rolling all the way to the ends of your hair.

It's easy to kink the ends by accident.

Bring down the second section. Three rollers should be enough here.

Now for the top.

This layer takes a little bit more precision than the bottom two.

Brush up the crown.

This will keep the back lifted and make it easier to tease. 

The trick is to keep the hair pulled as tightly away from the head as possible while rolling. You don't want them hanging from your head, as this will pull the volume downward.

I usually leave my rollers in for 10-15 minutes, or until they are cool.

I just do my makeup while they're in.

Or you could go get the mail, take your kids to school, Facetime your hubby..

It's a great way to freak people out :) 

Alright. Here she is. My best friend.

 Notice the wear and tear.

This Old Faithful has made it through high school, college, and all of my adult life. I cannot tease with a comb. I need a fork pick.

I highly recommend finding one.

I take about 3 rollers out at a time and work on teasing section by section.

Lift the hair, comb down with the pick.

Don't be afraid of the wild lion you are becoming.

We can always brush it down.

 Rawr

To tame the beast, run your fingers or your pick down the top,

but don't disrupt the little rats nests you've just created ;)

Just smooth the top out, touching as little and lightly as possible.

 Lightly spritz some hairspray all over, a little heavier in the front.

This is my go-to hairspray. It gives a great semi-flexible hold.

Make sure you get the black cap.

Red cap isn't the same.

And here it is!

You've got this, girls.

Let me know how it goes :)

Coffee Bar Project

I don't even drink coffee... but how could you not with this little piece of barista heaven on the way out the door? I posted this on my Instagram and the chicks went nuts ;)

 

I did some thorough research [Google Image: Home Coffee Bar] and played with some ideas I liked. The common theme seemed to be this same wood/metal shelf with the hooks. Almost all of them had it! I finally found it at Hobby Lobby for a ridiculous $110 bucks! WHAT? So I waited for one of their predictable Father's Day, 4th of July, Labor Day sales and scored this popular kid for $60.

(Worth the wait, people.)

I love the baskets for the K-Cups. Some people put different pots and cups in there... I'm more about function myself. Hey, whatever works.

 

I stumbled upon this store called 'At Home' by our church one Sunday and wandered around amazed for about an hour. It's very similar to a Hobby Lobby--you could seriously browse for days. We picked up this awesome reclaimed-style funky table, The letter C, and these really reasonably priced silver topped jars.

 

I tried to sneak a candle and a cute little flower on the top shelf and it kept magically disappearing. No frills here, I guess ;) 

 

I'm not usually a DIY-er, but there is just some sort of weird magical feeling that comes from being creative. I think I might be onto something...

 

 

Obesessed

theBalm NUDE'tude Eyeshadow Palette
This bad boy is pigment heaven. I am a very loyal MAC eyeshadow gal, myself... But I wanted a little more bang for my buck and saw this pop up on my daily browse through Nordstrom.com. The shadow is buttery, wears well, and there are so many realistic colors in this palette. I have always been partial to golden tones for eyeshadows. Great for any eye color and skintone. My favorite and currently most used colors are the Sultry, Seductive, Snobby, and Sassy...sounds about right ;)
I threw some darker Silly and Sophisticated on my crease for a quick evening look for the dinner party I had on Friday night. This $36 gem works for both day and night and added a little more spark to my morning makeup routine.  

zella Live In - Streamline Capris
If you don't know, now you know. Zella is Nordstrom's new workout line and it is giving my true love for LuluLemon a run for their money (literally.) I have these gray and mesh beauties, as well as the black reversible 'Live In' Capris and I am SOLD. At a more affordable price (score), I've never worn a more comfortable or flattering yoga pant. I workout in these, I lounge in these, I run errands in these, I live in these. They also wash really well (I don't dry my workout gear, but you can.)  Lovely fitness line.

Starbucks Orange Mango Smoothie
I've been obsessed for a couple years now, but I still feel like they are a secret for some reason. No more Starbucks guilt! I usually grab this smoothie as a meal replacement, within 30 minutes of a hard workout. I get mine with the 2% milk if I'm using it as a substitute for a meal or snack. Starbucks puts a whole banana, their own formula of whey protein, and fiber powder in this baby. They have a chocolate/banana and a strawberry/banana version that aren't bad, but the orange/mango/banana is where it's AT.

LuluLemon Scuba Hoodie II
Can you love something you don't have? The answer is YES. I (most of the time) cannot justify spending $108 on a HOODIE but this guy... I may have to make an exception. The picture does not do it justice. It's a cozy, thick, navy blue and cream masterpiece topped off with a ROSE GOLD zipper (!!!). I mean, come on. I am currently having a love affair with both navy and gold of any kind, so I'm pretty sure this hoodie was custom made for me. Anyway, I'll let you know if I break down and purchase. By the sound of it, I think you know how this might end ;)

QUEEN B
No one can touch her. Oh and in case you missed it.. this chick can ROCK a leotard. Her VMA performace last night had me dancing all over the living room in awe. Pure WOMEN power! Her custom bejeweled outfit by Tom Ford was incredible. The confident, feminine, power-house that is BEYONCE inspires me to do the damn thing and do it fiercely. Unbelievable. Go Youtube it now if you want an instant mood changer, ladies :)