03.14.2016

Blogging Break: Time For a New Book!

Photo cred: The EveryGirl

Photo cred: The EveryGirl

Dear followers,

I’ve decided to take a break from blogging while I work on my second book. Writing another book is something that has been on my mind since publishing my first back in 2012, but I’ve just recently had an idea that I’m excited about. While it’s easy to want to be one of those “do-it-all” people that can successfully give 100 percent to a blog, book, full-time job, and wedding planning, trying to do it all is not enjoyable for me, and the simple fact is I don’t have to. We don’t have to be perfect. We don’t have to do everything. What’s more important is listening to your gut and making sure you have enough time to chase your goals and take care of yourself. That is more than enough.

So, this is why my posts have been less frequent lately. I may still post some outfits every now and then during my book hiatus (if something is super cute, I have to share!), and I plan to return to the blogging world later this year. K, bye for now!

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03.02.2016

10 Things I Wish I’d Known at 20

In June, I’ll be 26. Is 26 officially considered your late twenties or still mid-twenties? I’m going to go with mid, but whatevs. It’s crazy to look back at how drastically my life has changed since I was 20 and a junior in college. I went from a somewhat naive writing student who had just fallen in love for the first time and never had a job to being an author/blogger/proposal writer with a fiancé, 401K, and almost four years of work experience. Here’s what I wish I could have told myself back in 2010.

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1. Don’t Plan Your Life Around a Relationship - Ah, you’ve finally fallen in love for the first (but not last) time! Yes, I know…isn’t it wonderful? Everything is a bunch of rainbows and butterflies and summer getaways to Boston. I won’t spoil it all for you, younger self, but I will tell you to quit planning your entire life around him. It’s not cute. I get that it’s long distance, but quit sitting by the phone and go on Spring Break with your friends. Remember that you have your own life and identity apart from him.

2. Don’t Take the First Job You’re Offered - Look, I know $10/hour might seem somewhat decent for your first job considering you have zero experience, but you have a degree. Shop around with other companies to see if you can find a better salary instead of jumping on the first opportunity you get just because you’re fresh out of college.

3. The Quarter-Life Crisis is Real – I’m not sure why, but ages 22 to 23 are just super awkward so be prepared for that. There’s really no reason for it other than it will be miserable and magical and you’ll hate your job and want to move out of the state, but you’ll fall in love with your future husband during this time so that’s obv amazing. Just unleash your emotions in your journal per usual; they’re really entertaining to mid-twenties you. Don’t worry, everything goes back to normal once you’re almost 24.

4. Chill Out with the Engagement Fever – There is literally nothing more upsetting to you, my 20 year old former self, than seeing people get engaged. I know you think you’re getting engaged in the summer of 2011, but trust me when I say that you’re going to dodge a major bullet…MAJOR. So just calm down, suck it up, and enjoy the rest of college. You’ll meet the hubs in due time in the form of a handsome Spanish-looking man at your next internship. He’s worth the wait.

5. It’s Never Too Soon for Eye Cream – Yes, eye cream works. Yes, start using it now.

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03.01.2016

Beauty Review: Rodan & Fields Multi-Function Eye Cream

It just occurred to me that I hadn’t written a review about one of my fave beauty products ever: the Multi-Function Eye Cream by Rodan & Fields. How did I let this much time pass?!

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This is an absolute must-have. Hands down. I wish I’d had this in high school so I could have started preventing fine lines a long time ago. Anyway, I’ve been using this gem night and day for close to a year now, and I can’t be without it. I ran out for like a month a while back and I could see a big difference from not using it. I didn’t realize it had helped that much! Slathering my eyes in this stuff is literally my favorite part of my skin care routine because it feels so amazing – it’s like drinking Brita water through your eyelids. That’s the only way I can describe it.

Not only does it help with fine lines/wrinkles, it’s almost pearlescent so it blurs out dark circles and makes your concealer go on easier. While it may seem pricy, it will at least last you two months or probably longer if you don’t overly slather yourself in products like I like to do. It’s packed with fab ingredients like:

  • Caffeine – Reduces redness and puffiness
  • Macadamia lntegrifolia Seed Oil – Skin conditioning agent
  • Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract – Improves blood flow, protects from inflammation, and increases moisture
  • Honey Extract – Balances moisture levels and aids in skin tissue health

So no matter what your age, if you’re looking for a perfect eye cream, this is it! Seriously, stop whatever you’re doing and buy it.

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02.22.2016

Are Your Tampons Hurting You? Why You Should Go Organic

Photo cred: The Zoe Report

Photo cred: The Zoe Report

When you think of the word “organic”,  food, makeup, beauty products, and household cleaners typically come to mind – not tampons. I had no idea organic tampons even existed until a few months ago after watching a video about how many gross things can be found in regular tampons – things that the FDA doesn’t require companies to disclose. Time for a truth bomb…here’s a list of some things found in tampons:

  • Synthetic fibers
  • Chlorine
  • Dioxins
  • Fragrance (okay, so we knew that, but it’s not good for you)
  • Pesticides (ever think about what is sprayed on all that cotton?!)
  • Adhesives
  • Artificial color

Feeling grossed out yet? All of that stuff is immediately absorbed into your bloodstream – leading to years and years of exposure to harmful ingredients for as long as you have a period. And pads aren’t a safe alternative either since they’re also chemically treated. Exposure can potentially cause cancer, reproductive issues, allergic reactions, hormone disruptions, and of course Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Luckily, there are safe alternatives out there.

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02.19.2016

How to Create a Home Office in a Small Space

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02.16.2016

Outfit of the Day: Business Casual Print

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Because work clothes shouldn’t be boring!

Sweater: Target

Pants: Target

Shoes: Wild Diva

Necklace: Loren Hope

Bracelets: Rustic Cuff (here & here)

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Lipstick: MAC Twig

Photography: Tyler Worsham

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02.08.2016

Valentine’s Outfit: BFF Date

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Sweatshirt   Skirt   Earrings   Wine Glass   Shoes   Purse

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02.02.2016

Currently Coveting: Natural Beauty

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Nail Polish   Powder   Lip Tint   Makeup Wipes   CC Cream   Pumpkin Peel   Rose Mask

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01.29.2016

How to Pick Your Wedding Date

Tyler and I actually had our venue booked before we were officially engaged. Say what?! Yes, you read that right. Since he wanted me to pick out my ring and we both knew it was coming (though I didn’t know exactly when), we decided to get ahead of the game. While our venue ended up being an easy choice, landing on a date was a bit harder. Here are some tips for you brides-to-be!

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1. Pick a Season - This is the easy part. Most people know exactly what season is their favorite. I’ve always known I wanted a fall wedding 1) because fall is perfect weather here, usually in the upper 60s and 70s, 2) there aren’t any tornadoes, and 3) I love fall foliage. If you live anywhere in tornado alley, I’d steer away from spring entirely, and summer because it gets so disgustingly hot, but that’s just me. It’s important to consider what your and your fiancé’s body temps are (do you get hot easily? is he always cold?). Fall was an easy choice for us given that we’re both pretty hot-natured. People in the south will also try to tell you to plan your wedding around sporting events to which I say: Ain’t happening. I love OU football as much as the next person, but I’ll be damned if it is considered “more important” than our wedding. #byefelicia

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01.26.2016

Engagement Photo Makeup Tips

What’s almost as hard as picking out your outfit for engagement pictures? Deciding what kind of makeup look you should go for! Should you go full on glam, natural, or somewhere in between? Here are some tips to help you decide.

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1. Go Off What You’re Wearing – If you decide to keep it on the casual side like Tyler and I did (sweaters and jeans), it makes sense to stick with a look that is more on the natural side. On the other hand, if you’re going formal you might as well have fun with some Kim K-worthy makeup – just don’t go too heavy on the contouring!

2. Think About What Your Wedding Makeup Might Be – I already have an idea of what I want my makeup to look like on the big day: subtle smokey eye, winged liner, Mac Twig lipstick. It’ll be super pretty for fall. But even though we took our engagement pictures in the fall as well, I went with the “natural looking makeup” look, as Amy Schumer so aptly puts it. Just think, you’ll have a ton of pictures where you’re all glammed up at the wedding so you might want some pictures with your everyday makeup instead.

3. Thoughts on Lipstick – Picking your lip color (or deciding if it’s even worth wearing it) can be tricky. I mean, you’re pretty much going to be making out with your fiancé for 2 hours, so it’s going to come off anyway. In hindsight, it might have been best to wear a lip stain but whatevs. I went with my usual pink MAC Chatterbox lipstick. It obviously wasn’t as vibrant at the end of our shoot, but there was still enough color left behind to where I didn’t look dead. Basically what I’m saying is you can’t go wrong with a regular MAC lipstick even if it doesn’t last the whole time.

4. Thoughts on Foundation – As we all know, making our complexion look perfect is a magic trick that we all pull off every day. If you aren’t satisfied with your current foundation, or just want to look extra perfect, I recommend using IT Cosmetics CC Cream (I wear Fair; Light is way dark) or Benefit Hello Flawless (I wear I’m Pure For Sure). I adore both of these, but IT Cosmetics is winning me over with its skin-loving ingredients and SPF 50. Be sure to set your foundation with some powder, even if it’s cold out, to make sure your face stays flawless. My faves are MAC Studio Fix Powder (I wear N5) and CoverGirl TruBlend (I wear Shade 4).

5. Thoughts on Mascara - Always get the water-proof kind, no matter what brand you use! But I’ll let you in on a secret: cheap mascara works best. Always. I have never strayed from Maybelline for more than 1 day because everything else sucks so much. Maybelline Falsies is my fave go-to for every day and Maybelline Lash Stiletto is another great option if you want more drama. Either way, a drop of lavender essential oil in your mascara will ensure your lashes look gorgeous in pictures and real life.

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