Dreaming of Ice Cream

Ice Cream Slit Back Shirt · Topshop

Jersey Skater Skirt · Topshop

Wedges · H&M

The fact that there isn't a Topshop here in the Bay Area makes my heart cry a little bit. It's my favorite store in the entire world and I feel a little jealous of anyone who can go whenever they want. Yes, I know I can shop online, but what's the fun in that? Their clothes seem to fit like a dream and everything I found there was as if it was made for me. Plus, trying on clothes is half the fun of shopping!

I found this top which I was a bit iffy about (until I tried it on) and absolutely loved it paired with this skirt. I'm a sucker for any kind of collar so I kind of couldn't say no. Also, hello?! How cute are the ice cream cones?! 

The Jersey Skater Skirt is probably the best skirt I own because it's soooo comfortable and goes with everything. Blouses, t-shirts, sweaters, you name it and it will probably look super cute with the skirt. The wedges I've had for-ev-er — they were super cheap, probably $25 or so and have lasted me 6+ months which is pretty long considering how much I've worn them. I'm pretty sure H&M is still carrying them so I may have to go in and grab a new pair because these are starting to fall apart :(

It's still taking me forever to shoot, edit, and upload outfit posts, but they're the most fun and totally worth the time and effort. I hope you guys enjoy this little number as much as I do!

Glossybox USA: August 2012

Glossybox · $21/month

I'm going to be honest here, I am absolutely amazed/enamored/infatuated with this months Glossybox. The best part about it? It's the first one I've gotten and they've really made an incredible first impression. The theme of this month is Pure Luxury, so this box is chocked full of serums and luxurious cosmetics to leave you feeling fresh and pampered. 

Illamasqua is one of those brands that seems to be doing everything right. Their foundations, blushes and lipsticks are all amazing, so when I saw that I'd received a nail polish by them I was super stoked. The color I got is called "Load" and it's this really gorgeous creamy white color with a hint of yellow. Perfect for F/W, non? 

The Ole Hendriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster is actually something I nearly bought this weekend, so I'm glad I didn't! It's packed full of Vitamin C and helps to firm and smooth leaving you with more radiant skin. It's got a light and lovely citrus smell and rave reviews so I can't wait to try this out for myself. 

Touch in Sol is a Korean brand I've never heard of before (their stuff isn't carried at Sephora or Ulta) but it seems like they make some awesome products. The Feel Like Honey Moon Skin Base is a primer that you're supposed to use after your skincare routine and before makeup application. It's got honey in it which is great for tightening the skin and it's also supposed to "allow for a better makeup routine". I'm so down with that! It's really light and feels like silk once you apply, pat, and allow it to sink into your skin.

The Ellis Faas Creamy Lips is overall a gorgeous product, though the color I received (L107 - Chocolate Caramel) doesn't suit me that well. Maybe I'm just not used to brown/darker lip shades but I'm still up for giving it a try. I do want to check out some other colors in the line because it seems like a really awesome lip product.

Biolage is a company that I think we all know — their stuff is used in most salons and you can find their products mostly anywhere. The ExquisiteOil Replenishing Treatment is something I'm definitely looking forward to trying as my hair can get verrrry dull, especially in summer. It's supposed to add instant shine without weighing your hair down. 

All in all this box is most definitely a 10/10 — introducing me to companies and products I haven't heard of before as well as including some I know and love. What do you all think of the products above? What colors did you get in your boxes?!

MAC Cut a Caper Lipstick

MAC Cut a Caper Lipstick · $15

I've actually had this lipstick for quite a while now (probably about a month or so) and in that time it's most definitely become my #1. This is one of those MAC colors that everyone lusts over and once I saw it I fell in love.

I was walking through Bloomingdales and spotted it right after I bought Angel — I'd never seen it in person before but it was just so recognizable. I tried it on, thought "this is my color", Richard said he loved it, and basically at that moment I knew I had to have it. It (obviously) wasn't in stock at the MAC counter so I immediately ordered it from my phone. That was the first purchase I ever made with my iPhone, and a justified one at that! Shipping only took a few days and then I had the most gorgeous coral lipstick in my possession ♥. I've been wearing it paired with NARS Orgasm quite a lot as I love the two of them together, it's kind of as if they were made to be worn together. I really feel as though this is one of those lipsticks I can throw it on day or night and it will look always amazing (especially with my skin tone).

I'm already thinking about ordering a backup as I'm not sure I could be without this color once I run out. What do you all think?

Men's Shaving: Merkur Safety Razor & Kiehl's Shave Cream

Merkur Solingen Double Edge Razor · $43

Merkur Super Razors (10) · $6

Kiehl's Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream - White Eagle · $16

After receiving a mini of the Kiehl's shaving cream in the his August Birchbox,  Richard knew he wanted to buy the full size which ultimately sent him on a journey to (also) find a better razor. 

The Brushless Shave Cream is pretty awesome — it's packed full of menthol leaving your freshly shaved face nice and cool. Before applying, Richard usually puts a warm cloth over his face to make the hair softer and easier to shave off. Afterwards he applies a small amount of the cream to his face — it's quite thick and there is no lather so it's pretty different if you're used to shaving foams. The thing he likes most about this is that the menthol "makes the hair stand up on end" which obviously is going to make it easier to get a closer shave.

The next step was upgrading from a Gillette razor to a Merkur Double Edge safety razor. He grabbed one at the Art of Shaving store for more $$ than he could have spent on Amazon, but oh well. Razor wise, it's heavy, really well made and not to mention elegant. It takes him longer to shave because unlike the Gillette which follows the shape of your face, you actually have to work and turn to get a proper shave with the Merkur. That said, as you get more used to using this kind of razor you do get faster/better over time. The razors themselves cost basically nothing which is a total plus; $6 for 10 vs $22 for 8 Gillette refills. They also last longer because you can easily dry them after each use — something you can't really use with a disposable razor. Most of all, he says shaving now is "fun".

All in all, switching to a great product and using better tools leads to a better experience. It also leads to a cleaner and smoother face *swoon*.

Wild Wild Horses

Jumper · Topshop

Leggings · H&M

Boots · Urban Outfitters 

This is officially my first outfit post and to be honest, it was a hell of a lot of work. Kudos to all you lovely blogger ladies that do this on a daily basis (though I will be trying to do that too). Luckily my couch is light so I could move it and use the only plain wall we have in the house, wheeeee.

I'm heading to the city tonight where it's usually always ~10º colder, so boots and sweater it is! When I saw this sweater in Topshop I immediately fell in love and couldn't not have it. The boots are something slightly out of my comfort zone, but I love them. I got them for my birthday — I spotted them, Richard loved them and proceeded to coax me into buying them. I've got to say, they were totally worth it; I wore them while in NYC and they were super comfortable and really cute, duh.

I'm excited to do more posts like this and hopefully after doing it a few more times I'll have it down to a science. What do you guys think? 

Week(end) Recap: Vacation

Back from vacation and wishing that we had just a few more days on the East Coast. Lots of firsts happened: First vacation alone since we got married, first time flying Virgin America (♥), first time seeing Marina & the Diamonds live, etc etc etc.

The hotel we stayed at in NYC, Yotel, was amazing. Definitely recommend it — they have a gorgeous rooftop terrace with lots of yummy cocktails and food. Plus it's owned by the company that owns Yo! Sushi, eeeeep. Marina was absolutely incredible live (yes I did cry, just for the record) and I already want to see her again. Went shopping at Topshop finally and found so many clothes that I don't think I'll ever shop anywhere else.

Our time in New Jersey was wonderful as usual. I'll always love it and I loved seeing my family even if it was only for a short time. My mom made an amazing dinner one night: Frogmore Stew (crab legs, shrimp, clams, potatos, etc), Beer Bread, and corn! I ombréd my little sisters hair with the Kevin Murphy Color Bug that I got her for Christmas. We got to go tubing out on the lake our last night there which was a perfect ending to the trip. We basically had the lake to ourselves and it was just a lot of fun :)

I ended up buying a tripod and a remote which means OUTFIT POSTS soon! I can't wait to show what I already own and what I bought on my trip! Hope everyone had as good of a week as I did. x

Wildfox Couture Spring 2013 Swimwear

It's no surprise that once Wildfox releases a new collection I'm right on top of blogging about it. It's no surprise that they're one of my favorite brands as I've covered them quite a bit before. 

Their 2013 swimwear line is called Diamonds are Forever and it's obvious that their inspiration was 007, as their cookbook is just full on 60's Bond girl. Bombshell, dark sultry eyes, super feminine clothing (I mean look at those cover-ups). High waisted bikini bottoms are so sexy and flattering and the Union Jack suit is just too perfect — I told you I was a sucker. The whole collection makes me want to jet-set to the South of France with nothing but bikinis and kimonos. Au revoir.

photos via ilovewildfox

Bumble and Bumble Texture Hair (Un) Dressing Creme

Bumble and bumble Texture Hair (Un) Dressing Creme · $14

Lately I've been really into having my hair a bit more voluminous and textured. I bought the mini bottle of this from Sephora as I wasn't ready to buy the full-size and thought it would take me a while to go through this anyway. Yay, minis!

I used to always wear my hair super straight and flat but yawn that's kind of boring, especially in the summer. Aside from the Bumble and bumble Surf Spray this is my go-to when I want a little texture. I apply it to my roots, either when my hair is wet or dry depending on how I feel and the end result is a bit of lift, hold, and lots of tousled bits of hair. It gives a nice polished bed-head look so if that's what you're looking to achieve, this is the stuff for you! I'll definitely be repurchasing this once I'm out but a little goes a long way so this mini bottle will probably last me forever.

Do you like the B&b products? What's your favorite product for adding texture and volume? 

Batiste Brit Dry Shampoo

Batiste Brit Dry Shampoo · $7.99

After trying Batiste's Blush I ran out to Ulta to grab a bottle of this stuff. Union Jacks are all over the place right now — probably because the Olympics were held in London and all but honestly, who isn't a sucker for them? Pssst, I am.

The packaging of this dry shampoo is just so cute I can't get over it, not to mention the smell; this is probably my favorite Batiste scent. The bottle calls it "a truly British fragrance" and while that sounds a bit odd, it kind of is. It's sweet but musky and just smells really enjoyable. Having a great dry shampoo is great for days where you can't be bothered to wash, dry, straighten and style your hair — aka perfect while on vacation somewhere warm. So if you're looking for an amazing dry shampoo but want something with a nice subtle scent (vs Blush which is soooooo sweet) this is definitely the one you should go for!

What are your vacation musts? How do you feel about dry shampoos for vacations?

Benefit The POREfessional

Benefit The POREfessional · $30

First things first — you don't have to have issues with your pores to get great use out of this product. My pores are basically invisible and I have normal skin, but this is something that I couldn't really see myself without. On days where I want more of a matte base or have specific areas that I want more matte, I'll use this. I do (mostly) use it in addition to the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm; using the balm around my eyes and this stuff on my forehead, nose, and chin. 

The POREfessional is really great for hot sunny days as it seems to help keep my makeup intact and oiliness to a minimum, no matter how much I sweat. It glides on really silky just like the bottle says and does one hell of a job for being so lightweight. It also helps even skin tone when I have a bit of redness from the heat, which means I end up using less foundation in the long run. All in all it's a pretty awesome little primer/balm and I can't wait to see how it holds up to the East Coast heat and humidity!

Have you used The POREfessional before? What do you think of it?

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Urban Decay Naked Palette · $50

The hype around Urban Decay's palettes can't be denied, and for good reason. I've been wearing eyeshadow tons more now that I've cut down on eyeliner use, and I've got to say I much prefer it that way. So with that I've been debating getting a UD palette for some time now, going back and forth between the original Naked palette and the Naked 2 palette. After some research and recommendations, I went for the original!

The colors in this one are bronze and cocoa neutrals, making them a bit warmer than Naked 2 which is exactly what I wanted. There are few matte colors thrown in with the shimmers as well which is awesome as I'm a sucker for a nice matte brown (I'm looking at you, Buck). I'm pretty excited about most of the colors here, but especially Sin, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, and Toasted. Such great summer/autumn colors and I can definitely see myself wearing some of these year round too since they're so versatile and neutral. It comes with a little bottle of Primer Potion which is super cute and a total plus (vs. the random lipgloss that comes with Naked 2).

With our NYC trip coming up in two (!!!!) days I wanted something that I could easily bring with me and that would have all the colors I needed. This is exactly that. It's so travel friendly that I can just throw it in my carry on and be done with it.

What do you guys think of the Urban Decay Naked/Naked 2 palettes? Which is your favorite?