September Favorites 2013

September brought the official end to summer and the air has a crispness to it that can only mean fall is here. I can't believe it's already October because it seems like just yesterday I was starting classes and moving back into my apartment. Time always just flies by me, but I'm ok with that because if it moves quickly this semester, the sooner I'll be in Paris! Anyway, enough rambling. Here are my September Favorites.

Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm - This stuff is amazing. I've posted about these balms recently and did a full review, but they needed a spotlight in my favorites post this month. They're creamy and smell like cotton candy and they provide moisture along with a hint of shine.

Revlon Raspberry Pie Lip Butter - I'm not usually one for dramatic lips, but I love Raspberry Pie for fall. I think this will be a staple for me in the coming months. In my Autumn Tag post, this was deemed my favorite fall lip color.

Pureology Sea Kissed Highlight Stylist Spray - I'm a big fan of salt sprays because of my lifeless flat hair so I find great pleasure in testing out new sprays. I'll always love my Catwalk by TIGI Beach Spray, but sometimes you need to branch out! This does wonders for my hair, and although my hair is not color treated, I think the highlights I developed over the summer will appreciate the more moisturizing salt spray rather than the grittier TIGI Beach Spray.

Philosophy Falling in Love Perfume - I didn't wear this fragrance too much over the summer, but the moment I pulled out my fall scarves I smelled this perfume left over from winter and spring. I immediately pulled it out and began wearing it daily. It smells like vanilla and berries and I love it.

Benefit Brow Zings - All summer I left my brows natural and didn't fill them in. I feel like summer is a time to let go of beauty regimes and just enjoy the weather and the sun. Once school started up I felt like my face was missing something. That something was brows! I have very light brows that are almost unnoticable without the Benefit Brow Zings. The colors in the duo are perfect and I switch off between using the brow wax and using solely the powder. Both are great and it really pulls together any look.

Bath and Body Works Sweet Clementine Hand Cream - This smells incredibly fresh and I love citrus scents for early fall when I'm not quite ready for pumpkin scents.

Blueberry Pumpkin Candle - Although, when I am looking for a pumpkin scent, this is it. A combination of my two favorite scents is heavenly. Just go smell it. Believe me it is amazing.

Almay Intense I-Color Eyeliner in Brown Topaz - I've had this eyeliner for so long, but it never gets old. I'm an eyeliner hoarder, so in my makeup collection eyeliners often get neglected and forgotten. Not this guy. The brown coppery shade has a beautiful shimmer to it and compliments my blue eyes.

Bare Minerals Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in 5PM (Plum) - I recently purchased this dark purple eyeliner because I'd run out of my favorite CoverGirl purple shade. This matte waterproof liner is smudge resistant and is a nice departure from normal black and brown shades. I like the smooth application and the staying power.

From top to bottom: Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Nudetrients, Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Cantaloupe, Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie, Bare Minerals Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in 5PM, Almay Intense I-Color Eyeliner in Brown Topaz

What are your September Favorites?

The Autumn Tag

Last year's Fall Family Fun Day

Although it's sad for me to admit that Autumn is quickly approaching, I have to admit there is one tiny (VERY tiny) part of me that is excited for what Fall brings. Sweaters, chunky scarves, hot tea, cuddles, favorite TV show season premiers, colorful leaves, and Halloween candy! I'm so very sad to see summer go, but that's life. I decided it'd be fun to do this Autumn tag I've seen floating around blog land. Here goes nothing...

Favorite Thing About Autumn

I'd have to say my favorite thing about Autumn is that my favorite television shows come back on air! I'm most excited for Downton Abbey, but the end of Breaking Bad should be intense. I'm also looking forward to less dramatic television, like Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, and New Girl.

Favorite Drink

I think it depends on the day for me. I love tea, so I might say a Hot Cinnamon Spice tea from Caribou, or my Pumpkin Spice tea from Target. I also love Pumpkin Chai Lattes from Caribou if I'm feeling fancy. If I wanted a serious classically fall drink I'd go for a hot apple cider.

Favorite Scent/Candle

My favorite candle is Leaves from Bath and Body Works. It smells like you're making home made cider and baking fall treats in your house. I've also been a fan of their new Blueberry Pumpkin Patch candle, as well. I have Pumpkin Spice candle from Yankee Candle that is equally delicious smelling.

Best Lipstick

If you know me, you'll know that I rarely ever wear anything but lip balm on my lips. On my latest Target excursion I grabbed Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie and I surprisingly love it. It's a departure from anything I've ever worn before, but I really enjoy it. I wear it as more of a stain than anything, but it's a gorgeous color.

Best Go-To Moisturizer

I'm a Neutrogena Visibly Even lover. It's my go-to everyday moisturizer for any season. 'Nuff said.

Favorite Go-To Color on the Eyes

Again, I keep it pretty simple for my eyes, but I love bronzey/champagne colors for the Fall. My favorites are Maybelline Bad to the Bronze and L'Oreal Amber Rush.

Favorite Music

This Fall Sara Bareilles' new album, The Blessed Unrest, has been playing non-stop on my iPod.

Favorite Treat

I am still on my Paleo diet, so I haven't yet made any Paleo-friendly fall treats. I'm hoping to experiment with a Paleo Pumpkin Bread next week. I'll be sure to post about it if it is tasty. If I wasn't Paleo right now, I'd be eating pounds of pumpkin muffins.

Favorite Place to Be

I think anywhere is beautiful in Fall. The leaves are changing, it's still nice outside, and the weather is perfect for outdoor activities. I'll be most looking forward to my annual apple orchard and pumpkin patch trip!

What are your Fall essentials?

Outfit Inspired by Little Black Dress by Sara Bareilles

I've got my little black dress on

And if I put on my favorite song

I'm gonna dance until you're all gone

Necklace - Urban Outfitters, Earrings - Claire's, Dress - Tobi, Clutch - Anthropologie, Heels - DSW

This song is all about forgetting your problems, putting on a dress that makes you feel hot, and dancing the night away. This outfit was really fun to put together because it would be so outside of my comfort zone if I were to actually try this on. I think it's the perfect ensemble for dancing because the dress is form fitting and no matter what you'll be looking your best! As long as you "put on your favorite song" and your little black dress you can dance away boy problems and enjoy the night with your girls.

If you haven't heard this song, I definitely recommend it. It's been my anthem the past few days! On repeat for sure! Check it out!

What is your favorite song of the moment? What song should inspire my next look?

Favorite Workouts and Workout Outfits

As a former college hockey player and a competitive hurler I've always been a fan of getting my workouts in while practicing for a sport. It's easy to motivate myself when I've got a team to play for and teammates who are counting on me to do my part like I'm counting on them. Team sports create a dynamic unlike anything else and you really begin to trust your teammates when you practice and work hard together. Unfortunately, I'm no longer a college hockey player and the hurling season has ended, so I've had to redesign my workout plan for fall. It comes with the seasonal change and I think it's good to create muscle confusion by doing different workouts. I've started to focus on flexibility because it is important for the health of your muscles and endurance. I can't wait to see how this program goes.

I've alway been a fan of yoga and the P90 Yoga X is a great 90 minutes of hardcore stretching and strength training. Tony is a motivating instructor and pushes you to move through the more advanced poses. I'd love to take yoga in a studio, but as a student I just don't have the funds for that right now. There are fitness classes I can take at my university's recreation facilities, but some of the times don't work out with my class schedule. 

I've mentioned Blogilates multiple times before, and I never get tired of working out with Cassey! The workouts are interesting and she plays popular top 40s hits to keep you motivated. She is also a certified Pilates instructor and I aspire to be like her someday. I'm hoping to start my Pilates instructor training soon so I'll be taking notes on her workouts! She's inspirational, upbeat, bubbly, and full of encouraging words as she kicks your butt during the workout. The 1000s workout is super challenging and you feel extremely accomplished when you've finished.

I couldn't cover a workout post without discussing running. I've been a runner for a long time now. I'll have on and off days, but I'll always consider myself a runner. I took a break for a few weeks this summer to help heal my feet, but I'm looking forward to getting back on a running schedule to train for my next half-marathon! Above are some of my favorite songs to listen to while running. I know a lot of people like a full playlist of pump-up songs, but I like to mix in a bit of a chill vibe because then my brain calms down and I stay in the zone.

Yoga/Pilates Fall Workout Outfit

Sports Bra -Target , Top- Target, Pants- Target, Yoga mat- Blogilates

Although it is now fall, I still love the pop of pink in this outfit. The yoga shorts I would have worn during the summer have been swapped out for yoga pants and the tank top has been exchanged for a long sleeve. This is still flowy enough outfit that it will keep you cool even in a warm studio class.

Fall Running Gear

Top- Sports Authority, Shoes- Kohl's, Water Bottle- Blogilates, Shorts- Sports Authority

This would be a perfect ensemble for a crisp fall day. I don't like to wear running tights until it's absolutely necessary so I'll be sporting shorts until November! I like wearing bright colors when I run (like those highlighter neon yellow shorts!) because it keeps me visible to cars in the fall dusk days when it can be harder to see runners on the road. 

What workouts have you incorporated into your routine lately? 

What have your workout fashion trends been like?

Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm Review

I've seen a few of my favorite beauty gurus on YouTube pick these up in recent hauls, but I really haven't really heard much about these new lip products review wise. Curiosity got the worst of me and I grabbed one on a Target run. 

In the shades Cantaloupe and Nudetrients

I'm so happy I did because it has become a staple in my everyday makeup bag. And this is coming from a girl who never wears lip gloss. This does have the consistency of lip gloss, but it doesn't seem as sticky to me. They smell like cotton candy and taste delicious.

Here is my pathetic attempt to show a swatch of the colors. I know this photo doesn't do them any justice, but trust me on this one, they're great and I love them.

Color: The color payoff on these isn't great, but it does give a pretty shimmer to the lips. I haven't tried any of the darker shades because I'm afraid they'll look too dramatic on me, so perhaps the color payoff on those could be better. I didn't choose these for the color, I just liked the idea of a liquid lip balm with a bit of shimmer.

Scent: Delicious. Like cotton candy. Buy it if only for this one reason. You won't be disappointed. 

Consistency: Like any normal lip balm. Definitely not sticky like most lip gloss. It's comfortable on the lips and does not feel like I'm wearing anything but a bit of balm. It's super moisturizing so that will be a definite plus as we head into fall/winter time.

Wear time: This isn't a long wear product, nor is it advertised as one. I apply this in the morning, after meals, and any other time I feel like touching up. I think without touch ups this would only last about an hour or two.

Overall I love this product and will most likely be purchasing more of them in the future.

NACBs Milwaukee Hurling Club

Labor Day Weekend always brings an end to the Milwaukee Hurling Club's season, but we don't bow out quietly! This year at the North American County Boards in Cleveland Ohio three MHC teams (Men's Jr B Elite, Men's Jr C, and Women's Jr Camogie) packed their bags and headed east for a weekend of competition and hurling.

Matches were hard fought and the Jr C team came out ahead winning the national title! Way to go boys! Everyone at the MHC was proud to be a part of this national championship.

The shot below is of the "catch of the year" as we've all been calling it. Liam O'Neill, the President of the GAA, said it's the best catch he's ever seen in a hurling match. And if you can imagine, he's seen a lot of hurling. As he was presenting the trophy to the Jr C team he also said something I'll never forget, "Hurling is for anyone who wants to be a part of it." That's the MHC model. We are a family and we work hard together. If you want to be a part of it we'll welcome you with open arms.

Congratulations once again to the Jr C team! You all deserve it!

The Jr Camogie squad is where I played during the weekend full of hurling. Our first match was against Atlanta. They were a skilled batch of hurlers and they controlled the ball most of the game.

I always have a blast playing with my camogie girls, it's just a shame we couldn't pull out a win this year. Watch out NACBs 2014 the MHC Camogie girls are coming for you!

The girls were fast and furious and we had a hard time keeping up with them. We also need to work a lot on our block downs. They kept winning the ball by blocking it down in front of them. They knew where they had directed the ball so they could beat us to it every time.

These girls are some of my favorite people in the whole world. Here we are as KT tape models. We're going to have a contract someday because we all use it for different injuries! The KT tape camogie quad!

I can't wait to see what next year brings. I'm sad to see this summer end, but I'm glad I got to finish it out with the Milwaukee Hurling Club battling it out for a national championship!

August Favorites 2013

August flew by in a rush of hurling, packing, and finishing my summer bucket list. Although I didn't get to check every item off the list I had the best summer with all of my favorite people. It's too bad I'm back at school now, but that means more time for blogging which I really have been ignoring too much these past few months. 

I didn't wear a ton of makeup in August, and I didn't try many new things I loved, so this month is pretty minimalistic. I just couldn't let these products miss their moment in the spotlight because I didn't have enough makeup!

Unfortunately, this month my beautiful West Elm cosmetic bag started to deteriorate from over-love. I used it for probably three years now and it was just getting too old to pack full of stuff every day. I decided to come up with a new storage system for my makeup which I'll share in a post very soon. For my everyday essentials I have been using this Vera Bradley cosmetic pouch. It's in a super fun print, although I don't know the name. I love it and it is the perfect size for my everyday makeup so I'm not lugging around fifty pounds of unused makeup whenever I need to go places.

I saw this Jonathan Adler White Whale Pencil Sharpener while wandering about Barnes and Noble and couldn't leave him there in the store. I've had an ongoing whale joke with Connor for years now and it's become sort of our little thing. We always send pictures if we see whale knick knacks or clothing. He even got me a card that said, "I whaley love you." How cute is that? So, that's where the whale obsession comes from. I don't even use pencils that I'd need to sharpen, but it's an adorable desk ornament and it makes me smile whenever I look at him. I just need to think of a name now.

Near the beginning of summer I purchased the Rio Glow Candle from Bath and Body Works and didn't burn it until August! I love the beachy scent. Since I'm horrid at describing scents I'll quote the bottom of the candle, "A tantalizing blend of mango, papaya, and guava as vibrant as Rio's Carnival! Samba till sunrise!" I love this and the candle will help me to handle the end of summer as the weather starts to cool down up here in Minnesota. I'd rather not rush to buy fall candles because it only makes the fleeting summer that much more depressing.

I received Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer in an Ipsy box awhile back and never really used it, but recently my hair has been kind of frizzy after blow drying (my ends need a trim). So this sealer helps to calm the frizz and smooths my hair back to normal. It's got a nice subtle scent and works wonders.

Another hair product I've been loving is the Umberto Blow Dry Lotion. I've also had this for a really long time, but was never sure if it did the job. I picked it up this month and don't know why I ever thought that. This product speeds up drying time, calms frizz, and gives sleek shine without weighing down my not-so-thick-and-voluminous hair. I highly recommend this product and would probably call it my super star of the month.

I had a coupon from Victoria's Secret to get a full size body spray for free so I obviously couldn't pass up that opportunity! I swiped up the Mango Temptation scent with the help of Connor, who just so happens to also love mango. He's not so helpful with much beauty stuff, but he does have a nose and an opinion to go with it. I love this scent and it's just a big bonus I got it for free!

What have you been loving?

Empty Products #2

I love reading through empty product reviews because I feel proud of people for finishing entire bottles of things. So I'm always excited when I have enough to review for you guys!

I've been saving these products in a bag for a long time (probably since I was at school in May!) and I decided that before I move back to Minnesota I should definitely review the empties.

First, I've got John Frieda Sheer Blonde Enhancing Shampoo and Conditioner. I don't use too much shampoo and conditioner when I shower because I feel like too much product weighs down my hair so I've probably had these in my shower for about 4 months. I don't believe these really enhance my naturally blonde hair, but I do like using products that are specifically formulated for my hair type. I'll probably repurchase this, but I'm fickle with shampoo so it might be awhile before I do so.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 lasted me a long time. I think it was about 9 months before I was squeezing the life out of the bottle every morning. I love this moisturizer and it smelled energizing like fresh oranges for happiness in the morning. It was a great moisturizer and I have not repurchased it because it is a bit expensive for moisturizer, but I did love it enough to want to buy it again in the future.

Dove Refresh + Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo was not my favorite dry shampoo ever. It had a VERY strong smell that I felt was overpowering to even my perfume. If I wanted my hair to smell like shampoo/products I'd suck it up and take a shower. I won't be repurchasing it, but I did finish it because I feel it did the job well enough to hold me over until I found a dry shampoo I really liked.

The John Freida Sheer Blonde Blonder is one of my "always on hand" products. I don't use it every day, but when I feel like my hair has lost some of its luster I'll spritz this in and voila! I've got summer blonde back into my hair. I have naturally blonde hair so in the summer it gets quite light since I'm outside a lot, but in the winter especially I just need to freshen up my look and this stuff does the job. I have already repurchased this and will probably always have it in my empties.

Batiste Cool and Crisp Fresh Dry Shampoo is a great product. It's a cult favorite within the beauty community and I now know why. It smells great (and not too strong), it's lightweight, and it adds texture without a weird residue. I recommend Batiste dry shampoo and have repurchased it in a new scent because I was interested in their other scents even though this was quite refreshing.

Soap and Glory Clean On Me Body Wash smells like Lush. I don't know how many of you have been in that store, but it's a citrus-y scent with a warmth to it. I liked this product and the moisturizing factor, but I heard that it has parabens in it and I will not be repurchasing it again.

Colossal Lashes by Maybelline has to be my all time favorite mascara. I love the precision I get and I can use one coat for natural looking lashes or pump up the drama with a few more coats. Either way I don't get clumps and it looks amazing. I have already repurchased this product and will probably always love it.

Neutrogena SkinClearing Blemish Concealer is my Holy Grail concealer because I've never broken out from it and it covers anything. I don't use foundation so this product is very important to my every day makeup look. No matter what I always have this concealer with me. For awhile I thought I'd move away from it, but a few weeks later I gravitated back. I love this and used up two and have two more purchased just waiting to use. You could say I'm addicted.

I have two Rimmel Waterproof Eyeliners here, one in brown and one in purple. I like the brown a lot, but the purple was a little light for my taste. Obviously not enough to deter me from using it, but I will not be repurchasing the purple. I have another brown eyeliner that I like more. So these eyeliners were just fun to use, nothing fancy.

The Aloha Pink Vibrant and Beachy body spray was my go-to scent this summer. The bottle seemed to just disappear in July. It was a perfect summer scent and I haven't been able to find it at Victoria's Secret since I bought it. I wanted the full size, but have not seen it around. I did find a similar scent that I like, but it is not the same. Too bad because I loved this!

Umberto Beverly Hills Regular Hold Hairspray was not my favorite spray of all time. I used it up and will not be repurchasing it again. Nothing special or significant to note.

Lush Tea Tree Water Toning Water was a product I used daily for a long time. It was featured in my Skin Care Routine post and was a favorite for a long time. I did not repurchase it because I found a Boots Botanical Spray that was cheaper and did basically the same thing.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Serum was another product that lasted me a very long time (a year exactly!) and I used it every day during that period. I loved the smell (again, quite citrus-y), the texture was smooth, and the results were impressive. I would repurchase this, but it was pretty expensive so I'll have to wait!

And last but not least, the product I'm most proud of for finishing...Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched! I think this is the first chapstick I've ever completely finished! Yay for me! It was a pretty good chapstick, I still like Burt's Bees better. It certainly does the job and hydrates lips efficiently. So I'll probably repurchase after I've used up other chapsticks.

What have you used up recently? Would you recommend anything you absolutely loved?