What have I been up to? (besides not blogging)

So I've been pretty MIA for a LONGGG time. I actually haven't been up to much besides school and then vacation where I was traveling a lot without my computer.  I am going to try to be better at blogging this year (new resolution). 

Since my last post, I have discovered that I am not good at keeping myself from buying makeup however I am actually making progress in using up some of my makeup and will definitely do an updated blog post about my ban. 

One thing I have started since my last post was the Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide 1.0.  She put the picture below on instagram and I decided that I would join in the challenge. 

So far I have been good at sticking to the challenge, doing the workouts and eating healthier. I eat pretty healthily in general but over Christmas break I was not watching anything I ate and I was barely working out and I could definitely see the effects the combination was having on my body.  I will do a whole other post about my "journey" and some background because it's could be pretty lengthy and maybe I will add pictures (yikes!).  In addition to makeup and fashion I do love fitness and cooking (I am working on adding to those two tabs) and yes I am one of those people who enjoys working out - it can instantly improve a crappy day for me.

Recently I've been pretty active on my instagram (blacktsskinnyjeans) with fitness and food related posts as a way of checking in to the challenge and keeping myself accountable. Below are a few of my recent posts.

The top picture is one of my favorite salads (bought though I probably could replicate it or at least try) and below is a lunch I made myself the other day when I got home from classes.

I recently invested in the Polar heart rate monitor (I bought mine off bestbuy.com and it was cheaper than on the polar website).  I've been enjoying using it so far and I like that I can more accurately track the intensity of my workouts.

For more of my fitness related posts etc. check out my instagram!

Until next time! (hopefully very soon!)

 xox Sarah

No More Makeup?!

I did a huge purge of my makeup collection over the summer and I have not talked about this yet but I decided that I am temporarily banned from buying makeup.

I have way too much makeup and I know that, I could never use up everything that I own probably in the course of my life.  My makeup is definitely a collection and I love getting more and more but it is not something I need.  I decided to do a ban because the amount of makeup I own is getting out of control and I don't use a lot of it.  I don't think I will ever be able to get down to a "normal" amount of just everyday products that can fit in a cosmetic bag but I do need to downsize. 

I went through, crazy as I am, and decided how much of each product I need to use up before I am allowed to buy a new one. I am fully aware that the amount of product I need to use up is absurd but so is the amount I own. Feel free to use this list as a guideline and just adjust the numbers to fit your collection/life better.

Do Not Buy Until You:

Foundation: Use up 4

Mascara:  Use up 6

Highlighter: Use up 5

Blush: Use up 3

Bronzer: Use up 3

Lip Gloss: Use up 8

Lipstick: Use up 4

Eyeshadow: Use up 12 (yep I know, crazy)

Pencil Eyeliner: Use up 6

Face Wash: Use up 3

Lotions/Tanners: Use up 3

*Must also go through 50 samples

Can you tell that I have wayyyyyy too much of everything? Let me know what you think about this idea and if you think you're going to do a ban similar to this one!

Until next time <3 p="">

Shoes: New to the Collection

I am currently in the middle of packing so taking these pictures was interesting.  They are at strange angles because I didn't want any of the mess that is my sad attempt at packing in the background so I had to experiment with different back drops.

Now that's done, these are a few pairs of shoes that I've picked up in the past weeks and I thought I would share my finds. 

J.Crew Seville Wedges in Vintage Sandstone

I got these wedges on sale and they are still on sale! They are super comfortable and are so versatile. I  am slightly obsessed with Kate Middleton (a topic for another day) but these remind me of her Stuart Weitzman Corkswoons - different materials but the same classic style.  If you are looking for an less expensive alternative, these shoes are the way to go.  These shoes are easy to walk and the sale is offering a pretty great deal on them.

p.s. The Corkswoons are definitely on my list..

Sam Edelman Braxton Sport Flat

Black and studded, really what more do I need? These shoes are SO comfortable. I will be wearing them a ton in the fall. I did go down a size (really more of a half size) and they fit me perfectly so I would recommend trying them on if you are interested in buying them but once you put them on you may never want to take them off. 

Yosi Samra 'Samara' Foldable Ballet Flat

We all have those pairs of shoes that we love how they look but the thought of spending an entire day walking around in them well we'd rather not.  These flats are essentially made to be thrown in your purse.  I will also wear them whenever I damn well please because they are very cute and very comfortable. Plus navy and rose gold? A-Okay with me. 

These are the newest editions to my ever growing shoe collection, I hope you enjoyed and got some ideas!

xox

Current Favorites

This is going to be a long post; I talk a lot and I type a lot so I do not blame you if you do not read the whole thing.  I wanted to share a few of my current favorites so I divided them up into categories for those who just want to skim quickly and still get the gist of the post.  

Skin Care:

My Caudalie Grape Water and Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water have been a staple this summer.  I really do wish I was better about my skin care routine and lets be honest real quick, it is a good night if I take my makeup off before bed (horrible, I know).  I have been using the grape water morning, it is easy and refreshing (though it does smell like raisins heads up.. it is grape water after all) and my skin does much better when I use it than when I do absolutely nothing. I don't always wash my face as I admitted earlier but I use the grape water in place of the toner step.  I do apply my favorite moisturizer by MAC after I let the water sink in but if I forget it is not a big deal because this product helps to keep my skin moisturized.  This cleansing water takes the cake as far as I am concerned. This stuff is crazy good and I could probably write an entire post about it alone.  I use this to remove all my makeup at night - I'm lazy and it will get everything off.  One thing I noticed - try it out if you have this - is that when I applied it to the cotton pad, if there was mascara or eyeliner I had already removed on the cotton pad (from using the other side already) the cleansing water got rid of it... It dissolved/pushed the product out of the way.  It works.  I'm almost out and just discovered there is a big size (this one was in that tricky sephora check out section that will always getcha) and I am definitely going to have to invest in that since this bottle is almost gone.  These two products are probably "holy grail" products for me. 

Shower Products:

This round of shower products is going to be two of my favorite body products.  Both are from Bath and Body Works in the aromatherapy line.  The first is their Stress Relief bar soap and the second is the Sleep Sugar Scrub.  I don't have a lot of stress in my life, I happen to like the smell of the stress relief a lot (eucalyptus and spearmint).  I have other soaps in my shower but this bar I keep reaching for over the rest and for me it is definitely because of the smell.  The Sleep scrub I got because there was a deal on the aromatherapy products happening but I have fallen in love with it.  I use it (probably too much) on my arms and legs after I wash with soap.  It has a really good texture for a sugar scrub and the oils feel amazing on your skin - I feel like it will keep moisturizing me even after I wash it off.  I do like the scent and it does actually make me tired so I would only recommend using this one at night but it is an awesome sugar scrub.  

Hair Care:

Coconut Oil.  Any coconut oil will work, this one was the only one I could find at the time.  I use this as a hair treatment before my shower - I aim for once a week.  I apply it no less than 2 hours before I plan to shower, the longer it is in your hair the better I think it works.  Your hair will look wet though not greasy since the oil is solid at room temperature and you are going to smell like an almond joy. I massage this into my scalp and use it from root to tip before piling my hair up in a bun on the top of my head.  I use a lot of heat and dye my hair so I like to do what I can to keep it on the healthier side.  I also use a tiny amount after the shower if I know that I am not going to be straightening my hair to keep the frizz tame. 

Beauty:

I have used my Urban Decay Brow Box and Clinique CC Cream everyday since I bought them the first week of July.  This past year I started filling in my brows and I finally splurged on a powder duo, before I was using a pencil from the drugstore.  This box has everything you need, it comes with two mini angled brushes, a pair of mini tweezers, two colors and a wax to set them.  I now will not leave the house without filling in my brows and this is easily my most used product at the moment.  My other most used product is my CC cream.  I have very fair skin and burn easily so the SPF 30 was a huge selling point for me.  Clinique I find works well for sensitive skin and doesn't break me out.  The CC cream is light coverage so on easy days I just put some concealer on spots and finish with some powder but if you want full coverage add a layer of foundation.  

Miscellaneous:

Flash Tattoos. If you are on instagram or pinterest or tumblr (guilty as charged) you may have seen images of metallic temporary tattoos floating around.  Flash Tattoos are gaining popularity very quickly.  I had ordered two packs to bring with me to Italy so I wouldn't need to pack as much jewelry (and wouldn't have to worry about losing it).  I love the way they look and I think they're really fun whether you are going to the beach or out shopping.  They have quickly become one of my favorite accessories this summer. 

Food:

I am trying to eat on the healthier side but reality is that I love chocolate and I love snacking.  The Kind Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt and the Gone Nuts Clusters of Cacao have become my favorite snacks.  They curb my sweet tooth and are healthier than say a hand full of reese's cups.  I always am carrying some kind of bar in my bags incase I need (aka want) a snack and this one is definitely my top choice.  As for the clusters, I could go through multiple bags a day, not recommended, but I love brining these to movies or when I just want something to munch on that is sweet.  There are other flavors of clusters and I'm excited to try them though I don't know if anything is going to beat out the cacao ones for me.

I hope this post helps some of you and let me know if you have tried/what you think about any of these products!

xox

All Used Up II

I just went through all of my products and makeup and cleared house (the kind that can fill a large garbage bag). I got rid of a lot of old products but if I had made a blogpost about that it would have been more of a book. These are some of the products I have used up recently or finally gotten rid of that were worth talking about individually.  This is more of a cleansing post than a favorites post beware.

If you're interested to see what products I've finished up or given up on keep reading!

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Italy: My Travel Makeup Bag

Packing for a month is difficult. Deciding what makeup to bring, the only makeup you will have for your time there unless you buy new stuff, is also very difficult.

An old Kate Spade Makeup Bag thats pretty big

The amount I brought may seem excessive to some but I love (and am admittedly obsessed with) makeup. I condensed down what I was bringing a bit and tried to cover all my bases.

If you're interested in seeing what I brought with me to Italy for the month keep reading!