Lipstick Love

You know how they say, if you love something let it go?  That's precisely how my love affair with this top happened.  I spotted it at Anthropologie in Chicago and just about burst from happiness overload right there on the spot.  Lipstick is my love language so I knew it had to be mine.  I'm working on that whole impulse shopping thing, so I decided to wait and see if I really, truly couldn't possibly live without it.  Wouldn't you know that it's all I thought about once I got back home and settled into my regular routine!  Needless to say, I trekked over to the mall that next weekend and scooped this pretty little thing right up.

And then there's these shoes.  I mentioned my quite successful Nordstrom Rack haul where I found my denim jacket seen here.  While I was there, I moseyed on over to the shoes (bad idea) and found these just sitting there waiting for me.  The pink was enough but the bow had me hook, line and sinker.  Going back to that whole impulse thing, I didn't want to let these slip through my fingers but I didn't want to fork out that much money at the same time so I went ahead and bought them, knowing that I could return them if I decided after my trip that I could do without. 

Obviously, I didn't return them.  I knew that they were a match made in heaven for this top and hence my perfect outfit was born.  I couldn't find these online but you may still be able to find them at your local Nordstrom Rack!  I've linked a few similar options for you below as well!

Top | Anthropologie

Jeans | Loft

Shoes | Kate Spade

Bag | Michael Kors

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What's in My Travel Makeup Bag

I am notorious for over-packing for trips.  I like to have options - translation, I have commitment issues - so you might as well stick my picture in the dictionary under "serial over-packer".  Then when I see the stuff I never even touched, I think to myself that I'll change my ways.  We both know old habits die hard though, so you can guess it's right back to square one for the next trip.  Surprisingly, I am pretty good about sticking with the essentials when it comes to packing makeup.  Maybe it's because I got this adorable new makeup bag, or maybe it's because products can be so versatile.  Either way, a pair of shoes can only function as a pair of shoes, but an eye shadow palette can garner multiple looks. 

Here's a peek inside my makeup bag for my most recent trip to Chicago, what I did and didn't use, and what I wish I'd brought!

The Goods:

Foundation - Estee Lauder Double Wear

Concealer - Revlon Color Stay

Powder - Cover FX Matte Setting Powder

Highlighter - Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder

Blush - Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush

Brows - Anastasia Brow Powder Duo & Clear Gel

Eyeshadow - Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Eyeshadow Base - Nars Eyeshadow Primer

Mascara - Benefit Roller Lash

Lipgloss - Mac Lipglass

Perfume - Elizabeth and James Nirvana

Makeup Bag - Rifle Paper Co x Le Sport Sac via ModCloth

The Dish:

Of course I applied foundation, concealer and powder everyday for a flawless base and because I knew I was going to be taking photos.  The weather was nice and cool so I didn't have to worry about it melting off of my face, which was nice!  I would have changed things up if that had been the case, but thankfully I could stick with my usual routine.  I dusted my highlighter and blush on each day as well to round everything out. 

But after filling in my brows, I decided to forgo the eyeshadow.  I brought the Naked Basics palette with me because it is such a travel-friendly option, but with our early mornings I decided a little bit more rest was worth it.  Once I swiped on a few coats of mascara I was ready to go out the door.  If I hadn't worn foundation at all, I would have definitely done my brows and lashes if nothing else.  Always remember, brows and lashes. 

I added lip gloss the first day (which was also the cooler of the two days, and most of our time was spent in and around downtown) but didn't bother with it the second day and just used lip balm instead.  You really have to find what balance works for you here, depending on what activities you'll be doing and the weather.  Since we spent our second day at the parks and Navy Pier, I didn't think lip gloss was terribly necessary.  

Ultimately, deciding what makeup to pack for a trip is up to you and your taste.  If you love rocking a full face every day then by all means do your thing!  Or, if you hardly wear any makeup at all, then don't feel the need to cake on the products just for the sake of photos.  Or maybe you're like me and fall somewhere in the middle, in which case you'll probably stick with most of your usual routine but make some shortcuts here and there.  The moral of the story is, don't make your trip all about makeup and focus instead on all the fun you'll be having!

What makeup do you pack when you travel?

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Currently

Anticipating: Moving to my new apartment!  I can't say that I saw this coming when I moved to my current apartment a year ago, but I really am excited to get into a new space.  I don't want to say that I'm never content, but I do enjoy a change of scenery every now and then.  And who doesn't like a blank canvas for decorating?

Buying: The positively, absolutely, most adorable top I have ever seen from Anthropologie!  I don't want to give too much away because it will be coming to the blog soon, but let's just say it involves something else I love a whole lot.

Eating: Pigs in a blanket!  I got a craving for this last week and knew it would make my grocery list for the coming week.  I follow a super simple recipe - just hot dogs, American cheese and crescent rolls - and you're good to go.  It reminds me so much of my childhood and spending the night at my grandparents' house with my sister.  Sometimes you need a little nostalgia.

Feeling: Exhausted!  Between two trips in back-to-back months, a full load at the office, and my impending move you can already guess that I don't have a lot of downtime.  That is, until I decide to come home from work, eat dinner, and go straight to bed.  I've been struggling with balancing everything out lately but am trying to stay positive that everything will run its course after I'm settled in my new space.

Listening: to Mariah Carey, circa 1990, because darling you'll always be my baby.  In all seriousness though, music gets me through the day and (strangely) helps me stay focused on what I need to do.  I definitely have music for certain moods but lately I have been loving my 90s jams.  I may get strange looks from my coworkers for my lip syncing performance, but it's totally worth it.

Loving: Old beauty favorites.  I ran out of the usual suspects, like mascara and eyeshadow primer, and instead of trying something new I went back to what I knew I loved.  Let me tell you, I am so glad I did.  Trying new products is a lot of fun but I don't want to become a beauty hoarder (yikes).  Plus, if you know what you like, why not use it?

Trying: to play tennis again!  Well, I've played once so far, for about five minutes.  But I actually did a lot better than I thought I would, other than the fact that my arms are incredibly sore and I couldn't for the life of me think of what would have caused it.  Oh right, I'm out of shape.  My new apartment has a tennis court on site so I'll have no excuse to not get out there and play and get in some exercise too.

Wondering: how two people can make so much noise.  I will never ever again live in a first floor apartment.  I had been pretty lucky since no one was living above me for the longest time, but while I was on vacation, my new neighbors moved in.  But really though, how can you not be aware that you're stomping so much?  Top floor living is where it's at. 

Watching: HBO Now.  I know, I know.  Do I really need another app for watching TV?  Probably not, but they offered a free month subscription and I was convinced to start watching Game of Thrones.  I didn't think I would like it but now I'm most definitely hooked.  We're only halfway through season 3 so no spoilers please!  Even though I've already been duped by E! News and their lack of fair warning.  I did, however, speed right through all of Girls and one of my favorite movies of all time is on there, That Thing You Do, so that alone is reason enough to have the service if you ask me!

Visiting: my family at the lake!  I think we are finally going to have some summer weather around here this weekend, so my sister, her girlfriend and I are heading down to my visit my aunts and uncle at their lake house.  Confession - I've only swam in a lake once in my entire life, so it should be interesting.

What have you been up to lately?

xoxo,

Amanda

City Rompin'

I have a love-hate relationship with rompers.  They haven't even been on my radar until this season because it seems like every time I tried one on, I would instantly regret it.  If you have any hips at all, you know what I mean.  Now all of a sudden, I'm rompin' around at the beach and city.  What gives, Amanda, what gives?  Well, I've realized the key to finding the right romper all boils down to the store you buy it from.  I would go looking for romper love in all the wrong places, mainly stores that carry clothing in junior sizing.  Those just don't suit me. 

But then I found this pretty little thing at Loft and was in romper heaven.  I even broke my #1 shopping rule of paying full price for this, so you know it's serious.  Side note though - Loft will give you a price adjustment up to 7 days after the purchase, so I ended up saving after all.  I knew then it was meant to be!  This romper was absolutely perfect for our second day in Chicago.  We hit up the parks and Navy Pier, and this kept me cool and breezy all day.  As with all rompers, you have to practically get undressed to use the ladies' room, but if you can get over that you'll have the perfect outfit!

Romper | Loft

Sunglasses | The Limited (Similar)

Shoes | Kate Spade x Keds

Bag | Target (Old)

xoxo,

Amanda

Blue Striped Dress & Denim Jacket

Before our trip, I went shopping for some new clothes and had all of my outfits planned out.  Then I checked the forecast a couple days before we were leaving and saw that the temperature was going to be a bit chillier than I had expected - like high 60s to mid 70s.  For this Ohio Valley girl, that is not summer at all.  Don't get me wrong though, I totally welcomed the cooler temps and zero humidity with open arms.  It did make me realize that I had a gaping hole in my wardrobe in the form of a denim jacket, however.  I can't say I've ever needed one before, but since I already had my day-to-day looks ready I wanted something that would go with everything. 

A (very successful) trip to Nordstrom Rack solved that in a snap!  And now I have this jacket for the two, three days tops when it will be acceptable to wear in Louisville.  This dress was comfy all day and long enough to not have to worry about any wardrobe malfunctions in the windy city, if you know what I mean.  I'm really looking forward to wearing it at the office, too.

Dress | The Limited (currently less than $20!)

Denim Jacket | Live a Little via Nordstrom Rack (similar)

Shoes | Kate Spade x Keds

Bag | Target (old)

xoxo,

Amanda