NOTD: Jack-O-Lanterns + Pet Costumes!!!

 I love carved pumpkins! And I also love constumes... pet costumes in particular!

Scroll down to see pictures of my cats hating life and me for making them dress up! 

LOL

This is Gilda, she hates me. 

Ok she doesn't hate me, but she sure wasn't loving being an adorable bumble-cat! Haha.

Pepper wasn't having it either. Her evil stare says it all, but she just looks so darn cute!

I swear it's like cats know how ridiculous they look and loath you for it. They give you death stares that make you feel sooo bad that you just have to go out and buy them toys...

lots and lots of toys to make up for it!

Happy Halloween!

Products Used:

Avon- art orange, orange creamsicle, absinthe | Essie- School of Hard Rocks | CM Nail Art- black.

Pet costumes: by Martha Stewart purchased at Petsmart.

Fall OOTD: Chambray + Leopard Print

Last week I wore this outfit to school and then to the mall for some shopping. I got some pleasant compliments so I've decided to share it with you too! :)

Hope you enjoyed it!

Products Worn:

Leopard Cardigan (old W.D.N.Y similar and also here) | Chambray top Ann Taylor (I want this one) | Leggings (unknown) | J.crew Bubble Necklace from eBay | Diesel Prairie Boots (last Fall) | Gramercy Grand Watch Kate Spade.

NOTD: Essie- Topless & Barefoot

I bought this polish thinking it would be the perfect opaque nude color, and it is except for the application... not the easier polish to apply.

Topless & Barfoot is a pinkish bone color that needs at least 3 careful coats to be somewhat even. It is fully opaque after 2 but looks lumpy :( 

Overall, I do like the color, but the application isn't great.

Products Used:

 Essie- Topless & Barefoot.

NOTD: Essie- Bahama Mama

Bahama Mama is extremely similar to Chanel's Provocation {the FNO limited edition polish}. I will have to do a post comparing the two.

Bahama Mama is supposed to be a deep purple color, but it's more of a dark redish-purple. It's one of those must have shades for Fall and Winter. I used 2 coats and it was perfect, 3 coats will make it an even darker richer color.

With no sunlight and flash Bahama Mama looks almost identical to Chanel's Provocation

Products Used:

Essie- Bahama Mama.

NOTD: Essie- Bobbing for Baubles

Clean non-artsy manicures have been my go-to things recently. I am desperately waiting for cooler weather to kick-in here in Socal so I can properly begin to feel out the holiday season in manicure form- hot weather is just not cutting it enough to adorn my nails with leaves, snowflakes, and christmas trees :(

Bobbing for Baubles is an amazing dark navy color that is opaque and streak-free in just 2 coats. It is extremely glossy without a top coat. All I can say is, I love it!

My adorable polka dot and sequin sweaters are in desperate need of tender loving wear! Someone tell the weather to tune it down about 20˚... please!

Products Used:

Essie- Bobbing for Baubles.

NOTD: Essie- Marshmallow

I have been wanting this color for so long! So, when I found it at Skylark for $4 I was thrilled!

Marshmallow is a creamy {somewhat jelly-like} white polish. I used 4 coats to achieve this level of opacity. Seche Vite helped to dry all the coats perfectly :)

I love this polish!

Products Mentioned:

Essie- Marshmallow.

NOTD: Chanel- Sky Line

This polish is really unique! I wish I could have captured it's beauty {as seen in person} because it is truly breathtaking! It's somewhere in-between powder blue and periwinkle. It has a pearlescent finish and is fully opaque after 2 coats.

 Under direct light it looks more like a powdery blue color with a grey undertone that makes me want to describe it as a dark-light blue.

In the shade it has a purple undertone making me thing of periwinkle.

This is a limited edition shade and priced online at $30.

Products Used:

Chanel- Sky Line. 

NOTD: NYC- Lincoln Center

Every Fall and Winter I always end up going back to my favorite vampy red colors, this year I seem to have acquired a few that are in the same vampy family, but are so different!

Lincoln Center is a blood red polish that needs at least 3 coats to get rid of streakyness. This polish lasts a good 3 days before showing signs of wear! I love this color, and for ~$2.00 its a bargain :)

I seriously love this color for Fall and Winter, especially since the Oxblood trend everywhere!

Products Used:

NYC- Lincoln Center ($1.99 at Rite Aid).

Shopping: My Fall Must-Haves

Since fall is here, SoCal weather is slowly cooling down & many stores have been promoting their fall lines with great sales!
 J.Crew- 25% off sale items, Ann Taylor-currently 30% off! everything},   Target- BOGO 50% off shoes, handbags etc., 

mini reviews on all the items are included

Target:

1
These fit great! They stretch and are
perfect length for petites. $24.99

2 
These are quite comfy and very lightweight.
The colors are darker- more brown than
 grey, and black. $19.99 +BOGO 50% off!

J.Crew:

4
I bought this one on eBay, currently sold out online :(

3
I got this one in pink/red too.
They fit loose and feel a bit stiff. 
$19.99 what a steal!

5
I bought this one in Red & Blue, it's thin and kind of
 scratchy but the collar is adorable! $49.99 in store!

Ann Taylor:

6 Adorable, soft leather with a gold chain.
 These fit true to size. $198

7
Lace in bright coral. What's not to love?! 
$79.99 + 30% off!

8
The softest sweater ever! It is quite thick though,
definitely made for cold winters. $68+ 30% off!

Zara:

9
This sweater is so soft! Only $25.90!

 

10 

I am in love with the buttons! It's a loose fit that'll look great 

with legging! $35.90

The key to taking advantage of great sales is to sign up for Emails, that way you're the first to know about them and the first to take advantage without risking hot items running out of stock :) 

Products Mentioned:

Target: 1. Ankle Pants {more colors available} | 2. Osanna Oxfords {more colors, including glitter!} |

J.Crew: 3. Rugby Stripe Top {more colors available} | 4. Tippi Sweater in Polka Dot {check your local store or eBay for this style} | 5. Peter Pan collar Sweater | 6. Jayne T-strap ballet flats {more colors available} |

Ann Taylor: 7. Lace Shell | 8. White Leopard Jacquard Sweater |

Zara: 9. Long Sleeve Flare Sweater {more colors available} | 8. Sweater with central cable-knit detail {more colors available}.

Lush Review: Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar

Jumping Juniper Shampoo is in bar form. It is supposed to help reduce the amount of oil at the roots over time by treating your hair and scalp with juniperberry oil, lemon and lime, lavender, and rosemary.

"Fruity juniperberry oil sorts out your oily, congested scalp, while lemon and lime make your hair clean and shiny and give it an extra fresh scent. The incredible herbal duo, lavender and rosemary are superpowers if you’re having troubles in the oil department. Rosemary has been used for hundreds of years for its anti-bacterial capabilities, while lavender is known for its ability to balance and soothe the scalp"

Pros:

• It lathers up extremely well- all you need is a few swipes across your hair. {I do 4 swipes since my hair is long}
• I do see a small decrease in oil, but not enough to feel comfortable with washing it every other day. So, I have to stick with washing it daily.
• It does a really nice job of leaving my hair super clean without it feeling stripped or dry!
• It doesn't smell bad, but it also doesn't leave any sort of shampoo smell in my hair.
• It lasts forever! I've had mine for 3 months and it's only decreased to about half the original size, and I use it about 5 times a week! {sometimes I even double lather- it's supposed to last about 80 washes}
• It's only ~$10 for over 3 months of shampooing... bargain!

Cons:

• The lather seems to decrease after a couple minutes leaving me feeling like I need to re-swipe the bar to finish washing my hair.
• I wish it smelled more, it doesn't have a long-lasting scent.
• I still have to wash my hair daily.
• Since it's in bar form, I have to use a container so it always gets stuck to the bottom making it hard to get out again.
• You cannot leave this in the shower where it's damp because it will deteriorate and stick to everything.

Overall, the shampoo bar last forever. Although it cleans my hair extremely well without drying it out, I still have to wash it daily to avoid the dreaded 'dirty hair look'.

Products Mentioned:

Lush USA- Jumping Juniper shampoo bar.

Lush Review: I Love Juicy Shampoo

I Love Juicy Shampoo is created specifically for those of us with excess oil in our hair. I personally, have excess oil at the roots and needed a shampoo that would give me the squeaky clean feeling as well as control the oil at the roots.

"Fresh fruit juices of pineapple, mango and kiwi are slightly acidic and help to mop up excess sebum (oil) produced by the scalp. With sea salt for volume and seaweed extract to soften you’re left with squeaky clean hair and scalp, unbelievable shine and touchably soft tresses"

Pros:

• It smells really good and even better in your hair. The most pronounced smell is pineapples, but is overall a clean citrusy smell. The smell lingers in my hair until it has dried unless I use a mildly scented conditioner, in which case I can faintly smell the shampoo all day.
• All you need is a tiny bit! I have long hair and I only need about a quarter size of shampoo to get a luxurious lather. Pretty amazing.
• It gives me an extremely squeaky clean feeling {almost stripping}
• It's totally vegan. No chemicals, just pure goodness.

Cons:

• I cannot use this shampoo on a daily basis, it is much too drying. I typically alternate between this and the Lush Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar to avoid drying out my ends {Although, I can get away with using it daily if I don't apply it directly to my ends and follow up with an extremely moisturizing conditioner like the Nexxus PRO•MEND line}
• I've been using it for about 2 months now and as far as I can tell it has not helped control my oily roots, I still have to wash my hair daily to avoid that 'oily roots' problem. 
• it has a year-long expiration date, I suggest buying the smallest size as it is quite drying on your hair if you do use it daily. 
• the price is a little steep {ranges from ~$10-30 depending on size!}

Overall, I may purchase this again but in their smallest size since a little goes a long way. It smells like some sort of pineapple-citrus smoothie and is not a shampoo I would recommend for everyday use because it can really dry out your hair.  :)

Products Mentioned:

Lush- I Love Juicy Shampoo,  Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar | Nexxus- PRO•MEND Line.