Sheer Coverage

Now that the weather has turned somewhat cold, there’s no better time to invest in patterned stockings. I recently purchased nude stockings with black polka dots. I really wanted a pair with polka dots but I couldn’t decide between big dots or small dots. Finally, I settled on a pair with big dots from Forever21 and I am so in love with them! Another pair that I recently purchased was also from Forever21 and it is a pair of plain burgundy stockings. I’m not sure what I want to pair these with yet but I’m kind of envisioning them with brown boots. The last pair I purchased is from Urban Outfitters and they are lavender colored with a lace design covering them. The lace is enlarged and is a slightly raised pattern so I’m planning on wearing them when I want to make an outfit look a bit more soft. I am so excited to wear these tights, they are the perfect touch when sprucing up a favorite outfit!

Alexa

The Chic Sneaker?

I’ve long been a rejector of sneakers. I’ve always believed that if you need an easy shoe to wear, you can never go wrong with ballet flats. I still believe in this styling tip but recently my fashion world was rocked by a pair of wedged sneakers. So I saw these sneakers and I began to fall in love but I still wasn’t sure if I was ready to buy a pair of sneakers. One day while struggling with this thought, I was watching a Lana Del Rey music video in which she was wearing a pair of red Converse sneakers for one second. While I never aim to be a follower, after watching her wear sneakers, I realized that they can look just as amazing as that perfect pair of ballet flats. After much research of various wedge sneakers I finally decided on this pair by Steve Madden and I am so happy with them. I’m even considering buying a pair of Converse...

Alexa

Get Ready With Me - Hair + Makeup

Today I filmed my current getting ready routine which includes some of the products I am loving for fall 2012.  The video goes through my makeup and hair routine.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt-eS4Mm8uY&feature=youtu.be

Alyssa

How To Make a "Sock Bun" Using a Donut Piece/Hairstyling Ring

Hi everyone! Check out my tutorial to learn how to make a "sock bun" using a donut or hairstyling ring. You can purchase the same donut that I used from H&M by clicking on this link: http://www.hm.com/us/product/01922?article=01922-D

You can also purchase one from Claire's by clicking here:
http://www.claires.com/store/goods/Tweens/cat1170028/Dance-Teams/p23013/Oversized-Hair-Donut/

Enjoy the video and if you like it, rate it!!

Alyssa

Yes!...to clear skin?

I hate acne, I hate acne, I hate acne, I hate acne! Try as I might, sometimes I just can't avoid breaking out, and nothing ruins an outfit more than an unclear complexion. While I understand that acne can come from stress or hormones, I never considered that my makeup remover could be the culprit. I had been loyally buying Nutrogena's makeup wipes for quite some time, and despite the fact that my face uncomfortably tingled while using it and my cheeks felt tight when I finished, I didn't really consider changing products. With that being said, one day while at Target, I spotted these "Yes to Cucumbers" makeup towels and I decided to buy them (I'd heard great reviews of them). The first time I used these wipes my face felt amazing afterwards, so good that I didn't even think I needed to moisturize (I did, just in case). Now, a month into using these sheets and I am so pleased with them that I will absolutely continue to buy them. And for those of you suffering from acne, the line has a "Yes to Tomatoes," extension that contains salicylic acid.

Alexa

The Last 48 [in pictures]

 Kappa Delta Bar Crawl

Apple picking at Eastmont Orchards

 Pumpkin Picking at A. Casola Farms

 The finished product!

Alyssa

A Change of Face

My makeup routine has been the same since I was in high school, subdued eye colors and a nude lip. While I’ve always admired bright pink lips and electric blue eye shadow, I’ve always felt out of place when wearing these colors. As I find myself at the start of my senior year in college, I’ve begun to open up to new things, one of which is reinventing my everyday makeup look. While the eyeshadow colors I’ve been using lately seem to change on a daily basis, one new element remains the same these days, and that is a bright red lip. Perhaps my inner Marilyn Monroe or Mae West is starting to emerge or maybe I’m just feeling more comfortable in my skin, but these days nothing makes me happier than a red lip. While I’ve been satisfied with Sephora’s “The Red,” lipstick, I am absolutely in love with the bright red lip gloss from this month’s October Glam bag, by Mirenesse. This lip gloss stays on for hours, even through eating and drinking. To compliment this vixen look, the bag also came with an amazing liquid eyeliner that resembles a magic marker, a mascara, ocean inspired eye colors and a hair treatment.

Alexa

Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray Product Review

Check out my latest product review -- Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray.

Alyssa

Pumpkin Magic Bars

This weekend was the first time all year that I could feel fall in the year. Therefore I decided to light my cinnamon sugar candle and bake a fall treat. The fall treat I selected was Pumpkin Magic Bars.

Ingredients:
• 14 whole graham crackers, crushed)
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 11/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup salted almonds, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Use foil to line the lip of the 8”x8” pan
2. Combine graham crackers and butter and stir until well blended. Press mixture onto the bottom of 8”x8” pan
3. Combine sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and stir until well combined. Pour mixture over graham cracker crust.
4. on chocolate chips, followed by the almonds and then finish by sprinkling coconut on top.
5. Place assembled pan in the oven and bake for about 25-35 minutes. Let cool in pan completely and then transfer finished pan to the refrigerator to chill before cutting.


Alyssa

Welcome Home, Christian Louboutin

This post doesn’t require a whole lot of text, the pictures say it all!  A couple of weeks ago I purchased my first pair of Christian Louboutin shoes and I love them.  I went with a classic black patent leather pump that would be appropriate for the office and after hours.  I am looking forward to wearing these classy and versatile heels for years to come.

Alyssa

Secret Concealer

Lately my days have consisted of a lot of early mornings and late nights.  As one would imagine, the long hours are leading to dark circles under my eyes.  While sleeping in on the weekend usually eliminates the bags, I needed something else to immediately do the trick.  A few weeks ago I stopped in Sephora to check out my concealer options and decided to try out Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer.  While I have only used it a few times, I am pleased to report that I am happy with the results!  I matched to shade #3 and have been using Sephora’s multipurpose sponge to perfectly blend it in.

Alyssa