REVIEW: BAGINC & THE GOLDIE BAG

I was stalking Sarah Hawkinson's YouTube channel at the end of July (who am I kidding? I'm always stalking that girl's channel), and in one of the videos I saw, she had just received an amazing, real leather Alexander Wang Rocco look-alike bag from Baginc. With my interest piqued, I started following the company on Instagram and researching their website. Cut to a few days later, and I had ordered my very own Alexander Wang Rocco look-alike (called the Alexa) and a 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli look-alike (called the Goldie; pictured above), too. 

Today, I thought I'd review both the company and the Goldie bag for you, in case you're in the market for some fine leather goods (said in a British accent, obvi).

BAGINC: This company promises to ship your authentic leather goods within 24-48 hours, and promises you will have your mighty fine handbag in your possession within 5-7 business days. I ordered my bags on August 1, and I didn't receive my Goldie bag until August 22. As for my Alexa? I never got my hands on that bag. #ripalexa 

Basically, what I think happened is that they lost my order. When I ordered both my bags, they were both in stock. When my bags never showed up, I contacted customer service about two weeks after I placed my order, and some of the Alexa bags were sold out. This included the one I had ordered (rose gold hardware. ::swoon::). So, I told them I would accept a different color bag in the same style. By the time the customer service rep read and responded to my email, all of the Alexa bags were sold out. ALL OF THEM. ...what? I mean, seriously, what?!

I asked for a refund of my money for the Alexa, and the prompt shipment of my Goldie. They shipped the Goldie bag immediately, and the money I paid for the Alexa was just returned to my bank account about two days ago. 

Basically what I'm saying is that the service is total shit. However....

THE GOLDIE BAG: I am obsessed with this bag. It's incredible quality, it's a beautiful, sturdy, crisp, white leather, and it was only about $100. I find myself just staring at this bag. I also find myself waiving this bag around like a mad woman hoping someone will notice how absolutely badass it is and give me a compliment while I'm in line at CVS.

The bottom line, for me, is that I will continue using this site because the bag is so freaking fantastic; I will just have to lower my shipping and customer service expectations. As soon as the Alexa bag with rose gold hardware is back in stock, I'll be placing my order and crossing my fingers that it doesn't sell out (again!) before I get my hands on it. 

FOTD: ORANGE CRUSH

FACE: Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, Mac Pro Longwear concealer, blush, bronzer & highlighter from the Tarte Rainforest after Dark palette.

EYES: Anastasia Dipbrow pomade in Taupe, Wet N Wild Trio in Sun-Set to See, Younique 3D Fiber Lashes mascara, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper.

LIPS: Mac lipstick in Morange.

MAKEUP WISHLIST/NO SPEND SEPTEMBER

I have a problem. A spending-too-much-money-on-makeup problem. An I-already-have-a-similar-color-but-it's-only-a-few-bucks problem. A drive-to-Sephora-on-an-impulse problem. So, instead of succumbing to my natural proclivities during the month of September, I've instead decided to make a wish list and refrain from buying any makeup whatsoever next month. 

Here a few things I've totally fallen head over heels for, but won't be buying any time soon:

1. Stila Eyes are the Window Palettes in Mind & Spirit ($49)

2. Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No.7 Palette in Plush ($59)

3. Sonia Kashuk Eye On Neutral Matte Palette ($20)

4. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($62)

5. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone ($38)

6. It Cosmetics CC Cream ($38)

7. Sigma Brilliant & Spellbinding Palette ($39)

8. MAC Flamingo Lipstick ($16)

9. Makeup Geek Face Brush Bundle ($46)

10. Lorac Pro Mega Palette (Pictured below; rumored to be released in November)

Is anyone interested in doing No Spend September with me? Follow the blog on Instagram @navyornothing_, and use #nospendseptember if you are! I'm equal parts nervous and excited, and I'll be sure to report back on October 1 to let you know how I did.

TUTORIAL: WORK WEEK GLAM (NAKED PALETTE)

Today, I thought I'd post a quick tutorial for a look using the original Naked palette. I wanted to wear something to work today that would be polished and office appropriate, but still slightly glam, so this is what I came up with! There's nothing quite like a polished 'do, flawless face, and crisp outfit to really take your Tuesday from "ew" to "ooh!"

1. Using a blending brush (I used the Sigma E35), apply Naked to the crease and blend.

2. Using a flat shader brush, apply Virgin to the inner half of the lid and to the inner corner.

3. Using the same brush, apply Sin to the outer half of the lid.

4. Using a denser, smaller crease brush (I used the ELF Essential Blending Eye Brush), apply Hustle to the outer corner in a "V" shape. 

5. Using the same blending brush from Step 1, go back in the crease with Naked and blend all of your colors out so they're nice and diffused. (If you need to, you can go back in and build back up the colors after they've been blended.)

6. Using a pencil brush, apply Toasted to the lower lash line.

7. Finish with two to three coats of mascara.

And voila! A light look that's appropriate for the office, but still provides some depth and definition by smoking out the outer "V" a bit. 

On my Face: Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation, Mac Prolongwear concealer, NYC Sun & Bronze Bronzer in Montauk Bronze, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed, Stila Highlighter Duo in Kitten, & MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl.

Do y'all have the Naked palette? If so, what are your go-to looks?

MAC, ESTEE LAUDER & ULTA HAUL

This weekend, my mom and I shopped 'til we dropped on one of her last days in Texas. As usual, I got myself into a bit of trouble in the makeup department. We ran through Dillards at Memorial City Mall & then popped over to my local Ulta because I just had to have the Tarte primer shown below.

L to R: Sushi Kiss, Rose Blush, Back to Fuchsia & Morange.

Swatches: Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Back to Fuchsia ($5.50), Rimmel Lipstick in Rose Blush ($5.50), Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick in Morange ($16), & Mac Satin Lipstick in Sushi Kiss ($16).

Clockwise: Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer ($39, available only at Ulta and tartecosmetics.com), Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation ($37), MAC Electric Cool Eyeshadow in Coil ($21, from the new "A Novel Romance" collection) & MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl ($16, this is what Kylie Jenner wears).

Did y'all do any shopping this weekend? Are there any posts you'd like to see involving my most recent purchases? Leave me a comment down below!

Side Note: I got a new camera! What do you think of the photo quality? It's a white Samsung DV150F, and I got it mostly because of the screen on the front. It's amazing for blogging, because when I have to take photos of myself, I can actually see myself in the viewfinder!

RECIPE: CRISPY, SPICY SHRIMP SANDWICHES

Recipe adapted from here.

The first time I ever made these sandwiches was two years ago; my boyfriend was the Editor-in-Chief of our law school's Law Review, and he had spent three whole days and nights locked up in the law school basement doing edits. One night, I surprised him with these sandwiches, some jalapeño kettle chips and a couple of Bud Lights. Needless to say, we've been obsessed with these ever since, and I make them for friends and family on a regular basis.

INGREDIENTS: (Serves four)

1 pound of peeled and deveined raw shrimp (you can absolutely use the frozen kind)

1/2 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder & paprika

8 slices bacon

1 avocado, sliced

Crispy onion strings

Condiment of your choice (I've used garlic aioli, peppercorn ranch and a spicy mayo)

4 sandwich rolls/breads/buns of choice, preferably toasted (I've used ciabatta, focaccia and most recently, onion rolls)

PREPARATION:

Combine flour, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and chili powder in a large bowl and mix with a fork, then set aside.

Using a large skillet, cook bacon until it's crispy. Then remove it and let it drain on a paper towel. Do not turn off heat and do not discard the bacon grease (I don't know why I feel the need to warn you about the bacon grease. If you're reading my blog, you're obviously pro-bacon and would never, ever waste such a delightful liquid).

Toss the shrimp in the flour and spice mixture, then place the shrimp in the skillet with the bacon grease. Pan fry until done (about 2-3 minutes per side). Remove and let drain on a paper towel.

Layer your chosen condiment, slices of bacon, onion strings and avocado on the toasted bun. Then, stack the shrimp on top until it’s a mile high. (These sandwiches are messy, so you may want to smash your sandwich and/or cut it in half before digging in. A fork and napkin will also definitely come in handy.)

Serve with a Southwestern salad or jalapeño chips.

I'M...

...dyeing my hair dark brown (actually, it's more of a "Medium Natural Brown (Truffle)" as the hair dye box describes it).

...craving truffles now. Thanks a lot, Garnier Nutrisse $6 hair dye. (BTW: I would accept either a chocolate truffle and/or a truffle from the ground right now.)

...back at work after nine days off. (!)

...obsessing over Kim Kardashian's outfit last night. 

...also obsessing over Taylor Swift's new song. See this article for how I feel about the people judging me for liking her.

...eating a glorified Lunchable; it's called a Foodle, which makes me think I would've been better off just eating a godforsaken Lunchable so I wouldn't have had to type the word "Foodle" on my blog.

...wearing this lip color in Petal after seeing 100 billion YouTubers talk about how amazing it is. Spoiler alert: it is amazing, so go and getchu some, gurl.

...ready for the Oddball Comedy Fest already. Come on, September 20! Hurry your ass up and get here!

...so glad the Jeep is back in working order after a small $347 repair.

...well rested for the first time in a very long time.

How are you doing on this bright summer Thursday? It's almost the weekend, y'all!

REVIEW: SALLY HANSEN MIRACLE GEL NAIL POLISH

Photo from Harpers Bazaar.

CLAIMS: This nail polish is a two-step process that guarantees to give you a gel manicure without the need to cure your nails under an LED light. It promises opaque color, shine, and up to 14 days of continuous wear. It is also easily removable with just nail polish remover.

PRICE: I got a starter kit that contains one color polish and one topcoat. This was $19.99 at CVS. I also purchased two other single polishes (one was $9 at HEB and the other was $14.99 at CVS).

VERDICT: This is a pretty damn good product, and I will continue to purchase more colors in the line. My fingernails were pretty damaged (I have a bad habit of getting gel manis at a salon and then peeling them off. I know, I know. Sue me.), but this lasted six days with no major chipping. On the 7th and 8th days, the tips started chipping pretty badly, but honestly I didn't care one bit because typical manicures usually only last a couple days on my fingernails. My toenails stayed flawless the entire time I had the polish on. Two things I will do when I use this product in the future: (a) give my nails a good buffing before I apply the product, and (b) apply two coats of the topcoat. One was simply too thin for my taste, and I think two would've prolonged the wear for at least another handful of days. 

Have you tried this product out? If so, what are your thoughts? Have you tried out the Revlon version? 

FAIL

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "J." As in, my Jeep broke down, and I'm stranded three hours from home and have to go back to Houston for work on Thursday. Also as in, I Just started crying. Also as in, Jyeah, I'll have a double vodka rocks, please.

[I know I told you I was going to go back to a regular posting schedule this week, butttt...]

IN & OUT: THREE PRODUCTS I'VE PHASED OUT & THE PRODUCTS I'VE REPLACED THEM WITH

OUT: It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer in Light ($24): This is an amazing concealer, however, it's really, really thick. I found myself craving something more lightweight for the summer, so I knew it was time to rotate this out of my collection for the time being. Another reason I temporarily stopped using this is because it's super duper light. I bought the fairest color, which was fine in the winter time, but now that I've been spending some time in the sun, it made me look like I was wearing a white mask. This is not a permanent replacement; just a temporary switch.

IN: Mac Prolongwear Concealer in NC20 ($20): Now, for a lot of people, this wouldn't be considered a "lightweight" concealer, but compared to the Bye Bye Undereye, it feels like water. I wasn't thrilled with this when I first purchased it, and I think the only reason why is the color. I was matched to NC20, but it didn't give me that glowy, highlighted effect. Now that it's summer, it's just light enough to brighten my under eyes without being Kardashian-esque. Tip of the Day: If you have this and hate it, try a heavy duty under eye cream. It can be drying, but when I use it in conjunction with my Kiehls Avocado Eye Cream, it goes on seamlessly and blends like a dream. 

PERMANENT VS. TEMPORARY: This is absolutely a temporary shift. I have a feeling I'll go back and forth between these two under eye concealers for a very, very long time.

OUT: St. Tropez Bronze Tanning Mousse in Dark ($44): This a great tanning mousse. It's better than the original formula because it's so incredibly dark, and it lasts almost a week on me. However, the tan indicator is green. It's green. So if you slather this on, you can't just wait for it to dry and go out to dinner with your girlfriends. Unless you wear jeans and a turtleneck. (Or unless you're just that ballsy. In which case, props to you, sista.)

IN: St. Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse in Dark ($12): I stumbled upon this at Ulta in the drugstore tanning side. I had heard a few YouTubers talking about it, so I thought I'd give it a try. It's not as dark as the St. Tropez, and it doesn't last as long on my skin. But it has two major pros: The tan indicator is a beautiful bronze, and it's 1/4 the price.

PERMANENT VS. TEMPORARY: This will be a permanent shift for me. Because of the St. Moriz $12 price tag, there's just really no way to justify buying the $44 St. Tropez version, even if it means I'll have to apply the St. Moriz one a bit more frequently. 

OUT: Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial ($45): I had heard rave reviews about this Sleeping Facial from Jaclyn Hill on YouTube. I thought it was a good product, and I used it all up. But... it smells weird. Maybe it smells like Greek yogurt...? It smells... bad. It's. Guys. It's just bad. I ran out of words trying to describe this. Bleh. 

IN: Mario Badescu Protein Night Cream ($20): First of all, this is less than half the price of the Korres. Secondly, this makes my skin look amazing. I put it on before bed, and when I wake up in the morning my skin is visibly more plump and firm. My pores look smaller and my fine lines are diminished. And lastly, it doesn't stink! It smells kind of "all-natural" if you know what I mean, but it doesn't smell like bad dairy products. 

PERMANENT VS. TEMPORARY: This will also be a permanent shift for me. The best part about the Mario Badescu Protein cream is that my skin looks fan-freaking-tastic. And isn't what what we're all after?!

I hope you liked this post! I got the idea from TTSandra on YouTube. She just did an In & Out Haul, and I had never seen anything quite like it before. It's a mix between a haul, a review and an empties post, and I'm pretty much in love. Are there any new things you've rotated into your routine lately? I'm dying to know if there's anything else I should replace in my collection.

SORRY!

The Internet at our beach house was awful, so I wasn't able to post on Friday. To make up for it, here's a picture of Olive looking like a stone cold weirdo. 

I'll be back on a regular posting schedule starting tomorrow!

FOTD & OOTD

Here's my makeup and outfit from yesterday. I just ran errands and hung out with family friends, so I wanted an effortless look. Ignore my hair. It looks like a rat's nest. The thing is, my hair used to be curly and beautiful. Then I cut it all off. Then I straightened it for 6 months straight. So the first time I tried to wear it naturally... this happened. Uhhhhhh it looks... interesting? 

MAKEUP: Garnier BB Cream & eye look from this post.

OUTFIT: Top & shorts from Forever 21; bralette from Fabletics; shoes & sunglasses from Tory Burch; necklaces from Anomie & Kendra Scott.

CURRENTLY COVETING, CRAVING & CARING ABOUT...

...Robin Williams. I flat out started bawling when I saw Jimmy Fallon's tribute to him last night. Robin was one of the best there ever was. Ever. And Jimmy's a total class act.

...these shrimp and gouda grits.

...this ridiculously perfect/minimalist phone case.

...these herb salted garlic parmesan fries.

...all four of these absolutely perfect palettes.

...this all over perfect hair cut/color/style.

...these Taylor headphones (they're rose gold. ::swoooooon::)

...The Giver. (This was the first book that I read in school and actually totally loved. Anyone else?)

...this Elisa pendant necklace. (Rainbow sparklesssss!!!!)

...these YouTube videos making fun of the Internet's spelling & grammar.

What are you coveting, craving or caring about this week? Anything on your radar that I totally missed?

EASIEST EVER COOKIES

These cookies are a total hit and people always think they took me hours to bake. But the truth is, they take about five minutes to prep and 10 minutes to bake! They're light like a cake but bite-sized like a cookie. My whole family is obsessed, and I have been making them for years now!

INGREDIENTS:

One box lemon cake mix

Two large eggs

One 8-ounce container of Cool Whip

Powdered sugar (for rolling the cookies in)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Mix cake mix, cool whip and eggs until dough forms. Dough will be very thick (Also cold. You're putting an entire container of frozen dairy product into the mix, duh.).

3. Scoop teaspoons of dough into a bowl of powdered sugar. Coat each teaspoon entirely.

4. Place each sugar-covered teaspoon of dough on a greased cookie sheet, about one inch apart. 

5. Bake 8-12 minutes. (FYI: I have an old oven and mine takes exactly 9 minutes for perfect cookies.)

You can use any cake mix for these cookies, so the sky really is the limit. Maybe strawberry? Chocolate? Funfetti? If you try this recipe out or if you have a cookie recipe that you're hooked on, let me know in the comments down below!

WHAT I PACKED: TRAVEL MAKEUP BAG

I'm currently on vacation (I randomly decided to take a week and a half off to spend time with my family (they live overseas and are just in Texas visiting for a couple of weeks) and go to the beach). But before I left town, I went on the hunt for a nice matching set of makeup bags, and decided on these. I got the train case, the 3 piece purse kit and the beauty organizer. I wanted to keep my makeup and toiletries organized for the entirety of my vacation for once in my life, and the Orla Kiely makeup bags I got are helping me accomplish just that! I packed the typical necessities, all of my skincare products and a good amount of makeup.

Lippies: Maybelline Vivids in Neon Red, MAC Candy Yum Yum, ModelCo Party Proof Matte lipstick in Red Velvet, Wet N Wild Cherry Picking, Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm & Baby Lips Crystal in Mirrored Mauve.

FACE: It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness, MAC Prolongwear concealer, L'Oreal Magic Lumi primer, Maybelline Magic Nude Liquid to Powder foundation, Stila Highlighter Duo in Kitten, Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder,Milani Baked Bronzer, Revlon Colorstay foundation, Urban Decay De-slick makeup setting spray, Maybelline Dream Wonder powder & Maybelline Master Hi-Light Bronzer. (My Garnier BB Cream exploded while I was in Mexico last month, but I'll be heading to the store ASAP to replace it before we go to the beach.)

EYES: Mally Beauty Shadow Stick in Saddle Shimmer, Kat Von D Tattoo liner, Lorac Pocket PRO Palette, Lorac eye primer, Wet N Wild Suburban Jungle palette, Younique 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara, Z Palette (containing MAC & Makeup Geek shadows), Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint in Chestnut Taupe (FYI: These are a great dupe for the new Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor eyeshadows), Wet N Wild Brûlée eyeshadow, Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Taupe & Jordana Best Lash Extreme mascara.

I wanted to have enough makeup on hand to (a) create a multitude of daytime and nighttime looks, and (b) not take up five feet of space in my suitcases. I've been sticking to the Maybelline foundation, a light eye, and a strong winged eyeliner so far, but I can't wait to play with more of the goodies I packed! Later this week, I'll be posting my "No Makeup Makeup Look" because I plan on rocking it for my entire beach vacation.

Are there any products you absolutely can't forget on your vacation? Did I pack anything you love? Or hate? Let me know in the comments below!

FIVE MINUTE FLAWLESS EYE

Today I wanted a defined, mess-free, matte, easy peasy eye look. I used Makeup Geek Creme Brûlée shadow in the crease, Wet N Wild Brûlée on the lid and brow bone and Mally Beauty Shadow Stick in Saddle Shimmer. My eyeliner is Kat Von D Tattoo liner in Trooper & my mascara is the Younique 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara.

To achieve my Kylie Jenner-esque look: Place a warm shade in your crease and blend until it's very diffused. Then take a matte cream color and pat that on your eyelid and brow bone. Apply winged liner and mascara, then smoke out your bottom lash line with the color of your choice. Personally, I think this would be an amazing look with a turquoise bottom lash line!

Let me know what you'd like to see on the blog next week! I'm out of ideas and up for suggestions!

FOUNDATION ROUTINE: A FULL COVERAGE, DEWY SUMMER LOOK

Today, I was getting ready for work and I realized I didn't have a dewy foundation routine that was also full coverage and totally flawless. (I've been sticking to the L'Oreal and Maybelline lightweight liquid-to-powder foundations lately.) A few minutes later, I had come up with this look, and I'm thrilled with the way it turned out. And no, I didn't use a filter on these pictures--my skin looks that glowy in person today (which you may totally hate, and think I look like I'm covered in glitter, but to each his own, amiright?).

Products I used: It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness, Mac Prolongwear Concealer in NC20, Maybelline Dream Wonder powder, L'Oreal Magic Lumi primer, Maybelline Master Hi-Light bronzer in Light Bronze (used as blush), Laura Mercier Secret Brightening powder, Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray, Milani baked bronzer in Golden, Revlon Colorstay foundation & Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Maximum Coverage concealer. Not pictured: Stila highlighter duo in Kitten & Tarte Park Ave Princess bronzer.

How to get the look:

Prime. I primed my face first with the Magic Lumi primer, and then I used the Bye Bye Redness in my trouble areas.

Perfect. Then I applied my Colorstay foundation with a damp Beauty Blender. Tip of the Day: If you want a full coverage look in summer, but don't want your makeup to feel too heavy, use a Beauty Blender to apply your foundation instead of a brush or your fingertips.

Conceal. I then concealed my under eye area with the Mac Prolongwear concealer and covered any blemishes or remaining redness with the Elizabeth Arden concealer.

Powder. Next, I set my under eye concealer with the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening powder and set my face with the Maybelline Dream Wonder powder. Tip of the Day: If you want your makeup to look flawless, but not cakey, be absolutely 100% sure that your concealer and foundation have already set. You don't want to apply powder directly onto the wet foundation/concealer. (The Revlon Colorstay takes forever to set, so I went ahead and did my eyebrows and eyes while I waited.)

Contour. Once my face was powdered, I contoured the hollows of my cheeks and the sides of my nose with my Tarte Park Ave Princess bronzer.

Bronze. Then, I went in and bronzed my face with a shimmery bronzer from Milani. I bronzed my forehead, temples and cheeks.

Blush. I used the Maybelline Master Hi-Light bronzer as my blush today because it gives you an amazing glow, and it's not too pink.

Highlight. Yes, I already did use a shimmery primer, shimmery bronzer and shimmery blush, but I'm a glutton, and I just needed MORE. So I highlighted the tops of my cheeks and the bridge of my nose with the Stila Kitten duo.

Set. Lastly, I sprayed a generous amount of the Urban Decay setting spray to keep everything in place all day long.

What's your go-to foundation been on these hot summer days? Are you more of a full-glam or a BB Cream kinda girl? 

LINKS I LOVE

1. Everything's coming up Chris Pratt these days. (I sincerely hope y'all recognize the "Zoolander" meme, and you don't think I'm some sort of freaky weirdo for posting random pictures of Will Ferrell in a costume.)

2. I don't know why this is proving to be a trend with me, but if you want to cry at your desk today, read the story of this animal shelter's most "un-adoptable cat."

3. Remember how I told you that I'm obsessed with Jurassic Park? You have to see this. When I clicked this link yesterday, I literally said out loud to myself, "GET OUTTA TOWN!"

4. DAMN IT, KENDI. AGAIN?!

5. I have a feeling that this Pasta al Limone recipe from Cupcakes & Cashmere is going to change my life. I can't wait until I get to force my boyfriend to make it for me while I sip chardonnay on the couch.

6. Okay, so I watched all of True Detective in one day this past weekend (hey, hey it's only eight hours total). The best way I can think to describe it? A TV version of "The Silence of the Lambs." Annnnd, I'll be honest, that's not a great description.

7. Proof that we are unworthy of breathing the same air as J.K. Rowling.

8. I smell like... beef?

9. Are you freaking kidding me? A home office with Pepto Bismol pink walls? One day my friends, this will be mine. One day.

10. Texas, Texas, YEEHAW.

What have you been loving from around the interwebs this week? Anything amazing that slipped right past me?

YOUNIQUE 3D FIBER LASHES MASCARA REVIEW

I've got a pretty interesting review to share with you today. I had the chance to test out the Younique 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara, and I jumped at the chance. If you're like me, you've probably seen a billion posts about this mascara on your Facebook Newsfeed by now. I'll admit, at first I was skeptical (like I'm sure most of you are), but in all honesty, this mascara exceeded all of my expectations. I've used it for a week straight now, so I've got a pretty good idea of how I feel about this product. FYI: I tried taking pictures of my normal lashes for a comparison, but you can't even see them in photos. They're mid length and super blonde.

HOW TO USE IT:

Here's how the product works: You use this one eye at a time. First, you'll apply one coat of your favorite mascara. Then, you'll apply one coat of the Transplanting Gel. Before that dries, you'll apply the Natural Fibers. Lastly, to seal everything in, you'll apply one last coat of the Transplanting Gel. Tip of the Day: If you've already bought this, or if you're thinking about it, one thing to keep in mind is that the fibers work best if you apply them to the top side of your lashes instead of the bottom like a regular mascara!

PROS:

1. Volume & Length: This absolutely, 100% will make your lashes both extremely volumized and extremely long. I have mid length lashes that are very blonde, and they looked incredible when I used this mascara. 

2. Softness: I'm a mascara layer-er (inventing words is kind of my forte), so I've gotten used to crispy, crunchy lashes over the last 13 years of using makeup. The thing that surprised me the most about this mascara is how freaking soft my lashes felt. You can barely tell you have mascara on when you apply this. It's not only soft, but it's featherlight, too. I caught myself feeling my lashes nonstop the first day I tried out this mascara.

3. Pigmentation: The fibers are black and so is the Transplanting Gel. And they're not just black, they're jet black. I like my lashes to be as dark as humanly possible, and this product delivered just that.

4. Long-wearing: This is extremely long-wearing. As I explained in my mascara post, I always seal everything in with a coat of waterproof mascara because I have oily eyelids. I wanted to test this out properly, so I only used the Transplanting Gel to finish off the look. The first night I wore it, I had it on for nine hours and it didn't transfer at all. Not to my brow bone, nor down to my under eye area. I haven't had one single issue with this transferring or flaking since I first started using it.

5. Easy Removal: There's nothing worse than a mascara that either (a) is easy to remove, but transfers all over your face or (b) lasts all day but can't be removed no matter how hard you try. This mascara lasts for ages, but when you go to remove it, it comes off in seconds. I washed my face in the shower and when I got out, I expected it to be all over my face. But the mascara was gone. It was just  totally gone! 

CONS:

1. Price: If you're a drugstore girl, you'll probably balk at the $29 price tag, which is understandable. But for those of us out there that enjoy a splurge every now and again, this is worth your time and money.

2. Mild Irritation: I have issues with all mascaras and eyeliners. They pretty much all irritate my eyes, and this product is no different. I notice some uncomfortableness every so often, but honestly, for me it's not any different than with any other eye product.

3. The Need for a Separate Mascara: This isn't a problem for me, really, since I'm a makeup hoarder, and I currently have seven (seven!!) tubes of open mascara, but if you're looking to use this to replace every mascara you own, you'll still want to have one good one on hand for the first step of the process. My all-time favorite is the Jordana Best Lash Extreme, which is $2.99 at Walgreens, so a good option would be to purchase that one in conjunction with the Younique 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara.

VERDICT:

Give it a shot. Seriously, give it a shot! Your lashes will be long, volumized, jet black and soft as all get out. I give this a 4.5/5, and will absolutely be purchasing this from my friend Paige in the future. 

Is this on your wish list? Or have you already tried out this product? If so, let me know your thoughts down in the comments! 

NAVY EYES & NUDE LIPS: A TUTORIAL

After I brought home the Milani Bella Eyes eyeshadows on Thursday last week, I couldn't resist digging right in. I created this look for my Friday night date at Eleven.Eleven for Houston Restaurant Weeks. I had a ton of fun with this look, but the only reaction I got out of the boyfriend was, "oh... Yeah... Uh... I definitely noticed your eye makeup." So if you're into bolder looks, or if you want to scare the crap out of your boyfriend, then just keep reading for a full tutorial!

1. Prime your eyelids with a good primer. I used the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, which is the best primer I've ever used.

2. Take Bella Cappucino, which is a satin matte cool-toned brown, on a fluffy blending brush and run it through your crease. Make sure your crease is nice and blended out, because working with dark colors on the lid can be a total pain in the ass.

3. Wet a flat shader brush using Mac Fix+ or a setting spray like Urban Decay All Nighter and use it to apply Bella Navy, another satin matte, all over the lid. You'll want to pat this on your lid instead of using sweeping motions in order to get the best color payoff. Another must is wetting your brush. I first applied the shadow dry but was unsatisfied with the color, so I went back in with the color on a wet shader brush.

4. Take Bella Cappucino and blend it through your crease again. This is the most time consuming part of the look because you want your Navy color to blend seamlessly into the Cappuccino color. If you think you're done blending, you're not. Blend again and again and again until your arm feels like it's going to fall off.

5. Take Bella Bronze on a pencil brush and blend this on your lower lash line. You could use any color for the lower lash line, but I'm a sucker for using bronzy shades along mine because it really seems to make my eyes pop.

6. Lastly, apply Wet N Wild's Brûlée to the brow bone and Make Up Geek's Shimma Shimma to the inner corner.

To finish off the eyes, I used the Kat Von D Tattoo liner in Trooper to wing out my eyeliner and used the Younique 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara on my lashes. I'll be posting a review of the Younique mascara later this week, so stay tuned for that!

For the rest of the face, I went for a dewy, bronzy look with neutral colored cheeks and lips. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that maybe it inspires you to use a crazy color on your eyes over the next few days! The Milani Bella Eyes eyeshadows have a ton of beautiful bright colors and can be found at most Walgreens for just $3.99 a piece.

DRUGSTORE HAUL

If you follow the beauty community on the Internet, then you've probably heard about the Milani Bella Eyeshadows. They're $3.99 and are supposed to be amazing. So yesterday, I went on the hunt to find them and I picked up some extra little presents, too. (And by "extra little presents," I mean I spent $59 at Walgreens in 15 minutes... Whoops.)

From L to R: L'Oreal Magic Lumi primer, L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder foundation, EOS Visibly soft lip balm, Milani Bella Eyeshadows in Bella Champagne, Bella Navy, Bella Violet, Bella Cappucino & Bella Bronze, Milani Baked Bronzer, Wet N Wild Cherry Picking lipstick & Wet N Wild Suburban Jungle palette.

That's all for today, folks. Keeping it short and sweet so I can enjoy some champagne and relax! Let me know if you'd like to see a review or a tutorial on any of the things I hauled today!