Friday Five: Links I Love

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I will be sharing some of my favorite sites to browse through, shop on, or just look at on a daily basis. You may recognize some, but I hope at least one of them is new to you! Make sure you make it to #5 - I'm sharing one of my online shopping secrets (I guess it's not really a secret anymore) to save some money! Enjoy :)

1. GroopDealz:

GroopDealz is an adorable website I discovered about a year ago when browsing through Pinterest. It is filled with boutique style sales that are offered at great prices. I always purchase fashion jewelry through this site and am also loving the home decor category. There are so many cute and creative things that you can find on this site. Definitely one of my favorite links to look at - trust me, you'll love it!

Check out GroopDealz right here!

2. The Beauty Department

As far back as MTV's Laguna Beach days, Lauren Conrad has been one of my favorite celebrities to follow for fashion and beauty. She has a classic style that has really evolved over time. When it comes to hair and makeup she always looks stunning. When her beauty team launched 'The Beauty Department' I was immediately hooked. There are tons of tutorials, ideas, and beauty inspirations on this site and I absolutely love it.

Check it out here.

3. Yummly

Okay, so this is basically the Pinterest for food. Whenever I am looking to bake something new, I look here first for recipes. The site is so neat and organized and makes finding what I'm looking for so simple. I love that there's a serving update button so that you can use the recipe to fit your needs. There's even an app for easy mobile access!

Check it out here.

4. Tone It Up

So I know I mentioned this site in my Get Fit with Youtube post (as seen here) but in case you haven't seen that post or haven't heard of this site I want to make sure I include it here! These girls, Karena and Katrina are my trainers and are a huge part of my life (they helped me lose 10 lbs!). They provide me with weekly workout schedules to keep me on track and stay motivated. They promote a healthy lifestyle in the cutest and most non-boring way possible. As much as I hate working out, they make it a little more enjoyable. I highly recommend checking them out!

Check out Tone It Up here!

5. Ebates

This little baby here is one of my shopping secrets. If you like to online shop like me, this site is going to be your new best friend. You literally get paid back a little for the shopping you were already going to do. Here's how it works: you go on to Ebates, click the link of the site you're going to shop on, and then you get a percentage of cash back on your purchase. Then they send you something called a "big fat check" every few months with whatever cash back you've earned. Over the past few years, I've made a total of $300 back (mainly from all the holiday online shopping I do!) - but now I have $300 more than I would have had without using Ebates. It's actually kind of silly if you don't use this site for online shopping.

Be sure to check out Ebates right here!

Have a great weekend!!

xox,

                 Meredith

Face of the Day: A Simple Summer Glow

Hello, Hello! Today I have for you a quick face of the day post. If you've never heard of "FOTD" short for Face of the Day (which I guess is pretty self explanatory), it's basically a list of all the makeup products you used on your face that particular day. So now if you ever see the hashtag #FOTD, you'll know exactly what it means! My makeup in general always kind of stays on the lines of a natural look. I just like to add a little bit more 'glow' in the summer.

The foundation I used is by Loreal called True Match Lumi, which is pretty lightweight but leaves a nice dewy finish. Over my concealer I added a little bit of a highlight with my MAC Prep + Prime Highlight Stick in the shade 'Radiant Rose' to really brighten up my under-eye area. I of course set everything with my MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in the shade 'Medium'. I went for a real simple eye using my Naked Basics Palette by Urban Decay, just using the lightest shade all over my lid, and the neutral shade in my crease (4th shadow in). I lightly lined my upper lash line and applied a bunch of mascara. For my cheeks I used my Sonia Kashuk bronzer/blush duo and then just added a little of my favorite highlighter to the tops of my cheekbones. I finished the look off with some of my NYX butter gloss in the shade 'Eclair' and called it a day. The only product not shown is my brow powder, which is by a brand called Kelly Baker Brows. It's a medium ash brown shade that I applied with an angled brush. Look below for pics! :)

Links Below!

Here are the products in action! P.S. don't mind my messy hair ;)

xox,

                   Meredith

Summer Trend: Exotically Tropical

Today I want to share a summer trend with you that I've literally been seeing everywhere - on fashion bloggers, in magazines, in the stores I shop at - and I'm not talking about the not so cute typical Hawaiian floral button down that your Uncle wears (sorry Tommy Bahama). I'm talking real exotic tropical prints and the current pineapple phenomenon. Although this trend is completely seasonal (I doubt you'd rock your pineapple romper in the winter), it's a really cool trend because it's so unique and bold. It literally screams summer and incorporates all these bright colors you may not typically get to wear during any other season. I think I'm definitely going to grab a pair of tropical printed shorts and maybe some bright colored earrings. Look below for a slideshow of more styles and links to everything!

Pineapple Playsuit / Tropical Playsuit / Pineapple Top / Tropical Peplum Top / Tropical Print Shorts / Leaf Print Skirt / Pineapple Shorts / Black Tropical Cami / Tropical Bralet / Paradise Shorts



Slideshow & Links Below!

Will you be trying out the tropical trend?

xox,

                Meredith

July Beauty Wish List

I hope everyone is either nice and relaxed or hungover from their holiday weekend. Either way, that's how I know you had a nice weekend! Today I've put together a few beauty items that I've been wanting and have heard great things about. Some of these products are fairly new, including the Lorac Pro 2 Palette and the Loreal Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara. Others are just products that I've literally heard so much about and need to try for myself, such as the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, and the infamous Beauty Blender. I've already ordered the Brow Wiz in the shade 'Soft Brown' and am waiting for it's arrival along with the Hourglass Femme Nude Lipstick in shade no. 2. I've also been on the hunt for a new BB Cream to use during the summer and read such great reviews for the Tarte Illuminating BB Moisturizer. There's something about the word 'illuminating' that makes me really want to try it. Links for all products are provided below!

Links Below!

1. Loreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - Soft Brown

3. Lorac PRO Palette 2

4. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

5. Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo - Nude No. 2

6. Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick

7. BECCA Shimmer Skin Perfector Pressed Powder - Moonstone

8. Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Illuminating Moisturizer

9. The Original BeautyBlender













What's on your July Beauty Wish List?




xox,
                   Meredith

Friday Five: Last Minute Ways to Look Patriotic

Happy 4th Everyone! No matter where you go today, almost everyone will be sporting some sort of red, white, or blue. If you haven't had time to think about it, it's easy to get frustrated when trying to incorporate all three colors - the red shirt you thought you had seems to have magically disappeared from your closet and you don't own anything with an American Flag on it. Well here are some last minute ways you may be able to find helpful to complete your red, white, and blue!

1. Red Lips - If you cannot find anything red to wear, why not try it out on your lips? A quick run to the drugstore is all you need. If you're not used to the whole red lip look, I recommend going for more of tinted lip balm or butter.


2. Nail Polish - This is one of the most common ways to look a little more patriotic. Grab any red, white, and/or blue nail polish, allow yourself a little time to dry and you're good to go!


3. Blue Eyeliner - I know I have a couple of these laying around in my makeup drawer, so if you do too, add a little blue eyeliner to your water line instead of the usual black.


4. Red Bandana - Here's an easy way to incorporate some red into your look. Use a red bandana as a headband. It not only gets you your instant red, but it gets your hair out of your face!


5. Blue Denim - I'm going to safely assume that everyone owns at least some sort of blue denim. It's probably one of the easiest ways to incorporate blue into your outfit. Think about it, I think blue denim has always been the new black.







Have an amazing, fun, and safe 4th of July Weekend!

xox,
                  Meredith

June Beauty Favorites

Now that we are moving right along in July, I wanted to share some of the beauty products that I've been loving the entire month of June and will continue to use. Now bare with my descriptions of the products, as I am still stick and my concentration is limited to edit - so I don't really remember what I wrote - but it's all down below!

Links Below!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

1. MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Primer: I have been using this primer all month long underneath my foundation. I especially love to use it with my MAC Mineralize Foundation because it keeps it in place and lasting longer. I also like how smooth it makes my face feel before I apply anything else. One pump of this stuff goes a long way!

2. MAC Mineralize Foundation:  I have been really enjoying this foundation beacuse it is lightweight and leaves my skin with a nice dewy finish. I have tried it without primer, and it just didn't last as long - so I would definitely recommend using a primer. The finish of this foundation is beautiful though.

3. Milani Baked Bronzer - Glow: This stuff has probably been my most favorited (is that a word?) (it is now!) beauty products of June. I have been using this bronzer every day to really give me a glowing look. It is sheer and subtle so I pretty much go to town with applying this all over my face and neck. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for that fresh summer glow!

4. MAC Matte Lipstick - Pink Plaid: I finally have this lipstick back in my life! My mom permanently borrowed my first tube of this lipstick and she wears it everyday. I've been doing the same since I purchased a new one - It is the perfect cool toned pink lip color. Definitely one of my favorite MAC lipsticks ever.

5. Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Eyeliner - Black Velvet: This eyeliner came to me in one of my Ipsy glam bags and I've been using it ever since. I really like it because it applies nice and smoothly and isn't as intense of a black. It's more of a soft black, which is what I always prefer in my waterline. 

6. Essie - Ole Caliente - I have been loving this color for summer. It is kind of a mix between a bright red with a slight hint of pink. It really pops, especially now that my skin is getting a little tanner.

7. Jergens Natural Glow - This is reoccurring favorite that makes its way into my life every June. I love to use this lotion to enhance my tan after I've spent a day in the sun. I'm still not crazy about the smell (that self- tanner lotion smell that seems to be universal) but I find it's not as strong in this particular brand. I always make sure to buy the medium to tan shade because the light to medium always comes out too orange. This product isn't just a June favorite, it's also a summer must have!

8. The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer - If you want some extra glow - try this stuff! I love lightly applying this on top of my cheekbones to highlight my face. I always apply this last and like I said before, lightly! A little bit goes a long way, otherwise you'll have shimmer city on your face. The champagne color is beautiful though and it can even double as an eye shadow - sometimes I plop it right in the inner corners to brighten. 

What have you been loving in the month of June?

xox,

                    Meredith

4th of July Outfit Ideas & Inspiration

Today I have a quick post for you because I've been a little sickie stuck in bed for the past three days (who even gets sick in the summer?). So I'm going to get right to the point and show you some outfit ideas for the 4th! Of course anything red, white, & blue will work, but here are some ideas and inspiration of how to tie it all together. I'll probably be sticking with something along the lines of the first outfit since my 4th of July will be on the casual side, especially since I'll probably still be recovering - no cocktails for me :( - have one for me?




Outfit #1:

Top / Shorts / Sandals / Bracelet / Bandana / Butter Gloss (Eclair) / Nail Polish

Outfit #2:

Top / Shorts / Sandals / Bag / Necklace / Ring / Lipstick (Good Taste) / Nail Polish

Outfit #3:

Top / Shorts / Sandals / Bag / Bracelet / Necklace / Lip Gloss / Nail Polish

xox,

                  Meredith