A Beautiful Spring Day

All I can say is, thank goodness it's Friday! I need some time off to regenerate. On the way to a coffee shop to help my husband study for a test, I had him snap some shots of today's outfit. Comfy, springy, and so me! The cardigan is my favorite item in my wardrobe at the moment. It is soft , flowy, and looks way more expensive than it is (Forever 21). It goes with everything!

My nails are currently painted in Essie's royal blue color "Mesmerize".

The tank top is from Anthropologie, and once I saw it, I knew I had to have it. It is all hand painted, which makes washing a delicate process, and quite the chore, but I feel it is worth it to be able to wear such beautiful art.

♥Emily

Inlove with Inslee

The next time you need some thank you cards or invitations, look no further than Inslee. Inslee Haynes grew up in beautiful Virginian suburbia, which is where I'm lucky enough to be living now.

Her fashionable illustrations are unimaginably gorgeous

She sells cards for all sorts of occasions, as well as stationary and calendars. I'd also recommend checking out her blog, The Sketch Book.

Pimmit Hills

Just down the street from my apartment complex is a little neighborhood called Pimmit Hills. It was once a sparkling new suburbia for military families. Now, it's a little run-down, but the neighborhood has character, and lots of avid gardeners.

I managed to get some pretty spring pics before the thunderstorm that is brewing outside as I type.

 Beauty can not be restrained by mere chains

 

Pure white petals

The most vibrant flowers I've ever seen... I did not touch the saturation on this photo!

 A neighborhood of history and warmth

 These blossoms are so beautiful, they seem unreal!

 Cascades of tiny white blooms

 A lone fairy stands in a sparse garden...hopefully soon to be surrounded by lush plant-life.

XOXO Emily

Spring Finds from Forever 21

I'm a firm believer in shopping in unexpected places to find things that look much more expensive than they are. I have become a self-proclaimed Forever 21 "connoisseur". Forever 21 is, in my opinion, hit-and-miss when looking for clothes. I tend to know how to weed out the cheaper looking items and seek out the better quality pieces.

In honor of spring, I'd like to highlight some of my favorite new pieces from Forever 21. I had so much fun taking these pics today in the warm sunshine!

 Grey Cotton T-strap Flats

 Floral Print Sun Dress

 Grey Tribal Sandals

 T-Strap Floral Platforms

And I'd like to leave off with my beautiful hanging basket, which I arranged myself. :) I love spring!

Note: This is not an endorsement for Forever 21.

Fall Fashion Day 3

Dark Lips

One of my favorite classic looks for fall is dark lips. With a rich dark lip color, you instantly look pulled together, sophisticated, and mysterious. With this look, it's important to keep the rest of your look simple. Your lips will be so dramatic, you won't want to load on the blush or have a dark eye.

My ideal look with red lips is a simple beige shadow, mascara, and hair that doesn't had much thought put into it. In fact, the messier, the better. Blush is optional, and often omitted. It's a very European look.

Since I sport this look so often, I have several different dark shades in my makeup case, so I'm going to share them with you. Most of them are drugstore, so they're decently priced.

Rimmel Moisture Renew in 540 Burgundy Lustre About $5

Rimmel has been wowing me with many of their products, mascara and lipstick being the most impressive. Their moisture renew feels amazing on the lips, and comes in several flattering, rich colors.

L'oreal Colour Riche in #860 Spice About $5-6

This color has a lot more of an orange-brown undertone than the previous. It doesn't look so brown once it's on your lips. The color is a lot more matte than the previous, and richer.

Wet n Wild Mega Colors in 907B Blackberry about $1!

Now, I'm letting you in  on a little secret. This has been my favorite red lipstick for several years, and I've actually already finished off one tube. I love finding diamonds in the rough. So many people automatically assume that cheap means bad quality, so they don't even look. I feel that it's worth scanning through to see if there is an exception. Well, this is it. The color looks so expensive and beautiful!

Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain in 425 Plum Pout about $8

I've been eager to try some stains to see how well they work. I lucked out on my first try with this one. It is like using a marker, and is incredibly easy to apply. Just be very careful that you stay within the lines. It will not come off!

Fresh Sugar Rose & Sugar Plum $22.50 each
These last two are more spendy, but I had to include them. One of these need to be in everyone's purse. I can't say enough good things about how beautiful they look and feel, and how well they nourish your lips (SPF 15 also). These can be worn alone, or to finish off a look with lip stain. (As you can see, I couldn't get the lip stain off with makeup remover before taking this picture).