Finally the Weekend

So this is me being real glad it's the weekend.

I swear, guys, I haven't had such a stressful semester since the one where I was preparing for Specialization Review and developed Anxiety Disorder. For some reason I don't think I bitched (publicly) about it as much then? This week was a drag. But hey, it's over, and I'm going to make some truly yummy foods this weekend. I've been eating pizza bagels and chex mix a ton... My days off are what's keeping me going!

I've been kind of caught up in planning things lately: my thesis project, our Senior Show, a little beach day over Spring Break, our Italy tirp in May. Finding a place to live... I guess I'll go ahead and address this on the blog:

Travis didn't get into the grad schools he wanted to go to (maybe because he doesn't have much professional experience, because his GRE scores were through the roof), and so we're planning on staying in Columbia for at least the next year, and we're going to move in together! Real exciting stuff. I'm glad we're staying in SC, because although moving away would be fun, I'd like to ease my way into being an adult, and Cola is only a 2 hour drive from home.

I'm really sorry if all the holy-shit-my-life-is-about-to-change drama is boring for y'all, but it's been preoccupying me as of late! Can't help it!

Dress, Belt: Thrifted

Socks: Old Navy

Shoes: UO

Hat: Walmart

Here's a wiggle dance for the weekend! (I can't wait to go to Goodwill!!)

Midis and Mental Breakdowns

Whoa just when did it get so minimalist up in here?!

I've always considered my self more of a short skirt gal, but lately I've been liking the midi look. There's nothin wrong with showing off your legs, but there's nothing wrong with covering them up either! 

You. Do. You.

It got real warm here in SC all of the sudden... and I'm not complaining. Suddenly I can bare my unshaven legs for the whole world to see! I love it. I missed the warm weather, and even though we'll probably have another cold snap soon, I'm kinda crossing my fingers that we don't.

In other news, school is a bitch, my hair is a rainbow, and I'm counting down the days until my life changes.

I don't know if I've made this clear on the blog, but I've had a drink on an empty stomach and I'm ready to admit to the internet that I am damn terrified of graduation... I've been a student for 16 years now and I'm real good at it. Come May I'm going to have to be an adult and I'm just praying the universe throws me a bone. Like, how do you even go about getting freelance work? 

Do you ever just look at everyone on your facebook and wonder how you've changed so much and it seems like they're all part of someone else's life? I can't even believe that there are people out there that don't identify as feminist. Like, how did I get here?

Shirt: Dapper Ink

Skirt, Shoes: Thrifted

Necklace: Forever 21

Bee Pins: Vintage in Color on Etsy

I'm sure the next time I post my words will make more sense. In the mean time, tell me about your transition from school to the "real world."

My Makeup Stash

Today I'm giving you guys a tour of my makeup stash!

These are the products I use most. I'm gonna break them down into categories for you and tell you which ones are my very favorites!

FACE

My skin is on the oily side, has yellow undertones, and a few breakouts.

-Aveeno Positively Radiant Lotion: This is a new addition because I wanted a moisturizer, since my acne medication dries me out. I also wanted something with SPF. I really like it! It gives me a nice glow.

-Maybelline Fit Me Concealer: I don't have a strong opinion on this stuff. I use it under my eyes, and the color matches my skin well. I rub it in with my fingers.

-Revlon Balm Stain: I use this stuff as blush. I haven't tried any prestige brand blushes that I'm super impressed with, so I've just been using this. I have another one for my lips. As a blush, it works well. I really like the orange color with my skin.

EYEBROWS

For awhile I was looking into Urban Decay's Brow Box, but I just haven't taken the plunge because I didn't really like the tester I tried at Ulta.

Disposable Mascara Wand: I use this to brush my brows out first.

Angle Brush: I apply the shadow with this angle brush.

Maybelline Eye Shadow: I use this to fill in my brows. I think it's a shade too dark, and it's got some really subtle sparkles in it that I wish weren't there. Definitely give me your brow recommendations!

ChapStick: My friend gave me this tip - I use it to set my brows instead of wax.

 EYES

-Nude Tude Palette by the Balm: Seriously excellent palette. 12 neutral shades, and literally the cutest packaging ever. The shadow qualities are really good, too, very smooth.

-Stila Not So Nude Palette: This palette is okay. I think the shadows are chalky, and I don't really like when lip colors come with palettes because I don't like to get my hands dirty if I don't have to. Also, don't wanna be rude, but I feel like I could do better illustrations than the ones on the package.

I recently bought a few shadow singles.

-Urban Decay Moondust in Stargazer: I love this stuff. I want all the colors. Urban Decay's marketing is excellent, I think, just knowing there's an eyeshadow called "Space Cowboy" makes me want to shell out the $20. This is a lime-greeny gold that's super sparkly. It makes me feel like a badass alien babe when I wear it and it's pretty pigmented. The glitter has a little fall out, but it's not bad.

-Too Faced Eyeshadow in Copper Peony: I also really like this stuff. I bought it because copper looks good with my coloring, and I really wanted a nice one that wasn't in a trio with other colors I don't use. It's really soft and stays on all day!

-Loreal Gel Liner: This stuff isn't like, amazing, but it works well. I don't like using liquid liners because a lot of the drugstore ones have kind of a sheen to them. This one dries matte, and it stays on pretty well, unless I lie on my side all day and the little tears you get wash it away. I don't use the brush it came with, I actually use the one from the Nude Tude Palette. 

-Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner (not pictured here): Love it. I use it over liner to feel like a rock star or just in the corners of my eyes for a little sparkle. Also when linking I found out it's on sale, so.

-Urban Decay Primer Potion (not pictured here): I think this stuff works really well! My eyeshadow seems to stay on all day!

-Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: Yeah this stuff is great. It makes my lashes look long, dries pretty quickly, and feels really soft. The only problems I have with it are that it's hard to get the bottom lashes because the brush is pretty big, and the container is weirdly heavy?

LIPS

I'm a big lipstick fan, and my priorities are comfortability and long-lasting lip color.

-Lime Crime Velvetines: This is one of my faves because it lasts a long time. And the color is this really great, orangey pink that I love! A little drying.

-Tarte Glamazons: Very favorites. So comfortable on, and the greatest color. It lasts a long time, but comes off easily if you're eating or making out.

-Revlon Balm Stains: Really comfy alternatives to chap stick. I love the colors because you can layer them. The orange is my favorite.

-Tarte Lipsurgence: This stuffy is okay, but honestly I prefer the Revlon ones. The color looks really nice but it feels a little weird on my lips.

-Sephora LipStains: I really love this! Comfy on, and last a long time. Also a tad drying.

-Nars Lip Crayon: Eh, it's okay. Drying and doesn't last very long.

-Covergirl Lip Perfection: This is just the liner I use with my reds. I don't have a strong opinion on it.

Leave me your product recommendations! What are your favorites?

Ponytails

These photos weren't all sad minimalist shots of me looking away from the camera, it was just the mood I was in while editing them. This semester depresses me. There isn't a single class I look forward to. Maybe I'll regret posting melodramatic photos of myself one day but right now these reflect how I'm feeling, so.

Not so much about the outfit, but I'm really leaning towards simpler looks lately. Maybe because it's cold and our washing machine is broken. I only own so many pairs of tights. I really want to get more into photography, I need to actually get out and do some (and get a model).

sweater/thrifted, shirt/old navy, jeans/ae, shoes/urban

Ponytails look 100% better from the side.

Snow Day!

Look, guys, snow!

I had to go out and take pictures in it, because we really don't get good snows very often in South Carolina. Last time was my freshman year, so January 2011. This was one perfect snow, too. Very powdery and pretty. Class was cancelled for 3 days and everyone was out sledding and building snowmen. The snow was so bright I couldn't really see my camera screen so I had no idea how these shots turned out until I was back in my room. So I guess I mostly was not smiling, just giving the camera that open-mouthed stare (?)

Also I know it's not like, the world's cutest outfit, but it was cozy for a nice walk in the snow. Even though it was really pretty for a few days, I don't really envy Northerners at all... this stuff is hard to walk in and (at least here) shuts the whole area down.

Sweater, Scarf, Hat, Bag: Thrifted

Shirt: Old Navy

Pants: Gap

Shoes: Wanted

Here're my friends Amanda and Laura in the snow. I swear, we own like 2 pairs of gloves collectively and I was dishing out scarves all week.

I can't take credit for this adorable snowman.

In other news, this weekend was not only Valentine's Day, but Travis's 22nd birthday and our 3 year anniversary. I'll post more on that later! Hope you guys all had a good Vday :)

Effortless

Well check out this fun background I have goin on here!

Those are the tote bags I printed for my thesis, which is called "Memory Lane" and is a collection of hand-printed t-shirts, skirts, and totes designed by me around the concept of Nostalgia! This is the first time I've posted any of the finished products on here, but a lot of you helped me out last semester with a survey about this stuff, so thanks! I'm getting really close to the due date for all this, so soon I'll post the final lookbook, and everything will be available for purchase!

Today I worked really hard on making this outfit look effortless, so don't let it fool ya! I am so totally in love with these jeans I got at Urban Outfitters. I don't normally buy stuff there unless it's on super sale because I feel like it's not worth what they charge, quality-wise. I really hope these hold up though, because I can tell you now I'mma be wearing them a ton! I think they make my butt look good ;)

Also, they're $20 off right now.

Shirt: American Apparel

Jeans: UO

Shoes: Idk, Rack Room?

Cardigan, Belt: Thrifted

Coat: Old Navy

Necklace: Modcloth

Floral Crown: DIY

Today I was getting lunch, and the girl behind me in line took a picture of me with her phone. I know this because the flash went off. Lol seriously. She was probably like "Look at this weirdo in front of me with pink hair." Pretty sure she knows I'm on to her...

Obsessions: Alt J

I truly have not been so obsessed with an album since the seventh grade when I played Relient K's Mood Rings on loop. But that was in a fangirly, teeny bopperish way. My Alt J obsession is this deep rooted, they-speak-to-my-very-soul sort of thing.

They're English, and according to Google, qualify as Indie Rock. I first heard their hit, Breezeblocks, on our local alternative station this past summer, and was hooked. Their lyrics are often unintelligible, which I like, because you hear a little more each time. If you can ever decipher what they're saying, it's kinda pure poetry. Weird word choices and songs about mental disorders, sex, and dysfunction that I've been playing on my iPhone multiple times a day. Whenever I feel a bout of anxiety coming on, Dissolve Me calms me down. They currently only have one album out, An Awesome Wave, but I'm really hoping they stick around for awhile... I mean, they were on a Windows commercial, so they must have hit the big time.

(I hadn't seen the music video before today, and it's pretty dark. About a serial killer, if you're gonna skip it, but I always read the song as the story of a sick obsessive relationship.)

Navy Dress

Dear pink haired ladies: How do you keep your hair from fading? 

Mine has gone from bright magenta to the perfectest peach in two weeks, and I've been following all the rules! Washing it 2-3 times a week, no hot water, use some dye in your conditioner. Maybe it's just Manic Panic? Should I try another brand? Don't get me wrong, I love this current color, but I don't want it to leave!

Lol Travis called me while I was posing so I rolled with it. Anyway, this dress is great. I was a little worried about pulling it off, since I think it almost crosses the line from "vintage with a modern twist" into "this just actually belongs to an old lady," but looking at these pictures I'm really happy with it! Pretty lucky find, huh? It's got a British label, and I found it at the thrift store for $4!

If I look like I'm much happier in these photos than the last set, it's because I was. Wednesday started out cold and windy and rainy and awful, but somewhere between my 11:30 lunch and leaving the apt at 2, it turned into a perfect spring day! I was practically floating through campus, followed by a bunch of woodland creatures like a Disney Princess. But rlly.

By the end of my 6 hour block of classes I was not feelin so hot. This semester really blows, to be honest. The weeks are just dragging by, and I hate that. I hate wishing my life would go by faster!! I'm supposed to be savoring moments for crying out loud!

Dress, Shoes: Miracle Hill Thrift Store

Socks, Necklace, Tights (?): Forever 21

Also you guys, I am suddenly obsessed with makeup. Here is my face which is covered in it.

P.S I did like 3 sets of arm exercises in the gym before my Tuesday workout and poof my entire upper body is a damn noodle.