It's officially the last day of August, and so I had to do one more post for this month! I wanted to touch on something that has personally been one of my favorite trends this season, it just so happens to be one of the easiest looks that anyone can pull off. Every year we see it redone and reimagined, but I've particularly loved what I've seen lately. The military trend... I'm talking army green, boxy silhouettes, perfect tailoring and tough fabrics. For S/S '15, Valentino and Gucci took on the colors and utilitarian shapes of army dressing, and No. 21 added fun touches to transition into fall.
I don't think there's really any time where this trend isn't popular. As we're moving into different weather, this one is going to be great to pull out all the stops with. It's great for layering and for wearing on its own. When I'm wearing this trend, I really like to pair it with a comfortable pair of dark denim or a nice white blouse. It's truly a something that you can make your own, and I have to appreciate that.

The weather may be changing, but it's still summer and that means there is still time to enjoy celebrating outdoors with friends, good food and drinks! I have not had a lot of time to go out and enjoy a nice patio or sit by the poolside this summer, but here's hoping that changes in the next couple weeks. I've rounded up a few great ideas to get the party started outside including; decorations, cutlery, favors, etc.!
Outdoor Nylon Lantern | Peonies | Outdoor String Lights | Melamine Dinner Plate | Pizza Slice Pool Float | Seahorse Throw Pillow | Food For Thought Placemat | Lenox Firepit | Blue Cordial Glasses | Ruled Bean Bag Chair Lounger

Besides the happiness of fitting into a dress the first time you put it on, I also want to talk about romance and what it means to me. I'm not trying to delve too deep into anything here because this is supposed to be a post about happiness and celebration for a friend, but I've been feeling indifferent lately. Indifferent to the idea of falling in love, being in a relationship and actually getting married myself. I don't know if it's just the stage of life that I'm in right now, or if from now I'm always going to feel this way. To be honest, I'm not upset about it and I think that's okay.

They always say you should invest in the time and energy of loving yourself first, before you can actually fully commit to loving another person. With that I mean, loving someone who you can see yourself living the rest of your life with. There hasn't been that guy for me yet, but now I'm not as upset about that as when I was younger.  I used to want that fairytale of finding a guy who would sweep me off my feet and ALL the problems that plagued me, would suddenly vanish into thin air. How ridiculous, right? It was something I invested in wholeheartedly while I was growing up and every crush I had was the next guy to possibly be that person. To this day, it baffles me that I thought love happened that way. I wish I could be that jaded again.

I'm now on a tangent, but bear with me. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I have now learned to be okay with living with and loving myself first. It's okay to be independent and to learn to rely on yourself, maybe it will be easier when a relationship finally does come along. What is that other saying? 'When you're not looking, that's when someone will find you?' Maybe if I do that I'll be as lucky as my friend who saw in her fiancé, the person she could spend the rest of her life with. I'm sending TONS of love, congratulations and well wishes to my friend. You two are pretty spectacular together. xoxoxo

 Don't ask me how I've not featured this designer in my Spotlight series yet, but it is time now! Every fashion season I am on the hunt to find the perfect collection, and Valentino is literally almost always at the top of my list. When Maria Grazia Chiuri & Pier Paolo Piccilo became the Creative Directors for the brand in 2008, they have consistently been churning out beautiful collection after beautiful collection. It's so hard to decide which one is my all-time favorite, they're all that amazing, but Pre-Fall 2015 is the top contender right now. The subtle transition of folk-inspired prints to a space odyssey has a hold on my heart and is not letting go. If you haven't seen it yet, GO LOOK NOW! I also recommend watching the Fall 2015 Couture show on their website, it was one of the most beautiful runway shows I've ever seen.  This is a brand that will be around for a long time, and I'm very happy with that.

Let's talk my beauty routine that I do everyday, and the products** that I use daily. I've been watching a ton of beauty vlogs (Kristen Leanne, Glam & Gore, MadeYewLook) lately, so that has created the inspiration to talk about what products I use to 'make up' my face! Most of the them are the drugstore brands, because they're what I can afford in my budget and because I've had good usage out of them. There are two products I use the most, and they are the Stay Matte Primer and the Tone Rehab Concealer. I find that these two combined really help combat the redness that comes with my fair skin, and because I tend to perspire a little bit more.
I start with the primer first, spreading it evenly over my entire face. Primers have been hit and miss with me, but this Stay Matte Primer from Rimmel London is the best I've had so far. It keeps everything in place, and maintains an even skin tone throughout the day. Then I add the foundation, applying with the Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge, making sure to cover everything. This foundation from Covergirl + Olay is probably my favorite foundation I've ever purchased. It's in the Classic Ivory shade and is a perfect fit for my skintone.

With the bigger fluff brush from up & up, I then take the truBlend Minerals and add to the apples of my cheeks to attempt some contouring. For my skin tone, this shade 415, also acts as a bronzer. A little bit goes a LONG way with this powder, and so I only add about a pinch or so on each cheek. After all of that is blended perfectly and I have an even look, I move onto my eyes. I really tend to stick with more browns, golds and lighter shades of color when applying eye shadow. I'm still not daring enough to do something bold.  Someday though, right?!

The eye shadow that I've been using for quite awhile now is a eye shadow duo by elf professionals and 'Sensational Effects Eye Shadow' from Lancôme. To apply I use the eye shadow brush from elf professionals, where I usually put the lighter brown on the inside of my eye and then the darker shade on the crease of my eyelid. I've been into the more ombre effect lately, so I try to do that as often as possible. For mascara, I use CoverGirl lashblast fusion and it's been my go-to mascara for the past couple months. I like to put on at least 3 coats on the upper and lower lashes to create a bigger eye. My lashes are already pretty long, so I don't use an eye curler or anything.

I'm pretty excited that I have finally found the perfect shade of lipstick to add into my routine! I've not been the biggest user of lipstick, I mainly used chapstick or lip gloss. Not only do I now have the perfect shade, I have TWO go-to lipsticks in my beauty bag. The first is from NARS and is a velvet matte lip pencil, called Cruella. It may be a pencil but I've been using it as a lipstick since it can go so far by itself. The second is from Maybelline and is another matte version called Siren in Scarlet! I've been using that one a lot lately and it's so great because it's long lasting and doesn't smudge.


So, all of this eventually leads to this!

What are some of your favorite products to use? Let me know in the comments below!

Today's These Things post is all about layers. Yes, I said it.. Layers can be done in the summer, people! Not only is yet another great way to transition between seasons, it's a great staple for any wardrobe. You can dress layers up or down, and make it your own. I am a HUGE fan of layers during summer, mostly because it's a necessity for my work wardrobe. My favorite type of layering comes with a classic blazer, a blouse or tank, a great pair of denim or ankle pant and a pair of flats. I'm also into styling layers with maxi dresses, it's so comfortable! Here are four pieces for the perfect summer layering to add to your closet.
1. The Perfect Work Blazer : It's no surprise this is my first pick since the cropped blazer is a constant in my outfit choices. I wear it at least once a week, and I always feel powerful in it. Not only can you wear this in the work environment, but it can transition into a night on the town! You'll also be ahead of the crowd if the weather decides to change at the last moment. Keep the fabric lightweight, choice any color you want and you'll be ready for anything. (Long Denim Bermuda Shorts, Stars T-Shirt, Vans)
2. The Classic Denim Jacket : While I have yet to actually purchase a denim jacket, it's been on my eye for quite some time. I just haven't taken the time to dedicate myself to incorporating it into my wardrobe, but SOON! It's such a go-to and you can literally throw it over any type of outfit and you're a layering master. (Maxi Dress, Gladiator Sandal)
3. The Sweatshirt : You might think I'm crazy for adding a sweatshirt to this list, but you can do so much just with layering a sweatshirt over a dress or blouse. Keep it simple and you'll be rocking whatever scene you're in. (Pencil Skirt, Cross body Purse)
4. The Sleeveless Vest : Another style I have yet to purchase, but I still want to! The longer vest is super chic and works perfectly for this season. It's more feminine and more flattering as well for any body type. This is a great way to dress up or down for the occasion you're participating in, and I'm all for that. (Tee, Stud Earrings)