Goodnight, sleepy head

                                                           Source: Uploaded by user via Michele on Pinterest

As I type this, it's currently 2:48 am.

I can't fall back asleep!

I've been battling insomnia and it is terrible.

You see, I am one of those people who has to have the full 8 hours if you want me to function and be friendly.

I need my sleep!

but I just can't.

It doesn't happen all the time, though.

maybe once a week?

and it's only just recently been happening.

I know why.

It's stress and anxiety.

When I try to fall asleep, I have these terrible thoughts running through my head.

I call them my "demons"

They are irrational

and I am totally over thinking things.

but at 3 o'clock in the morning,

they seem real!

So, instead of just laying there, I try to do something.
Hence, this post.
It helps get my mind off things,
but I still worry about getting enough sleep.
I should be sleeping right now!

How do you cope with anxiety?
Please share with me your tips,
I'm willing to try anything!
ok, almost anything.
:)

Goodnight Friends,
or should I say
Good morning?

Wednesday's Wardrobe: Playing with Collars

I may be late on this, but recently I've been loving wearing different types of collars.

You should already remember my admiration for Peter Pan Collars,

and I love the idea of popping a patterned collar with a solid top.

Here's what I came up with!

This outfit is one of those outfits that perfectly describes myself.

I've always been told I have an old soul, and to be honest, I think I was born in the wrong decade!

Take me back to the 20's or the 50's!

These decades are both my favorites fashion wise.

Ahh, the beading and the A-line dresses...

I felt so feminine and classy in this outfit.

I think the pink heels added just the right amount of color, and the mixed laces added back the daintiness I wanted.

Lace Top: Kohls clearance ($5)

Lace skirt: loft via Goodwill ($5)

wedges: target ($14)

headband:f21($2)

Next, I dove into a patterned collar:

I had the polka dotted sleeveless top and knew it would wear perfectly underneath a sweater.

It all came together to be a really comfortable, but classic outfit (in my humble opinion)

Sweater: loft outlet ($20)

Polka dotted top: No tag! via garage sale ($1)

jeans: LC for Kohls via goodwill ($6)

Wedges: target (same as above, different color) ($14)

necklace: made by me

earrings: white house black market via goodwill ($2)

So how do you think I did with the collar trend?

If you could go back to any decade, which one would you choose?

Leave a comment telling me below!

Linking here:

February Beauty Favorites

Since I never made it around last month to posting my favorites, I though I'd pick up in February!

Now, I know there are still a few days left in the month, but I was too excited to wait!

Here are my most used or favorites for the month:

1. Too Faced Natural Eye Palette

I got this as a gift from my brother, and I have been using it everyday since.

The shadows are high quality and very pigmented.

I especially like the shades "Heaven" "Silk Teddy" and "Coco Puff"

to create a flawless eye look.

but I love them all!

I highly recommend the splurge on this. It's worth every penny!

2.Revlon PhotoReady Stick Concealer

I was a bit hesitant towards this at first because I find that a lot of stick concealers tend to be too thick for my taste. This one is perfect, though! It is the perfect consistancy. It's not too thick, but still provides great coverage.

3. L'oreal Everpure Volume Shampoo/Conditioner

I heard great things about this and it sure lived up to the expectations.

It smells great and is the first shampoo/conditioner where I can really tell there is added volume.

Plus, it's sulfate free so it won't fade my color!

4.Eos Medicated Lip Balm

I absolutely love love love these balms.

Every single flavor is amazing.

I specifically like this one because my lips get severely chapped in the winter.

The "medication" in this works wonders for that!

I put it on before I go to bed and I wake up with wonderfully moisturized lips.

5.OPI You Don't Know Jaques

This is my number 1 go-to shade.

It is the perfect taupe color.

Not too brown, but a bit grey.

I love it, especially in the winter months!

There you have it! 

What were your favorite products this month?

Weekend Wrap Up: Pizza and Pedicures

Well, that sure went fast!

I feel like I blinked and the weekend was over!

{I also feel like I say that a lot}

Friday night:

I babysat.

Fun stuff, I know :)

but it really was because I do love my job, and also I got to play with these guys.

SO cute. 

Saturday:

My mom and I had bought a groupon a while ago for manis and pedis, 

so we treated ourselves to a day of relaxation!

It was amazing

and so very relaxing.

Then we went to lowes.

not relaxing.

We couldn't find what we needed (screws, of all things)

So our trip took twice as long as we planned.

Eventually we did find the screws and went home to get started on a project:

We finally hung up all our necklaces!

Yes, this is a collection of both mine and my moms.

and No, this isn't all of them.

Sad (or not) but true.

{please note that the picture is not level, but the hooks are! :) }

as a reward we ordered pizza.

ahh, so good!

and we had a "picnic" in bed.

It was awesome.

we finished with the most amazing cheesecake ever.

for real.

And we concluded the night with a marathon of pawn stars.

Sunday:

We went to church

and the sermon was about telling our stories.

if you read this post, then you'd agree with me in thinking that God was trying to tell me something ;)

And then was the dreaded trip to costco.

ughh.

Normally, I love going but on the weekends, it's terrible!

It was packed!

Oh, and I cleaned and cleaned and organized and organized.

I felt so accomplished!

After, my brothers, mom and I all had a family dinner.

Spaghetti and meatballs of course.

As soon as we finished we turned on the Oscars!

I love watching the pre-show, just like any other girl 

Personally, I really really liked Amanda Seyfried in Alexander McQueen

So classic! I loved how feminine her makeup and dress were. Plus that lilac looks stunning on her. 

 She won best dressed in my book.

I have to say though, I loved Jessica Chastain, too!

She looked like a gorgeous but classier Jessica Rabbit!

I loved the old hollywood feel she pulled off so effortlessly.

Plus, she seems liked such an amazing person in real life!

and that was my super super exciting weekend.

not.

But it was good, nevertheless.

Happy Monday!

Linking here:

February's Ipsy-Myglam Bag

It's that time again!

I recently got my February Myglam bag in the mail,

so I'm sharing with you what I received!

I got thisSubscription to Ipsy as a gift, but it's only $10 a month if you're interested!

This month's theme was "Red Carpet Ready"

The bag was really cool this month:

It was a black faux black patent leather on the outside

and a bright red on the inside.

It reminded me of my favorite shoes: Christian Louboutin. 

Here is what was in the bag :)

First was this mascara:

Pop Beauty Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara

What They Say:

This lash-POP-ing mascara makes lashes plump, long and lusciously flirty! Smudge proof formula adds volume while curling lashes up and out for a look that truly POPs your peepers! 

What I say: Although I liked how big the actual brush was on this mascara, I was really disappointed this the durability of it.

After wearing this mascara for about 8 hours on both the upper and lower lash line, I literally looked like a raccoon at the end of the day. 

I had never experienced smudging so badly.

I was super disappointed because I was so excited to try this mascara, but it definitely didn't live up to it's claims. 

I'll save this for traveling because it's the perfect size for that.

Next was an eyeshadow sample:

Costal Scents Shadow Palette

What They Say:

Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Samples are an ideal way to try these highly pigmented, stunning shadows. These miniature-sized samples contain four hand-selected shades by ipsy, making it easy to create a variety of looks. Wear these pressed powders dry or wet for a more intense, dramatic look. Each palette's colors are labeled with the corresponding Hot Pot name, making it easy to repurchase your favorite shades individually, or in a palette collection like the 252 Ultimate Eye Shadow Palette.

What I Say:

I was really excited to try these! I had heard so many great things about costal scents, and I, overall, was pleased with these shadows.

The prices compare to any drugstores, and the quality was equivalent.

Not the best pigmentation, but with a good primer, they are great.

Here is a swatch of the shadows:

Excuse my dry hands :)

Next was a face primer:

Pixi Flawless & Poreless

What They Say:

The Pixi Flawless & Poreless primer creates a beautiful no-shine finish for flawless, long-lasting makeup application. This shine controlling, oil-free primer smooths out fine lines and hydrates while making pores instantly disappear. It is the perfect skin primer for all complexions and all skin types.

Beneficial Ingredients and what they do:
• Willow Bark gives natural shine control
• Salicylic Acid clears and unblocks pores
• Shea Butter to nourish the skin
• Titanium Dioxide protects the skin's surface
• Enantia Chlorantha bark is medicinal & anti-viral 

What I Say:

I loved this! It was really moisturizing, and my foundation applied so evenly after using it.

I will repurchase this!

It does have a tint to it, though it dries clear.

Then, I got a really interesting product:

The Lash Card by Lash Card

What They Say:

Apply your mascara perfectly with the Lash Card! Say goodbye to smudging, clumping, and messy mascara application. The Lash Card has two curves on each side that fit a variety of eye shapes, making it easy to get those hard-to-reach lashes. Each Lash Card is individually wrapped for on-the-go application. 

What I Say:

I loved the concept of this! There is nothing more annoying that finishing off an eye look and ruining it by smudging mascara on top. However, instead of buying these, I am going to make my own out of index cards. 

and finally:

Gel Eyeliner by MicaBeauty

What They Say:

Define eyes and apply eyeliner like a pro with the MicaBeauty Gel Eyeliner! This smooth, highly pigmented gel eyeliner glides over the lid evenly and dries quickly for a long-wearing, smudge-proof finish. Comes in 5 other highly pigmented shades. 

What I Say:

I have to say, I am intimidated by get eyeliner. I've never really tried it before, so I was happy to be able to.

It was really easy to apply and went on smooth. I also liked how it was a true matte black.

The only negative I have to say about this is that it's staying power is terrible.

After I put it on my hand and let it dry for a good 10 minutes, I rubbed it to see how it stood up.

It smeared.

So, I tried it on my eyes.

I wore it all day, and rubbed my eyes often.

Each time, more eyeliner came off.

This also contributed to the raccoon eyes I said earlier.

I am going to keep using it to see if anything changes.

Overall, I was so pleased with this months bag.

It truly left me "red carpet ready"

I had everything I needed to created a flawless look.

In fact, here is the look I came up with:

(it is really hard/awkward to try and capture your eye look, by the way.)

The mascara took a little work and the primer was awesome.

I loved the shadows and the liner.I just wished it still looked like this at the end of my day.

If you get Ipsy Bags, tell me what you got by leaving me a comment below!

WIWW: Anthropologie Knock-Off Blouse

Anthropologie does it again.

They hit the ball out of the park when it comes to clothes

and well, just about everything.

It's my favorite store even though I have never purchased anything from them.

This is because Anthro really really likes their stuff.

Everything is normally priced at a pretty penny.

Take for example This gorgeous blouse:

Oh so pretty.

but oh so expensive.

It's only $78.00

yeah. right.

But I love the mix of modern and vintage.

The stripes and that perfect burnt orange lace.

ahh. I die.

So, as I was meandering through TJmaxx one fine afternoon,

I came across this blouse:

Oddly similar, no?

And when I saw the price ($14.99) I knew it was mine.

It's nearly identical to the $78 one.

Only difference is the width of the stripes.

Something I could care less about.

I love it.

and I paid a whole lot less than $78.

I had a hard time styling it though.

Jeans? a Skirt? 

what will do this shirt justice?

I went with navy pencil pants.

ehh, it's okay for now.

but I'll find the perfect match.

Shirt: TJmaxx (Brand called Fenn Wright Manson) 

I tried finding it online, but had no luck

tank: target

pants: old navy (consigned for $1)

wedges: target

 I also had a hard time pairing certain undergarments with this shirt.

The entire shoulder section was see-though, 

and I'm not one of those girls who likes to show the world my brasserie. 

So, I hesitantly wore a thin white tank to cover that problem.

Not the best solution, but it kinda works.  

earrings: franchescas (I think)

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy

it's the small things.

I may or may not have shared this with you,

 but when I was 14 years old, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in my pituitary gland. 

The future didn't look great.

As I'm sure you can imagine, I was scared.

Those were some of the darkest days of my life.

However, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, 100%, that the only reason why I am here today as a healthy 19 year old is because of the grace of god.

One day I will share my story with you, but not today. 

Today, I want to show you what made those dark days better.

It's the small things, right?

During this unimaginable time in my life, I was surrounded with an army of people who love me. 

This was the biggest blessing.

I was never ever alone. 

The people who came together to fight with me are forever burned onto my heart. 

While they did give me the gift of their presence, they also gave me another gift:

a charm bracelet. 

Each one of them bought me a charm to wear so that I could look down and see that I wasn't alone.

This is my most treasured possession.

Each charm represents that person to me.

They all carry a very special meaning.

The actual bracelet is from James Avery.

The charms are mostly James Avery, but I also have some from Kohls.

They chose this specific bracelet because between each hook is a twist in the shape of the infinity symbol.

This symbolizes Gods eternal love for me {and everyone for that matter}.

Like I said, each charm was picked by that person to represent themselves.

I won't say who because to you, it won't make sense

but to this day, I can still name which person each charm came from. 

 I have a turtle 

a Howdy charm {Yes, us Texans do say this :) }

a surf board

a butterfly {of course}

a Hebrew "Life" sign charm

a strawberry

a snowman

a princess crown

and way up there is another turtle charm. 

I call this one the "baby" turtle cause he's smaller. 

As I was looking on their website, I found so many more charms that make me think of certain people who definitely have shaped my life in some way.

I'd love to start to add more "people" onto my bracelet.

I love this bracelet. I treasure it because means the world to me.

It's amazing how something so small can mean so much.