mateREALgirl

*Squeak *squeak – it’s been awhile, and I’m a little rusty.  OKAY.  Glad we got that out of the way.  Also, please tell me you sang STAIND, ‘It’s Been Awhile’ to yourself after that cheesy intro?  If so, you are definitely my people.  Here we go!

Hey there MG peeps, I’m back for a quick post and hopefully just in time to help you out with your Back to School shopping lists.  I hosted a party with my local Mall of Georgia Vera Bradley this past weekend and was totally inspired by all of the backpacks and back to school accessories they had displayed.  To be honest, when I was a kid this is the part of getting ready to go back to school that I lived for.  Shopping.  A new backpack, new stationary, new school supplies, and new clothes!  As a parent now, I’m honestly not as thrilled about dropping some major cash on things that my kids will most likely destroy. So when I do, I want quality items that will last as long as possible.  It also helps that my daughter loves so many of the current Vera prints and styles, which means less headaches and arguments.  Side note: MY GOODNESS, she’s eight – eight years old going on eighteen – so very opinionated, assertive, and certain of her own style (I wonder where she gets that from?)  

So I had Miss Chloe try on some of our favorite combinations for you all to give you some ideas of how to pair some of Vera’s current prints and fabrics.  Let’s check them out! 

Chloe is wearing the Iconic Campus Backpack in Rose Quartz.  The Tossed Posies print pairs perfectly with the Rose Quartz, pictured Lunch Cooler and matching water bottle.

Chloe is LOVING the all of the lavender this year (me too!)  Here she is wearing the Iconic Campus Backpack in the Lavender Pearl color way.  We chose to accessorize the bag with the Iconic Lunch Bunch and Umbrella in Lavender Meadow.

And for Chloe’s final selection – and also the backpack she will be sporting herself this school year – she chose the Lighten Up Grand Backpack in Lavender Botanical.

You’re about to feel less lethargic about school shopping and more enthusiastic.  Well, maybe.  I mean I’ve been out of school for about a century and I’m already thinking of ways I can justify the use of these items in my life.  A life where I no longer attend school or am in need of a school sized backpack? Sure.  Anyway here are some photos I took during my event, and as usual the MOG VB store looks beautiful.  

These patches are so cute!  Chloe got a couple for her own bag and we are super excited to see how they look with her print.

Thanks for stopping by!  And if you want to check out everything that Chloe will be using this year from Vera Bradley, be sure to follow me on FB and Insta where I will share those specific items on my stories.  

About last Saturday……I’m going to let the photos tell most of the details.  But if you didn’t know, I hosted a party with the Mall of Georgia Vera Bradley last Saturday celebrating the launch of the new Sycamore Pink Sand leather and the Superblooms print. You will see for yourself shortly, but the Pink Sand leather is SO good.  I tried to get a variety of angles as well as different lighting settings so you can see just how perfect the color is.  Also, shout out to my lil sister Gabs for standing in as my model once again!  She’s makes the task feel so effortless because she just gets it.  You da best.

Gabby is wearing the Superblooms Soft Fringe Scarf as well as the Carson Crossbody in Sycamore Pink Sand.

Vera Bradley Carson Crossbody in Sycamore Pink Sand

Mallory in Sycamore Pink Sand

Mallory in Sycamore Pink Sand and Mallory RFID All-in-One crossbody in pink sand.

Pictured: Mallory Triple Zip Hipster in Pink Sand

Vera Bradley Mallory RFID Petite Crossbody

Vera Bradley Mallory RFID All In One Crossbody

Party Pics!

Living for the “party” ballon! And how beautiful is their window display?  I think it is one of my favorites so far.  The Mall of Georgia Vera Bradley looked perfect, as usual. Check out some photos from the party below, tell me you don’t want at LEAST five things from their store?!?  Actually, tell me in the comments below what products caught your eye and made it to your wishlist?  Thanks for stopping by!

Save the Date – Vera Bradley Pink Sand and Superblooms

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to let those of you in the Metro-Atlanta area know that I will be hosting yet another fabulous event with the Mall of Georgia Vera Bradley.  Next Saturday, April 14 we will be celebrating the launch of the Vera Bradley Sycamore Pink Sand and Superbloom print. For anyone that attends the event, they will receive 15% off of their purchase, in addition to any other…

It’s been a while (be honest, you just sang that to yourself).  We need to catch up!  I have a lot I want to share with you, and I thought the best way to do that is via a favorites (aka Friday Fancies) post.  THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS.  Also, I think I will split this into two separate posts – beauty and lifestyle – because I have a few lifestyle/home items I have been loving lately too.  So if beauty items are not your thing, hang tight and look out for my lifestyle fancies post in the next week or so.

In today’s post I have a new makeup HOLY GRAIL, some lip products, two eyeshadow palettes that are a MUST, and even a brow gel.  Let’s be REAL though – I have a lot more that I could share in the beauty realm – but nobody’s got time for that, am I right?!? Anyway, today I am only sharing the crème de la crème.  The best and my absolute recent favorites.

I am just going to go ahead and start with the ultimate item in the group.  If there is anything you NEED from this post it’s the Lancôme Skin Feels Good hydrating skin tint.  OMG this stuff is magic in a tube.  It contains hyaluronic acid and vegetal glycerin, so it makes your skin feel plum and moisturized.  Truthfully, it does actually feel really good on my skin (hence the name).  I do consider myself to have combination skin, but as I get older it just becomes dryer and even more dehydrated.  When I use this skin tint at the end of the day my skin is indeed more hydrated than the day prior.  I would say it has a light to medium coverage depending on how much product you use.  I myself use about half a pump and it does the job.  My skin is more even, yet it still looks like MY SKIN.  The finish is seriously stunning.

The shade range on the other hand is a tad disappointing and limited.  I am ghostly pale, and the lightest shade is a bit dark for me.  I make it work though because I LOVE it that much.  The shade I currently use is 010C Cool Porcelain.  From the reviews I’ve seen, a few people mention how it reminds them of the IT Cosmetics CC Cream, but they like Skin Feels Good better.  Probably because the IT CC cream is HEAVY as hell.  The Skin Feels Good isn’t heavy at all.  I can’t stand heavy makeup or the feeling of makeup on my face, and this feels like I used a luxe moisturizer.  The End.  GET IT.

Speaking of luxe moisturizer, my OG readers know my love for the Biossance oils.  If you’re new to MateREAL Girl, check out my posts on the 100% Squalane and the Rose + Vitamin C oils.  Well, I received a small sample size of the Biossance Squalane +Probiotic Gel Moisturizer and yet again fell in love with another Biossance skincare product.  Oh my, they’ve got me hooked.  This is a light weight gel formula and it has definitely brightened my skin.  I also feel like it has slightly minimized my cavernous pore size.  I have been using it for a few months now (including the sample) and I see a difference in the overall balance of my skin too.  Only downfall, I use it up WAY too quickly.

The Sephora Collection #lipstories  are fabulous and affordable!  For only $8 you need to try these.  They come in a matte, metallic, and satin (cream) finish.  I currently own two colors/finishes.  Oui is a cream finish, and the perfect Audrey Hepburn pink.  I also have Brunch Date which is a matte finish, and extremely comfortable for a matte. Brunch Date also compliments the warm toned eye shadow palettes I shared in this post really well.  They are extremely pigmented too.  You really can’t go wrong.

The Shock mascara by YSL is one of the best mascaras I’ve tried in a while.   It gives tons of volume without being clumpy (ew).  It is scented, but it surprisingly doesn’t bother my eyes.  I will be upfront though and tell you this stuff does dry out pretty quickly.  I usually get like 2-3 months out of other mascaras.  This probably lasts 1.5 months to maybe 2 months if you stretch it.  But the formula does deliver BIG lashes, so IMO it’s worth it.

I’ve been interested in the Nars NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette ever since it was released.  I just didn’t know if I needed yet another warm toned palette. BUT THEN I saw makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes  use this on Estée Lalonde (my fav) on an Instagram live. And lets just say I immediately ran to Sephora and bought the palette.  Not my finest moment, but I’m not proud.  It’s so good, and totally worth the splurge.  The shimmer shadows are the strangest texture (in a good way) – they almost feel wet.  I only apply them with my fingers and I recommend the same for anyone else using them.  That or dampen your eye shadow brush prior to application.

Also, I was convinced that I probably would NEVER use the red toned shades on the top left.  However, I was pleasantly surprised when I was playing around with the shadows and they are now my two favorite shades.  You never know until you try, and try you MUST.

My mom got me the Too Faced Just Peachy Velvet Matte palette for Christmas and she was spot on. She knew I liked the original TF Sweet Peach Palette, but she didn’t know that the matte shades in that palette were my absolute favorite formula.  So needless to say I was excited to have the newer and exclusively matte shadows in my arsenal.  My favorite shade is peach tea by far and a close second is fresh picked.  I don’t really dab in the bright/darker colors because they honestly don’t look great on my completion. Otherwise, this is a great addition.

Peach Out Pores comes with this cute little sticker!

As I’ve mentioned before I suffer from blackheads, who doesn’t?  I have used traditional pore strips in the past, but I feel like they just rip my skin off and leave a disgusting sticky goo behind that is nearly impossible to remove.  So when I saw the Peace Out Pores in the Sephora check out line – and read the back of the box – I was intrigued.  They are made out of the same materials as acne spot patches and blister bandages.  And use hydrocolloid technology, allowing the impurities from your skin to absorb into the pore strip.  It’s pretty cool, they definitely do not leave behind any sticky residue, and are also very gentle in the process.  Another cool thing about these strips is that you leave them on for six hours, or overnight while you sleep like I do!

I had to include this cute Vera Bradley Medium Cosmetic Case in Berry Burst just because it makes me happy every time I see it.  Which is everyday.  It’s just such a cheerful pattern, and I put one of my Sephora pins on the front because……MAKEUP.

The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector isn’t new to the beauty world, but it’s still a favorite nonetheless.  I have the shade moonstone, and it’s ideal for my fair complection.  It also does not have huge chunks of glitter in it, which I love.  If you want a subtle glow, this is the way to go.

The L’Oreal Brow Stylist is a pretty simple product that gets the job done.  I have crazy eyebrows and this gel mousse formula sets my brows in place all day.  No flaking or smudging.  It is tinted, and can be used on it’s own for a natural look, or with your favorite brow filler for a thicker brow.  The best part is I can get it at Target and it is super affordable.

Good lip stains are extremely hard to come by.  Either they don’t stain evenly and your lips look diseased after application, they bleed and feather, they dry your lips out, or they don’t even stain!  The YSL Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain is THE quintessential lip stain.  They are extremely comfortable and apply like a dream thanks to the unique applicator tip.  You can apply it to your finger for a light stain, or apply it directly from the applicator for a saturated color.  AND it doesn’t dry your lips out terribly like so many others.  I have the color 16 Nude Emblem which is one of those universally flattering shades.  It’s also very elusive and hard to get your hands on, so there’s that.

That wraps up another Friday Fancies, thanks for stopping by and thanks for your continued support!  Please do share some of your beauty favorites in the comments too!

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, a day of romance and proclamations of love.  What does that have to do with glasses you say?  Well, there really isn’t any correlation – except that I would like to once more proclaim my love for Warby Parker – and announce their new limited edition Epigraph Collection.  If you have been following me for a bit, you are already aware of my WP love story.  If not, check out some previous posts here, here, and here.  I won’t bore you with the insipid details of my affinity with the company and their products. I will however say that their frames are so luxe, just without the price tag that is normally associate with luxury.  The new Epigraph Collection is the perfect example. Warby Parker has elevated their classic acetate with a subtle and elegant metal detail.

All six frames in the collection are made in Italy, with premium materials such as hand polished cellulose acetate and stainless steel.  There are four optical frame designs with a stunning, yet understated custom metal end piece detail.  And two new sunglass frames that include a metal brow bar, in addition to a metal end piece that defines the collection.   I don’t know about you, but there is something about the limited edition classification that only increases the appeal.  I like to have unique things, I love to have beautiful things, and I feel like they have combined both perfectly.

Warby Parker executes mixed material designs really well and seamlessly.  In fact the designs that include both metals and acetate are some of my favorites. The Epigraph collection is no exception as you will see below.  The silhouette of the frames are classic and timeless – and while the collection is small – I feel like there is great variety of color/metal combinations.  Some of my favorites are the Maeve in Blush Tortoise, The Hugo in Acorn Tortoise, and the Winnie shades in Jet Black.  I definitely will be making a trip to my local Warby Parker in the near future to try these on!  What is your favorite from the collection? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

  Maeve frames shown in Blush Tortoise and Jet Black.

Louise Small frames shown in Pale Rose Horn and Lapis Crystal.

Alcott frames shown in Pecan Tortoise and Chesapeake Blue with Silver.

Hugo frames shown in Acorn Tortoise and Jet Black.

Winnie frames shown in Tulip and Jet Black.

Yates frames shown in Acorn Tortoise and Classic Navy.

This bubble umbrella gets all of the heart eyes!!

Travel Tumbler in Midnight Flora Stripe and the Mallory Satchel in the new spring Sycamore Peony White.

Are you convinced that my model (aka sister) is enjoying a lovely spring day in these photos?  Yeah, neither am I 😉.  Especially since I was the person behind the camera, standing outside in our GA winter temp of 40 degrees (not including the wind chill).  It was not terrible, but also was most definitely not a beautiful spring day either.  OK ew, enough about the boring weather.

On to more exciting things.  This past weekend I hosted an event at the Mall of Georgia Vera Bradley, celebrating their first spring release of 2018.  When I walked into the store I was instantly reminded of how spring is such a cheerful and colorful season.  So even while the gloom of winter still existed outside, once inside I felt excited and refreshed by the new spring collections.  The entire MOG Vera Bradley store was fresh and full bright prints such as the new Coral Floral, Coral Meadow (lighten up), Paisley Stripes, Hearts Pink, as well as the new solid Vera Vera Bahama Bay.  As usual their visual merchandising skills were on point and spoke to my “slightly” neurotic and obsessive nature.  Everything was perfectly aligned and visually pleasing.  There is no way you could walk into their store without having your spirits uplifted and at the very least left feeling inspired for the upcoming season.   In bloom was definitely achieved in my opinion.

My photos don’t really do the MOG VB experience justice, but I tried to capture the store in all of its spring glory to the best of my ability.  Check out some highlights below and get inspired!

The MOG Vera Bradley team set up this beautiful table for the “enter to win” including items I selected, in addition to some treats for guests.

Front and center is one of my personal favorites, the Coral Meadow print in the lighten up fabric.

The mannequin is wearing a Reversible Scarf in Coral Meadow, and the Iconic Vera Tote in Hearts Pink.

Basket Weave Scarf in Coral Floral, and the Gallatin RFID Custom Crossbody in Toasted Hazelnut. 

Quite possibly my favorite item from the release, the Bubble Umbrella in Coral Floral, so chic.  And if you collect reusable totes, the Market Tote in Coral Floral is a must!

  Swag bags for guests!

Save the Date – Vera Bradley Spring 2018

Hey friends!  Just wanted to let those of you in the Metro-Atlanta area know that I will be hosting yet another fun event with the Mall of Georgia Vera Bradley.  Next Saturday, January 13 we will be celebrating the launch of the Vera Bradley Spring 2018 launch.  If you are in the area, I would love to see you.  Honestly, it would make my year. For anyone that attends the event, they will receive…

So in addition to some great holiday pet safety tips, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share with you a little bit about our first DOGhter, Stella.  As I mentioned above, we are not currently pet owners, and that’s because for a while we were just in too much pain from the loss of our beloved Stella. Oh, and to be honest, life has just gotten in the way of my doggie dreams.  However, I really feel like in the next year or so we will probably start our search for our next fur baby.  And I won’t hesitate to use the PuppySpot when we are ready.  If you are not familiar with the PuppySpot, they are a great resource for finding reputable breeders.  They have been featured on well-known media outlets such as Good Morning America and Fox & Friends.  But before I go any further and share a bit about my Stella girl, check out the helpful graphic below regarding holiday pet safety tips.

Stella, or her AKC registered name Astrophel Stella, was the apple of our eye.  She was a tenacious and quirky little (but big in personality) Scottish Terrier.  We got Stella when she was 9 weeks old (born 10/12/03), from a breeder in NY.  As we drove back to our home in Southern NJ, somewhere in the Catskill Mountains Stella became carsick.  Her puppy puke smelled like a pile…..but she was a trooper nonetheless.  We finally got her home, and she was a complete angel, albeit probably because she was disoriented from the car journey.  The next day, was a completely different story.  Stella was no longer disoriented and I would say – felt more like what we would soon come to find out – her spunky self.  At one point in the puppy training process, I remember crying and asking my now-husband if we had made a mistake, as she was a handful.  And we were so young ourselves.

Jason cleaning up a puppy-accident.  Poo happens.

From that day on, I never questioned our decision to bring Stella into our lives.  Because not only did she bring us so much joy and love – it was apparent that she belonged with us – as a member of our small family.  Sure it wasn’t easy, but after some perseverance and learning curves, we all made it.  And boy did she make our lives brighter.

Stella’s first time in the snow!

Stella went on with us through this journey called life, we got married, bought our first house, and even had our first child, all with Stella.  She was a good girl, loved to sleep in our bed, her favorite toy was any empty plastic water bottle (supervised of course).  She liked the noise it made.  She always had tons of energy, and being the goofy dog that she was, she would run around with her bottom tucked under her during one of her energy bursts.  Not only did Stella have tons of energy, she also had a lot to say.  About EVERYTHING.  She was a VERY vocal dog, and would let us know when she was annoyed by yelling at us and maybe even nipping us.  She also let us know she loved us by giving us tons of kisses, and howling “I love you”.  I’m not exaggerating, she could say I love you.  To say she was special, would be an understatement.

Unfortunately in Stella’s seventh year of life, we discovered that she had Lymphoma.  After a tough journey with Doggie-Chemo, our girl passed away one month (to the day) before her eighth birthday.  A day that neither my husband or I will ever forget.  I know not everyone feels this way about their pets, but Stella was honestly no less than a family member.  Our daughter.  So when we lost her on that awful day in September, we lost a piece of ourselves with her.  Even so, I would do it all over again, just to experience the love she showed us during her short life.

This story was not meant to sadden you, but to remind you that our pet family members are precious.  They deserve every ounce of care and love that we can give them.  That includes keeping them safe, all of the time, but especially during the holidays when we can get caught up and distracted. We’ve all been there.

I want to give a special thanks to the PuppySpot for inspiring and encouraging me to share a holiday Stella tribute. You can tell that they really care about pets, and I can definitely appreciate the message they are trying to convey. I hope you and your furry friends have a safe and happy holiday!

2017 Holiday Gift Guide – For Her

Ladies and Gentleman,  if you need any last minute gift ideas for a “hard-to-buy-for” loved one…..look no further.  I am THAT person in most of my friends and family’s life, so I know just what the persnickety gift recipient will LOVE.  Take a gander below and your wild goose hunt for the “perfect gift” will finally come to an end.  You can thank me later. So while I am in LOVE with the Max Mara…

My how things have changed over the course of ten years.  I mean, ten years ago I was a confident, young, professional.  Now I’m neither a professional, nor young.  Ten years ago I thought I had it all figured out.  I was sure of where my future was headed.  I knew exactly what I wanted from life, and nothing was going to change that.  Two things that I wanted most were to marry my husband, and a…

This past weekend I hosted one of my favorite events – to date – with my friends at my local Vera Bradley, located at the Mall of Georgia.  Don’t get me wrong, I love all of their events. However, there is just something about the approaching holiday season that made this one extra special.  The store looked amazing with all of the winter decor and products.  There were fabulously accessorized stuffed penguins, warm scarves, flocked trees, the softest of blankets, VELVET handbags, and lovely winter prints throughout.  And even though outside it was probably in the high 70’s,  inside Christmas was definitely in the air.

Something else noteworthy is that I got to plan this particular event with my younger sister, Gabby.  I am so grateful that the girls at Vera Bradley keep inviting me back, and even more grateful that they allowed my sister to plan this event with me.  I mean, she’s my best friend, it doesn’t get any better than that.  That also means that she shares and appreciates my attention to detail, and cleverly incorporated the theme throughout the store.  The theme of our event was ‘Holiday Gifting,’ and I came up with six different price categories including carefully curated items for each price range.  As you will see in the pictures below my gift selections were displayed with personalized MateREAL Girl signs, in addition to probably the best “enter to win” basket ever (I picked everything out, so I may be a little biased.)

And as promised for those of you that are not in the Atlanta area and couldn’t attend, I will be including my Vera Bradley 2017 Gift Guide below.  But first, check out some photos from the event.

Holiday Gift Guide

Below you will find the gifts I selected for six different price ranges, from under $30 all the way to $225 and above.  I tried to select items that I myself would genuinely like as a gift, or something I would actually buy for a loved one.  So theses are not just items I chose for an event, they are in my opinion, great gift ideas for every budget and price point.

First up is this adorable Novelty Penguin Coin Purse for $24, I love a good handbag accessory.  I am also a sucker for novelty items.  See below.

Or this Novelty Fox Id Bag Charm, for under $30 (he’s on sale!)  Pull his tail to find a spot to put a business card or a photo ID.

For the person in your life that loves stationery, I love these coordinating gift selections.  The 12 Month Agenda in Ditsy Dots is the perfect size for your handbag.  And I LOVE the pencil pouch in the Neutral Falling Flowers print, it has gold foiling and is a really nice quality.  And to round out the gift you should add in some Ink Pens, pictured here is the Falling Flowers print.

This is probably my favorite price category as far as the gifts are concerned. This Medium Cosmetic in Berry Burst is so perfect, and I really feel like the Mallory Zip ID is a sophisticated yet functional addition.

For $100 this is a well thought out, head-to-toe gift.  Starting with this incredibly soft Hooded Fleece Robe in Berry Burst, this robe feels exactly like Vera Bradley’s fleece blankets.  Now whomever you give this luxurious gift to, can wrap themselves in this blanket robe whilst they get ready in the morning.  And as the perfect accompaniments I’ve also included a Knit Headband, Travel Mug, and Vintage Berry Socks.

I’m not kidding when I tell you that I added a $150 category just for the Iconic Large Travel Duffel in Chocolate Raisin velvet.  This bag not only looks luxe, it feels it too.  And it would be a perfect gift for someone who travels, to use as a carry-on.  Or even as a gym bag.  A super glam gym bag.

I personally have and love the Carson Shoulder Bag in Sycamore Bittersweet Chocolate.  You may have even seen me feature it here, with the perfect fall outfit.  Anyway, for the person in your life who is fashionable and loves handbags, you can’t go wrong with this bag.

Even though I personally love the Carson, I realize the color is more of a statement and may not be for everyone.  In that case the Mallory Tote in Mesa Brown leather is a classic choice and equally fashionable.

Hey everyone!  Just popping in to share some pics of my Halloween cuties!  I hope you all enjoyed your Halloween, we sure did.  This year I had an adorable doe and a feirce dragon.  I would LOVE to see some of your costumes, or some of your little ones!  Feel free to share over on my Facebook page or mention me on Instagram. Dragon and Deer costumes are from Pottery Barn Kids.    

Save The Date – Vera Bradley Holiday Gifting Event

Before you know it Black Friday sales will be here, and the real holiday shopping will commence.  I know, I know, we haven’t even gotten past Halloween yet.  But believe me, the gift giving season will sneak up on you – and if you are anything like me – any sort of unpreparedness will STRESS YOU OUT.  So to help get you started, I am collaborating with my friends from the MOG Vera Bradley, to…

Inspired Interiors – Home Office

Looking around my “home office” at the moment, and visually, it’s OKAY.  It’s honestly the room I put the least effort into as far as home decor, and it shows.  My favorite thing in this room is the iMac I am typing this post from right now – most likely the prettiest thing in this room too.  Pathetic.  Recently when I was cleaning, as usual, I started day dreaming about how I would like our home…

A little while ago, a Facebook acquaintance reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in trying out and reviewing a product that she recently started selling.  Prior to her generous offer, I was already intrigued by this product, as I have seen it circulating on multiple social media platforms.  You may have a few friends or acquaintances selling this “social media” famous lip product as well.  LipSense by SenGence, has actually been around since 1999, despite their recent popularity on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.  With its claims of being “smudge-proof,” “smear-proof,” and “kiss proof” – lasting anywhere from 4 to 18 hrs –  anyone would be curious!  Those are some serious claims!  But should you buy it?  Stick around to read my REAL and honest, first impressions, to see if this product is right for you.

  So, as promised, a few weeks ago I received a complimentary LipSense color and sample lip glosses from the lovely Kate (LipSense distributor #417509).  Now, Kate is fully aware that I will provide a 100% honest and REAL review, regardless of my feelings of gratefulness for her generosity.  That being said, she was still willing to send me a lip color, which to me speaks to her confidence in the product she is selling.  Needless to say, I was super excited to see what LipSense is all about!

For the application process, I strictly followed each and every instruction provided.  I have to admit, at first I was a little intimidated by the amount of steps required to properly apply this lip product (see graphic above).  However, it is honestly not that bad and only takes a few extra minutes than that of a conventional lipstick application.  There were a few things I want to make mention of though.  One, as soon as I opened the tube there was a strong smell of alcohol.  Following my initial observation, when I applied the first layer, it no lie felt like I smeared rubbing alcohol on my lips.  There was a cooling sensation, and then it tingled and stung a bit.  According to the SenGence website (and ingredients list) the first ingredient listed is Alcohol Denat.  So this would explain the sensation that I experienced.  SenGence describes the ingredient as cosmetic grade, and clarifies that it is nothing like Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol).  SenGence also notes, that the tingling sensation felt by some, is the denatured alcohol evaporating.  Read more about it here.

The color Kate sent me, Beige Champagne, is extremely flattering.  I would describe it as a “your lips but better” shade.  It has a beautiful metallic finish.  Unfortunately, as soon as I applied this product my lips instantly aged 40 years.  My lips looked incredibly wrinkled, and the wrinkles increased with each layer (application pics below).  Now my lips are always on the dryer side (I even exfoliated them prior to this first impression).  I have stopped wearing liquid lipsticks for this very reason.  I was hoping that once I applied the moisturizing gloss, the wrinkles would slightly disappear.  That was not the case.   Instead, I just had glossy, wrinkled lips.  What that essentially means is, I am dehydrated.  Many users will be told that there is an exfoliation process that occurs as you wear LipSense.  And as you wear the product it works to restore the moisture content in your lips.  I haven’t found this to be the case for me personally, as my lips felt pretty chapped by the end of the day.  The blog nerdyformysenesisters.com, does a great job of explaining why the “exfoliating process” is a myth, and offers a different explanation (with references) and a possible resolution here.  This doesn’t mean you will have the same experience, but if you are like me (dehydrated), you should know that it could be a possibility .  This is a first impression review after all.

As far as the “smudge-proof”, “smear-proof”, and “kiss-proof” claims – they are true.  I wiped my lips with my finger, and nothing.  Kissed the back of my hand.  Nothing.  So it does stay on…….until you eat.  I will explain more.  First let me explain the series of photos taken below.  Shown in chronological order is the application process from dry, bare lips, all the way to gloss.

  Since LipSense is advertised as a long wearing lipstick, I thought it was important to test it out and document how the product faired after eating.  This really isn’t something that is important to me, but I know it is to some.  That being said,  LipSense isn’t that much different then any other long-lasting, lip product in my experience.  The first two photos shown below were taken directly after eating breakfast.   I had some granola and drank water.  I didn’t drink anything hot, like coffee or tea that morning.  As you can see the product definitely wore off in the center of my mouth.  In second photo I re-applied the gloss, and it wasn’t as noticeable because it just blended in with my natural lip color.  I think the transparency of this particular color itself helped.  The second set of photos were taken directly after lunch.   I feel like the wear, or lack of product left ,was more noticeable after my second meal.  I pretty much was just left with an outline of shimmer.  Again in the second photo, I reapplied the gloss.  I’m sure this is something that can easily be remedied with re-application of the color.  Just like any lipstick.  However, it is something to consider if you were hoping it would last through a meal or two.

  The above photo shows the wear of LipSense after eating my first meal (breakfast), the second photo is after re-application of the gloss.  Same with the photos below, showing the wear mentioned after my second meal (lunch).

  So even though this product didn’t work out for me, I am still grateful for the opportunity to try it for myself.  Who knows, maybe I will come back to this product again after I have found a really good moisturizer for my lips 😆.  But, just because this didn’t work out for me, you may have better luck (and better lips).  If you feel like giving it a try – and want to purchase your own LipSense products – please contact my friend Kate via email; [email protected] or check out her website honeyandlacebykate.com (she sells clothing too!)

Happy (the best and the only season that matters) fall!  So annoying, I agree. But, I didn’t make it this way, people.  I didn’t make fall trendy, or did I? 😏  Regardless, nothing can ruin my fondness of fall – not even the basic beaches and their revolting PSL’s.  Anyway, I have had a love for fall since I was a girl, like most I children, I assume, because of Halloween.  Now, as an adult, I love it for different reasons.  I had an autumnal wedding, my babies were born in the fall, and fall fashion and home decor are seriously superior this time of year.  The crisp air, and the smell of bonfires and fireplaces are typically alluring for me around this time too.  However, as I write this, it’s a stifling 90 degrees outside.  Thanks GA.

This time of year things seem to get a little bit hectic too, schedule wise.  Especially now that both of my children are of school age.  I have tons of family birthdays to remember, school activities, birthday parties, and two different school schedules to keep track of (they are in different schools and districts).  So, of course, that means I need a new pretty planner to jot down all of the important things.  Whilst also getting one step closer to “Mommy of the Year.” HA HA HA.  But seriously,  a new planner was needed, in addition to some cute planner stickers and woodland creature journals.

And because I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks, I figured I would share some of my fall decor in this post too.  If you follow me on social media, you probably have already seen the pics I shared below.  I will provide links to what I can, but some items are ancient.

 Rifle Paper Co. Herb Garden 17 – month planner, from Anthropologie

Monthly View

  Weekly View

The Happy Planner Stickers from the Paper Source

  Woodland Creature Journals, with LINED paper from the Paper Source

Fall Decor

Mosaic Gourd from Pottery Barn

This guy was from the Target Dollar Spot, and only $3.  Unfortunately, that means I cannot provide a link and he can only be purchased in-store.

Harvest Acorn Filler from Target

I would love to see some of your fall decor and your planners for 2017-2018.  Feel free to share your blog or socials down below!

Friday Fancies – Kendra Scott, Mules, and Burgundy

Happy Friday!  By the time I post this, if all goes well, I should be with my in-laws for my brother-in-law’s wedding!  Speaking of, most likely this is the exact outfit I will be wearing for the rehearsal dinner.  With pants, of course. Anyway, I love this combination so much that I really felt I shouldn’t just keep it to myself.  And these are all pretty much new releases, so hopefully you get…