Lazy Summer Beauty Routine

A poolside conversation with one of the S's got me to thinking about how my summer beauty routine is different from any other time of year. Typically, I don't do much in the way of changing the products I use based on the weather, I usually just have a different routine for day and evening, but this summer I actually did change things up a bit, so I wanted to share with you. This is my "quick and easy I don't feel like putting on makeup but still want to look pretty" method.

I start by mixing together some Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer and some Fresh High Noon Freshface Glow and applying it all over my face with my fingers. Then I apply Urban Decay Primer Potion to my eyelids, mark. Eyemarker Eyeliner in Java to my top & bottom lashlines, and some Maybelline Great Lash BIG to make my lashes pop. Then I put Benefit Benetint on my cheeks and lips and blend.
Last but not least I use one of my mark. mini brushes to apply some Smashbox Baked powder (can't find this online anywhere- must be a retired product...I got mine for $5) over my entire face to create a more bronzy glow.
If I'm feeling saucy, I also add some eyeshadow from my Smashbox Eyelights Palette in Strobe to make my eyes appear brighter.
I curl my eyelashes, throw on a little gloss and there you have it! A quick and easy daytime summer beauty routine!

I am curious- what are your go-to summer beauty products?

♥Case

Want-It...Thursday?

Ok, so I'm a day late but I just had to post the items I am loving this week!

I actually have 2 things this week that I really want!

The first was inspired by one of the S's (I'm not really sure how to refer to you guys as separate entities...lol)as she sent me a text the other day with an attached photo of these, asking me if I had seen/tried them yet:

I have seen other brands before via several websites, but I have never tried these...and now that I know they are available at my local Walgreens for under $15, I'm definitely interested in trying them out! How handy would these be to just stick in your purse to have in case you just couldn't handle your sky-high heels anymore?? Have any of you tried these or a similar product? If so, what did you think? I'm dying to know more about them before I buy them!

The next item I'm drooling over is a cute little cardi from Target...I seem to have a thing for cardigans...especially lately.

This is just the prettiest color...and I can already envision it with so many outfits! However, I was immediately turned off by the $27.99 price tag. Perhaps it will go into clearance eventually!

Also...I thought I'd share I got these shoes today for $12.48!
Hooray Target clearance section! And they're still full price online! I'm telling you- always check out the clearance section, even if you're not looking for anything specific. :)

Going to brunch tomorrow with S&S- can't wait to show you all my outfit! I have been wanting to wear this outfit for days! I just hope it works in real life as well as it works in my head.

♥Case

CSN Giveaway Winner!

Hello friends! I am a little late on posting the winner of my CSN stores giveaway, but today was a long day!
So, without further ado, the WINNER of my very first giveaway is (drunmroll please)...

CHRISTINA!!!!!! She is such a lucky duck! Congrats girlie! Please contact me with your e-mail address so we can get the gift card to you :)

Thank you ALL so much for following my blog and taking the time to enter! You're all winners in my heart! ;)

P.S.- I have another giveaway planned for when I hit 100 followers...or maybe I'll even do it before then...

♥Case

Awards! + Red, White and...Oh, Hello Kitty!

I have received two awesome blog awards!
The first is the Stylish Blogger Award, from the gorgeous and very stylish Christina!

For this award I am supposed to list 5 random things about myself...so here goes:

1.) I LOVE school and office supplies. Like, I have a sick obsession with them. Might just be the teacher in me but oh MAN I love them. Back to School shopping has always been my favorite thing, EVER.

2.) I have a very eclectic taste in music. For example, I love alternative/indie/emo stuff but little makes me feel happier (or cooler) than listening to rap/hip-hop music. I could also probably win the world series of "Name that Tune"...I listen to a LOT. And music never leaves my head.

3.) I am the oldest of 3 children...and I love my brothers more than life itself. My family is pretty tight-knit.

4.) When I'm with the people I am closest to (parents, brothers, BFF, etc.), I tend to use a lot of cuss words. The F word is certainly not a stranger to my vocabulary...and yet I never slip up around my students. lol If you didn't know me well you would probably be surprised. I also tend to use improper grammar and I get a little twangy when I return to my very small, country-ish hometown.

5.)I have a tendency to leave partially full bottles of water around the house. I just drink some and then leave them around. I don't know why I always do it, but I always do.

Now I will tag a few incredibly stylish bloggers that really inspire me:
Alex's Wonderland
Big Beautyful Mess
Curves and Chaos
Weesha's World
Fab Finds Under $50

Next Award is the Versatile Blogger Award, given to me by the lovely Lianna. It requires that I list 7 more random things about myself, so I'll try to keep these more brief.
-I hate mustard and swiss cheese.
-I put vaseline on my lips every night before bed.
-I love Coach everything, a trait I inherited from my Grandmother.
-My favorite color is pink.
-When I was younger I had to have braces and several dental surgeries.
-I love the read but apparently it takes me forever to get through a book.
-I love to travel, and if I could I would do it constantly.

Now I have to give this award to some fabulous blogs I've recently discovered:
Texas Love, Life and Fashion
Bombshell Beauty
T Minus, T Plus

In other news, my 4th of July was spent with the BFF, Vi, and some other friends at the beach. Afterwards, we had a little cookout and went to the fireworks. This is what I wore after the beach (and I let the beach do my hair...lol):

I felt like being cutesy, so I went for the American-themed Hello Kitty. I even got a compliment from a little girl at the fireworks. :)
T-Shirt: Torrid, $25.60 with discount
Tank: Torrid, $12 on sale
Skirt: mark. reversible skirt, $ 18.20 (rep discount)
Shoes: Oh yeah, I was at the beach, so they were unnecessary ;)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! Ends tonight! Winner tomorrow!

♥Case

Summer Lovin'

I don't have time for a real post right now, but I really wanted to share some quick photos from the incredibly beautiful outdoor wedding I went to over the weekend. As chosen by you, I did my hair in the messy side bun, and it worked perfectly. I did not have time for photos before the wedding, but here are some from after the reception and before the BFF and I went out for karaoke.

Thanks again for helping me choose my hairstyle! I felt SO glam all night!

Dress: Torrid, $38 on sale
Shoes: Torrid, $39 before coupon (I can't remember how much I actually paid for them)
Best Strapless Bra I've Ever Worn: Cacique, Lane Bryant, Free w/their B2G2 Sale
Bracelet: NY&Co, $14.95
Silk Flowers: Joann Fabrics, $2.99

I also wore a little black lace shrug over the dress for a small bit of time I was at the wedding to tie the outfit together a little more, but it was just so unbearably hot that the shrug ended up on the back of my chair for most of the evening...and I didn't even feel self conscious about my arms! I felt great. What a confidence boost!

Don't forget to enter my first giveaway! Ends tomorrow! Winner on Wednesday!

♥Case

CSN Stores Giveaway!!!

For my very first giveaway, the lovely people at CSN stores will be giving one of my lucky readers a $40 gift card to use on ANY of their over 200 websites, which range from home decor to children's items to fabulous shoes!!

I LOVE these shoes over at Luxe by CSN:

I am also a big fan of abstract art, which they have a lot of at The Wall Art Store:

Three ways you can enter between July 1st 2010 and July 6th 2010:
1.) First, be/become a follower, visit any of the fabulous CSN websites, and leave a comment telling me about which products you like (I'm curious!), with your name and e-mail or blog address (so simple!)
2.) Post on your blog about this giveaway, come back and leave me a comment with the link to your post.
3.) Make a Twitter post about the giveaway, come back and leave me a comment with the link to your tweet.

You must leave a separate comment for each entry! Open to U.S./Canada residents only.

So there you have it! Three chances to win!

Also- please be aware that shipping charges may apply (however, it looks like a lot ships for free) and/or international fees for anyone in Canada.

Giveaway will close on July 6th and I will choose a winner on Wednesday, July 7th, via Random.org.

A very big thank you to CSN stores and good luck my loves!

♥Case

Help Me Pick My Hair!

As I have mentioned before, I am going to a wedding this weekend. Since this is the only wedding I will be attending this summer, and it is the wedding of a good friend of mine, I really wanted to go all out for it. I found the perfect dress, the perfect little shrug, and the perfect shoes. Now I need YOUR help to decide how I should do my hair.

Before you see my 3 options, I am going to tell you that I am really bad at doing hair. It's just not my thing. So please be honest and tell me what looks good and what looks like a hot mess! Oh! And please excuse my lack of makeup in these photos...my face is horribly broken out all over for some reason and I don't want to irritate it by putting anything on it :(

Option 1:

Down, curled, with the top layer pulled back into one section in the back and my bangs all in front

Option 2:
Bangs a little swoopy-er with a piece on each side pulled back

Option 3:

A messy side bun with swoopy bangs (I would probably try to make it look a tiny bit more put together and I would probably add a flower or bow or something...this was just a practice run.)

Please let me know which one you think I should do...or if I should do something else! And just an FYI in case you were wondering, the wedding is outdoors, at a winery, and is "summer dressy/casual" according to the invite.
Thanks in advance for your advice! I am super indecisive. ;)

♥Case