OOTD & Haul + July GlossyBox

Hello! I'm gonna go ahead and apologize for the first part of this video...it was my first time using my iPhone to film an OOTD and obviously I'm very rusty!! But I hope you enjoyed anyways and if you would like to see more OOTD's let me know! 
Below is the breakdown of price value for the items I received in my GlossyBox. I always do this when I receive any kind of beauty box to see if I'm getting my money's worth.

• ALLESSANDRO INTERNATIONAL Pedix Heel Rescue Balm: $5.55
• OFRA COSMETICS Universal Eyebrow Pencil: $10.00 (full size)
• SEBASTIAN Color Ignite Multi Tone Shampoo: $3.03
• SEBASTIAN Color Ignite Multi Tone Conditioner: $4.23
• SENNA COSMETICS Double Dose Lip Lacquer: $22.00 (full size)

TOTAL VALUE: $44.81

Even though GlossyBox is the most expensive of the beauty boxes, at least you are getting double back what you paid. 

Oh, how Pinteresting Wednesday!

Happy Wedneday yall!! We've made it to hump day! The first half of this week has actually been pretty pleasant. I've only worked one day so far and if you saw on twitter yesterday you may have noticed I posted about getting a new job! It's been a interesting road to say the least but once things are finalized I hope to share more!! 
I'm really enjoying Pinterest Wednesday. Going thru my pins from the past week I noticed I was a lot more active this week which gave me more to choose from! So here are some of my favorites... 

Source: swtcarolinagrl.tumblr.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: swtcarolinagrl.tumblr.com via Natalie on Pinterest

The next step in my norts obsession...monogramming!

Source: swtcarolinagrl.tumblr.com via Natalie on Pinterest

my dream bedroom

Source: swtcarolinagrl.tumblr.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: swtcarolinagrl.tumblr.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: simplyme091909.blogspot.com via Natalie on Pinterest

sequins, chambray, boots, curly messy hair = perfection

Source: hannaproctor.polyvore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

typical college library outfit (that I would still rock!) and I would KILL to know how to do my hair like this!

Source: thepreppytimes.tumblr.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Black & creme = fave winter combo 

Source: weddingdaypin.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com via Natalie on Pinterest

another possible bedroom idea

After putting all these pins together this post definitely had a stripe theme going on...which makes sense since over 50% of my closet is striped (not kidding!)

Hope your Wednesday is great & you have a great finish of the rest of the week!

"To Try" List

If you haven't realized by now, I have a gigantic slight Sephora obsession. I swear putting one in Columbia was like dropping an alcoholic at the liquor store...I can't stay away!!! Luckily my friend Jordan is a fellow makeup obsessed gal and between the two of us we always have an excuse to drop by and visit our favorite store. 

With a store like Sephora (especially the one as big as we have), it can be VERY easy to get overwhelmed and not know where to start, hence the reason we spent TWO HOURS in there the first time we went in. So I feel it's very important to go in there with a game plan. I usually have a list made on Sephora's website under my account of items I have seen reviewed online or mentioned in YouTube videos that peeked my interest. So once I'm in the store I can pull up the Sephora app (cuz you KNOW that is on my phone!) and can focus on those items. 

So I thought I would share a couple items that are on my shopping list and plan to check out next time I'm at Sephora. 

Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation

I was watching HSN the other night (cuz that's what cool kids do on a Saturday night) and Josie Maran was presenting. I've heard of the brand before but never tried anything from the line. When I saw the demonstration for this foundation, my. jaw. dropped! It starts out white and then when you brush it onto your skin it matches your skin tone! If someone had told me this I wouldn't believe it, but watching it demonstrated it really worked! 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup

This foundation is the newest one from Urban Decay. Honestly I don't even know if UD has any other foundation since they're more famous for their eyeshadows (Naked palette anyone?). It had a wide range of colors so I'm interested to see how it looks once applied. 

Tweezerman Mini Slanted Chevron Tweezers

I know isn't too exciting of a buy, but all of a sudden all of my tweezers have gone MIA! I've never had a Tweezerman pair and when I was at my parent's house I borrowed my moms and holy crap I see what the hype is about! If I buy one thing during my trip it will be these babies! 

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

This is the product that has been on my list the longest! I read somewhere that this is what Mariska Hargitay's makeup artist uses on set to set concealer and add brightness under the eyes...which let's face it this girl needs all the help she can get with her dark circles! I may pull the trigger and buy this too. 

Are there any products that are catching your eye?? DO TELL!!

Sunday Social Week 10

Linking up once again for Sunday Social. And it's another one about my favorite things...FOOD!!
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? I know it's technically more of a 'group' of food then one food item, but I've always said I would want various types of chips and dips as my "final" meal. I'm craving some even as I'm typing this...

What's your guilty pleasure/comfort food? Nice greasy cheesy pizza. Preferably with some marinara or garlic sauce to dip it in (clearly I'm a dip person)
What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten? I play it pretty safe when it comes to food, but probably the craziest combo I've ever done is spaghetti noodles with ketchup
What foods do you avoid at all costs? beef (hence the spaghetti-ketchup combo), mustard, bologna, lima beans, sushi
What meal reminds you of your childhood? When my brother and I were little our grandmother watched us every summer and I always remember she would cook the traditional Lebanese dish rice with noodles. Since I don't eat red meat this is one of the few Lebanese dishes I eat!

Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it. Considering I don't cook, this was the toughest question this week! The only thing I have made with success is Buffalo Chicken Dip. I don't really have a set recipe I use, but this one is the closest except instead of baking mine I just mix all the ingredients in a pot on the stove and let it simmer until it's warm enough. Definitely a party favorite!
Have you linked up this week? If so let me know!!

London Traveling & Day 1

Welcome to post #1 of my London recaps! I'm sure this is going to get wordy so lets get started!

Traveling/Day 1

Our traveling day started out with me rushing to get packed before leaving for the airport (literally the hour before we left), but once we got to the airport in Columbia our flight was delayed. Long story short we eventually get off the ground, then run through the Atlanta airport to make our connecting flight to London. While waiting for our London plane to take off, this man appeared on our plane...

...President Jimmy Carter! Now even though he was way before my time and was CERTAINLY not the greatest president, this will probably be the only President I will meet in my lifetime, so nevertheless it was pretty cool.

The flight over to London was not the most pleasant experience. It was just under 8 hours, and out of those 8 I probably got 1 hour of sleep! Our seats were just way too uncomfortable and small that it was impossible to get comfy. The whole family agreed that first class was the way to go next time!

**First view of London!**

When we arrived at Heathrow Airport it was about 10am local time and rainy (shocker right?!?). We quickly gathered our luggage and caught a cab into downtown London. 

**all of our luggage in the small cab**

I can't for the life of me remember the name of our hotel, but it was in the Knightsbridge area across from Victoria & Albert Museum and walking distance from Harrods and an Underground station. It was a VERY nice hotel and we would definitely stay there again! So after checking in and freshening up we walked a couple blocks to grab some lunch and then our first tourist destination...Harrods!!

**not my pic**

Is it a real shocker that I wasn't even in the country for 4 hours and I was already visiting the largest department store in the world?!? Walking into that store is definitely a giddy/overwhelming experience. There are soooo many different rooms and departments and floors it's hard to know where to begin...the handbags alone were in about 6 different rooms that took up almost the entire first floor! I wish I could have taken pictures of it all, but naturally there was security everywhere so picture taking was no-no.

I of course headed straight to the room I knew Louis Vuitton was in and made the purchase 3 years in the making!

I'm not going to go into much detail about my purchase since I talked about it in my London Haul video. But I am still in love with this bag and 100% don't regret my purchase!

Upon leaving Harrods we quickly returned to the hotel and all napped and recovered from jet lag!!

Keep a lookout for Day 2's post soon!! 

Friday (Saturday) Faves

Happy weekend! I know I know I'm a day late on this linkup, and I know yall may be getting tired of link-ups, but lets face it they're a fun, usually quick way for me to get a post up while I work on other posts (like my London recaps which I PROMISE are coming!!). Plus a linkup like this one gives me a great excuse to talk about some of my favorite products!

My fellow makeup obsessed friend Jordan let me buy her basically brand new Clarisonic Mia 2 from her and I have loved it since first use! I have been wanting a Clarisonic for YEARS but (1) couldn't justify such a pricey beauty purchase and (2) never had enough money as a college student. I was concerned using the Clarisonic twice a day would aggravate my rosacea, but using it in combination with my Purity cleanser I have had nothing but good results so far! 

I talked about these hair ties in my Charlotte shopping post but after using them all week I had to come back and say that they really do live up to the hype! I used one all day at work with my hair in a bun, and while the hair tie did stretch out there were no creases or bumps to be found! I used another one today and had my hair in a ponytail from 10am to 8:30pm and once again no crease in my hair! Plus that one didn't stretch out! Definitely worth the money if you ask me :)

This is a little sneak peak of my case of "empties", or products that I have used up! I have SOOO many skincare, hair, and makeup products lying around that I have GOT to get through some of them before I buy more. When this container fills up a little more I plan to do a separate post and/or video about the products and what I would buy or repurchase, but this is just a preview of what I have used so far! 

What are some of your favorite products this week? Any exciting plans for the weekend???

Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday!

Hello everyone!! Today for the first time I am linking up with Michelle aka The Vintage Apple  for Oh, how Pinteresting Wednesday! I was obsessed with Pinterest when I first starting 'pinning' things, but recently my new love for Tumblr seemed to overshadow. As much as I love Tumblr I love how you can categorize everything on Pinterest and things are MUCH easier to find! 
So down below are just some random things I have 'pinned' recently. What are your favorite things to pin? Outfits, recipes, craft ideas? The list could go on and on!

Source: vineyardvines.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: fashionworship.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: blognailedit.blogspot.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: psilovefashion.indiedays.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!!

Sunday Social Week 9

Once again linking up with Neely and Ashley for Sunday Social! Can't believe it's week 9 already. Even though I haven't participated every week this may be my most consistent link up! #progress
Here are this week's questions: 
1. What is your favorite Fall activity? College football (this will be a recurring theme in this post!), specifically SEC football

Source: collegefootballstore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

I enjoy everything about football, from the early morning tailgates to the night games under the lights of Williams-Brice, there is nothing like the atmosphere inside your home stadium. 

2. Do you follow a football team? If so which one and why? In case you are a VERY new reader, I will introduce myself: Hi my name is Natalie and I am a DIE HARD University of South Carolina Gamecock fan!

Source: Uploaded by user via Natalie on Pinterest

In South Carolina before you can even say your first words you are crowned either a Gamecock or a *dreaded* Clemson Tiger. The rivalry runs deep, you don't have to necessarily graduate from USC, but if you do that devotion to the garnet and black runs even stronger. I was a casual fan before I went to college, but being able to go to the football games every single weekend and sit in the student section made me just a tad obsessed with this team (I'm talking turning off Real Housewives and watching Sportscenter!).   3. What is something fun about Fall in your area? Growing up in SC the first 2 weeks in October always mean the SC State Fair is coming to town! The fair is full of things to do and see, from simply people watching to riding rides and eating crazy fried food (fried Pepsi with a side of fried Snickers anyone?!?), there is something for everyone at the fair!
4. Fave Fall outfit staples? Here are a couple looks I will be *attempting to* sport this fall

Source: homestoriesatoz.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: celebritystyleguide.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

5. Thing you are looking forward to most about the coming Fall season? So much anticipation this fall! Gamecock football, my 23rd birthday, starting my master's program, hopefully starting a new job, and fall tv!!
6. Favorite Fall holiday? Traditions? Probably Thanksgiving. It's a pretty low key holiday for my family because my entire family gets together for Christmas, so we all go separate ways to the "other sides" of our families. So it's usually just our family of 4 at my parent's house eating your traditional Thanksgiving meal. Some years we head down to Myrtle Beach the day after Thanksgiving for some Black Friday shopping at the outlets...it depends on whether or not I have tickets to the Carolina-Clemson game, which is ALWAYS Thanksgiving weekend ;)
Hope everyone has a great start to their week!! What is your favorite thing about fall??