Color Me Chic: Burgundy

From a fab pair of loafers to that perfect print to place on your desk, burgundy is absolutely chic!

{Eye Palette} - Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quad Eyeshadow in Raffinement- I bought this palette in September and still can't get enough! Its a luxury item that is so worth the price tag.
 {Dress} - Madewell has done it again. They make everyday pieces so chic!
 {Print} Inslee is one of my favorite illustrators. I've featured her work before and she never fails to capture dreamy moments through ink and watercolor.
{Nail Polish}Scotch Naturals in Blood and Sand brings you such a totally eco yet ever so elegant nail polish. Click here to see how every polish is free from any harmful chemicals or animal byproducts. 
{Purse}You can go to a dinner party or run errands on Saturday with the versatile and 100% leather bag.

Lovely Photos: Scarf & Loafers

xoxo bd

Elegant Exteriors: White House & Black Shutters

As I have grown up, I have come to really enjoy the look of a traditional american home with black and white details. If you glance at my Exteriors board on Pinterest you will quickly see how much I like the the classic look. Also when I think about certain homes in movies that I tend to drool over, the exterior of the 'Father of the Bride' home is definitely a favorite along with the ever so cozy home in 'Family Stone'.
Lucky for me, Adam really likes the traditional look as well. Score! Above are some of the beauties I've been dreaming of.
I hope you had a great weekend! Happy Monday!
xoxo bd

Plaid to the Bone

For the past couple of weeks my polyvore inspiration pieces have been centered around plaid. No longer are we held to the traditional plaid of years past, now you can spice things up with a gorgeous eye palette or even a cheeky cell phone case.
Everything you see above is under $100 (A Girl's gotta budget!) with the except for the loafers.  Although a these Joie kicks are on sale for $130, that is still quite a splurge. How about an equally cute pair that is 10% of the cost, right here!

Go get you some :)

{Pillow}  {Cell Phone Case}  {Grey and Red Scarf}  {Tan, Red & Green Scarf}  {Burberry Eye Palette}
{Blue Scarf} {Loafers} {Throw Blankets}
Photo Inspiration: Mug & Coat

Color Crush: Blush

Color Crush: Blush by lovelybdavis 

Currently Coveting: Under $100

Currently Coveting: Under $100 

When the temperatures begin to drop I tend to gravitate towards luxe items but my wallet doesn't quite feel the same. Most of the time, the items that we really desire having are out of our price range. i.e. $1,500 sheets.  Dream on, Betsy! *No pun intended* But it is a breath of fresh air when you lay your eyes on items that really are within your reach, like the ones above.
Truly, everything is under $80.00 so that makes it even better, right?

Forever 21 Plaid Scarf /// $12.80

Limited Edition Deborah Lippmann Polish in Red Silk Boxers /// $ 19.00
Bobbi Brown Sequin Shimmer Brick Eye Palette /// $ 48.50

Camel Lapel Cape Coat /// $ 75.87

Also, just fyi- the holidays are coming up and these are some great gift options. Wink Wink, Adam!

I hope you have a beautiful autumn day, I'll talk to you soon...

xoxo bd

Sick Day Survival Guide

Sick Day Survival Guide by lovelybdavis 

Well hello, friends! I have officially crawled out of my hole that I've been hibernating in for the past couple of weeks. Please accept this apology, if in fact, you actually thought about stopping by this wee little blog.

For the past week the Mr. and I have been plum sick and gross. Last Monday I came home from work early and slept for about 14 hours with only a little break for a grilled cheese at dinner. I had aches and coughs and sneezes and snots and…well…you get the picture. I was not feeling my best by any means. Being the ever so gracious wife that I am, I passed on my sickness onto my hubs and even to my dad!

So sorry!

Luckily today I can breathe out of my nose pretty well. Holla!

 Slowly but surely, right?!

Above are a few of my essentials for those days when you feel like a box of tissues and a blanket are your ever present friends. 

I hope this post find you well....literally...I hope you're not sick :)

I'll talk to you soon.

xoxo bd

Currently Coveting: J. Crew Jewelry

Currently Coveting: J. Crew Jewelry by lovelybdavis 

Every week I receive a couple of emails from J. Crew Factory letting me know of the great deals they have going on in store and online.
If you are a fan of J.Crew but not their price point, check out J. Crew Factory's website and sign up for their emails.  I have purchased ties and sunglasses for Adam and was happy that I only paid $5 for shipping. Today's email was for their jewelry  that is 40% off.  Immediately I jumped online and purchased the necklace noted above. So cute, right?! Their necklaces typically go for $70 but I purchased mine for $20. Those earrings on the right are only $11! 
Essentially, this is a steal and, well, go get you some! If not for yourself, think of the holidays coming up or maybe your girlfriends birthday :) 
Side note: They're totally not paying or gifting me anything to write about this sale, I'm just a girl who loves to look cute and get a great deal. Holla!

Check out the jewelry HERE.

Happy bargain hunting! 
I'll talk to you soon....

xoxo bd

Desk Essentials for the Working Girl

If you are a working girl like myself and have what some would consider a typical 9-5 desk job, you spend more time sitting there than you do in your own home. (Awake at least.)

I have learned that though it is work, I need to make my space enjoyable.

I have placed a illustrations, a cute calendar and a photo of me and my hubby on my desk and have a drawer where I keep my beauty necessities.

Sometimes it’s the little things on a Monday morning that help your week to feel a little bit sweeter.

Here’s to a great start to October!

I’ll talk to you soon…

Xoxo bd

Currently Loving: September 26th

Happy Thursday, friends!
Here are a few things I have been loving...and well, let's be honest...pinning.
Oh and guess what, tomorrow's Friday!  Hallelujah, it's been a crazy week at work.
Talk to you soon...
xoxo bd

Nailed It: A Guide to the At Home Mani

Nailed It: A Guide to the At Home Mani by lovelybdavis 

If you like to have the pretty hands and nails but are less than enthused on spending $40 every two weeks on a professional manicure, spend that money only once and have your own manicure kit.

Prep: 
Nail Polish Remover: Choose one that is non-acetone as it is not as harsh on your nails and gives way to less peeling.
File & Buff: Use a nail file and buffer set to even out your nail bed from any ridges followed by filing your tips down to the most comfortable length for yourself.
Hand Scrub: Be it a simple at home diy with honey and sugar or one from a store, a scrub will aid in sloughing away dead skin.

Polish:
This is the fun part. Go wild or stay classic, the nail polish world is your oyster. Also, don't be fooled by pricey varnishes, I have paid $1.99 for some that are better than their $12 counterparts. Bottom line, have fun and wear something that makes you feel confident, be it bright blue or a demure nude.

Protect:
Top Coat: Choose one that has a fast dry time and a glossy finish. The Sally Hansen one above is my all time favorite.
Cuticle Oil: No one wants cuticles that look haggard and dry. Apply this while you're typing away at the computer so that the oil doesn't transfer to bed linens or clothing.
Moisturize: Use a thick hand cream to hydrate those newly scrubbed hands in a yummy scent so you will always want soft hands.


As a girl who changes her polish a couple of times a week, I have learned the most necessary products and steps to take when giving myself an at home mani. I hope this has been helpful!
I'll talk to you soon...
xoxo bd

Beauty on a Budget: Blush

If I were only given three products to use for the rest of my days it would be mascara, concealer and blush. Blush gives instant life and dimension to your face and is for me, a makeup must-have.

Also, let’s be honest, how often do you look at someone and say, “Wow, she’s totally wearing Estee Lauder on her cheeks.”    You don’t…truthfully, with most makeup you can’t decipher whether its drugstore or high-end. As long as you apply it correctly and choose a flattering shade, you will look gorgeous no matter your budget.

Like I stated in the previous Beauty on a Budget: Foundation post, I have tried every one of the above options.  All of ‘em, girl. I don’t want to just throw out random options; I want you to see the products that have great color pay off and are really nice quality. 

Reccommendations:

Cream: Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush – Tends to go on pretty sheer so don’t be afraid to apply a couple of times to deepen to the shade you are happy with or even go with a more daring shade.

Go for the shades Pink Frosting or Hot Tamale

Matte Powder:  Wet’n’Wild Color Icon – A light hand will do the trick as this blush is quite pigmented, truly a little goes a long way.

Go for the shades Heather Silk or Mellow Wine

Shimmer Powder: Milani Baked Blush gives such beautiful depth with this blush as it has multiple colors that blend into a glow for the cheeks.

Go for the shades Rose D’Oro,  Luminoso, or Berry Amore

A couple other helpful tips:

• When using cream blush, wash hands prior to applying so that you don’t contaminate the product and so that you are not adding any unnecessary dirt or germs to your face.
• If you have mature or dry skin, a cream blush may be your best friend as it will add in moisture and tends to give the face a dewy look.
• If you have acne prone skin, you may want to stay away from products with added shimmer as sometimes they will end up highlighting imperfections as opposed to blurring them.

I hope this has helped in giving you guidance the next time you want to find a new blush! 

Next for Beauty on a Budget, Concealer.

I'll talk to you soon....

xoxo bd

Friday Favorites: Inslee by Design

My Friday Favorites centers around Inslee Haynes of Inslee by Design. An NYC illustrator, artist and designer extraordinaire. Not only can you oogle over her beautiful illustrations daily by subscribing to her blog, you can also purchase her prints, calendars, note cards and even commission her to design images for your blog or bridal party.

How fun would it be to have Inslee sketch your life into what could be its most glam ever? Spending your Saturday gliding about Paris with your favorite Birkin or maybe grabbing a well manicured coffee with your bestie.

I look at Inslee's sketches and think, "Oh, I want that life!". She makes the ordinary task of shopping for groceries look elegant. Her drawings take you away to another place where car horns and a ripped hem on your dress don't exist. 

Please do take a minute to peruse her website and swoon over all of her amazing work.

I hope your Friday has found you excited for the weekend! I'll talk to you soon!

xoxo bd

*All images and artwork is property of Inslee by Design* 

Beauty on a Budget: Foundation

Beauty on a Budget: Foundation by lovelybdavis 

If you are in search of a great foundation but don’t want to sacrifice half of your weekly grocery budget in the process, don’t fret, I have 7 wallet friendly options that will give you a flawless face.

First of all, I have used every one of the foundations above. Every. Single. One. I’m not just throwing out options; I want to give you helpful information so that you are not standing in the aisle at Target for an hour feeling overwhelmed.

To begin with, every foundation is different and will offer different coverage. Below are some helpful tips to help with your decision:

Other Helpful Tips:

1. If it states that its “age defying”, don’t pass it up if you are in your 20’s, 30’s or younger. These tend to be a great option for those with dry skin as they offer extra moisture.
2. Always read the label to see whether it is formulated for “Oily”  “Normal to Combination”  or  “Dry” Skin.

Next up for 'Beauty on a Budget' - Blush

I hope this was helpful! I'll talk to you soon...

xoxo bd

Travel Must-haves

Travel Must-haves by lovelybdavis featuring travel kits

H&M Summer Style

H&M Summer Style by lovelybdavis featuring a flared skirt

H&M Summer Style for Guys by lovelybdavis featuring h&m shorts

As I said in my last post, we took a much needed shopping trip to the newly opened H&M. I had my first taste of their oh-so affordable yet surprisingly well-made and freaking trendy clothing on our honeymoon in San Francisco. Their stores were sprinkled amongst the city like churches are here in the south. They were everywhere and I wanted everything they had to offer. To this day, we still wear clothes, shoes and accessories that we purchased almost 4 years ago. If you take care of your clothes, they will last…even that $9.95 pair of shorts. {Preach it!}

The closest locations to us are either Raleigh, NC or Atlanta, GA which are far from convenient. If ever we are in a city that has a store, we carve out time from our schedule to find the latest goods. Both Adam and I want to look like we have some sort of style going on but don’t have the budget to splurge on $300 shoes or a $70 t-shirt.

In the sets above I included a few of the pieces we picked up for ourselves. As I tend to live in dresses and light weight scarves during the summer, I made sure to pick up multiple options! Adam found some great linen shorts and a nice polo that reminds me of Don Draper.

By no means am I being paid by H&M to talk about how much I like their clothing, we just both come out so happy with our purchases and our wallets reflect that sentiment as well.

If you click on the sets above, they will link to each individual item. Sadly you cannot purchase any of the items online, only in store. If you do happen to have store near where you are, sign up for the e-mail list and you will immediately receive a 20% off coupon for any item of your choice. 

Ballin :)

I hope you have a summer-ly beautiful day! I'll talk to you soon...
xoxo bd

{H&M}

Weekend Beauty Haul

Weekend Beauty Haul by lovelybdavis 

When it comes to the warmer months, {Hello, it's freaking June! Where has this year gone?} I like to change up my beauty routine and luckily for me all of the stores do as well! New foundations and collections begin to come up on the drugstore isles and in the displays of my favorite department stores. 
This past weekend I grabbed a few must have Summer ready items! 

'Addicted to Peach' Collection by BareMinerals - this collection is perfect summer makeup. Truthfully, if you were just starting out with makeup or maybe wanted to try something new for vacation, I would highly recommend that collection. You receive every product in a full size (Blush, lip gloss, 3 eye shadows and mascara) along with the cutest metallic rose gold makeup bag! Seriously it was such a great purchase!

Almay Smart Shade CC Cream - To complete your easy summer makeup look I would throw in this CC Cream by Almay. Not only is it light, which won't leave you feeling like you have anything caked on, but they have also packed in 35 spf so there's no need to bring along your bottle of sunscreen. Did I mention is under $10? Steal!

Dickinson's Pore Perfecting Toner - I have mentioned this product before but had to mention it again! This witch hazel toner is a definite must in the summer to aid in getting your face fresh and clean. After I wash my face with my typical cleanser, I put this toner on a cotton pad and wipe over my entire face and neck. It takes away any excess oil or dirt that your cleanser neglected to wash away. Again, it's a steal and can be purchased at your local drugstore for $5. *Winning*

Pacifica Roll On Perfume in Tahitian Gardenia - In a recent trip to Whole Foods I saw this display of roll on perfumes in a myriad of scents. I was immediately drawn to the Tahitian Gardenia as gardenia is one of my top 5 favorite scents and also because of its size! I am easily able to throw it in my purse and have a smell good pick me up at any time!

Sally Hansen Hard As Nail Xtreme Wear in Breeze Blue - I'll admit that the moment I saw this color I knew I had to have it! Though it might be a bit of a stretch for some to wear blue on their fingernails, it is very flattering on many skin tones! Not only does it dry quickly but it also wears very well without chipping! Once again, it is a steal and available at drugstores for under $3.

{ More product information: 1  2  3  4  5 }

I hope that you're June has gotten off to a wonderful start!
I'll talk to you soon
xoxo bd

Friday Favorites 5.17.13

Friday Favorites 5.17.13 by lovelybdavis 

I have a few of my favorite things from this past week that I thought I would share with you!

*Essie nail polish in Lollipop {On my toes}
*Essie nail polish in Ballet Slippers {On my fingers}
*My new favorite perfume, Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone
*Alas, its true, I've grown fond of everyone with long hair and have decided to let mine grow out again... at least for the summer. I miss my beachy waves!
*Madeleine Peyroux has been my Pandora station of choice and all of her records are on repeat on Spotify all.week.long. If you like Billie Holiday you will love her! I like to listen to her while browsing Pinterest or while taking a bath. Pure relaxation!
In other news...Thank goodness its Friday 'cause this gal is ready to sleep in! I hope you have a lovely Friday evening!
xoxo bd

Lipstick Addict

Lipstick Addict by lovelybdavis 

As I was going through my little makeup bag in my purse I began to pull out all of my lipsticks. Admittedly I love lip products. But I'm not alone here, people. It's been said that the average woman eats 4 to 9 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime, that’s somewhere between 481 and 1083 tubes. Wowza. Granted, I don't actually eat up my lipstick but it sure was hard not to lick them to bits when I was 12 and wore Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers. Seriously, it tastes just like Dr. Pepper!

I think I'm getting too far from what I meant to write about. Moving On! 

Above are the lipsticks I currently carry in my purse (there are also a few chapsticks/lip butters and glosses that I carry). See what I mean? Who needs 5 lipsticks at all times? Me…. apparently.

I never realized how much I love a bright lip but by looking through my bag, there’s not a neutral one in sight!  What I love most is that they instantly amp up your look. If I don’t have time to do my hair in the morning and just throw it in a top knot, I will make sure I put on lipstick. So simple but it makes me feel like I put in a little bit of effort.  

So there you are, I’ll admit it, I’m an addict of epic and colorful proportions.

Xoxo bd

Current Beauty Favorites

Current Beauty Favorites by lovelybdavis 

 Happy Humpday, the work week is officially half way over *woot woot*
! Seeing as I have been adding new beauty products to my daily routine and thought I might share a few of them with you. 

Josie Maran Argan Oil:  This been such an amazing night time face moisturizer. The thought of placing pure oil on your face may scare you but I promise this stuff sinks right in just beautifully. An added benefit to the above product is that you can not only use it on your face but on your hair, cuticles and skin.  I place this after I've washed my face and then afterwards top it with a night cream.

Essie Nail Polish in Enuf is Enuf:  One night, about a year ago, Adam made a run to the store and came back with that beautiful polish in hand. He said he wanted to get me something fun to brighten my day.  First of all, yes. Let's add that to the list of why I love my husband. It is a pretty mix between pink, orange and red. It looks great in the Spring and Summer on toesies!

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish: Oh snap. This lip scrub knows whats up. It exfoliates like a dream and only takes a tiny amount to get rid of any dead skin. I like to use this after I've brushed my teeth at night and after I've scrubbed will then lather on a kick butt lip butter. 

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle: Well hello there healthy glow, where have you been? This highlighter proves to brighten up my face in the most subtle way. I place this on the tops of my cheek bones and on my brown bone. There are days when I have simply used it as my blush and love it just as much!

Dr. Jart+ BB Beauty Balm: If you want to even out your skin tone but don't want to feel like you have caked foundation all over your face, go with this BB cream. I originally tried a sample through my Birchbox and loved it immediately. I kept the sample in my makeup bag until I purchased the full size a couple of weeks later. I love that it has SPF 25 as well!

There you have it, my latest beauty additions. 
I'll talk to you soon! xoxo bd

Abstract Love

Abstract Love by lovelybdavis on Polyvore

*I was going for Muskrat Love but you know...Abstract! Cheeky? Yeah, Not so much...moving on!*
I am constantly inspired by art prints on Etsy, Pinterest and other bloggers work as you can see above. Back in the day….way, way back, many moons ago…around 2007… I went to a small art school to study Graphic Design.  I quickly realized that my passion was far from creating digital images or coding websites. My passion was in pencil, charcoal and watercolor. I wanted to work with the medium and get my hands dirty. I have only the fondest memories of pulling all-nighters in the studio to sketch whatever the assignment was for that week. My fingernails looked more like that of a mechanic than a 19 year old gal’s. Oh the days of charcoal, you were so so messy.

Long story short I dropped out of art school and moved on to something much more exciting, a desk job! Well that sounds sad. I love my job though it doesn't bring the excitement I used to experience while mixing paints. In the same argument, mixing paint doesn't pay my bills quite like the desk job does…so I’m working with what I've got.

From time to time I will purchase a discount canvas and go about making something while watching a movie.  It is infinitely relaxing and I think to myself every time that I should do it more often. Apparently I don’t learn from repetition.

In the past year or two I have seen what seems to be a resurgence of abstract art. It is probably far from resurgence and just an influx of social media. Regardless, I am hit daily with beautiful images of some fine person’s art work.  Check out my Color Palette board and you will see I have a semi-distinct taste for color and style.  You know Jen Ramos of  Cocoa and Hearts? Yeah, love her stuff but it is constantly sold out. {You go, Glen Coco} And Michelle Armas, her work is absolutely beautiful! Mary Ann Wakeley is beyong talented. I ADORE her work. Well after scrolling through their art for sale I realized I could create something similar (humbly) and more cheaply with what I already had.

All of this to say, after work last night I went to JoAnn's and found a couple of canvases for 40% off. Score! If you have ever browsed the canvas isle you know those suckers can get pretty pricey. So I grabbed a couple and am now on a mission to paint for me, for my house and for my husband. {I say my husband because a happy wife is a happy life, right?}

Looks like tonight I will be in some raggedy clothes infront of a canvas...sounds good to me!
I hope you are having a beautiful Thursday, I'll talk to you soon!
xoxo bd