House Sitting

This weekend Adam and I are house sitting for one of my co-workers. No, we are not jumping on the beds and the dog won't be hopping onto the sheets anytime soon, but we sure are having fun. 

{It's our mini getaway}

Throughout my college/single years I house and dog sat like no body's business. Like, straight ballin  a lot.

During the summer months (prime house sitting season) I would stay at other people's homes more than I would my own. It was glorious. I loved new environments, fun animals to play with and having the opportunity to see my city from a different angle. 

This time around we are staying in a log cabin that is set on top of a hill nestled between acres of trees (with wifi, of course) that is only 5 minutes from town. That's a pretty darn great combo, don't you think? Did I mention the weather is going to be amazing?! Hallelujah.

So I'm off to sit and stuff... I'll talk to you soon

xoxo bd

{Photo}

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

Pretty Stuff: Mid-Week Lovelies

 A mid-week round up of some of my favorite photos that I have obsessed over on Pinterest & Tumblr. It's all pretty stuff, let's be honest. We're not saving the world, we are just having a little therapy session away from the stresses of our daily lives. 

// Tumblr //

 

// Pinterest //

I'll talk to you soon...

xoxo bd

Tumblr//Pinterest

The September Issue

 

I am admittedly a magazine freak. Okay, maybe freak is a little strong, but I have 6 magazine subscriptions and read them all cover to cover.

Every September they premier the largest editions of the year with all of the most up to date beauty and fashion trends for fall and winter. Hello boots and scarves and dark nail polish!

Vogue is most well known for having the largest September Issue, but truthfully, though they may have fed Carrie Bradshaw's soul, they end up being filled with ads in the first 50 pages and are loaded with items that cost more than I make in a month. A girl can dream, sure, but sometimes I would like to know what is more of a reality.

Below are three of my favorite magazines that I receive every month:

Go on with your bad self, get inspired by what's hitting the stores and have a little fall makeover. 

Also, in case you're curious, the movie September Issue is a good watch and eye opening. The fashion industry is one cut throat world. 

I hope your week is getting off to a great start, I'll talk to you soon!

xoxo bd

 {Paintings via Cocoa and Hearts}

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

How to Have a Fabulous Day

I don't think I would be overstepping if I said, on behalf of most people, that Mondays are not their favorite day of the week. .. but that doesn't mean we can turn that around! We have the ability to make today a good day. It is up to you to put a smile on your face and keep trekking. {Preach it!}

I love the illustration above by Jessica Marie Design and when I saw it on Pinterest I thought that it encompassed everything I loved! Starbucks? Obvi. Peonies? My favorite! Essie nail polish? No other brand can beat it! Macarons? My go-to goodie at bakeries! 

I'm thoroughly convinced that this will be a fabulous day! 

I hope you had a lovely weekend, I'll talk to you soon....

xoxo bd

{Image via Jessica Marie Design}