Valentine's Day Beauty

Truth be told I didn't have my first Valentine until I was 20 years old. Luckily my very first Valentine is the man I married. At the time we lived 3 hours away from each other so I traveled to see him for the weekend and he took me to the most quaint sushi restaurant in Memphis, Do. It was located in the Cooper-Young area of Midtown and had such a sweet setting inside. I will never forget how perfect that evening felt. 

Leading up to my trip I talked with my roommates about what I should wear, how my hair should look and what kind of make up to use. I thought long and hard about how perfect I was going to look for this date. I packed a pink floral cupcake dress that my roomie let me borrow and brought 6 inch heels so I could stun the man. I was ready to look hot! Funnily enough, after all of the stress and worry, he preferred the cream sweater dress and flats that I was already wearing. From that night on and throughout our marriage I have come to realize that Adam prefers me to look more like me. He doesn't want lots of makeup or high to the heavens hair sprayed locks- he loves when I am cute and girly and simple.

There is something to be said about big eyelashes and six inch heels, but the approach I want to share is the most classic of Valentines Day looks. 

H a i r: One of the best compliments I receive from my husband is when he holds me tightly and says how nice my hair smells. You want your hair to be soft and un-fussy. Redken's All Soft Shampoo will revive the most damaged hair.  Trust me. For extra softness, use a great hair mask to follow up your shampoo like the miracle worker by Macadamia.

M a k e u p: I believe every guy prefers to see your face, so apply the blush lightly and only a little lipgloss will do. You want to kiss him, don't you? I prefer palettes that have colors which are combined to compliment each other and soft neutrals look the most natural. The above palette by Laura Mercier is a total winner. The lipgloss by Nyx is creamy and gives a "my lips but better" hue.

S k i n: Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water and make sure to moisturize after your bath. It is great to choose a lotion or body butter that has a light scent so even if you're not into spritzing perfume, you will smell lovely from head to toe. Check out The Body Shop's nicely scented Body Butter in Grapefruit.

N a i l s: Being that you are keeping with a natural, ladylike beauty look, I suggest a clean and simple manicure. A guy will most likely not know what to do with Stiletto Nails and frankly might be a little scared. Again, go natural and treat yourself to a mani pedi with a beautiful light pink polish. So girly!

Enjoy your night out -or in- and treat yourself! 

xoxo bd

Products Mentioned:

 Hair Mask //  Shampoo //  Body Butter // Laura Mercier Eye & Cheek Palette // 

Essie Nail Polish  // Nyx Butter Gloss

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

Color Crush: Blush

Color Crush: Blush by lovelybdavis 

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

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

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

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

Birchbox: June 2013

It’s that time again! Another installation of my monthly subscription to Birchbox and this month they have revamped their look. From the look of their website and logo, down to the really cute black and white chevron lining of their boxes! 

I was really excited to see what this box had in store and I definitely wasn't disappointed. As it is summer and travel is in force for most, this month’s theme is Wanderlust.

We have a couple of really fun trips planned, one in particular is this weekend, and I know I will be able to use the goodies I received. Without further ado, let’s jump into the products!

Just a quick overview if you have yet to hear about Birchbox:

Monthly subscription service for $10/month where you receive 4-5 high end beauty products/samples sent to your mailbox. By filling out a profile on their website, they create a box personalized for your skin, hair and style. If you review the products you receive in your box, you earn points to purchase full size products in the BB online store! 

Dry shampoo has made such a presence in the past few years and for good reason. When you want that bangin' blowout to last one more day or maybe you hit the snooze button one too many times, you can rely on this cleanser and styling product! Spray into the roots, wiggle the product in to the roots with your fingers and then style per usual. Bonus: dry shampoo amps up your volume like no body's business. 

Holy brightness batman, this lipstick knows who's boss! This bright pink shade in lambchop does not disappoint with its pigment and how smoothly it applies. It's a no-brainer when, once again, you've hit the snooze button too many times yet still want to look put together without time for that full face of makeup. Put on your tinted moisturizer, some mascara and this lipstick and you're good to go!

How cute is this hair tie? I love the nautical theme with the little sailboats! These puppies save your hair by not leaving that annoying dent after you've taken your hair down. Throwing your hair in a ponytail has never been so easy or stylish.

Having tried this cleanser before through one of Adam's BB for men, I was excited to try it again! Think of the lemon drop candy and that's what this beauty smells like! Hold off on tasting the cleanser and you will be really impressed with how well it slough's off that dead skin and washes away the stress of the day. 

Eeep! Another nail polish to play with? Yes, please! This shade, along with 3 others, are mini polishes created specifically for Birchbox! The four polishes come in a cute set with the one you see above along with coral, mint and lilac shades. They are all aptly named after the BB offices in Barcelona, Paris, NY and London. 

A little extra I everyone was given is a set of four illustrated postcards showing the international BB cities and on the backs of each card they give you a ideas of things to do in those cities to have a perfect day! I will be purchasing frames for these postcards very soon!

Click on each photo to link to the individual products and buy some for yourself! 

Talk to you soon!

xoxo bd

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

Winter Makeup Routine

Makeup Routine by lovelybdavis

With every season I change up my makeup routine or maybe just when I've found a new favorite product!
Its no doubt that I am a beauty junkie so getting to share these items with you is fun for me.
I am not brand specific nor am I strictly high end or drugstore...I mix it up. Whatever the price point, if it works and makes my skin look good, well sign me up!
After I have cleansed and moisturized (another blog post, soon) I begin my makeup routine.

 *Primer: This {optional} option is one by Sephora that aids in mattifying the skin. Can I be all kinds of honest? I don't think this one works very well but I will surely use it to the last drop. Other brands such as Smashbox make fantastic primers in case you were on the hunt. 

*Foundation: I am currently using Make Up For Ever's HD Foundation and I love it. This item was a repurchase for its great coverage but lightweight feel. It can be pricey but I wear it on my face EVERY SINGLE DAY and my face is the first thing people see when they meet me.  {Did I justify the price? K, cool}

*Concealer: Maybelline's Dream Lumi is my concealer of choice for right now. It brightens beautifully but I feel like I use up the product much more quickly than I'd like. When applying to my face I use the Kim Kardashian method seen here. I may look like an alien in the process but afterwards its like I actually got 8 hours of sleep.

*Setting Powder: This item is also a repurchase), its the translucent powder by E.L.F. and it only costs $3! Lovin it. Keepin' it. I apply the powder onto my T-Zone and under my eyes to set the concealer. 

*Blush: This option changes daily, as it is a must have for me. I feel like if you at least wear blush you will look alive.  Milani is the one shown above and is a beautiful coral shade with a subtle gold iridescence. I have to be light handed because a heavy swipe of this means I may evoke the spirit of Tammy Faye Baker.

*Eyeshadow: On an everyday basis I go for neutrals. The Too Faced At Night Sexy & Sultry palette above is great. The colors are beautifully pigmented so again, I have to be light handed. Lots of "blend, blend, blend" goes on. 

*Eyeliner: The past couple of years I have really enjoyed using black liquid liner. A little flick at the end and I've got an easy cat eye. The above Eyeko Skinny liner was in my latest Birchbox. 

*Mascara: As with blush, mascara is a must have. I have barely visible blonde lashes and will take all the help I can get. Currently I have Maybelline's Volum Express on rotation for that extra oomph!

*Lips: I love to put on chapstick or lipbalm before any lipstick or gloss. Dry, cracked lips are less than desirable and the Maybelline Baby Lips in 'Pink Punch' offers moisture with a hint of color as well.  I place Buxom's lipgloss in 'Sugar' over top to finish off the look and then its time to start the day.

So there you have it, my latest winter makeup routine. If you click on the link below the picture it will take you to all of the products mentioned.

I'll talk to you soon!
xoxo bd
 

Case of the Monday's

All of the pictures above evoke what would be a perfect Monday for me:

 Waking up to fresh espresso brewing, flawless makeup, frizz free locks and a knock-out outfit would start any gal’s week off right! Insert reality into this post and this morning looked more like breakfast at a tragedy  than breakfast at Tiffany’s. *That alarm clock saw the snooze button more than I'd like to admit*

Time to shape up, slap that face into gear and get that hair tamed…pronto.

I’m pretty sure we have all had a case of the Mondays and it ran rampant through my office today. At least I'm not alone in dragging my feet this afternoon.

There are lots of neglected household duties to take care of so I should get to them before I fall on the bed.

I'll talk to you soon!

xoxo bd

{Photo Credits: Two, Three}

November Birchbox: Product Listing

I'm excited to show you all the amazing deluxe samples I received in my Birchbox this month!

I was shocked at how "deluxe" all of them were, to be honest.

More and more friends and family are letting me know that they too are checking out BB which makes me proud because I do love this company.

As stated before, they have fantastic customer service and couldn't be more friendly! Also for those of you who have a man in your life that is interested in his own up-keep, they are coming up with a Birchbox Man.

When I hear about a more definitive release date I will let you know. Without further ado, here is a list of what I received. (A video coming soon, promise!)

1. Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with Cornflower Water

2. Oscar Blandi Jasmine Protein Mist

3. LaROCCA Champagne & Shimmer Body Polish

4. Zoya Gems and Jewels Nail Polish in Noel

Treat: Chuao Chocolatier Firecracker ChocoPod

Talk to you soon,

bd

{Photo Credit: Betsy Girl Polyvore}

Birchbox: October 2011

The products mentioned in no particular order:

{Amika Obliphica Hair Treatment}

{Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer in Bronzer}

{Clark's Botanicals Intense Radiance Mask}

{The Laundress Wool & Cashmere Shampoo in Cedar}

{Anastasia Beverly Hills HydraFull Gloss in Bellini} 

Be sure to check back for more Birchbox videos!