Happy Friday! Today I am reviewing both drugstore and department store jumbo lip pencils. These have been gaining in popularity over the past couple of years, but really in the last 6 months or so it seems like every single brand has come out with their version of a giant lip crayon. I decided to take two department store and four drugstore pencils and put them to the test – see which ones are glossy, opaque, moisturizing, and long-lasting, and which ones were drying and sheer.

Have you tried any jumbo lip pencils? Which brand makes your favorite one? Let me know in the comments below! I hope you all have a fabulous holiday weekend :)

Products I mentioned:
Tarte LipSurgence in Perky
NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in New Lover
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Sweetheart
CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Watermelon Twist
Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Stick in Bright Berry
Sally Hansen Colorfast Tint + Moisture Balm in Make Me Blush

1. Lululemon Rain Jacket | 2. Target Polka Dot Rainboots | 3. Target Baseball Cap | 4. Felix Rey Umbrella | 5. Longchamp Tote | 6. Hunter Flats | 7. Anthropologie Bold Hues Scarf

Unfortunately, spring here in Seattle isn’t exactly pleasant. Unlike most cities, Seattle’s spring is rainy, cold, and dark until about June or July. Since it is rainy here most of the year, you need some stereotypical accessories to combat the cold but still look cute. A bright raincoat, some cute rainboots, and a waterproof tote to carry around your laptop or personal items are key. Since the weather is so unpredictable in Seattle (sunny in the morning, raining in the afternoon, heavy winds and a thunderstorm overnight), a bright scarf is good to add some color and warmth to a basic outfit. While I’m pretty much against umbrellas, this one is too cute to pass up with the lips and the eyelashes. How do you stay stylish in the rain? Let me know in the comments below! xo

While I love me a pair of baggy boyfriend jeans, I wear a lot of slouchier tops, so I knew when picking out my perfect boyfriend jeans I needed something a little slimmer. These ones from 7 For All Mankind are so incredibly comfortable, the wash is perfect, the rips look summertime-casual-cool, and they’re incredible quality. I love dressing up a more masculine piece with something more feminine, so I thought some open sandals and sequins would do the trick :)

I have been wearing my Jawbone Up fitness bracelet now for 3 full days and it is quite possibly my new favorite toy. I obsessively check it at work (about 6 times per day) to see where my steps are at. Also, it buzzes at me if I have not moved for 1 hour, so I like to take a quick stroll around the block. It’s a nice reminder to keep moving and stay healthy. Also, sitting at a computer for 9+ hours isn’t healthy, so getting up for breaks throughout the day is a nice way to clear my head and get some blood flowing :)

How do you style your boyfriend jeans? Do you prefer skinny ones, or baggier? Do you like lighter wash denim, or a darker wash? Let me know in the comments below – happy hump day!

Ann Taylor Loft Sequined Striped Top | 7 For All Mankind Josephina Skinny Boyfriend Jeans (c/o) | JustFab Heels (under $40!) | Michael Kors Rosegold Watch | Jawbone Up Fitness Bracelet

This past weekend was the best weekend that I have had in a long time. It was my boyfriend’s birthday on Saturday, so we celebrated his birthday all weekend long :) Friday night we went dancing at this techno meets top 40 hits dance party, and it was a blast. I took Lyft to and from Capital Hill for the first time, and I have to say I’m pretty impressed. Both drivers were extremely friendly and talkative, one even had an iPad letting me choose which Pandora radio station I’d like to listen to. If you live in Seattle (or LA, San Francisco, Chicago, and more!) I’d highly recommend trying it out. You can use YAYSEA for a $20 credit, and the pink mustaches are hilarious :)

Saturday I surprised Gerard with a couples massage at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seattle. The service was impeccable, as were the facilities. I have never had a spa service there before, and it exceeded my expectations. We will definitely be back :) After that we walked around the Seattle waterfront, came back to our apartment, made breakfast, took a nap (since we’d had such a rough day so far), and then his parents and brother surprised him by driving up from Portland! We hung out, got some coffee at Zoka, and then went over to Din Thai Fung for dinner in Bellevue (which is always absolutely delicious). Sunday we went over to Gerard’s aunt and uncle’s house in Sammamish and hung out with his family most of the day, and then walked around Greenlake in the evening.

Speaking of walking around, for Gerard’s birthday I bought him the Jawbone Up fitness bracelet (and I loved the idea and had been researching one for me, so I also picked one up whilst at the Apple store). It is amazing – it tracks your steps, activity, overall movement, counts calories burned, and (the coolest thing in my opinion) is it tracks your sleep – how long if took you to fall asleep, how much deep vs light sleep you got, if you ever woke up…it’s incredible. Gerard and I have only used them for one day (Sunday) but are already obsessed. I have a feeling I’m going to be getting up a lot more at work to take a quick walk to try and hit my daily goal of 10,000 steps! It’s a really fun way to stay conscious of your movement and to get healthier!

Onto the outfit – do you like my random short hair sticking out next to my ear? :) it does what it wants most of the time, what can I say? Hence why it is up in a ballerina bun today; I couldn’t get it to look good, so I just threw it out of my face and out of the way! Anyways, this outfit I loved because I wore a pretty neutral color palette and then added in fun pops of color with my necklace, bag, shoes, and of course the Jawbone bracelet (there are I believe 8 different colors, and obvi I got the mint!) This baublebar necklace is my newest piece and it is so incredibly beautiful – it really sparkles and shines and is a stunning statement piece.

One of my Rebecca Minkoff MAC bags, a staple in my life. Read why I love them so much here.

What did you do this weekend? I hope you all have a great Monday, and I will see you Wednesday with a new outfit post! xoox

Forever 21 Top | J Brand Jeggings | Tory Burch Reva Flats | Rebecca Minkoff MAC | Baublebar Bracelet | Jawbone Up Fitness Bracelet

Happy Friday! :) Another YouTube video for you all! Today I’m doing a fashion video. This “Rainbow Tag” has been going around the internet lately, and all you do is take all the colors of the rainbow and show your favorite thing of the moment in that color! Most people have been doing makeup and beauty products, but since I’m a fashion blogger, I decided to only stick with fashion pieces! I’d love to know your picks, be sure to leave me a comment below! Have a wonderful weekend – tomorrow is my boyfriend’s birthday so we have things planned out all weekend. xoxo

Red: Tory Burch Flats (similar)
Orange: J.Crew Coral Toothpick Pants (see other colors – on sale for $39!)
Yellow: Forever 21 Statement Necklace (see other statement necklaces)
Green: Rebecca Minkoff Lime Mini MAC (see a ton of colors here)
Blue: Forever 21 Mirrored Aviators (see a ton of my favorites in this blog post)
Indigo: Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini Handbag (see more colors)
Violet: Paulo Bow Flats (similar in neutral colors)
Pink: H&M Statement Necklace
Multicolored: Prabal Gurung for Target Dress (another bright print from the collection – on sale for $12.24!)

While I love to mix complimentary colors (colors directly across from each other on the color wheel), I also love to play with analogous colors (colors directly next to each other). I think that navy, turquoise, and this minty teal color look beautiful together. They compliment each other so well, yet still keep the outfit bright, fun, and interesting.

These sunglasses I purchased last summer and I simply adore them. They are extremely fun, but since they are a print I have to be careful with what I wear with with. If I’m wearing a print on top near my face, it can look a little cluttered and messy, but it works well here since I’m wearing a plain top. I have some brown tortoiseshell sunglasses, but these white ones really make them stand out on my face and the print is more obvious.

I think that the colors on the green-purple spectrum of the color wheel look best on me (red, orange or yellow with my red hair is not all that flattering most of the time, in my opinion), which is why I’m more drawn to a beautiful mint or emerald than I am to a bright yellow or burgundy.

Love me a coordinating, chunky arm party :)

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, I will see you Friday with another post! xoxo

Nordstrom Tank Top | J.Crew Skirt | Target Sandals | Miu Miu Sunglasses | Alexis Bittar, Ann Taylor, Forever 21 and ASOS bracelets

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and Mother’s Day.

I started mine off by running a 5k with some of my friends – and it was the most fun I think I’ve had EVER while running. I ran The Color Run, which is “the happiest 5k on the planet”. You run and at random points throughout the 5k there are “checkpoints” basically where you run through them and people drench you in colored powder. It is AWESOME. If they are coming to your city, I highly recommend you sign up for it, even if you’re not a runner. I literally haven’t run in MONTHS and this was more about having a good time. There were people hardcore running, skipping, jogging, walking, etc.

Me with “The Color Run” official car – and I won a free Color Run drawstring bag!

After the 5k is over, you head to this giant mosh pit thing where every 10 minutes or so there is a powder throwing party. You get a bunch of colored powder packets when you sign up and at the end of the finish, everyone gets together and throws them in the air. It looks awesome from far away, but when you’re in it it’s INSANE. You pretty much can’t see anything that is happening and breathe in a TON of this chalky powder. Oh well, it looks awesome and was a fun experience nonetheless! See more photos on The Color Run Facebook page.

My friends Lauren, Christine and I after the race – I am AWFUL when taking iPhone photos and always look at the screen and never the camera. Does anyone else do this?

Gerard and I!

After The Color Run I went home, showered (I still have some green in my hair…), took a nap, and got ready. I headed over to my mom’s house and surprised her with a card, a giant bouquet of flowers, and homemade chocolate covered strawberries! We brought some lasagna over to my Grandma’s house and spent time together. It’s always wonderful to get to spend time with my family.

I know everyone says their mom is the best mom in the world, but mine truly truly is. She is always there for me (we talk and text several times a day), she washes my car randomly when I’m at work, picks up extra treats for Sulley, brings me leftovers….the list goes on and on. She is the sweetest, most thoughtful, caring, and selfless woman on this planet and it is an honor to call her my mother.

I love you so much, Mar!! :)

My mom, grandma, and I! 3 generations!

What did you do this weekend/Mother’s Day? Anything exciting? Let me know in the comments below! xoxo

I have had the pleasure of knowing Mollie of Mollie In Seattle for almost 2 years now. We met how a lot of fashion bloggers meet nowadays, through twitter :) I have been to events with Mollie before, as well as #LuckyFABB this past March, but we have never done a major collaboration on our blogs together. I wanted to have us come together and style something we both love – and the thing we ultimately settled on was our Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC bag. If you’ve read my blog for any amount of time, you know how obsessed with my MAC bags I am (I currently have 3). I have been a long-time fan of Rebecca Minkoff, since I discovered her in 2007, so I thought this item was the perfect item to showcase.

Mollie pointed out in her blog post how our shoes matched our MAC bags – definitely didn’t even notice or plan this, but funny how it worked out that way! I love the way the chartreuse really pops against my white dress (and matching white legs – oops). This bag is perfect for so many occasions – brunch, a night out on the town, a quick trip to the farmers market, shopping…you name it, it’s perfect for it. It fits my phone, keys, some cash and ID, and a lipstick. All one needs on most occasions here in Seattle.

One thing I love about fashion blogging is the community. Without it, I wouldn’t have met Mollie and formed a wonderful new friendship. It is great having a blogging buddy here in my own city (vs. just online) because we can meet and bounce ideas off of one another, talk about fun events coming up we can attend together, and have someone to take your photos :)

Do you have a Rebecca Minkoff MAC (I bought my first one back in the summer of 2009 and since then it’s exploded in popularity)? What is your favorite bag right now – do you prefer big tote bags, or smaller ones that you can use hands free like Mollie and I? Let me know in the comments below, and be sure to go visit Mollie’s blog post for different pictures and to hear what she has to say about why she loves her MAC, Seattle, and fashion blogging.

Target White Dress | Forever 21 Metallic Belt | Dolce Vita Sandals (similar)| Rebeeca Minkoff Lime Mini Mac | Baublebar Tropical Necklace | House of Harlow Chelsea Sunglasses | Baublebar, Count Me Healthy, and Giles & Brother Bracelets

Photo credit: @KatiaRenee

The other week I went to Target and Fred Meyer (a local grocery store here in the Pacific Northwest that carries everything from food to books, bedding to camping gear…and obviously makeup) to pick up one thing and like always came out with about 10. I thought I would make a quick video to show you what I got! Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products, or tell me in the comments below what you’ve bought lately!

Make sure to come back tomorrow for a fun collaboration I’m doing with Mollie!

This is what I wore to a Cinco de Mayo party at Mollie’s apartment this past Sunday. I wanted to wear something colorful but still ground the look with black accessories (my sandals, sunglasses, and bracelet). This dress from Target is so incredibly comfortable and lightweight, it’s perfect for those days when it’s too hot to even think. I got these sandals last year at Target for around $8, and they’re very similar to a Dolce Vita pair for about 1/10th of the price. Nothing like a good deal.

I wanted to wear a few jewelry pieces, so this big bow was a fun contrast to this tiny aurora borealis. It shines and sparkles like crazy in the sunlight, and I love it. It’s such a unique piece, and looks beautiful even on its own.

I know some people are over the high-low hem but I still love it this spring and summer. When it’s windy and the train catches in the wind, nothing is more simple and beautiful. I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday and I will see you tomorrow :)

Target Dress | H&M Belt | Target Sandals | Cara Bow Bracelet | HRH Collection Bracelet | House of Harlow “Chelsea” Sunglasses