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& just like that, March is gone. These are a few quotes I've been digging and I hope they get you through April!
How true is the one from F. Scott Fitzgerald? It's never too late to start over, to start fresh in the life YOU want. You have to make it happen.

xo,

Four Little Ways to Find Happiness

1// Change your perspective.  One of my favorite sources of inspiration is changing up my scene a little. Going for a walk, exploring a different spot in town, people watching. For me, inspiration and happiness are synonymous.
2// Be present. One of the best things I've done so far this year is really focus on mindfulness & being present. Instead of being so focused on what's to come, I try to take one day at a time & I've found life is so much better when I'm actually living it!
3// Get used to being alone. This sounds so negative, but really I just mean get used to going places on your own. One of my favorite things to do by myself is strolling through Target, Starbucks & soft pretzel in hand. Treat yourself!
4// Get lost in a good book. There are few greater than feelings in life than curling up with some coffee or tea & diving into another world. 

These are four of my favorite things to do to find a little more happiness in the everyday. What do you do?

xo,

EASY MAKEUP STORAGE

I don't know about you, but for me some good makeup organization is kind of a must. There's nothing worse than wasting five minutes of precious morning time digging through all kindsa product for one thing, no?
I like having a place for everything & everything in its place, or else it's just chaos, which is why I thought I'd share a quick peek into my space, plus a few organization picks:

I like having some drawer space (similar- this one has a charging station, say whaaat) for all my eyeshadow palettes & powders. I added a small cosmetic bag (similar) for my brushes, (I like having them tucked safely away instead of out where dust can easily collect) & then another (similar) for my blushes, highlighters & bronzers. 

Then we have the clear organizer on top, (similar) for all the rest of things. (If you're an all in one kinda gal, here's a cool organizer with both drawers & compartments for under $30!) I literally have a space for everything- foundations, lipsticks, mascara.... it's so easy to reach for in the mornings!
As much I'd love a 'beauty room' like all those cool youtubers, let's be real- who has time for that? The little space I have lets me get ready easily & I can watch netflix at the same time. A girl's dream.
LET'S CHAT: Tell me how you store your makeup!

SHOP THE POST:

xo,

A Few Recent Favorites.

If this kinda feels like one of my recent Target hauls, it's because SHOES. Thought I'd give you an update on them... they're extremely comfortable & cute. If you don't have tiny baby feet, these DFVs look like a fab alternative. 

THIS VELVET TOP. Even though I've been super obsessed with the look of velvet for years, I haven't actually owned anything velvet since about 2002. I feel like I made a good choice with the off the shoulder number! It pairs so well with so much, like culottes or a denim skirt. 

NYX's whipped caviar matte lipstick is a dreamy color that's not too bright but not TOO nude either... it's kind of a 90s nude & just looks really chic, plus the wear is incredible. (just like every nyx lippie, let's be real)

I've been testing this face mask for a few weeks now & I still love the way it makes my face feel after every use. Tingly & fresh!
As far as books go, I mentioned The Heiresses in this post. It's one of those novels that you just CANNOT PUT DOWN & you must know what happens next. Those are the best kind, yes? 
QUESTION: What's your must-have product as of late? For me it's the lipstick!
xo,

What I've Read In March

I've been on a bit of a reading binge lately. It's always been one of my favorite things to do, but there's this thing called Netflix that calls me away & before I know it all my reading time has been stolen.
BUT lately I've been trying to change that, & I'm reminded how much I genuinely enjoy sitting down & getting lost in a story. 
Here's what I've been getting lost in this month:

Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham If you're into memoirs & a Gilmore Girls fan like I am, you'll want to read this. I really want to meet Lauren, not only because she seems like that cool aunt type, but so I can ask her if her sense of humor has always been like Lorelai Gilmore's or if she picked it up from playing the character for so long. Either way it's great! A mix of stories from her childhood & early days in Hollywood and a collection of diary style entries from the 'year in the life' set, it's the type of memoir that feels like coffee with an old friend.
The Heiresses by Sara Shepard This book has actually been on my shelf for ages, waiting to be read. I saw it at Target one day, thought 'ooo, the PLL girl,' & it was in my cart. I've been very into mysteries recently and this is such a great read if you're looking for something light but intriguing. The premise is around five cousins from a prominent family struck by mysterious tragedies (think modern day Kennedys) & the aftermath of Poppy's (one of the cousins) death. Very PLL but also really different!
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix  This one I've only just started, but it's another mystery/ thriller, about, well, an exorcism. "The year is 1988. High school sophomores Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an evening of skinny-dipping goes disastrously wrong, Gretchen begins to act…different. She’s moody. She’s irritable. And bizarre incidents keep happening whenever she’s nearby. Abby’s investigation leads her to some startling discoveries..."  I'm not familiar with Grady Hendrix so it'll be interesting to see her writing style. Will update! Maybe snapchat/ insta story?
QUESTION: kinda wanting to start a book club type series, maybe pick a book each month or so & chat on IG/ here about it. Would y'all be into it? ANNNNDDD......
What have y'all been reading? Anything I need to add to my (never-ending) 'to read' list? SPILL.
xo,

WHAT I ORDERED FROM FOREVER 21

{this photo ties in somehow. maybe?? no??}

I was four coffees in when I hit the order button. THAT'S what that photo means!! Anyway, I ordered some things & since I'm highly impatient, I thought I'd show you now rather than wait. 

But don't worry, this won't be the last you see of these! 

// Belted Shirred Dress in rust If I could wear dresses all the time I probably would. A spring must have, I love the color of this dress & the belt accent!
// Distressed Trim Tee in taupe You can never have too many tees! Simple, neutral, & veritable are traits I look for- everything this tee has.  
// Striped Strapless Jumpsuit I have yet to own a jumpsuit because of length, but this culotte style one seems perfect for the petites. I've got a pretty cream kimono (similar) that would fit right in over it! 
// Quilted Faux Leather Crossbody in light pink

I've been in the market for a blush crossbody & I finally found this one! I love that it's a tad reminiscent of Chanel & has gold hardware. My only concern is room.... I hope there's enough space! GAMBLE.


Got any good finds from f21 lately? Do tell!

SHOP THE POST

xo,

Stripes & Overalls

I recently fell in love with a striped off the shoulder number that is a perfect springy addition. DOWNSIDE: it's terribly sheer. 
SOLUTION: Overalls. Overalls make it all come together, yes? A chic pair of overall shorts give an effortless vibe that pairs with an OTS. 

details// top | f21 overalls | target (similar here) shoes | target (similar here)  xo,

TARGET MINI HAUL

Hey, hi! You know how when you get back from target with all the things you really didn't need & all you wanna do is show them to anyone who will listen? 

Well, I hope you're good listeners.....

First things first: Lipstick. I adore NYX's matte line & whipped caviar stood out to me for its neutral tones. I'm all about bright in the springtime, but sometimes I prefer a something a little more subtle. 

I hadn't added a nail polish to my collection in awhile, & the pretty lavender shade of essie's 'ciao effect' caught my eye. I could not find the link ANYWHERE, maybe because it's part of the resort collection which just launched, but look for it in store!

I'm a believer that you can never have too much stationery, even if it's not necessarily needed at the moment. You never know when you'll need it! This cute little planning & plotting notebook came from the dollar spot, & I couldn't find a link AGAIN, (get it together target) but I found a similar one that's just as cute.

Some new shoes were a must & I fell in love with these metallic sandals. (for all my regular size babes, here's some similar ones!)
The neck scarf (is that the official name for it??) trend has been on point & I finally decided on this chambray one to start off. Very chic. (the only question is, can I pull it off? Will report back)

Got anything at Target recently that I should go back for? 
xo,

BITS + BAUBLES | IPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

STORY TIME. A few months ago (read: too long ago) the card reader in my DSLR broke & I had been wrestling with whether I should have it fixed or just buy a new camera altogether. I was also in the market for a new phone, having eyed the iphone for quite some time. (yes, I was an android user. sue me) Sarah's post on the new portrait feature kind of sold me, so iphone it was. 

I picked out the 7, rose gold color and everything & was all set to go. I fell in love quickly, only to realize that OMG THE PORTRAIT SETTING IS ONLY ON THE PLUS WHY DIDN'T I READ THAT I'VE MADE A MISTAKE. 

But I decided to make the most of it, as the camera is pretty great even without the extra setting, and beautiful photos don't HAVE to have a bokeh effect. So for the past week or so I've been playing around, trying to get acquainted. It's SO NICE to have a semi- dslr quality camera at my fingertips without the hassle.

{my favorite test subject}

Time for a debate: Do any of you have the plus? How does it compare? 

xo,

A Friday Face Mask.

I'm always ready & willing to try out new (or just new for me) products for myself & for y'all. I GUESS you could call it a blogging perk...
So I've heard about formula 10.0.6 for the longest time, and I've always wanted to try a face mask of theirs. So, during a recent target binge run I decided to pick up a travel size of their papaya & citrus to see what it was all about. 
It's a brightening mask made to restore brightness & resurface skin. So how did it hold up? The formula smooths nicely onto the skin, however it's not as easy of a peel off as you would expect. You're supposed to peel after 10-15 minutes & you'd think it'd be super quick & easy, right? Not so much, unless I'm somehow peeling wrong, LOL.
The difficult peel isn't a terrible issue for me, since it's easily rinse-able and the mask itself seems to do its job. Immediately after washing off, my face feels fresher & a bit brighter, like I've just had a massage? (I've never actually had a massage- GASP- so I'm just guessing here) I haven't noticed a whole lot on my pores, but let's be real, I'm never able to tell a lot about my pores anyway. Who knows if they're clogged? (that's probably bad. I should fix that) 
WDAC seal of approval: check!
Have you tried these face masks? What are you recommendations? I'm always looking for more!
xo,

Who Run The World.

It's become a WDAC tradition of sorts to honor women's day each year.
& each year I only feel more inspired by the air that surrounds my world when I'm surrounded by women supporting each other, lifting each other up, especially in the blog world.
I think this day is so important to me because the bond we have as women is so important to me. It's lending an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, a space to laugh with. We're all on the same weird journey, navigating this thing called adulthood, filled with twists and turns at every corner. My heart can't help but ache for the women in the countries that cannot speak for themselves, or sometimes even think for themselves.
We have to speak up for them. We have to speak up for each other, & be a guiding light. Something beautiful happens when women shine their light. The world gets a bit brighter, more magical.
Here's to you.

xo,

VELVET + CULOTTES

The sun decided to shine bright & the wind blew hard the day I shot this look, & this is what came out of it. Used to I would've scrapped the post altogether, waited for a better weather day & put on the outfit all over again, but I've decided to embrace the unexpected. 

Not unexpected is the velvet crush happening lately, evident in the wardrobe addition of this off the shoulder top. Soft & wearable, I'm feeling the velvet vibes. 

Also, petites listen up: these culottes give you LEG. I love a good metallic, too. Pair these with some velvet for a spring ready look worthy of the runway. (ok, maybe not quite. but close, yes?)

details// velvet top | f21 culottes | f21 flats | target (similar here) choker | francesca's  earrings | gift, similar here

xo,

FREE SPRING WARDROBE SHOPPING CHECKLIST

Hey, hi! It's the first Friday in March, which means you should probably spend this weekend shopping for pieces to add to your spring wardrobe!

Conveniently, I've made a little checklist for you, with five major trend essentials for the season. Kinda makes shopping a lot less overwhelming when you have an idea of what you're going for, yes?

Just right click the image to save it! Easy peasy. 

xo,

MAKEUP ROUTINE: SICK DAY EDITION

This time of year is aaall about the sick life. I think I've been sick since the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1st. For real. When your immune system is killing you but you still gotta do life, some days you just don't feel like putting on a full face. I get it.

SICK DAY MAKEUP ROUTINE:

Facial oil is a game changer. Patting a bit of this on when my face feels flushed & awful is a perfect freshener. 

Dark circles are magnified by 1000 when you're sick, so next I pack on a ton of concealer underneath the eyes, for a look that says 'at least I tried a little bit.'

Brows are the one thing I always have to do, even if I don't do anything else. I'm loving nyx's brow gel- one brush upwards & I'm done!

Mascara is the second thing I probably always do if nothing else. It opens the eyes & gives the illusion of wellness. This lash sensational mascara is a god send. 

I can't have my face be one dimensional- gotta add a little color! One swipe of blush up the cheekbones is all I need to look less, ya know, dead. 

 

AND, armed with 5000 tissues, we're good to go!
TELL ME: is makeup abandoned all together when you're sick? What are your go-to products?
xo,