Autumn Arsenal

This week so far has finally felt like autumn on the east coast.  The weather is below 75⁰, leaves are starting to change colors, and the pumpkin spice lattes are everywhere.  The drop in temperature makes me want to switch out my bright summer makeup for the darker tones of autumn.  While rearranging my makeup bag, I noticed I was gravitating towards specific shades for my lip products.  The pinks and bright reds were replaced by dusty roses and plums that are irresistible this time of year.  Here is a list of the types of colors I'll be wearing this autumn.

This and That (Haul)

Well, hello there!  Over the past few weeks, I have visited Ulta, Sephora, and Walgreens a few too many times.  I usually have a legitimate reason: restocking a product I've used up, replacing an expired product, seeing something I absolutely cannot live without for one more second.  Well, maybe not that last one, but I did say I usually have a good reason.

So, here are all the tempting products I've accumulated.

Books with Pictures for Grown-Ups

Well, hello there!  Over the summer I got into a huge reading kick.  I have this horrible tendency to start a book, get anywhere from a quarter to halfway through it, and then stop.  It's a problem, I know, I'm working on it.

The only exception to this rule is graphic novels.  Beautiful art paired with a page turning story is better than combining chocolate and peanut butter.  (Coming from me, that means a lot.) I have read a few graphic novels in the past, but this summer I went a little nuts.  I was asking around for recommendations and before I knew it, I had a huge stack of books friends had loaned to me.  So, if you want to try something different, here are a few recommendations I have.

Short Hair, Don't Care

A few weeks ago, I finally took the plunge and got my hair cut.  For months I have been staring at pictures of Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lawrence, and Emma Stone, and falling in love with their shorter cuts.  My hair hasn't been this short since early high school and I was extremely hesitant to go this short again.  What really made me go for it was my hair dresser.  I went into the salon with a few pictures on my phone of what kind of cut I wanted.  I asked her if she thought it would be feasible with my hair type and if it would look good with my face shape.  She looks at the pictures, then me, then says, "Sure, why not?  It's just hair, it'll grow back."

After she put the color in my hair and I was alone with my thoughts, that statement really stuck with me.  If you want to do something badly enough, you should just do it.  Don't worry about consequences, the dangerous "what if?" cycle, and put down that pros and cons list.  There are plenty of things in life that don't need justification.  

So, my challenge to you is to go out and do that thing you're too scared to try.  However big or small you feel the change may be, try it.  You never know what could happen.

Is there anything you've been too afraid to try?  Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,

Rachel

The Essie Addiction

I have a confession to make.  It's something I have known for a long time, but couldn't really bring myself to admit it.  I... I have an addiction to Essie nail polishes.  There!  I said it!

I knew this was an addiction when I had to have a separate basket for just Essie polishes.  It doesn't help that my mom also suffers from this condition.  It's gotten to the point where we have almost memorized the names of the shades we have so we do not buy duplicates.  Now that that weight is off my chest, let me go into some of my favorite Essie shades!

Summer Makeup Essentials

Summer is in full swing which means a drastic change in my makeup routine.  The full coverage, dark makeup has been replaced with the lighter coverage tinted moisturizers and warm, golden bronze tones.  Instead of talking about my entire summer makeup bag, I thought I'd talk about the products that I cannot go a day without in the summertime.  

Fresh Spring Makeup!

Well, hello there!  Since the warm weather is in full swing, I've been adding more color to my makeup routine.  I've been particularly obsessed with purple hues.  I think warm purple colors are a great way to incorporate spring without going over the top with color.  This purple obsession all started when I bought the Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Kuala Lumpar and it's been all downhill from there.  This is a look I have been wearing a lot this past month or so.  If you want to know how I got this look, keep on reading after the jump!