Splurge Vs. Save

A lot of times people feel the need to blow their budget on pricey items just to achieve great style. However great style doesn’t have to equal expensive. While I am not opposed to spending a little more on something that will last years, I am generally more of a bargain shopper- Hey if I find a cute shirt for $5 at a store that doesn’t have a “fashionable” reputation, I will buy it.  

I am an avid magazine reader and often see articles on “Splurge vs. Save.” However, the majority of them focus on a designer item and a more budget-friendly counterpart.  So I decided I would do my own version of “Splurge vs. Save” but with a twist.

Below I have listed different types of items I would splurge on and ones that I save my money on.

Splurge:

Classic Handbag: I love purses and the majority of the time I purchase cheap purses so I can switch between different ones more frequently. However, last year I purchased a Michael Kors handbag and matching wallet and I haven’t regretted this purchase yet.  The purse I bought is the mediumwork tote (in vanilla) and although it is pricey, the quality is amazing and will last for years. Not to mention it is classic everyday bag that will go with practically any outfit and can be used in any season. I recently just switched to this bag again because it is perfect for school; it is large enough to carry my MacBook, which is a bonus because so I don’t have to use numerous bags to cart around all my stuff.

Little Black Dress: Every woman needs to own a little black dress. Period. I think this is the type of item that is okay to spend a little bit more on because they are versatile and never go out of style.

Classic Pumps: Owning a traditional pair of black and nude pumps is a staple item that every woman should have in her closet. Therefore, it is something worth investing in. Just like a little black dress they never go out of style and can be worn with nearly anything.

Blazer: Having a nice blazer in your wardrobe is also a key item for me. A blazer is again something that is always in style and although the actual cut may change slightly, a traditional blazer will always be in fashion. Because of that, I don’t feel bad splurging a little on something that will be in my closet for years. 

Tank Top: You make think I am crazy for listing this as a “splurge” item, but for me it is. I generally wear a cami every day (mostly black, white, or brown), and after years of purchasing cheap tank tops I have had enough. Because I wear them so often, I wash them a TON! Cheap ones get misshapen and uncomfortable, and eventually fall apart. The camis I like to buy are the ones from Express, which I would consider more of a splurge compared to the ones you can get at Forever 21, Wet Seal, Charlotte Russe, and etc. While they are a bit expensive for an undershirt, Express always has sales and they are really good quality. 

Save: 

Anything Trendy: Pretty much anything that is “in style” or “trendy” I tend to save my money on. Reason being is they are only stylish for a short amount of time so you don’t get much use out of them. Forever 21 is one of my favorite places to get trendy items because they are cheap and I don’t feel bad about getting rid of the item after the season ends. 

Jeans: This may come as another shocker but I actually prefer to save money on my jeans. I could try on 20 different pairs of jeans and not like any of them, which I think a lot of females have that same problem. I use to wear expensive, brand name jeans but I actually prefer my $10 jeans from Forever 21 or H&M… Sure they may not be the best quality jeans but I expect that for the price. My reasoning behind this is because I hate when jeans start to look worn and lose their shape, so I like to buy new jeans a few times a year. I had a pair of Seven jeans that were my absolute favorite jeans ever but after about 6 months or so, they got so worn and misshaped I stopped wearing them. So after only 6 months and over a hundred dollars spent, I went out to find another of jeans to replace them. Had the jeans been less expensive, I wouldn’t have minded having to replace them so soon, but that wasn’t the case. This was when I discovered Forever 21 jeans that are around $10 or so. Because they are cheap, I buy quite a few and don’t mind when I have to get rid of them. Hopefully that’s makes sense, or maybe I’m just crazy!

Jewelry: Jewelry is another thing I like to save on. Sure I have a pair of diamond earrings, a couple nice necklaces, and a few nice rings, most that I have received as gifts, but I hardly wear them- mostly because I’m terrified to lose them… Probably because I did lose a diamond earring my brother bought me back in high school, which to this day I still haven’t worked up the courage to tell him.  So pretty much all the jewelry I wear on a regular basis is from trendy stores. Places like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Charming Charlie, and GoJane all offer trendy jewelry that is super cheap. I have a bit of jewelry obsession (what girl doesn’t) so saving on jewelry by buying pieces under $10, maybe even $5, is awesome because the cheaper they are the more my budget will allow.

Sunglasses: Ahh, sunglasses… I am terrible with my sunglasses; so buying nice ones are a waste of money for me. I bought a pair of Ray Bans a couple years ago under the philosophy that since they were expensive I would take good care of them. Logical right? Well that lasted a month, if that, then I went back to just throwing them in my purse. After lenses were completely scratched from rolling around in my purse I decided I would buy another pair and take really good care of them this time. Well I have taken excellent care of them, such good care that they have only been out of their case five times in the past year because I’m terrified of ruining them. I don’t know why, but putting them back in their case is just too difficult… So now I just stick to cheap sunglasses that I don’t mind chucking when they get scratched or mangled.

So now that you know some of the things I splurge and save on… Do you splurge or save on any of the same things? Or what are some different things you splurge and save on that I didn’t mention? I think it is interesting what some people will spend their money on verses things people would rather save money on. Sound off in the comments below!

Beauty Products Haul & Review

Every year when the weather warms up it’s like my overall mood changes dramatically- I guess wearing 17 layers of your warmest clothing during the cold Michigan winter can do that to a person. So when springtime hits I generally tend to spend a little bit more on clothes and beauty products to make up for my winter slump. Sounds logical, right?

Over the last month or so I have accumulated quite a few new beauty products. I figured I would share some of the things I have picked up, as well as a quick review/thought on the product.

One of the first things I picked up is the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation. I am a big fan of Revlon in generally, especially their foundations. I have used Revlon Colorstay in the combination/oily skin formula for years. It is one of my go to foundations when I want my skin to look flawless. However, in the warmer months it can be a little to heavy to be an everyday foundation. Needless to say, I had very high expectations for the Nearly Naked foundation and it managed to live up to my expectations. Initially I was hesitant to purchase this because I tend to gravitate more towards full coverage and this is more light coverage; however, it is very buildable without looking cakey. The foundation also has pretty good lasting power throughout the day, even on my oily skin. I do set it with a powder, but then again I set every foundation with a powder. Another plus for the foundation, is it doesn’t really have a smell. Some foundations smell terrible but this one it practically odorless in my opinion. Overall, great A+ product!

I also picked up the NYX mineral “Set it & don’t fret it” matte finishing powder. NYX is another brand that I love. Some products tend to be hit or miss, but for the price you can’t go wrong. I have used other finishing powders, such as the Make Up For Ever Super Matte Loose Powder and the e.l.f High Definition Powder, but I actually prefer this. I find that the e.lf. one tends to settle into fine lines, and since it is a white powder it leaves my skin looking a little bit dull… if that makes sense. I find the NYX powder is a pretty close dupe for the Make Up For Ever powder, but at a third of the cost. I find the NYX powder does a great job controlling shine, has a nice silky finish, but doesn’t seem to settle into creases like the e.l.f. one does. Overall, for the cost this is a great product and something I will most likely repurchase over and over.

I also picked up a Skindinavia setting spray in the Bridal Makeup Finish. I have used the Skindinavia No More Shine Finish and Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray in the past, and they are both decent products. However, I like the Skindinavia Bridal Makeup Finish the best. While I doesn’t last 16 hours on my skin like it claims, but it does help to keep my makeup fresh for at least 8 hours or so. I like to spray a few pumps on my face after my moisturizer and once again after my makeup is done. This is a must have product for me in the summer to keep my makeup from sliding all over my face. While it is a bit on the pricier side, in my opinion, I think it lasts a while and is worth the price.

Recently I have been really into bright, fun lipsticks. I use to never venture out beyond the “my lips but better” shades but I have been on a bright lipstick binge lately. I think bright lipsticks are a great, easy way to spruce up simple makeup in the spring and summer. Some of the lipsticks I have really been loving are Revlon Love This Pink, Maybelline Coral Crush, and MAC Ravishing. All of them are pretty bright and definitely not a “my lips but better” shade. I just purchased my first Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) Lip Tar and I am obsessed! The shade I got is Cha Cha, which is like a pale sherbet orange. Sounds scary, but I saw some swatches and I think it looks beautiful with light or tanned skin. As far as the Lip Tar formula, it is amazing- it is so pigmented and the tiniest amount goes a long way! Typically I would never spend $18 on a lip product but I think I could wear this everyday for the rest of my live and I would never use the whole thing. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but you get my point- it will last a long time!

A non-makeup product I recently purchased is the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Touchable Weightless Hairspray. I decided to pick this up because lately my hair has been feeling a little bit dry and my normal hairspray, Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play, seemed to be adding to that dryness. In addition, the Spray & Play tends to leave my hair a bit crunchy, which I cannot stand. The Healthy Sexy Hair hairspray is the answer to my prayers! The hairspray is extremely lightweight, has a decent hold, and leaves my hair feeling nourished instead of crunchy. I love that I can run my fingers through my hair without them getting stuck and without actually feeling the hairspray. I have tried dozens and dozens of hairsprays, but I think this is going to be my holy grail!

I decided to try out the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner on a whim. I’ve been using the Maybelline Line Stiletto Liquid Eyeliner for a few months and I am happy with it, so I don’t know why I decided to purchase this. I think my original thought was the felt tip pen on the Master Precise would allow you to apply a thinner, more precise line, hence the name. Well that was not the case at all. I hate to end this post on a bad note, but this was a really terrible product in my opinion. Maybe I just got a bad one? My biggest issue with this eyeliner is the top of the tip is so dry it doesn’t even distribute product. So I tried to use the side of it but I didn’t have much luck with that either; I found I didn’t have much control this way and the outcome was anything but precise. Let me know if you have tried this and how you like it because I cannot find one good thing about this product.

These are just a few of the products I have bought recently that I either really liked or disliked. If you have tried any awesome products recently, or even any terrible products I should stay far away from, let me know in the comments. I really love hearing about other people’s holy grails and holy fails (is that a saying or did I make it up?). 

Get The Look: Rachel Bilson

In my first blog post I mentioned that I like to look to other people for fashion inspiration, whether it’s a celebrity or a random person I meet. I think everyone has their own unique sense of style that is signature to them and that’s what I love about fashion.

While I love Lauren Conrad’s classic, chic style, another person I consider one of my style icons is Rachel Bilson.  I think her everyday style is pretty laid back and casual, but trendy. Perhaps what I love most about her style is the way she layers different piece. Anyone who knows me knows I love to layer clothes, whether it’s multiple shirts or a blazer, cardigan, or scarfs. Layering is perfect in the cooler months to stay nice and warm, but is also practical in the spring to keep warm on a chilly night.

So, as I was browsing through pictures of Rachel Bilson I came across this picture and thought this outfit would be great for casual spring day. The shorts are a little bit longer than what I would typically wear but you can easily cuff the bottoms to achieve a different look. However, I think Rachel makes the shorts work with this outfit. What I love most about this outfit is it can easily transition from day to night. The oversized cardigan keeps it casual enough to be daytime appropriate but the heels give it a more polished look appropriate for nighttime. 

Check out the style file below to see how you can recreate Rachel’s look!

1.     Cardigan: AmericanEagle - $44.95 – Right now American Eagle has a 40% sale going on which would make this $26.97!

2.     Denim boyfriend shorts: CharlotteRusse - $24.99

3.     Cami: Express - $19.90 – Although these camis are rather pricey, they are well worth the money! These are the only camis I will buy now and I get them on sale for around $11.00 or so.

4.     Shoes: CharlotteRusse - $30.00 (ish) I bought these shoes around the fall last year. I am not sure if they still have them on their website but they’ve had them the past few years.

5.     Necklace: Forever21 -  $6.80

6.     Sunglasses: Forever21 - $5.80

You Can Never Have Too Many Candles!

So I mentioned in my last post that I might have a slight shoe obsession (if you haven’t read that post, check it out here!). Well I have another obsession to confess… I am addicted to candles.

You may think I’m joking when I said you can never have too many candles, but I’m not. There is no such thing!

I’ve decided to share my current candle collection and name a few of my favorites. I just want to be clear… I had no intention of “collecting” candles but I’ve bought so many that it sort of turned into one.

With all judgments aside, take a look at my current collection of candles:

To be exact, I currently have 35 candles that I’m in the process of burning. In my defense though about a third of them are rather small. Also in my defense, I received about half of them as gifts; every year my mom buys me a few candles for Christmas because she knows how much I love them.

It’s obvious from the picture that I prefer Bath & Body Work and Yankee Candles. Both offer great quality candles; they both burn nice and last a while.  So I decided to share my top 3 favorite candles, as well as a description as to what each candle smells like.

#1: Bath & Body Works- Pumpkin Carmel Latte

“Warm, rich blend of creamy pumpkin, spiced caramel and sweet cream.”

This candle has replaced my longtime favorite candle. Seriously I cannot describe how amazing this candle smells. Even though it is a fall scent, I will burn it all year long. It’s that good!

#2: Yankee Candle- Tahitian Tiare Flower

“Reminiscent of sweet gardenias . . . love blooms in the hypnotic fragrance of this snowy white flower.”

This was my favorite candle scent for years but they discontinued it for a couple years so I had to hunt for a new favorite scent (which is when this candle obsession started). However, a couple years ago around Christmas time they brought it back, (which I wasn’t aware off). So my mom and brother bought me a total of five of the large jars for Christmas since they spend the last few years hearing me complain about it being discontinued.  I believe they still sell it, but I should probably stock up in case Yankee Candle decides to break my heart again.

#3: Bath & Body Works- Coconut Leaves

“Fusion of juicy tangerine, papaya and jasmine that gives way to soothing coconut and vanilla notes.”

This is a newer scent to me but I’m really enjoying it, especially since the weather has decided to finally warm up. Honestly, I don’t smell much of anything in the description other than coconut. To me this is a signature summer scent, that I am going to enjoy all summer long… or until the candle burns out.




Let me know what your favorite candles are in the comments! I am always on the hunt for a great smelling candle.