My Makeup Collection: Eyes

As part of my 25 before 25 I'm supposed to clean out my closets. Well, I decided that in deference to the spirit of the project, I probably shouldn't limit my purging to just clothing alone. This weekend I tackled the ever growing makeup collection. 

I first fell in love with makeup in the 7th grade. I still remember getting a slew of Clinique products for Christmas that year (some of which I still had--- can we say eww?), and from then on I've been pretty hooked. 

According to many of my makeup gurus, powder products should really only be kept for 2 years before you need to toss them.  I had some serious work to do, but I have to say I'm thrilled with the result.  

Today I want to introduce you to my whole eye shadow collection.  

This is after I cleaned it out...

I honestly can't believe this is it. But lets be honest--- I really only use my naked palette and a few purple shades every now and again, so I probably should have tossed more, but oh well. I'm a make up hoarder. 

I confess. 

I think a girl's makeup can tell an interesting story about them. I'm definitely a girl that plays it on the safe side when it comes to color selection, though I may wear my eye makeup a tad on the heavy side. 

In the summertime, gold shimmy eyes are my favorite. 

I'll pause here while you pick your jaw up off the floor. I can hear you all thinking, "Emily? Loves gold? Shimmery? Glittery? No.... I would have never..."

As a pale girl I feel like there's just something that a lightly tanned complexion and a little shimmer that screams summertime. I'm so ready. 

Golds

You also may not have noticed, but I'm pretty fare. I often feel that black is a little harsh on me so I normally opt for deep brown for liners and smokey colors. 

Browns

The trio of blues is one of those Almay eye enhancing palettes. I'm still not totally sold on the blue eyeshadow looks. I remember my Grandma telling me that only trashy girls wore that color... guess that wisdom stuck--- because I always feel a little trampy if it crosses over the line. 

Blues

*Side note, did you see RHOA this week? EVERY SINGLE ONE of the girls had on bright blue eyeshadow at dinner... #Imjustsaying 

Now when it comes to purple--- I'm LOVE a good purple eye. Eggplant liner has been my latest obsession this weekend. I think if you're wanting to branch out just a bit with your eye routine, try throwing a purple into the mix. In my opinion it's really subtle yet interesting, and oh so work appropriate.

Purples. 

Now, here is a mondo palette that will offer you every color under the sun. I've had this thing over a year, and haven't used it anywhere near as much as I should (I swear I'm addicted to the naked palettes). The pigmentation on these shadows is insanely good. I'm just not quite sure how to work many of these colors into my conservative-washington-work-appropriate rotation. If you're thinking about costal scents, I would definitely recommend the quality of the products--- but I probably could have picked a palette more suited to my lifestyle. Oh well, live and learn. 

Coastal Scents 88 Original Palette

Now it's time to introduce you to my babies. Tada.....

Naked and Naked 2

I love love love my naked palettes, and I seriously use them every single day. Look at my naked (1) palette (bottom). I used that thing every day for a year and I have YET to hit pan on even one of the shades (though I'm getting close with naked). I've been favoring naked 2 lately, but I think that's more to do with the fact that it's still new... and I'm playing. 

So there you have it. I am pretty much drugstore eye shadow all the way, but I think it's definitely worth the investment into a few high end palettes that you know suit your style. 

So now I'm curious, what's in your makeup collection?  Do you have a favorite... because I suddenly have a lot of room....

Brunchable

A few weeks ago I went to brunch with Betsy, Brea and Jaime. 

The girls were nice enough to take a few snaps of my outfit. 

Dress: LOFT | Cardigan: H&M | Trench: TJ Maxx | Bag: Kate Spade | Necklace: Gift

Remember when I bought my self a little present for getting in to law school? Well... here she is. My ridiculously large, gorgeous kate spade bag. Perfect for toting around a few heavy books right?
Watch out law school. 

On a completely unrelated note, my spending freeze is over!!! YAY! whew. That was TOUGH.
But my bank account sure is happy

Linked up here and here

If you knew me in real life...

I got this idea from Erin a few weeks ago and I told her I'd be sure to follow up with my own "If you knew me in real life according to facebook" post. So here we go. 

If you knew me in real life...

You'd know that this was the best summer ever. 

Africa 2007

That I'm the kind of girl who wears jewel encrusted sunglasses on safari in Africa.

Africa 2007

That I can be super gangster.  

Spain 2008

That I I'm the kind of girl who likes to take naps on the grass is Paris.  

Paris 2008

That I have two sisters (I don't think they've ever made an appearance on this blog so hi girls!)

Atlanta, 2008

That the metro still freaks me out after living here for almost 4 years. 

DC, 2009

That I LOVE Georgia Football  

Athens, GA

I fell in love with Spain and traveling when I was 16. 

Spain, 2004

That I met Teddy Geiger when I was 17. Highlight of my life, yet to be topped. 

Atlanta, 2006

That I'm pretty into politics (though I bet you already knew that)

DC, 2010

Charlotte, 2012

That my best friend is a Republican

Athens 2008

That I'm enamored by anything that sparkles and glitters (though again, I think y'all might have gotten that impression of me at this point). 

2012

That I enjoy baking...

2010

That these girls are my favorite. 

2010

2013

That I'm a pretty good beer drinker....

2012

And still play drinking games...

2011

Boom. Now you know me according to Facebook. What do you think? Do you still want to be my blog friend? I sure hope so. For more of these shennanigans you should like me on facebook too. 

Go here

Happy Monday Gals!

Quotable

This beautiful picture was taken by my dear friend Casey. She just launched her travel blog here. 

Go follow her. Now. Happy Sunday.

Friday's Fancies #21: Bling Bling

Now this week's Friday's Fancies is a theme I can get behind. Bling Bling. It's all about the jewelry! So I'm combining a few things I love. 1. Kate Spade. 2 Jewelry. 3. Mint (which many have to be my next color crush).

We've had some slightly warmer weather here in DC and now I'm dying for spring to hurry up and get here.

All items designed by Kate Spade: dress / sparkle necklace / watch / bow necklace / bangle / bangle / bow bangle / bridal bracelet / round earrings / statement earrings

I'm so loving all things kate spade lately--- well lets be honest, I'm always loving all things kate spade. What's your latest obsession?

Hope you gals have a fabulous weekend!!!

25 before 25: Update

Well folks. It's the last day of February. Where is 2013 going? What's more scary is my 25th birthday is quickly approaching. There are a lot of new ladies here since I last talked about my 25 before 25 project, and in order to keep myself accountable for these last two months I want to quickly check in and update y'all on my progress. My last update was on New Years Day (here are some older updates from August and June). 

1. find a job that makes me happy. {I have decided to make law school my new job. Hope it makes me happy}

2. clear out my closets {definitely would like to do more, but I've been making a conscious effort to reduce the closet clutter}

3. learn how to sew {100% done. I've made pants, scarves, place-mats, skirts. Yay! Huge win here!}

4. read 25 books {16 of 25-- got some work to do}

5. take time for projects {I'm going to count all of my sewing projects. so yes!}

6. work to make new friends {absolutely. I've made a few new friends in the last 10 months that will be around for the long haul, not to mention my hundreds of new blog friends}

7. show up for the ones I have {I could be doing better, but trying}

8. do a spending freeze for a month {working on a modified version- I gave up buying lunch for lent, and have curtailed the shopping since February 3}

9. practice meditation/yoga {not so much}

10. do something unexpected {Dropped everything to go work on a Presidential Campaign}

11. go to New York {not yet, but lets get something on the books!}

12. fill my walls with art that I love {not yet}

13. save money {working towards a goal before law school. Hoping that I'll make it}

14. focus on fitness {not as much as I would like}

15. get enough sleep {definitely succeeding}

16. take the LSAT {10/6 DONE}

17. host a themed dinner party {Not yet}

18. volunteer {Definitely did some political volunteer work, but I want to do more}

19. treat myself, because I'm worth it {treated myself to a post LSAT massage}

20. upgrade the camera {Not yet...}

21. make 25 things found on pinterest and blog about it. {{1, 2 + 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 getting close! }

22. practice making fun cocktails {here}

23. do a 5k {Hahah. this one will most likely not happen. Maybe I'll go on a 5k walk around the city during cherry blossoms}

24. take a cooking class {Any bloggers out there want to do one with me?}

25. Blog every day for a month {December 2012. yep}

26. commit to continuing these goals once 25 comes and goes

So that's where I am. Some of these goals aren't a simple activity I can cross off, but more lifestyle changes. I also know that some of my priorities have changed since I put this list together, so if I don't make it, I don't make it. That's okay.

February Beauty Favorites

As a girl constantly battling shine the Urban Decay Setting Spray has been a life saver.  Lightly mist it on your face before you apply your primer. Then again once you've put on all of your makeup and you'll be solid for hours.

While I've been loving the dark lip trend this winter, I just haven't been able to pull the trigger and wear anything too deep on myself. Lately I've been loving Revlon Lip Gloss in Peony. We all know I love anything revlon does for a lip, and this gloss is a little bit milky and has some glitter. I absolutely love it!!!

Thanks to my roommate Becca for introducing me to the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation last year. I recently finished my third bottle of the stuff and I'm so obsessed. It's a medium coverage liquid foundation, and is definitely buildable. I love to use a damp sponge to apply it (like the beauty blender) for an airbrushed finish.

So I've been using theBalm Hot Mama Shadow/Blush solely as a blush, and then I actually read the cover and tried it as a shadow and now I'm even more obsessed. I've been using it as a crease shade with a nude over all shadow for a neutral look. You NEED to try your blush as a shadow y'all! Go home right now and do it.

I received theBalm Put a Lid On It Primer in my January Birchbox, seen here. At the time I still preferred a creamier primer to this more liquidy version, but this product has completely changed my mind. I can't even believe the staying power of this primer. I'm completely obsessed.

I'm kind of loving NYX Cosmetics The Smokey Shadow Palette. The pigmentation is insane for the price. I've been loving these shades too. 

Insta-Rewind

It's time for a little February rap. This was my life via Instagram. If you're not already following me, and why wouldn't you be, click here.  

Crafting with burlap and a monogram. 

Pizza with Friends

brunch with bloggers.

Casual Sundays.

A little label love. 

Showing off my handy work. Scarf #2!

Saturday at Union Market

Snuggling with the Kitty.

Free Hugs with my other half. 

Bright nails for the dull weather. 

Emerald everywhere and a sock bun for good measure.

If you're Instagram obsessed like I am you need to link up with my favorites Emily, Kimberly and Angie. It's an Instagram link up--- so stop by one of their blogs, link up and meet some new instagram friends! This is how I've found most of my insta-favorites. Love it. Also linking up here. Happy Tuesday Gals!

Oscar Fashion

I was beyond obsessed with the red carpet last night. I mean the ladies really brought it. Old hollywood glam at its finest. 

My pick for best dressed is:

Jessica Chastain

Her dress was simply perfection. The hair. The lips. And you know I've always got to root for the pale girls! Absolutely stunning. 

Charlize Theron

I don't know about y'all, but I was kind of obsessed with her hair.  I also loved that she kept it simple up top. No crazy necklace or earrings. She let the dress do all the talking. 

Naomi Watts

I mean wow. The sparkle and the neckline. She absolutely killed it. KILLED IT.

Jennifer Hudson

I love this sparkle. The hair was a tad bit long for my taste, but the dress is gorgeous. 

Amy Adams

Well that is a dress. We all know that I love grey... and fluffy ruffles? Obsessed. I wish she would have gone with a bright lip just for a pop of color, but everything else was gorgeous!

Oliva Munn

I love a red dress on the red carpet. The corset on this Marchesa gown was just absolute perfection, with love how she was styled. 

Nicole Kidman

I am obsessed with all of this sparkle. She looked absolutely stunning. 

Reese Witherspoon

Is there anything better than a gorgeous blonde in a beautiful blue dress? As a blonde who often wears royal blue, I don't think so. Reese looked perfect.

Also. I had a fabulous blogger weekend. I hung out with Lauren on Friday and Saturday. Jaime, Besty and Brea for Sunday brunch. Then coffee with Alana. All of it was perfect. Please go be their new bffs, because I'm officially more obsessed with each of them.