Beauty: Product Review Time!

My recent beauty buys.

Beauty review time!

I bought all of this stuff over the past few weeks and I'm here to review them for you.

1. Maybelline New York Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshadow, $6. 

This eyeshadow is supposed to stay on for 24 hours without fading like typical powder eyeshadow, and it does. It looks really great and sparkly and is perfect for a night out. That being said, it does get flaky as the day goes on, and it's nearly impossible to get off! I'd honestly rather just re-apply normal eyeshadow then deal with this stuff. Instead of using it for all-day wear like it's supposed to be used, I just wear it for nights out and take it off after 6-7 hours before bed.

2. Revlon PhotoReady Concealer, $8.

This concealer is the bomb. It's honestly my favorite one I've ever used! The stick is perfect 'cause you can control exactly where you want to cover, and it covers well. I'll definitely be buying this again.

3. Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, $8.

I tried this once (my sister had it) and immediately went out and bought it. It works perfectly on damp or dry hair and gives you lovely beach waves! I like it even better than the Bumble & Bumble spray Eleanor uses and it's much cheaper.

4. COVERGIRL LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm, $6.

Chubby sticks like this are my favorite! They moisturize your lips and are easier to apply than lipstick or Baby Lips, plus have a great matte finish (I hate glossy lips, ew!). I got this one in blush for everyday wear, but I love the bright pink or red hues as well. I'm definitely picking up a few more.

5. NARS Bronzing Powder, $36.

Yikes, this is expensive! But it's totally worth it. This is my favorite bronzer; it comes in so many shades for any skin tone and blends perfectly for contour and glow. If you can look past the price tag, don't even think before buying it.

6. Essie Nail Polish in Sunday Funday, $8.

This is one of their new summer shades and I love it! I have it on my toes and fingers right now and it's the perfect pop of color for any summer outfit, especially for the beach or pool. Essie is my favorite polish because it goes on well and stays on, and it comes in the most beautiful shades. Sunday Funday is no exception.

7. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Finishing Serum, $13.

I actually found this in Paris, on recommendation from a Parisian, so I know it's legit. My hair gets really staticky and frizzy and one tiny drop of this worked through my hair keeps it from disobeying all day. If you have the same problem as I do, try this finishing serum.

8. Maybelline New York Dream Bouncy Blush, $7.

This is my favorite blush! It comes in a ton of colors and is very light and subtle, very pretty. It looks so natural on skin and gives you a great glow for a low price.

9. Maybelline New York Define-A-Brow Pencil, $6.

About six months ago, someone mentioned I should start filling in my eyebrows. I tried it and I've never looked back, it elevates my make-up look to the next level and just makes my features pop! This is a great brow pencil because its thin and easy to blend; you can create exactly the brow you want. If you've never filled in your brows, do it. Now. It's amazing the difference it makes.

Let me know if you have any questions about these products!

Fashion Find: Antonio Melani Amanda Tote

Hey all! As you know, I have a serious handbag fixation, so I couldn't resist sharing the gem I discovered on a quick Dillard's run today. It's the Antonio Melani Amanda Tote, and I am absolutely in love. The bag retails for only $120, but it looks like a much more expensive bag. I actually stopped to look at it because it so closely resembled one of Michael Kors' $300-400 gorgeous creations. Considering my purse problem, I'm so impressed I walked away from this bag without buying four. It comes in several shades including neutral and those trendy neon and jewel tones, and the inside has so many compartments and pockets for perfect organization. It'd be a great office bag or day tote, and could easily fit my 13" MacBook Pro and several folders for a work day.

You can purchase the bag online, here! Let me know if you do, I'd love to hear about it.

Coming soon:

• Travel: Two Days in Ireland
• Beauty Reviews: My Recent Purchases

Fashion: Trendy Tribal

One of my favorite summer trends is the tribal pattern I'm seeing everywhere! It's such a versatile look, and adding a tribal accessory to any look takes it to the next level. Aztec-printed dresses, tops and even leggings are perfect for a summer boho look. I especially love tribal swimwear, how perfect for your vacation!

Tribal pieces to jazz up any summer wardrobe.

Simple accessories perfectly accent this wild skirt.

Monochrome + tribal.

Perfect summer night out look.

Classy + trendy for the beach.

What do you think? Have you added tribal pieces to your closet?

Fashion: Splurge or Save?

Unless you have an unlimited clothing budget (jealous), you have to pick and choose with items you need to splurge on, and where you need to save. When is it better to buy the designer, and when is it better to find a similar off-brand piece?

Timeless, good quality, high-use pieces are worth the extra splurge.

Generally, if something is trendy, I'd say buy a similar. If you think you'll get less than a year of wear out of something, don't spend big money on it. Boyfriend jeans? Save. Chunky sandals? Save. Keep your dollars for classic pieces that will never go out of style, such as a statement handbag, a designer watch, sunglasses you'll wear every day, or a great leather jacket.

Get "trendy" items at discount retailers, not designer boutiques.

For example, the high-low dress trend, while something I love, is sure to be gone next year, so don't spend more than $20-$30 on a dress you'll wear for a summer. If you get your must-have, on-trend, get-compliments-at-work pieces someplace like H&M or Forever 21, you can Neiman Marcus something you'll use and style for years to come.

What do you think? What items are worth the splurge, and where should you save?

Food: Cool, Summer Salads

In the south, the weather right now is unbearable. It's so hot and humid that the though of using the oven or stove and generating any more heat in my stuffy apartment makes me sweat. One of my favorite things to eat in the summer is cool, no-cook salad! They're cheap, quick and absolutely delicious. Most importantly, they're usually really healthy!

My go-to salad is cucumber based (I hate lettuce), and I usually add whatever I have on hand. Olives, tomatoes, goat cheese or feta, sometimes ham cubes. Then I drizzle it with some Italian or balsamic vinaigrette, toss it and go! I usually make a batch at the beginning of the week and have it for lunch.

If you don't want a cucumber base, there are multiple options for healthy, cool salads.

Green Bean Balsamic Salad.

This Green Bean based summer salad is so colorful and looks so filling! Switch up your salad and follow the recipe here.

Bikini-friendly lunch.

This black-eyed pea based salad couldn't get any easier to make - they come in a can! Follow the recipe here for a healthy, yummy lunch option perfect to take to work.

Greek Tortellini Salad.

So, technically, you have to boil the pasta in this recipe but it looks so yummy I wouldn't mind! The tortellini is a great twist to a traditional pasta salad and the Greek veggies are perfect for summer. Follow the recipe here and bring it to your next potluck!

Other summer salads that look delish:

• Greek Bean Salad
• Corn and Chickpea Salad
• Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avocado Salad (Yum!)

What are your favorite summer salads?

Fashion: The Staple Bag and Statement Bag

When I was younger, I switched handbags nearly as often as I changed my clothes. I had cheap, faux-leather purses in every color of the rainbow. I fondly remember a sunflower yellow hobo I toted for a few years, as well as a cobalt blue bag with a giant flower adorning its front. As I've grown, my taste in handbags has certainly changed. Now, I'm a huge advocate of the staple bag: a classic, generation-transcending, occasion-transcending bag of good quality. Naturally, this sort of purse comes with a heftier price tag. Whether you have a designer or mall budget, you can find a gorgeous staple bag to go with any look.

Gorgeous bags that transcend from office to errands to out to date night.

Even if you can't spend several hundred (or thousand, eek!) dollars on a staple piece, dupes exist for less than $100 and are just as beautiful and versatile as the designer staples.

Staple bags for less than $100 - just as lovely as the designer bags.

However, this summer there is a massive trend amongst designers: bright-colored handbags! A boring suit or LBD can easily stand out with the addition of one of these jewel tone satchels, and a neon purse with a drab office outfit is sure to get you noticed and help your business casual stay trendy.

Colorful bags for summer looks.

What do you think? Should you splurge on a staple bag or replace a cheap one every few months? Is a colored handbag trendy and fun or tacky and obnoxious? Let me know!

Fashion: Maxi Skirts for Summer

Being 5'2", I took one look at the maxi skirt trend taking over fashion magazines and the internet and knew it wasn't for me. I've never met a formal dress I didn't have to hem, and I live in the world of petite pants. But when I moved to Paris and saw so many women absolutely rocking the ankle-grazing trend, I took a $10 gamble on a black, cotton maxi skirt from H&M and never looked back. It's so great for an all-day look because you can wear one for morning coffee and then out that night with just a few styling tweaks.

Solid and pattern maxi skirts for any budget.

Some of my favorite maxi skirts on the market right now.

Add heavier make-up and a pair of heels to dress up a maxi skirt for night.

Examples of day-to-night maxi skirt styling.

Chic celebrity styling.

Jennifer Lawrence, Selena Gomez, Olivia Palermo and Jessica Alba rock their maxi style.

What do you think? Are maxi skirts fab or drab? What's the best way to style a maxi skirt for summer?

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