Room Decor Plans

Hey everyone! Since I am now a Pinterest fiend, it's no surprise that I have big decor plans for my new bedroom. These are some mock-ups I put together in Photoshop.

Instead of a backboard for my bed, I want to get two sets of Ikea Expedit book shelves. I'm in dire need of book storage, so this will be a nice touch. I also want some rainbow fluorescents to add under the shelves, giving it a cool vibe.

I have a fairly large window section in the corner of my room and I'd like to make some sort of origami installation to fill up some of that space.

This is where my desk will go. I opted for a clear desk and a wooden chair. Love the idea of mixing modern and rustic textures. Next to it I'm going to work on a "gallery wall" which is basically an eclectic mix of picture frames and paintings.

I have a small strip of wall next to my closet, so a little vanity could fit perfectly there. Not sure what I'd want to have displayed above it (maybe nothing), but for now I'm envisioning some quotes and magazine cutouts.

On the back of my door I'm going to have a small collection of my Instagram printouts which I've already ordered from Origrami. I'm also on the look out for some neon pink duct tape that I'll use sporadically throughout my room to frame things.

I'm very excited to get this project started!

New Mac lipstick: Instigator

Hey everyone! With the Mac giftcard I received on Christmas, I decided to pick up a new Mac lipstick in the shade "Instigator" from the Punk Couture collection. I saw the lipstick on Temptalia and knew I wanted it right away.

It's one of Mac's "retro-matte" finishes, meaning it applies without shine or gloss. I found this to be true. Because of the finish it was a little difficult to apply, but with a good lip liner (i.e. Mac Nightmoth), it isn't too bad. The wear on it is really good - lasts multiple hours without budging. The only thing you need to make sure of is that your lips are properly hydrated, otherwise the lipstick will stick to dry patches.

The color is a very deep plum color (definitely black in certain lights). I admit it can be intimidating in the bullet, but paired with a smokey eye this lipstick is killer. Don't let it scare you! What's great about the color is that it works on all skin tones.

Overall score: A-

I Love Pinterest

I didn't always "get" Pinterest. I thought the whole concept was kinda lame, but to be honest I never truly gave it a chance. Recently, however, I discovered the amazingness that is this website. Here is a collection of my favorite pins. You can follow my boards if you want.

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Fashion Wishlist from Persunmall

Hey everyone! The other day I was approached by the wonderful Alice from Persunmall.com who offered to have me try out some of their items and review them for you. Step 1 is to post a wishlist featuring my favorite things!

Persun is an online retailer that sells clothing and accessories for very affordable prices. I was particularly impressed by their tops and jewelry selection, so that's what I've focused on in this list.

The first item is this pink flower knit sweater. It's basically a Wildfox knock-off, and since I'm not about to spend $100 on a distressed sweater, this is perfect! I'm sure the quality isn't as good, but I plan on wearing it very casually and I like the loose fit.

A classic plaid shirt has been soo hard to come by for me. All I want is a plain red one, and I can't seem to find one in-store! Luckily, Persunmall has this in stock. It's not flannel, but it has a great pattern and I love the huge pockets.

Next is a gray knit sweater. Right along the spine theres a pulled panel, making it seem like the knitting fell apart. I think it's so cool and perfect to wear over leggings on a cold day. Chuck on some tall black boots and you're good to go.

The last clothing item on my wishlist is a plain white t-shirt. I don't have a loose, oversize t-shirt so this would be a really good staple to have.

Finally, this gold and neon green necklace. I'd see myself wearing this constantly if I were to own it. I totally see myself rocking this under the collar of a chambray shirt. It's really fun for summer, but I'd also wear it throughout the winter because god knows I need some neon to spice up my drab monochrome outfits!

Latest Netflix Love: GREEK

Hey everyone! Having finished my latest Netflix binge on December 31st, I thought it would be fitting to do a little review of it to ring in the new year.

When I picked Greek as the show I wanted to watch, I didn't have high expectations. After all, an entire TV series based on sororities and fraternities... Mehhh. Could be superficial, but at the same time I wasn't in the mood for anything too cerebral either, so I stuck with it. And I'm so glad I did.

The show is about Casey Cartwright, a sorority girl at Cyprus Rhodes university, and her brother Rusty, an incoming freshman who decides to pledge a fraternity. Casey deals with sorority drama and a love triangle with Evan and Cappie (two boys from rival fraternities), and Rusty deals with juggling Honors Engineering and frat life.

It seems like a cliched, easily-executed story, but somehow every plot element is done perfectly. There are no superfluous storyline details - everything is just right. It hits the nail on the head in terms of depicting a balanced college life. The characters deal with emotional tribulations and super awesome frat ragers. I like how one element is never compromised for the other, and the flow between them is never fake or forced.

As I said, I thought having Greek life as the main setting would be contrived and frivolous, and while it sometimes is, I ended up really enjoying it. I liked learning about the details of the Greek system, including the ins and outs of pledging, rush, big & littles, lavaliering, Panhellenic, hazing, and general Greek politics. Everything rang true and aided the believability of the plot.

In terms of characters, you can't really ask for more. They are well-developed and witty, each with their own respective sets of virtues and vices. You'll love them, you'll hate them, and then you'll love them again. They're each equipped with personal/emotional baggage, making even the most vapid sorority girl mildly relatable.

The progression of the show is really natural, making it easy to watch episode after episode. The mood is generally lighthearted, but gets emotional when need-be. Greek will have you hooked for 6 seasons, and all it takes is watching the first episode :)

2013 Beauty Favorites

I originally wasn't going to do one of these, but I figured that didn't comply too well with my "blog more" resolution for the new year so I decided, why not! These are my favorite products of 2013. Some of them are more recent, but I've been using many of them year-long. I use these products daily and I'm impressed with their quality over and over.

Mac Soft & Gentle: I honestly wasn't too sure about this product in the beginning. I didn't notice a difference when I used it, but now I've come to love it. The effect is very subtle, making it perfect for everyday use as a cheek highlighter.

Maybelline Super Stay 10 Stain Gloss: These stain glosses have to be my favorite lip product of the year. I think they're so easy to apply. They're long lasting, and they stay put throughout the day - no need to worry about smudging.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP: I picked this up on Boxing Day last year and I could not be happier with it. It's the perfect base for virtually any eyeshadow look, and it's so easy to blend on. It really is creaseless too!

L'Oreal Studio Perfecting Base: I picked this up because I ran out of my Stila primer, and I have to say, this does a better job. It smooths out your skin like none other, and it has that soft silicone finish. For the price, you really can't go wrong with this.

Essie "Bouncer It's Me": I have to admit, the formulation of this polish is atrocious BUT luckily I'm a very patient person, and 3 coats is no big deal to me. The color is so vibrant and stunning that I can see past the terrible formula. I've worn this multiple times this year because I'm constantly drawn to it.

Models Own "Luis Lemon": This has, hands down, been my favorite polish of 2013. I was really hesitant to buy it, but I'm so glad I did. I think nails are generally a more understated part of someone's "look", so a little pop of neon isn't as scary as I thought it would be... In fact, it's fun and interesting. Love this polish.

Essie "Bahama Mama": Is it cheating if I included this in last year's favorites? Oh well. This polish has been a recurring favorite as I've worn it many times this year. The color and formulation are just unbeatable.

These two brushes have been part of my makeup routine throughout the entire year. I use the angled end of the Sephora brush for bronzer, and the Real Techniques brush for blush. They're really the perfect duo!

That concludes my 2013 beauty favorites! What have been your favorite products this year?