Of COURSE Kate Spade Has the Fanciest Flasks!

There are two things I'm currently obsessed with: Kate Spade (for obvious reasons), and flasks (again, for obvious reasons...ish).

Before I even understood fashion, I loved Kate Spade. I just knew the brand was classy, and that as an adult, I hoped to always own a few of their bags and baubles--finances be damned! And as I dreamed, I almost always have a few Kate Spade handbags, as well as some of their gorgeous jewelry...just don't tell my husband.

As far as flasks go, I used my first one in college. I thought it would be hilarious to fill it with water, pretend it was vodka, and take it to class with me. I also thought that doing the same exact thing at my Grandma's house for Thanksgiving would be a hoot. Unfortunately, I don't remember anyone finding it as funny as me, but whatever--I was going to continue to drink non-alcoholic beverages from a flask--and as long as it had me awkwardly giggling to myself, I would continue to do so! Clearly it wasn't a phase or anything, as I am currently thirty and I still drink water from flasks for entertainment.

I only recently found out that Kate Spade has the fanciest flasks I've ever seen in my life. Two of my fave things combined?! I've got to get one (or both)! And hey, I might just throw some actual liquor in them to celebrate! THIS IS HUGE!

Pictured above on the left is the super luxe Two of a Kind 'Just Between Us' Gold Faceted Flask. I love the classic look, the gold detail, and the general shape of the flask. Oh yeah, and the fact that printed in tiny block letters is the phrase, 'Just Between Us'. I like that. And it's true. Because, in all actuality, what you fill it with is just between you and the flask! No need to involve others.

The second one pictured is a pretty, dainty flask called the Silver Street 'Happy Hour' Flask.This one isn't hiding anything. It practically screams, "It's happy hour, and Imma get my drink on, but I'm doing it with this classy flask, so everything's cool". That might seem like a lot for a flask to say, but having the words 'Happy Hour' printed neatly on the front really doesn't leave much to the imagination. It's not a bad thing; in fact, I love that the sleek bottle tells it like it is. The cheeky, girlish flask, "engraved with encouragement for happy hour", really is perfect to throw in a clutch for a night out. Love it!


Both flasks are beyond fabulous. Personally, I want one of each so I have a flask to match my mood. That said, they'd also make great gifts, so keep them in mind for the holidays. At $40 each, the flasks are without a doubt, a couple of the chicest and least expensive gifts that Kate Spade has to offer. And I don't hate it!

Happy shopping (and drinking), ladies!

What I'm Loving: Tweexy--The Original Wearable Nail Polish Holder

I highly doubt that anyone loves nail polish more than I do...I could be wrong, but I'm looking at my tub o' polish right now and I'm guessing I own over 200 different polishes (even though most of them are just different shades of pink). That said, nail polish, is used by 71% of females--even more than lipstick. (Gasp)! For gals in their teens and twenties, the number is closer to 84%. That's a lot of nail polish. And if you're like me, you've probably spilled quite a few bottles of the stuff and have a stain on your floor, or at the very least knocked over a bottle or two.

Enter Tweexy. It's a silicone nail polish holder you wear on your hand like a ring so you can keep your polish bottle front and center without knocking it over while switching hands.

The creators of Tweexy purchased thousands of polishes, different brands with different sizes and shaped bottles, and tested prototypes to figure out exactly what holder design would fit them all. And they cracked the code! No matter what brand is your fave, it will fit! Huzzah!

Here's what the "ring" looks like sans polish:

You can even wear two Tweexys comfortably for nail art, different polish colors or base and topcoats. The two expandable rings are thick enough to naturally keep fingers separated during polishing, allowing your hand to relax. The two rubber wings act as levers and pull open the finger rings to accommodate different finger sizes. When you have completed polishing one hand you can effortlessly pull the Tweexy off (vertically) and transfer it to your opposite hand, all without smearing your freshly, fabulously applied polish.


Another huge bonus? You can use Tweexy to get every last drop out of your fave polish by simply tilting your hand. I know I've thrown out several bottles of expensive polish that were still half-full, simply because the brush wouldn't reach it. And I know I'm not alone.

This video should give you an idea how Tweexy works:

Tweexy is available in seven super cute colors: Bonbon Pink, Spa Green, Sapphire Night, Lilac Dreams, Pink Frosting, California Green and Island Blue. You can buy one for $14.95 here on Amazon.

Happy polishing!

That's MRS. FANCYPANTS to you!

Ever since I was just a wee little sassy girl, I've always loved titles, like Mrs. and Miss. Chances are, it was the countless years I spent reading a fairly crazy amount of Little Miss books, (Little Miss Bossy and Little Miss Chatterbox were my faves, for obvious reasons).

But now I'm an adult, I'm married, and I have boring responsibilities. I am, however, still pretty cool. So this fabulous Mrs. Fancypants Mug from Ashley Brooke Designs is clearly right up my alley!

Here's why I love it:

1. I am Mrs. Fancypants: I'm a Mrs., I'm fancy, and I wear pants (which often times are somewhat fancy). I didn't like the definition of "fancypants" that the un-fancy Merriam-Webster dictionary had to offer: "overly elegant or refined : la-di-da". Luckily Urban Dictionary had the definition I knew in my heart to be true: "Sophisticated or impressive. See posh." That's moi!
2. The site's product description rocks: "As the lady of the house, this mug leaves absolutely no question as to how fabulous you are!"
3. The writing is in pink.

It's too bad that there isn't a male version of this super cute mug. Just kidding, there is!
Meet the Mr. Handsome Mug! It's the perfect mug for your man, but it doesn't outshine the chic, girly version. Love it!

Each of the mugs cost $23. Yes, it is a little pricey, but you can tell that they're very well-made and are beautifully designed. I definitely think they're worth it, simply because these mugs are so darn cute!

 

 

If you're like me and want to buy the two mugs together, you can get them both in the Mr. and Mrs. Coffee Mug Set for $42. Honestly, I think the set would make a great gift for any couple (including myself and my husband--hint, hint!).

For those girls who either aren't married, don't fret! There's also a mug for you! The Miss Fancypants Mug is what the young people would call totes adorbs. In all seriousness, I might buy one even though I'm married!

Whether you buy one mug or oodles of 'em, they'll each arrive in an adorable hot pink gift box with gold lettering...très chic, no?

If you're a weirdo who's totally against mugs (who the hell do you think you are?!), or you just want to look at some more cute products, peruse the Ashley Brook Design online store. I promise you'll love everything.

Happy spending!
 

My TOP EIGHT Chloe + Isabel Jewelry Picks

I recently started selling Chloe + Isabel baubles...and quite frankly I'm in love with almost everything I've seen from them! Everything is so well-made, hypoallergenic, and looks incredibly gorgeous. I'm also a fan of the fact that they cater to a lot of different styles. If you like huge statement pieces, they have the prettiest pieces, hands down. But if you like more dainty jewelry, they have that too. And everything in-between.

Every girl out there should really check out the line. Trust me, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Below are eight of my absolute fave pieces from the company (you can purchase them, and other items, at my online boutique):

 

 

 

1. Cushion-Cut Cocktail Ring ($42) - I love love love this ring! It's a great color and it looks super glamorous. This fab cocktail ring comes in size 6, 7, and 8.
2. Aventine Collar Necklace ($78) - If you're looking for a statement necklace that doesn't completely take over your look, this collar necklace is for you! It looks so chic and is the perfect piece to wear if you want to elevate your ensemble. Also, since black and white has become a trend again (I'm guessing for the 5th time this year), this pop-of-white necklace would really stand out with a black blouse.
3. Bead + Ribbon Multi-Wrap Bracelet ($48) - I'm really into navy blue lately, so it's no wonder why this gorgeous wrap bracelet is something I'm obsessed with. I've had mine for a couple weeks, and I think I've worn it every single day. It just matches everything, since it's main colors are neutral shades. The bracelet is also adjustable (woohoo for all small-wristed gals like me!). Oh, and you can even wear it as a necklace if you want--it looks fab either way.
4. Trevi Convertible Statement Earrings ($52) - How stunning are these earrings?! I'm drooling over them. One thing I absolutely love about Chloe + Isabel is that they have a lot of items that can be worn in different ways. These insanely beautiful earrings can be worn two ways: just the top of the earring as a stud, or with the bottom attached to make a great statement earring. Both ways are gorgeous, of course. It's the ultimate work-to-weekend style companion!
5. Portico Linear Drop Earrings ($38) - Listen to me. You need these earrings. Now. They are just so luxe and beautiful, yet they also look classic and almost simple (in a good way). These earrings are perfect to wear with virtually anything. They look amazing with a fancy little black dress, and also look great paired with jeans and a t-shirt. Win-win!
6. Leather + Baguette Bracelet ($26) - My mom and I each own one of these metallic must-have leather bracelets, and we absolutely love them! I'm a huge lover of bracelets, and this one is probably my current fave. You can wear it alone, or layer it with other bracelets--either way, this pretty little bracelet definitely brings some sparkle and shine to any look.
7. Take Heart Pendant Necklace ($28) - This pendant necklace is yet another Chloe + Isabel piece that I own and am obsessed with. It's easy to see why--it's a very pretty, delicate necklace that I think almost anyone would love. It goes with anything and while it is small, the clear crystal on the pendant is just enough bling to attract some attention.
8. Baguette + Stone Stackable Duo Rings ($48) - I saved the best for last! I'm absolutely loving this ring set. Both of the rings are so elegant and beautiful. Personally, I like to wear them both together, but they also look gorgeous when worn individually. The rings comes in size 6, 7, 8, and 9.

How gorgeous is everything?! I just love it all. And my online boutique has loads more for you to look at. Happy shopping!

 

Beauty Boo-Boo: What's With This Grey Lipstick Thing?

I've been seeing grey lips on runways for years, but somehow this ridiculous look has trickled its way down into being an actual regular-people trend. For people like you and me.

I'll give you a sec to let that sit in.

For some ungodly reason, I seem to be the only beauty writer in the world who hates grey lipstick. I don't understand why. I just don't get how anyone can be sucked into this blackhole (or greyhole, I should say) of horror. I mean I just can't imagine being out looking at lipstick, picking up a dull charcoal color, and thinking to myself how amazing it would look. I cringe when I see it in pictures. Never mind real life. And it's not like I'm afraid to take risks with lip color--I go bright, nude, and even neon on occasion. Neon, for God's sake!

That said, my sister was admittedly more of the "goth kid" when we were growing up and definitely sported lips that were grey-ish, so maybe I lack some sort of gene that is necessary for obsessing over dusty-colored lip products.

To me, this whole grey thing is just crazy. The color doesn't do anyone any favors. It's not like it enhances anything. And even though there are a bunch of different grey shades out there right now, trust me--there isn't a grey that "flatters" anyone. They all look weird, and usually dirty.

The truth? The only thing you can really do with grey lipstick is make your face look like it's a black and white photo. Pair the lips with a grey smoky eye and you're good to go! That might be a cool Halloween costume, actually...but that's it.

So before you think that you're "trendy enough" to pull this off, stop and think for a minute about how stupid it is.

Or blow your cash on MAC's stupid, grey lipstick in Halsey ($17). But you've been warned.

If you want to try something pretty and different for spring, I say go for a bright fuchsia hue. Grab one of MAC's pretty other hues, Girl About Town ($17). It's bold, bright, and super gorgeous. And it certainly doesn't look like smashed up cement.

That is all.

(Sham) Rock Out with Polish Hues for St. Paddy’s Day!

As you can all probably guess, I'll use any excuse to paint my nails. I had a good day? Time to celebrate and polish my nails! Bad day? You guessed it--time to cheer myself up with a new mani!

So when there's actually somewhat of a reason for me to express myself artistically through my nails, I'm obviously on board. To the extreme.

And with St. Patrick's Day rapidly approaching, it's high time to think about making your nails look fabulous for the occasion.

Even though I'm fairly adventurous with my polish colors, green isn't a color that I naturally gravitate towards. But after trying out some of the gorgey greens that SinfulColors has in their Shamrock Out collection, I'm thinking that green might end up on my fingers quite a bit in the future!

There are six total colors in the collection, below are my fave four shades:

Exotic Green is a bright pop of green cream. It's lightweight and is opaque after two coats. This is the perfect base for anything Saint Patrick's Day, and looks great on it's own.

Feeling Lucky is the line's limited edition polish for the holiday. It has adorable little shamrock-shaped glitter chunks in a sheer, green base with yellow, green, and gold metallic hex glitters. Glitter is a weakness of mine (duh!), so I'm pretty much obsessed with this polish. The base color is really quite sheer, so you could easily wear this over other colors, or even on its own for a little natural bling.

Happy Ending is a kelly green that has a fantastic iridescent sheen to it. It also wins "best nail polish name ever", as far as I'm concerned. This is a hue that I'll actually wear year-round. It has a fresh feel to it and, even though it seems impossible, the color manages to match oodles of different outfits (win!), and looks great on most skintones. This color is definitely one of my favorites.

San Francisco is a pearly, darker metallic evergreen shade. It's almost emerald looking and is pretty elegant. If you're into darker hues, definitely go for this one. I'd also choose this color to wear Feeling Lucky over. The bold glitter would really stand out on a dark color like this.

You can get the SinfulColors ShamRock Out collection at various retailers including Target, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid, or on their website for a mere $1.99 per bottle. Honestly, the quality is so great that I thought I was using the wrong polish while I was trying them out, but they're really just that good!

Happy painting, ladies!

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for review consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Fashion Faux Pas: Unicorn Braids

I honestly never thought I'd be writing about something as ridiculous as unicorn braids. But unfortunately, they seem to be some sort of trend.

When you hear the phrase unicorn hair, you probably envision long cascading hair in shades of pink, purple, aqua, or all three. The image pictured is definitely something akin to mermaids or My Little Pony. However, it seems that some gals are taking the phrase quite literally and are actually styling their hair to resemble a horn.

More specifically, the horn of a unicorn.

For real.

How they're doing it? Apparently, they section off a piece of the hair at the front part of the crown and braid it at a vertical angle so that the hair sticks straight up. There's probably at least a gallon of extra hold hairspray and/or gel involved in this look.

I just don't get why you would ever want to look like this! Great Halloween look? Yes. Hairdo for regular life? Nope.

Listen, I love unicorns. Probably more than little five-year-old girls. But I will never don a style such as this.

I get that people want to stand out. But stand out for your fabulousness; not for your ridiculous hair horn.

That is all.

Pretty Palette for your Peepers (AND it's Under $10!)

In case you didn't know, I'm quite unhealthily(ish) obsessed with makeup palettes. Especially when they're filled with pretty eyeshadow hues. I should probably join some sort of support group for palette addicts, but that's simply not happening.

Instead, I present my latest love: Milani's Everyday Eyes Eyeshadow Palette.

Milani is one of my absolute fave drugstore beauty brands. Most of their products work just as well as anything you can find from a high-end cosmetic line, but are much more reasonably priced.

Their latest palette has been around for a few months or so, but they've added a couple different color options for Spring 2016. The current collections are:

• Must-Have Neutrals- Cool Neutrals
• Bare Necessities- Warm Neutrals
• Smoky Essentials- Smoky Neutrals
• Plum Basics- Plums & Mauves
• Earthy Elements- Terracotta & Earthy Hues
• Vital Brights- Cool Brights

All of them are super gorgeous, but I'm completely in love with the Bare Necessities palette (featured picture, above). The colors are perfect for all skintones, and the colors are all great neutrals to have on hand to bring your look from day to night. The hues are in the taupe/brown family and range from matte to shimmery shades.

The colors are all super smooth, very blendable, and crazily well-pigmented. I honestly have yet to find another drugstore brand that offers nearly as much color payoff.
This particular palette is perfect for everyday use. You can use all of the shades for a more bold look, or pick and choose shades for something more soft. I like using all of the shades, but my favorite combo is the lid color, contour hue, and base shade paired with dark brown liner. It makes my eyes pop without going overboard.
　

The absolute best part is that each palette is about $10. I'd probably shell out at least three times the amount, so it's really a fab deal. Plus, since the sets are so affordable, you can treat yourself to a few guilt-free! Huzzah! Grab the neutral one for everyday use, the darker smoky palette for going out, and one of the brighter-colored ones just for fun!

 

The palettes are all available at most drugstores, but you can also buy them online.

Happy shopping, pretty fashionistas!

Smith's Rosebud Salve in a TUBE (How Did I Miss This?!)

For years, I've preached to anyone who would listen about how amazing Smith's Rosebud Salve is.

The balm is great for a crazy amount of things. If you're familiar with this blog at all, then you know how hard it is for me to find any type of product that doesn't irritate my overly sensitive skin. But somehow, I've always been able to use this stuff for oodles of purposes.

Of course it's great on lips, and that's what I've used it for the most. Not only is it super hydrating, it also has just the slightest pinkish/red hue to it. The end result is having super pretty lips that look like your own, only better. With Valentine's Day coming up, it's the perfect product to keep on you so you're always smooch ready.

Until somewhat recently, this fab stuff only came in a round tin. I've never really been a tin kind of gal--I hate having balm all over the place, and even worse, it just isn't very sanitary to repeatedly dip your fingers into the same container.

So when I stumbled upon the exact same formula in a tube, I obviously went crazy with delight. I gave it a try, and sure enough it works just as amazingly! Huzzah!
And if you're wondering what else you can use it for, this beloved multi-purpose essential not only moisturizes and soothes dry lips; it also calms and heals any skin irritation, soothes the sting of minor burns, helps heal cuts, tames mangled cuticles, helps fix ashy elbows and knees, and minimizes diaper rash.

A hint of rose scent adds a delicately aromatic touch, without overpowering or cloying. Whether in a tube or a tin, Rosebud Salve is a mini moisturizing miracle. I've always got at least one in my purse, and usually a few more strategically scattered around the house.

In all honesty, if I could only use one beauty product for the rest of my life, this would be it.

The tin and the tube are each only $6. Pretty cheap for such a fabbity-fabulous beauty staple! Stock up, fashionistas!

 

Fashion Faux Pas: The Excessively Strappy Bra

With Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, my inbox has become flooded with various lingerie ads. For the most part, they're fun to go through and there are oodles of cute bras out there.

What I'm not a fan of? Bras that look way too complicated and have straps and cutouts galore. The particular one pictured is True&Co's Entwined set (yes, it comes with a pair of panties--also not very impressive). I've looked at the site's other products and they've actually got some cute things...I just think they totally screwed up with this disastrous bra.

Yes, it looks sexy on the model. But honestly, everything looks amazing on a lingerie model. That's why companies hire them. But if you're like me (or really anyone else in the entire world), this is probably the least flattering undergarment you could possibly purchase.

Think about it: having random additional straps on a bra, no matter how well it fits, would simply cut into your curves and give you severely unwanted bumps and rolls. If you moved around at all, your chest would have a field day moving around in-between all the little cutouts. It really has nothing to do with your size, this bra is simply not going to do you any favors.

Even my husband hates it! And if you know anything about Michael, then you know that he generally has no opinion whatsoever on anything girly, even when it comes to lingerie...actually especially when it comes to lingerie. All I did was show him a picture of this and he said, "It's like they added extra straps just to confuse guys!", bringing up a problem I hadn't even thought of.

If you want to impress your main squeeze, stick with something simple. My husband says that red or black lace is always a win, and I agree. The same site, True&Co, has plenty of pretty bras that would be a million times more flattering. Their Gramercy Balconette bra is gorgeous. Plus, it's about half the price of the ridiculous strappy "faux-bra" (see what I did there?! hahaha), and it comes in a bunch of fabulous colors!

So this year, be comfy and sexy. You don't have to settle for one or the other.
 
That is all.
 

Funky Fabulous Flasks

I have no idea why, but I've always been weirdly obsessed with flasks. It got to the point where I'd buy a cute one and want to show it off so badly that I'd fill it with water or juice and drink from it all over the place...even my Grandma's house on holidays (which I'm sure looked lovely).

Recently, I found a crazy amount of stylish flasks on Zazzle that are super gorgeous. They have quite a few different designs, but for the most part the flasks have a vintage look to them, which makes them even more amazing.

I can totally see myself buying 20 or so of these and "holding onto them for gifts" (wink, wink), because there are just so many different options! You could get a flask to match every outfit you own! Seriously, what's not to love about that?!

The best part is that each flask retails for around $27, so they're definitely affordable.

Treat yourself to a flask! And make sure to drink from it at the most inappropriate times for maximum entertainment!