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Happy Wednesday, y’all! Thanks to Jaclyn Hill’s (problematic) lipstick launch, the whole beauty community is taking a deep dive into their lippie collections.

Side note – have you seen the videos of people pulling hair/fibers and plastic balls out of their lipsticks?! I wanted to purchase one of the combos so bad, but lordy we’re gonna need an explanation!

OK, back to the post… if you have been following along recently then you know that I have been going through essentially everything – clothes, shoes, beauty, makeup – and getting rid of things that I don’t genuinely LOVE. By doing so, I not only am able to more easily access my favorites and find the holes in my wardrobe or makeup routine. I realized that I was often reaching for the same old neutral lip combo that was so close to my own lip color, I might as well have been just slapping on a clear gloss.

So, ya girl went on the hunt for a fun bright shade for Summer, a classic nude that is flattering on my skin tone, and a pretty pink shade for more casual days. After quite a bit of trial and error, I found three ride-or-die lippie combos and am so excited to share them with you!

P.S. My train case and lipstick case are both from Victoria’s Secret. Now is the perfect time to snag them if you love pink because they’re in the midst of their Semi Annual Sale!

Just Peachy:

Let’s start with the brightest and most fun lip combo of the bunch! As someone who takes a ton of photos for my job, I noticed that my lips were totally washed out in all of my images and videos. So naturally, I popped over to Ulta in search of something bright and coral. Kylie’s Lip Kit in Dazzle wound up being perfect – super pigmented, but still totally wearable.

I begin by not only lining my lips with the Dazzle liner, but also filling them in before applying one layer of the liquid lipstick. While this particular Kylie Lip Kit is a velvet so it isn’t transfer-proof, I much prefer it to the mattes because they’re so comfortable and more hydrating on the lips.

If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll add some of Stila’s Liquid Lipstick in Bellisima to the center of my lips for some added dimension and poutiness. This shade was a T.J. Maxx score for $4.99, so be sure to check out your local store for beauty steals.

Nude Mood:

Not only does MAC’s Electric Wonder Collection have absolutely stunning packaging, the products themselves have quickly become holy grail. On any given day, you’ll typically find me wearing a nude lip.

Depending on how self-tanned I am, I will swap between MAC’s The Naturalist and Feelin’ Sedimental lipsticks, with Feelin’ Sedimental being the lighter nude of the two. Both work beautifully with Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk and topped with MAC’s Lipglass in Coral of the Wild.

Pretty in Pink:

Marc Jacobs’ Beauty recently released a new shade – Sugar High – and oh em gee! It’s literal perfection. Pinks tend to be extremely hit or miss, so when I saw how stunning this combo looked on Tati, I immediately splurged on the whole Sugar High collection before it even hit Sephora stores.

I line my lips with the Poutliner Longwear Lip Liner Pencil, then apply the Le Marc Lip Crème, and finally top the look with Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer Lipgloss for an added punch of pink.

This is definitely the priciest combo of the bunch, but is hands-down my favorite. The formula of the Le Marc Lip Crème is not only pigmented and hydrating on the lips, but lasts forever! What more can a girl ask for?

If you’re looking to give these three products a try, there is a $25 mini kit that’s limited edition!

Let me know your favorite lipstick combos in the comments below! I am always looking for new products to try!

If you’re reading this post, chances are that you’re planning a cruise to Alaska. Congratulations and choice well made! It is such a unique and stunning destination – unlike anywhere else we’ve cruised to before. But with such a wide range of temperatures from Seattle to Juneau, it’s understandably confusing deciding what to pack and how to keep your suitcase under 50lbs.

We recently returned from cruising the last frontier on the Norwegian Bliss and to be honest, I didn’t touch half of the outfits I packed. As such, I wanted to share my must-haves with you in the hopes that I can save you some space in your suitcase for souvenirs!

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QUICK TIPS:

TIP #1: The weather in Alaska can change quickly, so the overarching message behind this post is to layer up for you can easily peel off layers as the day goes on. I carried a small backpack that I would fold my jacket into

TIP #2: Book your excursions in advance and plan your outfits based on them. Flightseeing in Skagway will require different gear than hiking on a glacier in Juneau.

TIP #3: Search consignment stores and Poshmark for Winter clothes and accessories. You’ll be cruising Alaska in the Spring or Summer, so luckily cold weather gear is heavily discounted and easily found gently used.

TIP #4: Pack comfortable, casual looks to wear on sea days. Of all the cruises we’ve been on, our Alaskan cruise was hands-down the most casual. During sea days most cruisers wore sweats, tennis shoes, and long-sleeved tees because they are likely going inside to outside (for sight-seeing) and vice versa quite frequently. On Caribbean cruises I would live in bathing suit cover-ups but on Alaskan cruises, sweats are where its at.

ALASKA PACKING LIST:

WATERPROOF DOWN JACKET: I went back and forth over whether to bring my dressier wool coat and thank goodness I didn’t! Not only would it weigh down my luggage, but there was no reason I needed to dress up while out exploring Alaska. The Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket (or a similar style) is the perfect amount of warmth without being too bulky. I made the call on purchasing this jacket days before the trip and it was a seriously life-saver against ALL of the elements. I wore it every day!

LIGHT, WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS: While many people will suggest bringing tall rainboots, I would recommend opting for waterproof hiking boots instead. My personal favorite are the Sorel Cozy Carnival because they’re light as air and can be layered with camp socks for added warmth. These were the only shoes I wore off the ship and worked for glacier hiking, biking, and sight seeing. I found mine on Poshmark prior to the trip.

LAYERING T-SHIRTS: You likely already own a few long-sleeved tees that work perfectly layered under sweatshirts for an added punch of warmth. I brought a white and a black and white striped – B.P. at Nordstrom makes the BEST cheap tees – and swapped them in and out depending on the outfit.

LEGGINGS: Y’all! I didn’t wear pants ONCE on my Alaskan cruise. I didn’t even pack a pair. I lived in leggings and was oh-so-comfortable! My personal favorite are the Z by Zella leggings. They’re under $25, suck everything in, and are amazing quality.

BEANIES: Make sure to always bring along something that covers your head – be it a hat, beanie, or hooded jacket – because chances are HIGH that you’ll encounter rain. I chose fun pom beanies to add a pop of colorful to my outfits and so I could easily throw it into my bag when it started to heat up.

CAMP SOCKS: We cruised Alaska in early May when the temps are less mild than the Summer months, so chunky camp socks were the perfect additional layer to keep my feet and ankles warm.

TENNIS SHOES: This is self-explanatory, but tennis shoes were absolutely necessary for all the walking we did around the cruise ship plus strolling around Seattle if you choose to do so before your cruise. We spent two full days in Seattle prior to boarding the ship and we never once took a cab anywhere. We only walked or took the electric bikes!

ZOOM LENS/BINOCULARS: A regular point-and-shoot or a prime lens won’t cut it if you’re looking to capture the BEST images in Alaska. But I don’t suggest dumping a ton of money into an expensive camera you’re only planning on using for a week. Use a rental website such a LensRental.com to borrow the photography equipment necessary for your cruise. And be sure to pack a large Ziploc bag to keep the camera in so it can stay dry!

POLARIZED SUNGLASSES: When exploring Alaska, you’ll likely spot a ton of unique wildlife and you don’t want to miss out ob seeing orcas, salmon, halibut, or more because you don’t have the proper gear. Polarized sunnies cut the glare on the water, allowing you to see more of the marine life that thrives in this environment.

SMALL BACKPACK: Alaska has so many outdoor activities and you don’t want a purse weighing you down. If you’re planning on packing a camera, additional layers, water, etc., make sure to stay comfortable by opting for a backpack instead.

STRAWS: Alaska has stricter environmental guidelines than many other states. As such, many cruise lines have cut back on things like plastic straws. This is (obviously) personal preference, but if you enjoy your drink with a straw, be sure to pack a few.

FORMAL NIGHTS: We cruised Norwegian so there weren’t any dedicated formal nights but if your cruise line doesn’t offer freestyle dining, I would suggest packing a couple maxi dresses and a pair of neutral heels.

Stay tuned for my excursion suggestions coming soon to the blog!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, loves! I am heading to Charlotte for the weekend to watch Jeremy race and see all of my friends, but before I leave I wanted to share a big round-up of all the BEST sales and my picks from each.

Let’s just say… putting this list together is dangerous. As I went through my favorite retailer’s sites culling it all, I got in some real trouble by pulling the trigger on some deals! I purchased two bags, one high end (oops, but HOW FRICKIN ‘ CUTE) and one for $36 (because duh). Anddd this $8 leopard belt and these ice cream cone earrings. So if you’re looking to save you money, don’t read on 😉

LOFT: 40% off of EVERYTHING with code FINALLY

J.CREW FACTORY: 50% off of EVERYTHING

NASTY GAL: 60% off of EVERYTHING

FRANCESCA’S: BOGO 50% off

OLD NAVY: 50% off all tees, tanks, shorts, and swimwear

ABERCROMBIE: 50% off EVERYTHING

FARFETCH: Up to 50% off designer bags

MADEWELL: 20% off dresses & sandals

SSENSE: Up to 50% off designer pieces

LISI LERCH: 30% off of EVERYTHING

SHOPBOP: Up to 40% off designer pieces

AMERICAN EAGLE: 25-50% off of EVERYTHING