Let’s be honest, summer doesn’t have the same appeal as an adult as it did as a kid.  Work doesn’t care that its sunny outside or that you really want to just hang out by the pool or catch a movie or lunch with friends.  So I decided to compile all of the things that recently have me feeling like a fat kid with a Popsicle on a hot summer day.

1.  Cute, Cheap Accessories – Ok so this is not really just a summer thing, I am always in favor of cute and cheap accessories.  I snagged this super cute little gold medallion with the words “Oui Oui” enscribed on it from Forever 21.  For those of you that don’t know it means “Yes, Yes” in French (Thanks 15 hours of college French!) Kind of random but super cute and only $3.80 can’t beat that for a cute little conversation starter that looks super cute with almost anything and adds a little easy going attitude to any outfit.

2.  Cucumber Martinis – Well any cucumber cocktail to be honest.  I was introduced to cucumber margaritas a year or so ago and on a recent trip to Dallas I had my first cucumber martini…AMAZING! Not only is it super refreshing and light, you feel a little healthy drinking it and don’t forget that you are basically getting in a vegetable serving with the garnish, SCORE! No honestly the flavor of cucumber goes so nicely with gin (I don’t even normally like gin) and even vodka.  I have tried making these at home…not bad but its best to leave them to the professionals, it will give you a chance to get dressed up and order the 2012 version of the Sex and the City Cosmo.

3.  The Olympics – I have LOVED  the summer Olympics for as long as I can remember.  I did gymnastics as a kid and there will always be a part of me that likes to pretend that I was an elite gymnast on my way to the Olympics.  I mean who doesn’t remember some epic Olympic triumph with tears in their eyes…Kerri Strug, one legged landing, say no more! No honestly I love everything about the Olympics, national pride, amazing and entertaining sports events, exposure and appreciation for unknown sports and the tears…The opening ceremony is tonight and I cannot wait.  I will have on my super cute burnout torch tee that I picked up at Old Navy cheering on Team USA for the next few weeks!

4.  Barely There Underwear - My momma always taught me to wear full butt panties.  I am litterally one of the only people I know not to wear thongs and I like it that way.  I wear lots of dresses for work that require me to wear Spanx or some sort of seamless undergarmet so that you can’t see lines all over the place.  Now that I am a bit thinner and no longer need Spanx with everything (woo hoo!) these little seamless boyshorts are amazing.  I picked up two pair to try them out and after wearing them I went right back and bought 4 more pair.  I have coined them as “work panties” they are seamless (kind of like double layered panty hose material) don’t show under your clothes, not restricting like Spanx and they are way more attractive than a crotchless girdle like contraption from knees to boobs.  They are about $8 t $10 a pair which is not super cheap but they are worth every penny!

5.  Quirky Note Cards - I litterally have a drawer full of note cards for all occassions, no seriously I have like 15 to 20 different styles.  There is something really special about sending someone a random card in the mail for no readon with a silly, funny message.  Some of my favorite ones say things like “WTF” “Greetings from Crazyville” and “Hello” I normally pick mine up at Target or small specialty stores when I find them but they have ocmpletely replaced every other card I used to buy, Birthday cards, thank yous etc.  Fun and functional!

6.  Sephora’s Foundation Primer - I have tried tons of primers but I got this one as a sample and I love it.  It makes my skin so smooth and matte before putting on my foundation which makes it really stay put.  With this hot weather in Louisiana, primer like this is key in keeping my makeup looking good from morning until night.

7.  Pilates on the Go – I love doing Pilates but I don’t always have access to my dvds or a class to attend so these little breakdowns of simple combos of standard Pilates exercises make is easy to get my workout in on the go.  I have a ton of these pinned on Pinterest for quick reference and I can easily combine them for a full work out if I have time and I can do them wherever I am, in a hotel room, in the park (ok I may look a little silly) or at home.

What are your favorite things of Summer?

-Drama mama out

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There is something about a great color combination and my favorite right now is gray and pink.  There is something about these muted neutral tones that work together in such a way that makes me question “Why have I not paired this before” The end result comes off as soft, girly yet modern at the same time. These colors remind me of a ballerina in the winter, much like Sephora’s urban ballerina collection from earlier in the year…one of my faves!

From dresses to ballet flats, jewelry, make up palates and bags, this color combination will make you look graceful and edgy with little to no effort.  Try it out.

La Redoute Belted Dress – Sears | Sears Canada, $90 – I am in love with this dress, the shape is amazing.  Its utterly simply but special at the same time.  It would look great paired with a pair of blush pink pumps and rose gold jewelry and amazing addition to anyone’s wardrobe.

Marc by marc jacobs earrings, $48 – These earrings are stunning.  Beautiful rose gold color that would look great paired with anything from an evening gown to a tee and jeans.

Michael Kors chronograph watch, 220 – Love my Michael! This gray and rose gold combo is unexpected but works so well.  I tried this baby on the other day and its on my radar!

Naked Eye Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection – Too Faced, $36 – I have this pallate and just like all other too faced products its amazing.  It has great shimmery pink and gray tones with little instructional cards for lots of different looks for the makeup challenged.

essie nail color, mochacino, $8 – I love essie poslishs and muted neutral grayish tones like this one are my fave. It looks great with brown or black and looks great on most skin tones…its a win win!

Givenchy ballerina shoes, $495 – these are quite over my budget but I love the combo of the ballet pink, gold and gray.  I imagine these with a pair of skinny jeans and a easy breezy muted pink blouse or even a cardigan..so lady like.

Coquelicot Giant Rose Gold Velo – Handbags’s Giant – Balenciaga, $1,795 – Once again out of budget for me but Balenciaga’s bags are amazing.  This is the same style that Kourtney Kardashian carries but I love that this one’s hardware is in rose gold, such a great compliment to a great bag.  Check out my splurge vs. steal for this same bag!

Nicholas Kirkwood suede high heels, $795 – beautiful mix of greige suede and pinky peach accents…love these classically shaped heels with a twist

Stella McCartney gradient sunglasses, $225 – The shape feels vintage but the styling is so modern, I would die for these.

What do you all think? What are your faves from this collection? What are some of your favorite color combos?

-Drama mama out

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I love personal products like make up, shampoo, body wash etc but I don’t always have tons of money to spend on these items. This is when I go searching for great products at drug stores. Sometimes this doesn’t end so well, but every now and then I find a product that I love more than the expensive counterpart and that is totally worth it.

Here are a few of my favorite items that I use on a day to day basis that can all be found at drug stores or super centers like Walgreens, CVS, Wal Mart, Target etc.

Clean and Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleanser – A good face wash is the very step to beautiful skin.  This cleanser is definitely my favorite, its invigorating, it smells great and it takes off make up even eye make up without burning your eyes.  It runs about $5 or so at most retailers and the Clean and Clear website allows you to print coupons.  A few months ago I decided I needed to try a fancy schmancy face washing regimen and after two months, a chin full of acne (gross) I returned the expensive set to go right back to my morning burst and my skin cleared up in a matter of a week.  This product is a bit drying and I would suggest using it with a moisturizer but all in all its a great product with a great price tag.

Tresemme Ultra Fine Mist Hairspray – This hairspray is such a great find, it is such a fine soft hold great for beachy waves or curly styles. Because of its fine texture it allows your waves or curls to stay all day without being crunchy or stiff.  Everyone would think that your hair is naturally that fabulous because it doesn’t like you have any products for hold when using this product.  I usually buy mine at a local drug store but it can be found anywhere Tresemme produccts can be found, which is almost anywhere.  The product normally runs anywhere from $3 to $4 and its a huge can so it last quite a while for the price of a tall coffee at your favorite coffee shop…what a steal!

Cover Girl Advanced Radiance Age-Defying Liquid Makeup – This is by far my favorite foundation.  It is so versatile! I can use it every day with a single pump for a smooth light everyday look or I can use two pumps for a more full coverage look when I am getting glammed up.  Not only is it anti aging (which we all need no matter our age) it has SPF 10 in it so in Louisiana’s sunny days I don’t have to worry about my skin getting damage from the sun.  It comes in a slew of colors like any other Cover Girl products do and it can be found almost anywhere.  This product normally runs right around $9 to $10 at Wal-Mart so it may be more than $10 at other drug stores but it is worth every penny.  I probably have 5 or so half used expensive bottles of foundation that I have abandoned to go back to this easy breezy product…love it!

Mabyelline Falsies Black Drama Mascara - By far the best mascara I have ever used.  It’s long lasting, super voluminous, it doesn’t flake or make you have tarantula eyes.  It comes in a huge selection of variety to original to black drama to the new flared in both washable and waterproof.  I started out with the original but purchased the black drama by accident once and I like it.  This product ranges anywhere from $5 to $6 and I normally buy two at a time, kind of afraid that it may go discontinued.  I will never purchase expensive mascara again as long as this product is made.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - My favorite powder of all time.  It leaves a super matte, porcelain finish to any face and it covers really well.  I like a full coverage powder so I use a puff to apply the powder but if you prefer a more translucent finish you could use a large powder brush to get that effect.  This product is in the $4 to $5 range which is a steal for a great powder.  They do not come with a puff so you need to buy seperate ones or use a brush but this doesn’t hinder my love for this product.  I normally have three seperate pallates at any given time.  One for my purse, one for my vanity at home and one for my to go make up bag.  I know it sounds crazy but I can’t go without powder and having a shiny face is something I hate.  The only downfall to this powder is that it only comes in three colors so many women will be left out…Wouldn’t be a bad idea to e-mail them about an extended color line…I am sure they would love to hear about all sorts of women excited to use their products.

There you have it.  You can get great quality products at your local drugstore or chain super center.  It is as easy as knowing which products are good and which ones to stay away from.  I would steer clear of any “teen” inspired make up lines like NYC or Mary Kate and Ashley type companies as their products are normally more for novelty than actual use.  Cut down on your beauty budget by opting for some drug store favorites that will make you question why you ever spent so much on certain things.  You will thank me!

-Drama mama out

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Just a few of my new must haves from Sephora this month.

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray, $23- This spray has been featured in this month’s Lucky magazine as well as Sephora’s “Hot Now” list.  The idea is that this spray recreates the texture and wave that the ocean gives your hair.  Lucky suggests spraying this over your entire head of hair while damp, then twist 3 to 4 sections into buns to sleep on.  It has gotten some mixed reviews saying that it takes a lot to get the look desired. Because of this I think I may try out a solution of sea salt and water first before investing into the product.  Keep in mind that because salt is drying to hair I would suggest using a concentrated leave in conditioner like Aveda Damage Remedy.

Too Faced Neutral Eyeshadow Collection, $35 – I am in love with this pallate of great shimmery and matter colors from Too Faced.  This palate contains 6 contouring shades and 3 highlighting shades to create oodles of eyewear looks. This would be a great addition to any girl’s make up bag.  Each palate does come with instructional cards for different looks that basically give you a paint by number tutorial for each color.  I love the pigments and shimmers from Too Faced, they last forever and are super flattering.  Don’t forget to use their eyeshadow insurance to keep your shadow looking great all day and night.

Sultra Bombshell 1″ curling rod, $130 – I have been checking out this curling iron for quite some time.  It creates beautiful waves and curls in no time and because there is no clip you are able to create texture without dents or indentations from the clamp. Also because you simply twist your hair around the barrel styling your hair takes less time than a standard curling iron.  Its got a hefty price tag but I figure I am going to treat myself to it pretty soon

What do you think of my picks? Are any of these on your shopping list for Sephora?

-Drama mama out

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I adore Sephora and in the past few weeks I have found some really great new products.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance 0.35 oz, $18 I just purchased this eyeshadow primer and I have to say, how did I just find out about this!???? Its a God send.  It keeps my shadow looking like I just applied my makeup all day long.  It works really well on shimmery shades and in the muggy Louisiana heat.  I will never go without this on my lids again.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Baked Moonshadow Trio Glamoflage 03, $17 My sister got me this little trio for my birthday.  My combo is called “Glamoflage,” its a collection of brown, olive green and gold.  The quality of the shadow lives up to the super cool name.  It looks great combined and individual, the shimmery shades go so well together and with my skin tone and hair color…love it.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Glossy Gloss 18 Rusted Rose, $10 Sephora has re formatted their lip glosses and I am super impressed.  The new glosses are thin, they smell/taste well and they blend great.  I got a nice nude shade, rusted rose and its my new go to color.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Nano Lip Liner 02 Cute Caramel, $5 Great price, great quality.  I have at least 5 or 6 of these pencils all of my house, in purses on my desk etc.  B/c they are only $5 I am able to try out multiple shades and I love quantity.

MARC JACOBS MARC JACOBS Daisy 1.7 oz.Eau de Toilette, $60 My new signature smell.  I love its sweet, girly fragrance.  I automatically feel like a women when I spray this on.  I make sure to spritz it on my locks for a longer lasting fragrance.

SEPHORA by OPI Caught With My Khakis Down Nail Colour Caught With My…, $9.50 New shade from OPI’s Safari Luxe’s line, a matte army green color. I am shocked at how flattering this shade is on and the quirky name was too fun to pass up.

What do you think of my picks?

Drama mama out

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