5 Beauty Products Under $5

- PIXEL Lip Tint

- Rainbow Wedges

- ELF Makeup Remover Pen

- Anatomicals Body Lotion

- NYX Cosmetics Eye Shadow 

I've collected some of my favorite inexpensive beauty products to share with you! Everything is under five bucks. Now, just because they're priced for a tight budget, doesn't mean they aren't quality products. I'm not saying that all cheapo products are good, but every now and then, you find a little diamond in the rough. These are the diamonds I found.

So here's a little rundown of my thoughts on these special products...

The ELF makeup remover pen is great for touching up little smudges here and there, and how cute are those rainbow wedges?! My skin has been pretty dry this winter and the Anatomicals body lotion has been wonderful. It smells really good too! The PIXEL lip tint comes in tons of shades and adds a perfect pop of color to your lips.  Lastly, if you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I'm a fan of pretty much the whole line of NYX products. The eye shadows are no exception.

What are some of your favorite low end beauty products?

The Skinny On Having A Body-Positive Mentality

I was inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky, to share my  body positive story. My story isn't like most that you hear with negative body image issues. I never wished I could be as thin as the models in all of the magazines...because I was as thin as they were. I had the thigh gaps. You could clearly see my ribs.

Growing up, I was always naturally very skinny and underweight. Don't get me wrong, I ate and still do. I just never gained weight. I didn't really have curves and I couldn't fill out my clothes. In the photos above, I was 17-19 years old, 5'7", 95lbs, size 00. I know what you're probably thinking, "I'd kill to be that size!". I never felt that way though. When all you hear growing up are things like, "Omg, you're like a stick!", "You'd look better if you put some meat on your bones", and "You look sick", it doesn't do any favors for your positive body image. One time, at a restaurant, I even had a friend who casually said, "Oh, when you went to the bathroom, I just always thought you were going to throw up your food...". 

It could seem like this too-skinny issue was a good problem to have, but in my mind, it was just as bad as larger girls being called "fat" and being told they should lose weight. It's no different, it's just the opposite side of the spectrum. 

I heard a song on the radio when I was in the car with my husband the other day. The song was meant to be about having a positive body image mentality for girls with extra curves. She was celebrating the fact that she wasn't one of those stick figure girls. Basically, she was teaching the listeners that thin is unattractive and we should all be proud of having larger, thicker bodies. In part, that's perfectly all right. If that's how your body is, you should be comfortable with it. After hearing that song, I asked my husband, "What about those girls (me) who are/were thin and can't help it?!" How is that supposed to make us feel about our bodies?

I think people have fought against the glamorization of thin-ness in the media so much, that they neglect to think about the women who are naturally underweight. It's forgotten that some women are actually that size/shape and are perfectly healthy. Obviously though, if you're not naturally that way and you force yourself to lose weight in a harmful way or completely fake it with Photoshop (like magazines and media tend to encourage), yes, that's bad. Also, if you teach people that there's only one size or shape to be, that's not right either. 

When I was around 21, I decided that I wanted to try to gain weight. Maybe 15 pounds or so, just so I could fit in the "normal" or "average" category, and possibly take the shape of what society says a woman's figure should look like. So I started eating even more and packing on the protein and carbs. I just wanted to be a normal size person in society's eyes. I didn't want to hear anymore back-handed compliments about how skinny I was. 

I got up to 125lbs... still thin, but closer to average. Since I wasn't entirely used to this size, I often had moments when I felt fat or thought I looked fat. I knew I definitely wasn't, but it was not normal for me. I had to make myself this weight. It didn't come naturally for me. 

Nowadays, I'm generally comfortable with my body. I enjoy being thin. I don't like what society did to my self-esteem when I was growing up, but I have learned not to find my confidence in society's opinion. God didn't make a specific cookie cutter shape for all of us. We are all unique creations. Every shape and size. 

Fruit for Thought

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I just love summertime! The weather is warm (or blazing hot for some....which I personally prefer over cold), plants and trees are lush and in full bloom, bodies of water are now warm enough to swim in, and all of my favorite fruits are in season!! To celebrate my favorite time of year, I have compiled a wishlist of fun, fruity things. From crop tops and bikinis, to citrus shower gel and temporary tattoos... I'm in love with all things - fruit! 

What's your favorite fruit?!

Anthropologie Spring Wishlist

Tunic // Hair ties // Wedges // Beach radio // Bikini // Hand cream // Candles

That sunny, springtime day that I was talking about a couple days ago...... short lived. The temp dropped and it rained ALL day yesterday. So I stayed inside and window shopped. I'm loving all the new arrivals at Anthropologie! Here are some goodies that I found.

Ology Body Lotion Review

As I was perusing the lotion aisle of my local drugstore, I came across this little all-natural gem! It's an amazing, chemical-free body lotion by Ology. The fragrance it has is very light and fresh... I hate heavy smells so this is just perfect! It lasts all day too! I tend to get really dry, itchy skin this time of year, and have never been able to find a happy medium between watered down and greasy.... Until now. Oh, and for all my creature loving friends out there, it is never tested on animals :)

Do you have any favorite body lotions?

What's in my Make Up Bag

My makeup case is over flowing with beauty products.. I really need to upgrade it to a bigger case soon! However, most of the makeup in there is for my clients and brides. I do try to keep a baby size version of that in my purse for my own everyday use. These are some of the products I carry around and use on a daily basis...

1.) Neutrogena Naturals moisturizer

2.) Smashbox halo powder foundation

3.) Smashbox primer

4.) NYX lipcolor (Paris)

5.) Ulta eyeshadow (Sandstone)

6.) Smashbox eyeshadow trio

7.) NYX matte bronzer

8.) Rimmel Scandaleyes waterproof kohl eyeliner (black)

9.) Rimmel Scandaleyes Flex mascara (black)

I'm very much a fan of the smokey, smoldering look. I really like to play up my eyes. When I do my eyes this way, I  keep my lip and cheek colors soft or neutral so that I'm not walking around looking like a clown! 

My skin is also very prone to acne, so it's hard for me to find a good moisturizer that doesn't clog my pores. Neutrogena Naturals has been the answer for me! It's very lightweight and smells quite fresh. It is definitely the best inexpensive moisturizer I've found yet! 

What are some of your favorite beauty products?

Lovely Blogs... and Shops!

I did a little blog/shop surfing today, just trying to find "new to me" creative people and cute things. So I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you!


Little Red Bowtalk

Marlyn has such cute style! I love her DIY projects and hairstyle tutorials.

Check her out here..

Little Red Bowtalk

She also sells lovely little things here..
Little Red Bowtique

Poppy and Fern

How amazing are these hand embroidered necklaces?! Shop owner, Rachel, is so creative!

Buy her adorable pieces here..

Poppy and Fern

Pretty Little Fawn 

Courtney is a fashion blogger with amazing style!! She is definitely a new fashion inspiration to me.

Visit her blog here..

Pretty Little Fawn

And follow her Instagram shop..

@prettylittlefawnshop 

Winifred & Delilah

Kristy is the owner and designer of this shop and makes the cutest vintage-inspired jewelry!

Snatch up some adorable accessories here..

Winifred & Delilah

And Follow her on Instagram..

@winifred_and_delilah

The Life of a Cupcake

Jules has recently started sponsoring my blog. She's such a sweet girl and bakes the best looking cupcakes!! Mmmmmm!!!

Visit her blog here...

The Life of a Cupcake

And her cupcake shop here..

Cupcakes Made With Love


Have you discovered any cute blogs or shops? Send me links!!

Product Review: Julep Maven Box

I got another Julep Maven beauty box the other day! I'm sooo in love. So I'll tell you a little

 bit about what I received in this month's package...

Bare Face cleansing oil - This magical product has immediately become one of my favorites!

You squeeze about a dime size out onto your hand and massage it onto your dry face. It literally

wipes everything away! Even the stubborn purple haircolor that stained parts of my face when 

I recently colored my hair (I'm kind of messy when I do my own hair).

Nail colors - Daria (grey) and Karmen (sparkly reddish-gold) are super cute colors. I haven't

used Karmen yet...I'm waiting until fall actually gets here. But I have used Daria and it's such

a pretty, smokey grey. It lasts forever on my nails too! I painted my nails with this color a 

few days ago and even though I work all day with my hands in bleach, color, water, etc. it

STILL hasn't chipped off! I am completely amazed.

Sample Polish Remover -  This little polish remover pad makes taking my nail polish off even easier!

I usually just use polish remover and cotton balls, but I'm weird and hate how cotton balls feel (gives

me goosebumps when it makes a squeaky sound). Haha. So I'm definitely hooked on this

little product.

See...?? No stains! :) 

If you want to become a Julep Maven, click the banner below.

Featured Blogger

Meet Jewel Sha'ree Eaves...

a fashion savvy, DIY crafting, makeup junkie! 

If you read her blog or follow her Instagram, you will instantly envy her super cute 

outfits and fabulous hair. It's impossible not to, really.. I'll admit that. Also, the nail color 

tutorials and furniture restorations on her blog are really awesome too! This fierce lady is

just too sweet and stylish! You should 

definitely check her out :)

Visit her blog at Jewel Sha'ree.

Follow her on Instagram : Jewelsharee

Kevin.Murphy Full.Again Review

I was introduced to the amazing Kevin.Murphy hair product line about two

years ago... And I.Fell.In.Love! I love everything about this product line, from

the delicious smells of plant extracts and essential oils, to the true-to-its-word,

incredible performance. So right now I want to share one of my favorite 

products, Full.Again. 

Full.Again is a weightless, thickening lotion. I have fine textured hair so this is one 

of my hair's best friends! It has rayon particles that attach to your hair and 

create a thicker surface which makes your hair act thicker.

Here's how I use it....

1.) Squeeze out about a quarter size of Full.Again and rub it into your hands. Then

 rub it really well into your towel-dried hair, from mid-lengths to ends, as you
 twist your hair...this helps the product cover all the hair. You'll start to feel 
the product thickening your strands.

2.) Blow dry your hair until it's 100% dry. If I'm working on a client, I will

usually blow it out with a big round brush to get lift and movement for 

that "bombshell" look. For myself, I just rough dry my hair with my hands, flip

 my head over, brush it out, and continue to dry it upside-down. Either 

way works great!

3.) Enjoy your new, thicker texture! You can also curl it for extra fullness. I used 

a 1 1/2" curling iron and curled 1-2" sections. Then, lightly brushed out

 the curls.

Have you ever tried Kevin.Murphy products? Which are your favorites?

Lip Tar Review

I recently bought a lip color by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics and

I just wanted to share what I think about it and how to use it.

OCC Lip Tar is 100% vegan and gluten-free, and it comes with a little 

applicator brush. The color I bought is "Queen". I'd say it's the perfect pop 

of bright pink! I love it! The wearability is crazy long too... I applied it about 5 hours

ago, ate lunch, applied chapstick over it a few times, ate another snack, 

and it STILL hasn't budged. I have a habit of rubbing my lips together a 

lot and not even that has made it fade. So, to say the least, it's pretty much

my best friend now. I need one in every color!!

Here's how to apply...

Squeeze just a tiny dot onto the brush and dab it on the middle of 

your bottom lip.

Blend the little dot outward toward the lip line. Rub your lips together and

blend on the top lip. Once you have everything in place, let it set for 

a minute and you're good to go!