These are the Aldo Gweni Ballet Flats in the color Bone.They are super soft and comfortable, and there is pretty gold detailing on the heel of the shoe and on the tips on the bows. They were 70% off of the clearance price, and then an extra 20% off of that price. I only paid $13.18 for them, which is a steal! I got them in a size 6 1/2. 

I also got these shoes for my DECA competition too, so that if my feet are hurting, I can slip on these comfortable flats. They are still sophisticated, and I think I can get a lot of good wear out of them, since they are a neutral color.

These are the Franco Sarto Gustar Flat Sandal in the color Coral Le. I know it's definitely too cold to be wearing sandals anytime soon, but these were on a pretty good discount as well. They were 50% off the clearance price and then an extra 20% off on that price. I paid $19.98 for them, and I got them in a size 6 1/2.

I love the color of these, and I already have a pair of Franco Sarto sandals in a regular leather and silver color (click this link to see them). Franco Sarto sandals are extremely comfortable and well made. They are my favorite brand of leather sandals, and they are very cute!

Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are mine!

They are all mini sizes, so it is a perfect set to get if you want to try out the products in this collection. The mascara is 3.0 g, the remover is 7.5 mL, and the eyeliner is .10 g. There is definitely more product in the mascara and remover, than there is in the eyeliner, but you can still get a few uses out of it to see if you like it.

They're Real! Mascara

I really like this mascara! The mascara wand has plastic bristles for lengthening your eyelashes and picks up a lot of product with one pump. I had to wipe off the excess mascara around the tip of the wand, because a lot of product piles up there. It didn't add a lot of volume to my lashes, which is what I really like, but with one coat of mascara, it added A LOT of length! Usually when I put on mascara, I have to add a lot of coats to really lengthen my lashes, but this mascara works wonders! The domed tip of the mascara wand is supposed to fan out your corner lashes, and if you hold it vertically and stroke upward, it is supposed to curl and separate your lashes. I found that this mascara did separate my lashes, but didn't add volume. The mascara is very black and intense and has a more wet formula. Since it has a more wet formula, it takes a few minutes longer to dry and can get a little messy if you aren't careful enough. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone with short lashes that wants extra length without having to apply layers of coats. The full version of this product retails for about $24 at Benefit Cosmetics, and I think it's worth every penny! Pictures of me with this mascara are down below.

They're Real Push-Up Liner

I'm a huge fan of this gel eyeliner, because it's hard to use, and I don't really like the applicator. This is a matte gel black eyeliner, and it's also waterproof. The formula is very dark and matte, but I don't like the applicator, because it makes it difficult to apply the eyeliner. You take off the orange plastic part and squeeze the base of the tip, to push the gel liner to the tip. In the full size version of this liner, you twist the base to get the product to come out. When I used this product, little black chunks of eyeliner kept falling out and landing on my face, because it wouldn't apply smoothly to my eye. The plastic applicator moved around a lot and I couldn't get a straight line that was close to my eyelash line. The full version of this product retails for $24 at Benefit Cosmetics, and I won't be spending that much money on the full size of this product. I much rather prefer to use a pencil eyeliner or a gel eyeliner with an eyeliner brush to get a more accurate and defined line.

Pictures with Mascara & Eyeliner

Before-


After-




They're Real! Remover

This remover works pretty well, and got off all my eye makeup. It looks like a cream or lotion, but once you rub it over your eyes, it will get everything off. It didn't hurt my eyes or irritate them at all. This product worked really well, however I don't think it would be worth paying $18 for at Benefit Cosmetics for the full size version. I use coconut oil to take off my makeup, and I think it works just as well or even better than this remover.

Thanks for reading! I hope it helped you!

Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are mine :)

Breakfast in Bed

On Valentine's Day, you can wake up early, and surprise your parents or roommates or anyone else that lives with you with a nice breakfast in bed. Everything you need for this will probably be in your kitchen. It's a very thoughtful and easy thing to do for a loved one! You can get a tray and put a glass of orange juice, hot chocolate or coffee on it, along with other food. You can make your loved one's favorite breakfast food or go out to the store and buy it beforehand if you're not good at cooking. To make the tray look pretty, you can also add berries to the plate, and put flowers in a glass. 

Coupon Book

Coupon books are creative and thoughtful gifts to give someone. You can use pretty scrapbook paper and make the coupons yourself, or you can search on Google or Pinterest for coupon templates. Some ideas for coupons to make are for- making breakfast, lunch or dinner, a movie date, washing the dishes, washing the car, feeding the pets, cleaning the house, walking the dog, a hug, etc. You can include chores or fun activities in your coupon book.

Picture

Another gift idea is to print out a nice picture on photo paper of you and the person you're giving the gift to. You can buy an inexpensive picture frame at Michael's or Marshalls. Michael's always has a 40% or 50% off coupon every week in their weekly ad.

Photo Album

You can also buy a photo album from a craft store like Michael's and decorate the front of it to make it look cuter. You can also print out a bunch of photos from your phone or computer at Target, CVS or Walgreens. This gift won't take long to make, and it shows that you put a lot of though into it.

Make Treats

If you enjoy cooking or baking, you can make sweet treats for your friends! You can make chocolate covered pretzels, brownies, cookies, cupcakes, or any other types of treats. You can buy the mix to make some of these things or you can make them from scratch. Chocolate covered pretzels are pretty easy to make. All you need to do is melt chocolate, and quickly dip the pretzels into the chocolate. Then put them on some wax paper and pour sprinkles or other toppings on them. You can do this for chocolate covered strawberries or any other type of food you want to cover in chocolate.

Playing Cards

A really thoughtful gift idea is to get a stack of playing cards and put pictures on the side with the suit. Print out pictures on your printer or get them printed at a drugstore. You can stick the pictures on one suit or on all of the cards. The pictures can be of anything you want, and when the person you give the cards to plays with them, it will remind them of you.

Picnic/Day Out

A fun idea for Valentine's Day is to take someone on a picnic or a day out. You can pack your favorite foods and go to a park near you. This is a great way to spend quality time with your friend or loved one!

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are mine. This blog doesn't take any credit for the pictures used on this post. 

Items: Eyeshadow palette ($49); lipstick and blush set ($36); chocolate ($15); necklace ($52); notebook ($11.50); flair pens ($22); nail polish ($7.59); coffee mug ($6.99); earrings ($25); key ring ($12); tumbler ($18); bracelet ($28); purse ($95); t-shirt ($28)

The Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Palette would be a great gift to give a makeup lover for Valentine's Day. This palette smells like chocolate and is the third palette in the Too Faced chocolate palette collection. The Too Faced Melted Kisses& Sweet Cheeks set would also be the perfect gift to give someone who loves makeup. You can give this set by itself to someone, or you can break down the set into 3 presents, each with a lipstick and a blush. If you really wanted to, you could even break the set into 6 individual presents. Another gift idea is to buy roses or other kinds of flowers, and give them to your loved one with a box of chocolate. Many stores sell flowers and chocolates close to Valentine's Day. Some smaller gifts you could give are a nail polish, tumbler cup coffee mug or key chain. You can also never go wrong with giftcards or jewelry! I really like Alex & Ani bracelets and other jewelry that have special meanings associated with them. Alex & Ani is all about being positive. Journals with nice messages and purses are also nice gifts to give someone. 

Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own :)

This look is for a fancy dinner or night out on Valentine's Day. A gel eyeliner will add more drama to your look and will make your eyes pop. The silver cross-body bag matches the silver nail polish and will give a nice contrast to the dark colored outfit. This eyeshadow palette also has beautiful eyeshadow that will look perfect with this outfit.  The mascara will also add length and volume to your eyelashes. For hair, I suggest curling most of the pieces of your hair and then tying it up in a messy bun. You can also take out some of the pieces of hair on the sides of your face in order to frame and soften your face. 

Look 3

I hope you guys enjoy these looks, and that they give you inspiration for your Valentine's Day look. You definitely don't have to have a date to go out on Valentine's Day. Go out with a bunch of your friends, and have a girls night out if you don't have a date! 

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions and photos are my own :)

Makeup

I would keep your makeup for exams pretty casual and lightweight, because you don't want to be focused or worried about anything other than your exams. I recommend wearing a BB cream or tinted moisturizer, which will give you lightweight coverage but won't feel heavy like if you were wearing foundation. You can put concealer over any spots that you may want to give more coverage too. Putting concealer in big triangles under your eyes and blending will also brighten up your face and eliminate the appearance of dark circles under your eyes from all that studying. You should add a powder over your concealer and BB cream/tinted moisturizer, so it will stay in place throughout the whole day. I recommend the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder or the E.L.F. Cosmetics Tone Correcting Powder. Also, tightlining your lower waterline with a white eyeliner will brighten your eyes and make you look more awake. I don't recommend going too heavy on your eye makeup however, because you might want to put your head down on your desk and go to sleep after you finish your test, and your eye makeup would smudge. Make sure to put on some mascara, which will open your eyes, and some chapstick or lipgloss and you will be good to go! (Click here to check out my favorite makeup products of 2015!).

Outfit
Being comfortable is really important when taking tests, because I find if I am distracted or uncomfortable, I won't pay attention to little things or do as well on a test. Make sure the clothes you pick fit you right and feel good, because you don't want to keep fidgeting with your clothes. I like wearing leggings and a baggy shirt or jeans and a sweater. Also make sure to bring a sweatshirt with you, because sometimes the classrooms can be really cold in the morning. It all comes down to whatever you feel comfortable in though, because if you feel confident in what you are wearing, then it will make you more motivated.

Hair
I recommend putting your hair up if you have longer hair, because you don't want it to get in the way. I usually put my hair in a loose pony tail, but you can also do a half up, half down or just bobby pin the front strands of your hair back. I also wear my hair in a loose bun when I'm taking tests, because sometimes my hair will get caught in the bolts of the chair and will rip out...which is extremely painful!

Tips
1. Use released exams- I like to go online and find released final exams from the year before, so that I can practice taking the test. This will help you know what you need to study, and what the state or whoever makes your test thinks is important that you should know. Sometimes, the questions on the released exams are extremely similar to the questions on the exam you will take.

2. Break up your study sessions- Count up how many units or topics you have learned over the course of your class, and each day you study, you should study a new topic. If you try to study the night before, you will try to cram too many things in your brain, which will make you extremely stressed!

3. Go over notes- This seems pretty obvious, but read over the notes you have taken for the class. This will refresh your memory of the important things you learned. If you thought it was important enough to take notes on, then you should read it! Also, do a few problems from quizzes you have done or worksheets you have completed earlier in the year.

4. Get a good night's sleep- Don't study late into the night right before your exam! It's way better to get a good nights sleep and be well rested. Do things that will help relax you like reading a book and lighting a candle.

5. Eat healthy- Make sure to eat a good filling breakfast, so you aren't hungry during the exam. Also, make sure to bring water to your exam if you can, because water will clear your mind and help you be more focused. Also chew a piece of gum during the exam, because studies have shown if you chew a piece of gum while you're studying and then chew the same flavor while taking your test, it will help you remember things from when you were studying.

Thanks so much for reading :)

Books

The His Fair Assassin Trilogy was another series that I really enjoyed reading this year! It's about girls who are assassin nuns, and it takes place in medieval France from the perspective of Brittany. All the girls have a unique backstory that shapes who they are as a person. I would definitely recommend this series if you like historical fiction.

TV Shows

Some of the TV shows I have enjoyed watching this year are Friends, The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, Charmed, and Once Upon a Time. Friends and Gilmore Girls are both older TV shows. Friends is similar to How I Met Your Mother, because they are both funny and about a group of friends living in New York. Charmed is a similar show to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and is all about women who have powers and save the day on a regular basis. Gilmore Girls is a nice heart warming show that's centered around family. Once Upon a Time is show about Disney storybook characters in real life.

Music

My favorite artists of this year have been Lana Del Rey, Florence & the Machine, Taylor Swift, Adele, Ellie Goulding, 21 Pilots, Melanie Martinez, Maroon 5 and Fall Out Boys. 

Places

My favorite places that I have gone this year include London, Mackinac Island, Disney World, Seattle and Portland. 

Random

-Large Lilly Pulitzer Scuba to Cuba Agenda

-Talenti Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream

-Bath & Body Works Peach Bellini Candle

 -Essie Nail Polish in Blanc

-Essie Gel Top Coat

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are mine. This blog doesn't take credit for any pictures on this post.

Bags

 This is a cross-body bag that I have been loving using this year! This is a Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. bag that I bought at Saks OFF 5th, which is a Saks outlet store. I bought it for $90, and it usually retails for $195. I love this bag, because it can actually hold a lot of stuff and it's very versatile. You can wear it as a cross-body bag, or you can shorten the straps to make it a shoulder bag. I don't usually carry to much in my purse, so this is a perfect size.

Shoes

 These are some of my favorite pairs of shoes. I like wearing my Asics sneakers, because they provide your feet with a lot of support and are perfect for running or just walking if you want to be comfortable. I also like my mint green Vans, because they are a perfect boost of color for the Spring and Summer. I also have been loving my grey Hunter rain boots, because it has been raining a lot recently where I live. My feet never get wet, and they also are really warm when paired with my boot socks. During the Fall and Winter, I have been wearing my maroon Forever 21 ankle boots. They can be worn with almost any outfit, and the heel is only 1.25 inches, so they don't hurt my feet. When it gets warmer, I wear my leather Franco Sarto sandals often, because I like how they wrap around my ankle and also can be worn with everything since they're leather.

Jewelry

 The top left bracelet, is from Handpicked, that I received from a friend for my birthday. The bottom left bracelets are from Alex & Ani- the silver on has a T on it and the gold one is of a flower. I like wearing these two bangles together, and I love how they have an inspiring message that comes with the bracelets. I wear the top right bracelets together in a stack, and I also received them from a friend. I received the bottom right bracelet as a Christmas present. 

These are some of my favorite earrings. I like to wear the top two earrings when I wear a flowy boho shirt. The pearl earrings are from Macy's, and I wear them if I want to seem more put together or fancy. I also like wearing the other 2 earrings if I'm wearing a plain shirt, and want to add more of a statement piece to my outfit. The bottom right earrings are from Brighton.

The first two necklaces are from Handpicked, and I love wearing these as statement necklaces. The pearl necklace was my grandmothers, and I really like wearing them to make my outfit look ore fancy and classy. I also like wearing the gold bar necklace, as a simple accessory. The next necklace was given to me from a family friend from her trip to Morocco, and it's a Hamsa which protects against the evil eye. The next necklace is from Brighton, and then the last one was given to me from my Mom's cousin.

Clothes

Some of my favorite clothing items from this year include high waisted shorts and jeans, cropped sweaters and shirt, blanket scarves, large sweaters, high neck tops, long sleeve flowy white tops, halter tops and flowy dresses.

Thanks so much for reading! 

Sunglasses

BP Nordstrom Metal Rim Cat Eye Sunglasses in Tortoise- I love these sunglasses, because they are so unique and look good with my face shape. I like the tortoise shell and gold combination, and they were only $12!

Silver Aviator Sunglasses- I have used these sunglasses so much, and they are a classic pair that everyone should own! They look good on all face shapes, and you can find them for cheap at many stores that sell sunglasses.

Perfume

Hair Tools and Products

Revlon Straightener- I bought this straightener from Target a few years ago, and I've really liked it! It gets hot pretty fast, and it has a variety of temperature settings. It also glides over your hair nice and smooth.

Heat Protectant Glove- This came with the HSI Professional straightener that is shown in the picture below. I always use this glove when I'm using a heat tool, so I don't get burned. It's worked very well so far, and I've never gotten burned by my straightener or curling iron.

TRESemme Hairspray- I have a travel size can of this hairspray that works really well. I spray it once I've curled or straightened my hair, and it keeps on the pieces of hair in place.

Garnier Fructis Moroccan Oil-  Once I take a shower, I put this oil in the ends of my hair. This makes it easier to comb out my wet, tangly hair. I also use this product when my hair is really frizzy or when I want my hair to be shiny and smooth.

SG Dry Shampoo- I use this dry shampoo on the days I don't wash my hair, and it makes my hair less greasy and oily. You can also train your hair to produce less oil by washing it less, and using dry shampoo. If you wash it very often, then your head produces a lot of oil, since it knows that you'll strip it of its oils later when you use shampoo in the shower. 

Conair Curling Iron (click here for review)- I really like making bouncy, beachy waves with this curling iron. It makes your waves look very natural, and can also be used like a curling wand.

HSI Professional Straightener- I bought this straightener off of Amazon after I read all the amazing reviews. It came with the heat protectant glove shown above, and it works really well! It heats up super fast and also automatically shuts off after a certain time. It goes all the way to 450 degrees, and will straighten your hair super fast. It also came with argon oil which makes your hair look perfectly straight, shiny and frizzless. 

Disclaimer: All thoughts, opinions and photos are mine :)