Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! I hope that each of you had great weekend! Today, I would like to pause to remember all of the men and women who risked their lives for the freedom that we, as Americans, have today. Truly, I am grateful.

My all time favorite patriotic song that has never changed since I was young, is God Bless the USA, so I am going to leave y'all with it.




Have a lovely day! I hope you'll come back on Wednesday for my monthly Currently post!

Linking here.

High Five for Friday: Restful Days and Makeup

Happy Friday! Take a deep breath; it's the weekend! Keep on reading to see the five high points of my week.

1. The Five Minute Friday prompt is cheer.

Coincidentally, (I say coincidentally, but I believe that nothing is a coincidence. It's all God) my devotions for this morning go along with the prompt. 

Acts 23:11 says,"The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." The word for the two words "take courage" in Greek is tharseo which means "be of good cheer."

No matter what the Lord is calling you to do, be it evangelizing to your neighbor, quitting your job, or even leaving the country to do mission work, take courage, tharseo, be of good cheer. God is faithful and He has a plan. Trust Him and take a leap of faith.

2. Saturday was SUPER restful and just a really great day. As I was tidying up my bedroom, I burned a candle on my vanity and it looked so pretty that I just had to show you guys. 

3. On Wednesday, I decided that it was time to go outside and get a little bit of a tan. Since it was really hot, I went into the pool, but it was freezing! I ended up getting a slight burn, but when I burn, it turns straight to tan, so I was kind of fine with it. I am so loving the summer weather lately. Check out this post to see my summer anticipations.

4. On Thursday, I stopped in CVS amid some errand running and ended up with a Revlon color stay 16-hour eye shadow quad. This one is the shade Adventurous. Revlon sells 14 different shades in this line and each of them are so pretty. I found them to be extremely well pigmented, soft, and very blendable. 

Also, on Thursday, I played with my makeup. This is what it looks like when I do that. Haha!

5. Tomorrow I am celebrating my birthday with lots of cake and shopping! I hope y'all have an amazing weekend!

Just in case you missed them, here are this week's posts:

EASY MEMORIAL DAY OUTFIT + PATRIOTIC PRETTIES

6 PERFECTLY PRETTY PASTEL NAIL POLISHES

How was your week?

See where I link up here.

6 Perfectly Pretty Pastel Nail Polishes

Happy Wednesday! Today, I am sharing with y'all 6 nail polishes that I have been loving lately that are all pastel as well:

1. Sinful Colors Lavender

I have had this color for a while now, and I have loved it ever since I laid eyes on it. All around, it is the perfect color not only for spring and summer, but for fall and winter as well.

2. Sinful Colors Cinderella

Cinderella is one of my absolute favorites because it is simply called Cinderella. The subtle sparkles add the perfect touch.

3. Maybelline Color Show Pink Embrace

Coincidentally, I am wearing this color on my nails right now. It is quite light, but if you just do a few thin layers (I did three) it will turn out a very pretty pale pink.

4. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure I Lilac You

This shade is absolutely gorgeous! Unfortunately, it is no longer available, but Sally Hansen does sell a very similar color called What In Carnation.

5. Maybelline Color Show Go Nude

Like the pink shade above, this polish is pretty transparent. However, when you add a few coats, it turns out a beautiful, flattering neutral.

6. LA Colors Color Craze Meadow

This color is the perfect in between green and blue shade. I love it and it applies quite well for a polish that is under $2.

That's all! Each of these nail polishes are fairly inexpensive. If I were to recommend a nail polish brand that seems to be pretty consistently great in color options, application, and long lasting, it would be Sinful Colors. They are super awesome!

What are your favorite nail polishes right now?

Linking up here.

Easy Memorial Day Outfit + Patriotic Pretties

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Mine was extremely restful which was much needed. Since Memorial Day is next week, I wanted to show you guys an easy and adorable outfit for Memorial Day:

Outfit details:

BUTTON DOWN: c/o Brandzaffair

TOP: (similar, similar)

SHORTS: Kohl's (exact, similar)

NECKLACE: Kohl's (similar, similar)

SANDALS: Target (similar, similar)

Photography by Allie D.

The best and easiest way to wear festive outfits for holidays is to try to utilize the clothes that you already have. With holidays like Memorial Day and July 4th when you wear red white and blue, it is super easy to use the pieces that are already in your closet. Most people have patriotic colored clothes in their closets. 

Here, I was already wearing white and blue, so I added a red necklace to instantly make it patriotic. The best part about this outfit is the fact that I wore a light layer just in case it's chilly. Where I live, Memorial Day is usually quite hot, but not every state is like that, which makes this outfit perfect for anyone's Memorial Day activities. Also, this outfit is casual, but looks put-together. 

Here are a few fun patriotic pieces for your best Memorial Day look:

one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven

What are your plans for Memorial Day? I plan to have a restful and relaxing day enjoying the beautiful outdoors and grilling out.

Linking up with these beautiful ladies.

High Five for Friday: Summer Anticipations Edition

Happy Friday! I hope your week was fabulous! Because my week has been pretty uneventful, and because I am really looking forward to summer, I am doing a summer anticipations edition of my regular High Five for Friday post:

1. The number one thing that I am looking forward to is summer days out at the pool. I am anticipating laying out and getting a golden glow on my skin and reading some great books. Summertime is when I really speed through books. I love reading, but don't always have the time. During summer, I usually have ample time to read while I am tanning.

2. I love picnics and barbecues. With both Memorial Day and July 4th during the summer months, I can get my fill of picnics and picnic food too! Just think, watermelon, corn on the cob, homemade ice cream. I can't wait.

3. The beach. Need I say more?! The beach is my absolute favorite place to go. The salt, the sand, the sun, I can't get enough. I especially love Folly Beach and Isle of Palms in Charleston, SC, Hunting Island, SC, Outer Banks, NC, and Edisto Beach, SC. 

4. Summer clothes. Even though it gets super hot where I live, I still love wearing summer-y shorts, sundresses, and tank tops. My favorite way to add interest to an outfit during the heat of summer is to wear statement jewelry. They add lots to an outfit, but not heat. 

5. I love the bright colors and gorgeous flowers that summer brings. Anything bright and summer-y is up my alley. :)

What are your summer anticipations?

Linking up here.

4 Songs I Am Loving Right Now

Happy Wednesday!! I am taking a kind of different route with my blog post today. I had a few things in mind, but I felt led to write about a few songs that I have really been enjoying as of late:

1. Fierce by Jesus Culture

I first heard this song back in the beginning of April, but hadn't heard it much until the last couple of weeks. My favorite genre of music is worship music, so I really love this one. It is a great reminder of how fierce God's love is for us, even when we are unlovable. A few of the lyrics are as follows:

Like a tidal wave

Crashing over me

Rushing in to meet me here

Your love is fierce

Like a hurricane

That I can't escape

Tearing through the atmosphere

Your love is fierce

2. Great Are You, Lord by All Sons and Daugters

I am a huge All Sons and Daughters fan, so you can imagine that I love this song. It is a complete praise song straight to God.

3. Power to Redeem by Lauren Daigle

Lately, I have really enjoyed listening to Lauren Daigle. This song is super pretty. A few lyrics are:

You take what is

And you make it beautiful

When love floods in,

We're restored forever more

With breath that brings the dead to life,

With words that pierce the dark with light

Only by the blood are we set free.

With mercy strong to carry shame

And nail it to a tree You alone

Hold the power to redeem.

4. You Are Loved by Stars Go Dim

This song speaks to my approval craving soul that tries to find love in things other than God. I know that anyone who hears it will be blessed and refreshed.

What songs are you currently listening to?

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The Cheapest Tote of All Time + A Comfy Look

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I'd love to hear what you did this weekend! Today, I have an outfit post for you featuring an incredibly inexpensive tote that I just can't get enough of.

Outfit details:

TOP: LOFT (similar, similar)

SHORTS: Old Navy (similar, similar)

SANDALS: Target (similar, similar)

LONG NECKLACE: Forever 21 (similar, similar)

BRACELET: Charming Charlie (similar, similar)

NECKLACE: Charming Charlie (exact, similar)

TOTE: Wal-Mart (exact, similar)

This outfit is probably the most comfortable one I've worn, at least not in a long time. Soft shorts like these feel like pajamas. When you add a cute, cotton tee, you have the perfect formula for a comfortable look.

Okay, we've GOT to talk about this tote. I cannot even tell you how much I love it. It's big, but not too giant, it's reversible, you can get it in so many different colors, and it's great quality. Did I mention it was only $10? No? Well, IT'S ONLY $10!!!!

The first three in this collage are a few of the different color options of my tote and the others are some more different tote options.

one, two, three, four, five, six

What is your most comfortable outfit and why?

Linking up here.

High Five for Friday + FMF: Grow & A Sneak Peek!

Happy Friday! It's the weekend! Yay! Keep on reading to see the five high points of my week. Also, make sure you read number 5!! There is a sneak peek of Monday's post!!

1. The Five Minute Friday prompt for today is grow.

A lot of times, I want to fix people. I am a fixer. I don't like it when people aren't okay and I try to make it better. But, I am reminded that God does not call us to fix people. He calls us to plant the seed of faith, and then He will make it grow.

It's not my job, or yours, to make people better. Only, we must follow God's calling and sow the seed, then He will multiply and increase it.

"Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness." -2 Corinthians 9:10

2. A couple of weekends ago, I went on a quick weekend trip, and I took a good bit of pictures, but since my blog was being redesigned, I haven't shared them yet. So enjoy some pics of my bullet journal (I worked on it there) and nature:

3. Last Tuesday, I went shopping and purchased a couple of deals at Charming Charlie. The dress you will recognize from Monday's post, and the earrings I got in a 2 for $10 deal. My sister did the other half of the deal with me.

4. On Wednesday, I went out to church and did a few other things and this is what I wore. I completely forgot to take a picture while I was wearing it. Oops!

5. This post is full of new buys. The other day, I purchased this tote from Wal-Mart of all places. I usually don't buy much at Wal-Mart, but this caught my eye. I am so loving it! I am going to save some of the details about it because this is a sneak peek of Monday's post. Look out for the post on Monday which will include some more deets on this tote.

What have you purchased lately? How was your week?

Linking up here.

New Makeup Additions + My Makeup Wishlist

Happy Wednesday!! It's hump day! Halfway through the week! Today, I am sharing with y'all some new makeup products that I've added to my makeup bag and a few products that I want to add to my bag.

Recently, I have added a few quality products to my makeup bag:

1. Ecotools Essential Eye Set

I bought these at Ulta Beauty a couple of weeks ago because I really needed some new eye makeup brushes. These are SUPER soft and work SO WELL. 

2. ELF Warm Bronzer & Cool Bronzer

Each of these bronzers that I ordered a few weeks ago. They add the most beautiful bronze and tan look to my skin. I am so loving trying these out. The warm bronzer has a shimmery sparkle and the cool bronzer is matte.

3. ELF Prism Eyeshadow in Sunset

I purchased this eyeshadow palette hoping that it would work well. Actually it does! The only problem that I have with it is that it is not as pigmented as I would like, BUT it is really easy to build, so that evens it out a bit.

Also, this eyeshadow palette comes in three different colors. The Naked combination that ELF offers is a pretty close dupe to the Naked palette. 

4. Sephora Gel Eyeliner in Fawn Over Me

I bought this eyeliner kind of on a whim because I have really been wanting to try more eyeliners out. It's okay, but I wasn't super impressed by it. Then again, I am really not an eyeliner expert. :)

5. My Gift!

Since it is my birthday month, by being a Beauty Insider at Sephora, I was able to choose a free gift! I chose this Marc Jacobs lipstick and eyeliner combo. I have used the lipstick which is super bright and pretty, but I have not used the eyeliner yet.

I have been on the hunt for some more great makeup products to better my repertoire. Here are a few that I have had my eye on:

one, two, three, four, five

What are your thoughts?

See where I link up here.

Summer Prints + New Blog Design!

Happy Monday! I am so glad to be back blogging again! I took a bit of an hiatus since my blog was being redesigned. After a couple of color and theme changes, the blog is finally done! And I am finally getting back to blogging. Yay! Today, I have an outfit post for you:

Outfit details:

DRESS: Charming Charlie (similar, similar, similar)

JACKET: (similar, similar)

WEDGES: Ross (exact, similar)

BRACELET: Charming Charlie (similar, similar)

I just wore this outfit yesterday, but I am already ready to wear it again. I love, love, love this look. I purchased this dress last Tuesday at Charming Charlie for only $14.99 on clearance! This dress was regularly $35, so I count that as a pretty good steal!

As I was looking at this dress in the store, I already knew that I wanted to wear it with my leather jacket. They both go so well together. And then, when I added the gold jewelry and wedges with the rope detail the outfit was completed.

I am really loving this palm branch print. I just know that I will be adding a few more summer-y patterns to my closet this summer. There are so many that are super beautiful!

Here are a few pieces with gorgeous summer prints:

one, two, three, four, five, six, seven

What are your thoughts? What summer print is your favorite?

See where I link up here.