This is... Goodbye

And it's breaking my heart. I won't be able to keep posting during the school year. This was a fun experiment, though. Who knows? Maybe I'll come back next year :)

-Elizabeth Rose

My Playlist- First Day of School

When I think first day back in school, I think upbeat. Even though it's a sad time, it helps to listen to peppy music. So, here are my first day back picks.

Burn- Ellie Goulding
What the Hell- Avril Lavigne
Wings- Little Mix
Slow Down- Selena Gomez
I Gotta Feeling- The Black Eyed Peas
Royals- Lorde
Spin- Cherri Bomb
Never Underestimate A Girl- Vanessa Hudgens
Everywhere- Michelle Branch
Long Live- Taylor Swift (and anything else by Taylor... they just scream high school)

Review- POP Bright Up Your Life in Naturally Bare

I had good intentions. I really did. But when I went to Ulta, this palette was calling my name. And since I am severely lacking neutral eyeshadows (muffled snort) it came home with me. What can I say? I am weak.

That all being said, I don't regret for a second buying the POP Beauty palette in Naturally Bare. Why? Perhaps you need some pictures.

First, the packaging is adorable. Flimsy, yes. But adorable, so it's forgiven. The shadows come in standard round pots. The bottom is rubber, that NARS-esque rubber that traps dirt and makeup like you wouldn't believe. Luckily, it's the bottom. Now, on to the shadows. All are swatched without primer.

The first color is a shimmery white. To me, it's reminiscent of UD's Venus, perhaps less warm. A nice shimmery highlight. It's pigmented and applies smoothly.

Next is a light pink shimmer. It has a very light look, less pigmented but seemingly purposefully. Again, applies smoothly.

Third (and my personal favorite) we have this gorgeous shade. At first seeming a light taupe-y shimmer, a brilliant gold duochrome comes out at the right angles. Plus, it goes on like buttah.

The fourth color is less a shimmer than satin. It's a warm medium brown color that's great for the crease on minimal makeup days.

 Rounding out the top row is this salmon shimmer. It's lovely for all over the lid. It's very soft, and very pigmented.

Starting in with the darker colors is this cool toned shimmery brown. Reminds me of the middle shade from a Wet n Wild Trio... Sweet as Candy. These darker shimmers all have beautiful formulas.

This is the most warm-toned color you'll get in the palette. It's a dark peach that looks nice dusted on the lower lashline, or paired with gold. No problems.

Like I said, the dark shimmers all have impeccable formulas. This one leans warmer and more golden than the previous.

The final shimmer shade, and second to last overall, this is a dark bronze. Lovely.

The only shade with any formula issues, the final dusty brown is nearly matte (probably lending itself to the issue). It suffers from patchiness, and features holographic glitter. Perfectly workable, but not up to the standards set by the rest of the palette.

Consensus: You need this palette. Lovely colors, near perfect formulas, and easier on the wallet than any other full price high-end palette you'll find. Oh, I didn't mention it was only 26 dollars, did I :)  You might not want it if you don't like shimmer, but perhaps you'll find something more your speed with the other two palettes in the collection. I know I've got my eye on both, especially the brights.


- Elizabeth Rose

This or That Tag

Hello

This has been going around for quite a while now, and I thought it would be a fun way for y'all to get to know me better.

Makeup-

Blush or Bronzer?
Blush.

Lipgloss or Lipstick?
Lipgloss

Eyeliner or Mascara?
Mascara, duh.

Foundation or Concealer?
Concealer.

Neutral or Color Eyeshadow?
NEUTRAL! I'm boring.

Pressed or Loose Eyeshadows?
Clean color or fallout?

Brushes or Sponges?
Brushes

Nails-

OPI or China Glaze?
OPI, I guess.

Long or Short?
Medium

Acrylic or Natural?
Natural. They damage your nails, yo.

Brights or Darks?
The brighter the better.

Flower or No Flower?
What are they even asking?

Body-

Perfume or Body Splash?
Parfum

Lotion or Body Butter?
Lotion

Body Wash or Soap?
Body wash.

LUSH or other Bath Company?
Never owned anything from LUSH. (cue horrified gasps)

Fashion-

Jeans or Sweats?
Jeans

Long Sleeve or Short?
Short. Even though this is Minnesota.

Dresses or Skirts?
Dresses.

Stripes or Plaid?
Stripes

Flip-Flops or Sandals?
Sandals

Scarves or Hats?
Scarves

Studs or Dangles?
Dangles. Have I told you I make jewelry?

Necklaces or Bracelets?
Necklaces. Bracelets make me want to tear them off with my teeth. Just me? Ok...

Heels or Flats?
Comfort over height. I'm already tall enough.

Cowboy Boots or Riding Boots?
Riding boots

Jacket or Hoodie?
Jacket

F21 or Charlotte Russe?
Forever 21!

Abercrombie or Hollister?
Ew.

Saks or Nordstrom?
Pretentious and overpriced.

Hair-

Curly or Straight?
On me, straight. On Emmy Rossum, curly ;)

Bun or Ponytail?
Pixie.

Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clips?
Bobbies.

Hair Spray or Gel?
Hair spray

Long or Short?
Short.

Light or Dark?
Depends on the person. For me, light.

Random-

Rain or Shine?
Rain

Summer or Winter?
Winter. Summer is so stifling.

Fall or Spring?
Fall, even though that's not very long here.

Chocolate or Vanilla?
In ice cream, cake, and frosting vanilla. Elsewhere chocolate.

East or West Coast?
Oregon coast. So, west.

Whew! It doesn't seem so long on the YouTube videos. If you made it this far I congratulate you.

-E. Rose

Jean Skirts- Fashion Do?

If you think of jean skirts, the first thing that pops into your brain is probably this:

Image from Wikihow. Belongs to original owners.

But during my time in France, I saw many women wearing jean skirts. The punchline? They seemed... fashionable. (jaw drops). Since then, I've been trying to style denim skirts in a way that made them less repugnant.

Rule No1. No black cap leggings! Just don't do it. Only ten year old girls are allowed to.

Rule No2. Don't go too short! Miniskirts are rarely a good idea, but unless styled with the most tasteful hand they seem slutty. Not to say you can't handle it, but as a general rule keep them near the knee.

Those are the only "rules". If you follow those, denim skirts can be a great staple that go with anything.

Here are a few styling suggestions:

http://lepetitelemon.blogspot.com/2011/06/outfit-16-pfc-8-spinning-favorite.html

I just love how she paired the somewhat long skirt with the tight, tucked in, black top. The belt "ties" everything together.

Skirt, Boohoo

This is an adorable denim skirt. Paired with a plain tank and chunky jewelry, it would look tres chic.

 The distressing makes these skirts fun, but the at-the-knees length keeps them age-appropriate. Put a belt over it for added interest. Bonus points for spikes.

So, that's it. Maybe I've convinced you jean skirts are the next big must-have, or maybe not. But if you're willing to give the style a shot, keep those two rules in mind. Or else you could end up looking like this!

No miniskirts with crop tops. Don't even go there.


-Elizabeth Rose

Hauling- Wags and Target

I biked to Target and Walgreens today- I know, how quaint! I picked up just a few things, three of which will definitely  be future reviews. Now, without further delay, some of my B2S necessities!

First thing is the new Covergirl "Smoochies" balm in #luv u. I never would've picked this up if I hadn't heard good things about it, as Covergirl and I aren't on the best of terms, and, quite frankly, the packaging is hideous. Here's hoping it's a winner.

 I've never owned a heat protectant, is that as horrible as it sounds? I don't use heat tools too frequently, but I'm considering growing my hair out, and I straighten occasionally, so it seemed like a good idea.

I have naturally wavy hair and have been wanting to try a curling mousse, just to see how Annie-esque it can get.

And finally, the Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stains in Candied Coral and Terra Crave. Wow. That's a mouthful. But it's worth it, as I already can tell these are AMAZING. Pigmented, moisturizing, staining, and three dollars. Wow.

That's it, not a ton, but a few things I'm really excited about. Tomorrow I'll have an album review up. Until tomorrow, darlings.

-E. Rose

This Week I'm Loving...

Since I'm back, why not resume my This Week I'm Loving... posts? They're an easy way to share what I've been up to as far as my book, music, and beauty favorites.

Music:

Sentimental Journey- Emmy Rossum. A great assemblage of classics spanning from the '20's to the '60's, all remade wonderfully with Emmy's gorgeous voice.

The Blessed Unrest- Sara Bareilles. Sara brings her signature wit and vivid imagery to another album. My favorite is Hercules. The harmony in the bridge is amazing.

Volume 3- She and Him. This is my personal love from She and Him. It grabs you from I've Got Your Number, Son all the way to the end.

Books:

No Easy Way Out- Dayna Lorentz. Sequel to No Safety in Numbers, it doesn't live up to the standards set by the first, and drags on quite a bit. Nevertheless, a good read with a unique concept.

Beauty:

Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial. A pretty dusty berry color that is opaque in one swipe, lasts forever, and garners compliments. One complaint? It smells horrid!

I'm on Bloglovin!

I just claimed my blog on Bloglovin, so now you can follow me on there!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/10084881/?claim=cegq4fanp2d">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

NOTD

NOTD- Revlon Fall Mood. A delightful two-coater metallic copper that I chose to welcome in autumn.

France #1

If y'all didn't know, I've been on holiday in France for the past two weeks, and only arrived home yesterday. I'll be breaking up the tales of my journey into several posts, and this is the first.

We stayed at a lovely vacation home in the countryside in the Champagne region. It was a tiny village, only 120 people, and it was so historic looking. Everything looked like it had stood for a thousand years.

I especially loved the old churches in every town. They are so romantic and gothic. Straight out of a horror novel.

I have a million pictures, so that's enough for today.

-Elizabeth Rose