Friday, May 16, 2014

Painting with Cocktails!


Hello Everyone!

On Wednesday evening myself and a few girlfriends went to a local bar and grille and attended their monthly "Painting with Cocktails" night.  I've heard a lot about these types of events in the past few months, so I was really excited to finally participate.  Many places around Chicago offer a painting class where you can drink and/or eat during.  Definitely makes for a great girls night out or even a bachelorette party (some places offer naughty paintings.... If you're into that sort of thing).  I expected to go in and drink wine and just paint a topic they gave you, but I was wrong!  There is actually an instructor that guides you through a specific painting (ours was a beach scene), and tells you which colors to use and where to place them on the canvas.  Our instructor even provided stencils for the palm tree, which was EXTREMELY helpful!  All in all, we had a great time drinking some vino and laughing at our painting abilities.  I would highly recommend finding a local place that offers this sort of affair.  You could even host one at home if that is more your style!  Here are some photos from our experience:

The Blank Canvas
Bee focused on her stenciling
Making progress!
Lauren filling in her palm tree
Stef stencilin'
Masterpiece in the making

DONE!

Just me and my precious artwork...no big
:)

Cheesin'
Voila!

- Courtney

Monday, May 12, 2014

Get Ready with Me - Packy's Graduation

Hello Everyone,

My brother, Packy, graduated from college this past weekend, so I thought it would be fun to do a little get ready with me.  Enjoy :)

The Ensemble:
Dress - H&M
BCBG Nude Heels - DSW
The Makeup:
The Goodies
Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation - Ivory
NARS Creamy Concealer - Vanilla
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - Diffused Light
MAKE UP FOR EVER 5 Camouflage Cream Pallette - No. 1
Physicians Formula Bronze Booster - Light to Medium
TheBALM Blush - DownBoy
TheBALM Highlighter - Mary-Lou-Manizer
 Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara - Black
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara - 01 Black
Jordana Liquid Eyeliner Pencil - Black Point
Tarte Complexion Brightening Lipstick - Fair-to-Light
Urban Decay Brush - Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush
Real Techiniques Brushes - Powder Brush Blush Brush
Up close and personal (so sad for my crumbling highlighter)
Nails
Orly Bonder - Rubberized Base Coat
Essie Nail Polish - Ballet Slippers
Sally Hansen - Insta-Dri Anti Chip Top Coat
NuMe
Curling Wand Set - Titan 3
Car Selfie of the finished makeup look :P
Snaps of the Look:
The Graduate and I
The Family
Packy and Grandpa
My EIU Boys :)
My Jonny <3
I know I have mentioned a million times in my latest blog posts how happy I am about this warm weather, but it has really made me more motivated to share my taste and how I style my pieces for different occasions.

Do you have any exciting events coming up soon?  Have any new pieces, accessories, or makeup you cannot wait to debut?  Let me know in the comments below :)

- Courtney

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Top Five Spring/Summer Heels

Hello Everyone!
All the beauties
It is just too beautiful out today to not talk about shoes!  One of my favorite things about working in the city is seeing all of the exciting outfits, including the shoes.  I thought I would share some photos of my top 5 shoes for Spring/Summer to give you some inspiration or a little peek at my style.
Audrey Brooke Wedges
These wedges are the newest to my collection and I am obsessed!  I just wore them for the first time this week, and they are incredibly comfortable.  The crocheted front is not only gorgeous, but really gives with your foot, so you don't feel confined.

Jessica Simpson Platforms
MMMMM these shoes make me swoon.  I bought these a few years back for New Year's Eve and they have become a staple for me when I get all fancy!  I know they seem a bit high, but they are platform and the front straps really keep my feet in place.  The purple platforms are really great to wear out dancing or walking (if the situation requires)

Steve Madden Wedges
How fun, right?!  I got the above wedges for an absolute steal and wish I could wear them with every outfit.  Since the warm months are finally here, I plan to wear these pretties a ton!

BCBG Pumps
I believe nude heels are a staple item in every girls wardrobe, so if you do not have a pair in your collection, I definitely recommend investing in some.  Not only do nude heels make your legs look longer, they go well with just about everything.  

Audrey Brooke Wedges
I bought these wedges last summer and am impressed with how versatile and shockingly comfortable they are.  They are the perfect height wedge for me, which makes them wonderful for both day and night wear.

That is it for my top 5 heels for Spring/Summer!  What are some of your favorite shoes to wear during the warmer months?  Let me know in the comments below :)

- Courtney

Friday, May 9, 2014

Lush Lovin'

Hello Everyone!

Tonight I thought I would talk about one of my favorite beauty stores, Lush.  Lush is a fairly recent discovery to me since the closest one WAS about 30 miles away, but I'm hooked.  Fortunately, one has just opened up near my house, so I have a feeling I will be frequenting it much, much more. 
The reason I started buying Lush products was because they are handmade with fresh ingredients and are not harsh on my sensitive skin.  I was having a terrible problem with various shampoos breaking my back out (which is awful!), so I was on a quest to find a good shampoo that cleared up my skin.  Low and behold I found Lush, and I have not stopped using their I Love Juicy shampoo in over a year.  Aside from their shampoos being amazing, they have a wonderful skincare line as well.  Before switching to a Lush facial cleanser, I was using standard Olive Oil to remove my makeup.  I quite enjoyed this, but Olive Oil is a bit hard to travel around with and messy, so I opted for the Ultrabland cleanser from Lush.  This oil based cleanser melts into your skin and removes even the toughest of eye makeup.  After massaging it into my skin, I remove it with cotton pads and the Tea Trea Water.
For those of you who are familiar with Lush, you get the hype, but to all those newbies out there....I wanted to share with you my favorite products:

Tea Tree Water - $9.95 - $21.95
This is a toning water, which usually I do not buy into, but it pairs fabulously with the Ultrabland cleanser at removing makeup.  It is also nice to use after the shower for a refreshing spritz of moisture.
I Love Juicy Shampoo - $9.95 - $29.95
My all time favorite product from Lush.  I have extremely....and I mean EXTREMELY oily hair, but this product works wonders on it.  Not only has it cleared up and stopped those terrible back breakouts, it smells like Starburst jelly beans, which very well might be the best scent ever!
Big Shampoo - $26.95
As mentioned above, I have me some oily hair.  Although I do use I Love Juicy on a regular basis, the Big Shampoo is great for summer or on days when I want a bit more volume.  It is sea salt based, so it helps dry my hair out and allows for sassier hairdos.
Ultrabland - $16.95 - $29.95
Ohhh Ultrabland.... Let's just start by saying thank you for making makeup removal enjoyable and nice to my skin.  This lets me use an oil based product without the mess and does an amazing job!

Lush also has a great program. If you return 5 of your empty pots and/or bottles, you will receive a FREE Fresh Face Mask!

Hope you all enjoyed learning a bit more about some products, and if you have a Lush nearby....GO ENJOY :)

Illinois locations:
  • Armitage
  • Bucktown
  • Oak Brook
  • Old Orchard
  • Orland Park
  • Water Tower Place
  • Woodfield

- Courtney

Friday, May 2, 2014

Vino Review - The Dreaming Tree: Crush

Hello Everyone!

Happy Happy Friday!  I do not know about you, but I am very glad the week has ended.  Friday nights tend to be pretty low key for me since I am usually wiped out from the work day and week.  My favorite way to unwind on a Friday night is with a bottle (or two!) of wine and some television with Jonny.  Our wine of choice for the past year is The Dreaming Tree in the red blend Crush.   When I first started drinking wine I was not the biggest red fan, but over the years my taste buds have changed and I quite enjoy trying different red blends.  Do not get me wrong I still love me a good bottle of Riesling, but Jonny is more of a red wine drinker....so it makes the experience more exciting when you can compare with another person.

Onto The Dreaming Tree wine....  I should start by saying this wine is made by Dave Matthews....hence the name.  I would also like to say that I absolutely loathe, hate, despise and detest Dave Matthews, but I will give it to the man, he makes a hell of a wine.  The Dreaming Tree has five different wines:
  • Everyday
    • “Blended from select aromatic varietals that thrive in the central coast vineyards of Monterey County, Everyday is perfect as a sipping wine and it also goes well with spicy foods.” – Steve Reeder, winemaker
    • $15.00 / bottle
  • Chardonnay
    • “When I first met Dave, we talked about making a Chardonnay that captured the distinct citrus notes of the Central Coast. With its big fruit and loads of spice, we think this wine lives up to that promise. We hope you agree.” - Steve Reeder
    • $15.00 / bottle
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
    • “When you’re working with Dave, you want to make sure whatever you’re doing has soul. The rhythm of our North Coast Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon highlights classic aromas of blackberry, cherry and herbal notes wrapped by toasted vanilla. It’s an easy-drinking wine with a lot of character.”—Steve Reeder
  • Reserve Cabernet
    • Deep red hue, almost opaque. Fruit aromas, both red and black, lead into herbal sage and basil. Toasty oak in the nose adds a caramel richness. Full berries and cherries explode in the mouth.
    • $35.00 / bottle (SOLD OUT)
Drum roll please......
  • Crush
    • “For Crush, Dave and I hand-selected a special blend of our favorite varieties to create a red wine that pulls you in with notes of smoky berry and a pop of raspberry jam. Around the dinner table or out on the patio, it’s a wine you’re going to want to share with your favorite people.” –Steve Reeder on his Dave Matthews wine collaboration
    • $15.00 / bottle
I think Steve describes Crush perfectly! It is absolutely delicious, and in my opinion a great red to start off with when trying to make the switch from whites.

Above I listed the wines with links to purchase them directly from Dreaming Tree Wines, but you can find them in many local stores.  I am in the Chicagoland area and I have found them at: Jewel, Binny's, Meijer, Target and local liquor stores.  The price ranges anywhere from $11.00 - $15.00.

I highly recommend this brand of wine, specifically Crush (if it was not obvious already) along with their Chardonnay.  Those are the only two wines from the brand I have tasted, but I am looking into ordering the Everyday wine, since I have not seen that in stores ever.  Overall, I think Dave Matthews has finally done something I appreciate, and that is making a delicious and affordable red wine.


Cheers!

- Courtney