How I Pack Smart for a Weekend Getaway

Hey Everyone! I recently went on another mini getaway with the folks to the Wind Creek Casino. I just got back today and I have been non stop cleaning ever since so I haven't had a chance to post until now. Any who I was in the middle of packing and got the idea to make a post about it and the little tips and tricks I use when I pack so I thought I'd share some with you and just the basic process of how I pack for a weekend away so here they are! :)

So this is the bag that I use when I'm only staying for a weekend or less its the 

weekender from Michael Kors in the color Luggage I love it and I use it all the time!

The outfits I put together for both nights; Friday's outfit: cream free people blazer, leopard top from Tjmaxx and black Jessica Simpson jeggings Saturday's outfit: labeless nude lace dress from Tjmaxx and a black dress coat from Charlotte Russe (not pictured)

 The first thing I do is put together the outfits I want to wear during my stay. Depending on where I'm going, I will factor in how many days I'm staying and how many activities I'll be doing so for example I went to the Wind Creek Casino where I stayed two nights, I arrived Friday evening and left Sunday afternoon so I needed an arrival outfit (something comfy in the car) a dinner outfit for Friday night (something dressy and warm) a dinner outfit for Saturday night (again dressy) and a departure outfit for the ride home (another comfy outfit). So I needed a total of four outfits.

One thing I hate about shoes is how much room they take up in a suitcase or in my case a weekender. No matter what way you put them in or how many times you try to position them in the bag they just cant help but take up space! So one thing I do to save room is limit myself to two pairs (a sexy pair and a casual/comfy pair) at least when its only a weekend stay or less, a week long trip is a whole different story lol Anyways I decided to go with my dark nude peep toe Vince Camuto's because the color complemented both outfits I chose.You can never go wrong with a nude or black pump they go with everything.

Another trick I use is one to keep me from packing more clothes than I need. Above is my arrival outfit and my going home outfit as well a the pair of comfy shoes I chose to bring. On the ride there I wore one of my favorite v necks from Ross (its so comfy and perfect for a car ride) which I paired with my BCBG leggings and these adorable flats from forever. For the ride home I wore the exact same thing just a different top (see what I did there? :). Choosing a basic piece like black leggings is a great way to keep yourself from over packing and you can get two different outfits for the capacity of one! lol

This is another great one I use to save room, you know those little samples of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion etc they supply to you at hotels? Well turns out they work great for storing your own beauty products as well! I know I know blew my mind too xD but seriously I have a whole bag of these that I have cleaned out and saved for when I go on trips because shampoo bottles and lotion bottles can really take up a lot of space that you could be using for something more important like oh I dont know being able to zip up your bag?? lol just kidding.

I also packed a smaller bag for dinner and walking around the casino because sometimes my handbag is just too big and heavy to carry around up into the wee hours of the morning lol This is just a simple little bag I found at Tjmaxx I fell in love with the quilted detailing very Chanel.

my Victoria's Secret make up bag that my bestie bought me!

 Now onto beauty! This is probably the hardest thing for me to pack smart for but there's really no point in bringing your whole make up collection on a two nights stay unless its for a make up convention then by oh means pack it all like your house is going to be set on fire lol

Any ways since I wasnt going to a make up convention I packed what I knew I would use and nothing else. Above shows the brushes I use mostly; foundation brush, handy buki for applying powder, contour brush for applying bronzer, bluch brush, brow brush, toothbrush I use for my eyebrows and my Sonia Kashuk portable eye kit. And then I always carry some nail polish and tweezers because I might need it.

And heres what in the bottom part; Estee Lauder loose powder, Clinique super balanced make up and VS bronzer are the most used products in my beauty regimen.

 The next thing I do is make a list of all the essentials I need or that I know I will use for sure and I was able to pack all this because I used those little tricks I told you about; sleep shirt, extra bra, underwear (of course), curling wand,  Dove dry shampoo and heat protectant, S shine serum, eye mask (mandatory if I want to get any sleep) make up bag and small handbag.

Now we're ready to pack! I find that folding my clothes as flat as I can, really helps me save space. Some people like to roll their clothes but that never works for me because it takes up more space than the method I use. Also I like to occupy every inch of the bag's corners and it not only gives me more room but it just looks prettier when its all zipped up lol For my heels I placed them in sole up (to prevent puncturing my bag) with one on either side of the bag, that seems to work for me. I honestly had to rearrange some things because of my small handbag but I did get everything to fit and my weekender zipped with ease ;)

 And wala! all packed up with everything I need and ready to go!

I realize this post was a little silly but hey some people might find it helpful after all there is a Wikipedia page on how to pack a suitcase so someone must be wondering lol

Thank you so much for reading as always I really appreciated it and I hope you enjoyed it.  I hope everyone has a great week and Happy Veterans day! xoxo Em

Eat your Way to Clearer Skin!

Hey guys! So I dont know about you but I have really oily, acne prone skin. I dont just get the usual blackheads and annoying pimples, I get what they call subcutaneous acne where its like a hard cyst under the skin and I cant do anything to make it subside and they are so painful. I also have a lot of pimples under the skin making my face look bumpy and rough I hate it! But I will say ever since I've been incorporating these ten foods into my diet I havent had any of my subcutaneous acne pop up and I can see my skin getting clearer every day so I thought i'd share them with you guys in case youre having the same problems as I was :)

 

 One is Omega 3 fatty acids. Found mostly  in salmon, flax seed, and walnuts:  

Omega 3 fatty acids are great for our skin . They aid not only in reducing skin inflammation 

and keeping acne at bay but they also give you glowing skin as well. You can 

increase your omega 3's by eating two servings of fatty fish a week such as salmon, 

mackerel or sardines adding a tablespoon of flax-seed oil to something or 

adding walnuts to your salads, smoothies or just as a snack.

Foods rich in vitamin E such as almonds, leafy greens and eggs help heal the skin from 

acne scarring. Vitamin E is just one of the many antioxidants that help us generate 

healthy skin cells. I love unsalted almonds as a snack or in my salad. Try to eat the

 unsalted ones because less sodium in your diet also aids in having clear skin.

Melons, oranges and tomatoes are all vitamin C enriched foods. Although vitamin C 

doesnt directly help in getting rid of acne, it does boost your immune system and 

strengthen your cell walls and also help in reducing inflammation and scarring.

Another is foods enriched with selenium – Brazil nuts, Onion, Garlic, Whole grains: 

 Brazil nuts are the perfect source of selenium which is a very powerful antioxidant.

 It helps in controlling acne and preserves the skin’s elasticity. It also reduces 

inflammatory damage to the skin. One Brazil nut a day is power packed for a days’ 

supply of selenium. Follow selenium intake with Vitamin A and E to pack in more acne fighting punch.

High water content foods such as watermelon, Cucumber, and parsley 

will help you achieve clearer skin because youre increasing your water intake 

which in turn helps keep your systems free from toxins. Any dermatologist 

will tell you if you want clearer skin drink up and increase your water intake! 

Foods such as bananas, artichokes and brown rice are high in magnesium 

which aids in balancing the acne inducing hormones. I love all three of these especially bananas.

Foods such as carrots, cantaloupes, sweet potatoes and other colorful fruits 

and veggies are very high in beta carotene. Beta carotene helps by enhancing the benefits 

of selenium to the skin. Try introducing atleast 1/2 cup of these colorful fruits

 and veggies into your diet, I love bell peppers in soup or stir fry. 

Another great way to get clearer skin is by drinking Green tea which is easy for 

me because I love it! Green tea contains two very powerful antioxidants which helps reduce

 oxidation damage and also inhibits bacterial colonization and soothes inflammation. 

Try drinking atleast three cups a day if you can.

 

 Cut down on the salt. For some reason, iodine causes acne to flare up. So to avoid 

this watch your sodium intake in processed and artificially flavored foods. Tv dinners 

have a crap ton of sodium so before you decide to settle with that Marie calendar pot 

pie check the sodium on the label you'd be surprised how much is in that little pot pie. 

And last but definitely not least stay away from the white family! White bread, white sugar, 

french fries, white rice and even white refined flour pretty much anything with white 

refined sugar should be off limits. They all hurt the process of getting clear skin because 

processed sugar causes your insulin to spike into causing acne to flare up.

I hope this helps you get rid of your acne or atleast keep it at bay thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a great weekend talk to ya'll soon! <3Em

A very very late Saturday Shopping Haul!

Hey guys so I guess you have noticed I'm not really good at this blogging everyday thing and I'm thinking that my bright idea is more of a muted light lol But anyways I did get to do a little shopping Saturday and here are my finds from Hertha's, Yvonne's, Tjmaxx and Ross, sounds like a huge shopping spree but it really wasn't lol 

 I found this maxi at Tjmaxx it was a little pricey, $20 but I fell in love with it and it looks amazing on. I love maxi's for summer but I also wear them in the fall by pairing them with a chunky sweater and a belt so I decided to splurge because I can get a lot of use out this one.

I adore these neck tie tops! I found this one for $8 at another resale shop in my home town called Yvonne's and I really liked the detail on the front as well. I plan to wear it with a black high waist skirt, black opaque tights and mary jane pumps, so excited!

Found this top at good ol' Hertha's I think it was $10 I love the front it would be cute with black skinnies.

I lovee leopard! thought this would be cute with skinny jeans or black jeggings, $10 at Tjmaxx

I love zippers and i thought this was a cute sweater for the fall and you know me I love over-sized sweaters

found this at Hertha's for $5 its originally from Forever 21

 Found this cute little dress by Lush at Yvonne's for $10 I thought it'd be cute with black opaque tights and booties.

 I saw these at Tjmaxx they were only $8 and fit like a glove and they would be cute with a black or grey chunky sweater also.

I love these v necks so much, I bought one a while back and I wear it pretty much everytime i'm around the house relaxing so i went back and bought one in every color theyre so comfy and soft and only $5 a piece I got them from Ross.

And last not definitely not least my new Steve Madden bag! I lovee it saw it at Tjmaxx and had to have it! It was $30 plus I really needed a black bag.

See I told you, not as much damage as it sounded lol Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed this very late post and I hope you guys have a great week! Don't forget to vote tomorrow! Even though you're only one person, you make a huge difference so get out vote! love ya'll! Em

Finally a Friday Favorites!

 Hey Guys! So this is definitely a little later than i wanted to post but I got so freaking busy today the time just slipped away from me so fast. Anyways I promised you a Friday Favorites post earlier so here it is :)

Since its Fall and that seems to be my theme this week so I'm going to share with you my favorite products that I use in the fall, now some are old products that I've been using for years but some are new that I just came across recently.

Lets start with cosmetics! 

 This is one of my favorite lip colors for fall, its a great reddish brown and always makes a statement. It's Ginger Spice by L'Oreal.

 Another favorite lip color is this one also by L'Oreal called Pure Burgundy. Its such a rich gorgeous color and a great alternative to a bright red.

 Omg I lovee these lip glosses! Theyre only like $2 and come in all kinds of colors, I love this color for fall even though the name reminds me of summer lol Honey on the Hudson by NYC

One of my favorite nail polishes during the fall is Burgundy Flirt by Rimmel, its similiar to Sky fall by OPI but its a shade lighter it does however take at least two coats to get it this dark but it looks amazing and lasts a long time!

Oh my gosh I am OBSESSED with this color from Rimmel! I didnt find it my mom did but she doesnt like how thick it is so she gave to me I have no idea what shes talking about lol its perfect and you only need one coat for it to show up plus the name is perfect for fall, Hot Cocoa how appropriate!

Now onto body products! These are all from Bath and Body Works :)

 

My absolute FAVORITE holiday collection by them is Be Enchanted. I have the whole collection I love it so much lol The scent is so whimsical and fruity and just reminds me of the holiday season coming up which I also adore! By the way Bath and Body Works is having a special on the signature collections where you can buy 3 get 2 free which is a pretty good deal if youre like me and like to get all your Christmas shopping done early, find something for everyone and get a little something in return :)

I love this for a sweet scent, I usually hatee vanilla scents but I am seriously addicted to this one! I put it on before I go to bed I layer it with the body spray and it last until morning and even all day. Its a strong scent but not to where its overpowering btw its called Vanilla Bean Noel.

There Wickedly Hot Chocolate is absolutely delicious I also have the bubble bath version and it literally feels and smells like im bathing in a cup of hot chocolate they couldnt have made it more true to scent if they tried.

This one probably looks familiar because it is I showed it to you in my what's in my purse post so i'm not going to say much about it but it is one of my fall favorites.

This is obviously not a body product but its from B&BW and one of my fall favorites for a room scent. It's called Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin and to me its the perfect combo for fall and these little things are pretty strong and last up to 8 weeks!

So I dont know if I've said this before but I LOVEE candles!! I go through them like I go through underwear ahaha and one of my favorite holiday candles is Winter it is the definition of Christmas time for me and everytime I burn it, it brings back every memory of Christmas. B&BW is having an awesome sale on the candles theyre usually $20 a piece but right now you can get 2 for the price of one so thats a really good deal!

And last but not least, I'm a hugee tea drinker especially as the weather gets colder and I love this one because its perfect for fall, the orange almost acts as pumpkin with the spice and its just a delicious combo i go through it like water lol

I have many more but these are pretty much my all time favorites/most used so I hope you enjoyed my first Friday favorites sorry it took until Saturday to post it haha but better late than never! thank you so much for reading and I hope ya'll have a great rest of the weekend, I'm not sure if I'll be posting a shopping haul it depends on if I go shopping today I'm kinda broke right now and trying to save up for Christmas so we'll see what happens wishing you guys a great day!<3 Em

My First Top Ten Thursday! :)

Hey everyone! I hope your Thursday went well :) I'm sorry I am just now posting for Thursday. I had it scheduled to post at 11:30 am and I guess it never did so that's why I'm posting twice today lol Anyways I'm so excited that fall is has truly made its arrival! Temperatures have started to descend, cozy sweaters and printed scarves are brought out of storage, leggings become daily go-tos and the bright neon colors get replaced with dark jewel infused neutrals. Here's the most lusted after nail colors to wear during fall! 

Top Ten Nail Colors to Wear During Fall:

As you know Oxblood is HUGE this fall and what better way to wear it than on your nails, its a bold color that goes with everything even a glass of wine. Try OPI's Skyfall from the James Bond collection.

  Mmm chocolate! Turns out its not only delicious to eat but its also scrumptious to wear, it looks so perfect next to creams and whites. I love this one by OPI its called Wooden Shoe like to know how cute is the name?!

 I love emeralds for fall! I always feel like royalty when I wear it and the contrast between emerald green and a fair skin tone is to die for! Try OPI's Here Today Aragon Tomorrow

This deep teal makes me want to throw on my LBD, some chunky gold jewelry and go dancing! Ihis is such a daring and fun color for fall and definitely an eye magnet. Try Ski Teal We Drop by OPI.

I'm starting to think Gold is the new black because this color never seems to go out of style lol Gold is glamourous, its gratifying and its your fall go-to for nail couture. I love this understated gold from OPI called glitzerland could the name be more perfect?

 Another lustful nail color, this greenish grey. It reminds me of white fluffy kittens dont ask me why I think its because this color and white look stunning together. OPI's Uh Oh Roll Down the Window is perfect i call it serene chic.

This color makes me want curl up with a cup of cocca by the fire with someone special. I love the taupe family for fall its dark yet cozy, mysterious yet comforting. One of my favorites is You don't know Jacques by OPI.

Bronze may be the look we try to achieve in the summer time but apparently we aren't parting with it just yet. This color looks amazing with pretty much every color trend for fall. I love this one by OPI called Brisbane Bronze.

Whats fall without a killer nude?! It's one that will never be out of season. I love this from OPI's Germany Collection called Don't Pretzel my Buttons it's subtle but sassy.

And the last one on the list, cobalt. Its just not fashion without it! I love this one from OPI called Dating a Royal Flush.

 I  love and swear by OPI so I wanted to only use their colors for this but you can find all these colors by other brands such as essie, butter, or even Chanel if you dont want to get them by OPI. Thanks so much for reading I hope you found my first top ten informative and entertaining and feel free to let me know what colors you love or hate or will be sporting this season! Make sure to check back later today for my Friday favorites! Sending ya'll light love and peace<3 Em