Tuesday's List - Fall Fashion and Accessories

I figured I would jump on the bandwagon! One of the girls I went to high school with started a blog a little while ago, and I adore it. She's the mother of a 17 month old little boy, loves to cook, loves to decorate and create, and bascially does all of the cool stuff I would love to do as a mom (when I become one down the road, of course).

This week's list (my first!) is Fall Fashion and Accessories. Here we go:

[1] My new Rocket Dog Boots. Yes, I raved about them last Thursday, but hey, I love them!

[2] Long Necklaces. I bought a couple from Kohl's when they were on sale, and I love how they just add a little something to the outfit without being too overpowering. My favorite so far is this one:

[3] Sweaters. I'm so excited that I finally got to unpack my sweaters. They're just so warm and cozy. I like longer sweaters that go down past my waist.

[4] Leggings. Yes, I'll admit it. I hated leggings for a long, long time. Everyone was wearing them. But after buying a sweater dress and another longer fall-like dress, I realized leggings keep me warm and they look good. Drat. Sometimes, I hate that I like things, especially really trendy things. I like to be different, and it seems like trends make everyone look the same (duh).

[5] Dark Nail Polish. I really like how they look. OPI's Linkin Park After Midnight is my current favorite.

Those are all that I can think of right now! Hopefully I can keep remembering to do these each week. =)

Matte Nail Polish?

As girls, we're used to having shiney polished nails in every color of spectrum. Well, lately, I've noticed a new trend: flat, matte nail colors. I've seen a few reviews and swatches online of said polish, but I haven't been brave enough to try it.

I went to Ulta, and OPI has a new Matte collection. There are a few different colors: pink, bright green, navy blue...forgive me but I can't remember the exact names. Anyways, I bit the bullet and bought the Matte version of one of my new favorite darker colors: Linkin Park After Dark. Granted, I have Linkin Park After Midnight (which I think is a tad bit darker - I don't really know), but it was nearly the same color.

I must say, I kind of like the look. Supposedly it doesn't last as long as normal OPI colors. And you're not supposed to use a base or top coat when you apply it. [Sidenote: if you use a clear base coat nail polish before you apply your colored nail polish, it will keep your nails from staining. I didn't know that. Blair (JuicyStar07 on YouTube) mentioned it in one of her videos and I tried it. It actually works!]

Here's what it looks like:

Sorry about the crazy flash. Hopefully you can kind of see what I mean. I'm still getting used to the look, and it honestly looks like I painted my nails with a Sharpie and it dried. It's not black - it's more of a really dark purple/plum color, so it's not quite as harsh.

I really like how the hot pink one looks, so I may go back and buy it when Ulta puts them on sale. This one isn't quite an obsession yet, but I thought I would mention it because it's becoming such a huge trend. What do you think?

New Boots!

Once again, my obsessions are few and far between; however, I went shopping with M today and as we all know, she's my enabler.

We went to Gordman's because we both got e-mails about their 50% off of Clearance Sale. I wanted to find a skirt for my Halloween Costume, and I ended up walking out with the most awesome boots I've ever laid my eyes on:

Aren't they cool?! Since they were at Gordman's, they were cheaper than usual. Plus, I had a 20% off a single item coupon. The only issue was that they only had a 8.5 and a 7.5. The 8.5 boots were too big, and the 7.5 boots were a little tight but they'll stretch as I wear them.

They're Rocket Dog Chaingang Boots. Normally $69.00, I got mine for $40! They're cute, comfy, and exactly what I've been looking for. They have a little bit of a cowboy look, but the buckles and lose design on top make them more biker-like. Make sense?

I can wear these with my corduroy skirt from Ross. I'm SO excited! I've never had a good pair of casual boots that I absolutely love. Mission accomplished!

Candle Time!

So I've been loving candles lately. Ever since I went to Bath and Body Works, I've been lighting random candles around my house. It started when I was cleaning my kitchen and I wanted the room to smell good...now it's a, well, newfound obsession! =)

Right now, I'm burning my Pineapple Orchid Candle from Bath and Body Works. Now they have their 14.5 oz candels on sale: 2 for $20! I may go get some fall scents. They actually have a collection called "The Perfect Autumn" so I need to go check those out.

That's my little mini-obsession for the moment. I need to post more, but my obsessions are few and far between right now. Not a lot of time to search and buy. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Body Wash - Coco Cabana

I went to Bath and Body Works yesterday in search of my pineapple candle. I walked out with two four ounce candles (they were on sale - 2 for $10), and a sad face. I'll explain:

After happily sniffing and smelling about 90% of the candles in Bath and Body Works, I decided on Pineapple Orchid (although Caribbean Salsa was a close finalist) and my boyfriend picked out Autumn Apple. As we were walking to the checkout counter, a lighting bolt hit my brain and I remembered that I wanted to look for my favorite body wash. I've been saving the last of it because I love it so much. It's called Coco Cabana.

Now, the scent of this body wash/lotion/spray is the epitome of happiness to me. It reminds me of the beach, of summertime, and of sunshine. It smells like coconut, suntan lotion, the beach, the ocean, and that awesome sunny summer day on the Florida coast. Imagine that all rolled into one. It sounds weird, but it's my absolute favorite body wash smell. I only use it when I need a pick-me-up or when I want to smell like summer.

Back to the story: I'm in Bath and Body Works, and I don't see it anywhere. I scan the shelves, and I go back and look again. It's nowhere to be found. I ask a sales associate, and she said they don't carry it anymore. *insert shocked, sad puppy dog eyes here* She said the only place I might be able to get it would be online. This is why I left with a sad face.

I just remembered to check online, and they have it! They only have the body wash, lotion, and body spray available. Phew. That was a close one! I'm really picky about my body washes. I have about three or four different types in my shower at one time. I hardly ever use the same one two times in a row.

If I go shopping for a new scent or type, it's usually a twenty or thirty minute ordeal. I typically smell a bunch of them, and I narrow it down to two or three. Then, I choose the one I think stands out the most and fits my current mood. Last time I went, I was in a relaxing mood so I ended up with a White Tea scent.

Moral of the story: my favorite body wash is Coco Cabana from Bath and Body Works. And it is still available!

Musical Obsession

I haven't done a music post before, and this one may seem a little odd to some of you but I figured I'd write it anyway!

My boy and I went to Hastings the other day and raided the CD section. They were having a few sales: buy one used CD, get the 2nd for $1, and get 10% off new CDs. I've been wanting the Michael Jackson Number Ones CD for as long as I can remember. My best friend and I would play Mario Kart on Super Nintendo (remember that?!) and listen to that CD for hours. They had one copy left and I snatched it!

I started looking around for Cheyenne Kimball, and they didn't have it. I was disappointed because I actually used to own that CD. It got broken in my car, and I've missed it ever since then. She has a great voice and she's a very talented song writer.

After I couldn't find that one, I looked for the new Jessica Harp CD. That was a no go - it's not our yet. Drat. I've followed her since her pre-Wrecker days. Addict is one of my all time favorite songs. I made my way around the country section and realized I didn't have the first Taylor Swift CD. They had a used one and I got it.

I realized I wanted fun, girly music so I started looking at Demi Lovato and Ashley Tisdale. I ended up buying a used Demi Lovato CD (her first one) and the new Ashley Tisdale CD, Guilty Pleasure. I really liked her first CD. It had a lot of good poppy, dance music.

I got in the car and started to play the Demi Lovato CD. Very fun music, but for a younger crowd. I still love her voice though. I switched out and put in Ashley Tisdale. It had not left my CD player yet. I carry it around with me. Her music and lyrics have matured and become a little more...daring? No curse words or anything, just more mature subject matters. That's why I like it. I can relate to some of it. I blast it in the car because each song has it's own feel. There are really good beats, and her vocals match perfectly.

So my favorite purchase was the new Ashley Tisdale CD. It was also the most expensive, even at 10% off. Go figure! I definitely recommend it if you're looking for fun music you can blare on the stereo (or your iPod/Zune).

Kiehl's Lip Balm - New Obsession!

One of my friends recently returned from Taiwan, and before her trip, we scoured the city trying to find a lip balm for her to take to her cousin as a little gift. It wasn't any lip balm - it was Kiehl's Lip Balm. And guess what? It was no where to be found.

She came back from her trip and told me she had a little gift for me. You guessed it: it was Kiehl's! She found it at an airport and got some for me since we spent so long trying to track it down. Was it worth all of the trouble? I believe so!

I'm in love with it. This is definitely a staple item for my purse. The consistency of it is smooth and just...good. It's not sticky or messy. It's not thick or gooey. I've never had a lip balm like it. It moisturizes perfectly, and it has just enough sheen to be a near-lip gloss. Plus, it's SPF 15!

It has a screw top, and the applicator is a plastic, slanted piece with a hole. It's easy to clean and wipe off so you don't have lip balm all over the place. I feel like guys would like this too. The packaging is pretty basic, and it doesn't have a brush applicator so it's still "manly" enough for them to use. I know some guys hate lip balms that come in pretty, colored tubes.

I did some looking, and the main ingredient is cotton seed oil. It has great moisturizing and conditioning properties. I can definitely feel that property of the balm.

This lip balm is available in a clear color, a peachy tone, and a red tone. I have the clear one and I don't really feel the need to have the tinted ones. You may like a lip balm with a little tint if you're a "go all the time" girl who wants a simple all-in-one lip treatment.

All in all, I have found my new favorite lip balm. I'm so glad I have it, especially since colder temperatures are on the way (thank goodness!).

Thanks M! =)

**Photo courtesy of Kiehls.com

Mascaras - Branching Out

So this isn't really a "newfound obsession" per say, but I recently branched out and tried different mascaras. I used Cover Girl mascara all through high school, but I didn't really fuss with makeup a whole lot. I had a standard eye shadow routine, and that was about it.

In college, I started using the Maybelline Great Lash mascara in Blackest Black. Everyone seemed to love this mascara and it was mentioned as a favorite in several magazines. I used the waterproof version once, and I wasn't thrilled with it at all. It didn't coat my lashes very well, and it honestly looked like I hadn't put on anything. It also flaked off and ended up as little black dots under my eyes. Not a good look...

After watching AllThatGlitters21 on YouTube rave about Loreal Telescopic mascara, I decided to give it a shot. I was used to having the actual brush, but with Telescopic, there was a spiky rubber applicator. I tried it once and instantly fell in love with it. It didn't clump or flake, and it thickened my eyelashes. It was lovely!

After having such a great experience with a new mascara made me want to try something else: I wanted to find a good waterproof mascara. Now, the reason I needed it was quite morbid: I knew I would be attending a funeral...and crying was inevitable. I made a trip to Ulta with one of my friends to start my search. I didn't have to look around long because Maybelline caught my eye. The new Define-A-Lash mascara had a similar applicator as Loreal Telescopic and there was a waterproof version. I was sold.

I brought it home and tried it immediately. It worked wonders! My eyelashes were super thick and really long. It lasted for a really long time. And yes, it did withstand the gruesome funeral test. I cried, wiped my eyes, and the mascara stayed in place. No smearing or running whatsoever.

I've heard that wearing waterproof mascara all the time isn't good for your eyelashes because it dries them out. I may go back and get the regular Define-A-Lash for every day use. Until that happens, Loreal Telescopic is still my everyday mascara.

The best part is that the mascaras I use are cheaper than the high end ones. Ulta usually has some really good sales on mascaras (buy one get one free, etc), so they're the perfect place to go to try new formulas and brands. Plus, if you watch in the newspaper, they'll include a $3.50 off coupon that applies to a $10 or more purchase. I signed up for the Ulta Rewards card and I get another advertisement too. I never shop there without a coupon and it actually saves a good amount of money!

So to recap: I used to like Maybelline Great Lash...and then I branched out. Loreal Telescopic is my second favorite mascara for every day application. My new waterproof mascara of choice is Maybelline Define-A-Lash. I still carry around Great Lash in my purse for touch ups, but other than that, I don't use it.

Pictured left to right:
Maybelline Define-A-Lash Waterproof Mascara
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Blackest Black
Loreal Telescopic Mascara

Coffee Cups

If you know me really well, then you should know that I love coffee cups. If you know me really well and you didn't know that, don't feel bad. It's a closet addiction.

My boyfriend and I went to Kohl's one day, and we went back to look at the cookware. I saw the coolest coffee cup, and I knew I couldn't leave without it. It was on sale too!

It's not your typical coffee cup. It's a Food Network coffee cup! I absolutely love the Food Network, and this cup is a culmination of two of my obsessions. It's still available at Kohl's for $9.99. (Click the link to go to the page)

When I got this, it was still cold outside and it was always filled with hot coffee (extra milk and sugar, of course). Now that it's summer time, I fix my coffee and let it sit for a few minutes. Once it's cold, it tastes oh-so-yummy. Is that weird? It's just like a Starbucks drink, but it's a lot cheaper.

Stay tuned for more obsessions...

O.P.I. Nail Polishes

Lately, my newfound obsessions have been scarce. However, I realized I had a new one when I opened my purple glitter Caboodles case that I've had since middle school.

About six months ago, I got frustrated with my nail polishes. They were all old, dry, goopy, and well...blues, blacks, greens, and very odd colors. Not very big-girlish if you ask me. So I chunked them. Threw them all out.

This left me with a pinky clear, white, gold, and a duo chrome light blue and purple color. Not a lot to choose from, eh? After watching YouTube (hey, that seems to be a newfound obsession too!), I saw some nail polish colors I really liked.

I made a trip to Ulta with one of my friends, and they had those nail color sample things in the shape of a fingernail. I saw a bright pink that I fell in love with. Of course, it was a limited edition collection piece and it was sold out. They were having a buy one get one 1/2 off sale, so I wandered around and got a couple of O.P.I. polishes.

I've never been one to try the salon quality "higher end" nail polishes because well, they're nail polishes. They chip, and then you have to redo them in a day or two, and it's never been worth the effort.

Ok so back to the purpose of this entry: my newfound obsession is O.P.I. Nail Polish.

Go figure!

I opened my Caboodles case and realized I have seven recently acquired O.P.I. polishes. I've become a lot more picky about my beauty-ish products, so I always want to make sure I have the right colors that look good with my skin tone. I mean, I am spending about 3 times as much on these polishes.

I like them because they apply smoothly, are vibrant in color, and they actually last a while. Quality is definitely better than quantity...even though my quantity seems to be rising. Hmm.

These are the colors I have:

Shorts Story (Paige Denim Collection)

I had to special order this one online because I couldn't find it anywhere. I ended up getting it from eNail Supply. It's a gorgeous bright pink color with a tiny twinge of purple. I've always been scared of bright pink colors because they make my skin look really pale, even if I'm tan. This color accents my skin tone perfectly!

In My Back Pocket (Paige Denim Collection)

This is a bright orange color. Not neon orange, but a good vibrant lighter orange. I haven't really worn this color yet because I'm still not sure if I like it or not. This one also came from eNail Supply.

Princess Rule! (Princess Charming Collection)

I was a little bit iffy about this color because it's super bright and sparkly. I know we've all worn the polish that had the glitter chunks in it. I had different colors on all the time, but when it came time to remove said chunky glitter polish, it was a nightmare and it took forever. This color: no so much! It's a pretty girly color, it goes on smoothly, and it add a little extra pop of shine to any color you're wearing. It's transparent enough to let the bottom color show, but there's still a little bit of a pink base to it. You just have to see it. It's gorgeous!

Bright Lights-Big Color

This is my absolute FAVORITE color right now. It's orange with yellow duochrome. It's such a pretty summery color. It's been my "go-to" color if I'm not going to a wedding or if I have to dress a bit more formal.

Melon of Troy

This is a perfect melon color, for lack of a better description. If you don't like pinks, I would try this one for a more formal occasion. It has a shimmery quality to it, but it's really subtle. My ongoing trend seems to be oranges and pinks. How strange! If you don't like the bright colors, but you still want a happy, spring/summer look, I recommend this color. It's not too girly, any it still gives you some color.

Suzy & the Lifeguard
This is the color that started it all. I had a nail polish from Maybelline (I think) that I loved, and it got dried out. I couldn't find the same color anywhere. I scoured the city to no avail. And then, there it was. It was on a display shelf at my local Ulta. The perfect dupe for my Maybelline color. And I found it while O.P.I. polishes were on sale. It was a sign. It's a really nice light, light, light pink color with some shimmer to it. I love it for weddings, dinners, date nights, and those days where you just want to feel, "polished." Hah.

Second Honeymoon

This color is very similar to Suzy & the Lifeguard, but it doesn't have the shimmer factor. It's more of a really light matte pink. It's still shiny, like all nail polishes are, but the glistening factor is significantly less.

INs and OUTs

Ok maybe I'm being a little lazy, but here are my INs and OUTs since I can't think of anything else to talk about at 2:00 in the morning...


INs -

1. The Young and the Restless (Soap Opera) - I love this show. I'm on Team Sharon, how about you?
2. The Queen's Fool (book) - By Philippa Gregory. Her series follows the Tudor family in England (King Henry VIII, Boleyn sisters...)
3. Organization - I cleaned out three of my desk drawers today. Just chunked a whole bunch of...stuff. I feel so much better! Oh, and I organized my makeup. This saves me SO much time in the mornings.
4. Peanut M&Ms - my weakness. I got a 45 oz bag for Easter!
5. This quote from Theodore Roosevelt: Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

OUTs

1. Cold Weather - I'm so done with days that are below 70 degrees. I want it to be warm! I hate bundling up to go somewhere. I want to wear cute summer clothes!
2. Waiting - I ordered MAC makeup remover wipes and some skincare products from BeeRoyalProducts.com. Now I'm waiting for them to arrive at my door. My skin needs you! Hurry up!
3. Lack of Sleep - I know I have to work tomorrow, yet here I sit...blogging at 2:00 in the morning. I do this quite frequently (the staying awake, not the blogging) because my mind is thinking of random things and keeping me up.
4. A Basket Full of Dirty Clothes - Laundry, how I loathe thee. Need I say more?

Camping!

Ok I admit, when I was in Girl Scouts in elementary school, I despised camping. I hated the hiking, the dirty outdoors, the bugs, and not to mention, the cold temperatures. I was the complainer who never wanted to do anything but sleep. You can imagine my attitude when my boyfriend announced that it would be fun to go camping with a friend. Our destination: Pickwick Dam.

I was reluctant at first, and in all honesty, I thought I would back out. But I didn't. I prepared for the worst, and hoped for the best. You know what? It was fun.

I went to Wal-Mart the night before we left and got a new sleeping bag. They didn't have pink, so I got a blue and gray one. I did find a bright pink mini MagLite flashlight though. I also found a pink toothbrush holder, mini Herbal Essences shampoo, travel sized contact solution, and a mini toothpaste tube. Whilest shopping, we headed back to the camping section where I found a little pack of toilet seat covers and wet wipes. I was set!

The tent we used was an older one by Coleman. My grandmother bought it for me at an estate sale because she thought I may want to go camping one day. She was right! It was really easy to set up and take down. Plus, all the parts were there.

I had a great time. I didn't miss my computer or the TV. We had cell phone reception, but I hardly used mine. It was really peaceful and the campfire kept us warm all night. We also got a great campsite. It was near the bathrooms, and it had electricity and running water. My boyfriend's friend brought a coffee maker, his grill (even though there's one at each site), an outdoor light, and a water hose to hook to the site's water faucet. He's a smart cookie, that one.

The only thing I would recommend: bring an air mattress. I'm serious. Maybe that's a "Duh, Stacy" kind of statement, but I thought we'd be ok by layering thick fur blankets and sleeping bags. Wrong. I had to keep shifting to avoid getting sore, and my neck was all twisted. Oh well, lesson learned.

We stayed for three days and two nights which was just enough to enjoy the camping experience without getting tired of it. I highly recommend camping...at least do it once in your life.

I think we're going to check out some other nearby state parks for our next camping trip. But before we go, I'm buying an air mattress and an outdoor light.

Happy Camping!

Spring/Summer Tote

Spring is here and summer isn't far behind. This means two things: warmer weather (yay!) and carrying more stuff. By stuff, I mean water bottles, swimsuits, changes of clothes, extra makeup, suntan lotion...things like that.

I have a cute cherry tote bag I got from a local store called Jun Lee in Memphis. It's more of a wholesale company with super cute stuff. Everything is priced really well, but you have to spend at least $30 when you check out. That's not a problem if you go with a group.

Well, I've had my cherry tote for a long time and it's a little scraggly. When we got a new shipment of merchandise at work, guess what was inside those wonderful cardboard boxes? New MudPie™ Initial Totes! Apparently, the style for this year is patent leather. We started pricing them, and we had them out on the floor that day. After staring at them for five long hours, I decided I couldn't leave without one. We only had two of each letter, so I grabbed an "S" for myself. I love this bag! I've used it several times already, and I'm going camping this weekend (yes, we can all laugh at the thought of Stacy going camping), and I'm going to use it to carry stuff. Not sure what stuff that will be, but my tote will be full of it.

The outside is black and white patent leather with pink piping along the bottom. An initial is stitched in the middle of the bag. The inside is really cute: white fabric with little black polka dots. The only drawback is the lack of pockets on the interior. I would have loved a pocket or two to keep smaller objects in, but it's not completely necessary.

The shoulder strap length is perfect and is doesn't rub or irritate my shoulder. It fits well on my side too. A lot of bags either hang down by your hip and swish back and forth when you walk, or they sit right underneath your armpit. Both of those options aren't very comfy for me.

The initials they make are: A, B, C, D, E, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, and W.

So far, it's pretty durable. I haven't done anything hardcore with it yet. I know it's been folded, smushed, and creased, but it pops back to normal every time.
If you want to purchase one, we carry them at the store I work for: Southern Event Planners or you can do a search online.

On a side note: Yes, I'm going camping. With a tent. On a lake. Luckily there's running water nearby (you know, besides the huge body of water that will be next to me). I'm excited about making s'mores though. And reading. Nerd, much? =)

Inspiration Part One

Hi all!

This is my first blog posting (obviously)! I love talking about random things, and sometimes, friends just aren't in to the same things I am and their interest feigns. So I'm turning to the next best thing: a blog. This isn't a personal blog by any means. You won't find any deep thoughts or philosophical conversations here. I've created Newfound Obsessions to talk about random things I've come to love and things I'm excited about. Hopefully you'll get excited about them too!

I'm not writing this blog for endorsements. I work for a company that prides itself on finding inspiration. It's a key word we use, and I think I'm starting to live by it. My obsessions change frequently, so I'm pretty sure I won't run out of things to talk about. I always give credit where credit is due, so you'll know where I got the ideas, products, and information.

For my first post, I want to talk about the Coastal Scents Ultra Shimmer 88 Eyeshadow Palette. I first saw it on Suzy's blog (MacNC40) and I was curious about the price. I found it online and was amazed. I started doing more research about it (as I always do), and I came across tutorials from Elle (AllThatGlitters21). Now, I think Suzy is super talented when it comes to makeup, but her skin tone isn't like mine at all. She has dark hair and dark eyes, and I have blonde hair with blue eyes. When I found Elle's tutorials on YouTube, I was ecstatic. A fellow blonde! I saw that she had a blog, and she wrote about some cool things (products and such). Hence my inspiration!

Anyways, back to the eyeshadow. A few months ago, I bought the Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow Box from Ulta and fell in love with it. The colors are fabulous and they blend really well together. I discovered I can layer them, so if the blue is too bright for one outfit, I can add one of the browns on top of it to tone it down. This also gave me a chance to try the Urban Decay Primer Potion. Suzy recommended it to me because my eyeshadow always creases. I tried it once, and it's been on my lids ever since. This prompted me to try more Urban Decay shadows, and they haven't let me down. After playing with the colors and getting out of my eyeshadow comfort zone, I started looking for other palettes.

That is what lead me to Coastal Scents. I'm about to click the order button and I'm so excited. The majority of the reviews have been really positive. I mean, you get 88 colors. And from what I've seen, they're vibrant...not the light colors you have to apply 50 times to get the right shade.