Favorite thrift store finds of 2011.

I've been working at a thrift store for about a year now (time really flies!) and over the past year, i've come across so many really great things.  So much of what i wear now is from the thrift store and it's honestly so difficult for me to spend money in other shops that i used to (well, still do) love - H&M, Forever 21, etc.  Since we run on solely donations, you never know what you're going to find.  There is such a huge range from high-end brands like Michael Kors or brands you've never even heard of.  You'll also find a range of old and new items, which for a lover of both vintage & modern things (like me) is awesome.  And of course, the prices are unbeatable, i got the majority of these items for next to nothing or even for free.

*End of ramble* So as i said before, over the past year i've come across so many great items and i thought i'd share some of my favorites.  50% of my wardrobe is probably from the thrift store and many of the books, accessories, and other miscellaneous items around my room are from work as well, so i probably missed some of my other fave items just because everything is just about one and the same to me now!

Leather jacket with faux fur lining - One of my favorite jackets, got it for free as well!

Army green jacket - Another one of my favorite jackets!

Vintage Nintendo jacket - Got this jacket during our vintage sale last summer, get so many compliments when i wear it, haha, everyone loves a bit of Mario!

Old Navy leopard print cardigan with gold zipper - I absolutely adore this cardigan, i wear it SO much.  It's a bit oversized and perfect.

Suede fringe vest - Another piece i picked up from the vintage sale.

DIY sparkly jacket - Got this for New Year's Eve, was originally a shirt but i cut it (quite sloppily) into a jacket, looked really awesome & got a lot of compliments!  Might blog a picture with my outfit at some point..

Leopard print cardigan - Yes, another!  Love leopard print & this fits so nicely.

Men's plaid button up - Really love the colors & size of this plaid print so i had to pick it up.  It's a recent addition to my vast collection of plaid flannel shirts, looks really great with black jeans & leather boots.

Alpaca cardigan - Pretty sure i'm allergic to this (it's 100% alpaca), but when my friend/co-worker found it one night, i just had to get it anyway.  Definitely not everyone's cup of tea!

Kennedy Space Center tee - Another purchase from the vintage sale - love the color & the logo is perfect.

H&M sweater - Every once in a while i'll find something at work that looks barely worn that was originally from H&M, and this was one of those!  Such an awesome find and cost just over $1.

Black men's tee - One of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe, i just love it.  Favorite outfit = this tee, burgundy  cardigan (also from work, but it's in the wash atm!), dark wash skinny jeans, the boots & clock necklace (below).

Aztec print bag - This style of bag often comes into the thrift store.  I can't wait to use this during summer this year!

Minnetonka suede boots - I'm obsessed with this and wear them just about everyday.  Got these from the vintage sale as well.  Looked these up online and they retail for about $40-50, got them for $7. :)

H&M metallic scarf - Another piece i found that was originally from H&M.  I adore this scarf, one of my faves i own!

Dreamcatcher earrings - These remind me of summer, i love them.

Clock necklace (and it actually works!) - Definitely one of my favorite necklaces, got it from the jewelry sale we had several months ago.  The most i spent on one thing from work - about $30.

Cross and wishbone earrings, skull ring, little wire ring - Wear each of these so much!  Absolutely adore that skull ring.

White phone - Don't actually use this to answer or make phone calls but i think it's a nice touch to my room!

A book about Gnomes and Alice in Wonderland - Just two of the many, many books i've collected from the thrift store.  Found so many interesting books.. not to mention i got all of my Harry Potter books from there!

Dream catcher - This is just one of the three dream catchers i got from work.  It's hung just above my bed and i think it's such a nice little touch to my bedroom.

Polaroid camera & film - Last but not least, my beloved Polaroid camera (which i haven't even used yet, haha).  They've stopped making film for Polaroid cameras, so it's becoming increasingly rare, but i actually found a pack at work!  I just about fainted and put it under the counter and out of view of the customers so i could have it to myself!  Think i'll save it for summer. :)

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In case you couldn't tell, i'm kind of in love with the thrift store.  I'm so lucky to work there and get such amazing bargains.  What do you all think of second-hand shops?

♥

Summer wardrobe.

Quite a while ago, i got a suggestion on Formspring to do a post on my favorite summer clothing items, i quickly got to making a little list, but never took the time to actually take photos.  (Sorry girly!)  Well, i finally got around to doing so.

I didn't exactly pick out my 'favorite summer clothing items' to show you guys, but i wanted to kind of give a little insight into what kind of clothes i've been wearing during these warmer months.  So i split this post into categories based on trends or types of pieces (ie. crop tops, sheer tops, etc.) and picked pieces that i thought did well reflecting each category.  I didn't include accessories or shoes, i might do accessories in a different post, but i didn't do shoes because i've literally been faithful to one or two pairs of shoes & i just wear flip flops by the pool/at the beach!  I did include bags though, because i view those as an essential, just like a shirt or bottoms. :)

My style is generally kind of 'effortless' & not incredibly dressy or anything, so this summer is no different.  I do like to dress up a bit don't get me wrong, but i don't like to look like i've tried too hard.  I also just feel more comfortable in generally more casual clothes.

With that being said, here is a little glimpse of what i've been wearing this summer. ♥

Crop tops

I've been quite liking wearing crop tops this summer, particularly with print or typography on them.  I generally wear longer crop tops as i don't think i can pull off shorter ones!  I typically wear a little cami or tank top under them, like if i'm going to work or something, so my belly's not hanging out (haha, problem area :P).

They look great thrown on with a pair of denim shorts & sandals or flats.

birdcage & 'weekend warrior' tops - Forever 21, triangle print top - thrifted

 Sheer tops

I like wearing sheer tops year round really, but i think they look particularly appropriate during the warmer months.  There's just a romantic and effortless feel to them, making them really easy & comfortable to wear.  For the summer, i like to stick to lighter shades - they just feel more summery & also don't absorb as much light/heat!  Again, these look great with shorts or even with dark wash jeans for cooler days or at night.

Peach long sleeve top - H&M, floral two-layer top - New Look, white pussybow blouse - H&M

Color & patterns

Summer is the one time of year i can wear super bright colors & bold patterns without making a spectacle of myself.  And with the sun shining & no clouds in the sky, who wants to wear dark or boring clothes anyway? ;)  If i'm wearing a top with a bold color or pattern, i like to keep everything else fairly neutral so that piece really gets the focus & it's not too overwhelming.

Bright yellow top - Primark, tribal print top - Forever 21, hot pink pussybow blouse - Primark

Dresses & rompers

If i'm going somewhere that i wouldn't be able to wear something casual (like jean shorts) to or if i just feel like it, i'll throw on a dress or romper like the ones above (they're all dresses, but rompers like the one in this post!).  I love anything floral, but mixing it up with tie-dye or another pattern is always nice & summery as well!  I typically like my dresses to be cotton dresses (one on the right) or a flowy material (one in middle), i find they're more suitable for the weather.  Again, they're something you can just throw on & go!

Both floral dresses - New Look, tie-dye dress - thrifted

Shorts

I'm definitely more of a shorts person than a skirt person as i feel more comfortable in them.  I ordered about four pairs of shorts from Forever 21 but have only really worn two pairs of them because i'm quite picky about the fit of them!  I think everyone needs a pair of denim shorts in her wardrobe, they're super versatile and always in style.  (I've been wanting a pair of studded ones for months now!  So edgy & 'cool').  Just as with skirts, it's fun to play with patterns & colors of shorts. :)

Jean boyfriend shorts - H&M, tribal print shorts & pinky/khaki shorts - Forever 21

Crochet/lace vests

If i feel a bit exposed & just want to cover up a bit or want to add a nice detail to an outfit, i'll throw on one of these.  I think they're really cute & add a bit of texture and interest to an outfit.  I've just realized within the past couple weeks how important texture is in an outfit - if you have a outfit where every piece is solid & flat, it's a bit boring really, and trust me, i've had plenty of outfits like this but just couldn't figure out why they were so uninteresting!  These offer a bit of coverage without compromising style and without making you really warm.

Crochet vest - Kohl's, lace vest - thrifted

Denim jackets

I love love love myself a denim jacket!  Something about them just shouts 'badass' to me.  They're perfect for summer nights as they aren't incredibly, incredibly thick & cozy, but they still offer a bit of warmth.  I've acquired four denim jackets just in the past few months in different washes, but the two above are my faves.  Love light to medium washed jackets, that are also a bit cropped, but not too much, and of course with the sleeves rolled up.  These look awesome over literally everything, and i think as long as the washes aren't too similar, you can pull off wearing them with jeans (for example, i'd wear one of these jackets with dark wash jeans).

Medium wash jacket - thrifted, light wash - Primark

 Cross-body bags

No one wants to lug around a big, heavy shoulder bag during the summer (at least i don't....), so a cross-body or messenger style bag is definitely suitable.  They'll hold all (or at least most ;) of your 'stuff' and are lightweight so they won't drag you down.  Most of them are smaller as well, so it'll force you to only take the essentials.  Most of the time i'll take the fringe bag on the left - definitely one of my favorite bags i own, but if i'm going to work or generally have to take more things & bigger things with me, i'll opt for the satchel on the right which has a much bigger capacity.  Both are fantastic!

Fringe bag - Primark, satchel - Target

♥

Currently loving...

I haven't done a 'products i'm loving' sort of post since my monthly favorites for May and i've been meaning to share/briefly review a few products on here, so i thought i'd do a 'currently loving' post!  These products are all really ones that have been in my collection for a while & i've rediscovered, or products i've just gotten in the past month or so and have become staples for me.  There's a mixture of hair, eyes, face, & lip products, so a bit of everything!  Hope you enjoy. :)

♥ CHI Silk Infusion - I typically wash my hair at night & let it air dry, but lately i've been washing my hair in the morning and blow drying it instead (usually too tired/lazy at night!).  So i've been putting in a little bit of this into my damp hair before i blow dry it, to protect it from the heat.  This makes my hair super soft and healthy-looking, and i noticed my hair dries faster with this in.

♥ Got 2 B Guardian Angel - My phase of wavy/beachy-hair loving has ended and i've really been enjoying wearing my hair poker-straight.  Once my hair is dry, i spritz a bit of this in before i straighten it.  It smells gorgeous and makes straightening my hair a breeze since it really does protect the hair well and makes it super soft and shiny.  This is probably my new holy grail heat protectant. :)

♥ L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara - I've fallen in love with this mascara!  I was running out of my go-to Clinique High Impact mascara, but felt like trying something new and ended up trying this one, which is literally a third of the price of the Clinique one.  It's super black and makes my lashes look amazing, almost like falsies.  Just like the name implies, it's really volumizes the lashes.  Two coats of this and you have *the* perfect eyelashes.

♥ Revlon Brow Fantasy Pencil/Gel in Dark Blonde - My Rimmel brow pencil was getting smaller & smaller so i went to go pick up a new one, but it was nowhere to be found!  So i ventured to find a new one & my mom actually spotted this one for me.  I was a bit hesitant to get this because i don't really like 'gimmicky' products like this, with two different products in one 'thing', but thought i'd try it anyway.  It's a lot less red toned than the Rimmel one (i used to one in Hazel) and goes with my hair color a lot more.  The gel is amazing as well.  Will be repurchasing this over & over!

♥ Urban Decay Primer Potion - I know i did a post on how i had converted to using Too Faced Shadow Insurance instead of UDPP, but i got another tube of the primer potion with the Naked palette and it just reminded me of how much i love this stuff.  I got comments on that post about how UD had started making the primer in tube form, so i think when i use up the Shadow Insurance, i will definitely be purchasing the tube form of UDPP instead!  Don't get me wrong, they're both great primers, i just find UDPP works better with my eyeshadows & my skin for some reason!

♥ Sephora Collection Professionnel Mineral Powder Brush #45 - I got this brush as a gift from my sister back in March and i can't believe i haven't blogged about this yet!  I use this to apply/buff in my Bare Minerals foundation and it makes doing so a dream.  It helps to build up the coverage and is super soft.  I know some people use this for liquid foundation as well, but i use it for powder.  It washes up really nicely as well & dries quickly!  Can't recommend this brush enough, it's hands down a must-have for me.

The flash washed out the color quite a bit, but it's deffo a bright coral. :D

♥ Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 525 "Peachy Scene" - Kinda bought this on a whim on my first ever trip to CVS.  I've raved about this range of lipsticks so many times and they are definitely the best i've tried.  I added yet another shade to my collection and this isn't a color i'd usually go for.  I'd describe it as more of a bright coral than a peach, and it has a bit of a sheen to it.  It's so nice for summer & i've gotten lovely compliments on it!  If you don't want to do a full on red lip but want to venture out from nudes & pinks, i'd definitely recommend going for corals! :)  Really adds a bit of color & interest to an outfit.

♥

Monthly Favorites: May

Have quite a few favorites this month; this is probably because i have been spending way too much on cosmetics & hair products lately... i apologize, bank account.  I also haven't done one of these monthly favorites posts in a while, and that's probably for the same sort of reason, in months past i haven't splurged on anything really as i had been saving up for my trip.  (A little sidenote as i got a question about this on my last post: yes i will be doing a post on my trip eventually, it will just take a while to put together!  Sorry if you're a bit annoyed with me...)

This month i've been using a lot of products i got whilst in London, as well as two i got back here in the States.  If you are also from the US and are wondering where you can purchase brands like Barry M and Sleek Makeup that aren't available here, i suggest Googling them and going to the brands' official websites.  The shipping costs may be a bit horrendous, but in some cases i do think it is worth it!  On to what i've been loving in the past month. :)

♥ GOSH Eyeshadow Quad in Driftwood & Barry M Dazzle Dust in Tan.

The first time i tried this GOSH palette, i was actually really disappointed as the colors all tended to look the same on my eyes and it just didn't stand out to me at all, but now i've been using this most everyday!  I've found a combination of products to use in tandem with this palette to make a really lovely makeup look.  I use Benefit's RSVP as a base, then apply the Barry M Dazzle Dust in Tan all over the lid & slightly into the crease.  I then apply the medium brown shade (top, right) into the crease, the dark brown (bottom, left) into the outer v, and the highlight shade (top, left) in the inner corner and brow bone.

The Dazzle Dust in Tan is very similar to the famous MAC eyeshadow in All That Glitters, but you definitely get more product for your money with the Dazzle Dust!  This shadow is so versatile and i think it would look so lovely on just about every skin tone.

 ♥ Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It.

The Color Sensational lipsticks are hands down my favorite lipsticks i've ever tried - yes, i even prefer these over MAC! *shock horror*  The formula, the color payoff, the longevity, everything is just spot on!  Well done Maybelline.  This shade in particular is a fairly new addition to my collection.  It's a super lovely nudey-pink shade, and leaves a bit of a sheen to the lips.  It's one of those lippies that would definitely be described as a "my lips, but better" shades.  It's so perfect and wearable, i think i will repurchase this until Maybelline stops making these (and probably even after...they shouldn't stop making these anyway! ;)

 ♥ Sleek Contour Kit in Light, Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight, and GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink.

I talked about all three of these products in my "Gosh & Sleek Loving" post, so if you want to read my little review on these products, deffo have a looksie.  Thought they were worth mentioning again in this post. :)

(left to right: 264 Pink Iridescent Glitter, 309 Strawberry Ice Cream, 318 Peach Melba, 304 Mint Green)

♥ Barry M Nail Paints.

I have been absolutely loving the Barry M Nail Paints i got (yes, i did get nine... *slap on the wrist*).  I had a laugh at all the comments from some of you saying you literally giggled when you saw how many i bought, haha... i'm so pathetic, i know!  The four above are the ones i have already tried (besides the Nail Effects one) and have been looooooving.  These nail paints have made me actually enjoy painting my nails, they dry so quickly and the colors are so fun!

Swatches (top to bottom): Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight, Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Born With It (is lighter irl!), and GOSH Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Black Ink

♥ Charles Worthington Rough & Tough Front Row Salt Spray.

I've done a post on this showing how i style my hair using this product, which you can read here. :)

♥ Tangle Teezer - Original.

In my London haul post, i said i didn't really know my thoughts on this product, but after a bit more use i've grown to love it.  It's one of those products that you don't really realize how good it is until you've stopped using it.  For instance, i'd been using this for about two weeks and thought it was nothing special, but then i decided to use my regular paddle hair brush.  The regular hair brush made it incredibly painful to detangle my hair and it ended up just ripping my hair out, really!  Since then, i've been using the Tangle Teezer - on wet and dry hair.  I love this and would recommend it to anyone whose hair gets all mangled like mine.  Such a hair and pain saver!

♥

11 most reached-for products

As some of you may or may not have noticed by now, i am quite the fan of tags.  This will be my 21st tag (and counting) post that i have on this here blog - some most of them may be a bit pointless (the "personal" ones), while the other beauty-related ones, like my old favorite "8 Things Tag", may be of more use to you lovelies.  Well, i'm sure many of you will be relieved to read that this is one of the beauty-related tags. :)

I was catching up on my Youtube subscriptions and came across one of Allison's newest videos, her 11 Most Reached-For Products tag, if you couldn't already tell by the title. ;)  I figured i would hop on the bandwagon myself & give my own two cents worth.  Just as Allison explained in her video, i'm leaving out my everyday foundation/face routine since that doesn't really change much for me.  For the most part, i'm just putting in products that i go to without much thought, that i know will look good & that i will still like by the end of the day.

Here are my 11 most most "reached for" products, in no particular order ♥:

1. MAC Studio Finish Concealer

This one of my first MAC purchases & it lasted me for a long, long time.  I use it to cover my blemishes (i find it's too drying for my under-eye area), and along with a bit of mineral foundation over top, it provides really nice coverage.  I find that my skin will break-out or be irritated by a lot of face products of various brands, but this doesn't cause my skin to react in anyway.  Will definitely have to buy a new tub of this!

2. Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in RSVP

I've already done a review on this, which you can read here.  This has been my go-to eye base/primer as of late.  It's so quick & easy to just slick on and it's quite versatile as well.  I wear it by itself with liquid eyeliner & mascara, with MAC's All That Glitters eyeshadow over it, MAC's Satin Taupe in the crease, & Twinks in the outer v, or just by itself & a light-medium brown shade in the crease (or Twinks in the outer v, blended into the crease).  As you can tell by that previous, unsightly sentence, it looks good so many ways!  It's love.

3. Clinique Brush-On Cream Eyeliner in True Black

This is one of the newer additions to my makeup collection and i don't know what i've been thinking in regards to liquid/cream eyeliner for all this time!  It has incredibly long lasting power, which i find to be perfect as my eyes are unnaturally watery/teary all the time haha.  It may take a little more time in the morning, but it's worth it for me.  May do a full, in-depth review of this eventually!

4. Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in Pink Please

If you've read my blog for a while, you know i have so much love for this lipstick.  I wear this most everyday & it is always in my makeup bag.  It looks really nice with just about every look & adds a lovely bit of color to my otherwise pale face & lips!  Read my really old review of it here. :)

5. OPI nail polish in Got a Date To-Knight

If i ever finish a bottle of nail polish in my lifetime, this will definitely be the one!  This color is such a lovely, baby pink that i find is really flattering with my skintone no matter what time of the year.  I wouldn't say this nail polish is particulary long-lasting, and it also takes quite a few layers to build up the color, but this is by far one of my favorite shades i own.  Whenever i'm a bit indecisive of what color to paint my nails, i choose this one 99% of the time!

6. Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black

I used to be quite the Covergirl Lash Blast fanatic, although that was great for volumizing my lashes, i found it didn't do too much for length.  I'd had samples & even a full-size tube of High Impact before, but never really appreciated it until recently.  It both lengthens & volumizes, and it quite a deep black as well.

7. Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Sin (called Drink Me, Eat Me in this palette)

This is by far one of my favorite all-over-the-lid colors and actually even one of my favorite eyeshadows i own.  It accentuates the eye very nicely - with a complimentary crease & outer v color, it's perfection.  It's also quite long lasting, and with a base it lasts for even longer.  I find it's really versatile as well, it looks so good with so many different combinations.  When in doubt, i almost always go for this shadow with Too Faced Shadow Insurance or Benefit CCS in RSVP on its own for a lid color.

8. Clinique Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in New Clover

I've mentioned this product in a few monthly favorites, but i just had to add it to this list.  I don't have an immense collection of blushes, and generally just use up the sample-size blushes i get from usually Clinique, but i find that i reach for this shade just about everyday of the week.  It gives such a natural flush to my cheeks and looks really flattering & pretty on my fair skintone.

9. MAC eyeshadow in Satin Taupe

Satin Taupe was one of the first MAC eyeshadows that i added to my collection, and it is one of my must-haves.  Along with many of the products on this list, it is very versatile.  It looks really lovely in the crease with just about any champagne color on the lid.  I usually wear it in the crease & built up in the outer corner (or Twinks in the outer corner instead) with Benefit's RSVP, but it looks great with just about any combination.

10. Revlon Matte Lipstick in Pink Pout

This is probably the second most-used lipstick in my collection, after Maybelline's Pink Please.  :)  On me, it shows up as a lovely baby pink.  As you can see, it's a bit messed up...it actually broke the day i got it & i just had to stick it back in the tube in order to use it.  It's a bit drying as well, but it lasts quite a long time & has a nice matte finish.

11. Sigma E25 Blending Brush

This travel size brush came free with a Sigma order i made around Christmas.  It's supposed to be a dupe for MAC's 217 brush, but i have to say i actually prefer this one to the 217.  My 217 actually became quite fluffy over time & doesn't apply eyeshadow to the crease as well/as clean as it did when i first got it.  Maybe it's because i haven't had this for as long as i have the 217, but it applies crease colors SO well & i'm in love!  Quite the nice surprise to see this came free with my order. :)

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What products do you find yourself reaching for the most?

♥