Beauty Review: L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara

I was browsing the cosmetics section of my local drugstore and I happened to see the cutest mascara ever and decided to give it a whirl. I mean look at it, could you say no to those super adorable pandas? Didn't think so. 

The Voluminous Miss Manga mascara features a 360 Flexor Brush. It is spiky and has a tapered shape which works great to catches even the hardest to reach lashes. 

The wand of this mascara is pretty unique, at least in my opinion. It is one of the most flexible wands I have ever worked with, some people will love this features and others not so much. I personally love it, if you tend to wiggle while applying your mascara you will love it too! 

As for the formula it is much different then some of the other mascaras in the voluminous line which tend to be on the wet side. This formula is perfect, its not a super wet formula and its not super dry its creamy and glides on so easily. Its also not super clumpy like most volumizing mascaras. It defiantly gives you the perfect spiky Manga lashes.

My naked lashes, scandalous.

Here are my lashes with just one coat of L'Oreal's Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara. It added a impressive amount of volume and length in just one coat! Lets see how it preforms with two coats.

In just two coats my lashes are super long and voluminous! 

My overall impression:

I am super impressed by this mascara and I would give it an A+

Finally a mascara that I don't have to apply coat after coat to achieve results.

The staying power of this mascara is also fantastic. It did not flake or smudge on me all day! 

L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara in Blackest Black retails for 7.99 and can be purchased anywhere L'Oreal is sold. If you are a budget consious gal L'Oreal offers a fabulous dollar off coupon on their Website!

Is there a new mascara or beauty product that you would like me to review?

Let me know in the comments below!

Sorority Saturday: Rush Guide!

So you finally made the decision that you want to join a sorority this year? You may feel a little scared or anxious about the unknown world of sorority rush week and sorority life in general but don't worry, you made an amazing decision that will impact your whole life. Joining a sorority was the best decision of my life. I would not trade people I have met, the confidence I have gained and the leader I have become for anything. Rush week is a lot to take in but hopefully this post will make things a little easier.

Terminology: 
From the moment you express interest in an organization you are considered a PNM which stands for Potential New Member.

The women who are currently in the sorority are called Actives. An Active is a sorority woman who has been initiated and actively participates in sorority events. 

You also may come across some girls who say they are on E-Board AKA Executive Board. These ladies are in-charge of making sure the sorority runs smoothly.

Some chapters may even have Alumna present during recruitment. These ladies have graduated from college and still play an important roll in sorority life, after all being in a sorority isn't just four years but for life!

You also will defiantly hear the word philanthropy used during rush week. A philanthropy is an organization or cause that the women help by donating time and money to.

Rho-Chi's, Rho Gamma's, Gamma Chi's:
All school's have different names for their recruitment councilors. These ladies disassociate from their organizations to guide you through the formal recruitment process and help you find your home. If you ever have a question about anything during recruitment she will be your lifeline.

Events/Parties:
Depending on your school the weeks festivities maybe called either events or parties. These are not the events or parties that you are used to. These events/parties will help you get to know more about the organization, and the sisters. It will also give the sisters a chance to get to know you and see if you will be a good fit for their chapter.

My Tips for Events/Parties:

1. Keep an open mind, give all the organizations a chance. Rush is all about finding your perfect fit.

2. Be yourself, let your amazing personality shine through.

3. Talk to everyone, you never know who you could make a connection with.

4. Smile, they are contagious and they show that you are excited and happy to be there :)

The Waiting Game:
Waiting to find out if you received a preference night invite or a bid can feel like forever, keep calm and keep yourself occupied. If you do not get an invite back to the sorority you had your heart set on do not get discouraged, it might have not been the right semester or the right fit.

My advice if you did not recieve a bid from the sorority you had your heart set on is :

1. Do not rule out the other sorority's on campus that did invite you back, they saw something special in you and think you will be a perfect fit.

2. Try again next semester, it might have not been the right time.

Always remember this, not recieving a bid does not refelct your worth. You are special in your own way and you have amazing qualities that those women may have overlooked.

Have any additional questions or any rush tips?

Let me know in the comments below!

Tight Squeeze: How to Get Croakies to Fit Any Frame

Croakies are THE summer accessory! Not only do they keep you from loosing or breaking your sunnies but they can be super cute too! The only downfall is that they don't fit every frame. I figured out the trick to get your favorite Croakies to fit any style from Aviators to Wayfarers. 

Step 1: Grab a small saucepan, fill it with water and bring to a boil. 

Step 2: Dip both ends of the Croakies into the water and hold them in there for about 10-20 seconds. 

Step 3: Dry off the ends.

Step 4: Slowly pull the Croakies on.

Viola!

Perfectly fitting, beach ready Croakies!

She Was a Day Tripper: Get the Most Out of Your Day Trip

Day trips are a fun way to escape reality for a little bit. Taking a day trip can be super fun and relaxing if done right. Here are my tips to get the most out of your day trip experience.

1. Research,research,research! 
Before you set sail always do some research on where you are going and what is in the area.This will make it easier for you to plan out where to shop, eat and more. One of my favorite websites is TripAdvisor it gives customer reviews and great information on thousands of destinations. 

2. Pack the night before!
Packing the night before ensures that you will not be rushed and forget to pack an important item. 

3. Pack snacks, drinks and a change of comfy clothes!
I always pack protein bars and bottles of water whenever I go on trips. They keep your energy up and save you some money. The night before your trip pour a little water out of your water bottles and place in the freezer overnight to have cold refreshing drinks all day. Another lifesaver is a pair of comfy yoga pants and a cozy sweater. Weather you are driving home or taking the ferry you will be so glad that you brought something comfy after a long day. 

4. Book a Tour! 
Booking a tour is one of the best ways to get the most of your day trip. Tours take the hassle and stress out of figuring out where everything is. They also teach you facts about the land and its history. One of the best tours I have ever experienced was through the Nantucket Bike Tour company. It was so much better experiencing the island by bike on a beautiful day then it would have been on a stuffy tour bus. The best thing is you only have to bring yourself and your camera! The tour provides the bikes, helmets, water bottles and fun!

5. Utilize public transportation. 
Using public transportation is the best way to save money and beat traffic. Some destinations offer day passes, take advantage of these! You can travel anywhere on Martha's Vineyard for 7 dollars a day or all over Boston for 12 dollars a day! With all the time and money you saved you can spend more time shopping! 

What tips do you have to get the most of a day trip? 

Let me know in the comments below!

Oh This Old Thing? : Spruce Up an Old Outfit to Save Some Cash

With fall semester quickly approaching I'm trying to make an attempt to save a little more and buy a little less. For a shop-a-holic this is an extremely difficult concept to grasp. To save a few bucks I decided to spruce up a few of my tried and true pieces with new accessories. You would be amazed at how a simple skinny belt can turn an old dress or chino shorts into something special. Some of my favorite places to buy inexpensive accessories are J.Crew Factory, Old Navy and Nordstrom they have such great pieces at such great prices. If statement necklaces are more your speed check out Bauble Bar! If you sign up for their emails you can get 15% off your first purchase and they also offer free shipping on all US orders! Another great savings tool all college students have is a student ID. I have been able to take 15% off my purchases at J.Crew and 10% off at Alex and Ani and Francesca's Boutique!

Here are some of my favorite clutches and belts from high-end to budget conscious.  These accessories can update almost anything in your closet! 

Clutches(From top to bottom): J. Crew Havana Clutch in Natural Gold / Lilly Pulitzer South Side Clutch in Oh Cabana Boy Metallic Gold / Old Navy Textured Fold-Over Clutch in Black

Belts(From top to bottom): J.Crew Factory Skinny Calf Hair Belt / Hinge "Skinny Bow" Belt in Pale Gold / Fossil Scallop Edge Leather Belt in Black 

Here are some of my favorite statement necklaces and bracelets from high-end to budget conscious.These accessories are sure to add some sparkle to your old favorites! Added Bonus some of these beautiful bracelets were made right here in New England!

Necklaces(from top to bottom): Forever 21 Blossom and Bloom Necklace / Bauble Bar Crystal Pheasant Bib Necklace / Bauble Bar Cape Knot Necklace

Bracelets(from top to bottom): Bourbon and Bowties Mother of Pearl Bangle / Alex and Ani Illumination Sacred Studs Bangle in Gold / Kiel James Patrick Cape Knot Hitch Bracelet

What assessories do you think bring new life to an old favorite? 

Let me know in the comments below.

Hot Hot Heat: My Favorite Summer Beauty Products

Summer for some is a time of humidity, frizzy hair, dry skin and no make-up. With the right products it does not have to be! Here are some of my holy grail summer beauty products.

 Face:

 Finding the perfect shade of foundation can be so hard especially if you spend most of your time outside. Pop Beauty's Colour Adapt CC Cream takes out all the guess work. It's color adapting beads adapt to your skin-tone perfectly leaving you with smooth even skin. It's super moisturizing, non-greasy and it feels so light on your skin. It also has super staying power even in humidity! 

 2-in-1 products are such a godsend during the summer! They can cut down on your time getting ready so you can spend your time doing more important things like relaxing on your boat, shopping or having family cookouts. My favorite go-to under eye concealer is Rimmel London's Match Perfection Skin Tone Adapting Concealer. It conceals and highlights in one easy step. It has a small brush for easy application, perfect for touch-ups on the go. This product blends out like a dream and has some serious staying power. I use the light/medium shade and I'm usually an NC 30 in MAC products.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny is my favorite year round bronzer. No matter how pale or tan I am this matte bronzer is always the perfect contouring shade. It glides on smoothly, stays all day and blends out to perfection. Best of all? It is super cheap and can be purchased at your local drugstore! If it ever shatters in your make-up bag during your summer travels it will not hurt your pocketbook and you can easily buy another one! 

Cream blushes are a summer staple for me. They give you such a natural and dewy glow and they eliminate the need for a highlighter. Finding a cream blush that can stand up to the summer heat can be a challenge. My favorite cream blush is NYX Cream Blush in Tickled. This peachy-gold flecked blush gives you the perfect flush, is velvety smooth and long lasting. The little flecks of gold in this blush give you such a lovely glow. My favorite way to apply this is with a Small Stipple Brush, it gives a light precise application.

Eyes:

If you are like me you love warm, bronzy, shimmery shades during the summer.The Urban Decay Naked Palette is my favorite palette during the summer. It features 12 gorgeous neutral colors that are sure to warm up your summer. Some of my favorite shades are Half-Baked (a shimmery gold), Sin (a shimmery champagne) and Toasted (a coppery rose gold).

Ever wanted to look hot on the beach but were too scared of having unflattering raccoon eyes? I have found the solution ladies! Lancome Hypnose Waterproof Mascara lengthens,adds volume and has staying power like no other mascara I have tried. This mascara held up for 6 hours at the beach on a humid 92 degree day which seriously impressed me.

Skin Care:

The summer sun and salt water can make your skin super dry. St. Ives Gently Nourished Oatmeal Scrub + Mask is a gentle, natural and hypoallergenic solution to dry summer skin. It scrubs away all the dead skin cells and also doubles as an oatmeal mask for radiant and soft skin. 

Hair Care:

 I have super frizzy hair and it's so hard to manage in the summer. I always end up throwing it up in a bun because it is so hard to deal with. Ever since I discovered this gem I have been able to wear my hair down all summer long. It makes my hair so sleek,easy to style and soiree ready. Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum can be purchased at your local hair salon for around 20-24 dollars. 

These are my summer beauty favorites, what are yours? 

Let me know in the comments below! 

My Perfect Summer Playlist

Summer may feel like it's slipping through our fingers but this playlist will keep you in the summer mode! These songs are the most played songs from my summer travels to the Cape, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

Click here to listen! 

What are your most played songs of the summer?