The Monogrammed Life: April 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013 No comments

Friday, April 26, 2013 3 comments

Seriously, y'all, if I could get paid for being a beach bum, I'd be really, really successful. Most likely a 25-year old retiree. Just saying...

With that being said, I can't help but get excited about new swimmy suits. I am all about swimsuits. Not exaggerating. I'd rather spend twice as much on a swimsuit as I do a pair of shoes or a new purse. It's just my thang...

I do have a few rules when it comes to purchasing the said article of clothing:

[ONE] Price IS a proxy for premium. Don't forget that ladies. I have spent a pretty penny on many, many swimsuits and you know what...it's damn worth it. They don't fall apart, the colors don't fade, the butt doesn't sag halfway through the season and they tend to not snag as easily. Not just that but as with any higher-end article of clothing, it just plain fits better. My butt cheeks stay in place, the padding doesn't get all funky inside and my muffin-top "magically" disappears...

Don't get me wrong...I'm all about Tarjay's swimsuits because their price tag is rather persuading but I prepare myself with the fact that [1] every other girl and her dog will probably have it on and [2] it probably won't last me until the end of summer.

While I may not be a swimsuit expert, I do have my"regulations" when it comes to swimsuit shopping:

***

ABSOLUTELY NO:

[2] SOLIDS:

I hate solid swimsuits. SO BORING!!!! This is the ONE thing you can go crazy with. Why waste your money on something so lame? {Gag. No thanks.}

[3] MISMATCHING:

This drives me absolutely nuts. It's not cute. It DOESN'T match! Really...this so-called "trend" will never make sense to me.

[4] TRIANGLE TOPS:

Sure I have a few of these laying around but they're really not for me anymore. First of all, they flatten me out like a pancake. Scratch that...they make my ta-tas look concaved and, well, that's just not cute...I don't care who you are. Second, the idea of my back fat rolling over the thin little string on the sides makes me want to vom. Not attractive ladies. (And yes-I have back fat...)

[5] TIES ON HIPS:

I don't know the technical word for this but it's the bottoms that have, well, a tie on the hips. Again, I have my fair share of these from previous years but here lately, I feel like they put me back in my braces, awkward, no-hips, teenage years. Plus-they emphasize el-hippos...an area I don't need help with. Thanks but no thanks.

YES:

[6] RUFFLES/BOWS:

Seriously...the girlier the better. Beau can't STAND it and often times, deems me to the kiddie pool but what does he know?? I say: ruffle it up, ladies!

[7] BRIGHTS:

I have never been a dark/dull colored swimsuit person. Sure-I've had my fair share of dark swimsuits but they always pack a hot pink or lime green punch to 'em. It's summertime! Be LOUD for Pete's sake!

[8] STRAPLESS:

I'm okay with tanlines, really, but if I have the option, I'd rather not have those obnoxious lines that show when I wear a strapless dress. Bandeau tops are my frands.

[9] UNIQUE:

If there's one thing I can't stand it's having the same swimsuit as someone else...especially if that someone else is a string-bean and they look ten times better in it than I do. I'm all for being original when it comes to your bikini. That's all there is to it.

***

A few beauties I'm currently lusting over:

(The swimsuits, people. Not the actual "beauties")

via

via

via

Now if I could just have this girl's "upper half", I'd be a happy girl!via

via

via

We can't wait until bathing suit season! We love this post from Stephanie at BEAUtiful Mess. Of course, the list would be complete without our new Monogrammed Chevron Bandeau Top! Get yours at Marleylilly.com!

Black and White Chevron Bandeau Top

Who else is SO ready to spend every Saturday and Sunday in the sun?

Posted by Stephanie from BEAUtiful Mess

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 No comments

Monday, April 22, 2013 12 comments

Saturday, April 20, 2013 8 comments

Friday, April 19, 2013 No comments

Maybe I've become really cheap in my old days. Perhaps it's just my inner bargainista. Or possibly it's the simple fact that I'd rather spend my money on furniture and house decor than I do clothes and makeup. Maybe I'm alone when I say I'm OVER spending an arm and a leg on hair and make up products but something deep down tells me there's millions of other women who feel the exact same way.

Whatever it may be, I have come across some incredible beauty buys that I couldn't help but share with the world. Ahem: the blogging world, that is.

1. Suave Keratin Shampoo & Conditioner: holy amazingness. I was a Paul Mitchell girl for years...YEARS...until I had to stop using it because all of their products have panthenol in them. (Panthenol = no bueno for the pores.) My mom told me about this stuff and I thought to myself "Suave? Pssssh..." Never in a million years did I think I'd ever purchase a bottle. Now...I can't buy enough of it! It's panthenol-free and works wonders! My hair is thicker, shinier and has been growing like no tomorrow. Even my hair girl made a comment about it! Which brings me to my next two products...

2. Suave Dry Shampoo: For all you greasy-headed kids out there, run to your nearest Target and purchase a case of this bottled gold. I've had greasy hair my WHOLE life (all 26 years, ya know) and this is by far the BEST dry shampoo I've yet to find. Best part-it's only $3. Yes.

3. Suave Leave-In Conditioner: Same as the shampoo and conditioner, this stuff does NOT disappoint. I want to say the bottle is like $3, lasts forever and works like a charm. Again, this one is panthenol-free, too, and works the same, if not better, than my old flame, Paul Mitchell Super Strong Leave-In. (Yes-I miss that stuff. No-I do not miss the price tag.)

4. Baby Lips: All my fellow lip balm addictees, you'll be pissed you didn't know about this sooner. Just take my advice on this one, mmmkay?

5. Elf Cream Eyeliner: I've talked about this before and I'll talk about it again. La-la-la-la-LOVE this stuff. Again, I want to say it's like $3 and the tub lasts for-ev-er. It goes on okay with the tiny brush that comes with it but it goes on amazing when you use Elf's angled eyeliner brush!

6. Revlon Colorstay Foundation: I cannot POSSIBLY say enough good things about this foundation. Along with an oily head, I was also blessed with uber-oily skin. I've used Dior Airbrush Foundation, Makeup Forever Foundation, MAC, Elf, etc...and it never failed...my face looked like a slip-n-slide by 10am. The Colorstay is, hands down, my absolute FAVORITE foundation to ever grace my skin. My face is rarely shiny, if at all, and it stays on all. day. long. Plus-it's panthenol-free, too!(Muy importante for my acne-prone girls out there!)

7. Elf Lipgloss: I was skeptical about this stuff the first time I tried it but lo and behold, it completely won me over the 5th time I tried it. My favorite color is "Fairy" and the best part, it only costs 1 dollhair.

8. Revlon Colorstay Powder: Repeat #6. Amazing stuff, I tell ya, and goes on GREAT with the Colorstay foundation.

9. Elf Stipple Brush: lets just say I'm a little bitter about that fact that I spent my hard-earned $50 on the stupid MAC stipple brush when this one was a whopping $6 AND works better.

10. Maybelline Love Lash: Ahhh the infamous pink and green tube. I have tried this mascara SO many times only to be disappointed every single time, that was, until I got the RIGHT pink and green tube. From Diorshow to Lacomes Definicil, Lash Love trumps those, in my book. Girls...you MUST run to your nearest Tarjay and buy this stuff STAT. It's separates your lashes perfectly, does NOT clump or flake and gives your lashes the length they deserve.

I'm the last person to look to for beauty advice and I'm definitely no PinkLouLou when I comes to this stuff, I know, but these are a few recent finds I know I'll be using (& loving) for a long, long time! And the best part, you can find them all at good ol' Target for less than $10 each. :) You're so welcome!

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