Spotted: Spring Lippies at Local Drugstores

Now that we're officially in Spring, our closets aren't the only thing that needs to be "Spring-ified." Our make up bags need a little changing up to incorporate the hot new trends as well. And I believe one of the easiest ways to do just that is a great new lipstick color.
Since I received so much positive feedback about Tiffany's beauty product reviews, I had her round up some great affordable Spring lipstick options for you all. Here are her picks for ones you all should try next time you're at Target.

Spring time is finally here! Time to swap those dark colors for more vibrant and pastel colors! I wanted to share with you guys some of my favorite lip products to use that are perfect colors for spring. I've chosen different formulas to benefit all sorts of preferences...

L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Balms - $5.99-7.99 [buy here]

The most basic lipsticks are lip balms! No one likes chapped lips and the Colour Riche Balms by L'Oreal Paris are the perfect on the go lippies for the ladies who don't like too much pigmentation. My favorite three are Caring Coral, Rose Elixir, and Legally Regal. Caring Coral and Rose Elixir are from the original collection. Many make-up gurus compared these balms to the Revlon Lip Butters (which have AMAZING pigmentation!!), but I see no comparison because they are complete two different formulas and products. These balms are great at providing some sheen and tint of lighter/brighter pigmentation to your lips. I love these for the days I barely wear any makeup! They are hydrating and are not over bearing if you like a more natural look. I just recently picked up Legally Regal from the new Spring '13 collection. There are several more pastels from this collection ... Don't let the blue balm turn you away, it's a transparent balm, but never the less the formulation of these balms are to die for! 

Maybelline Baby Lips [buy here] - $2.99-4 & Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick - $5.50-7.00 [buy here]

Maybelline Baby Lips have released tinted colors. The name says it all ... the formulation is made to turn your lips baby smooth within weeks of use. Not only is the packaging super adorable, their tinted colors have just enough color to give your lips more emphasis. They do not have as much sheen to them as the L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Balms, but the pigmentation is perfect for the ladies who prefer a simpler look. They are priced very well, it's hard to resist picking one up! Maybelline currently has released a set of limited edition colors that are available at your local drugstore.

Maybelline has definitely stepped up their game this Spring by launching their Vivids Collection! I fell absolutely in love with their daring colors for Spring. I recommend Vivid Rose, it's the most skin tone friendly for all shades of skin. I also absolutely adore Fuchsia Flash, I believe it's a dupe for Candy Yum Yum by Mac Cosmetics! If you are daring and love bold lips, you will adore this collection. These are definitely statement colors that have a beautiful satin finish on the lips. (Note: I used to HATE Maybelline lipsticks because they smelled like playdough to me, but it looks like Maybelline has worked of that issue and the smell is so faint, I barely notice it)

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - $7.50-8.50 [buy here]

For all you ladies who cannot stop smothering your babies and toddlers in kisses, but love lippies, this is the PERFECT product for you. The formulation is made to stain your lips without leaving any residue on your cups ... and children! From my own personal experience, it takes about two applications to get full pigmentation of color and after a few tissue kisses, the color isn't going anywhere! I even love the fact that the product has a minty scent and gives your lip that slight tingling sensation from the minty-ness. Don't let the jumbo pencil appearance scare you because it rolls up when twisting the bottom. Just color your lips and go! It has amazing lasting power also! With its moisturizing formula, no one can go wrong with these balm stains!

How amazing are these lipstick options? And all are under $10. I'm not going to lie I've never been fond of lipsticks but these recent collections released are quite impressive. So impressive I've found myself going back to grab some more colors. In my own personal opinion the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain's are the best things ever! And L'Oreal's Spring pastel collection comes in a close second. So if you're looking to add a little something new to your make-up routine this Spring why not try some of these fun lipsticks.
Hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend! And look for another beauty review from Tiffany next week. 

What I Wore: A Little Leopard and Army Green

This week has been crazy! We've had playdate after playdate, trying to squeeze in as much play time with LBD's Ms. Socal and her beautiful kiddies before they move across the country. And for weeks like this, there's nothing better than easy layers and a comfy pair of jeans. Anything that is easy to wash and can handle the rough and tumble play with these crazy kiddos is a necessity. 

I feel like this is when many mom's give into the typical "momiform," the sweats and yoga pants look. While I too am guilty of running out in the momiform, I try my hardest to take a few minutes and look presentable. I think that as a mom, we sometimes forget to take a few minutes to look at ourselves in the mirror because there just really isn't much time for that. However, I do feel that it is important that we take just a few minutes to dress ourselves and stop and primp, even if it's just for a dab of powder and some gloss. I know when I feel I look good, I walk with a little more pep in my step. And don't we all want to feel that way? 

One of my go-to pieces to create an easy, yet chic look, is my military inspired vest. It's such a versatile piece that's neutral enough to go with just about everything, from stripes to leopard print. I've found that throwing this vest over a simple top always seems to take an outfit that's just "eh" and make it a little more cool. I'm also quite found of mixing feminine and masculine. So pairing this vest with a dress is also a fun option. 

As a mom trying hard to squeeze 5 minutes of me time amid all the madness in my house is sometimes almost impossible, so easy layering pieces are the key to achieving an effortless and chic style. But you definitely don't have to break the bank doing so because places like H&M and Forever 21 offer some really great options.

The Details:

Vest: Forever 21 [same here] | Top: H&M [similar here] | Jeans: American Eagle [same here] | Shoes: Steve Madden [similar here] | Belt: Gap [similar here] | Necklace: J. Crew Factory [same here] | Bracelets: A Lotus Blossom Design [shop here] and Stella & Dot | Watch: Target [same here] | Sunnies: Vince Camuto [same here]

What are some of your favorite go-to pieces?

Spring Trend To Try: The Crop Top

So a good friend of mine which you may know, the soon to be ex-Ms. Socal, over at Lotus Blossom Design once mentioned to me that we should try the crop top look. And while at the time I didn't take it too seriously,  I've been giving it a lot more thought lately since it's been making it's appearance on and off the runaway. Take the celebs above, I think they all look spectacular in their crop tops and not the least bit like a late night streetwalker. Also, if you follow the blog, B Soup you will have noticed she recently dared to bare her abs in a crop top look too, which really made me consider trying this look. But when would this be appropriate? And where to find a worthy crop top that is still classy and chic. A bit of an oxymoron if you ask me, but if I'm to try this look I must find the perfect crop top.

As I began the search for this "perfect" crop top, I also needed to find the right occasion to wear such a thing...my upcoming Maui vacay! Ding, Ding, Ding! Where else is a crop top  perfect year round? Hawaii, duh!? I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but I guess if I'm going to try it why not in Maui.

And here are some that I found that might fit the bill of the "perfect" crop top.

H&M | Lashes of London | Forever 21 | River Island | Target [as seen on B Soup] | ASOS | TopShop | TopShop | Forever 21

Now I recently picked up the one from Target during a visit hoping to try it on at home before deciding if it was a keeper or not. Still haven't. Ha! But I am going to soon, as it looked great on Bethany at B Soup. However, I'm still considering one of these other ones. 

Will you dare to bare? 

What I Wore: Pretty Pastels

One of Spring's hottest trends, pastels, seems to be making it's appearance on and off the runway. As your typical girly girl, I have absolutely no complaints and these pretty sorbet shades couldn't be any easier to fall in love with. Even a pastel oxford shirt is made more feminine in these softer hues. And it just so happens, the hottest way to wear this trend currently is to wear a head to toe pastel ensemble. 

The Details:

Top: Joe Fresh for JCP [same here, see my review here] | Pants: Love 21 for Forever 21 [similar here] | Shoes: unknown [old, similar here] | Scarf: Forever 21 [similar here] | Bag: Jennifer Lopez for Kohls [similar here] | Necklace: J. Crew Factory| Bracelets: Groopdealz and Stella & Dot | Sunnies: Vince Camuto [same here]

Aren't these colors just so pretty? And they're perfect for Easter. Are you pairing pastels?

What I Wore: Studs + Flared Jeans

Since retro looks are all the rage, I felt it was time to break out my Frankie B's. It's been quite some time since these jeans have seen some day light but it just felt so right this weekend. I put my flared jeans away a long time ago, but it seems that this fit is making its come back. And it was actually really nice to be wearing something other then skinny jeans. However, I still can't help but feel like I'm in high school again when I wear flares and funny enough I'm coming up on my high school reunion. 

 Do you guys still have your flared jeans hiding in your closet? I'm not a hoarder or anything but I find it hard to get rid of clothes that were priced over $100 whether or not I actually paid retail value for them. I guess that's why I'm bad at the whole Spring cleaning thing. But I am trying and have quite a pile growing that I'm going to have to put up on Poshmark here very soon.

The Details:

Shirt: H&M [old, similar here] | Jeans: Frankie B [similar here] | Shoes: unknown [old, similar here] | Scarf: Old Navy [last worn here, similar here] | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac in Fresia [more colors here] | Necklaces: Nordstrom Rack and Groopdealz Monogram | Bracelets: A Lotus Blossom Design [shop here], J. Crew [similar here], Stella & Dot | Sunnies: Vince Camuto [same here] | Lipstick: L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Legally Regal [buy here]

Getting in some quality Mommy and Nugget time while big sis is napping. I'm pretty sure she's trying to devise a way to get a taste of the leaves she found. 

Hope you're week is off to a fabulous start!

What I Wore: Spring Is In The Air

Yay! It's finally Spring. Not that it really matters here in SoCal. But it's nice to say it's no longer Winter. Springtime is one of most beautiful here, it's warm out but not sweltering. I love being able to layer light pieces and wear bright colors. 

Yellow is probably one of my favorite colors to wear. And this pale yellow lace dress immediately caught my eye when I walked into H&M recently. There are a lot of eyelet dresses out right now, but finding the right one is always difficult. I've been looking for a dress like this for quite some time. It's fitted and has an A-line flare which I prefer to a fuller skirt. I can definitely see this being a perfect Easter dress and definitely one that can be dressed down with sandals for the Summer. [And this dress comes in white too.]

The Details:

Dress: H&M [recent, similar here and here] | Top: Joe Fresh [see my review here, same here] | Shoes: J. Crew Factory [same here] | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs for Neiman Marcus - Target, in Rose Gold [similar here] | Necklaces: Forever 21 and Groopdealz monogram necklace | Bracelets: Groopdealz enamel link, Kate Spade [similar here], and Stella & Dot | Sunnies: House of Harlow [same here] | Lips: Revlon Just -Bitten - Kissable in Love Sick [buy here] | Nails: Essie in Bikini So Teeny [Summer 2012 re-released for 2013, check your local Target]

The girls and I decided to surprise Daddy with lunch at work. Ha! They don't look excited here, but trust me they were going nuts hanging out with their daddy. Then it was off to see the Easter Bunny at the mall.

Review: Joe Fresh for JCPenney

This Canadian based company launched it's collection for JCPenney this week. I was super excited to check it out. I've seen many other bloggers wearing Joe Fresh, so this collaboration couldn't have come at a better time.
Joe Fresh offers women's essentials at afforadable prices. I would say they are comparable to that of H&M, Target and Gap. The JCPenney collection includes your classic button down shirt in an array of colors much like J. Crew. This is a great way to get that classic J. Crew look without shelling out the big bucks. And going along with the popular colored denim trend they also offer skinny jeans in just about every color. So you can see why I was so excited for this collaboration. But like any department store clothing brand, I was prepared for everything to be too big. And I was right. They offer the typical department store sizes 2-16 and XS-XXL. This is what I don't get, they can offer an XXL but not an XXS. It would make their clothing that much more accessible if they did. Despite this problem, I did find that they're essential button-ups do run small enough that an XS fit quite nicely. And with all the color choices it was hard not to want to grab them all. I only picked up 2 on this trip if you're wondering. Be warned, if you are any smaller then me you're definitely not going to fit the button-ups.  I didn't even bother trying they're bottoms or dresses just by their sizing, I knew they weren't going to fit. And when I held them up my beliefs were confirmed. For those of you that can fit them, they have some beautiful options. However, I did try on a couple of their crochet and lace shells. But just like most everything else they were just too big. I really wish they did fit because their prices are great and the quality didn't seem to be lacking, which I think for JCPenney that's a good thing. I've never found JCPenney to have great quality clothing and really do appreciate that they're attempting to step up their game with this collaboration. I'm hoping that with time maybe they'll offer more extended sizes or create a petites collection.   All in all, I definitely think that if you aren't on the petite side this is definitely a collection you should check out.

FYI: I'm not really a petite, I find myself generally on the edge of petites and regulars. At 5'4 I generally take regular sizes in most everything. I do find that if petites are offered, bottoms are better fitting in a petite size because I have narrow hips and not much going on in the rear end department. But shirts I definitely get regular sizes otherwise they're too short. I take a petite only at J.Crew, Ann Taylor, and Loft. ASOS petites run very small so I always take a regular with their items. Hope this helps you gauge your sizes.
So go and 'Joe Fresh' your closet up for Spring.

What I Wore: A Little Prabal Gurung and Target Love

The Prabal Gurung for Target collaboration launched last month and it's now on sale at your local Target store. There was nothing in the collection I wanted more then the sought after neon ankle strap heels and luckily there was one left in my size. WooHoo! I swear I checked several times at all 4 stores in my area and none had them. But while I was stopping in to grab some diapers and snacks for the little ones, I wandered through and noticed the entire collection was on sale. So I headed directly to the shoe department to see if they had any and to my surprise there they were, the neon heels. I definitely did the happy dance in the store at that moment. I mean I've become a little crazy about neon's and bright colors in general. I've never been one to wear tons of black. So this trend just hits the spot.

 You can kind of see I'm still excited about my Target find. I could not wait to wear these pretty shoes. Only downfall these shoes run a tad big. I'm definitely going to have to grab some inserts and we'll be all set. Even so, these heels are quite comfy and perfect for the warmer days ahead.

The Details:

Blazer: Target [similar here, saw a similar one also at H&M on sale for $15 currently] | Top: Armani Exchange [similar here and here] | Jeans: American Eagle [same here] | Shoes: Prabal Gurung [similar here] | Bag: Target [last worn here, similar here] | Bracelets: Lotus Blossom Design [shop here], Groopdealz [similar here] | Sunnies: Vince Camuto [same here] 

I cannot get over how much Target has been stepping up their game in the fashion department. It makes going to Target and walking out with just what I came for almost impossible to do. I am always getting sidetracked with all sorts of things. They're collaborations with high end designers just seem to be hitting the spot. 

Speaking of collaborations, stay tuned because I'll be reviewing the Joe Fresh for JCPenney later this week.

What I Wore: Sequins + Floral

With Spring in the air and temperatures in the 80's, all I want to do is wear twirly skirts.  And this floral skirt just screams Spring. I'm not even sure how long I've had this skirt, but I do know it's one of my favorites.

 A great floral print skirt is perfect for pairing with stripes. It's a little bit nautical with a feminine flair, and I do have a love for nautical styles. Lastly, throw on a neutral blazer in a similar tone for the evenings when the temperature inevitably drops and the wind picks up. 

The Details:

Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch [another keeper from my Brand Rep days, similar here] | Shirt: J. Crew [similar here & here] | Skirt: Forever 21 [old, similar here] | Shoes: Steve Madden via TJ Maxx [similar here] | Necklace: unknown via Nordstrom Rack [last worn here, similar here] | Bracelet: Stella & Dot | Rings: GroopDealz