Rogue One | Movie Review (No Spoilers)

"I'm one with the force and the force is with me" - Chirrut Imwe

You know when you go a fancy, made per order restaurant? You decide what you want and the waiter tells you it'll be approximately an hour before your meal will be served, so you order an appetizer. 

You have a couple glasses of merlot and eat your way through the garlic bread. As you continue to wait for your main course you think albeit the garlic bread was delicious, it's not what you came for. You're satisfied but still wanting.

That's exactly how I felt after watching Rogue One. It was good and it'll do until the next one, but it wasn't what I came for. 

Snow & Lace | Holiday Undergarments

"Lingerie is the maximum expression of a woman's femininity." - Dolce & Gabbana

It's finally my favourite time of year again! From dinners to parties, the Christmas season is the perfect time to pull out all your cutest and sexiest dresses. From your favourite scent to your go to heels, Christmas is a wonderful excuse to bust out all your best, feel good pieces. 

For me, feeling good goes right down to the undergarments. Nothing makes me feel more on top of the world than a sexy, lacy bra and panty set. A ladies delicates can be quite expensive, especially when they're good quality. AdoreMe has a wide variety of feminine and sexy bra and panty sets for amazing prices! The sets are really customizable as you can choose the underwear style you like as well as the type of bra you prefer. And your first order is just $29.95! 

This holiday season for me, it's all about lace. I love the delicacy, femininity and sex appeal of lace. I think it's the kind of fabric that leaves a lot to the imagination. 

What is your go to piece to feel good for the holidays? Do let me know in the comments! And make sure to check out the amazing things AdoreMe has to offer- from bras and panties, to lingerie, to sleepwear and more. Happy holidays ladies!

Casual Not Homeless | OOTD: Exam Week Edit

"Decided to dress up tomorrow. I may fail my final but I'll be damned if I don't look fabulous doing it."

It's so tempting during exam week to become a full on bum, wearing jogging pants and oversized sweaters. Not wearing any makeup and letting your hair become a rats nest. I myself am SO tempted during this time of year to let everything fall to the way-side and devote every second to studying. However, I've found for myself that looking half decent can be a huge asset during exam time. There's something about looking good that makes me feel confident walking into an exam. 

Now I know what you're thinking, "but Katelyn, taking the time to get ready in the morning is time I could spend revising more!" Too true, girl. I know. When it comes to an outfit, I'm not talking anything crazy. Take off those jogging pants and wear your favourite, ass hugging, curve loving jeans. Pairing your favourite jeans with a plain shirt creates a casual, but still presentable outfit that you will feel comfortable and confident in. 

When it comes to makeup, I keep it really simple. I conceal my under eyes and my myriad of stress induced spots and powder to hide my nervous sweat shine. I always fill in my brows and apply mascara everyday. When I have a few extra minutes I'll add some liquid liner and blend a warm brown eyeshadow through my crease. With time (and patience) being short this time of year, I fore-go the lipstick and keep it simple with a glossy chapstick. 

For hair, I want it out of my face whilst writing a test. My go to hair style for an exam is a sleek but messy ballerina bun. It's effortlessly chic, keeps my hair out of my face, and takes very little time to pull off. 

Exam time doesn't mean we all have to take on the roll of homeless looking, junk food eating college kids. If you take the time to make yourself look and feel good it will do so much for your mental health. Overstudying can be just as bad as understudying and taking a few minutes to do something that makes you feel a little more relaxed can't do any harm in this very stressful time. 

Good luck to all of you writing exams! You're going to crush them! 

Mid Month Edit | Top Five Photos

"I walk, I look, I see, I stop, I photograph" -Leon Levinstein, 1955

Caleb.

Gradient.

TakeMeToTheMoon.

Trespassing.

Supermoon2016

Her Face for Less | Edit: Anna Saccone

I love watching makeup tutorials on YouTube and using them for inspiration in my own makeup routine. I've decided that I am going to practice a spending ban for the month of November, buying only things I need. The problem with this is that when I watch the makeup looks and see the products they use I tend to want to buy them straight away! For the month of November I've decided to try something new and recreate the makeup looks I love using only drugstore products I already own! 

For the first post in this 'her face for less' series I chose Anna Saccone's newest everyday makeup tutorial. I love this look, I think it's super pretty and simple while still being shimmery and glowing.

I'm pretty sure these are going to be the products I use for the majority of these makeup looks as they are my favourite products from my makeup collection. 

1. Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless in 120 Natural Ivory

2. Concealer: Rimmel Wake Me Up in 125 Very Fair

3. Powder: NYX Stay Matte but Not Flat in 02 Nude 

4. Bronzer: Revlon Bronzer in 012 Bronzilla

5. Blush: Revlon Powder Blush in 003 Mauvelous 

6. Brows: e.l.f. Gel & Powder Eyebrow Kit in Medium

7. Eyeshadow: Smashbox Full Exposure Palette; S4 inner corner and under brow bone, S5 all over lid, M1 in crease and lower lash line, M7 tight line and 1/3 lower lash line 

8. Eyeliner: NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black (used scotch tape to create precise line)

9. Lips: NYX retractable lip liner in 10 Nude with 06 Nude Pink over top 

10. Mascara: Covergirl LashBlast Volume Waterproof in Very Black 

  I'm really happy with the finished look! I think it's one that I would wear on a regular basis. 

Anna's Products

Bare Minerals Concealer in Summer Bisque (Kit: $49)

Bare Minerals Original Foundation in Medium Beige (Kit: $49)

Bare Minerals Miracle Veil (Kit: $49)

Bare Minerals Bronzer Warmth ($21)

Laura Geller Bronze & Brighten in Fair($33)

Benefit Browzings in Medium ($42)
Charlotte Tilbury The Golden Goddess Eyeshadow Palette ($64)
YSL Shocking Eyeliner in Black ($39)
Makeup Forever Waterproof Eye Pencil ($25)
YSL Luxurious Mascara for False Lash Effect ($37)
Bobbi Brown Lip Liner in Cocoa ($25)
Mac Lipstick in Blankety ($21)
total: $356

My Products
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation in 112 ($8)
Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 125 Very Fair ($8.50) 
NYX Stay Matte but Not Flat in Nude ($9.50)
Revlon Bronzer in 012 Bronzilla ($9)
Revlon Blush in 003 Mauvelous ($9)
e.l.f Gel & Powder Eyebrow Kit in Medium ($3)
Smashbox Full Exposure Palette ($62)
NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black ($9.50)
NYX Retractable Lip Liner in 10 Nude ($5)
NYX Retractable Lip Liner in 06 Nude Pink ($5)
CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Very Black ($9)
total: $137.50

Saving $218.50 for this look, I mean I can't complain what so ever! I definitely could have used a L'Oreal or Maybelline nudes palette to make this look even cheaper, but alas I'm still very obsessed with my Smashbox palette haha. 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know in a comment if there's another look you'd like me to recreate for less!

Thanks for reading & stay beautiful*

Back to Beauty | October Beauty Favs!

Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the World 
-Marilyn Monroe 

A one month hiatus from this blog was far too long, but much needed. I was (obviously) in a really bad place toward the end of September and I needed the time to myself to press pause and reset. 

During that time I got back into makeup, hair & all things beauty which is a joy of mine that I had forgotten. Making the time to do my hair and makeup in the morning has become my norm again. I find it calming, enjoyable, fun, and it helps me to feel a little more confident in my own skin stepping out in to the world. 

Since taking this hiatus from beauty, I have jumped in head first and have some lovely products to share with you all today! 

Starting with skin care, I've been really enjoying the Garnier Pure Active 3in1 face wash. I use it every morning and the scent really wakes me up. I tend to shy away from products containing salicylic acid despite my acne prone skin because I find it to be really drying. However, this face wash also includes eucalyptus oil and aloe vera which make it a really hydrating and effective cleanser. Not to mention it's super affordable!

I'm not sure if deodorant really fits into a beauty product but I'm going to include it anyways! The Lady Speed Stick Unstoppable deodorant in the scent Charismatic smells absolutely amazing to start! It also keeps my underarms sweat free all day keeping me from having wet patches under my arms. What I like most about this deodorant is that it has aloe vera in it which keeps my underarms from being irritated or dry. 

Please ignore the slight chip on the tip of my index finger. I've actually been wearing this Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish on my nails for eight days in a row now and that's the only chip I have! I think that speaks for itself on why I've been loving this polish. The whole line is fantastic but this shade, Wine Stock, has been my go to recently. Make sure you buy the top coat and use it together with the colour coat or else the polish doesn't really work how it's supposed to! The top coat is what makes the real difference. 

Anytime I've worn foundation in the past two months it has been the Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless foundation. I've recently had to drop a shade from 120 to 112 as my tan slowly disappears (tear). I love this foundation! It's super affordable, covers well, lasts for ages, and doesn't break me out. It's a winner all around in my books! This is a great foundation and I'd recommend it to anyone who has normal, combination, or oily skin (may want to avoid if your skin is quite dry). There is a wide selection of shades for lighter skin tones, some with pink undertones, some with more yellow undertones, and some with neutral undertones. If you are a darker skinned person looking to use this foundation, however, you may find the shade selection to be seriously lacking.

I've been really enjoying using different lip colours to change up my everyday makeup look lately. My choice is the NYX mechanical lip liner; not just to line my lips but as an overall colour! I think they're so smooth and buttery and glide onto the lip like an absolute dream. They last all day and don't smudge or wear away while I'm eating or drinking. The five above have been my favourite shades coming into fall; 12 Dark Red, 06 Nude Pink, 02 Nectar, 08 Sand Beige, and 10 Nude. I'm sure now that November is here and continuing on into December, I will be reaching more toward the darker colours and berry tones. 

I've always stuck by my eyebrow pencils and tended to shy away from waxes as it seemed so daunting! However, I am obsessed with the e.l.f. Gel & Powder Eyebrow Kit. I got mine in the shade medium. I also picked up the dual ended brow brush. This has become my new favourite method of filling in my brows! I think it looks so natural and the colour match is perfect for my hair colour. I start by using the spoolie end of the brush to comb out my brows. I then used the angled end of the brush with the gel to shape and fill my brows, followed by the lighter powder to set the gel using the fluffy end of the brush the duo came with. This product has been a game changer!

I've been on the hunt for a good drugstore liquid eyeliner for ages. I've tried endless products by many brands and all were falling short of my expectations. In a liquid eyeliner I look for it to be a deep, opaque black, easy to use, not irritating to my eyes, waterproof, and precise. All of my boxes were finally ticked by the NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black. I have fallen in love with this eyeliner pen!

Which brings me to my next favourite; winged liner! If you want a tutorial on this look do let me know as it's been my everyday makeup for about a month now!

Thanks as always for reading & thank you even MORE for being so patient with me and my lack of blog posts. Hopefully I will be able to stick with once per week. 

What beauty products have you been loving this month? Do let me know in a comment!

October 5, 2000 to May 15, 2007 | Gilmore Girls Review

Let us all take a moment of silence for the seven year, seven season television masterpiece that was Gilmore Girls...

I have never felt more connected to a television program in my entire life. I felt as though I could connect to every single character at one point or another throughout the seven seasons. 

Rory Gilmore 

I relate most to her love of books and her craving for knowledge. I loved watching her grow and find herself from high school through to college graduation. I resonate with her innocence and strive to be as strong as she was able to become. I fell in love with her kindness, joy, and immense love for everyone around her. Not to mention she's amazingly witty and stunning!

Lorelai Gilmore

I hope one day I can be for my own daughter what Lorelai was for Rory. I really saw myself most in Lorelai's love life. I never know exactly what I want and I tend to make the wrong decision. Her wit always kept me on my toes and I had great admiration for her when it came to familial dedication. She was someone who could appreciate all the amazing people in her life and love them for who they were despite quirks and faults.

Luke Danes

Every girl dreams of a man as kind, compassionate, and loyal as Luke Danes. I found myself in his inability to express emotion- like him I am terrible with communication especially when it comes to romance. Also like him, I can be quite hot headed!

Sookie St.James

Okay, she's crazy- which of course everyone can relate to! I loved Sookie's passion for career, her family, her friends, and her town. She was loyal to a fault, a great mother, an honest woman, and a beautiful friend to Lorelai. 

Emily Gilmore

On a surface level it was easy for me to relate to Emily's desire for cleanliness and order. Once Emily's character developed I fell more and more in love with her. She had a beautiful dedication to her family, especially her husband Richard. Her love for Lorelai was shown in the worst way but it was evident through every action she took. Emily always had such great intentions but it seemed nothing ever turned out the way she had planned it to- something I can very much relate to. The combination of quick whit, sarcasm, cynicism, and a heart of gold allowed Emily to quickly became one of my favourite characters on the show.

Lane Kim

In the beginning I wasn't Lane's biggest fan but I grew to really adore her once the secret was out about what was hiding beneath her floor boards. I loved Lane's sense of self and her integrity. It takes a strong woman to stand up to her mother and follow her passions (as unconventional as they may be). I also admired her honesty to others as well as to herself. Her revelation about waiting to "be with" Zack until marriage threw me for a loop but I gained a lot of respect for Lane for staying true to what she felt was right for her as a woman.

Jess Mariano

I fell in love with this boy and fell in love with him again when he returned to the show as a man. Jess is exactly who I picture myself with in the future- a quiet, misunderstood, honest man who is well read, artistic, passionate, and bold. His rough exterior housed a fragile and beautiful soul that had deep respect for women, literature, and life. He blossomed from a bitter, abandoned boy into a mature, gentle man.

Paris Geller

I couldn't not mention Paris! This girl had so much spunk. Even when we were supposed to hate her I couldn't help but enjoy myself every time she came on screen. There's something so beautiful about a girl who knows what she wants and will not stop until she gets it. She has a no holds barred personality and a brash way of going about things. Despite her social ineptitude, her friendship was invaluable and her ability to care deeply for people was astounding.

The show covered so many topics over the seven season- love, relationships, high school, college, lies, trust, moving on, growing up, etc- and I learned from every single one of them. It was an easy show to watch as it was usually fairly light hearted. Even the hard stuff was made manageable through witty remarks (and silly small town squabbles). 

The end of the show was so bitter sweet for me. I was glad to see all the characters wrapping up their problems and moving forward but I also didn't want it to end! It was so unfinished! Of course the way Lorelai's love life finished was so satisfying but I felt as though Rory's had so many unanswered questions.

Gilmore Girl's is definitely a show I would recommend! I loved it and I know so many other people who love it as much as I do! 

Check it out!

xo, Katie