OOTD: It's been a couple of weeks!

Hola!

I apologize for my lack of recent posts! I have been a busy bee. My mom came down from Northern California for a week and we have been pretty social lately. Sometimes we get in the habit of being total homebodies, which I am ok with, but it's been nice going out more and having a little bit of an adult social life. (That sounds porn-ish. It was not meant to be. LOL)

I wish that I had a personal photographer everyday for all of my favorite outfits, but here are some of my outfits from last week. Here's hoping that I get back on a good blogging routine!!

Dress: Torrid, size 2 (sold out online)

Blazer: Torrid, size 2

Earrings: Sampled

Sandals: Super old Torrid

Dress: Torrid size 3

Blazer:Torrid, size 2

Belt: Torrid (sold out online)

Necklace: Super old Torrid

Shoes: Super old Payless

Top: Old Torrid

Skirt: Old Avenue

Belt: Thrifted

Shoes: Lane Bryant

Necklace: I made... just a charm from a craft store and long chain

Dress: Lane Bryant, size 22

Shoes:Old Navy, size 10, green sold out online

Necklace: Thrifted

Sunglasses: Target

So there was last week's outfits. I felt very girly all week... but I always feel girly, soooo...

Also, I have to share my new summer love. I don't know if you love spray tanning as much as I do, but it's expensive! I like the Mystic Tans the best, but it's $30 per tan and you are lucky if it lasts more than 4 days, and that is if you do not exfoliate during those 4 days. But I LOVE exfoliating. So I needed to find a new solution. My new solution... Sally Hansen's Airbrush Legs. 

I love this stuff!! And I can get about 2 weeks of use in one can. There is a gold sheen too that it gives your legs, and I feel so confident wearing shorter dresses with a pair of tan gams. I get the lighter glow, and it is sweat proof and stays on all day. No really... all day! You just wash it away with soap and water. I swear by this stuff. It covers everything up and makes your legs look pretty flawless. 

Here are a few tips to getting your legs all tan and glowy: 

• Exfoliate those stems!! I am a loofah whore, and I love a good scrub. My favorite scrub is made right in my kitchen. (Honey and brown sugar!) 
• After your bath/shower, put some good lotion on like cocoa butter. Wait to put the Airbrush legs on a bit.
• For a nice even coverage, spray on your hands and rub on. It will be nice and light. For a heavier coverage, spray onto your legs and rub over more of the leg area, (you will use it up faster this way, but your legs will be, oh sooo tan and lushy!)
• Put your undies (or in my case, your SPANX), on before you airbrush. Trust me. 
• Wash those hands before you put on anything else!

Voila, your legs are ready for a short skirt and the summer sun!!

Ok, I will try and blog more next week. Have a great weekend friends!!

2011: These are a few of my favorite things!

With 2011 coming to a close, I would like to look back and thank the beauty products that really made my year.  I am a huge bargain hunter, so most of these products retail for not so much. My shampoo is probably the most expensive and to be honest... I do not buy it for myself. My parents always buy it for me for birthdays/holidays. If they stop buying it for me, then I will have to find a new hair regime (crossing my fingers that never happens!)

So onto my favorite products!

WEN Cleansing Conditioner - I love my hair, so I use this little pricey gem of a product. I swear by it though! It keeps your color like no other, and it is such a great alternative to shampoo. You massage the cream into your hair and leave it for a few minutes. Then you rinse it out and voila!!

http://www.wenhaircare.com/

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap in lavender - Not only is this stuff so pure and chemical free, it cleans your skin and leaves it soft and free of any residue. I love all the crazy rants and raves all over the bottle, and I feel good that it's eco friendly. I use it on my dogs, my husband uses it, I will use it on my babies. 

http://www.drbronner.com/

C.Booth Peppermint Foot Lotion - Oh man, I heart this stuff. The peppermint scent is not overwhelming and it gives off just the slightest tingle! I rub it all over my legs too because it makes your skin feel so velvety.

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2164351&productId=xlsImpprod1320102&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat110030 

Toms of Maine Wild Lavender Deodorant - I try to use organic and eco-friendly as much as possible. I have read so many articles about the dangers of aluminum based deodorants that I thought I would give this safe, aluminum free deodorant a chance. Now, I do not sweat too much that I would need an anti-perspirant, so this is just perfect for me. Also, I do not break out in rashes anymore from the harsh chemicals. 

http://www.tomsofmaine.com/home?cid=search_tomsofmaine_branded_branded_general_misspellings

Sinful Colors Nail Polish - Ok, so Walgreens is like the only place that I find an amazing assortment of these great polishes. These are not as rich as OPI, but they really hold up well for a polish! And seriously, can you really turn down $1.99 a bottle? I buy them like crazy and they are guilt free. OPI polish is $8.00 a bottle! That is insane!

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/sinful-colors-professional-nail-enamel/ID=prod1550389-product

No& High Lights Illuminating Lotion - I would much rather pay $12.99 for a big bottle of this little face magic than $25 for a small bottle of Benefit's High beam. This stuff is less gooey too and I feel like it goes on much more sheer. I like to put it on my cheek bones or mix it with my foundation for an all-over glow. I can not live without it!

http://www.drugstore.com/boots-no7-highlights-illuminating-lotion/qxp219507

Candy Kisses Lip Gloss - My first kiss at age 13, tasted like Candy Kisses in Watermelon. I had read an ad in Sassy Magazine (remember Sassy?!), that talked about a first kiss with a guy and feeling embarrassed by the "cheery lube job" chapstick. That next summer, I knew who I would be kissing, so I stocked up on my Candy Kisses and Big Red gum. My first kiss was pretty great and I have never stopped buying this product. You can not find them in drug stores anymore, so you would have to order online, which is fine by me because the whole set is $10.50 and they last forever!

(I wonder if my first kiss remembers the taste of my lips that night?!)

http://www.drugstore.com/boots-no7-highlights-illuminating-lotion/qxp219507

Maybelline Baby Lips - Second to my Candy Kisses, comes Maybelline's new grown-up lip balm. They taste sweet and mild and leave the slightest tint on your lips. I love how moisturized they make my lips!

http://www.maybelline.com/products/154/lips/lip-color/baby-lips/quenched/005?shadeId=839&cm_mmc=LabeliumSearch-_-GoogleBrand-_-MNY+Lips-_-maybelline%20baby%20lips

Pedi-scrub Foot Buffer - OMG, try this once and tell me that they are not amazing. The built in soap and moisturizers leave your dogs clean, soft and fresh feeling. They last for a long time too. 

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2157769&productId=xlsImpprod600316&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat110030

John Frieda Hair Color Foam - I am an avid home hair colorist and I have tried them all. This product takes the cake! The foam is amazing and spreads evenly. The scent is actually quite nice and there is almost no drip. One bottle on my shoulder length hair is perfect and for $12.00, it's worth the slightly higher price. My only wish, is that they would offer a wider range of reds. 

http://www.johnfrieda.com/en-US/homecolour/landing.aspx?trk_semgrp=pfc_color&trk_semcamp=jf_pfc_brand&trk_semterm=john+frieda+hair+color&trk_semeng=g&trk_medium=p&trk_semmatch=exact&trk_semadid=7338071789&gclid=CIeK1JufqK0CFQduhwodeUtAmQ

Alba Organics Jasmine and Vitamin E Face Moisture Cream - This cream is light enough where I do not feel it being too heavy and rich enough where I feel it working. I have used this stuff for quite some time and I just love it!

http://www.albabotanica.com/face/moisturizers.html

Torrid Racer-back Bra - Changed my life. I was a loyal Lane Bryant Bra customer even though I work for Torrid. But then this past year, Torrid re-did their bra line and I am hooked. Have not worn a Lane Bryant Bra since. The racer-back is my fave, but the extreme push-up is pretty amazing too. 

http://www.torrid.com/torrid/Intimates/Bras.jsp

Benefit Ooh La Lift - This eye high-lighter makes me look half awake in the morning and really luxe. I love the product, (wish it was cheaper), but have not found anything comparable. 

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2202097&productId=xlsImpprod1060432&navAction=push&navCount=1&subdoc=10october2010bca&categoryId=cat9000 

C.Booth Green Apple Scrub - Again with C.Booth, but this brand is amazing. Inexpensive but rich feeling. I love how bright and clean this makes my face and neck. I love a good scrub, so this is by far my favorite!

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2203217&productId=xlsImpprod1110470&navAction=push&navCount=1&subdoc=8wk711bogoskincare&categoryId=cat80184

So there you go, my favorite beauty products of 2011. I am always on the look-out for better and more affordable so I will be sure to update when I find my new "must-have" product!!

What were some of your favorites this year? Got any beauty secrets that you would care to share?