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A Flawless Look in Just Minutes

Bo and Ashley Toronto

If you follow along on Instagram or Snapchat, then you saw that we enjoyed a quick 30-hour trip together in Toronto this weekend. Since Bo needed to be there for Friday meetings, it was easy for me to fly up Friday morning, work remotely from the hotel and then enjoy Friday night and Saturday in the city together.

We posted the above picture online Friday night, while enjoying the views from one of Toronto’s landmarks, the CN Tower. A couple of people immediately commented on the picture, saying that my hair and makeup were perfect. What they didn’t know was that I rushed to transition from a sweaty, gym outfit to this outfit in just 30 minutes. Since that time included shower, drying my hair AND doing my makeup, I wanted to share the six beauty items that made this quick transition possible.

I’ve been using the below items for over a month and in this short time, I’ve recommended each of them to multiple friends and even ordered two of them, the lip gloss and concealer, for my mom!

Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Concealer – This is one of the best concealers I have ever used. The wand applicator is easy to use anywhere, without requiring any other accessories, and the small, pen like size allows me to easily toss it in my purse or makeup bag. It comes in more than fifteen different shades so you should be able to find one which blends easily with your coloring. I use this under my eyes, on my scar and on any blemishes that pop up overnight.

Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pomegranate Delirium– My mom has always said that just a quick swipe of color to the lips adds brightness and life to a tired face. It has taken years for me to embrace this but finally, after discovering this easy to apply lip gel last month, I’m a believer. Every day I swipe on this rosy, plum gloss before leaving the house and it instantly wakes up my face and provides a more finished look. Unlike many other lip glosses on the market, this one isn’t drying, doesn’t have a strong smell and is not sticky. The vibrant color stays on my lips at least a few hours and at the $14 price point, I can afford to try different colors.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner – Similar to the lip gloss, a quick application of eye liner, right along my upper eyelid instantly makes my eyes pop even when I’m exhausted. When we are going out in the evening I apply a thicker line, which makes more of a statement.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – Until last month I’d never tried a setting powder. But, after being convinced by a very persuasive Sephora sales associate that this would help my makeup stay in place all day, I bought the travel size. To say I was skeptical was an understatement. Why the heck did I need one more powder in my life, much less on my skin. But, after using it just a few times, I was convinced. People commented that my makeup and skin looked flawless, every bit of makeup stayed in place ALL day and my face had less shine come five o’clock. It hides blemishes, helps my blush and bronzer blend and leaves me with a luminous finish. Even though it is a white powder, it goes on translucent and will quickly become your favorite makeup item!

Bumble & Bumble Hairdressers Oil – Even though I have naturally straight hair, it tends to have a mind of its own. If I don’t tame it properly with a few different potions then it’s a frizzy mess due to the curly nature of my bottom layers. This light oil has made a huge difference in the time it takes to do my hair as it has eliminated the need for a flatiron. I use two pumps for my long, thick hair and apply one pump to the bottom layers and another pump to the ends before blow drying my hair. Unlike Moroccan oil, this doesn’t weigh my hair down or leave my hands feeling greasy.

Drybar Sparkling Soda Shine Mist – Always a fan of the blowouts I get at Drybar, I’d actually not tried or purchased their products until recently. I am now the proud owner of four of their products, this one being my favorite! After a quick blow dry, I spray this all over my hair before one final hand smoothing. The result is a high gloss, flyaway free hair hair style that will last all day even in humidity.

Your turn: What is your favorite beauty item these days that you recommend to everyone? 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes beauty items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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SweatStyle: Fashion Forward Fitness Apparel

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Even though I have good intentions to get dressed in “real clothes” each day while working from home, I often find myself wearing the same thing at least 2-3 days per week: leggings, tank, and hoodie. After four months, I’ve started to get sick of my workout/work outfits. I already have a somewhat limited wardrobe after donating all the gear that didn’t fit or flatter me.

Luckily, as if they read my mind, the team at SweatStyle, quickly came to the rescue, promising that they could send over two pieces that would help give my wardrobe an update while highlighting the assortment and style of fitness apparel they offer clients.

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SweatStyle is a fashion-forward company that delivers five pieces of personally curated workout gear to your doorstep. The founder, Helena Cawley, is one of the founders of Uplift Studios and, therefore, knows workout gear well. She also knew that many of the women working out in their studio were tired of wearing the same gear day after day. I guess I’m not the only one whose wardrobe can use an update. Black spandex is flattering, but it can also get very boring, very quickly.

Before we get into the gear I was able to try, let’s talk about how it works.

Sweat Style is super simple to use and personalized, based on your interests.

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Similar to Stitch Fix, upon setting up a username, you are asked a series of questions that allow the stylists to better meet your workout needs. Questions include the type of gear you like, color choices and most importantly when you will wear the gear. Do you spin? Lift? Yoga? Or are you looking for strictly athleisure gear for Saturday errands?

 

style shopstyleOnce you fill in your preferences, the SweatStyle team will use this information to choose five pieces of apparel for you which could include tights, tanks, sports bras, jackets, etc.

Once you open the package and try everything on, you have five days to make a decision on what you want to keep or return. They provide you with an easy-to-use prepaid mailing bag that you can use to return any of the items that you don’t like. The $20 styling fee is used towards the cost of any items you decide to keep. Also, similar to Stitch Fix, you get a discount if you keep everything.

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Another thing to note about the gear that they feature on their site is that it is very curated which means you’ll often find smaller, new to the market brands which will allow you to have a unique style versus matching everyone in your class. The pieces are fashionable yet functional, offering all the bells and whistles you’d expect from workout gear such as pockets, sweat resistant and soft seams. If there are any special items or needs you have, you can also request that in the notes section to make sure your stylist takes it into consideration when choosing your pieces.

Since SweatStyle gifted me with a trial, they sent over two pieces which highlight the range of styles and brands they carry.

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Alala Sport Chill Tight Leggings –   Made by a new-to-me brand, Alala, these tights are perfect for winter runs and outdoor walks. Based on their website, it’s clear that Alala loves the effect of adding small details to functional items, whether it’s side panels, bright zippers, contrasting colors, or mesh. Every item has a small surprise. The shiny side panels are a fun detail on these while the brushed spandex dresses these up a notch while making them very cozy. Their stylish nature also makes them perfect for post workout brunch dates or running errands. My only complaint is that due to their 27 inch inseam, they are closer to crops on my long legs. But, this is nothing a pair of Nice Pipes can’t solve when the temperatures drop below freezing.

Heroine Sport Studio Jacket – As soon I pulled this jacket out of the SweatStyle bag it was love at first sight. While it is lighter weight than my other black workout jacket, I love the mesh details and thumb holes. The longer length and fitted cut mean that it is flattering, unlike most bulky or cozy jacket alternatives. This paired with the zippered pockets have made it my go-to choice for cool weather running during this mild December. In full transparency, I do not know that I would keep this jacket, even though I love it, if I received it in a SweatStyle box as the $198 price point is higher than what I’d normally spend for a non-waterproof/windproof jacket.

Your turn: What’s your favorite brand for workout gear? Do you prefer sticking with your favorite workout gear brand or are you open to new brands? Have you ever tried ShopStyle or something similar?

Thank you to SweatStyle for the complimentary items and for letting me get to know your brand a bit better! All opinions and reviews are my own.

 

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My Mistakes Along the Way..

Greetings from the age of 3-2. I am no longer 30 or 31. I am officially “in my thirties” and while that could scare some people, I couldn’t be happier.

Life is not always rosy and perfect. I try to do a good job of showing you life outside the Instagram filters, especially the past two years when Bo and I worked through a long distance marriage followed by unemployment. As I look back on what I’ve done with my first 31 years of life, I couldn’t be more proud.

Sure, I’ve made some horrible mistakes along the way:

  • I thought that if I hid the wrappers to candy under the couch, no one would know I ate it. That was true until our apartment flooded and my parents found hundreds of candy wrappers. God bless my mother who couldn’t figure out why her daughter was chunky.
  • I thought that gossip would make me cooler when in reality it ALWAYS ended up hurting someone and me.
  • I thought that I could find friends in chat rooms back when I was 15 and felt alone.
  • I racked up cell phone bills to my long distance boyfriend because really, who could wait until 9 pm to talk free. Speaking of which, does anyone remember when cell phone companies let you talk free from 9pm to 7am.
  • I developed a horrible fear of fat, even things like avocados and olive oil, which made dining out miserable for me and my companions.
  • I thought of exercise only as a method to lose weight versus an activity that could release stress and be fun or social.
  • I didn’t realize how important friends and family were to everyday life, sometimes letting far too long pass between texts, emails or phone calls.

I’m sure there are hundreds of other mistakes I’ve made throughout my first 31 years of life and thousands more that I’ll make as I navigate my professional and personal life in the years to come. But, each of these mistakes has helped shape me into the person I am today.

For my 32nd year, I can only make you readers one promise. I will continue to be real and when writing or posting, balance the filtered, edited or posed pictures or posts with snapshots into our life. While it is less than perfect and often easy to peel apart, layer by layer, these imperfections are what make it absolutely perfect for me.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

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