bidding adieu

hey there everyone! TGIF. hoping everyone has a lovely, scrumptious weekend ahead of them. i've decided to take a break from bee lux...i'm losing some steam and haven't felt those most literary lately. but! you can still follow me here, if you are at all interested in some tid bits, ramblings, and straight up rad photos.

buckets of love! xo,

and another thing...

i ordered a new swimsuit from VS. an adorable neon coral with black polka dots. so stoked. and then, i got it in the mail. and...eh? pretty cute on. but i was somewhat dismayed. then the boy came over and could tell from my lackluster expression that i was less than pleased. so he proceeds: "are you disappointed because Miranda Kerr didn't come with the swimsuit too?"....

EXACTLY!

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a random thought...

"This morning I was initiated into the unofficial “Fight Club” by my boxing instructor. He gave me this mini Everlast keychain! 6:30am may be a little early for upper cuts, but it’s such a great way to channel your inner Balboa – dispatch any angst you might have towards an ex-lover, high school mean girl, 57 inches of Winter snow-to-date…you know, the usual."

i want to take up boxing. not the kind where i will actually have to hit someone, but really just for the vigorous workout, the channeling of my inner energy (*cough* rage), or hey, maybe i want to be mark wahlberg from the fighter? so what's it to ya!? either way, i thought this post was great inspiration that any girly girl can come face to face with her inner Rocky. Your thoughts?

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got to try

doesn't it look yummy? with spf, thank'ya very much. gotta have it. $22.50. i also purchased this little goody recently...can you tell i'm just a tad obsessed with anything related to lips? in other important news, all i want to be doing is reading whilst wearing stripes. next to a wall of windows. in the sun. mmm yessss...

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short hair monday

happy workin' monday, friends! isn't she darling? makes me want to cut my hair all over again. and i love her gold nails. hope you had a lovely, restful weekend. more later, xo

ps. i want this watch. so delicate and fun, and you can choose a variety of band colors!

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the weekend

it's almost over, but it's been pretty damn fab. xo

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thursday happs

hi friends, happy day before friday! i've had a pretty unproductive day butttt.... we got new, super chic desks at work and im so stoked. is that sad? they have orange corkboards! either way, looking forward to leaving work (any minute now), relaxing, getting ready for the UP v Gonzaga basketball game (GO PILOTS!), & hanging with the best friends in the world with wine, beer and dogs (as in hotdogs).

also, im looking for a new gym bag, so see my beautiful friend KC's post over at Thrifty Solutions!

peace, xo

*i apologize, can't remember the photo credit!

DIY badass-ness

so so cute and super cool. DIY woven chain bracelets and they are AH-mazing. see full instructions here via Honestly....WTF.

skin wipes

as i wandered target for almost two hours on sunday with no distinct purchase (or purpose) in mind, i stumbled (literally, stumbled over a basket in the beauty isle) upon these wipes...

Giovanni Organic Towelettes. Sanitary wipes for de-germing; post workout, after traveling on planes, trains and automobiles (you know that icky, sweaty, sticky feeling), or wrapping up a long night out when you have little motivation to use your arms or turn on the faucet. They are biodegradable, safe for all skin types and full of natural oils. I bought them in the travel size (6 pack for $3 at target) for my upcoming travels...and because I'm a sucker for anything in neat, small packaging that invites travel and convenience. In refreshing scents of grapefruit splash, energizing scents of peppermint surge and calming lavendar. xo,

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giddy'up: friday links

hooty hoo, it's friday beeeetches. after a weird and somewhat off week, the weekend is finally here! drinks , antiquing , organizing and not much else. making time for the gym; finding my inner chi. and let the friday links commence. toodles! x

me love kate spade!
twin obsession, gorgeous.
bless this quote.
good afternoon, indeed.
i swoon, stone cold fox.
vogue diaries, natalie portman.
love birds.
cardigan and boots.
adore this coffee table.

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flowida

im heading to Naples, FL for spring break (not that kind of spring break) with the boy, and i need a new, fabulous, delicious, swimsuit. i don't want a torpedo chest or a chunky behind. any ideas? *hint, affordable.

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i'm sorry....

...hello, Milan! ;)

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oh, hey there!

back to the grind and kickin' it. a very productive monday and now time for some gym, wine and the couch. annnnd....oprah's "big" (!) secret...dun dun dun.

xo,

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january lips

the velvet matte lip pencil from NARS, dragonfly girl. a siren, hot pink with a red undertone a la January Jones. My newest weekend purchase and I'm obsessed. Uber smooth. $20. Get yours.

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what im using now

When the new year was approaching, I decided to zone in on my favorite beauty products. Instead of buying anything and everything off the shelf that attracted my eye, I committed to some essentials. I bought, I tired and I loved. I'm back on the Bare Minerals bandwagon for full face coverage, but I needed some additions. So here are my gems for the new year:

1. Bare Minerals Renew and Reveal Facial Cleanser, $26 (sale, $18). A dry powder cleanser that is extracted from mineral soil. Activated like a clay cleanser once mixed with water. Gentle, brightening and won't cause breakouts.

2. Philosophy's Hope in a Jar moisturizer, $38, as previously posted. Amazing.

3. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, $34. A shimmery but beautifully pinky bronzed base for all over your face. I really like to focus on my cheekbones. Will make any complexion glow!

4. MAC Cream Colour Base $16.50. To add to the apples of your cheeks, after the Skinfinish. Smooth with a punch of color. So natural and lasts forever.

5. Rimmel Max Bold Curves mascara, $7. I haven't been impressed with any designer mascara I try, even MAC. I'm a drugstore mascara junky and I've been oh so happy with this thick and fluffy mascara.

6. Philosophy's Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash, $25. For the nights I need a little extra scrub, especially after nights out ;) but still gentles for my sensitive and oily skin.

7. Bath and Body Work's Warm Vanilla Sugar body wash, $10.50. So delicious and soothing.

8. MAC Select Moisturecover in NC 15, $16.50. Creamy with a perfect coverage, especially for those purple/pink under eyes typical for fair skinned ladies.

I always stick to MAC eyeshadows and cream eye pots, lip gloss and concealer. Philosophy makes incredible facial products and am very pleased with the outcome. Truly, I'm a MAC and Philosophy loyalist, but am always open to more.

What are your essentials? What are you using right now?

trekkin

hey! its monday again...and im just trekking along. how darling is this gal, boots and all? i need a bike ride in the sun (or a place without rain at least), stat. and a very happiest 30th birthday to my beautiful sister. here's to accomplished goals and welcomed adventure! xo,

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what say ye, friday?

has this not been the LONGEST week imaginable!? i honestly could not believe that today was just now friday...wasn't monday, like, centuries ago? but either way, here we are; spent, tired, emotional, cranky, running on my last few fumes. however, busting in my boots im so excited to see my sister, cousins and cousin's baby (aka, "Pants") tonight.

the details: in 2 hours, dinner with 2 besties, wine and dessert with my luvies tonight, ele's deli tomorrow with shopping (but sticking to my budget, resolution #1!), drinks and dancing with the best people in the world saturday eve, my monthly massage sunday, seeing country strong and finishing the evening off with the golden globes. as for monday (a day off!), who knows!?

weekend, bring it. xo,

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jar full of hope

it's heaven in a jar. light, fluffy with great moisture. combination skins is quite the dilemma and i usually have trouble finding that perfect balance, but this does the trick!

$38 for a 2.5 oz, but well worth the bills. a dab goes a long way. the perfect lotion underneath your makeup, or lather it on for your evening snooze. i couldn't be more obsessed.

find at sephora and nordstrom. happy skin, lovies!

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ballet buns

how adorable and unique are these buns? loving them! the makeup ain't bad either...

res addendum

resolutions addendum- i made a few tweeks and have decided to frame my resolutions for the year, so as not to forget my goals.

im also feeling completely fooled and tormented since my entire closet decided to explode and tear out from the wall...literally, i have a heap of clothing, scarfs and shoes laying helplessly on my bedroom floor. where do i even begin with this mess? hence, an update to my resolutions.

2011 Resolutions, updated

1. Stick to a budget/solidify my finances (no more "buying to buy")

2. Stay away from coke, drink more water

3. Be more adventerous, welcome spontaneity

4. Fear not

5. Organize and de-clutter my life

6. Work on patience

7. Use my fabulous cookbooks; don't eat crap, get my money's worth out of the gym

8. Travel when I can with loved ones

any updates to yours?

Will be back with some more awesome beauty finds as of lately! And as always, love to my Oregon Ducks. You faired well, fellas. xo

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ps.

saw Black Swan. WOW. amazing and stunningly creepy. natalie was beautiful, delicate and evil. a must see.

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Happy New Year!

Lovies, a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! it's been a while since i've posted and i completely failed at my holiday gift guide as work and the holiday parties really took over. However, here we are at a new year. I can't believe it is 2011. While 2010 was maybe not my best year, i've learned a lot and kept some amazing people in my life (plus, a promotion!) *wink.

Here are my resolutions. While I'm usually not into the whole resolution list kind of thing, there are a few key goals I hope to achieve this year:

1. Solidify my finances/stick to a budget.
2. Stay away from coke (the drink, not drug- but I'll stay away from that too)
3. Be more adventurous
4. Use my fabulous cookbooks

So we shall see what happens. Happy goals, friends! Love to you all. xo

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