Top Knots & Red Lips

Love how fresh & easy this look is.  

European Summer

I LOVE European brands, not only because they're amazingly cute, but because they're affordable & not everyone & their mommas will be wearing the same duds as you.  

These are some of my fav 2011 pieces from Spring 2011 Look-books.  

H&M unfortunately doesn't have an online store for the US, but has stores in most cities now.

Matalan & ASOS have online stores & will ship to the US.  

H&M

H&M

Matalan

ASOS

ASOS

ASOS

Craving Denim

Must be the weather that's making me crave denim cutoffs… or is it my need for some gym inspiration?  What better motivation than a summertime wardrobe… 

Quote of the Week

Spring Craving

   

With all of the spring trends & designer sneak-peaks coming out this month, i've definitely caught a case of SPRING FEVER!  It's a little too early to break out the sun dresses & warm weather looks, but you can incorporate some springtime color into your winter wardrobe!  

Below are some of my fav ways to wear some pastel during winter time… 

My best friend & I out in Vegas this last weekend (it was her birthday lol).
My turquoise necklace is from Nordstrom.  A bright, fun necklace is a great way to add a pop of color to a LBD! 

I'm loving the tangerine lip trend & think it's a great way to add some color to a winter white complexion.  

Loving these pastel nails!  It's a little too early for pastel pink, but the blue says winter wonderland to me!  

I spotted these Jessica Simpson pumps at Nordstrom last week & thought they were a really fun way to add a pop of color to an outfit.  Usually, i'm not a patent leather person, but I love the mixing of materials & the price-tag doesn't hurt either (less than $100)!  

xoxo Shauna

OPI Axxium

I love love love the look of fresh nails… especially dark colors.  The only problemo is when nails chip, your fingers go from looking pretty to looking tacky.   Unless you have the time or the money to visit the nail salon every few days, there's a problem.  Correction… WAS a problem.  Why didn't anyone think of this sooner?!? 

I've been getting OPI Axxium Gel Nail Polish for the best year and a half and I absolutely love it.  I will never go back to regular polish ever again.  Basically the gel nail polish is a thicker formula than the normal OPI polish that doesn't chip, but rather soaks off.  My nails usually stay fresh looking for about 3 weeks & the best part is that all of your favorite OPI colors are available! 

My favs: Lincoln Park After Dark, Black Onyx, Barefoot in Barcelona & Black Cherry (wearing below).

Golden Globes Best & Worst Dressed

Best Dressed

I loved all the feminine colors & silhouettes this year at the Golden Globes.  It was all about neutral, warm colors & soft hair & make-up.  

Leighton Meester

I love everything about Leighton's look… The puffed sleeves & the soft hair… She looks romantic & effortless.  

Emma Stone

The fit & color of this Calvin Klien is amazing.  

Clair Danes

I love how this dress photographs.  On TV the color wasn't as bold, but she looks stunning in pictures.  

Sandra Bullock

I loved Sandra's dress & her decision on hair sytle.  Romantic & feminine.  

Scarlett Johansson

Some are already saying that they didn't like Scarlett's choice in dress (thinking it looks too matronly), but I think Scarlett has so much sex appeal already, she doesn't need an overly revealing dress.  I like this romantic look on her.  

Worst Dressed

Olivia Wilde

Fashion cridicts seem to like Olivia Wilde's dress, but as one of the best dressed of 2010, I expect more from her.  I'm not a fan of the tulle ball-gown & would much rather see her in something form fitting or a little more modern.  

jennifer Lopez

I don't really think that there's a look that Jennifer Lopez ever wore that i'm a fan of… Much too high maintenance for me.  She always looks like an army assembled her look, when I much prefer when fashion looks effortless.  

Natalie Portman

There's buzz about Natalie Portman being best dressed at the GG, but I think her look is much too matchy-matchy.  Red detail on the dress, red lips, red shoes, red bag.  Boring.

Julianne Moore

Whatever Julianne Moore is wearing, chances are I hate it.  Wrinkles on the red carpet?  

Foundation Hunt

Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation

So, i've basically used the same foundation since I started wearing make-up (lets just say forever ago).  I love love love Prescriptives skin products because they're completely customizable & designed for sensitive skin.  You make an appointment with a Prescriptives "Custom Blend" specialist, & they match your skin tone while you specify coverage (light, medium or full), finish (matte or dewy), iridescence (adds a shimmer to your foundation), skin type (oily, dry, normal or combination), SPF, etc. etc.   

You can imagine my HOROR when Prescriptives announced that they were going out of business & would no longer be offering their custom blend line.  My foundation, powder, blush, concealer, & bronzer are ALL Prescriptives so as my supply runs low, i'll be testing out different brands & products reporting on my new favorites.   

The first product needing replacement was my Perscriptives Custom Blend Foundation.  I still have almost a half a bottle left, but since my skin hasn't seen sunlight in a while, it was necessary for me to get a new "winter" foundation.  

MAC Mineralize Foundation

The first foundation that I decided to try was MAC's new mineral line.  In the past, I've steered clear of MAC face make-up (although their eyeshadows are the best hands down) because they were full of oil & pore-clogging ingredients.  Their new mineral line is oil-free & more natural so this seemed like a good pick.  

The first thing that threw me off about this foundation was the smell.  I guess it's the minerals in the foundation, but I was put off by it.  The coverage was on the light side, and seemed a little too liquidy for my liking.   One of my requirements of face make-up is lastability because I work long hours & need my makeup to stay put.  By 5 o'clock, my make-up seemed non-exsistant.  

On to the next pick… 

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation has been getting a lot of hype lately, so I thought i'd give it a try.  The price is A LOT less for drugstore make-up, so why not, right?  

One plus to this foundation is that there are a ton of shades to choose from, but the minus is that you can't try them on in the store.  Matching was kind of a guessing game & I definitely went a little too dark with my pick.  Not starting off good.  I also didn't really like how this foundation blended with my primer & bronzer.  My bronzer seemed a bit splotchy on top of the Revlon Foundation.  Also, again by 5 o'clock, my make-up was non-exsistant.  

Ugh.  Next pick… 

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation

Next, I tried Laura Mercier Sick Creme Foundation.  The guy at the counter recommended this option for me because I like a matte, fuller coverage look.  I absolutely loved how natural yet silky my skin looked when he applied it at the counter.  The test was how this puppy held up throughout the day and how it looked when I applied it at home with my other skincare products…

This foundation lasts all day & keeps my skin looking shine-free.  It doesn't make me brake-out & blends really well with my brozer & blush.  It also matches my skin-tone perfectly!  

Winner.  

Prescriptives Custom Blend Loose Powder

Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer

Some key products to help your make-up last longer & stay shine free is a setting loose powder (still using my Prescriptives Custom Blend) & a good foundation primer.  I use Smashbox Photo Finish Light Primer (the light is oil free).  The Smashbox primer glides on super smooth & makes my skin super soft.  

xoxo Shauna

Party Dresses

Party Dresses by Shauna_js 

Next weekend i'm off to see my best friend in VEGAS!  It's her birthday, & since she's moved to a different state, we thought there's no better place to meet than Sin City.  I really don't think there's any better excuse to go shopping for a new dress than a Vegas trip, but since I usually only wear dresses once & then stick them in the back of my closet, I don't like to spend over $100 on a dress.  There's really no need to spend more than thae with all of the AMAZING online stores & boutiques out there selling adorable dresses at an affordable price.  

Here are some of my favorite places to shop online for party dresses:

Lipsy.uk.com

Topshop.com

Asos.com

Lulus.com

Forever21.xom

Modcloth.com

Shopbop.com

Karmaloop.com

Hope you enjoy! 

xo Shauna 

Friday Quote Day

I'm aware that it's only Thursday, but I love this quote so much I just couldn't wait another minute to post it.  This is my exact outlook on love, just I could never quite say it so beautifully.  Life is so serious… love should make you giggle :)

xoxo Shauna 

Olsen Love