Product Review: Lime Crime Unicorn Hair

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I was super excited to purchase Lime Crime’s Unicorn Hair in the color “sext”. Turns out I was pretty disappointed but win some, lose some. The company offers two types of dyes, tints and full coverage. The shade “sext” is a tint and meant for platinum to light blonde hair.

The middle color is what the website shows for an example of the dye, obviously I didn’t get the same results. I have a blonde highlight/ombre thing going on in my hair so the bottoms are much lighter. With this in mind, I thought the tint would be perfect for those light blonde areas.

I would have liked to see a more drastic change based on the imagery Lime Crime used to market the product. It was super easy to apply and it smells amazing. I left it in for 45 minutes and after I rinsed my hair it was so soft, so that’s a bonus.

I would be interested in this product again but only to try a regular dye. The tints definitely only work for bleach blondes. It is a semi-permanent dye so once this hint of color washes out I’ll purchase a stronger shade to try.

I would only recommend the product to people with light blonde hair, just so you can get the best results for the money. The bottle is around $17.00 after tax. I purchased 4 sample packets of the dye for $8.00. My hair is super thin so the samples were enough to cover everything.

Overall this was pretty much a flop. It was so easy though that I will probably try a different shade. You can find all the shades Lime Crime offers at the link below.

Lime Crime Unicorn Hair

Rent the Runway Experience

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I recently attended a launch party in Chicago for a beauty brand. The dress code was formal and my bank account is broke. Dressing to impress is a real thing, especially when you are networking and making first impressions, so I decided to use Rent the Runway to get a designer gown cheap.

If you haven’t heard of Rent the Runway it’s a website that offers hundreds of designer products available to rent. You can choose what length of a rental you need and they send you two different sizes to make sure you have a perfect fit. When you’re done you simply mail it back.

I love Rent the Runway because it is so easy, especially if you live in Chicago. I was in a bit of a time crunch so I went to their store located on North Wabash Ave. (Right off the Chicago stop on the Red line). I got a ton of help from personal shoppers, tried on about 10 different dresses, and walked out with a beautiful gown within 30 minutes. Plus it was super easy to return the dress at the same location.

I ended up getting a $1200 dollar dress for $70 and for a college student or any fashionista on a budget that’s magical.

I highly recommend Rent the Runway for any event you have in the future. They make it cheap and easy to look expensive and fashionable.

renttherunway.com

 

Best Day of the Year

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To preface, my family puts Halloween above Christmas. Our favorite holiday by far. We don’t mess around and we take an annual trip to Disney World for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party every October.

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This year we decked ourselves out as ghosts. We thought identical costumes would be an even spookier effect, I think it worked out. Our dresses are “Southern Bell Zombie” from Halloween Hallway. The capes we bought on Amazon and the wigs are from Spirit Halloween.

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We always do our own makeup, which is a passion of mine. I have so much fun doing halloween makeup and special fx makeup, it might be why it’s one of my favorite holidays.

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I think wigs always add the extra wow factor to a costume. We were definitely sweating our butts off in 90 degree heat but also turning lots of heads, so well worth it.

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Back in Chicago I did 3 different costumes for 3 different events. My first costume was this mime! I used the same wig from the Disney costume and add a red beret, some makeup, and a black and white striped shirt. A super easy and unique look.

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The second event I went as a Scarecrow. I’ll note I definitely blew the bank on our Disney costumes so the rest were pretty DIY. I grabbed a flannel from my closet, a cute bandana, and did my own glammed up version of a scarecrow makeup. This is super cute and easy to wear.

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I usually go for something super spooky and super detailed for the actual day of Halloween but this year I decided to do a group costume with my best bud. If you haven’t seen the Lizzie McGuire Movie go watch it right now. We went as Lizzie, Isabella, and Paolo from the iconic Coliseum scene. Another easy fun DIY costume. We wore these to the Halloween parade in Boystown.

LA 2018

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My family took a trip to visit my oldest cousin living out in LA. It was definitely exciting traveling west with all 11 of us and our trip did not disappoint.

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Welcome home! We rented the cutest freaking Air BnB ever, I mean really. This home was on the Marina Del Rey beach front and kept us close to Venice and Santa Monica. The recent addition of the Bird scooters made it even more fun traveling between the three.

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People don’t usually think of LA as a great family spot but we definitely found a lot to do. The restaurants, sight seeing, and beaches make filling up 7 days too easy.

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Urth Caffe review: overrated. This restaurant gets so much hype on social media and when I went to check it out I couldn’t understand why. It’s super overcrowded, you order at a counter and basically fight people for a table. The food is expensive and pretty much stuff you can make at home. If you really need that insta moment just grab a matcha tea and walk out sis.

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Venice beach on the other hand offered way better dining experiences. I ordered this coconut on the beach front deck of the Venice Whaler and was truly living my best life. Look for fun local spots over the In-n-Out’s every time. (Unless you’re getting animal fries)

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This was another great spot on Venice beach. Light, airy, and open to the boardwalk. Look for dive spots to pop in for a relaxed meal, they often offer the best menu.

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Disneyland!! My family are straight up freaks for Disney. Our main spot is World but we had to make a day to drive up to Anaheim and visit the mouse. It’s so cool being at Disneyland because it is the original park and theres a lot of cool original rides. My favorite is the Storybook boat ride, its so lame and amazing. (Space Mountain is better at Magic Kingdom FYI)

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My look for our Disney day was a spaghetti strap cotton dress, jean jacket for the evening, and white vans. Gotta stay comfortable for a day of walking y’all. Plus my fav Minnie Mouse hat, as seen below.

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Unfortunately we were at the park 3 days before Pixar Pier opened so I can’t report on that, but the best feature of California Adventure is definitely Cars Land at night. It puts you right into the movie and its so freaking cute with all the lights. (Photo featuring my little sisters/best friends)

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Each trip to LA I fall more in love. People hate this city for the smog and the pretentious people, which aren’t the highlights I’ll agree, but there is definitely something in the air in Lala Land … someone might start looking into a move…?

Lollapalooza 2018

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My second year in attendance to this iconic music festival was a riot to say the least. Once you enter the gates to Grant Park it is a whole new world. I live a block away from the park and even I get turned around. With my knowledge of the city and 4 day experience I thought I would share some tips to a successful Lolla weekend.

  1. HYDRATE
    • This may seem obvious but it’s the best advice I can give. Invest in a water bottle or the fancy backpacks and wait in line to fill it up because that sucker will be your best friend. Also it’s free, so duh.
  2. MAKE A PLAN
    • It’s so easy to download the Lolla app and schedule your days so you don’t miss any shows. They have the times and locations of all performances, food, water, and bathroom spots!
  3. STICK TOGETHER
    • The first day my group thought it would be best to separate into who had bags and who didn’t to go through the gates more efficiently. Bad idea. You have NO CELL SERVICE, like at all, so just stick with your peeps.
  4. LOBSTER CORNDOGS
    • This isn’t a tip but a vendor was selling Lobster Corndogs this year and it was the best thing I have ever eaten.
  5. CROWD CONTROL
    • Everything is packed, the shows, the trains, the streets, the hotels, so just be ready to be sweaty with strangers.
  6. SLEEP
    • After each day, take a shower, get in bed, and cherish this resting time. After this weekend you will be sick, dirt will be in your lungs, and you’ll probably have a 4 day’s worth hangover.
  7. MAKE FRIENDS
    • Talk to people while you wait in lines or while you wait for shows to start. Again there is no cell service so get to know someone around you.

Bonus tip! It’s Lollapalooza so make some fun fashion choices people. Mainly to all you Chad’s and Brad’s with the jersey’s. You can literally wear whatever you want, it’s a festival, so go all out. But no Indian headdresses please, its 2018 we are done with cultural appropriation!

 

 

4th of July Look

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Staying festive, staying cute. This year I paired an Urban Outfitters body suit with high waisted, light wash, distressed jean shorts. Threw on a Cubs, varsity style, zip up because we are always representing Chi. Plus, any excuse to play with makeup I’ll take, so I added a red lip and blue eyeliner, God Bless America y’all.

Indiana State Fair 2018

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The Indiana State Fair is always a family affair. My dad, sister, stepmom, aunt, cousins, and grandparents all traveled to the fairgrounds this year to celebrate cheese, fried food, and people watching.

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A fun hidden gem at the fair is the Drug Store. This little shop has been preserved from it’s original 1900’s apothecary to display what your local drug store would have looked a hundred-so years ago. They also feature fun candy and an original soda fountain, because everyone at the fair has a sweet tooth. Take a look next summer!

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My must-see’s/must-do’s at the fair are always the sweet little baby piglets, a visit to the diary barn for a milkshake and grilled cheese, and in family tradition a ride on the weird haunted house thing next to the log ride. It’s like if the Haunted Mansion in Disney World was assembled in 10 minutes from the nearest Spirit Halloween store. Charming.

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I will always have fond memories of the Indiana State Fair because I have always been walking in between my favorite people on earth. And sometimes when we’ve had enough of the walking we just sit and wave from the comfort of giant wooden benches being pulled along by tractors. Whatever works.

 

 

Valentines Look via NYFW 2018

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The runways at NYFW has displayed a wide range of trends to explore for spring and fall of 2018. A favorite of designers this season has been color blocking bright reds and light pinks, which is just dreamy for this coming Valentines day.

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The look I put together for this Valentines day takes inspiration from Christian Cowan, Self Portrait, Prabal Gurung, Brandon Maxwell, Tibi, and Christian Siriano (you can see those runway looks below).

I paired my Nasty Gal red sock boots with a pale pink wide leg trouser from Urban Outfitters and a maroon jersey turtle neck. I attend classes on Valentines day so my look is a little more professional than elegant. This color blocking trend is easily replicated in any closet. For Valentines day stick to warm, contrasting colors to feature in your look. Try to avoid mixing prints, it takes away from the effect of the stark color blocking.

This trend is clean, simple, and pretty. It’s easy to look put together and fashion forward in the color blocked motif and I love it. The stark combination of the light pinks and hot reds is the perfect mix of soft elegance and strong spirit, definitely a look for 2018.

brandon maxwell red pink

Brandon Maxwell Fall 2018

brandon maxwell pink and red

Brandon Maxwell Fall 2018

prabal gurung pink and red

Prabal Gurung Fall 2018

tibi red and pink

Tibi Fall 2018

christian siriano red and pink

Christian Siriano Fall 2018

self portrait red

Self Portrait Fall 2018

Holy Grail Skincare

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In the midst of Chicago winter my skin is crying for help. Through all the different trends and fads of skincare I always come back to this line when my skin is just not happy with me.

The First Aid Beauty is an amazing brand that offers so many specialized lines of care. They make it super easy for you to get everything you need with the different kits that they offer. The Fab Favs Kit is everything your skin has been missing and more. It includes the Pure Skin Face Cleanser, Facial Radiance Pads, and Ultra Repair Cream.

These products are made for all skin types but I find them especially life saving during this cold weather. Another favorite aspect for me is that the products are unscented. Sometimes a fragrant moisturizer leaves me feeling like I didn’t get the job done, I just smell good. These products leave your skin feeling and smelling purely clean.

When I use this line for my skin routine I remove my makeup first. I then go in with the Facial Radiance Pad to gently exfoliate and remove anything I had missed prior. Next is the Pure Skin Face Cleanser, just a nickel sized amount does the job for your entire face. The next step isn’t included in the kit but one of the easiest and most effective parts of my skincare routine, an ice cube. After I’ve cleansed I rub an ice cube lightly over my entire face, not only does this feel so relaxing but it closes up pores and tightens skin! I let the cold water soak into my skin for a minute and go right on top with the Ultra Repair Cream.

I highly recommend the FAB line and would love to see you guys try it out. The link to the kit and individual products are below!

Fab Favs Kit

Ultra Repair Cream

Pure Skin Facial Cleanser

Facial Radiance Pads

Slouch Boot Trend

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Everyone became well acquainted with the YSL, $10,000 slouch boot when Rihanna sported them on the street, and since then the trend has not gone out the window. Many different designers and houses presented their own version of the slouch boot in the fall of 2017 and I am still living for it.

The slouch boot gives me all the Sloane Peterson vibes from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, like so many other current trends that look back to the 80’s for inspiration. Of course not everyone can afford a 10,000 dollar pair of shoes, considering thats my semester tuition for college, so what are your alternatives?

These slouch boots from Nasty Gal are your new best friend. All pairs are $50 or under and don’t show it. Nasty Gal tends to run small though so I would recommend going a size up. Take a risk in your winter wardrobe and add some slouchy style!

I purchased a black pair and I’m absolutely loving them. Pair with a short skirt, a pair of jeans, a dress, these boots are so versatile and add so much to a basic look. Ditch your over the knee boot from last winter and snag a high fashion upgrade for cheap!

Nasty Gal Slouch Boots