august wrap-up + favorites

Hello & welcome back! How are you?

August has been a really good month for me. Soccer started, I’ve been getting ready for school, plus my birthday was on the 26th! (I’m officially 14, people. I don’t feel any different so there you have it.) Since I’ve had some time away from blogging, I’ve had a lot of time to think about how I really want my blog to be.

I recently received a new camera as a gift from my grandmother (if you’re reading this: thank you so much), so I’ll be doing a lot more photography posts. (Stay tuned!)

I really want to start doing more minimalistic posts, and start sharing some moments & pictures of different things that have inspired me and hopefully will inspire all of you too! I want my blog to become more meaningful. I want my posts to be well thought out and inspirational.

Thank you for sticking with me as my blog continues to grow and change, I really appreciate it! Anyway, let’s finally get into the post, shall we?

My first favorite from August are these lovely makeup brushes! I received this set on my birthday and I’ve been loving the brushes so far. I’ve only had them for a few days but I’ve been using them like crazy and practicing different makeup techniques.

The air is getting crisp and cool, and you know what that means: bring out the candles. I’ve been loving this sweet peony candle, but I recently traded it out for an apple cider candle to get myself in the fall mood! There’s nothing better than a cool evening with a good book, a warm sweater, and a candle.

I decided to try out the L’oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara (let’s be honest, I only bought it for the packaging), and I actually really like it! Of course, my favorite mascara will always be the Maybelline Great Lash, but this one comes pretty close. I have blond eyelashes, which means I don’t have eyelashes at all unless I wear dark mascara. This mascara has made my eyelashes so dark and voluminous–I would definitely buy it again, it’s pretty inexpensive too!

When it comes to drugstore makeup, Maybelline is my favorite brand, so it’s no surprise that I love their eyeshadow palette. I’ve been eyeing this palette for a while, and finally decided to buy it. I’m so glad I did!  I don’t like my eyes to be too dark (it doesn’t look good with my skin color), so this palette is perfect. The eyeshadow looks natural and feminine, and the palette has a good blend of fancy shades and neutral shades. I love it!

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That just about wraps it up. As always, thank you for sticking with my blog & reading.

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June Wrap Up & Favorites

Hello & welcome back! Hope you had a fantastic July 4th!

I know I say this about every month, but June went by fast. Is it just me?! Nonetheless, it was a fun month. We celebrated my sister and my father’s birthday this month, went to Cape Cod on vacation, and spent a lot of time soaking up the sunshine!

We got back from Cape Cod last Saturday, and since then I’ve been spending these precious summer days chilling, reading, and going to the beach. I’ve also been posting a lot less on my blog…apologies! Life gets in the way sometimes, am I right?!

Anyway, let’s jump into the short & sweet post.

My first favorite from this month is the Maybelline Fit Me! concealor. After staying up late reading, I’ve been needing concealor to cover the circles under my eyes! I bought this in the shade Medium 25, and it blends in with my skin really nicely. It’s smooth, easy to blend, and really does an amazing job covering up dark circles. Let me know if you’ve tried this out.

My next favorite is the Pearlessence Coconut Water face mist. Guys, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this stuff. I’ve been using it for tons of things: as a setting spray for makeup, as a pick-me-up for my skin when it gets dry, after cleansing my skin….it works wonders, too. Plus it smells amazing and is inexpensive.

The Clean & Clear moisturizer is another fav from this month. It feels really cool and calming when I put it on my skin. My face has a bit of a sunburn, so it’s nice that the moisturizer has a cool feel. It has an almost gel like texture as well–overall I’ve just been really enjoying it!

– Other Favorites –

• Guys, I have been obsessed with the midnight mint mocha frap at Starbucks. It is so darned delicious. And of course I told the barista that my name was Bucky. This is what happens when you watch too many Marvel movies.
• My favorite band, Imagine Dragons, released a new album this month. I stayed up until midnight the day it was released so I could hear it right away! I love all the songs, if you haven’t listened to their music, you’re missing out.
• My hair has been in a dutch braid almost every day this month, haha I can’t get over it! It looks super pretty and is effortless & easy to do.
• I’ve been watching the show The Shannara Chronicles on Netflix…have any of you seen it? I’m liking it so far…

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There you have it! Thank you for reading, and I hope you all have an amazing day.

What have you been watching on Netflix this month? What’s your favorite Starbucks drink?

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1000 Followers

Holy what?! Yup, it’s official, thefreckledfashionista has one thousand followers.

Many bloggers get 1K followers in a year or even within a few months, but I have been blogging for years and I’m just hitting it. But I’m still super proud of myself and my blog, because my stats were at a standstill up until January. I was barely getting views. In January, I started posting more and got more motivation, and I worked harder and harder and harder and harder.

And I started getting more followers. Hard work really does pay off. If you don’t have 1K yet, you will get there. Just keep working so much, and then work some more!

To every single one of you: thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me, to have people that read my posts and actually care about what I have to say. (And for those of you that don’t care: thanks anyway for following in the first place).

I hope that my website grows and grows, and I hope that soon I will be able to say that I have two thousand followers. Look to the stars, people.

Thank you. That’s really all I can say. Love you all.

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March Wrap Up & Favorites

March has come to an end, folks! This month was unfortunately meh for me. I just wish Spring would hurry up already! How was March for you? We’ll chat in the comments, but in the meantime, let’s get into the post!

My newest cleanser, the Aveeno Ultra-Calming cleanser, is wonderful, and is definitely my favorite product from this month. The cleanser is made specifically for sensitive skin, which I have. As it says on the bottle, the cleanser foams when it comes out, which makes my life easier, since I don’t have to lather it up. Another plus: it’s fragrance free, which is a must for me when it comes to cleansers!

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch was my favorite book that I read this month. It’s a YA Fantasy, and is a real page turner–the plot is fascinating, the characters are well-developed, and the world-building is incredible. For all of my book-lovers out there (or book-haters), read this. I’m sure you’ll love it.

For some reason, my hands were really dry this whole month! So, I pretty much always had this lotion near me, and I’ve had to apply it a few times every day. It has a soft, feminine scent that isn’t strong. The cream has helped my hands look & feel more hydrated and healthy!

I’m sure May is going to love reading this! My favorite food from this month was mango strips–but who am I kidding, mango strips are my favorite snack year-round. Pick these up at your local Trader Joe’s or healthy food store! You’ll eat the bag in a day, I swear!

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What was the highlight of your month? What are your hopes for April? Thank you so much for reading!

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My Favorite Makeup Products | Collab With Alicia Parry

Hello, hello! Happy Monday!

In today’s post, I’m going to be sharing with you my favorite makeup products for eyes, lips, and face. I’m doing this as a collab with the amazing Alicia Parry–be sure to check out her blog, because her photos are drop-dead gorgeous, and her posts are so interesting! Alicia is sharing her favorite beauty products, and you don’t wanna miss that!

-Eyes-

I don’t put on a lot of makeup, so I don’t splurge on expensive brand makeup. (I do, however, spend big bucks on my hair). So, most of my makeup is drugstore makeup, and it works just as well for me!

I recently tried out a new mascara called Flower, but I wasn’t crazy about it, and I came back to my good ‘ol Maybelline Great Lash. This mascara is a classic, and it’s easy to see why–it gets the job done, works well, and doesn’t clump. It’s a must-have in every makeup bag!

Isn’t this palette gorgeous?! For eyeshadow, I use the Need it Nude palette from E.L.F. I’ve talked about this in the past, but I can’t seem to stop sharing it. The palette has all your basic eyeshadow colors, it applies easily, and it lasts the whole day. What more could a girl want?

-Face-

Because of my blemish-prone skin, I can’t wear a lot on my face. I don’t prime or contour my face, I just wear foundation. I don’t think anyone notices the difference, anyway! For foundation, on special occasions, I use the E.L.F. foundation in the color Beige. I love this foundation, and when I run out, I’ll definitely buy more! When I’m not going out in public, I put on the Erase Paste from Benefit. It truly does a fantastic job of hiding my pores and smoothing out my face.

To blend the Erase Paste and foundation, I use this beauty blender. The handle makes blending much easier, plus it’s more sanitary, because my fingers aren’t directly touching the blender. Win-win.

-Lips-

For my lips, I love using chapstick and the NYX Butter Gloss in the shade Angel Food Cake. I have quite a few lip glosses, but I prefer the NYX one above them all, because the gloss isn’t runny, and it smells like heaven.

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Before you leave, check out Alicia’s post & blog! Thank you for stopping by! Do you have any favorite products? Have a great day!

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Blog Survey

Hello, how are you on this sunny day? It’s finally spring, and the snow has begun to melt in NY. How is the weather where you are? Cloudy with a chance of chocolate? I’m curious, let me know in the comments!

Lately, I’ve really been curious about what YOU think of my blog. Your opinion matters so much to me. So, I created a Google Form survey. It has four questions on it, and your feedback will help me to improve my blog and make my posts even better. It would mean so much to me if you would set aside one minute and take it.

Here is the link to the survey. Thank you so much. Although this post is short, stay tuned for Friday’s post, I have something delicious coming your way. It involves chocolate, if that will sway you. Have an amazing day!

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Buh-Bye, Bad Hair

Step aside, OGX Hair Mist, because there’s a new kid on the block. I’ve found my hair holy grail.

The OGX coconut milk anti-breakage serum! What a mouthful, huh? I don’t use a lot of products on my hair, I usually like to keep it natural. Up until I became obsessed with OGX, I just used coconut oil and Calia products.

But–cue the dramatic music–everything has changed. I recently purchased the OGX coconut oil serum, and I love it more than the OGX mist! Both are similar, but I’ve only been using the serum for a week, and it’s already my favorite.

Pros:

• It smells amazing
• It hydrates my hair more than the mist
• It’s inexpensive
• My hair has been really silky after using it

Cons:

• If I use more than a few drops, my hair gets really greasy

I still love the mist, and I’ll still continue to use it, but the smell of the mist makes me feel nauseous sometimes. The serum is thicker, and I feel like it really does a better job of hydrating and making my hair silky. I just use a few drops after showering or when my ends are really dry.

I would 100% reccomend this, it has made my hair so silky. What is your hair holy grail? If you’ve tried this product, I would love to know. Have a great day!

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Morning Routine + Abs Workout

Happy International Women’s Day! How are you? (I’m pretty good, thanks for asking!)

My morning routine was requested by a few people in my evening routine post, so without further ado, let’s jump right in.

It always depends on the day, but I usually wake up around 7:00 to 7:15. On some days, I have to get up at 6:00, and on weekends I sleep in until 8:00 or 9:00.

After making my bed, the first thing I do is workout. I usually go for a HIIT run on my treadmill, but if I don’t have time, I’ll do a quick workout on my abs. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with my abs, and I made a quick workout that I do every day. It may look easy, but trust me, your heart will be pounding by the end. Be sure to try it out and let me know how it goes for you!

When I’m done with working out, I eat breakfast. I usually have either toast, fruit, or cereal. Sometimes all three, if I’m really hungry. 😉 Breakfast is the foundation of your day, so it’s important to eat something healthy and filling.

I try to fit this in every morning. I write down a to-do list in my planner and check my email & WordPress. This is the calm part of my morning where I can plan for the day and jot down some post ideas.

After showering, brushing my teeth, doing my hair, and getting dressed, I put on some makeup. Most days, I just wear mascara and blush to feel put together. When I’m going out in public, I’ll put on a layer of Erase Paste to hide my blemishes, but heavy makeup like foundation and eyeshadow is reserved for special days. But since I don’t really need makeup, I don’t wear a lot. (Or own a lot, for that matter.)

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One more thing before you go–my blog has over 800 followers now! Gosh, that’s pretty cool. Thank you so much!

If you would like to share your morning routine or if you have a morning routine post on your blog, let me know! I hope you have a great rest of the day. Thank you for stopping by.

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My Evening Routine

Hey, welcome back to another post! This is a common post idea for bloggers, and although I prefer coming up with my own content, I really wanted to do this. I have a long evening routine, so I thought I would share it with you. Let’s get right into it!

I usually start my evenings with stretching and yoga, which is the best feeling after a long day. If I didn’t workout earlier in the day, I’ll squeeze in a quick run or some cardio (if I feel like it).

When I’m done with yoga, I wash my face with the Calia facial cleanser. I’ve done a review on this and other Calia products; here’s the link. This cleanser has high quality ingredients and works well to remove makeup and sweat.

I didn’t take a picture of this, but I usually use some oils on my face for my acne. Lastly, I moisturize my face with the Cetaphil daily facial moisturizer and brush my teeth. Many people rave about this moisturizer, but unfortunately I’m not a fan of it. It gets the job done most of the time, but lately my face has still been dry after using it.

I don’t go on electronics before sleep, because it makes it much harder for me to fall asleep. Instead, I read my Bible, write in my gratitude journal, and cross off things in my planner. If I feel like it, I’ll write a schedule for tomorrow of the things I need to accomplish. This is my favorite part of the night! I can get all the thoughts out of my brain and spend some time talking to God. 

After I’ve cleared the thoughts from my brain, it’s time to get comfy, relax, and destress. I light a candle, turn on my diffuser, and snuggle up with cozy blankets and read a book for an hour or so. 

I fall asleep within minutes, and over a few years I’ve developed ways to help myself sleep easier. The best solution I’ve found is to turn on my small fan. (Yes, even in winter!). I can’t sleep without my fan on. I then snuggle under tons of blankets and the relaxing noise of the fan and the cold air hitting my face helps me to fall asleep.

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If you’re interested, I would be happy to share my morning routine as well! Just let me know in the comments. Thank you for stopping by! Sweet dreams, and I hope you have a wonderful evening.

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My Makeup Holy Grails

Hey there! This post is long overdue; I’ve been wanting to write this for a while. I usually wear a bit of makeup (some foundation, blush, mascara, eyeshadow and liquid lipstick), and in today’s post I’m going to be sharing my favorite products with you.

I absolutely love this NYX butter gloss. The color is “Angel Food Cake” and, y’all, it smells like cake! It applies easily, the color really compliments my skin tone, and it stays on for a while. It’s inexpensive too. I can’t say enough about it, I just love it. I have large lips so I don’t usually put on lipstick or liquid lipstick, but I love this enough that I wear it almost every day.

The other lipgloss I love is the Anastasia Beverly Hills brand in “Metallic Rose”. This one, in my humble opinion, smells even better than the NYX lipgloss. The color is similar to the NYX one, but it’s shimmery and more glossy. It doesn’t stay on as long, but I’m obsessed with the color. At $17, it’s pretty pricey, but it’s high quality and worth it.

Don’t the colors look similar?! The first shade is NYX and the second shade is the Anastasia Beverly Hills.

On special occasions I wear foundation, but I don’t wear it all the time because my pores clog easily, and I have acne-prone skin. When I want to cover up blemishes, I use the Erase Paste from Benefit. The shade blends with my skin tone perfectly, and I feel that it does a really good job of hiding imperfections. It spreads easily, and a little bit goes a long way, so I never have to use a lot. I would definitely recommend it!

My last makeup holy grail is the Maybelline mascara. I’ve used other mascaras in the past, but I always come back to this one. It’s inexpensive, doesn’t clump, and gets the job done!

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Have you tried any of these products? How did they work for you? Thank you for reading, have an amazing weekend!

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