April Favorites

Hello my beauties!

Today I wanted to talk about things I have been loving in the month of April! I can't believe it is already May and that another month has flown by! If you want to look at prices or purchase anything the links are embedded within each title! I have found an eclectic bunch of things to love this month so let's jump right in!

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation

If you read my post about my favorite foundations (click here to read it if you missed it) then you will know that one of my favorite drugstore foundations has been the Maybelline Fit Me foundation! I have been grabbing this foundation just about every day and I have been loving the light buildable coverage it has offered me and it gives my skin a nice dewy glow that I have been enjoying for this warmer spring weather! It never feels heavy on my face and I think it is the perfect foundation for the spring and summer when I want to be a little less heavy handed with my makeup base.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

I own all three of the original Urban Decay Naked palettes and I usually find myself going through a rotation with them during the year and right now I am loving the original Naked palette! I have found myself going for Sidecar shadow all over my lid and then smudging Smog in the crease. Both colors have a bright metallic color but they blend together beautifully and just really bring out the green color of my eyes. Most brown shades tend to do that and I really have been loving this smokey eye look this month!

Hask Monoi Coconut Oil Shampoo and Conditioner

I have been LOVING this shampoo and conditioner! My bestie Amber and I discovered it on a Target shopping trip and it not only works great but it smells amazing! It smells like a beach day with coconut SPF except its shampoo and conditioner for your hair! This stuff is SO much more affordable than the other shampoo and conditioner I usually use and like I said it works great! I have been loving it this month and definitely plan on repurchasing it when I run out!

NuMe 25mm Curling Wand

I have found myself curling my hair pretty much every day this month. I got my NuMe curling wand on sale with an amazing discount code and I have been obsessed with it ever since it arrived! I have been growing my hair out to a slightly longer length (just above shoulder length) just to be able to curl my hair in loose waves because I think the style is really pretty and I have just wanted to be able to do it with my hair for so long and when I was able to snag this amazing curling wand on a discount I couldn't resist! I have fallen in love with the way my hair looks in this style and have been finding it hard to straighten my hair because I just want to have it curled all the time! I highly recommend this brand for any of their styling tools and just keep a look out for them to run a sale so you can snatch one up on an amazing discount too!

Swing Dresses

I have been obsessed with swing dresses for the majority of the last two months if I'm honest and I can't get enough of them! Most all of mine have come from American Eagle but the one in the link is the one pictured above. I love the way a swing dress is so flattering but also comfortable to wear. They look amazing but also don't take a lot of effort! I have enjoyed styling mine with a jean jacket for work and comfy flats or keds. These types of dresses can be easily dressed up or left casual and I have just been enjoying living in them! I have acquired about 5 swing dresses over the last 2 months and I can't wait to add more to my wardrobe for the summer time!

Troye Sivan

I have been obsessed with not only Blue Neighborhood but also Wild and all Troye Sivan discography. I have been listening to his music NON STOP. Any time I am in the car his albums are on and even now as I am writing this post I am listening to him. I have loved his music for a while but I have just been recently in love with it to the point of playing it non stop. If you haven't listened to his music before then you really need to! Listen to it on Spotify if you aren't sure you want to purchase but I promise you will listen to two songs and be hooked and want to buy and listen to it all!

Snapchat

I have been obsessed with snapchat and posting stuff to my story. I have loved snapchat since I downloaded it when it first came out but with the addition of many new snapchat face filters and trying to document more of my day I have been using it a lot more! It's a lot of snaps with my dog, rehearsals for the show I'm in, work, and my favorite music! I'm also in Disney when this post is going live so I will be snapping that the entire time I'm there as well if you wanted to follow along! :)

I have been loving a lot of stuff in April but these are definitely the most loved of all! What are some of the things you have loved over the month of April? Let me know by leaving a comment or tweet me (@thejesslauren)!

xoxo Jess

March Favorites!

It's that time again for favorites! I have so many favorites this month to talk about! I have tried a few new things and also re-found some old things and fell in love with them all over again!

So let's hop to it!

Clothing Favorites

1     My number one favorite for clothes this month has got to be my blush pink tulle skirt! I have worn this skirt a few times  this month and I am in love with it! I love it so much I think I'm going to buy it in the other colors it is offered in! I always get compliments when I wear it and it makes me feel very princess-y and what girl doesn't love that! I think this skirt is going to be a great statement piece for spring for me! I bought it from Charlotte Russe and I will link you to it here: Tulle Skirt

2     My second clothing favorite happens to also be in the above picture and it is my platform wedges! I have also worn these numerous times and not only are they SO cute but they are super comfortable and easy to wear! I love that they can dress up any outfit but they aren't killer heels where I will be mentally screaming because I want to take them off! I got these shoes from American Eagle and I will link them to you here (they are also 40% off right now!): T-Strap Wedge Sandal

3     My third favorite clothing item this month is something that has really been a 2016 favorite and it is hair bows! I don't care what people say I always feel so much cuter when I am wearing a hair bow and I have SO many of them! I bought them from a friend so I don't have anywhere to really link you to it, but I'm sure Etsy has a TON of places you can buy hair bows from!


Moving on, I am now going to give you guys a few of my beauty favorites from this month!

Beauty Favorites

1     My first beauty favorite of this month is the Real Techniques blender sponge. I have wanted a blender sponge for months and I finally got one at the end of February and my life has been CHANGED! If you have never tried a beauty blender or blender sponge I urge you to give it a try because it makes my skin look like I have no foundation on it and I just somehow have perfectly smooth and beautiful skin! I got the two pack Real Techniques sponges and they were only $10.99 for a two pack which is honestly a great price! You can find those sponges here: Real Techniques Sponge
              Also pictured are a few of my favorite foundations, I did a blog post about a review of foundations and if you want to read about them you can click here: Foundation Review

2      My second beauty favorite has been a favorite of mine since 2014 but I have recently rediscovered them and fallen back in love and it is my Urban Decay Naked 1, 2 and 3 palettes! These palettes have been nothing but amazing since day one. I have only hit the pan on one shade in the Naked 2 palette after having them all for over a year and a half and all of the shades still apply smoothly and blend amazingly. They really do suite any and all occasions and I often find myself switching interchangeably between them all throughout the year. You can find all of them linked here: Urban Decay Palettes

3     My last beauty favorite is also something that I have had in my beauty collection for a while and recently rediscovered! They are the Rimmel Kate Moss lipsticks! These lipsticks are long lasting, great color payoff, and just gorgeous all for a super cheap price! My two favorite colors are 104 and 10. The 104 is a nude shade that perfectly matches my natural lip color and the 10 is a beautiful bright red lipstick! These lipsticks are linked here: Rimmel 104 Rimmel 10


The last few favorites I have are random miscellaneous favorites!

Miscellaneous Favorites 

1     The first random favorite I have is Emergen-C. My friend Sarah introduced me to this because I have horrible allergies and take allergy medicine every day but still somehow end up with sinus infections! I have been taking this every day and it has really helped not only my immune system but it also helps my energy levels! I use the super orange flavor in powder form and its like drinking a glass of orang juice every day! Emergen-C is linked here: Emergen- C

2     My last random favorite is a food favorite which is the rising moon organic butternut squash ravioli. I have loved these since I discovered them last year but I have recently been finding myself re-buying them more and more because they are delicious! Not only are they organic but they are also vegan! You can find them at Publix in the freezer section and oh boy are they yummy! They cook in literally 8 minutes and taste so good! I highly recommend them! Ravioli linked here: Butternut Squash Ravioli

These are just a few of the most favorite things I have been loving this month! If you have any favorites tweet me (@thejesslauren)  and let me know what you have been loving this month!

xoxo Jess

The Get To Know Me Tag

This week I am doing the get to know me tag! Since I have gained some new readers I figured this would be a good way for you all to get to know who I am!

1. Are you named after anyone?

 I'm not, my parents just liked the name Jessica however they did once want to name me Jennifer Nicole but my aunts and uncles had children before my parents and one of them named their child Jennifer while the other gave their daughter the middle name Nicole so they had to decide on other names they wanted to choose!


2. When was the last time you cried? 

I cry a lot actually. I am a very emotional person, I can see those dog commercials where they play sad music and cry. The last time I cried though I think I was watching Fuller House and *spoiler to the plot if you haven't seen the first episode* DJ was talking about her husband who had passed away and it made me cry.


3. Do you have kids?

No, I do not have any children of my own yet but I hope to have kids one day. I am happy to say that a few of my very close friends have children or are going to have children soon so I have plenty of babies to love on!


4. If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself?

I would like to think I would because we would both like the same things and have the same personality but I can be shy sometimes so if I were to meet myself in a bigger social setting I might not befriend myself right away because of that.


5. Do you use sarcasm a lot? 

I love that this is a question! I do use sarcasm quite frequently and more so with people who I am closer with. I usually gauge the situation I am in and if it is a more professional or work setting I try and subdue my sarcastic comments and keep them to myself.


6. Will you ever bungee-jump? 

Definitely NOT! One of my biggest fears is heights so free falling off of a tall bridge or surface just sounds like my worst nightmare! I get scared when I am riding a ferris wheel and it gets to the top so I'm sure if I even got close to the height needed to bungee jump I would faint from fear.


7. What's your favorite cereal?

 I have a few favorites! My favorite cereal to eat from the box without milk (Don't judge me I know you all do it too) is probably Frosted Flakes or some sort of bad-for-you children's sugary cereal. My favorite cereal to eat with milk would probably be the Quaker Oatmeal Squares or Life.


8. What's the first thing you notice about people? 

The first thing I normally notice is what they are wearing. Since working at American Eagle for almost a year and a half I normally look to outfits first because I get asked style questions from customers all the time and I use what they are currently wearing to try and pick up style clues to point out items they may like.


9. What is your eye color? 

My eyes are green. It depends on the lighting and what I am wearing but most of the time they are a deep green but can sometimes go green/blue.


10. Scary movie or happy endings? 

I am a scaredy cat so I try and stay away from ANYTHING scary because I will psych myself out and end up not being able to sleep so definitely happy endings.


11. Favorite smells? 

I have so many favorite scents!! For perfume I would say I love Jessica Simpsons I Fancy You and for body sprays I am in love with American Eagle's Surf for Women. As far as body washes and lotions it depends on the season but most of my body washes are from Bath and Body Works!


12. Summer or winter? 

I am definitely more of a winter person. This is only because I live in the southern part of the U.S. and summers here are HOT and HUMID and my hair and body do not bode well in the heat. Here during the winter we experience calmer and cooler weather that many northern areas probably get in their spring time.


13. Computer or television?

 I would definitely say computer. Only because if there is a show I want to watch I can look it up on the channel's website and watch it from there. I also prefer to watch my favorite YouTubers over television shows any day. For a list of my favorite YouTubers of January you can look here


14. What's the furthest you've ever been from home? 

The furthest I have been from home would be NYC. I have been twice and the last time was two years ago this March actually and it was such a fun trip! I saw so many of my favorite Broadway shows and had a blast. Manhattan is definitely somewhere I aspire to one day reside!


15. Do you have any special talents? 

Yes! I think my most special talent would be singing/performing. I love to sing. I have sang ever since I was small and I have been fortunate enough to be able to perform in many shows when I was in college and also through community theaters in my area!


16. Where were you born? 

I was born in the port city of Alabama!


17. What are your hobbies? 

I have so many hobbies! I love to read books (real books not a nook or tablet) and I love to perform and sing. I love writing (hence the blog) and I love going to see movies. I also have a huge shopping addiction which I think of as a fashion hobby!


18. Do you have any pets? 

Yes! One, my Chi-Poo Snoopy. He is turning five years old this month and he is so so sassy and has the attitude of a bratty teenager! He can be loving and cute and cuddle you one minute and the next he can ignore you and want you to leave him alone!


19. Favorite movie? 

I have a lot of favorite movies but I really feel like I am a child a heart because most of my favorite movies are Disney. I think of a favorite movie as one you could watch over and over and never get tired of it and for me Disney movies are movies I would watch time and time again and never get bored.


20. Do you have any siblings?

 I do not have any siblings! I am an only child. When I was growing up I always asked for a brother or sister for any holiday or birthday but it never happened so I like to think of my friends as my siblings because friends are your chosen family anyway right?


21. What do you want to be when you grow up?

 I want to be on broadway. Whether it be in a traveling tour or in New York that is my dream to be a performer for a living!



Well, those are all the questions! If you enjoyed this tag and want to do it for yourself then I challenge you! I had a lot of fun answering these questions and I hope it gives you a better look into who I am!


xoxo Jess

My January YouTube Favorites and Discoveries

Hey guys!

So I have been captured by the phenomena which is YouTube for a little over a year now (I even did my graduate school thesis on it!) so to commemorate that I decided to do a post on some of my favorite channels. In January I also did a lot of YouTube discovering and exploring and I wanted to share with y'all today some of my all time favorites along with some new discoveries! You will definitely want to grab a nice snack and get ready to get lost in some of my all time favorite creators and their channels! (If you like the way they sound then you should check them out and subscribe to them!)

Oldies but goodies

These are some of the channels I have been subscribed to since I started getting into YouTube. They are diverse and cover a range of topics and styles of videos so I'm sure there will be something for just about anyone! I have also left each of their channel links so if you think you may be interested in them you can click it and browse a few of their videos for yourself! So let's just dive in!

Zoella aka Zoe Sugg

One of the first people I subscribed to on YouTube last year was Zoe. At the time she only had 6 million (ONLY had lol) subscribers and now she has over 10 million subscribers. She is a 26 year old British beauty guru and her charisma and sense of humor are what drew me to her videos. She makes beauty/fashion videos as well as collaborations with some of my other favorite YouTubers. Her personality and general cheerfulness are what I think I love about her. She could talk about cheese for ten minutes and make you feel like it was the best thing in the world even if you're lactose intolerant. If you are looking for someone to make you laugh and entertain you while also making you feel like you've been friends for years she's your girl!

Her channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/user/zoella280390

Danieldorable aka Daniel Moran

Daniel is one of my favorite YouTubers (and not just because he's my IRL bestie). He makes videos that will have you in tears from laughter and he can describe a candle scent unlike anyone else I have ever seen. He posts video segments called drunk bakeries (my favorite) and Disney Cocktails where he invents cocktails that are themed around Disney characters (who wouldn't love that)! Along with other videos as well his creativity and humor always make me come back for more! If you want someone to bring you unbridled entertainment each week he's your guy!

His channel link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe0QAHEgcK1tgo9IXiuGgOA

VelvetGh0st Aka Gabriella Aka Gabbie

Gabbie's channel is one I have been a fan of since mid 2015. She is also a British beauty guru and both her main and vlogging channels are a constant favorite of mine. She is one of the most real and honest people I have ever seen on YouTube. She doesn't act like she has a perfect life and I love that about her. She is honest about when she is stressed and when she doesn't agree with something and I admire that. She also posts beauty/makeup reviews and tutorials along with hauls on her main channel. She also has a love for musical theater and music in general so I feel that we share similar interests which is another reason why I love watching her. She is someone I always enjoy watching no matter what!

Her main channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/user/velvetgh0st
Her vlog channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/user/PlanetGabb

PointlessBlogVlogs aka Alfie Deyes

Alfie is another one of the first people I found on YouTube and his daily vlog channel is my favorite of all the channels he has. He is a British vlogger who also has a main channel but I prefer his daily vlogs to his other videos. If you are a nosey person like me, then any vlogging channel would be where you would want to go. His bright attitude and vlogging style have made me come back day after day to watch what he was up to. If you are looking to follow someone around on their day and connect with someone on more of a personal day to day level he's the guy to do it!

His channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/user/PointlessBlogTv

The SacconeJolys aka Anna and Jonathan

The SacconeJolys are also daily vloggers. They are an Irish couple who now live in the UK. They are married and have two children, Emilia and Eduardo, and also six dogs. They show their day to day life with two toddlers and I have just fallen in love with their family. Their vlogs are fun and down right adorable and if you want to add some cuteness in your life this is the channel for you. (Anna also has her own channel which I love as well, it is more like Zoella in theme).

The SacconeJoly's channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/user/LeFloofTV
Anna SacconeJoly's channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzdEQyIy-uCVXcjwfq8SbKw

New Favorites

Now that I have given you just a few of my favorites I am going to tell you about a few people who I have discovered this year and have fallen in LOVE with!

Megsays aka Meg

One tweet from someone I follow included this girls channel in it and when I clicked on the video I was instantly gravitated towards her. She is a British beauty guru by nature but her personality is what drew me to her channel. Her personality is one of those that when you watch her videos you get drawn in by her sweet attitude and joyous enthusiasm for what she is doing. She has the most soothing voice and she is so sweet that you can't help but like her! If you are looking for someone to watch who will relax you and bring a smile to your face she's the one!

Her channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOTKYFfRMaLj4n-QPBGWzDg

BratKnee aka Brittany aka BratKnee on the internet

If you haven't discovered Brittany then the above wont make sense but if you have then it will give you a little chuckle. She is an American beauty who makes videos that will make you laugh from her sarcasm and also think "SAME" for everything she says! She is one of my new favorite discoveries on YouTube and she has such pizazz! If you want to watch someone with a firecracker sense of wit and humor then she is the one you need in your life!

Her channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/user/bratkneed

LoeyLane aka Loey

Loey's channel is one of my most recent discoveries. I found her channel while searching for Cinderella makeup tutorials ( I know, I know) and oh my goodness... one of the best links I have ever clicked. She is an American beauty guru who also happens to be plus size. She makes videos about topics such as body positivity and body peace as well as makeup tutorials and hauls. I love watching her videos because not only is she absolutely beautiful but she has helped me become more confident in myself just through watching her videos. Her makeup always look flawless and her personality is over the moon amazing! You definitely need to check her channel out because I am just obsessed.

Her channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/user/LoeyLane


BeautyLifeMichelle by Michelle Crossan

Michelle is another recent discovery I found while searching for makeup looks on YouTube. She is an Irish beauty guru who lives in Australia. Her videos include makeup and hair tutorials along with my favorites which are makeup reviews and first impressions. I love watching her swatch different makeup products and give her honest opinions on them. She is a gorgeous fair skinned girl so all of her makeup tutorials are great for all the pasty girls like me! She gives great recommendations for products and I am in love with her accent! If you are looking for a new favorite all around beauty channel I definitely suggest subscribing to her!

Her channel link is: https://www.youtube.com/user/BeautyLifeMichelle

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These are just a few of the many YouTubers I watch and am subscribed to. I have fallen in love with each of these creators for different reasons but I couldn't imagine not watching them grow their platform and continue to produce great content! If you would like to see a part two to this with other YouTube favorites I definitely have enough to fill it! Let me know by commenting or tweeting me (@thejesslauren)!

Also, if any of these YouTubers are your favorites too let me know in the comments or on Twitter (@thejesslauren)!

If you have any new suggestions of YouTubers you love and think I should be subscribed to please let me know by either commenting or tweeting me! I look forward to hearing who some of your favorites are!

xoxo Jess

Christmas Time! (Winter favorites)

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year! So I decided to do a winter favorites blog post to let you know of a few things I am loving this holiday season and every year around this time!

The first thing is Christmas music!
I am currently obsessed with the new Pentatonix Christmas CD "That's Christmas to Me"

I have been absolutely loving this CD and I have been blaring it in my car every time I get in and I listen to it when I'm working on anything as well. It has some really great new twists to some of my all time favorite Christmas songs! The song I am loving the most is a tie between "White Winter Hymnal" and "Mary Did You Know" both are just SO good!

The next thing I have been loving this Christmas season is scarves!

Anyone who knows me will tell you I have a slight obsession with scarves but I just LOVE them especially in the colder months! They are a staple in my winter wardrobe and I am currently obsessed with the sweater/knitted thicker type scarves right now. They just add that nice finished touch to any outfit.

The next favorite I have is any and everything bright and sparkly!

In my wardrobe I have noticed I have been picking up more items that have sparkle in them or shimmer. I have recently just bought a really gorgeous gold shimmer top from Forever XXI (Below)

Forever XXI

I have also been buying really shimmery cardigans and little throw over a shirt type over-sized jackets that I have been in love with ( My favorite online boutique for those is www.mintjulepboutique.com) . I just think it adds just a little bit more to each outfit and helps to add to the feel of the season!

Another favorite this time of year is all things comfy and cozy. I have recently bought a few super comfy and cute Victoria's Secret sleep shirts and I have been living in them during these chilly winter nights! They have the cutest sayings on them and are great for people who get hot at night!

Victoria's Secret

Another holiday favorite of mine is a place in my city. It is Bellingrath Gardens. It is a place where you can go and walk through a beautiful historic home and garden and look at TONS of Christmas lights! It is always a tradition to go with me and my friends and we went this past weekend and it was so magical!

It is always such a magical experience and I love going and having fun spending time with friends and enjoying the spirit of the holiday season.

Another absolute favorite during the holiday season is buying everyone's gifts! For me, I really enjoy buying gifts for my friends and then wrapping them really cutely and giving it to them! I love surprises and giving gifts is just so enjoyable for me! I really love sentimental things and so this time of year really makes me want to craft and make the cutest gifts for friends! I have been really busy this past week trying to get everyone's gifts figured out and bought so that I don't have to worry about rushing around as it gets nearer and nearer to Christmas day!

Some of my next favorites are makeup and skin care products! Some of the things I have been LOVING recently are the really yummy holiday scents and colors!

First is a new fragrance by Bath and Body Works called A Thousand Wishes. It smells so heavenly and it has a sweeter scent but it is still very strong and is something that just smells so great. I also got this in a shimmer body lotion because who doesn't want their skin to glow!

Bath and Body Works

Another favorite I am loving right now is the Urban Decay Naked 3 palate. It just has so many Christmassy colors and festive bright colors and I have been wearing it every day for the past month it is SUCH a good purchase!

Urban Decay

This palate is mostly rosy tones and I am loving that so much right now. It also has some really nice subtle darker colors that are great for blending into your eye crease to make a nice smoky eye.

Another favorite makeup product I am loving is something that I think everyone should have in their makeup drawer! A good concealer is something that is super hard to find and I have been loving the Benefit 'Stay Don't Stray'  in light/medium as an amazing under eye concealer.

Benefit Cosmetics

A favorite winter relaxation product line that I have fallen in love with is Lush Cosmetics. They have some of the most amazing bubble bath and bath bombs I have ever tried. They always smell so good and leave your skin feeling so refreshed afterwards! The best thing about it is they have the cutest holiday themed bath products!

Lush Christmas

Not only are they amazing products but they also are festively shaped and scented! Such a great little gift idea too!

These are just a few of the great things I am loving right now during the holiday season! I have also left links under all of the products I have shared in case you want to go check out these awesome products!

What are some things you are loving this holiday season?

xoxo Jess