Tanfb – Page 2 – Laughingly Ever After

No chip – Not a cloud in sight

August 15, 2013 mrs_ellyk Comments 0 Comment

Over the weekend Matt and I were out running errands and we just happened to be in the parking lot next to Ulta so I ran in. As usual I ended up leaving with new bottles of nail polish. The first was Orly Won’t Chip topcoat. For $5.5o (which looks like a sale price) I figured it was worth a shot. I mean if it didn’t work then I had yet another top coat to add to my collection and if it did well, YAY!!!!

The second polish was L’oreal’s Not a Cloud in Sight. It’s a pretty teal color (and quite popular right now.)

Since I didn’t know just how much I would like the color I decided to go with the L’oreal because it was cheaper. Personally I wasn’t super happy with how the polish performed. It seemed to be very clumpy and thick. Thankfully the Orly smoothed it out some and actually made the polish look better.

As you can see I am on day 4 or 5 now and I still have no chips! WOO HOO! The Orly Won’t Chip topcoat is doing a pretty great job. I am beyond pleased with the results so far. I think I will actually ride this out and see just how long the Orly will work. Normally by day 4/5 the tips are starting to chip and I’m having to touch up. So if you want to spend your money on a no chip topcoat Orly is the way to go!

***UPDATE: The polish lasted a good 6 days without chips. I think my coats were a little too thick so when it did start to chip they were pretty deep. But overall 6 possibly 7 days with thinner coats, I think this is a keeper.

Olay CC Cream

July 22, 2013 mrs_ellyk Comments 0 Comment

I feel like I’ve done a lot of makeup posts lately but I keep buying new stuff. 🙂 Last weekend while Matt and I were at Costco I picked up some Olay CC Cream. It was basically buy one get one free.

I know I’ve raved on here about the Olay Total Effects Cream but Olay is really nailing it! The CC Cream is basically just like the Total Effects as far as consistency goes only I got the light to medium shade which seems to suite my skin tone a little better than the fair to light I have in the Total Effects. My plan is/was to still use the CC cream in with my Clinique Even Better foundation but yesterday I decided that since we were having a lazy day I would just apply the CC Cream. I can’t tell you how much I LOVE this stuff. I don’t think it’s really any different than the Total Effects but honestly I love that too.

The CC Cream offered just enough coverage to help even out my skin and then I applied a little Mineral Veil from Bare Minerals and bronzer. Add blush and mascara and I was good to go. This is my “quick” makeup routine. 😉

So where I really wanted to go with this post is to say that I think I like the Olay CC Cream better than the Clinique BB Cream. As I mentioned the BB Cream still felt a little heavier than what I would want from something that’s touted as a “tinted moisturizer.” With that said, buy the CC Cream! Even if you have a regular foundation, I don’t think you can go wrong with the CC Cream. It’s great to add to your foundation or for days when you don’t feel like spending a lot of time applying makeup. (I wonder if I could return the BB Cream?)

Ode to Nine West

July 11, 2013 mrs_ellyk Comments 0 Comment

For the longest time Nine West was my “go to” for all things bags and shoes. Then Jessica Simpson started to win me over with her bags and shoes but this past weekend I rediscovered my love for Nine West. I may have a post here, here and here. 🙂

Matt and I ran to the outlets while we were at the beach. While we were there I stopped in the Nine West store. Almost everything was buy one get one free! I found a cute pair of black sandals that were super comfy but I decided to keep looking before I committed. Once we’d made our way around, I decided to go back for the shoes. Then the question was, buy one for half price or buy one get one free? They had a really pretty green so I decided to get the black and green shoes. I can’t tell you how happy I am I decided to get both pairs. They are BEYOND comfy and easy to walk in. I wore the black pair on Tuesday and the green pair today.

Branching out!

April 10, 2013 mrs_ellyk Comments 1 comment

A week or so ago I went on an online shopping spree at Old Navy. They had some adorable dresses and I decided to buy a few. I ordered 3, two were the same style but different colors (one was red the other a green stripe)and the third was just different. Much to my disappointment 2 of the 3 were too big, and not the two that were the same. The red one looked a little big but I figured once it was washed and dried it would fit and I was right! 🙂 It actually looks adorable on.

I ran to Old Navy last week to return the dressed I bought and see if a smaller size would fit. One they didn’t carry in the store and the other I decided against. I tried on a few things but seeing as I was on my lunch break I didn’t really have time to shop shop so I got a refund and decided I would go back over the weekend.

Matt and I ran down there on Sunday and I found a few items to replace the ones I returned. One item was a cute Chambray dress. I’m not a huge Chambray fan but I decided to try it just to see. Turns out, it was adorable on. I wore it to work yesterday and felt super cute and stylish. (My normal wardrobe of jeans doesn’t really add “stylish” to my everyday feel.) Several people even commented on how nice I looked so I am looking forward to wearing my new dress again soon! It also makes me want to throw out my current dresses and start over. I tend to pick the same style all the time and then I wonder why I don’t care for what I have. I’m really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone.

I paired with a chunky red necklace and some neutral wedges (that you can’t really see). Super cute!

Matte polish

January 23, 2013 mrs_ellyk Comments 0 Comment

Several months (or like a year) ago when my obsession with Pinterest began, I ran across a picture of some matte nail polish from OPI. I began searching for it but I was never able to find any in stores so I kind of gave up. Well I mentioned that I went to Ulta after Christmas and bought a matte polish topcoat.

Last night I finally sat down and redid my nails for the first time in probably 2 weeks. I really like to file and polish my nails about once a week. Sunday is usually my day of choice but I just haven’t had the time. Last night I decided I would sit down and see what this topcoat really looked like. I’d seen a picture on Pinterest, shocker, the other day of a grey matte. Well I have grey polish and I have a matte topcoat. 🙂

While Matt and I were watching the sorry excuse for a game (Thanks State!) I filed, soaked, and buffed my nails. Once all of that was finished I used a clear base coat and proceeded to paint my nails grey. I have to say this is one of my favorite colors right now. I started out really good but that quickly went downhill. First I bumped one nail, then another. Really it was just a disaster but I wanted to try to matte topcoat so I just went with it anyway. Once the topcoat dried, you could see the matte finish. It’s not quite as matte as I would like, nor does it really have great finish. Maybe it was the poor paint job? Maybe the polish just doesn’t work that well. I think I am going to try again this weekend. I might use a different color and see if the results are better/worse or the same.

Here are a few pics. You can clearly see how bad the grey paint is.

What I bought vs what I wore

December 7, 2012 mrs_ellyk Comments 0 Comment

The other day at JCPenny I bought a cute pair of wool shorts with a little bit of shimmer. At the whooping low price of $13.00 I knew I couldn’t pass them up. Then I found a cute red top also with a bit of shimmer. They looked cute together but I could also wear the shirt to work so it was win win.

As the week progressed, I started to think the outfit might not be quite as dressy as I would like so yesterday at lunch I decided to run to Marshall’s just to see what they had. I found a couple of cute dressy dresses but nothing I felt would work with the booties. Next I headed to Target for a pair of tights. I walked through the clothes and just when I was about to leave the section I noticed a cute sequined purple top. At $25.00 I knew it was mine. I grabbed my size and was on my way.

I left work early to start getting ready for the company party. I spent a good chunk of my time painting my nails. I think I did a decent job considering. Once I was ready to get dressed I put on my new top, tights, shorts and shoes. Needless to say I was very happy with my ensemble. And happy I got a new shirt.

So without further ado, here’s what I bought and what I wore.

Can we talk about “the New JCPenny?”

December 3, 2012 mrs_ellyk Comments 0 Comment

I know a while back they decided to “slash” their prices but truth be told I probably haven’t been to a JCPenny in 5+ years. I know I haven’t been since I moved to NC since the closest one is in North Hills, which isn’t on my normal shopping route. (And let’s be honest, JCPenny isn’t really a place I would shop.) Last week however, I just happened to stumble across some fantastic glittery booties and I decided I MUST have them for my company holiday party this week. I also found some really cute dresses for $20. $35 and $40. (I’ll post pics of the whole outfit on Friday.)

On Saturday I hopped in the car and headed to North Hills to check out “the new” JCPenny. I was a little overwhelmed when I first walked in the store. It was a good bit bigger than I expected it to be but I found the shoe department fairly quickly. I found my awesome booties and asked for my size. The guy brought out the shoes but the 6.5 was a little tight, and I like my boots to be a little big, so I asked for a 7. They were out of 7’s so I asked for a 7.5. They are a bit big but nothing an insole can’t fix.

Once I paid for my shoes I decided to look for the dresses. I was totally blown away! Not really with their dresses per se but with their selection of clothing and more so by the prices. Most everything I picked up was under $30.00. I found several cute dresses that had good prices and tried them on. I couldn’t settle on anything so I decided to keep browsing. I kind of had my heart set on a pair of mini shorts and a top. Everywhere I looked I saw something glittery so of course I was in heaven.

I spent the next hour and a half walking around the store picking up items to try on and looking at the multiple clearance racks that said $4.00 and up or 8.00 and up. And for the most part the items on those racks were close to that price. Not just like one item listed at 4.00 and the rest at 19.00.

Guys, this might be my new fave place to shop! I’m not kidding. Had I been looking for more than one outfit I probably could have spent $100.00 easy and come away with 4-5 outfits. Most of the clothing I looked at was pretty good quality. I didn’t feel it was super cheap like some places (I’m pointing at you Forever 21!) I feel like I could buy items here that would last more than one season and it wouldn’t break the bank either.

So there, I’ve said it. Go check out JCPenny! You might be pleasantly surprised. I know I was. And just for the record, the North Hills store was pretty clean and orderly. I can’t say the employees were super friendly nor were they dressed as nice as most retail places (most were in jeans) but this won’t stop me from going back.

This ain’t no fashion blog – Pumps

November 30, 2012 mrs_ellyk Comments 0 Comment

Yesterday I walked into the office with one of our HR girls. She was dressed nicely in business clothes, I of course in jeans, but I couldn’t help but notice her shoes. Ugh! I’m not much for plain pumps to begin with but these has horribly long, pointed toes. As we walked I kept wondering how in the world she wasn’t tripping over the long pointy tips. I would have killed myself. Not to mention after a day of wearing something like that they would be all scuffed to hell. Clearly I’m not the best walker in the world. 🙂

Here is a pic I found similar to what she had on.

This is the best pic I could find and maybe they weren’t quite that pointy but they had a nice point to them.

Honestly I HATE shoes like this. I don’t think they are attractive AT ALL! Not to mention, where do your toes go? (Yes I know I have freakishly long toes but still.) I think they look unattractive and uncomfortable.

Just so you know what I’m talking about I found another pic of some pointy toe pumps that I do approve of. Would I wear them, probably not. (Long toes anyone?) But I do at least think these look nice and attractive.

I have plans to start with the Christmas decorations tonight so wish me luck!

Happy Friday!

This ain’t a fashion blog!

June 18, 2012 mrs_ellyk Comments 0 Comment

But every now and then I actually have fashion stuff so here goes.

Last weekend Matt and I went to his parents house to the beach. I mentioned his cousin Emma was in town, well as we were leaving his dad wanted a few pics of the 3 of us. Later his mom posted the pics on fb. After seeing those pics I decided I wasn’t really digging my long hair. Now mind you I’ve been growing it since before the wedding but seeing made me realize I was ready for a change. Not a huge change but a change so I made a hair appt for Saturday. When I got the salon I showed the girl a pic and told her to cut it. Aside from my bangs being just a tad too short I am really happy. The length feels good and I think it looks pretty cute. I also think it makes me look younger, though I’m not sure that’s on the plus side. 😉 ( posting from my iPad so the pic is at the bottom.)

I also wanted to share a little makeup tip since I’m fashion blogging today. A while back a blog I follow on twitter mentioned she was using Olay total effects 7 moisturizer. A little research said it was suppose to improve your skin tone. Well I have pretty crappy skin tone so I love to try things that might help to even it out. I even switched to Clinique’s even better foundation. (Matt wasn’t having the $80.00 for a bottle of the even better serum so this was the next best thing.) The foundation was just a tad heavier then I really wanted for summer and while we were in NYC I decided to compare that with my Bare Minerals. I decided I was digging the Clinique but I wanted it a little lighter so I added some of my Olay total effects to the foundation and blended them on my skin……ahhh perfection. It adds just the right coverage without feeling to heavy. I finish with my BM mineral veil powder to set the look. For me this is a great solution plus I am tone correcting. And to be honest I do feel like my skin tone looks a little more even in the few weeks I’ve been doing this.

I would definitely recommend both products to anyone looking for a change or those who might need a little tone correcting.