GAL-entine's Day Guide

I happen to be someone that loves Valentine's Day... always have.  Even when I was single, I didn't quite understand the hate for this day.  I mean really, isn't everyone always saying to love one another?  And then turning around and hating on a day dedicated to love..?   Ok yeah, I get it... it's a "hallmark holiday"... unnecessary upcharge, lavish displays of love that seem to only serve the purpose of out-doing each other... that stuff I don't get.  To me, it's just everyone taking a very simple idea and making it ridiculously complicated (what else is new nowadays)  But when you take away all the stupid crap, it's just about showing each other, significant others, family, friends, whoever it may be, that we love them.

Showing our girlfriends love during this time can be very rewarding and pretty simple to do!  How about planning a GAL-entine's Night for you and your friends?  What's that, you ask?  Oh well here's my friend Leslie Knope to explain...
LOL Love that woman!  So if you'd love to host a GALentine's Day this year, I've linked some super cute items for you below!!! They'll help you entertain, get comfy and look cute!  And don't feel like you have to plan a whole night... it can be as simple as a few girlfriends in their PJs, painting nails, baking cookies (*cough* or eating the cookie dough *cough cough*) and watching chick flicks!

{product links below}

And remember, it doesn't have to be about bashing what you DON'T HAVE... rather, just celebrate what you DO HAVE... great girlfriends to share a fab cocktail with!  Speaking of, here's a couple of simple cocktail recipes!

{Rasmopolitan}

picture and recipe from MarthaStewart.com

• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) citrus-flavored vodka
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) raspberry-flavored vodka
• 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Chambord
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Simple Syrup Simple Syrup
• 2 tablespoons cranberry juice
• Raspberries for garnish
• Directions: Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add vodkas, Chambord, lime juice, simple syrup,  & cranberry juice. Shake or stir until well chilled. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with raspberries; serve. (Originally from MarthaStewart.com)
• 
  
• {Raspberry Chocolate Kiss Martini}

picture from MarthaStewart.com

• 1/4 cup Mint-Infused Simple Syrup, plus more for rim
• 3 chocolate cookies, finely crushed, such as Nabisco Famous Wafers
• 10 raspberries
• 1/4 cup vodka
• 2 tablespoons cranberry juice
• Ice cubes
• Directions: Fill a shallow dish with enough simple syrup to just cover the bottom. Place crushed cookies into another shallow dish. Invert a martini glass into simple syrup and then immediately into crushed cookies to coat the rim of the glass.  Place raspberries in a cocktail shaker; crush with a muddler. Add simple syrup and muddle again. Add vodka and cranberry juice; fill shaker with ice. Shake well until chilled. Strain into prepared martini glass. Serve immediately. (Originally from MarthaStewart.com)

Do you have a favorite girly cocktail or item to share?  I'd love to hear about it!  Are you planning a girls' night this year?  How do you spoil your girlfriends and show them love?  Comment below!  Let's spread the LOVE!

arctic blast hibernation

I am NOT a cold weather person!!!  So these arctic blasts that keep hitting DFW... yeahhh not a fan!  This morning I was dreading taking Mr. Wilbur outside.  And true to his St. Bernard form, he just romped around in the freezing cold, enjoying the crap out of himself while my nose ran down my face and I tried desperately to cover my ears from the cold.  Not cool, Wilbur... not cool.  (I'm sure he's thinking the same of me during the summer months when I want to stay outside and he's sweating his fur off!)  But seriously, this cold! OMG!!

So today is all about hibernating and cuddling with my kitties!  Here's a few of my favorite items for the day...

Yoga Pants (on sale for $10!) // Mrs. Fancy Pants Mug // 

Kindle // Glasses (old) similar HERE

I am loving these yoga pants.  I am, sadly, one of those girls that will live in yoga pants WAY MORE than actually using them for yoga... gah, guilty as crap!  {Sorry not sorry}  So seriously, many of my lounging pants are just getting really worn out.  I spotted these pants in the juniors section at Target while I was grocery shopping... yeah grocery shopping in the clothing section LOL OOPS!!  I chose these for the light mint green stripes and the glitter.  I don't see that exact pattern online so check your local Target stores!!  What I'm loving in that these pants are LONG! Like super long and I need that.  I purchased an XS for myself and they fit perfectly!  I have long legs so usually pants, especially work out pants, are too short for me.  I'm considering going back and getting another pair!  They are also slightly flared/bootcut so they easily fit over shoes.

The coffee mug and Kindle were both Christmas gifts and I'm loving them!! I can never get enough mugs... I have an entire cabinet plus some sitting on shelves (If you know a great mug holder/ DIY/ craft idea, send it my way!! Tag me on Pinterest- @Texas_Sass)

I've hesitated in the past with tablets because I just didn't know how much I'd use it... but I decided to ask for one this year and I'm really loving it!  It's so nice to have a big screen and I'm hoping that it will encourage me to read more (obviously right now I'm still stuck on magazines lol)

What's the weather like where you are?  These arctic blasts are killing me!  This Texas girl is frozen!  How are you staying warm?!

my latest travel essentials

I've been traveling a lot lately... not super exciting blogging trips or vacations or anything... just mostly toting around in the car all over Texas for various things like weddings and family visits.  Now, I love traveling but at the same time I am a total OCD person that hates to be away from home!  Home is where I have all of my stuff and everything is just right, you know?

At home you have everything you need and everything you're used to and you know right where it is.  And if you run out of something, chances are you know exactly where that something is on your local store's shelf and it's a quick fix.  But what about traveling?  How do you stay comfortable and how do you fit everything you need without overpacking and taking everything you own?

In my world the answer is simple... Travel size products.  Ok, I am well aware that travel size items are extremely small amounts of product for jacked up prices... Yes, I get it.  But there's also a huge convenience factor here and to me, it's worth it.  I like to have my small products on hand, packed and ready to go for any trip.  I've linked my favorite products below from my most recent road trip! 

 Kleenex Travel Packs // Tide to go mini // Listerine // Thirty-One flat iron cover (new prints) //

Mary Kay Facial Cleansing Cloths // Mary Kay Satin Lips Lip Balm // 

Mary Kay Satin Hands Fragrance-Free Hand Cream // Wet Brush Squirt //

Dove Intensive Repair Shampoo & Conditioner // Johnson's Baby Powder //

Downy Wrinkle Releaser // Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths // 

Scotch Lint Roller Mini // Huggies Baby Wipes

All of these items were purchased in the Travel Size Product sections of Target and Walmart (except the flat iron cover and the Mary Kay products).  Most of them are pretty self-explanatory as to what I used them for but a couple of things may not be.  

The baby powder and Ban Cooling Wipes are for Texas weather.  Yep, it gets hot and we sweat here... A LOT... even in October.  It's nice to have the baby powder for your body and underarms, but it's also nice to have to sprinkle on your feet before putting on heels or any shoes really.  It will help keep your feet cool and dry, and if you're anything like me, your feet determine your whole body's temperature.  

I have to say that the Ban Wipes were a very pleasant surprise and they worked really well!!  I happened to see them when I was grabbing the other travel items and thought, well I'm going to Houston, cooling wipes are probably a good investment!  And they were!  They worked really well and actually I found the best use of them to be on my recent camping trip.  There's nothing like a cool, soothing clean cloth when you've been sweating outside for a few days!  My one complaint would be that the individual cloths are pretty small, but the cooling sensation was great!

The other item you may question is the baby wipes.  No, I do not have children (just a husband & that's close enough right now! BAM hahaha JK Love you Hubby!!) but I ALWAYS have baby wipes.  They are so useful!  I use them all the time for simply wiping off my hands or giving myself a quick "bath" and reapplying deodorant.  They can also be used for removing your makeup (especially eye makeup) when you don't have any other means.  And they can be used for wiping away those pesky deodorant marks from your clothing!

What are your must-have products for traveling?  Any big travel plans coming up?  I'd love to hear about your trips and packing tips!!

Mary Kay Spring Product Preview

With all of this winter weather lately, it was nice to warm up with some color last night at our Mary Kay Spring 2014 Product Launch!  We've added some new regular-line products as well as some limited edition items in fun spring colors!  You're getting a firsthand look, before these products hit the web!  

{See below for pre-order info!}

New Regular-Line Products

CC Cream

Bronzer

Gel Eyeliner- Black

New additions to MK@Play

Baked Eye Trios- Sunset Beach (left) / Electric Spring (right)

(top to bottom) MK@Play Eye Crayons- Teal Me More / Over the Taupe
MK@Play Lip Crayons- Purple Punch / Coral Me Crazy
MK@Play Jelly Lip Gloss- Poppy Love / Violet Vixon


Limited Edition "Hello, Sunshine" Collection

Nail Lacquer- Lemon Parfait / Carefree Coral

just testing them out :-) this is one quick, messy coat

Springy Eye Duo- Stonewashed / Summer Sunset

Creamy Lip Color- Carefree Coral (top) / Retro Rose (bottom)

Lip Gel- Cherry Twist

I have to say, I'm officially obsessed with the CC Cream already!  It feels so lightweight and creamy and gives you eight benefits in one step!  And it's so affordable!  I'm also extremely excited about this season's color.  Don't be afraid of how bold these items look!  When used sparingly, these colors are so flattering on anyone, any age!  Check out all of the Spring products below, including the Limited Edition Pedicure Collection in Lemon Parfait! Smells heavenly!

As mentioned above, you are getting a special VIP preview of the spring line as a thank you for being a fan of my blog!! Even though these items are not yet shown on my website, you can still place an order!  Please use the "contact me" section (right side of this page, just below "labels") and let me know the best way to contact you and the products you're interested in! 

Happy Hour at Home

Chris thinks I'm kind of strange for making food platters for myself, but I say food always tastes better when it's presented nicely!  It's a quiet evening at home for us... I'm battling a sinus infection that seems to be spreading throughout my head (bubbly is good for that, right?!) and Chris is relaxing after many long days of work and wedding planning.  

So here's a few tiny little at-home pleasures we're enjoying this evening... Champagne Flutes via West Elm (old); Houdini Wine Preserver; Salty Caramel candle via Bath & Body Works; Lamarca Prosecco via Target

Cheers! 

These are a few of my favorite things

I'm sad the holidays are coming to end, but I'm still enjoying so many great gifts! Here's a few of my favorite little things I received this year! (Links in each caption)

Starbucks Gold Mug

Packers Scarf

"How to tell..." Book

Chloe + Isabel Bracelet & Earrings

Burberry Brit Sheer Eau de Toilette Rollerball Perfume

Anthropologie Monogram Mug

Adidas Ultimate Hoodie & Ultimate Tee

Gift cards (Kohls & Starbucks)

It's the little things in life... ❤

Eye Makeup Look: Green Eyes

Today's eye makeup look was created with the following Mary Kay products:

Eye Primer 

Lash Primer 

Mary Kay At Play™Baked Eye Trio in "On the Horizon"

Eye Color Brush  

Eye Crease Brush 

Colored Mary Kay® Lash Love® Mascara in "I ♥ Plum"  

Mechanical Brow Pencil in "Blonde" 

Brow Gel

Remember, purple is great for green eyes because it is the opposite and makes your green 

eyes pop!  If you have blue eyes, try shades of brown, or our Mary Kay At Play™Baked Eye Trio in "Earth Bound".  If you have hazel eyes, try the Earth Bound Trio also, or neutrals that play with gold tones!  If you have brown eyes, be daring and try some color like purples, greens & blues!  Check out the Mary Kay At Play™Baked Eye Trio in "Ocean View".

If you want a 100% guarantee you're choosing the correct eye makeup for your eye color, try Mary Kay's Eye Bundles! And don't forget the brushes! Blending is the key to wearing bold color, and brushes are the key to blending! 

Product Alert!

Product alert! Summer's coming & I'm loving the bright colors in stores! Check out these awesome roll-out beach mats by Tommy Hilfiger! Spotted at Marshalls, they're soooo adorable. Padded & has a round pillow for your head! Super cute patterns :-) Get 'em before they're gone!

Makeup Monday

Let's get your Monday morning started out right! How about a little makeup chat? Not awake yet? No problem! We're talking "Dash Out The Door" today, for your Monday morning rush out the door!

When you don't have much time for makeup, here are the steps you should focus on:

1. Even skin tone with some sort of foundation. Although foundation may take a few seconds to cover your entire face, it's important because it is the final step to skincare. Foundation creates a barrier between your skin and the outdoor elements, protecting you throughout the day from sun damage & free radicals in the air. For super quick application, choose a Mineral Powder Foundation. Tinted Moisturizers are also great because they combine your moisturizer and protection steps!

2. Apply Mascara. In a quick look, applying mascara takes priority over applying any sort of eyeshadow or eyeliner. Use black and coat top and bottom lashes. For cleaner application, apply on bottom lashes first, then top.

3. Apply Blush. Don't spend the few minutes you have on just your eyes! I see a lot of young girls make the mistake of never using blush. Using a bright blush color and applying on the apples of the cheeks is one of the best ways to perk up your complexion and look.

4. Apply Lip Color. Choose a color close to your natural lip shade and a formula that keeps your lips moisturized. Remember that with a dash-out-the-door look, your makeup is subtle and therefore your lip color should be too. Don't go crazy with a dark red lip... just choose something that adds a little color and completes your look.

This completes your Dash Out The Door look! The more time you have, the more steps you can add. Remember, don't focus on one facial feature and apply all your makeup there! The key is remembering to lightly apply makeup in each of these key areas to give you a complete look in only a few minutes!

**As always, remember that basic skincare is the key to looking great with less makeup! When you have a good day/night routine, you will find it is much easier to use less makeup**

Here are some Mary Kay favorites that I recommend to achieve this look!

Products left to right, top to bottom:


TimeWise® Miracle Set®
MaryKay® Mineral Powder Foundation
Mary Kay® Tinted Moisturizer With Sunscreen SPF 20
Mary Kay® Lash Love™ Mascara
Mary Kay® Cream Blush
Mary Kay® Liquid Lip Color
Mary Kay® Cream Eye Color
Mary Kay® Brush Collection
Mary Kay® Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover