12 Beauty Must Haves

Happy Friday! For this Labor Day holiday I have travel back home to Michigan for my cousin Donna's wedding. I'm excited to party harty with my friends and family on Saturday in celebration. I've already share with all of you my dress for the wedding (here), but I also wanted to share a few of my favorite beauty products that I use in constant rotation.  

I've always felt that my eyes were my best feature so I choose to play them up the most. Below are my favorite products to use.

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I don't usually wear any foundation as I have terribly oily skin and therefore break out constantly. I do however love to quickly cover up any imperfections with mineral powder. When I am attending a more important event, like  a wedding, I still skip the fondation but use a BB cream topped with some mineral powder.

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I've recently have fallen back in love with lipstick and lip color in general thanks to my BFF Leeann who literally is a walking Sephora. I don't think I've ever not seen her wear some type of color on her lips. This summer I've stuck with bright pinks and reds to play off my skintone.

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Turkey Taco Soup

Turkey Taco Soup

Ingredients:

• ·      1 ½ pounds of ground turkey
• ·      1 medium onion, chopped
• ·      1 packet taco seasoning (I prefer Trader Joes brand)
• ·      10 oz can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
• ·      15 oz can kidney beans, drained
• ·      15 oz can black beans, drained
• ·      8 oz can crushed tomatoes
• ·      8 oz can tomato sauce
• ·      1 cup frozen corn
• ·      4 cups vegetable broth

In a large stockpot, brown turkey and onions on medium-high heat; break up with a large spoon into small pieces. When cooked through, drain any access fat.

To the pot add 1 packet of taco seasoning, Rotel, kidney and black beans, crush tomatoes, tomato sauce and vegetable broth. Bring soup to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes. 

Add 1 cup of frozen corn to the pot and simmer for an additional 10 minutes – until corn is cooked through.

Serve with a few Dorito “taco” flavored chips and any of your favorite toppings – plain greek yogurt, reduced fat cheese, etc. 

Randolph Street Market

{Forever 21 dress, Franco Sarto wedges, Jenna Kator handbag, Nine West sunnies, Fringe cuff, jewelry from vendors at Randolph Street Market}

This past Saturday Christine and I visited the Randolph Street Market in West Loop. It's one of my favorite places to visit with tons of vendors offering unique handmade jewelry, vintage clothing and decor. It was hot as hell out this Saturday so I wore my favorite yellow cotton sundress to keep me cool. I kept my jewelry to a minimum and accessorize my way through the fair. I picked up the typewriter necklace and ring at two different vendors. If you haven't been to the Randolph, make sure to check it out one weekend before summer ends. 

Cauliflower Bacon Salad

With so many summer activities going on, I've completely forgotten to snap photos of some of the delicious food I've been making recently. I'm promising not to lapse again! My roommate Christine is an awesome baker and has introduced me to so many new foods that I've never had before - one of them being this salad. With Labor Day just around the corner it would be a perfect addition to any Labor Day picnic party!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
• 1 head cauliflower - chopped into small pieces 
• 3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 green pepper, chopped fine
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 1 cup mayo or plain greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup sugar

After you have chopped all your vegetables, dump them into one large bowl. Add your cheddar cheese to the vegetable mix, toss and set aside. In a smaller bowl, whisk together your mayo (greek yogurt) and sugar together until the sugar is well incorporated. Dump the mayo mixture into the vegetables, mix together well, cover and chill for at least 2 hours - overnight is better.

Recipe via Christine Dubay 

9 Things -Fall Wish List

Even though it's only August I'm stoked for fall to show up. The colors of autumn, the crisp cool weather, and light layers to keep me warm.  I usually change my wardrobe in the fall winter to deep reds and other jewel tone colors. Below are my top 9 items for my fall wish list which I'm sure will the majority will end up in my closet after a small shopping spree this weekend!

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Neon Lights

{dress & belt from Langford Market, Steve Madden heels, Moon & Lola monogramed necklace, bracelets from Sequin NYC & BaubleBar, Forever 21 ring}

I hope everyone had a fantabulous weekend!! These photos were from last Saturday before we went downtown for Christine's birthday. I found this dress earlier that day at one of my favorite boutiques Langford Market. There are a few days left in summer and so I'm trying to squeeze in as many neon looks as possible. The green color and lace overly of the dress give the simple cut some added dimension. I already have so many ideas on how to transition this dress for fall.

I totally turned around to check out this hottie that walked by - boy he had the cutest butt!

Humble Brag

Hey everyone! Today I'm guest blogging over at Pretty & Fun while Cait is out on vacation (lucky duck), so be sure to check out my post on my 5 favorite places in my neighborhood of Lakeview in Chicago!

Also I wanted to share with all of you my recent places I've been featured in. I started this blog as a way to express myself and let my creative juices flow to break up my otherwise monotonous life, it's nice to get some props sometimes! Thank you so much to everyone who reads my blog!

Lucky Magazine - Cute Outfit of the Day (see here)

NY Times Street Style: Chambray Shirts (seen here)

Subway Stories

{Forever 21 top, necklace, and bracelets, Express tank & jeans, J.Crew flats & bracelet, Nine West sunnies, L.A.M.B. handbag}

Since I moved to the city my favorite way of getting around is using the "L", which I know may sound strange to many of you who have grown up with public transportation as a daily commuting option. In Michigan, we don't have any convenient public transportation and therefore driving is a must if you want to get around. I get a slight thrill when I run to the subway to hop of and zip off to my destination making my errands seem a bit less monotonous. Anyone else get giddy over small things like this?

Since August has been slowly coddling us into fall like weather, I'm not yet ready to bust out my light jackets just yet. I've opted to take out some of my lighter sweaters to wear as layering pieces that don't feel too heavy for summer yet just warm enough for when the afternoon cool down takes place.

Black & Brown

{The Limited blazer, Madewell blouse, Express shorts, Nine West heels, L.A.M.B. handbag, LOFT bracelets, H&M necklace, Topshop rings, Steve Madden sunnies}

I hope everyone had a wonderful relaxing weekend! Chicago's weather has taken an early detour to fall for a few days and I couldn't be more thrilled. If I could live in a location where the temperature hovered between 65-70 degrees, it would be my euphoria. I've always kept Sunday free and clear of any major plans; I like to keep Sunday a casual and free day. Since the sun barely poked out it was great to layer a short sleeve blazer over a breeze blouse and shorts. As I made my way down the boutiques of Lakeview my extra roomy handbag kept everything perfectly stowed. 

Untucked

{Madewell top, Urban Outfitters skirt, Jenna Kator handbag, Aldo pumps, Sequin NYC bracelet, Forever 21 earrings, Pitaya necklace, family heirloom ring}

I use to complain about being bored all the time when I lived back in Michigan. When you are so familiar with a place it always seems like there is nothing to do. It's not a feeling I have here in Chicago as I'm constantly making myself busy and honestly I feel like I've been over stretching myself a bit, however I couldn't be happier. Since much of this summer has been humid, I've changed my wardrobe around to include loose tops and fitted skirts to make the outdoors a bit more bearable.

This weekend my BFF Katie is coming down to visit and we are celebrating my roommate/photographer Christine's birthday, lunch at the Melting Pot (never been!) and a night out on the town sounds like the perfect weekend.

{This is what I look like when I'm apparently thinking while waiting for my roomie to get herself together...attractive no?}

MonoPinkmatic

{Madewell dress , Pitaya clutch, Manolo Blahnik pumps (similar), M2 Boutique necklace, Fringe earrings, Target rings, DIY bracelet}

It's weird to hit that age when you're no longer attending obligatory family weddings but start attending the weddings of your close family and friends. I still feel so young and not quite like an adult, yet so many of my good friends are starting to make that marriage leap. I bought this dress early in the summer with the intent of wearing it to most of the weddings I'd be attending during "wedding season". I love the bright color and comfortableness that the dress provides, and so far keeping everything monochromatic has brought out a chicness and romance to what seemed like a casual dress. I can't wait to boogie in my dancing heels to all those cheesy wedding songs later this month!

 

Those Chambray & Floral Days

{Pitaya chambray shirt, Modcloth skirt, Nine West sunnies, Fringe necklace, Jewelmint & The Limited rings, Aldo wedges, Jenna Kator "Greektown" handbag}

Chambray has a been a big trend this summer but it wasn't something I could get into. Many of the chambray shirts I had tried on were too dark, too stiff feeling or just in general unflattering. This month I had promised myself to cut my personal spending in anticipation for some major winter shopping, however that was quickly squashed on Saturday when I met up with my friend Enaskshi in Wicker Park. I found this chambray top that's soft, comfortable and in a perfect hue of denim which I quickly paired the next day with a floral skirt and nude wedges for Sunday brunch. I can't wait to really incorporate this chambray shirt into my wardrobe for fall and winter. 

The Little Black Dress

{H&M dress & blazer, Nine West sunnies, Forever 21 jewelry, Manolo Blahnik pumps}

Every fashion magazine in the planet will always place the little black dress as the #1 must have staple item every woman must have in her closet. I love it when I can find a staple piece like a LBD and have it be the most versitalie piece of clothing I own. I love the extra lace detailing on top that take elevates the dress from something plain to extra special. My LBD is perfect for work paired with a blazer and some deep red pumps for a punch of color, and later for a night out on the town with old friends. 

P.S. Big THANK YOU to my neighbor Marty who was nice enough to snap these photos for me! 

Connie

{Langford Market dress & belt, M2 Boutique handbag, Franco Sarto wedges (borrowed), Fringe & Charlotte Russe cuffs, Aldo ring, Forever 21 earrings}

Last weekend my good friend Connie came down to Chicago for a surprise visit! I love hanging out with this girl; vibrant and full of energy she is so much fun to be around! On Saturday, I took her down to one of my new favorite shops Langford Market in Lincoln Park where Connie found this stunning maxi dress. The colors and pattern of the dress matched Connie's personality perfectly and I just had to photograph her. Miss you tons Connie & come back soon!

[Stylist: Monica Modzelewski | Photography: Christine Dubay & Monica Modzelewski]