10 Things I’ve Learned From Moving To New York From Missouri

A little insight into me, my home state, and my current state........or, 10 Things I've Learned From Moving To New York From Missouri

1. No matter how many times you tell someone you’re from Missouri, not Missoura, they will continue to pronounce it as Missoura, just to spite you: In fact, they will continue to use that godforsaken mispronunciation for years to come. Case in point, “Hey Emily! How was Missoura?” “It’s Missouri” “Haha okay, so how was it to kiss your cousin in Missoura?” Ah yes, thank you so much, boy I met one time at a bar Freshman year, for remembering this one fact about me and then using said fact to make me angry every time I see your dumb face. (Fun fact, while writing this, my computer tried to correct the spelling of Missouri multiple times, so at least I have spell check on my side.)
2. Also, no matter how many times you tell someone not to say “Misery” instead of “Missouri”, they again will continue to pronounce it as such: “Hey. Have you heard this one?” “No”, I answer, wondering if they’re about to tell me a fun joke.  “Missouri? More like Misery. (commence douchey snickering)” Why no, random stranger I met in Freshman Computer Science, I’ve actually NEVER heard that one.
3. No one actually knows where Missouri is: “So where is that again? Near Texas?” No, not really but thank you for having so much knowledge about the Country you are apparently from.
4. Continuing on that trend, no one actually has been to Missouri: It’s a fly over state, according to the world, and thus there is nothing to do here. “I think I’ve been to the St. Louis airport once, does that count?” NO, that does not count. Also...educate yourself, Missouri is great. We have the Arch. And baseball. Also Jon Hamm is from Missouri so you’re welcome, WORLD, for that bulge.
5. People forget that St. Louis is in Missouri: Apparently, St. Louis is its own city-state, with no affiliation with Missouri. Same goes for Kansas City, the other well-known city in Missouri. People are somehow surprised when you mention St. Louis actually being in Missouri. Where the heck else did you expect it to be?
6. If you’re not from Kansas City or St. Louis, people will not know where you come from: No one in the world knows where Columbia, Missouri is. Mention the Mizzou Tigers and maybe you’ll get a spark of recognition, but that’s about it for my place of birth.
7. I am not stylish: The bar on fashion and style is set pretty low in Missouri. Hollister, Abercrombie, and Aeropostale were pretty much the go-to styles during middle school. We transitioned to Forever 21 and American Eagle for high school, but absolutely no one wore Valentino or Prada or anything fancy in the slightest, especially in High School. Coming to New York, I’ve realized my wardrobe is really not that snazzy. I have to actually put effort in when I walk outside, especially in the West Village or Chelsea, where good-looking people are the norm and I look like a crumpled piece of lettuce walking in my $3 Old Navy flip flops and garage-saled dress. Oh, fashion...you fickle beast.
8. People will wonder how and why you’re in New York: During those stupid Freshman Icebreakers the script was; “Hi, I’m Emily, I’m a Freshman Communications major and I’m from Missouri.” I’ve never encountered a professor who hasn’t raised his eyebrows at that. Why are you so surprised that I’m here. New York is the city of everything!
9. Public transportation is kind of the worst: Missouri does not do public transportation. I’ve only been on a bus maybe twice before moving to NYC. Also, the subway is disgusting and crowded and smelly and there are way too many suspect things happening on the F train. I’m used to driving, blasting the A/C and parking my car. Ah, simplicity.
10. New York is absolutely incredible: All jokes aside about public transportation and how people perceive Missouri, New York is astounding. I can’t believe that I get to live and breathe this city. I’m thankful I get to be here and flabbergasted at what I get to experience on a day-to-day basis. For instance, a snow-covered central park changed my life (See photo above for proof) and seeing Saturday Night Live; LIVE in studio made me cry. I love Missouri. I love New York. I love that I’m not native to New York; it keeps the magic alive and makes me really appreciate everything I experience. I love everything about my life, from my roots in the middle of the middle of the United States to quite arguably the top of the top when it comes to cities of our great nation. So thank you mom and dad. Thank you Missouri. Thank you very much New York.

xo Emily

My Favorite Highlighter

The Balm's Mary-Lou Manizer is probably the best highlighter I have ever used. 

That being said, I'm not a huge purchaser of highlighters, but I do have a few and this one has surpassed them in every way. It's so incredibly gorgeous on the skin and is one of the only highlighters I've come across that looks natural! You aren't left with that powdery feel and look that often comes with highlighters, and the color is very flattering on any skin type and skin tone. 

The packaging and name is also very cute. I love the play on the 50's pin up with the image and font on the product. It's compact and sleek and is just plain gorgeous upon opening. It shines on your skin without looking like you just came from the gym. It stays on all day, especially if you pair it with a makeup setting spray. I absolutely LOVE this and it's definitely a go-to product for me now. 

I had heard a lot about this product from makeup gurus and other bloggers, but when I was back home in Missouri, there was really no where to buy it. Once I got back to New York for school, I walked into a Duane Reade randomly and voila, there it was! 

How gorgeous is this on the skin? 

It is a bit pricy, putting you back $24, but I find that any unhappiness that the pricetag caused me was erased by the quality of the product. I know this is going to last me forever and have no doubt it looks flattering. I've gotten a few compliments already about it and I've only been wearing it for a week! Woo! I'll definitely have to check out more The Balm products because I really love this highlighter!

♡

xo Emily

Naked Basics 2: The Obsession Continues

As the title of this blog post might indicate, today I'll be sharing the Naked Basics 2 palette with you! It costs the same as the original Naked Basics, $29, and came out in late August. I picked it up a few days after it came out but haven't made a post just yet because I was transitioning into my Junior Year of college and wanted to test out all the shades!

But finally, I'm settled in and am just as head over heels for this palette as I was the original Naked Basics. 

First off, the packaging is almost identical to the original palette, except it's  got a big ole '2' and a slightly lighter color to the words on the outside of the palette. 

Inside the palette has 6 eyeshadows, five of which are completely new shades. Unlike the original palette, all the shadows are matte and run more taupe/nude and really complement a cooler skin tone. The transition from shade to shade in this palette is a lot more subtle, which each shade really complementing each other and building intensity from a pale nude matte to a deep, smoky brown matte shade. 

First off is 'Skimp' a very nude, matte shade with only the slightest bit of shimmer. Next is 'Stark' which is a nude pink matte. 'Frisk' is a warm-toned gray matte. 

'Cover' is a reddish/brown toned matte. 'Primal' is a brown matte, which is much lighter than the brown matte in the original Naked Basics and finally 'Undone' is a deep, smoky brown/gray matte shade. 

Here are the two palettes side by side. 

As you can see, the new palette is a lot more muted and taupe-y and all the shades transition really naturally. I don't think I could live with the original Naked Basics palette because some of the shades are absolutely essential for everyones makeup collections. 

Overall, I really have been loving these shades. It's the perfect palette for if you have an everyday, very neutral look and you have cooler-toned skin. They are definitely are and could be staple shades in my makeup collection!

♡

I also did a makeup look to really test out the shades. It came out similar to looks I do with the original Naked Basics palette, but that's expected as they are similar. 

I used 'Stark' all over the lid as a base and then used a big, fluffy brush and 'Frisk' to define the crease. Once it was completely blended, I went back in with the same fluffy brush and used 'Cover' to define it even more. I blended that (a lot of blending) and then went in again but with 'Primal' and blended that to deepen the crease even more. Lastly, I used a bit of the darkest shade, 'Undone' to really finish defining the crease. After that was blended in smoothly, I patted 'Skimp' over the front of my lid to give it a bit more brightness. 

Above is the look before I went in with eyeliner and mascara. Below is the finished face! I love how neutral and taupe it turned out!

I really love this palette and especially how it looks with my skin tone. I recommend this completely. It's a definite everyday makeup product!

♡

xo Emily

Fashion Week Favorites!

I don't know about you, but Fashion Week(s) across the world are always a highlight of the season! It's especially exciting to see all the hustle and bustle of this fashion filled month when you're living in New York City. As a native Missourian, I will never get tired of walking around this gorgeous city and seeing beautiful, glamorous people strutting around in 6 inch stilettos! 

I spent some of my time just taking in the Fashion Week scene at Lincoln Center, enjoying glimpses of some of my favorite people of the industry, including designers, bloggers, and celebrities! What a great atmosphere!

I've been following the Fashion Week coverage in great detail, and have been loving the new collections for various designers.

Some of my favorites were......

Diane Von Furstenburg - Her collection is insane. I'm a huge fan of the florals and gingham featured in her SS15 collection, especially as they had a very retro feel. I also loved the makeup and hair styles for this particular collection, very Bridget Bardot-esque, with big hair and smoky eyes! 

"Be Happy. Be Sexy. Be the Woman you want to be. Smile." Her words to the models before they were to walk hit a cord with me....what a great motto for life! Diane truly has hit it out of the park with this years collection. Check out all the gorgeous designs from her collection here - my favorite was this look. Magnificent.

Another great runway show was Altuzarra's. Another gingham-filled show, with some of prints similar to DVF's brilliant show. The tailored suits and slit skirts were striking and truly gorgeous. Very wearable as well! Here's my favorite look from the collection plus check out the rest here.

Rebecca Taylor's collection was incredible; dresses that were perfectly proportioned, perfectly wearable, and perfectly pretty. The paisley prints and flowy dresses were an absolute favorite and perfect for spring. Here's my favorite look from the show as well as the rest to check out here. 

I was swooning over Monique Lhuillier's spring line, punctuated with princessy gowns; it was my favorite I think. The show seemed to be completely magical, with each look making my eyes widen a bit more. This collection is truly unbelievable, and leaves me wanting everything. I'm a sucker for those angelic,  ethereal pieces, and Monique's collection did not disappoint. I felt it too hard to pick just one favorite so I've got three; This stunning number, this gown, and finally the most swoonworthy lavender gown to ever exist. Check out the entire collection here, and try not to drool too much.

I've been loving how vibrant and fashion-filled the city has been (which is only just a little more fashion-filled than usual) and I really hope one day I can go to Fashion Week and experience the shows firsthand!

♡

Do you have a favorite show or look from this years fashion week? 

xo Emily

The Weekend Face

As a student, I sometimes find it hard to force myself to really look put together, especially in the morning. It's also difficult because sometimes I don't want to get all dolled up just for an hour long class, since I'll probably be coming home to nap afterwards. 

Because of that, I use the weekends to really make myself look nice! (or else I try) I've got more time and energy and also a lot of places to be, so I try to up my beauty routine!

For this weekend's face, I went for a neutral eye and a berry lip, which I've been loving lately. As summer winds down, I'm getting excited about wearing darker makeup, with lots of berry tones. 

I started out with a fresh, clean face (post shower + moisturizer) as my template!

For the look, I focused on making my eyes look neutral and really spending extra time on eyeliner and my lips. After primer and my Rimmel Match Perfection foundation, I concealed my blemishes and under-eye circles with Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind. I lightly dusted a setting powder all over my face and then just used E.L.F.'s Tickled Pink blush to give myself a little extra color. 

For my eyes, I used the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. I went in with the shade 'Naked 2' and darkened my crease with windshield wiper motions until it was defined to my liking, then I patted the shade 'Venus' all over the lid. That's all for the eyes, as I wanted it simple and neutral. 

For eyeliner, I went in with the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner and created a pretty standard cat eye and then went over it with a pencil brush to lightly smoke it out. I finished off the eyes by curling my lashes and adding the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara.

To finish off this look I went for my berry lips. I am wearing Bite Beauty's Cava Lipstick, which is just the most gorgeous color. It's the perfect berry color and it's one of those 'Your lips, but better' shades that should be a staple in everyones collection. It's creamy and soft, with just enough shine, and is incredibly long-wearing. I love it.

♡

That's it for the Weekend Face, I hope you enjoyed this. I'm finally getting done with my unpacking, and my room is coming along nicely, so I'll have some fun room posts as well as new product reviews coming up!!!

xo Emily

Getting back into the swing of things

Hello, hello! It's been a few days since I've posted, as I've been moving back into school and starting work and class, so I'm sorry for that!

I'm excited to get back into the swing of everything, and my apartment decoration and unpacking has finally started getting a bit more organized - I'm still waiting for a few packages! The apartment is pretty amazing, and I love my room and my roommates, so I'm really loving it right now!I'll have a room tour post coming up soon. 

New York has been pretty crazy as of late, because New York Fashion Week is in full swing by now. I love the energy and it's been amazing seeing a lot of awesome bloggers, designers, models, and celebrities around town. I can't wait until, someday, I get the opportunity to attend. 

Classes started and I've been really liking them so far, and I've got a great schedule for this year. I also started an internship for this year, which has been amazing and has been centered quite a bit around fashion, which is amazing. It has definitely made me think about my future career path. 

I thought I'd just make a quick post now to say sorry and that I'll be back soon, with more beauty reviews, makeup looks, and more! 

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

xo Emily

What's in my travel makeup bag!

Hi guys! It's just about here, my day of departure for another school year. I'm flying out again this year, which means those lovely plane rides (I don't mind them, really). 

I thought I'd share with you what's in my travel makeup bag and some tips and essentials for keeping pretty and fresh when you're traveling!

First up, you want something easy and quick for your face and so I'm using a tried and tested (more me) BB cream across my face. You want to use BB cream because it's going to do a lot more then foundation, and will keep you more hydrated - planes really take the moisture right out of your skin. You also want to use a favorite product, don't try out anything new today.

Next up is concealer. I know that when I travel, I'm usually tired and with my flight being at 7:30, I know those dark circles will come a-knocking. Once again, use your favorite products. Mine are the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind and the NARS Creamy Concealer. 

After this, I ONLY set my under-eye area, nothing else; so I keep that dewy, hydration for my skin. 

Next up is my brows, which I once again use something quick and easy - the Anastasia Brow Wiz. This product (or any alternative you choose) has a built in spooli brush!

Next up is eyes. I don't usually do much on travel days, but sometimes I pop on a bit of a brown color in the crease and a shimmery shadow on the lid and to highlight the brow bone. I usually keep the lid simple, with either no or just a bit of liquid liner. I finish the eyse with my favorite mascara of the moment.

The last step for my face is to give it a bit of color, because when you're tired and traveling you tend to get super pale and washed out. I use a blush/bronzer duo from E.L.F. for this, which is quick and easy to bring with you.

This group of products are some of my favorite beauty items, and are super easy for travel!

What are your favorite travel beauty products?

xo Emily