Sephora Picks - A Few My Favorite Things

A few weeks ago, Sephora had a big site/store-wide sale. These come far and few between, but when they do, you have to take advantage and stock up!! Below, I've put a list together of my favorites from Sephora and the products worth buying always (sales are just a bonus)! 

Drunk Elephant has been my new favorite skincare line. Up until I started using this line, I’d never invested in an actual skincare line before (not counting my high school Proactiv days). Their products are not cheap, but definitely worth the investment, especially when you can get a discount on them!! To find all direct links for these products, scroll to the bottom!

C Firma Day Serum - This serum brightens your skin and has an antioxidant complex helpful to fight the damaging effects of free radicals. It leaves a pretty glow on your skin as well!!

C Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream - I love this eye cream and swear I’ve seen results in just a few weeks of using it! It has a nice consistency to it as well which layers with other products well. 

Lala Retro Whipped Cream Crème Fouettèe - I love this moisturizer! It has a thickness to it without feeling cakey. Drunk Elephant has another moisturizer that is also drool-worthy, but it has a little lighter and more watery feel to it. This moisturizer is amazing, plain and simple!

Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 - It is so important to include a sunscreen in your daily skincare routine. This coming from the girl who never used sunscreen in hopes of getting a better tan (insert eye-roll at myself). I’m all about being out in the sun, but you have to protect your skin from the damaging rays! Even if you live in Seattle, it’s still important to provide your skin that protection, trust me it’s worth it! I haven’t tried this SPF out yet but I can’t wait to get it in from the sale!

Sunday Riley Luna Night Oil - I’ve been using this for about a year now and it’s absolutely everything it’s hyped up to be. A common misconception is that an oil for your skin will cause your skin to be oily. Seems like an easy conclusion to come to, but that’s far from the truth! It’s just like when your skin is breaking out, you shouldn’t try to dry everything out, you need moisturizer otherwise your skin tries to overproduce the moisture to make up for the dryness and in turn here comes more acne! I can’t speak highly enough for this night oil from Sunday Riley. It’s not cheap, but worth the investment if you’re serious about your skin.

My daily skincare routine with Drunk Elephant & Sunday Riley (post Bliss cleanser):

AM: 

1. Drunk Elephant C Firma Day Serum
2. Drunk Elephant C Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream 
3. Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream Crème Fouettèe

4.   Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30

PM: 

1. Sunday Riley Luna 
2. Drunk Elephant C Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream 
3. Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream Crème Fouettèe

4.   Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30

*Give yourself at least 30 seconds in between each application to allow for the products to set on your skin

Too Faced Lip Injection Gloss - This is a go to for my top layer over any base color or on it’s own as a sheen of light color! They originally started making these in a clear version, then in the past few years branched out into some other shades. I go through these, so I actually bought 2 while they were on sale. I was in Sephora’s store front a few weeks ago and they didn’t have these available anymore, which is also why I stocked up incase they discontinue the line…let’s hope not! I also love that they give your lips a little tingle upon application! 

Huda Beauty Lip - This matte is a new favorite of mine. I picked the color "Flirt" and can't stop wearing it! It has a brownish tone to it which is not a normal look for me but it's a very natural color.  I love all of the colors the line offers and it smells like the beach! Sometimes I double up the matte underneath and put the Too Faced Lip Injection Gloss on top.

IGK First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo - I hate washing my hair. It takes FOREVER to deal with. I naturally have very curly, thick hair, which means it’s a lot of work to dry and straighten. I am always on the lookout for a good dry shampoo, and I think I’ve finally found my favorite! This smells so good and doesn’t leave a film in your hair at all, it truly does it’s job! Additionally, in my experience I’ve found that dry shampoo will only last you 4 - 6 hours of additional wear before you notice that greasy look again, this one lasts a solid 24 hours at least!!

Stila Convertible Cover - Camellia Color - This is a lipstick that doubles as a blush. I primarily use this as a blush over my CC or BB cream. It adds a nice color that stays on all day long! 

Tarte Park Ave Princess Limited Edition Amazonian Clay Bronzer - I love everything that Tarte makes. This bronzer has proven to meet the standards of every other Tarte product I’ve obsessed over. I love this one because it has a slight shimmer to it without being overbearing. Picking out a bronzer can be tough, because I think it really depends on your skin tone but I’m a huge fan of this one. Also it comes in this ridiculously cute rose gold case.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara - I swear, if I were stuck on a deserted island and I was only aloud one makeup product, it’d be mascara without a doubt! And not just any mascara, this mascara. This one is the best I’ve ever found too. I’ve bought this again, and again, and again. If you haven’t tried it yet, trust me you should try this mascara! It’s not clumpy, it doesn’t make your eyelashes gross or cakey, and it really gives volume to your lashes. 

IT Cosmetics CC Cream - Tan - This is my new favorite product hands down. It provides such great coverage while protecting your skin with an SPF of 50+. I use the tan color and it's perfect for my skin tone. This makes my skin look refreshed, clean and flawless! I can't speak highly enough about this product, plus it doesn't cost an arm and a leg! It's only $38 and comes in 7 different shades. 

You can’t go wrong with anything at Sephora. These are a few of my absolute favorites and I always stock up when they have their sales. Make sure you claim your free samples when you’re shopping online too! It’s a great way to try new products without investing in the whole bottle. I always love hearing your recommendations too so please reach out with feedback on my favorites along with your favorites!

SHOP MY PICKS BELOW:

My Best Friend's Baby Shower

This past weekend I traveled to Pullman, Washington to my best friend’s baby shower. Kaila and I go way back to our Nuggets Dancers days, and she’s now the head coach of the WSU dance team. Her mom and one of her former dancers hosted this beautiful baby shower for her first little addition to their family. It’s amazing how these dance teams form life long bonds, I actually traveled up to Pullman with another former Nuggets Dancer from Denver. We were fortunate enough to lend a helping hand in decorating and getting the party ready to go. 

It’s a Boy! 

Baby and bridal showers can be tricky now-a-days. With Pinterest ruling the decor world, it feels like nothing is ever perfect enough. I’m here to tell you it doesn’t take an army and an endless wallet to make a baby shower look beautiful. Kaila’s mom picked up a majority of our decorations at the dollar store including these gorgeous juice jars.

We didn’t have a funnel to pour the juice into the thinner bottle necks. So, I did what made the most sense and chopped off the bottom of a plastic champagne flute, just like that, you’ve got yourself a funnel. My point to this is you don’t have to spend a fortune on all the little things, you can always make it work with materials you have. Additionally, if you’re 30 minutes out from people arriving and realize you’re missing a major component of the baby shower, no need to panic! Just do what you can with the options you have around you. Chances are that if an element is missing, no one will even notice!

Kaila’s mom also put together the most incredible spread of snacks. It’s always so hard to determine how much food to prepare for a shower. We definitely had more food than we needed, but it’s always better to be over prepared then run out of food. These are the snacks we did:

-Mimosa Bar (with different juices: Orange, Pomegranate, Strawberry Peach and Grapefruit)

-Strawberry Lemonade 

-Yogurt bar with granola and berries

-Fruit (berries for both the mimosas and the yogurt bar)

-Quiche

-Croissants

-Breakfast Casserole (Hashbrowns, Eggs, Veggies, Bacon) I found a similar recipe here

-Fruit Salad

-Mini Muffins

-Veggie Platter with Ranch Dip

-Cupcakes 

Hopefully this little list gives you some ideas if you are hosting a baby shower any time soon!

Modern games

Kaila’s former WSU dancer, McKenna handled the games and they were so fun!! A lot of times people dread the games at these type of events. All of her choices were amazing and I highly recommend them if you’re ever hosting a baby shower!

1. Timed Match Game - McKenna had printed out cards that matched the gold/black jungle animal theme of the party. Listed on here were 20 animals, each numbered. Below this were 20 baby versions of the above animals with a black spot next to them (i.e. for the above Dog, below you would find the term Puppy). We had 1 minute to match as many to their momma names. Of course they’re not all as easy as Dog/Puppy. It’s much harder than you think and really fun!
2. Rice & Safety Pin Game - Grab a bowl, a bag of rice and a container of mini safety pins. Now give each attendee 30 seconds to dig through the bowl and pick out as many safety pins as possible. The key to this game, the digger must close their eyes during this 30 seconds and go completely by feel. This seems really easy (I was super confident going into this game….well I got 2 safety pins!) 
3. Traditional “Baby Clothes Pin” Game - This one is super easy and can go the entire shower. Grab a bunch of clothes pins, everyone gets one walking into the shower. If you’re caught saying the word “Baby” anyone at the party has the right to take your pin (or pins if you’ve collected multiple).

Baby Shower Attire

I went with my Vici Collection Bonnie Wrap Dress in blue. You can never go wrong with a wrap dress in my opinion. I did go a little cliche with the blue color considering Kaila is having a baby boy. It’s hard to walk the line of feeling trendy during an event like this and yet keeping it classy. When deciding on an outfit for a shower, I think it all depends on the environment and people you’re around. These details will dictate an appropriate form of attire. 

The Bonnie Wrap Dress is sold out through Vici, but they do have these other wrap dresses. I also recommend signing up for their e-mails. They e-mail out a 20% coupon code almost every single day! 

Use coupon code: VACAY20 today for a 20% off discount

Kaila & her WSU dance team

P.S. The wheat fields in Washington are ridiculously gorgeous and I had no idea a wheat field could be so pretty.

PLAYOFFS Game 6 Game Night Outfit - Nashville vs. Avalanche - 4/22/18

The Avalanche shocked everyone with their character and drive this season. If you would’ve told me at the beginning of the season, that come April we’d be heading into Game 6 after suffering many injuries and still battling against a tough President’s Trophy winning team, I would’ve said you’d lost your marbles. There’s no doubt they’ve won back the hearts of many Avs fans, lost from previous seasons.

I can’t believe this is my 6th season coming to a close. This was by far and above my most memorable season yet. Every year, fans turn into family, I meet new faces and have the fortunate experience of creating new memories. Plus, I didn’t fall on the ice once this year!! Wahoo!! 

BB Dakota Dennett Off the Shoulder Lace Dress

This BB Dakota Dennett off the shoulder lace dress was a perfect way to end a season of game night outfits. I recently purchased this from Inspyre Boutique in the Highlands. This was a new item they were just getting ready to put out on the floor! It was on the higher end of their price options, but I’m happy to spend the $94 on a quality dress that will last me through many future events! It's sold out everywhere online so make sure to check out Inspyre Boutique to pick yours up!!

Since the back was completely open I didn’t wear a bra, however I have these sticky pads that work like a charm. Highly recommend them for girls who wear open back pieces. Link to these are here: 

Victoria Secret Silicone Petals - $12.95

Hot Pink Studded Heels - Wild Diva

I’ve featured these beauties before but they’re truly one of my favorites. I received so many compliments on these bright heels. They came from Angels in Broomfield at the Flatiron Crossing Mall and they were so cheap!! I’m talking $34 cheap! There is an Angels at the Colorado Mills Mall as well, if Broomfield is a little too far away for you. If you’re not local to the area at all you can find these online on Poshmark in a few different sizes! 

Not familiar with Poshmark?! Take a look at my blog post about selling clothes on Poshmark here: 

Will Work For Clothes

#HumboldtStrong

Some of you asked what the green ribbons are for. They are a sign of support for the tragic events that occurred to the Humboldt Broncos minor league hockey team earlier this month. As many of them still recover, our thoughts are with them and their families affected by this tragedy. If you’re interested in donating to their recovery and to families that lost loved ones please visit: 

GoFundMe - Humboldt Broncos

Avs Fam

This crew is the most incredible group of humans. I am so fortunate to get to work with these guys night in and night out. They deserve so much credit for the shows the put on each night and I feel beyond grateful to be part of their tribe!

Thank you so much for your dedication, kind words and support of this dream. I love sharing my outfits and fashion ideas, but without you readers it truly wouldn’t matter. This summer I plan to do a lot more lifestyle & fashion blogging so please, stay tuned! If there’s anything you’d love to see more of too, please let me know!! I promise to get a few of the delayed game night outfit posts up too. I had a few towards the end of the season I skipped over to get playoffs outfits up right away. 

Well, that wraps up the final game night outfit of the season (minus the few throwback ones I’ll get up asap). I’m sad our guys didn’t get further in the playoffs, but what an incredible ride it was! It’s a pretty bright future for our young and talented Avalanche squad. 

DEALS

• Take 15% off your order at BB Dakota when you sign up for their e-mails
• Use code NICSHARPE for $5 off Poshmark when you download the app

PLAYOFFS Game 4 Game Night Outfit - Predators v. Avalanche - 4/18/18

Holy bananas this series has had us all on the edge of our seats. Games 3 & 4 have been absolutely electric!! Who's ready for Game 6??  I had to get this game night outfit post up from Game 4 before Game 6...even if it means 1 hour before!

My girls over at Free People in Boulder got me all set up for this game. I LOVE the Boulder location, they're so sweet there. I feel like it's so rare these days to walk into a women's boutique and feel genuinely appreciated as a patron. Is that just me or is this more common?? Anyway, Free People on Pearl Street is wonderful, they're caring, genuine and actually make shopping extremely enjoyable!

I've listed all the details below for Game 4's game night outfit. Let me know what you think!!

In Heaven Embellished Slip - Free People

This dress is $128, and worth every penny! I struggle to fit into the coachella, hippie-chic look (shocking considering I'm from Boulder, I know). I love everything from Free People, but sometimes it's a little too far out of my element. This dress was the perfect balance of coachella and going out type of "Nicole" dress, if you will. 

Faux Leather Crisscross Rose Gold Heels - Forever 21

After picking out this dress, I knew I'd want some pretty rose gold accents. I went searching for a pair of rose gold shoes to match the jewels. 

I found these at Forever 21 for just $24.90!! They're still available up on their website, you can shop them here!

Rose Gold Jewels

All the jewels came from my family store for this outfit, Hurdle's Jewelry. We recently started carrying a line featuring these stunning pave diamond looks. The earrings below are from that line! It's so new to our store that we haven't quite gotten them up online yet, but you can stop by the store anytime to see the rest of their collection!! Hurdle's is located up on 14th & Pearl in Boulder.

The diamond stick necklace was made by one of my favorite designers, Facet Barcelona. They have the most stunning diamond tennis bracelets. This little stick necklace was the perfect edition to balance out the big diamond earrings.

We didn't get the result we wanted out of Game 4, but our guys have fought back and now it's time to rock the Pepsi can!!

Get ready Avalanche fans, Game 6 is going to be bonkers.

Deals

• Free shipping on orders over $100 at Free People
• 20% off Swim at Forever 21 using code: TIMETOSWIM
• Get 10% off Forever 21 when you sign up with their email
• Get free shipping on all orders over $50 at Forever 21

PLAYOFFS Game 3 Game Night Outfit - Predators v. Avalanche - 4/16/18

Last night's atmosphere in Pepsi Center was out of this world!!!! Avs fans brought it and it paid off with the way the guys played!

I'm skipping ahead a few game night outfits to this special playoff edition!

Playoff hockey is unlike any other sporting experience. If you aren't doing anything tomorrow night, head down to Pepsi Center for Game 4. You will not regret it!! They just released a handful of tickets for tomorrow's game. You can buy them on the Colorado Avalanche website.

Inspyre Boutique - Jack by B.B. Dakota LBD 

There's just something about a brand new LBD (Little Black Dress)! I had one of those "I have NOTHING to wear" moments this weekend when I was organizing outfits for the week. Enter Inspyre Boutique.

I found this gorgeous faux suede dress from Jack by B.B. Dakota. This is available now at Inpsyre Boutique locations all over Denver. I wore a size XS and it absolutely has some stretch to it without being baggy. 

The best thing about Inspyre Boutique is that everything is under $100, and when you're like me (needing a million different items in my wardrobe) this is crucial! 

This dress also has a cute little keyhole open back! Nothing too large that you can't wear a normal bra with it though. 

Red Studded Heels

Have you noticed that I have a thing for heels, studs and pops of color?? I think I've got a theme going on. I got these shoes at Angels in the Flatiron Crossing Mall. They were $15, I REPEAT they were $15!!

I love the studded details and the extra gold around the front. Unfortuantely, Angels doesn't have a website or a way to shop online, but they do have their store at the Broomfield Flatirons Crossing Mall as well as the Colorado Mills Mall. They may have other locations but I'm only familiar with those two.

They carry a lot of shoes from Wild Diva & Qupid, two inexpensive brands that I love!! Qupid always has discounts on their website too!

Deals

• Take 15% off your first purchase at BB Dakota when you sign up for their email
• Take an extra 17% off at Qupid TODAY only using code: TAXDAY
• Free shipping on items over $50 at Qupid
• Take 10% off your first purchase when you sign up for Qupid's e-mail list