What's in my drawer chest

Remember this thing? It's called the Malm 6 Drawer Chest from IKEA (here), and I love it. It holds a lot but looks sleek. Let's take a peek inside...

Okay...I lied. Let's look on top first. On the left are some of my HRH bracelets in clear containers (that they are shipped in) and in an antique milk glass bowl. Next to that is my PTR skincare set and a reed fragrance diffuser (from TJ Maxx). Finally, the right side shows my most used perfumes (Aqua di Gioia by Giorgio Armani-here and mini Bright Crystal by Versace-here). Behind those is the box for my sunglasses, a Cochine candle from my sister (smells so amazing btw-here), and a cute bunny ring holder from Forever 21 (similar here) which holds a couple old rings.

The top of this section lifts up, and the underside of it has a built in mirror. While a nice addition, it's not very helpful for me....short girl problems. Also, this section is very shallow (maybe a couple inches deep) making storage a little difficult. Anyways, inside I put some sentimental trinkets and less commonly used jewelry.

 The first drawer contains my lip products. I got the clear drawer organizer is from Target (here). Again, these first couple of drawers are pretty shallow, so it took some time trying to find an organizer that fit. 

The second drawer holds random makeup items that I don't use much. Just FYI, I regularly clean out my makeup collection. Make sure you're following guidelines and disposing of makeup as recommended to prevent bacteria buildup!

The third drawer is the first deep on. This one contains my eyeshadow palettes and nail polishes.

 The fourth is random care items including contacts, nail tools, face masks, less frequently used perfumes, etc.

The fifth is for haircare items. It's mainly hairspray, dry shampoo, and hair oils. The tall container on the righthand side is a Carmance facial mist (here). Though I don't think it sets makeup like it claims, I like putting it on over setting powders to keep from looking too cakey. It also feels refreshing on during the summer.

The final drawer is for hair tools. I know...super exciting.

 Okay, not the most exciting of posts, but I do really like this drawer set. This is also a delay tactic as I'm working on putting together a clothing and accessory haul post. To be continued...

Out with the old, in with the new [Work Bag]

I've been on the hunt for a new work bag as the one I've been using is falling apart. I don't carry a laptop around and didn't want a bulky briefcase. After looking at a few different bags, I finally purchased a new Coach bag. I considered Tory Burch but didn't want to spend that much on a bag. I also looked at Kate Spade but was seriously unimpressed by the quality.

Here's my previous bag (also Coach). You can tell how old it is by the patina on the straps (originally light beige when purchased). I liked the front pouch and extra pocket on the back, but it was time for retirement. The stitching was frayed, and there were a lot of marks on the patent leather exterior. Though you can't tell, it has a beautiful light purple interior.

In with the new...

Welcome to the Coach Crosby Carryall in crossgrain leather (here). Though slightly smaller than my old tote, the sides wing out allowing plenty of room for my full size planner and other work files.

For a more casual look, you can tuck in the sides and add the detachable crossbody strap. I'm already in love with the versatility.

Though fairly plain inside, I like the extra zippered sides, small stitched-in pockets, and small interior zipper pocket. The zipper pockets add a fun detail that make it stand out from the typical tote bag. They are also pretty secure. If you look at the previous picture, you will notice a small turnlock on the upper left side. This is actually connected to the zipper pull, so you can only unzip the sides if the turnlock is undone.

Similar to my small Coach crossbody bag (from my "4 bag. 4 designers. 4 reviews" blog), the handles  can lay down flat against the bag. This makes it more comfortable when carrying it like a crossbody. In this picture, you can also see how the strap detaches.

Again, I'm so impressed by the new and improved Coach brand. I haven't noticed an increase in prices, but the quality has drastically improved over the past few years. I love the sleek look and versatility of my new work bag!

I've been doing some Spring shopping lately so expect a clothing and accessories haul coming soon!

<3

Closet Tour

Well, I finally cleaned my closet to the point where I think it's presentable. My closet is a continuous project, and I'm still trying to figure out the best way to organize it. This first picture is what you would see when first looking in. The set of drawers is from IKEA, and the shoe shelves are from Target (though I wouldn't recommend them if you own a lot of heels as they don't have enough height to them).

This is the upper left side of the closet. The top shelf just has a box of random items and things I need to donate. The second shelf is for sweaters and shirts. The rack holds dresses on the lefthand side and blouses on the right.

 This is the lower part of the left hand side with a better view of the shoe racks. 

 Since there isn't enough room, I have to store some more boots just below my dresses. Again...still trying to figure out how to organize properly.

 This is the top of my IKEA drawer set. I bought the hooks from Target to store my necklaces. As you may have noticed, I decided to return the Perricone skincare set as it smelled horrible! I went back to the PTR face and eye serum and also purchased the PTR face moisturizer to go over top.

 This is the top right side of my closet. The top shelf is for older purses that I don't use. The second shelf is for sweatshirts and jeans.

 Looking downward, I hang my jackets, throw over sweaters, dress pants, and unworn items on this side. I like to hang new items separately in order to help me remember to wear them. 

 This is also a new purchase. This cubby set is from Target (surprise!). On top if it I keep my faux fur vests and more frequently used purses (in their dust bags). These cubbies are for undergarments, mini purses/wristlets, camis, gym clothes, and lounge/nighttime clothes.

Looking back to the left of the cubbies is my other set of shoe shelves. By the way, these come as set of two shelves but are built to be stackable.

Short and sweet. Hopefully the arrangement of pictures helps give you an overall understanding of how my closet is arranged. It may look a little messy, but I do have everything in a particular order (in my mind!). If you have any suggestions on how to better organize it, please let me know below!

OOTD & Small Haul

Hi friends! I got off work early today and decided to do a little shopping.

Here's a quick outfit of the day: H&M button up (similar here), Gap V-neck tee (here), Express Ankle Zip jeggings (similar here), JustFab Apollina boots (here), Tory Burch Logo clutch (here), HRH Collection Luxe Hardware  Cuff (here), and HRH Collection Bijoux Spike necklaces in medium and large (here). 

I knew I wanted to go back to Sephora for some skincare items and ended up hitting up a few places. Unfortunately, I didn't buy any clothing as I didn't really like anything I saw. It's that weird time of year where winter clothes are phasing out yet it's too cold to buy spring clothes. Also, I won't show you my Victoria Secret purchases. Just some new panties!

My first stop was Sephora as I wanted to repurchase the Peter Thomas Roth skincare set (see my other Sephora haul blog here). I've really been liking the set, but I almost threw up when I saw the prices for the full size bottles ($75 just for the face serum!). I asked one of the workers what brand is good for preventative skincare (anti-aging). I have somewhat sensitive skin but no major concerns.

 I ended up getting the Perricone MD Power Treatment Set (here) but of course, she said I needed a moisturizer in addition to the set. Therefore, I also got the Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer (here). I'm an idiot. While I want great skin and do believe it is a bit of an investment, I spent just as much as I would have on the Peter Thomas Roth full size items. Anyways, these products are supposed to rejuvenate and give a youthful complexion by smoothing, brightening, and firming skin. I'll let you know...

I picked up some Sephora Collection face masks (here) as face masks are a part of my relaxing Saturday routine. The ones I picked up are focused on moisturizing and brightening the skin. 

So apparently this purchased pushed me into the VIP reward program. The cool thing about it is that I get first dibs on new products and sales. Other than that, I'm not really sure what it entails.

The only other thing I got from Sephora are some pink hair clips (in initial Sephora picture) as I lost all of my others.

 I ran to Francesca's but didn't find any eye catching clothing in there. I did spot this super cute, sparkly, gold water bottle that says, "I don't sweat I shine." Perfect for gym days :)

 My last stop was to Ulta. I picked up some Biore pore strips (here) as I'm strangely obsessed with nose strips. Lastly, I picked up the NYX Butter Glosses in Vanilla Creme Pie and Angel Food Cake (here) and the Essence Lip Liners in Satin Mauve and Wish Me a Rose (here). 

Regarding hair and skin care, do you all think that the higher end brands are really worth it? Do those companies really use better technology in order to create the best products possible? I feel as if the changes are so minimal that it's hard to tell whether a product is really paying off. Hopefully I'll thank myself for buying these items in the distant future when I look years younger than I really am!

PS- I'm planning on purchasing a large mirror in the near future, so I can start doing more OOTDs (especially since I did name this blog "How I Style"...). Hope you all are doing well and staying warm wherever you are! <3

What's in my purse / New Home Decor / Update

Hi!

I'm still alive!

Ugh you all. I'm sorry it has been a month since my last post, but things have been crazy. I'm planning on doing a closet tour ASAP, but it's a disaster area right now. Here's a "What's in my purse" and a few other odds and ends to hold you over.

On the weekends, I carry my LV Favorite MM (here). Here's a quick peek of what I haul around with me on the regular. Top left is the Neutrogena Hand Cream I mentioned in my favorites blog. I'm a huge germaphobe, so I carry hand sanitizer with me at all times. (Yes, I know the whole 'using sanitizer just makes germs stronger' thing, but I don't want to hear it!) Top middle is my LV Zippy Coin purse (here) followed by gum, Maybelline Fit concealer, chapstick, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, Revlon Balm Stain, and my Tiffany & Co sunglasses (currently out of stock but similar here). In relation to my germaphobia, I hate coins, so I try to carry all of my coins in that small change purse. Finally, I keep my pens in a case to keep from getting stains in my purse. On a side note, I had a Make Up Forever lipstick that when paired with the NYX lip cream gave the perfect Kylie Jenner 90's lip color. Of course I managed to lose it sometime between last using it and this blog. *sigh*

Here's a close up of my Zippy wallet, coin purse (from Korea), and Rilakkuma pen case (from Korea). 

Another close-up of my Tiffany sunglasses. Even though I generally prefer silver over gold, I think black/silver sunglasses can look so harsh on the face. Plus, I like how these have slightly smaller lenses than the typical aviators.

Okay this obviously isn't in my purse, but here's a shot of my new car! Another reason I've been so MIA is due to a recent accident (not my fault) that totaled my car. After 17 days of renting, I finally received a settlement check and was able to purchase this. It's a 2015 Toyota Corolla S Premium. I decided to go with the Corolla since it's known for longevity and safety but got the S Premium as it comes with black leather interior, a moonroof, and heated seats (a necessity in Minnesota!). I'm a pretty happy camper so far :)

Lastly are a few new home decor items. I purchased this buffet table from a local furniture store. I love how the black makes my white dishes pop (dishes from Pottery Barn). Our kitchen has brown cabinets with a black granite countertop, and our dining room table is brown and black as well.

While picking up the buffet table, my fiancé spotted this picture and said, "I want this. It reminds me of us." *swoon* It's about 4' H x 2.5' W and now hangs above the buffet table. Sorry for not having an overview of the pieces together, but our dining room light hangs low and blocks out the top of the picture.

Whew. Life. Again, sorry for my absence, but I plan on having a guest blogger and a closet tour in the coming weeks. With the weather slowly warming up, I will probably have some sort of Spring haul on the way as well. Take care friends. <3

Quick Sephora haul & New Glasses

I ran to the mall to pick up my new glasses then decided to stop by Sephora. I went in looking for a concealer and came out with a few extra things. Story of my life.

1. First, here are my new glasses (link here). I haven't had a pair with an up-to-date prescription in about ten years. I'm so tired of putting in contact every day! These fit well though I wish they weren't so wide. It still feels weird wearing glasses, but I'm hoping they'll grow on me!

2. I had some reward points to cash in, so I chose this sample of Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover (here). Like I stated earlier, the main reason I went into Sephora was to find a concealer. I have very dark brown under eye circles, and I can't seem to find a concealer that really hides them while also brightening the under eye area. After the salesperson tried a couple concealers out on me, I decided to give this Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (here) a go. Unfortunately, after I got home from the mall, I looked in the mirror and saw that it had already settled into all of my fine lines. I'll give it a couple tries but am already feeling hesitant.

3. While my blogging may give a different impression, I don't take a lot of time to get ready and tend to neglect skin and hair care. I keep hearing about how Wen products are so great, so I decided to get this On-The-Go Travel kit (here) for a trial run.

4. Again, I'm not a fussy person (for the most part). I was also on the hunt for a new scent that wasn't too sweet, overpowering, or floral...just fresh and clean. In the end, I picked this Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gioia (here) perfume. I'm not good at describing scents, so here's what the site says: "Off the coast of Italy, the island of Pantelleria is a place where the deep blue-green Mediterranean Sea meets the sun and earth. Joyous. Aquatic." Oooo...fancy. Maybe when I wear this, I'll forget I live in a frozen tundra.

5. I need to step up my skincare regimen. Old and wrinkly is not a good look on me. I mentioned having fine lines around my eyes to the saleswoman, and she recommended the Peter Thomas Roth Resurfacing Eye Serum. Of course, they were out of the singles, so I obviously HAD to buy the whole damn set. This is the Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Resurfacing Kit (here) which includes a retexturizer (exfoliator), resurfacer (face serum), eye serum, and regenerator (gel cream). Sounds like I'm having construction work done on my face. On the bright side, Sephora has a pretty good exchange policy which I will take full advantage of if I don't notice a difference.

I'll keep you all updated on how these products are. Seriously. I went in for concealer. You know how rich people hire personal shoppers? I need a personal shopping restrainer.

Best of 2014

These are some of my favorite things over the past year. Some are newer while others are items that I have been using for years.

1. Tory Burch Large Logo Stud Earrings (here). For some reason, Tory Burch is no longer selling these (small studs still available), but I did find them on the Nordstrom site. I've had the silver studs for a couple years and decided to purchase the gold ones more recently. As you can probably see, I've loved the heck out of the silver ones and wear them more days than not. I think they're a cute alternative to basic diamond/cubic zirconia studs, and now that I have them in silver and gold, I can wear them with anything.

2. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (here) and Ponds Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream (here). I'm sure you're all familiar with the Cetaphil cleanser as it is the favorite of many. I have sensitive skin, keep trying other cleansers, but have come back to this year after year. I don't think there's anything outstanding about it, but no complaints. I've also been using this Ponds cream for years. I don't think it's ever too early to start wrinkle prevention. Even though it's a cream, I use it day and night and have never broken out from it. It doesn't feel heavy on the skin, especially in the dry winters.

3. Luth Bath Bombs/Bath Melts (here). I've jumped on the Lush bandwagon, and I'm not jumping off. Perfect for those days where you're about to meltdown, or the perfect way to end a perfect day. I love the bath melts with skin soothing/hydrating oils the most. I also love displaying them in this clear cookie jar on my bathroom shelf.

4. Neutrogena Hand Cream (here), Acure Oil Castile Liquid Soap in Peppermint (here), and Neutrogena Body Oil (here). Minnesota winters + skin = not pretty. If nothing else, I highly recommend the Neutrogena hand cream. It makes the driest hands look amazing and moisturized in seconds (I should work in advertising...did you hear that line?) It can be used on the lips as a balm as well! Definitely a holy grail product. The Acure soap is a new find for me, but I love the peppermint smell. While I'm not a organic fanatic, I find it cool that this soap is made with organic oils, vegan, paraben free, sulfate free, gluten free, and fancy free. Not sure what some of that means, but sounds good to me!

5. NYX Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray (here). I have combination/oily skin, but I still love a dewy finish, even in the winter. I feel like it just makes a person look healthier and livelier. I do throw a little powder over this (mainly on the forehead) as it can be a little overbearing, but it does what it is supposed to. I didn't add any other makeup products to this list as I'm constantly changing my makeup routines and products. Nothing standing out too much right now in my makeup bag.

6. Tigi Bed Head Headrush Shine Spray (here) and Big Sexy Hair Spray (here). Again, a couple products I've been using for years. I love the shine spray for days when my hair is a little lackluster. Yep. That's all it is. Makes your hair look all shiny. The Big Sexy Hair Spray is also my go to, but don't over do it. It can build up quickly. 

People...I have an exciting trip coming up in less than two weeks. I'm so nervous. It's my first time going to this place. Still shopping for outfits which totally contradicts my last post. Whatever. I never said that shopping less was a resolution.

Any guesses?