Tara Colleen

miley made me do it

yikes! nothing like waiting til thursday to finish what you started on friday, right? uh yea, so you could say, we've been a little busy. i need a snap chat, i really do. its so much easier to understand my life in real time. anywho, who's excited for a little makeup tutorial, huh?!!! ok, not really a tutorial, but a little inspo if you will. if you read my post a few weeks back you already know im not super great at makeup. i mean, i know how to apply it and all, i just don't really keep up with the latest techniques and tricks. should i actually apply makeup to my face, i stick with the basics, lips (always!), bronzer (most of the time) and eyeliner/mascara should i ever be in a situation where sunnies are frowned upon. ie: all indoor activities, wah wah :/ so, i was super excited to play around with Stila's new fall modern goddess collection. i used to (and by used to, i mean pre-baby, like when i actually had my 2 hands to myself to get ready) loooove a full on smokey, drama filled eye. i had it down to a science. how to blend and highlight, and smear. i really used to give good eye, i promise. now, i rarely have time, but a little liner can go a long way! so, using Miley as my makeup muse, i channeled this mod-ish look and i even tried to replicate her whole pose, but, i struggle. i couldn't quite master the hunched over, pouty, i don't care look in her eyes. the hubs was playing photog, and the boys kept bombing all my shots, so scratch that, we had to take it outside for some close ups. here is the play by play. starting with a fresh prepped face, i used the precision eyeliner brush and the got inked cushion eyeliner in black obsidian to apply my cat eye. side note: i have been using these pods like crazy, it gives you the most perfect amount of liquid on the brush to really apply a good line and my favorite color is actually the blue sapphire because it makes my eye color pop!! ok, so next i curled my eyelashes, and then applied a coat of lash stunner primer followed by extreme lash mascara. i for one have very blonde, very short eyelashes so i am pretty thrilled with the length this combo is gave me. after a little dab of highlighter on the inside corner and brow line, i drew on a heavy brow to mimic miley's. next i used the wonder brush (which i'm basically obsessed with) to apply the stay all day bronzer in medium to my cheek bones, jaw line and hair line. i've used many a different bronzers in my day and this one really takes the cake. it adds the perfect sunkissed look without all the shimmer, and then finished i finished it off with a nude lip. my first nude lip ever, you guys. i was kind of nervous about swapping out my signature bold pop, but i kinda love the nude. i hope you love the look as much as i do, because im definitely going to be recreating through fall and im thinking i might add a little more beauty to the blog, because it is just so much fun to play!!

"the best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural" - Calvin Klein

stila cosmetics c/o

stripe top old navy

earrings bauble bar

pep squad

happy friday babes!! and cheers to the long weekend!! labor day sales, here i come!! ok, so aside from the obvious excitement that friday brings, i am also thrilled to be sharing today's post with some pretty fabulous ladies!! blogging has granted me the honor of meeting some truly inspiring women, and today you get to meet a few of them as well!! we have all come together to show you how we do game day. and if you know me, you know i don't do game day. i don't really do sports. i like them, if you want to GO to the game, im totally down and i'll do my best to pretend i know what's going on and root for your team, but it's not really something i get super psyched about and i certainly don't care to sit around all weekend in front of the tv watching game after game after never-ending game. on the other hand, dressing for the occasion is most certainly something i will do!! i basically bleed black and gold because my family would disown me if i didn't, but seeing as college ball is not a big to do in the north, and the hubs is a carolina fan, i deemed it wise to play nice and dress for his team. now, i was told, flats or wedges are a must for college game day. is this a fact?? i honestly didn't know because i've never actually been to a college game, and i was a cheerleader in highschool, so my outfit was already picked out for me and heels weren't permitted (but, you know i tried) i played by the rules and paired my dress with my go to chucks. i always love a good high-top/dress combo. its refreshing. and no surprises here, i had to tie on a denim jacket and my newest obsession, the neckerchief. for my second look with skinnies i paired my fave (and only) wedges and i found them back in stock in a few sizes, so check out the shop links below! it was so fun hangin with my girls and game dayin it up. of course, im obnoxiously laughing in every photo, because this is how i am in real life. i seriously have to concentrate hard to get you my usual oh so serious wannabe model face, but with these babes around, it was hard to contain my composure. have a great weekend chicas!! and be sure to swing by and say hi to my blogger besties!!

"coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success"

from left to right Kelly of Paper Meets Pearl, yours truly ;), Caroline of Bikinis and Brunch, Shree of Porcelain Shree, Tiffany of Skipping Breakfast at Tiffanys and Venita of Venita Aspen

ALL IMAGES J Walker Photography

outfits c/o Entourage Clothing and Gifts

jewelry c/o Taylor Diggs Designs

easy peasy lemon squeezy

hello!! ok so yes, it is technically speaking the first day of september, but technically speaking, it is still officially summer, which means i can still dress in bright fun outfits like this for at least another week. i mean, if we really want to get technical, this outfit is pretty perfect for 9-10 months out of the year here in sc, but i will eventually ease into the sweaters and dark colors and pretend im not sweating bullets in all my layers when its in the 70's in november. charleston doesn't really understand the concept of "fall weather". so anyway, for now i am squeezing in (pun intended) every single second of summer acceptable dressing. these pants are pretty much the cutest thing i've ever owned. i never knew i loved lemons so much until these citrus skinnies arrived in the mail. i immediately tried them on with multiple tops and i honestly can't believe i'm just now getting them up on the blog, but in addition to the adorable print, the fit is pretty spectacular!! i've honestly never shopped at talbots before, so i wasn't sure, but i'm quite impressed. the crop fit is perfect for showing off my summer sandals. i paired it with one of my favorite white tops from last summer and my denim jacket that i've basically worn with every single outfit all summer. i hope you're not sick of it, because i know i'll be wearing it all fall as well. im looking at the darker wash to switch it up a bit. you can never have too many jean jackets, right?? i think that's pretty much my denim philosophy as a whole. skinnies, skirts, jackets, chambrays, there's no such thing as too much denim. enjoy your day loves!!

"when life gives you lemons, keep them because hey, free lemons!!"

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

talbots lemon crop jean c/o

westward/leaning voyager sunnies c/o ditto [use code: southernbelles to recieve your first month free]

alex & ani gabriel foldover clutch c/o

GAP denim jacket

jewelry via RocksBox [use code taraxoxo2 to recieve your first box free]

just keep swimming

Cheers to it almost being friday!!! no worries chicas, its just a mocktail. i have a no alcohol required kinda personality, meaning, im already unfiltered, loud and obnoxious, so there's no real need to amplify that. i just love the look of a beautifully blended fruity beverage. and they're super refreshing, which is necessary in this heat. my fall wardrobe is heavy under way, but i am still soaking up every last second of summer before the pool closes and nix starts school. just 2 more weeks left! ahhhh!! how did that happen? my baby went and grew up on me. next thing you know he'll be driving and sneaking out to meet his girlfriend. i am totally not prepared for this. so let me embrace the moment that is summer. today's post is officially the last of my summer swimwear and easily the most fun. thank goodness for insta, i have discovered what are quite possibly the cutest swimmers in all the land. Kortni Jeane is retro, vintage, flirty, feminine, fun, i could go on and on, i am so in love with this line!! the entire collection is mix and match with so many cute prints to choose from and all offering their own little flare. i absolutely love the peplum on these bottoms. it hits at the perfect spot to show off my waist and the peplum hides my post baby pooch. and i don't know about you, but im not loving all the high-rise bottoms with the brazilian cut buttocks. if im buying high-rise, its because i want coverage, right?? these guys certainly cover all that and more and thank goodness because this chunky booty does not need to be on display. i wish i had found these earlier on in the summer, but im excited to add some more prints to my collection for next year.