Cheers to the New Year!

Champagne & Rock Candy Cocktail//source

Cranberry + Vanilla Skinny Cocktail//source

Moscow Mule//source

Happy New Year's Eve! While the rest of the universe has plans, I'm just sad little loner sitting on my couch with no plans to speak of. But I'm not bitter or anything...

NYE is one of my favorite holidays, so I'm a little bummed (if you couldn't tell) that all of my plans fell through.

Anyways, one of my favorite parts about NYE, besides dressing up, is the festive drinks! Here are a few that I already love or would like to try! The Moscow Mule is a classic, but I think the flavor of the ginger makes it perfect for this time of year. And aren't those copper mugs so pretty?

I hope everyone has a special night and stays safe! Happy 2015!

Merry Christmas + Happy 1 Year!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you all have had an excellent holiday! This Christmas was a year of firsts for me. My family and I have started a new tradition where we go to the movies after our annual Christmas brunch, and I really enjoyed it! It was a fun, low key outing, and I enjoyed it more than just lounging around the house with (unwanted) guests and family. I promise, I'm not a Scrooge. I'm just a firm believer that holidays should not be stressful. 

One of my favorite gifts I received was the first Harry Potter book. I know I'm about to be crucified for this, but I've never read the Harry Potter books before. *cue the outrage* I know, I know. I'm terrible, but in my defense, I attended a private Christian school growing up, and the Harry Potter series was not allowed. They thought they were demonic. I had quite the deprived childhood, but I fully intend to catch up on everything I missed out on!

Today is also my blog's 1st birthday! It's been such a fun year, and I've really learned so much about blogging and myself in these 365 days. I have so many goals for my blog in 2015, and I get so excited just thinking about it :) Thank you to all of my beautiful subscribers and to all of the people that have left me such sweet comments. Your feedback means so much to me! I can't wait to see what the new year brings!

Stocking Stuffers for the Beauty Junkie

LUNA Mini//Beauty Blender//Laura Mercier Lip Glace//Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat//Too Faced Teddy Bear Hair Brush Set//Urban Decay Naked3 Palette//Tory Burch Eau de Parfum

I'm all about anything beauty related, and beauty gifts are by far my favorite to receive! They're just the greatest little pick me ups. I thought I would share with you my favorites, and a few that are definitely on my wish list this holiday season. 

For years, I've been loyal to my Clarisonic Mia, but lately I've been intrigued by the Luna Mini facial brush by Foreo. I really love the small size and the fact that you don't have to keep replacing a brush head. Who knows, maybe I'll be cutting ties with the Clarisonic pretty soon. 

Another beauty tool favorite of mine has been the Beauty Blender. I've loved it since the moment it was introduced, and I've recently bought the Beauty Blender minis, and the pro one as well. Sephora has an awesome gift set out right now including all three different beauty blenders and the cleanser! I would definitely check that out, if I were you. I just love how flawless and airbrushed my face makeup looks after using this little baby. I prefer this over a brush any day. 

I just love a high shine gloss for the holidays, and Laura Mercier Lip Glaces are some of my favorites. There are so many beautiful colors to choose from, and they aren't sticky like so many other glosses. The pigmentation is also amazing. Definitely my go to gloss!

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat is definitely a cult favorite for a reason. I recently picked this little gold pen up, and I'm already obsessed with it. This highlight offers a subtle glow while making your skin look radiant. Just remember, it's a highlight NOT a concealer! 

Every girl needs a good set of brushes, and could these Too Faced ones get any cuter?

Makeup palettes are great gifts for any makeup lover. If you haven't tried any of the Naked eye shadow palettes, then you are definitely missing out. The Naked3 might be my favorite. All of the rose toned hues are absolutely gorgeous, and I love how many different looks can be created with just one palette! 

If you're looking to get a classy lady in your life an equally classy scent, then the Tory Burch perfume is the way to go. It's a lovely scent with both floral and citrus notes, and I just love how chic the bottle looks sitting on my vanity! 

Happy Shopping! 

Disclosure: This Blonde Story is part of an affiliate program. I may receive compensation for items that are clicked and/or purchased via certain links on this site. All opinions are my own, and gifted items are marked c/o.

Hair Care Routine (Requested Post!)

Hey there, lovelies! It's been a very long time since I've done a beauty post, and I've definitely missed making them. Since I started blogging, the most asked question I've gotten is about my hair care routine, so here you go! 

1. My go to shampoo and conditioner lately that I've been loving is dry bar Sake Bomb Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner. It's a great duo for hair that needs a little extra moisture and hydration, and it's safe for color treated hair so that's a plus! Not to mention, the smell is amazing. 

2. I don't like to weigh my hair down with lots of products like mouse, gel, or hairspray, but one product I do use after washing and conditioning my hair is this Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment. I towel dry my hair a little, and then apply one and a half pumps of the oil from the roots to the end of my hair. I focus mostly on the ends, and only use the oil on my roots sparingly.

3. While I'm in the shower, after I've conditioned, I like to finger comb my hair to get the majority of the tangles out. Once I've towel dried my hair and applied the oil treatment, I comb out the remaining tangles with a wide tooth comb. Do not tug or yank your hair! Being rough with your hair causes breakage, and nobody wants that. 

4. I've talked about my love for coconut oil in the past. It really is a little miracle in a jar. I do not use coconut oil everyday on my hair. I probably only use it about once a month, or whenever my hair begins feeling extra dry or brittle. I heat up a little bit in a bowl (it's solid at room temperature) and apply it from about my ears down to the ends of my hair. I leave it on for about an hour and then do my normal shampoo and conditioner routine. 

I should probably mention that I do not wash my hair everyday. I only wash it about twice a week. I naturally have dry, wavy hair and so my hair does not get oily as quickly as some people's hair does. Whenever I notice my hair looking a little flat or limp, I spray in some dry shampoo and that takes care of that!

I hope that answered any questions you guys had about my hair care! As always, thank you for stopping by, and I hope you all have a great week :)

Jamberry Nails Review

Jamberry Nail Wraps c/o via Anya Magestro

Nail Polish//wHet//Facetious

I am not one of those girls that always has her nails done. I rarely get manicures because I'm not a huge fan of other people touching me, and I don't often paint my own nails because I get annoyed by how easily the polish always chips. I'm extremely rough on my nails. I had heard of Nail Wraps before from YouTube beauty gurus, so I was really excited when Anya contacted me about testing them out. 

I chose to wrap my pinky nails as my accent nails, and I love the way it turned out! The colors are so vibrant, and they don't have a gross chemical smell at all! The only issue I've had so far was the application. Apparently, I'm not that great at reading directions, and I didn't thoroughly clean my nails with nail polish remover so my nail beds were a little oily from the lotion I had applied the hour prior. Your nails must be completely clean and your cuticles pushed back before applying the wraps, otherwise the adhesive will not stick properly. Since I fudged a bit with the application, my nail wraps are peeling a bit on the edges, but I'm confident that if you actually apply them the right way then  they will last the full two weeks without budging! Jamberry Nail Wraps may just be the solution for an anti nail polish girl like me! 

Jamberry Nail Wraps come in a variety of colors and patterns, including seasonal and sorority styles! I could browse the website for hours looking at all of the different options! Each sheet of Jamberry Nail Wraps includes 18 nail wraps, and one regular sheet can be used for two to three applications depending on the size and length of your nails. If you are interested in ordering some Jamberry Nail Wraps, then definitely contact Anya. She is so great to work with! I'll include all of the places you can find her below! 

Website: http://anyamagestro.jamberrynails.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jamminwithanyam 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jammin_amm 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/Jammarie_xox

July Favorites

July Favorites by marshyy featuring flat shoes

Happy August everyone! I cannot believe July is over, and we're already a week into August. This summer has flown by! I just realized I haven't done a monthly favorites post in forever and a day, and I really like these types of posts, so I figured today was as good a day as any! 

1. Lorac Pro Palette 2: I purchased this palette from Ulta towards the middle of the month, and I have been obsessed with it since I took it out of the package. I'm a die hard Naked Palettes fan, but this palette may become my new favorite. I didn't buy the original, but the awesome quality of this one may just change that. I love how the top row is all mattes and the bottom row is all shimmers and sheens. The colors are absolutely beautiful and they have quite the variety. I'm loving creating all these different looks within just one palette.

2. Repairwear Laser Focus by Clinique: You guys might have already guessed this, but I'm crazy obsessive about my skin. So when I noticed my first ever wrinkle on my forehead this spring, I about had a cow. I immediately started searching for products I could use that would get rid of that horrid line in the center of my forehead. Lo and behold, I found this little miracle in a bottle. Now this stuff won't get rid of deep wrinkles or anything like that. It's formulated to help with fine lines. I absolutely love it. After all of the failed products I've used, I didn't go in with high hopes, but it totally proved me wrong. Not only has it almost completely gotten rid of my fine line, but it also has totally improved the texture of my skin. I'm not nearly as red, and I now have a healthy glow instead of the dull skin I was so used to. I've even gotten my mom hooked on this stuff. It's great!

3. Ben & Jerry's S'mores Ice Cream: It's amazing. Nuff said.

4. The Cooper Ring by Reece & Blaire: I adore this ring! It's so comfortable and chic. I wear it on my middle finger, and it looks amazing alone or stacked. I want to get one in every color!

5. Jack Rogers Georgica Sandal: My old Navajo Jacks were looking downright nasty, and it was well past time for a new pair. I've never purchased the Georgica style before, but as soon as I tried them on, I fell in love. I like how this style looks on my foot way more than the Navajo style. I also think this style is way more comfortable and didn't take as long to break in.

6. Dry Bar Sake Bomb Shampoo & Conditioner: If you have been following my blog for awhile, then you would know I used to use the Living Proof Frizz Free shampoo and conditioner, and I loved it. It was perfect for my dry, wavy, color treated hair, and I didn't fall out of love with it, I just got bored. So I decided to try something new. I'm in love with this duo. It keeps my hair clean and soft for longer than the Living Proof. Seriously, I wash my hair once a week. Hello?! How awesome is that? I hate to wash my hair, if you couldn't tell. This stuff smells amazing, and keeps my hair so hydrated. I've also noticed I don't have to use as many products anymore either. So that's a win in my book.

7. It by Alexa Chung: I think I read half of this book just standing in Barnes & Noble. I think with this book you either like it or you hate it. It's not a literary masterpiece, but I never expected it to be. It's an entertaining book, almost written like a journal, and it's about Alexa Chung's journey through life and into the world of fashion. She shares her inspirations, muses, and snap shots of her evolving style. I found it to be very refreshing and witty, and now I'm even more obsessed with Alexa Chung than I was before. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

“Boys say they don't mind how you get your hair done. But then they leave you for someone with really great standard girl hair and the next thing you know you're alone with a masculine crop crying into your granola.” 


“Nobody goes through life without having their heart broken and one day you'll wake up and it will be okay.” 


"Looking effortless takes a lot of effort."

Independence Day Fashion

Independence Day by marshyy featuring a blue red lipstick

Happy almost Friday! I probably won't get a chance to post until Sunday because I'm leaving after work today to go to Charleston for 4th of July festivities. I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend :) Make sure to show your 'Merica pride loud and proud! 

Sunday Thoughts

I often struggle with what to share on the blog. Where do I draw the line between "personal" and "TMI?" I know I'm not much of a lifestyle blogger. My posts mainly consist of outfit pictures and beauty routines with a little bit of business updates mixed in. But sometimes, I get bored with all that and want to talk about something different. Sometimes I can't get thoughts off my mind, and they aren't exactly proper dinner conversations, so I need another outlet. So here we go. Feel free to read, or feel free to wait for my next fashion post and completely disregard this post altogether. No hard feelings.

Ice Queen. A name I've been called multiple times over the years. I'm not sure who exactly was the first to dub the nickname, but whoever it was lacked creativity. Nevertheless, it's a name I've been given, and a name that just won't go away. I suppose to an extent the name is appropriate. I don't cry often, if at  all. I've never had a serious relationship, and PDA usually makes me want to throw up. Babies don't make happy; instead, they just make me uncomfortable. I don't like hugs or cuddling, and holding hands usually makes my palms clammy and gross. So I get how I could come off as a cold person to some people. Trying to pin point an exact moment that caused this personality flaw is as difficult as trying to get this name to go away completely. I can't remember just one moment, but instead, a whole string of moments. My mother says that even as a toddler, I was content just to play by myself. I've never really needed people, and I was okay with that.

Growing up, I was picked on a good bit. I went to a small private Christian school, and while some may believe the students would be nicer in that setting, that unfortunately wasn't the case. I was always too tall, or too skinny, or too ugly, or too shy. Then when high school hit, I was supposed to start growing boobs and liking boys, but I was always a little slower in that department than all my friends. I felt my friendships getting weaker and my insecurities getting stronger. I let people's words and actions get the best of me, and I allowed the world to make me hard.

In turn, I took this attitude to college, and for awhile kept most people at arm's length. I let very few people in, and those that I did, I almost always ended up regretting. I ruined a lot of could be relationships with great guys because my Tin Man complex reared his ugly head. It took me until junior year of college to realize that something needed to change. I was so negative and so bitter and so numb to the world, and I didn't want to be that way anymore. I began to claw my way out of the hole I had dug.

I'm now 23 years old, and I can honestly say I'm a very different girl than I was in the past. I'm still not 100% there, and some days I can feel myself slipping back into the shell of the person I was with my eye rolls and snarky comments, but I know it's a process. I have to grow, and I have to learn. I feel like I wasted so many years hiding what I felt and what I thought because I didn't want to be subjected to people's cruel words or rejection. But that's life. Not everyone is going to like me. Not everyone is going to want to be my friend. But that's okay. The world is a beautiful place, and I hate that it took me so long to realize it.

My Summer Makeup Must Haves

Summer Makeup Must Haves by marshyy featuring a glitter eyeshadow

Disclaimer: I do not wear ALL of these products everyday in the summer. Some days I wear more, some days I wear less. It just depends on what I'm going to be doing that day.

In the summer, I don't like to wear very much makeup so I definitely keep it simple even if I'm heading off to a lunch date or to the office. I love this MAC concealer because it can be doubled as a foundation. I dab a very small amount under my eyes and on some problem areas, then I blend it out with the beauty blender to achieve that dewy finish. I set the concealer with my MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Natural and sweep a small amount all over my face to keep any shininess at bay. Next I go in with my new favorite matte bronzer, Chocolate Soleil by Too Faced, and buff it under my cheekbones, along my nose, and a bit along my temples. I'm not going for the whole contoured look. More so, just a sun-kissed glow. To finish up the face, I sweep some coral blush on the apples of my cheeks. 

For the summer, I like to keep my eye look simple. I prefer eye palettes, like the Naked 3, and usually use a total of three shadows--two for a blended eye shadow look, and one for a liner. My go to combo with the Naked 3 is a sweep of the bronze color, Trick, along my lid and then I buff in the matte taupe color Limit into the crease. Lastly, I go in with the light brown shimmer color, Factory, and line my upper lid and blend whatever is left on the liner brush into my lower lash line. Next I curl my stick straight lashes with my all time favorite Sephora lash curler and apply my favorite mascara (I'm most fond of those that give a doll-like look). Lastly, I apply a lip product that doesn't dry out my lips, like the Sugar Lip Tints by fresh. I've always just used the original Rose color, but they now have a variety of colors to choose from. And that's it!

What are some of your summer makeup must haves?

Lust List

Lust List by marshyy featuring black flats

1. Temptu Airbrush Makeup System I've been looking into airbrush makeup machines for awhile now, and I've heard some great things about Temptu. I love the flawless, yet natural look that airbrushing offers, and I love the fact that the makeup is the only thing that touches your face. No more germy brushes!

2. Too Faced Melted Lipsticks I've tried these on in Ulta before, and they are so long lasting! I was seriously surprised. They are so pigmented, and they didn't dry my lips out at all. My favorite is the Melted Violet color. 

3. Pointed Flats I'm addicted to shoes. It's a problem. Lately, I've been loving the sleek pointed flats style. I think they look so pretty with skinny pants, shorts, dresses, practically anything. I think they add a bit of an edge to an outfit that round toed flats can't do.

4. Bold Mini Clutches I'm loving this trend! I like the small clutch in a bold print or color thing I've been seeing everywhere, and this Ted Baker clutch is gorgeous!

5. SKR Hair Extensions I just want luscious Kardashian hair! Is that too much to ask?!

6. Maxi Skirts I love, love, love maxi skirts. Maybe it's because of how comfy yet chic they can be, or maybe it's because I get lazy and don't like to shave everyday in the summer. For whatever reason, I love maxi skirts and want one in every color, print, and fabric. 

What are some things you've been lusting after lately?

Evening Beauty Routine

A couple of weeks ago I posted my Morning Beauty Routine so I figured I would also post my Evening Beauty Routine for those who were interested. In comparison, this one has a few more steps, but they're all necessary in removing the makeup and grime that builds up on my face throughout the day.

1. Simple Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes: I clean my face in two steps, and I use these wipes to get the majority of my makeup off before I get into the deep cleaning. I've used lots of different makeup wipes, and I like these the best because they are gentle. They remove most of my makeup without leaving my face fire engine red.

2. Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser: I've been using this cleanser since I was 16 and my dermatologist recommended it to me. I put about one pump's worth onto my Clarisonic Mia with the Cashmere brush head, and I let it do its job. Whatever the makeup wipes didn't remove, this cleanser will no doubt get it off. This cleanser is also great for removing that pesky eye makeup that just won't budge.

3. Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment: Once I'm done cleansing my face, I go in with this eye cream. This eye cream is very hydrating and absorbs super quickly. I use this in the mornings as well, and I definitely notice a brightening in the eye area. This eye cream is a great value for the price.

4. Medicine from the Dermatologist: As I've mentioned before, I first started going to the dermatologist when I was in high school, and I've gone every year since then. I've been using this gel since my first visit. I'm pretty sure my skin is addicted to it, but it makes sure my skin is bump free so I really can't complain. I slather on a thin layer all over my face, (like seriously, I use a pea size amount) and that's it.

5. EOS Lip Balm in Sweet Mint: Every night before I go to bed, I put this on my lips. This is super embarrassing to admit, but I'm a mouth breather at night. Yes, it's true. I have horrible sinuses that seem to act up especially when I'm trying to sleep causing me to turn into a drooling mouth breather. But this minty miracle in a sphere saves my lips from chappy doom.

So that's it! What products are part of your beauty routine? Let me know :)

Beach Day

Beach Day by marshyy featuring a brown hat

So...I bought a fedora. Yes, it happened. I don't know what's come over me. I used to hate them, but I saw that little brown one in Target the other day, and I just had to have it. I blame Target. They have me under their spell.