Yes, I still have a mini pumpkin from last year. I love fall so much and I am beyond excited for this season to come into full effect. Especially during fall, it's cooling off and the outfit choices are much easier. You can wear jeans, boots, scarves, leggings, and so on. There are many things, besides the Pumpkin Spice Lattes, that I love about this time of year and I thought I would share them all with you guys. 

I hope you all enjoyed this quick little post of all things fall! I can't wait for this season. I am so excited to start getting into the fall mood! Let me know in the comments what you guys have been excited about for this season. 

Xoxo, Nat

I thought it was time for a recent Interior post and over the past couple of weeks I have only been buying and eyeing down stuff to add to my work space. I don't know if it's the season transitioning into Fall but, I have been loving all of the interior pieces out there lately so much so that I have bought a lot of new things I really want to add to incorporate into my space. Hopefully, any of you looking to reinvent your desk space can find this helpful because I can't imagine working in a drab and boring cubicle all day. 

1) Add Prints, Colors, Metals, & Textures

I believe that in order to create a less boring work space, adding different colored designs and patterns can bring any office or desk space to a happier mood. Whether that be colorful folders, different types of pens and writing utensils, rosegold binder clips or a phone case, flamingo note cards, or even a minimalist, marble planner! 

2) Incorporate Plants & Flowers

Any work space can be immediately transformed and livened by a simple vase of flowers. Adding pops of color, flowers can enhance your uninspiring office into a vibrant place to do your job in. Flowers aren't just for your kitchen table! 

These flowers don't even have to be bought; they can be right from your back yard. I know that huge bouquets can be costly and flowers don't last very long anyway. If the time or effort in cutting, watering, or caring for a plant isn't your strong suit, I recommend buying a cactus or a succulent because you only have to water them every couple of weeks! 

I know there comes a time when make lovers, like myself, ask this hard question: "How long have I had this makeup for?". Most of the time we'll hoard our makeup because "that mascara was so expensive and amazing" or "I will never be able to find this exact shade ever again". As I constantly add on to my collection, I find loads of products that I have been holding onto for so long and either haven't worn or kept for weird sentimental reasons. 

Makeup is not a memory or some photograph that we have to keep forever. It's replaceable and to be frank, it's down right gross. I've been doing some heavy research on estimated times you should toss your makeup and was very surprised to find out that a lot of makeup should be thrown out earlier than expected.

Face Makeup

Face Powder & Blushes- About 2 years

Normally, powders, blushes, and bronzers don't produce a ton of bacteria overtime since they are "dry" products. It's something you put on your face (most likely everyday), it's still good to replace them every now and then.

Concealers & Primers- About 1 year

I would say that since you are using the applicator over and over again, you continually pump air into the product which dries it out and adds more bacteria to the product. This could also lead to dry or red under eyes if not thrown out in time. 

Liquid Foundations & Creams- 6-12 months

Since these are "wet" products, they will produce an insane amount of bacteria. You put foundation all over your face so make sure you are changing your foundations and not keeping them for over a year. If you want your foundation to last a bit longer, look for foundations with a pump instead.

Lip Products

Lipstick-12-18 months

I think this lipstick above was in my vanity for like 5 years! It was such a great shade of red and I wore it for pretty much everything. However, it smelled horrible and was starting to make my lips itchy. 

Lip Liner- 2 years

I haven't had a problem with lip liners 1) because I normally don't use them as much and 2) I don't have a ton in my collection anyway. 

Lip Gloss- 1 year

Lip gloss is probably the worst of the three. It's wet, sticky, and is easily susceptible to an increased amount of bacteria because it's a liquid.  

Obviously, I'm not telling you guys to just throw out probably loads amount of money spent on your treasured beauty products but, sometimes it's time. Whether it's your favorite Benefit mascara or the only foundation you think "works best for you", it's time to rid of all that may cause nasty eye infections and excess acne we all dread! Slowly, tossing some products that you think have been lying around your vanity for some time might be a great idea. On the bright side, you get to declutter your space and possibly go out and try brand new makeup to replace the old stuff! Who knows, maybe you'll discover better products; these things are easy to replace and makeup will always be around. 

I hope this helped any of you makeup enthusiasts out there! Sometimes I forget that makeup builds a ton of icky bacteria and I shouldn't be hoarding everything for stupid reasons. Is there a product you can never seem to toss? 

Xoxo, Nat

Even though it's the middle of September (where has the time gone?), it's still 80 degrees in Chicago and there hasn't been any sign of Fall! It's at that awkward transition stage of Summer to Fall and I never know when to wear shorts or when to wear jeans. Lately, I've been wearing a lot of rolled jeans and tanks. It's a bearable in between when it's still pretty warm out but, night usually gets a lot cooler. I have also been loving black and heather toned stuff. It just pulls me in whenever I see a piece of clothing in a store nowadays. 

I would define my style as pretty sporty. I'm loving this "Athleisure" vibe and it's been hella comfy to wear pretty much anywhere. You can wear this outfit out to dinner, shopping, at a movie, to school, to work, or just hanging out on a chill Sunday with peeps. You can dress this look up or down and I love how versatile these pieces can be! 

I have seen a lot of these mixes of athletic wear paired with rolled up jeans and cute accessories; I have really grown to love it. High-neck muscle tees and ripped black jeans paired with my favorite Nike's have been a go to look for me this season. Adding a nice leather saddle bag can add a touch of sophistication and balance the ensemble, in my opinion. 

Shout out to my loving sis, Melissa, for helping me take these pictures (and Dad too). I haven't taken any fashion pics lately and I was inspired to take some when my family went out to Oak Park a bit ago. I've been obsessed with this type of style for a while now and I want to know what trends you guys have been loving lately as well! Let me know in the comments. 

Old Navy High Neck Tank 

Mudd Black Distressed Jeans

Nike Free Rn Sneakers

Urban Outfitters Messenger Bag

Alex and Ani Rulers of the Wood Oak Necklace

Xoxo, Nat

I haven't done a nail polish post in so long and to be fair, I'm not that big on the #nailsonfleek trend but, I found possibly one of the most life changing (a little dramatic, Natalie) nail polishes for all you lazy nail people out there like myself. 

I've always hated doing my nails; I thought there was no hope for us girls that despise nails and all things that come with it. Until one very blessed day as I was strolling past a Walgreen's kiosk that read, "1 STEP GEL, NO LAMP", and I was instantly hooked. Wet n Wild's Wondergel has changed the nail polish game for sure. This product is only five bucks and does "wonders" on my nails, here's why:

1) They're So Opaque

I don't think I have encountered a nail polish that has the best opaqueness these do. Every time I have used these, I've only used one coat and I was done. Every color I have bought (only these three, so sad) performed beautifully.

2) They Don't Chip--EVER

I wore this polish for over two weeks and it never budged. Sometimes, with my nail polish on my toes, it never chips but, even on my fingernails nothing came off! 

3) Flash Drying Time

I couldn't compare how fast the drying time was in minutes or even seconds because it literally dries as soon as you apply it. I can be in bed and apply one coat to my nails and go to sleep as soon as I'm done it's that fast. Funny story, I painted my nails with this and immediately ate Flaming Hot Cheetos right after so, if that doesn't say it's a holy grail polish then I don't know what does. 

4) The Best Brush 

I'm never the one to get picky about a nail polish brush but, it so makes the difference! Especially this one because it's flat and can spread across the entire nail as you apply the polish. 

5) No Top Coat or Lamp Needed

There's no need for any final coat or lamp. The beauty of this polish is how easy and convenient it is to use. It looks like a gel and stays looking like a gel for so long. 

If any of you are like me and dread the chore of painting nails, please go out and try these polishes. They're super affordable and amazing quality gel polishes. Wet n Wild keeps impressing me every time they come out with new stuff so I highly recommend trying their other products out. Have you guys tried these yet?

Xoxo, Nat

Happy Tuesday everybody! I have always seen bloggers review Philosophy products and I have heard very great reviews about their skincare products. Wondering why I have never tried them before, my best friend actually gifted me this Mixed Berry Tart Kit for my birthday last month.

I have kind of fallen in love with all of these birthday sets and mini travel kits that are out in the stores now. It's a cool idea for a gift and it's nice to get small samples to try out. This has been by far one of the best sets I have tried! 

I was really fascinated by this little guy! It's a shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath. WHAT?! This has to be my favorite one of them all. As I'm writing this, I've already used half the bottle in the shower. Now I don't normally take baths so, I haven't experimented with it that way. However, I have used it for both my hair and skin; it works really well. It makes my whole body smell and feel ravishing. 

I'm not a huge lip gloss fan to be completely honest. I think this particular lip gloss though, will make me want to where it more often. BTW, it tastes pretty good as it smells. 

Dismiss my Yin Yang temp-tattoo that my sister put on my finger, this lip gloss is pretty sheer and leaves a subtle pink tint to your lips. It sort of reminds me of a Bath and Body Works lip gloss in a way. I like this lip gloss a lot because it's not sticky or really thick when you apply it. 

Hey guys! I have been on one of the weirdest schedules this week. School has finally picked up and I have been a very "busy bee" lately! We had Labor Day Weekend which is just an extra day for everyone to sleep in or go to Labor Day parades and whatnot but, it totally set me off and I thought Tuesday was Monday! Knowing silly, old me, I totally forgot to post something and so I posted my August Faves two days ago. Now that I have everything messed up, I am just going to post this today and start next week fresh! 

Speaking of keeping things fresh, unlike my schedule, I have my new and fully updated skincare routine that has taken a couple months for me to figure out. You guys can go read my older skincare routine, here, to read about what I used last year and what I have changed or added this year! 

Morning:

Night:

For Special Occasions:

Yet another month has passed and that means another monthly favorites post, and to be honest, I love reading them. I always want to know what great products are out there and many bloggers know what's trendy and what's not (not saying I'm not trendy, peeps). So, I thought I would gather a couple products that I have been grabbing over the past month and share them with you guys cuzz that's what I do.

I have recently been loving the glowy, face look. I know, I know, it's really hot and humid out so "glow is a no" but, honestly it hasn't made me look any more or less "dewy". The Soap & Glory Glow All Out Luminizing Face Powder doesn't make me look sweaty or shiny persay; it adds a very KimK glow that I have grown to like on my face. 

On the topic of skincare, I have been loving the Travel Size Cetaphil Cleasner to use on trips. Especially because I own the full size of this cleanser and keep refilling the mini to take with me when I go away. It has made my skin so oil-free and is great at removing pesky eye makeup that never comes off. 

My skin has been extremely dry due to an acne cream I am using and I have been trying to exfoliate a bit every now and then so, the St. Ives Apricot Scrub has really helped. It smells very fresh, too.

Moving onto fragrance, my obsession over the Sugar Crush vanilla-lime scent from Soap & Glory has been quite the addiction. I have the lotion, shower gel, and now this Sugar Crush Spray that I can't stop using! It's a great summery scent. 

The Wet n Wild One Step Gel Polish is a newer discovery and I can't go back to any of my other nail polishes at all! Nothing else I have tried compares to how long lasting and opaque this whole range is. I want to do a full post on these because I keep buying more and they're so great! There's no lamp needed and they take little to a couple minutes to dry. 

Mascara has been a product that I have always gone back and repurchased over and over. This Soap & Glory Thick and Fast mascara will be one of those that I will continue to buy. I constantly go through mascara and I love how voluminous this mascara makes my lashes. 

From my Fresh Skincare Post that I wrote a week ago, I have really enjoyed the Fresh Rose Face Mask. It leaves my skin so smooth and oil-free. I love how it smells and I think I'll have to buy more products from Fresh soon. Skincare is an iffy thing for me because I have very sensitive and acne prone skin-this didn't break me out at all.

My last year of high school--freedom at last. No more testing, no more taking the bus, no more stuffing things into my locker, no more anything. It's a bittersweet thing to say and I'm trying to take in every moment of my Senior year. Normally, Seniors have very laid back schedules and get to take all the fun classes and get off-campus during their lunches at my school. All of this "Senioritis" (a faux disease that drains all of the effort in Seniors near the end of the school year) fades away in a snap and the next thing you know, you're at college. So, I thought I would share with you guys some things I personally think are important to remember during your last year at high school.

1) Be Involved While You Still Can 

Even if you live over seas and don't have "high school", we all eventually graduate from school and time really does fly by. Maybe at the last minute you decide to join a club you never really got to go to or you weren't really interested in going to Homecoming this year because it was "so boring" the other years. It's important to just go do these things because you only go through high school once (well, a majority of us do at least). 

2) Make The Most With Your High School Friends

It may seem pretty sad but, many of us will go to college and pursue our dreams really far away from home. With that being said, making the most of the moments you have with your childhood/high school friends is really important.

I have friends who plan on moving all the way across the country and it is really sad to say that I probably will never see them again. Texting and Facebook can only help so much in these situations.

3) Enjoy Time With Family

Besides the home cooked meals and clean laundry, your "familia" won't be around much while you're at college. You'll probably be up late at night calling your parents because you just got homesick, and that's okay! Our parents do so much for us (like pay for us to go to college) and it's only necessary to instead of go out and party or hide away in your room, to talk to them and spend time with them when you can. Your parents will always be there for you but, you will find that college teaches you a lot about living on your own.

4) Don't Worry About Where Your Friends Are Going

I know it's hard not to feel pressured about what and where your friends are doing and sometimes it gets the best of me, too. Not everyone is going into the same major, has the same financial reasons, or personal reasons to all go to the same college together. I know that it can be hard to not compare yourself to someone who might be going to a bigger college than you. All you need to focus on is what you want to accomplish and achieve in college, not what you're friends want to accomplish or achieve. Find your passion and stick with it! 

5) Enjoy High School While It Lasts

I have heard the endless, "What are your post high school plans?", "Where are you going to college?", EVERYTHING. The more I hear, the closer it is to making an actual decision about college and my future. It's the real world after high school and I'll have to start functioning like an adult. Scary, I know. All I can do now is take in the moments I have left and that's something we, Seniors, forget as we start to fill out applications and get important fees and documents turned in on time. 

I can't speak for everyone, obviously because not everyone goes to high school but, I hope this helped anyone who is graduating this year and knows that they aren't alone! I am terrified and excited about what's to come after high school and college will be another huge journey that I will take on through my blog. This is just the beginning of the end--and I can't wait. 

Xoxo, Nat

*Photo album and notebook courtesy of my dear friend, Ellaby, for my birthday. Thanks so much <3