Monday Morsels: Some of my First Fashion Finds and Splurges

You remember when you first saw. It called your name. You knew that if you bought it, somehow everything in your life would fall into place. 

"Liz, look at me. I'm perfect for you. I'm everything you've ever dreamed of, lusted after, and coveted. I'm so pretty I'm sinful. You know you want to blow your budget and buy me. I will make all your dreams come true." 

For me, it was a Coach Madison Ocelot handbag:

One of my former roommates and dear friends spotted a Coach bag one time when we were in Las Vegas and she said to me, "If I had that bag, I would TELL people what to do!" I felt similarly about this bag. However, here is my confession (cue Usher): I returned it because I felt too guilty spending $300 on a handbag at the time. Sure, I made the smart decision monetarily, but I still think about that handbag. I might or might not have just searched Ebay for it. I'll update you, hehe.

However, there have been a couple of items I lusted after and did purchase. I even found them extremely discounted, but it was pure luck (or the law of attraction kicked in, which I do believe in, by the way).

One of these was my pair of Sam Edelman Lorissa pumps. I love these things. I still have them, and wear them on special occasions. They make me feel incredibly pretty and add a bit of sass to my step. They originally retailed for somewhere between $200-$300, but I got them in perfect condition for $60 from Nordstrom Rack. Ah, what a blessed day.

One of my other favorite "splurges," which ended up being more of a "find" than a splurge, was my Coach Poppy Glam Tote in silver/anthracite. 

For a long time, I obsessed over finding a metallic toned bag. However, most of the ones I found were either too blingy or erred on the tacky side. This would obviously not do. Finally, I reached bag heaven at Nordstrom Last Chance in Arizona. If you don't know what this place is, or you haven't been, you're seriously missing out. Discussing that place is another post entirely! 

I didn't have high aspiration for finding my dream bag that day, and honestly, I was a bit intimidated by all the "serious" shoppers there who foraged through the bags in an adderall-like induced frenzy. I calmly perused the shoes and waited for a lull in the bag area, and I struck when a spot opened up that didn't threaten my losing a limb. I sifted through the assorted totes, purses, and satchels for about 15 minutes when this beauty's gleam caught my eye. There she was—metallic perfection, and selling at $79.95 to boot! My search finally ended and I left feeling quite satisfied.

I'd love to hear about some of your favorite/memorable finds or splurges! Tell me everything...

It's Friday I'm in Love...With These 10 Blogs!

Hey y'all, happy Friday! 

I hope you have some exciting weekend plans, whether it's relaxing and watching NetFlix in bed, working on a home project, or having a romantic date (I'll be sleeping in tomorrow). If you find yourself with some reading time, I suggest checking out these fabulous blogs. I'm including 10 today I find particularly inspirational...they range from entertaining, life coaching, and interior design to beauty, fashion, and parenting.

Spread the word and give them some social media love too!

xoxo

Housewife2Hostess

Divas With A Purpose

Up to Date Interiors

A Mother Thing

Glam Hungry Mom

Bitches Work

Danielle Dowling

Bella the Blog

Peacoats & Plaid

The Quintessentials Blog

Thrifty Thursday: Pastel Perfection - Spring Jewelry & Accessories from Forever 21

Pastel Spring Accessories from Forever 21 by lookbyliz 

I just visually devoured a truckload of candy! 

What started as a casual perusal of the accessories section of the Forever 21 website turned into a full-on candy cram sesh including peachy pastel flower bracelets  and sugary mint sunglasses. Their site (and hopefully the stores too, unless everything is sold out) currently overflows with a selection of jewelry confections that makes Willy Wonka need to rethink the content of his emporium. 

Check out my finds...I hope they send you into a visual diabetic coma! Ok, that just sounds creepy and wrong. But this isn't 100-calorie portion time...you'll want it all. Luckily, every item here is $14 and under! Click on the graphic above to be taken to my Polyvore set that will give you all the pricing info. 

xoxo

P.S. Check out these fabulous fashion linkups below!

Talk About it Tuesday: Face Candy – Some of my Favorite Makeup & Skincare Picks

1. Too Faced Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer: I've tried several different primers, but this is the one I keep going back to. For me, it beats Benefit’s The Porefessional in terms of minimizing the appearance of my pores. This is a big deal to me, especially when I’m wearing a heavier foundation. Additionally, this gem contains retinol, so it improves more than just the appearance of your skin. Note: they also make this in an oil-free, sensitive skin version! However, I have fairly oil skin in my t-zone, and the original version has never felt too oily for me.

2. L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Texture Perfector Pore Vanisher $19.99: I've only used this for a couple of days, but I'm already highly impressed. The first time I applied it, I was wowed by the immediate effect it had on my skin's appearance. Once again, this is another powerhouse that product that does more than just provide a temporary fix. I'm excited to see how it improves my skin with continued use. If you're in a rush and have no time for makeup, I highly recommend still applying this for a more "finished' look.

3. Proactive Step 3 Repairing Treatment: Here's the honest truth (I wouldn't lie to you anyway, but it just sounds better when I say it)...when I have a blemish, or my skin freaks out for some weird reason, this is my go-to. I have never used the face wash or toner from this line. I just hop on Ebay and purchase a container of the Step 3, and one bottle lasts me forever! It's super gentle, unlike many benzoyl peroxide treatments that can burn the heck out of your skin, and it works, period.

4. Makeup Forever Aqua Cream Eyecolor $25: Yes, there are plenty of "dupes" out there for this product, such a Maybelline's Color Tattoo Cream Gel Shadow, but this is the one I recommend. I tried Maybelline's, and it just dries out too quickly. I'd rather spend the money on a more expensive product that will last a long time. The main thing that excites me about the Makeup Forever version is that it comes in "light lilac shimmer," as pictured above. Years ago I used a nearly identical Laura Mercier cream shadow...then they stopped making it! Not okay. So, finding this overjoyed me! It stays put, has tons of pigmentation, and applies beautifully. Trifecta! 

5. Soap and Glory Super-Colour Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Plumping Gloss $16: I love plumping glosses. Unfortunately, my LipFusion plumping gloss is $36.00 (ridic) and this is $16.00. no brainer! Plus, I love the plumping effect of this one. The only way I can really describe it is that it feels like there are hundreds of minuscule beads vibrating on your lips. It's not painful in the least. In fact, I really like it in an odd way! I've been using Punch Bowl, which provides a super-sheer, just barely darker than your natural lip color. Bonus: it smells like real raspberry chocolate candy! 

Monday Morsels—Feeling Patriotic!

Did you see Coca Cola's "It's Beautiful" Super Bowl ad? 

After reading some recent articles about how my beloved Diet Coke (my precious!!!) has been accused of referencing cocaine in some of its ads (give me a freakin' break people), I realized I never fully voiced my opinion about the Super Bowl ad, which received both commendations and not-so-pretty reactions from viewers. 

The Super Bowl TV spot featured the classic anthem “America the Beautiful” sung in a variety of languages by multiple ethnicities. People spoke out on social media, either embracing or disgracing the message they thought the ad conveyed. Regarding the people who uttered negative outcries, including many who emphasized that this is America and people need to speak English, I immediately thought about how their sentiments propagate ignorance. Although individuals can exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of speech, I believe America’s citizens need to contemplate the potential far-reaching impact of their words.

I dreamed of visiting France since I was eight years old. Everything about the country mesmerized me, from the delectable foods and culture to the beauty of the language. However, when I would tell people I wanted to learn to speak French and visit there someday, many would say, “Oh, the French hate Americans. You should go somewhere else.” Even as a child, this did not make sense to me. Perplexed, I would say, “Oh, have you been there?” I never met one person who made a negative statement about the country who had actually been there. I finally went to France during my sophomore year of college. I traveled all over the country, and not only did I not meet a single soul who seemed to hate Americans, but I encountered numerous individuals with warm feelings toward my homeland. 

If the citizens of our country perpetuate the attitude that people in America should only “speak English” and that we eschew diversity, then eventually it might be safe for other countries to believe that Americans dislike everyone but themselves. Those who express negativity toward diversity need to ask themselves some serious questions about what America represents and how the founding fathers would feel about such statements. The Pledge of Allegiance states, “One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all”—not with liberty and justice for English speakers only.

The Liebster Award!

I recently discovered one of my favorite new blogs, The Polished Polka Dot, and also its lovely creator, Bronwyn. She graciously nominated me for the Liebster award. Thank you doll! Y'all need to check her site out and follow her.

What on earth is a Liebster? At first I formed an association in my head with people obsessed with Liev Schreiber, but it turns out that it's something completely different. Shocking that my first notion wasn't true! Check out all the dirty details here. Family safe and appropriate, don't worry.

I'm going with Rule Set #1, also chosen by The Polished Polka Dot:

• You must link the person's blog who nominated you for the award
• Answer the 11 questions given by the person who nominated you
• Pick an additional 11 people to nominate with UNDER 200 blog followers
• You cannot nominate the blogger who nominated you
• You must inform the nominees that you have nominated

Here are my nominees. 

Check out their lovely blogs!

Housewife2Hostess

Lively and Lovely 

Traci

The Mama Bomb

Rachel Dulay

Kat

L.M. Lewis

QuarterLifeCents

Cheyanne

Tonia

Chandra Kean

Nominees, here are YOUR questions:

1. What's your favorite thing about blogging?

2. What's one of your biggest "life accomplishments?"

3. What's the biggest beauty/hair/makeup mistake you ever made?

4. Tell me one thing you do that is a huge key to your success.
5. What's the best "mistake" you ever made?
6. What is your ultimate goal with your blog/how do you envision it in 5 years?
7. Tell me one of your guilty pleasures.
8. How do you create "me time?"
9. If you suddenly became a billionaire philanthropist, what organization/charity/cause would you support?
10. Pinterest or Instagram, and why?
11. What do you feel like you need help most with in terms of blogging (writing/editing/driving traffic/social media/etc.)?

Here's what Bronwyn asked me:

1. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be? One of my lifelong dreams/bucket list goals is to hike Machu Picchu.

2. What is your favorite furniture/home decor brand? My dream store to decorate my entire house: Anthro!

3. Were you named after someone? My great aunt on my mother's side. No offense to her, but my great aunt on my dad's side's name was Pink. How uber cool would it have been to have that as a name?!

4. Would you ever skydive? Only if Ryan Reynolds dragged me kicking and screaming.

5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Any kind of vanilla, especially a really custard-y one with specks of vanilla beans.

6. Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie? See above.

7. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? I'd be the first "leopard-print" crayon.

8. What is your favorite season? Summer. To the trillionth power!

9. What is your hidden talent? Everything about me is pretty out in the open!

10. Red or Pink? Audrey Hepburn can answer that for me.

11. What was the last thing you ate? Pepperoni pizza!

What to Wear Wednesday: Things for Spring that will make your Budget Sing!

Things for Spring that will make your Budget Sing by lookbyliz featuring a white knee length dress

H&M White Knee-length Dress, $13 / Merona Women's Denim Shirt w/Box Pleat - Assorted Colors $23 / Sole Society shoes, $49 / H&M necklace, $17 / H&M heart shaped ring, $4.96 / H&M Scarf, $12

Hello dear LookbyLizLewis readers!

I didn't intend on taking a week-long blog break, but the stomach virus I got had other ideas. Enough said on that. The point is that I'm back and better than ever! 

I'm excited to introduce "What to Wear Wednesday" with some of my current favorite picks for spring. I'm feeling neutrals, stripes (always!), and coral! The great part is that EVERYTHING here is under $50!

What are some chic, low-priced items you've found recently?


xoxo

Go shorty (literally, I'm 5'3) it's ya birthday!

My plan for Thursdays is to do a recurring post titled "Thrifty Thursday: Beauty on a Budget" that shares my latest hair/nails/makeup/skincare finds and obsessions. However, today is slightly different.

It's my 33rd birthday. 

Since I'm normally not a selfish person (I try not to be at least), I believe my birthday is a day when it's OK to be blatantly selfish. However, since I can't completely convince myself to do that, I'll be selfish in an underhanded way (oooo, so devious) and share some thing about MOI with my readers. If you're hungry for more, 

check out my ABOUT page.

1. When I do someones makeup, I hate for them to look. I love for it to be a "grand reveal" at the end. In the past, with my friends, I often used to say things like, "Don't look!" or even chastise them if I saw them trying to sneak a peek in the mirror. I've loosened up a lot since those days, because clients like to see the work in progress, and they also like to learn!

2. I love all things sparkly/shimmery/glittery. 

3. I love me some Diet Coke. There is no substitute for the nectar of the Gods. And yes, the above photo is from one of my Costco runs. Enough to get me through the weekend. Just kidding. . .

4. I have overcome a great deal in my life, and I'm fiercely ambitious and independent. My life motto/mantra is that you can have anything you really want.

5. Leopard print = life. I briefly dated a guy who said to me, once, "I don't really love you in leopard print." Too bad for him; I wore it anyway. I was honestly a bit disappointed once leopard print went HUGE. I should have it copyrighted as solely my trademark. 

 6. I'm a secret TV addict. SHHHH!!! Keep that between us please. But my love for Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU, is unequivocally open. I won't lie...when Jerry Orbach died, my best friend and I were so sad that we put a picture of him outside our apartment with candles around it. Some LDS missionaries passing by stopped and asked, "Did someone's grandpa die?" Oh dear.That show rocks. As does Nashville, Revenge, Chicago P.D., The Voice, The Blacklist...eek, I've said too much.

7. I love all things French. I did my first study abroad experience in Quebec the summer after I graduated high school, then I lived just outside Paris (my RER A stop was Le Vesinet - Le Pecq) for nearly four months during my sophomore year of college. I would move to Paris or anywhere in France in a heartbeat. J'adore Paris!

8. The only thing nearly as good as Paris is lying on the beach soaking up the hot summer sun. I lived in La Jolla, California for a year and loved waking up to the breeze lightly rustling the palm trees outside my window, and the scent of the ocean wafting into my room.

9. I'm a grammar/editing nerd. I scored 33 on the English portion of the ACT. I really do believe I was born with my knack for writing, editing, proofreading, etc. And yes, I just looked back at that sentence and grimaced at the fact that it contained passive voice. But this is blogging, so I'm allowed to be conversational. I also owe my high school English tutor, my freshman English teacher Brett McInelly at BYU, and Utah's ABC4 report Bob Walz  for teaching me everything I know about writing. They changed my life. Walz would shudder at my use of any passive voice. I promise, I don't use it regularly!

10. I can't wait to find the love of my life. As ambitious and independent as I am, I am thrilled to be married and have children. And I'm totally OK being 33 and not married. In fact, I'm glad. I'm a completely different and better person today than I was 10 years ago. I wouldn't change the experiences I've had for anything, because they've brought me to where I am now.

Here's to the next 33 years of my life!

Talk about it Tuesday (a day late): What I Really Learned from this Season of The Bachelor

1. From Clare: wear really heavy, poorly placed blush and LOTS of bronzer. Ok, so not everyone is Emily Maynard. But Clare did say she's a hair stylist, so shouldn't she be able to do a great makeup application? As revealed to Allure by Maynard, contestants on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette don't have a makeup artist or hair stylist on hand to keep them gorgeous. So this one is all on you, Clare. For more delicious insider info and beauty gossip, check out this tell-all in New York Magazine's The Cut.

2. From Andi: sport an outdated, orange-y ombré
 with a strong line of demarcation. Unfortunately, the harsh ombré look was already out early last fall. Hopefully Andi updates her look before The Bachelorette begins... 

3. From Chelsie: borrow a swimsuit coverup from you grandma. While this isn't the worst coverup I've ever seen, this gorgeous girl could have chosen a floral that was a bit more updated, like this sassy modern look from Badgley Mischka at Nordstrom.

4. From Juan Puablo: look douchey effortlessly. No explanation needed for these gems. 

6. And more from Juan Pablo: show us some man thigh as often as possible. There's just something about guys showing too much leg that gets to me. A couple of days ago at the gym a guy on the treadmill in front of me had on shorts that were already not long enough, but to make matters worse, they were riding up as he ran. Eek!