How to Deal When You Feel Like You've Failed

As another birthday is just days away and the holidays are quickly approaching, not only am I reminded of these happy times and the lifetime memories they bring, but also to take a step back and reflect on the last year. 

For some of us, when we look back, we feel proud and satisfied and happy to celebrate a year we can truthfully call successful.

For others, this time of year is a harsh reminder that we have simply run out of time. This year's hourglass has run its course and when fate tallies our progress on December 31st, we feel like we will have nothing to show for the last 365 days. 

We know that life isn't fair and that we'll have good years and bad years. And if any of you are feeling like you've found yourself to have a bad one, take a look at this article I found over on The Everygirl: "How to Deal When You Feel Like You've Failed" for a few yet wise words to overcome a bad year a little bit better.

Never Felt So Good to Be Naked

For Naked enthusiasts like myself - Urban Decay is going full force this holiday season. In a matter of just a few weeks since announcing Naked Vault, an arsenal of coveted palettes for the diehard Naked girl, it's announced the launch of an even newer Naked product. Make room in your makeup organizer for Naked on the Run.

I'm typically not in favor of all-in-one palettes; they never seem to offer the exact combination of shades and/or product I like to use. But after coming across this palette in Sephora's holiday catalog, then a second time on Urban Decay's Instagram, I think Naked on the Run is finally the solution to my problem. I have faith this is the ONE palette I need to get Naked on the go, that is until I get my hands on one.

Naked on the Run contains:

Six all-new shades of eyeshadow - Dive, a metallic rose; Fix, a matte taupe; Resist, a metallic taupe; Dare, a matte brown; Stun, a metallic bronze; and 5050, an extra large dose of the perfect all-over shade. For base products, Naked on the Run includes a matte bronzer and a shimmery, bright pink blush. To complete your look, the palette comes with a travel-size Perversion mascara and 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Stag (a deep brown), plus a full-size Naked Lipgloss in Sesso (a shimmery rose). 

With an affordable price tag of $54, this limited edition, all-in-one Naked palette will be available on November 20 at UrbanDecay.com, and on December 1 at Sephora. So save one for me!
It's never felt so good to be Naked.

Barbie Dreamhouse by Wildfox

Wildfox Resort '14 - Barbie Dreamhouse Collection

SHOP NOW! 

As promised, in collaboration with the ultimate blonde Malibu bombshell, Wildfox has dropped their Resort 2014 Barbie Dreamhouse Collection - available now to shop online!

After scrolling through the flawlessly photographed Lookbook, I am obsessing over the 80's-inspired ensembles, with even some pieces resembling some doll's get-ups. Think 'I Love Ken' slogan jumpers, Barbie logo swimsuits, and Barbie-pink round sunnies. I'm dying!

Difficult to narrow down, here are some of my fave looks:

& flip through the Barbie Dreamhouse Lookbook here!

When it came to designing this dream collaboration, Creative Director, Kimberley Gordon, said, "As a girl who played with Barbie, the whole collection itself was inspired by my imagination come to life. I thought of what she and her friends would have really worn and saw them as eighties/nineties shabby chic. Barbie was also a woman with so many occupations, so we wanted to show that in the 'My Resume' tee." - The 'My Resume' tee featuring the Barbie logo on the front and a list of her occupations on the back, including Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher, Vet, Babysitter, Cheerleader, etc.

SOURCE PRNewswire, Wildfox

Lately Obsessing Over..

Robert M Drake.
It was only until recently a friend introduced me to his poetic Instagram page that I had soon scrolled through what had to be hundreds of beautiful quotes and poems that had drawn me in so deeply into his mentality. Below is one of my faves:

we will never be happy because

our expectation of happiness is

always evolving. and as we evolve, 

everything changes. even the love

we have now becomes something of 

yesterday and the anticipation 

of the things we desire tomorrow,

are the things that fill our emptiness today.

and as we evolve, nothing stays

the same. we will always want more,

even if what we have now is enough.

this is the destruction of being 

human. we create the illusion of 

happiness to make sense of the

disappointments we have yet to live.

and sometimes we do find happiness.

but even though, sometimes it is not

meant to last forever and that

within itself is a beautiful thing

to evolve from.

r.m. drake

he's also published a series of books, each being their own collection of his hauntingly beautiful words. most recently released - "Beautiful Chaos". the others are: "Science" and "Spaceship"; all which are available through his Etsy page or on Amazon!

Faux Furs & Felines

Fall's Trending Accessory: Coats

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but summer is officially over. But don't panic - the lovely ones over at Fashionista.com show us the brighter side of fall: coats!

One wardrobe staple to wrap up in this fall is a bold color or structured statement coat. And with so many styles flocking fall wardrobes this season, having a few to choose from just might be the only accessory you need.

Scroll through a handful of my favorite faux fur, puffy coat, and leopard print jacket picks below. 

(find where to shop my fall faves at the bottom!)

& stay cute (and dry) on those unfortunate yet inevitable rainy days

The best part is that many of these options won't break the bank, either, so you can stock up on multiple in-between season jackets or save up for that one worth-the-splurge winter coat. Fashionista rounded up a super cute list of 30 Fall Coats for Less than $300 - be sure to head over and check out their favorite fall picks!
Have fun with this fall's playful colors!

Shop my fall faves:

[FROM TOP TO BOTTOM]

1. Pepe Jeans Leopard Faux Fur Coat | ASOS  2. River Island Oversized Brushed Coat | ASOS  3. Vintage Faux Fur Coat | ASOS  4. Puffer Vest with Fur | ZARA  5. Short Waisted Down Jacket | ZARA  6. River Island Faux Fur Leopard Jacket | ASOS  7. Mid-Length Down Jacket with Non-Detachable Fur Collar | ZARA  8. Fashion Union Scuba Coat | ASOS  9. Unreal Fur Fire and Ice Coat in 2 Tone | ASOS  10. The Laden Showroom X Gemma Goldstone Fun Faux Fur Bomber Jacket | ASOS  11. New Look Collarless Wool Coat | ASOS  12. Jacket with Harlequin Embellishment | ASOS  13. Parka in Cocoon Fit with Knitted Cuff | ASOS  14. Clear Rain Trench | ASOS

My Sephora Fall Beauty Bag

Though I have yet to transition from wearing neon pink lipsticks to more fall-appropriate shades of red, take a look at my Sephora beauty bag must-haves!

Bad skin is something I've struggled with since early years of high school, which has made me quite the advocate of putting forth the effort to maintain a healthy skincare routine. But there's one thing I love just as much as I love my skincare products, and that's beauty products!

Makeup can be wonderful to conceal skin imperfections, or an aggressive hangover, but for me I just love the application process with all the colors, shades and tones to choose from! There's no such feeling like leaving Sephora with a handful of [rather pricey, but worth the splurge] makeup goodies, no matter how capable they are of making a couple hundred bucks look so minuscule with those tiny bags! Best of all, they reward my guilty pleasure - proudly a VIB Rouge member!

Shop my beauty bag:

1. Skin Perfect CC Cream SPF 20 | Sephora Collection  2. Hangover Replenishing Face Primer | Too Faced  3. Full-On Lip Cream in White Russian | Buxom  4. Better Than Sex Mascara | Benefit Cosmetics  5. All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray | Urban Decay  6. Naked Palette | Urban Decay  7. READY Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 | bareMinerals  8. Shameless Bold Blush in Outspoken | Marc Jacobs Beauty  9. Blush in Luster | NARS  10. They're Real! Push-Up Liner |  Benefit Cosmetics  11. Eyeshadow Primer | Urban Decay  12. Retractable Waterproof Lip Liner in Mauve | Sephora Collection

The Truth About Your World

What if I read to you a story,
Starting; "Once Upon A Time",
And you realized that it was your life,
Spelt out on every line,
Would you hear my voice with wonder,
As it brushed across each word,
And pray my arms had strength to hold,
The truth about your world,
Would your view on life be different,
And would it shock you most to find,
That the things you thought defined you,
Could be summed up in just two lines,
And all the ones you took for granted,
The ins and outs of every day,
Play a bigger part in who you are,
Than you'd ever dare to say,
Would you wonder at the pages left,
And all the places that they'll lead,
Then vow to make each moment,
One that you'd be proud to read,
Because there is a story of your life,
But it's you that holds the pen,
And I hope you fill the pages right,
Before you reach the end.

- e.h.

LFW - Tom Ford

Tom Ford not only makes a girl wish he wasn't gay, but he also produces phenomenal collections and runway shows season after season. Back in college, (whoa that actually sounded really weird referring to college in past tense) for my event planning class our final big project was to produce a fashion show from top to bottom. To sum it up, Tom Ford was my chosen designer for obvious reasons, with his S/S '15 RTW collection as pure justification.

Enough jibber jabber, here are some of my absolute favorite looks from Tom Ford, and potentially from London Fashion Week entirely - the thigh highs are just killing it for me!

View entire collection here!

LFW - Marchesa Spring 2015 RTW

Starting out a decade ago in London in a studio on Archer Street, the 10th anniversary of their label Marchesa, designers Georgina Chapman & Keren Craig came home. But what a homecoming, showing in the Banqueting House on Whitehall, an Inigo Jones-designed building of such ludicrously historical provenance.

From London Fashion Week: Day One - my favorite looks from Marchesa Spring '15 RTW!

To view the entire romantically whimsical collection, visit Style.com!

NYFW Wrap-UP - Alice + Olivia Spring 2015 RTW

As London Fashion Week is already underway, with gorgeous shows from Marchesa this past weekend and Tom Ford earlier today, I still felt I needed to go back and talk about one of my favorite collections from New York Fashion Week - Alice + Olivia Spring '15 RTW. Designer Stacey Bendet held her casually glitzy collection presentation in the grand ballroom and foyer of the Pierre.

"In the Pierre, everything should sparkle," Bendet said.

And it did.
I've highlighted a few of my favorite looks from her presentation below!

To read the review or to view the entire Alice + Olivia Spring 2015 RTW collection, visit Style.com!