Thursday, May 31, 2012

May Beauty Favorites

It's been a LONG time since I have done a end of the month beauty faves, but 
I want to try to get in the habit of doing that especially in the summer months so 
since it is the end of the May here are my favorite products I have been using... 



Sonia Kashuk has some great products. Her line is sold exclusively at Target and I recently
heard someone talk about her blushes. So, I decided to pick up a couple this month
and have been SO pleased with the finish and color. 

The color above is called 03 Sunset. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, 
but it is a bright tangerine kind of orange with shimmer. I have already gotten a good bit
of sun this spring/summer and with a tan this color is GORGeous! It gives that perfect 
warmth to your face. I feel like people tell me how tan I look when I wear this blush. 

This is my new favorite blush for the season! 


Another one of her blushes I picked up and have worn a lot this month is in 
the shade 97 Flamingo. It is just your perfect matte girly bumble gum pink that
everyone should have in your collection. 

Soft, feminine, and looks good on any skin tone. 

These blushes retail for $8.99 at Target. 


If you read my blog very regularly then you know how obsessed I have been with 
Revlon Lip Butters. They are affordable, give off great color, and are super 
moisturizing. 

I decided to get a bright pop of color for summer to compliment my tan skin and I am loving 
this shade Lollipop. It is a bright hot pink/ fuchsia. But, beware it is very bright... 
you may want to tone it down with a gloss on top. If you want something with some color, but
think this is to bold I would suggest Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie. It's my next fave.


You may have noticed the commercials about Garnier new BB cream. I have heard a lot
of buzz lately about this product. I don't know about you, but in the summer I become super 
lazy and don't want a lot of make-up on my skin. I want something light, natural looking, and somewhat sheer once I build up a bit of a tan. 

So, what this product does is renews, brightens, even skin tone, and hydrates. It's basically
 a tinted moisturizer with vitamin c and mineral pigments. It has a spf of 15 and claims that after one 
use 90% had a more even complexion, 93% saw a more healthy glow, and 96% saw
smoother skin. If your problem areas are discolorations, dullness, blotchiness or dryness then 
this may be a product you want to look into. 

Now, with that said don't expect an amazing coverage. It does give you an even skin tone, but
if you have acne, acne scaring, or freckles etc that you want hidden then you will need a concealer to
go with this. But, I have been using this a little over a week and have really enjoyed. They only
have two shades you can pick from light/medium or medium/deep. I got the darker one b/c 
of the season and I have been tanning. It seems to match up with my color great. 

This is a lot cheaper than a tinted moisturizer you would buy at a dept store too. It's $12.99 for 2.5 
ounces. My only concern at this point is that it's not oil free. I tend to break out in my T zone if
I am not careful with oily products. So, that is the only thing I will be watching for, but other than
that I am really enjoying using for summertime. It also has a great clean kind of natural tea scent. 

Hope you have had a wonderful May and looking forward to a new month and lots of summer 
fun! Next month is my birthday month..... : ) 

Friday, May 25, 2012

Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Friday! This weekend is truly one of my favorite weekends of the whole year! 
It's the weekend that kicks off summer... the best time of the year and it means my birthday is less
than a couple weeks away (the best DAY of the year) : )

I've said many times how much I love this season and time of the year. I feel the happiest
in the spring/summer and just love all the things that come with this season. I tend to be a past
reflective person (is that a word???) meaning that I like to think back on certain times of the 
year and ask myself... what was I doing last year on Memorial Day weekend? What was I doing
two years ago?? Insert holiday or event and I like to wonder where I was a year ago and then 
think where will I be next year? What new people will be in my life a year from now? How will
my life change in a year? It's always just been something I do and it fascinates me. 

So, in the process of thinking about the past few Memorial Day weekend's I realized that
I have either been out of the country or out of state the last 3 years on this weekend. Three years
ago was spent in Rome, Italy, (most amazing trip ever) two years ago I was in Guatemala City,
Guatemala with my small group on a mission trip serving and sharing the love of Christ, and
last year I was in New Orleans, LA at a benefit concert for the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak
we had in AL. 

This year I don't have big plans to escape to another country or state. It's going to be a low
key weekend spent with my mom and dad and brother that is flying home TODAY from 
Florida! I haven't seen him since Christmas and looking forward to spending some QT with him. 
Just poolside, maybe lakeside, family dinners, and possibly puppy shopping for mom and dad. :) 
Looking forward to a relaxing weekend! 

A few blast from the past Memorial Day weekend pics...


 Spanish steps in Rome 


 Roman Coliseum (coolest thing I've ever seen) 


And again at night
 Roman Pantheon 


Piazza Navona (art district) 

Bridge in Florence, Italy


Trevi Fountain 


The Pope drove right past us at St. Peter's Square 

 Sweet girl in Guatemala


Look at that face : )


My little Katy stole my heart. 

 
Guatemalan woman walking home


Pretty flawa... 


I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend filled with LOTS of memories
of those you love most! 

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Thursday Threads- Date Night

My bestie, Rachel, at Running Backwards in High Heels has started doing an edition
on her blog called "Thursday Threads" where she shares what she is wearing. 

I thought I would try to start doing this each week and feature work, play, and date outfits I am 
wearing and liking. 

So, last night was a Date night. Dinner at Bottega of Birmingham. Food was amazing. 
Company and conversation was great. Fun was had. That's all the info I'm giving for now! 
Maybe more to come on this later. Maybe. :)

So, onto my outfit for the night... 


Dress: Hot pink snake print from Express (this season)
Shoes: Nude caged Levity stilettos 


 Up close view of dress and print. 
(sorry about the lighting I was in a hurry) 


 Jewelry:
Aqua/Gold drop earrings from Banana Republic outlet
Gold/Pearl dainty necklace 
(not pictured my Michael Kors white/rose gold watch) 


Face: 
Foundation: Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer
Bronzer: Nars Laguna
Blush: Sonia Kashuk Flamingo 
Highlighter: MAC Soft & Gentle 
Eye shadow: Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette (neutral shades) 
Liner: Urban Decay Zero (black)
Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

Hope you enjoyed my Date night edition of Thursday Threads! 

Monday, May 21, 2012

Weekend Rewind

Happy New Week! I hope you had a great weekend. Can you believe this weekend
is Memorial Day?! HOLY MOLY where is this year going. I need life to slow the freak
down... just a little. My brother is flying home from FL this weekend and I cannot wait 
to spend some time with him and talk. Miss that guy! 

So, I am a bit conflicted on my Weekend Rewind blog posts. Do I keep things consist 
with the purpose of this blog and write about all things beauty? Or, do I share more of my life
and actual weekend instead of just beauty product buys and reviews??!! What do you think? 

I did buy some beauty goods this weekend, but I think I will save those posts for another day and 
share more of my weekend with you. At least when I have more eventful weekends. 


So, Al and I went to Do Day Day Saturday. Birmingham, AL has this event every 
year in the Highland parks and it is a day dedicated to animals and raising money
and awareness for different groups and humane societies. I have always wanted to go 
to this event, but never made it. Since I got Millie the Maltipoo last year I decided we 
HAD to make an appearance. 

It was such a fun and extremely hot day! We got there right at 11 for the pet parade. 
I cannot even express to you how fun, weird, and hilarious this was. Imagine every kind of 
possible dog dressed up, riding in convertibles, and throwing dog bones and candy. 
Loved. It. : ) 


After the parade we ventured to the Jim n Nicks vendor booth where I decided to try this 
nifty little concoction. BBQ sausage with pimento cheese, crackers, and jalapeno peppers.

So delicious! 


Sweet girl was hot and tired. We found her some shade while we ate 
lunch and she visited with all her new friends. 
 Yay for our first of hopefully many Do Dah Day's! Such a fun event.

 Saturday night Al and I ventured over to Above downtown to meet some friends 
that were celebrating birthday fun. This is such a neat place for night life and I wish more
people would catch on and it would become more popular. It is above (hence the name)
the Redmont Hotel. 


We made some new friends and got the V.I.P. treatment. 
Fun guys. Lots of laughs. 


This pic turned out more clear... love the city background. 

Can I be vain or a little arrogant for a second? If you know me or if you don't know me...
let me preface this with I am the least dramatic, conceited, vain person EVER! I am so 
down to earth and laid back. But, with that said I am taking a moment to publicly be vain.

I was by far the most popular girl Saturday night. The DJ played the Wop and Wobble dance and 
yes, I have learned these dances and yearn for the opportunity to bust a move. I had guys and girls
coming up to me everywhere asking about my dance moves. I had random people taking pictures
of me dancing, people wanting to learn these moves, getting back into the VIP section from 
my moves, and being told by the DJ I was the prettiest girl there that night and it meant a lot
to have a girl like me getting the dancing started. 

Don't hate me for saying that. Please. ha! It was just such a fun night. 
I so want to quote from the song "Popular" from the Broadway show Wicked, but 
I will refrain. ha! 

Until next time.... 

"Wop Wop Wop a little harder
Look at how she wop she a party starter
I hope that security remembered to card her
Cuz I never done the wop where you ain't hotter
I never drop dime but I drop u a dollar
Tell her if you give me your number then maybe I call her
She said that she knew me and knew I'm a baler
Man I better wop outa here I'll see u tomorrow."

Friday, May 18, 2012

Friday Hair of the Day

Happy Friday Peeps! 

What a crazy and interesting week this has been .... and it just continues. 

I wanted to do a quick post because I have been so bad at blogging lately. 

Summer is right around the corner and there is just an relaxed and lazy vibe that comes with
this time of the year. I feel like in my beauty routine I want easy and convenient. 

I have been wearing my hair in this messy/curly style for a few months now... 
I honestly can't tell you when the last time I brushed my hair... haha! 
I feel like it's perfect for summer and it's SO easy if you have any kind of natural 
curl to your hair. You can wear it as natural as you want or glam it up for a more 
polished look with a curling iron. 




So, this is what you get with my natural look. What I have been doing is washing and conditioning 
my hair and then NOT brushing it when I'm ready to style. The only part I brush out are the bangs
around my face. 

Step 1: Apply a texture paste/product to your hair. 
My picks are Garnier Surf Hair Paste (drugstore) or
Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray (sephora)

Step 2: Let your hair dry naturally or use your blow drier and diffuser for good curls. 

Step 3: DONE!!! How easy! : ) 


Here is a little more polished look. I did the same steps in the picture above, but just selected
pieces of hair to curl with a 1 1/2 inch curling iron. 

This is my go to Summer messy hair look. It's easy, glamorous, and fun! 

Let your huuuur down this weekend and get craaazy! 

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Reunion Teaser


HEY-O!!! 

Remember that 10 year high school reunion I had.... ???

I DO still intend on posting pictures and telling you how the night went, but I have been 
insanely busy since and have not blocked out the time to do so. 

Beach trips, social activities, work, job interviews, looking for a place to live... and so on.

In the meantime I thought I would reveal what dress I wore for the night...



Yellow Rachel Roy dress won it! 
I flippin love this dress... I need more events to wear it to this summer. What's funny... and I 
did not realize this until after our reunion, but our school colors were black and gold. So, 
I semi looked festive with the black and yellow! Cheesy I know, but I am all about some 
festive stuff. 

Anyway, until another time.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Ten Years Ago Preview


So, I'm writing this post the day before my ten year high school reunion. 
Yikes! Has it really been ten years? The past couple of weeks I have had memory after
memory flood my head and heart as I have had conversations with friends, looked at old
pictures, skimmed through the yearbooks, and read all those "remember when" people write
 in your annual. 

High School was a great time for me. I know everyone doesn't have the same feelings. 
HS can bring back so many different memories for people, but for me looking
back to the year 2002 was a great year filled with memories that I will always treasure. 

I've had a lot of conversations lately with a guy I graduated with that I am actually going 
to the reunion with. I asked him the other day if it was weird that all of this makes me sad
in some ways. He was like, no I feel the same way... it's just a nostalgic feeling. 

I have so many random feelings going on with this weekend... excitement to see faces I haven't 
seen in ten years, nervousness in those faces that you have forgotten about and don't know 
what to say to (ha), sharing lots and lots of memories with those friends that are still a major
part of my life and always will be, and just soaking up bittersweetness of the last ten 
years and where we all have come since then. 



Prom Night! 


These girls are lifelong friends! 
So thankful for them. 
Rachel, Becca, Mallory. 


I'm trying to save all my thoughts and maybe deeper feelings for another post, but just wanted 
to give a quick update and let you guys know what's going on and how excited I am
about this weekend! Look for my outfit reveal along with lots of pictures next week! 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend... 
Think about me and pray I don't do or say anything stupid... ;) 

Here's to the Class of 2002

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Chanel Purchase

Exciting news, guys!!!
 I made my first Chanel purchase this week from Saks. 
I feel so fancy smancy. 

If you read some of my make-up post during Lent I blogged about some items
that were on my Beauty Wishlist. This Chanel cream bronzer has been a major
interest of mine for quiet a while now. I have heard and read amazing reviews
on how wonderful it is. Since I am nearly out of my Nars Laguna powder bronzer
I decided to make the big splurge and try out the Chanel goods.





Cream Bronzer??? It kind of sounds like a recipe for a muddy mess, right? 
How well can it really apply? Is it not going to look like brown smear on your face? 
How well does it blend? What if it's too dark? 
All questions I asked and was assured by the lady at Saks that it is fabulous and none of those
things are true. She told me they can't keep this product in stock. That always makes me
happy when people say that... means it must be good! She said she even mixes hers
in with her foundation. hmmmm, interesting. 



This is by far the most I have EVER spent on a bronzer!!! As my mom would say
it's a sin how much it cost. Or, it's just plain ungodly. :) Is that just a southern
expression?! 

BUT, I feel justified in that I truly do think it will last a very long time b/c even though
I've only used it once I can tell a little goes a long way. 




I applied this morning with my Real Techniques highlighting brush and omg it blends
amazing! I could not believe it was a cream. It goes on like a powder, has the texture of 
a cream, but not sticky. Very light in texture. With it being a cream it gives you more 
of a glow than a powder would. BEAUTIFUL! 
I'm so excited to have this product for summer. 

Hope you are having a great week! 

Verse of the day
"Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves to the work of the Lord, because
you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Reunion Dress

So, I mentioned in my last post that my ten year high school reunion is this weekend!!! 
Somedays I think yeah, it feels like it's been ten years... I think about all the things that 
have happened and changed in the past ten years and when I think back to where I was ten years ago
it seems like another life! However, some days it just seems like yesterday that I was preparing
for a new chapter in my life with excitement as well as fear. 

So, enough of being sentimental. I will save that post for another day along with some blast 
from the past pics!! Get excited people.  I am a picture freak and have plenty of good ones. 

 I have been on the hunt for the right dress for the special event. Over the weekend I made
a trip to Macy's since they were still having their Friends & Family Event.  I took a picture of 
my favorite three dresses for you to see. 

I polled over 15 people to get their opinion. Can you guess which one won?! 



Love the colors, fit, and funk of this Jessica Simpson one shoulder.


If you read my Easter post and the dress I wore you will remember that Rachel Roy
has become my new dress designer idol! I don't think there is one dress I have 
seen with her name on it that I don't like or love. 

So, this bright yellow with black zipper down the side is by Rachel Roy. 
You can't tell in this picture, but it is strapless and has pockets on the side! 
I have had my eye on this dress all season. I think it says so many things that encompass
my style. 


And the back... I'm lovin the 3 black straps! 

"Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow"
Love that rap song. :)


Another Rachel Roy. So classy!! I think this dress is so perfect for a bridal 
shower or tea. It just screams classy with a touch of edginess and sexiness. 
The fit was awesome. 

So, those are my 3 options... which dress do YOU think I chose to wear?! 
And don't you dare think about picking the wrong dress and make me doubt myself... 
you people know decisions are not my strong point. :) 

About Brooke


What’s The Story, Brooke?

I'm Brooke. Brooke Story to be exact... hence the title of my blog. I'm southern, still barely in my twenties, and have a few too many lip glosses in my purse.

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