Drugstore Beauty Haul

Recently, I've rediscovered how great some of the cruelty free "drugstore" brands can be! There is something to be said for higher end makeup, however, I think you can always find great options in most product categories at more wallet-friendly prices too. 

I wanted to share some of the items I've picked up over the past couple weeks from places like Target, CVS, and Walgreens. Some of the products I am loving and using daily, and some of them have fallen a bit flat - but it's okay because it is much less heartbreaking to be let down by a $4.00 lipstick rather than a $20 one! ;)

Bumpdate // 23 Weeks

As of Thursday, January 26th, I am 23 weeks pregnant...so instead of a whole trimester update at the end of my second (the way I did with my first), I thought I'd do an little update now!

And in case you were wondering...here are the deets on my little maternity fashion above:

Sweater // Forever 21

Tank // Target (must have!!)

Leggings // Blanqi (another must have!!)

Flats // Target (old - similar)

Our Wedding // The Details

Now that I have all the professional photos back and organized, I thought it was far time I did a couple posts to share pictures from our amazing wedding day! There are so many, I'm going to split it up into a series of five posts - first up, The Details <3

Currently Reading // January

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I might not have mentioned it on here, but one of my goals for 2017 was to read 12 books -- one a month. That might not seem like a lot, but last year I read a grand total of three (yikes)...so it will be a vast improvement from that. I want to make time to read because I have always loved it, and my busy life has gotten in the way the past couple years. But since I'm done with grad school and am no longer forced to read things that are dull and uninteresting, now I want to focus this year on getting through some good books, both new and old.

First up on my list for January was The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. I loved reading The Girl on the Train last year, and this book seemed to be very similar in genre and style, so I figured I would enjoy it...and I was right.

Cruelty Free for Baby

Ever since I found out I was expecting, I have been on the hunt for how I can continue purchasing and using only cruelty free products when baby girl arrives. I was a bit surprised at the lack of resources out there! There are plenty when it comes to cosmetics and everyday household items, but not much information in the arena of babies. 

After some research though, I was able to find some great brands and products that I can't wait to try out! On the plus side to going cruelty free (as if more reasons are needed)...it tends to go hand in hand with products being much more organic and natural - free from nasty chemicals, additives, and fragrances. This is great for babies and their delicate and sensitive skin!

Maternity Style

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My maternity style so far has been pretty casual - and one thing is for sure, I just want to be comfortable! As your body grows and expands in areas that have never been that round, it can been odd feeling and uncomfortable at times, so the last thing I want to do is wear something just because it is cute or stylish. However, just because I want to be comfy, doesn't mean I have to sacrifice my personal style either! 

What's in my Nightstand

I've always loved posts like this - little "tours" around other blogger's homes, showing some of their furniture, decor, and organization. I saw a "What's in my beside table" video recently from one of my favorite YouTubers (Rhian - Wifelife) and thought I would do a quick post on what is in my nightstand!

My nightstand is actually a find from Craigslist - my husband is the king of finding awesome vintage pieces on there! It is an old solid wood, mid-century modern piece from the brand Heywood Wakefield, and came as a set with our dressers. I absolutely love the style...mid-century is our favorite and we try to incorporate pieces from this era or re-created in this style throughout our house. 

Pixi Beauty

One of my favorite cosmetic brands right now is Pixi Beauty. It is a newer discovery of mine, after finding out it is a cruelty free brand (thanks to Logical Harmony) and picking up a few items from my local Target. This line was developed by long-time makeup artist, Petra Strand and, in my opinion, is very high quality, especially for its availability and affordability. 

If you have read some of my previous posts, you know I love the Glow Tonic by Pixi and have been using it regularly for a few months now. It has helped me really cleanse the dirt and makeup off my face each night (and sometimes morning) and has helped control my pregnancy breakouts!

After falling in love with the Glow Tonic, I decided to try out some other Pixi products. I picked up the Skintreats Glow Mist, H2O Skindrink, and Multibalm in Watermelon Veil. 

Friday Five

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Happy Friday! I am excited for the three day weekend that is coming up - there is nothing better than actually getting to enjoy a Sunday night because you know you don't have to get up for work the next day ;)

It has been a good week, but super busy. This is the first week Aaron was back traveling for work, and we miss him - we had gotten use to having him home over the holidays! My 29th birthday was yesterday and there has been so much going on we are putting of celebrating until later...maybe this weekend! Last year of my twenties - but it is going to be a good one!

We are also trying to finish up major parts of our kitchen renovation. The process has been such a nightmare...but I'll save that for it's own post once it is completely done and I can share pictures. 

Anyway, here are some of my favorite things from this week...

New Makeup Hits & Misses

Hello lovelies! Hope you are all having a good week - I am starting to get back into the swing of things after the holidays and the new year. I was sick for awhile over Christmas and finally starting to feel better again.

I wanted to kick off 2017 on Beauty Blether with a post about some new cruelty free makeup items that I have tried out. Some I have loved, and some have been super disappointing...so wanted to share my thoughts and experiences in case you were looking to try some of these products!