Tom Ford Palette in Honeymoon

This past Spring, i fell madly in love with this Tom Ford Eye Shadow Quad in Honeymoon.  The shades were so sultry and beautiful.  Sadly, the palette was on back order until the end of Summer. this wasn't the worst timing... after all, this palette screams Fall!  I mean just look at these gorgeous hues! While i don't think this is a one-stop-shop situation for me considering these all have a bit of shimmer and while i love a little shimmer, i always need a matte base of sorts.  Typically, i like a matte vanilla shade to highlight my brow bone which sadly this palette doesn't provide.  However, what it does do is give your eyes the most gorgeous intensity!  The shadows are pigmented, buttery and very wearable!  I wear every shade in the Honeymoon Quad to create a beautiful deep, smoky eye.  I seriously can't put it down!  I wanted to share these swatches with you in case you're looking for a beautiful Fall shadow situation!  Hope you love it as much as i do!  You can purchase your Tom Ford Quad in Honeymoon here!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation

I love the ease of a good stick foundation.  So when the Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation launched, i knew i needed to get my hands on it!  Let me preface by saying that i was quite shocked at the affordability of this foundation!  I mean... $25 for a foundation sold at Sephora is quite impressive!  I immediately envisioned a very tiny tube... after all, one of my favorite stick foundations (also sold at Sephora) costs twice the price!  Let me say that i was actually quite impressed with the size when it arrived at my doorstep.  So far so good...

Nyx Cosmetics Liquid Suede Lip Cream Vault Set

I don't know about you, but these next two months are pure insanity for me!  My girls' birthday is in
December (party planning currently in full effect), and starting in mid November, we have birthday parties every weekend.  Pair that with all the holiday festivities, gift planning, etc and often times i find myself stressing rather than enjoying the holiday season.  Surely some of you relate?  Well,  this year i'm determined to ENJOY this wonderful time of year but keeping myself super organized and getting things done early!  So yes, my girls birthday is booked and details are planned.  Now i have officially started my Christmas list and am checking it twice!  Today's post features a gift for the beauty lover in your life!

Mixing it Up!

When it comes to fashion, i'm all about mixing high and low end.  The key is to invest in timeless pieces!  This Gucci beauty for instance was quite an investment, but it's a classic!  I'll be able to wear this for years and it will always look great.  I remember trying to figure out what color i wanted to purchase it in and while i don't typically buy many red pieces, i felt that Gucci red is simply iconic! Besides, it adds such a great pop of color to any neutral outfit!  So yes, this is the most expensive piece in this entire outfit... but the good news is the rest of my look is SUPER affordable!  Let's chat about this fun striped shirt!  I've been wearing it so often that i ended up buy it in three other colors! It's pure comfort and under $20!  I searched high and low for the perfect ankle booties!  I was looking for comfort and style... a combo that's not always easy to find.  I wanted to be able to wear them to work and not come home with achy feet!  Well i found the PERFECT booties... love them so much i ordered them in black as well!  They're waterproof suede!  YES!  I scored my skinny jeans for $12... oh you read correctly!  Oh and i fell madly in love with this white faux fur jacket from Forever 21.  Sure, it may be a bit much for some, but personally i find it fun!  This entire outfit makes me so happy!  It's comfy yet perfect for a day of shopping or a night out!  Toss in the perfect red lip and voila.... out the door!

Hope you enjoyed my ootd!  Let's chat... what are your favorite go-to affordable pieces and what are the pieces you love to invest in?  Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

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PUR Cosmetics 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup 10th Anniversary Edition

I'm a sucker for cute packaging... but an amazing product in gorgeous packaging?  PUR you are speaking my language!  The PUR Cosmetics best-selling, cult-favorite mineral foundation gets a 10th anniversary makeover and it's absolutely dreamy!  The gorgeous anniversary edition compact is all decked out in sparkle sparkle sparkle!

IT Cosmetics is Available at Sephora!

I have dreamt of this day since the first time i tried IT!  You have no idea how many times i asked my friends at IT Cosmetics when IT would be available at Sephora.  Their answer was always encouraging but i just didn't know exactly when this day would come!  Well, I'm thrilled to say that IT is FINALLY available at Sephora!  They currently carry some of my absolute holy grail products (I'm looking at you Bye Bye Under Eye and Bye Bye Pores) but have added some AMAZING color infused skin care Bye Bye exclusives!  I can tell you that when i saw Bye Bye Pores primer, i squealed with excitement!  I have yet to put it down!  It literally blurs my pores while prepping my skin for my makeup!  I'm already on my second jar of Bye Bye Makeup because it's soooo good!  My makeup literally melts off of my skin when i use this.  Bye Bye Under Eye has been a holy grail product of mine since day one.  In fact, that is the product that started my love affair with IT Cosmetics!  Since this gorgeous package arrived at my door, I've been using and loving the new Bye Bye Under Eye Eye and Bye Bye Lines (didn't realize how much i needed these beauties but my skin is sooooo happy)!

I've never met an IT Cosmetics product i didn't love!  After all, they are infused with skin loving ingredients and are so innovative.  My skin absolutely loves these products and i will always be loyal to this brand.  This is the brand i recommend to friends and family and I've gotten tremendous feedback because IT is just that good!  IT never disappoints!

If there is a specific product that you would like for me to do an in depth review on, leave me a comment or email me and I'll happily do that! I'm still testing out some of the products because when it comes to skincare, i need to give products a generous amount of time to test the true effectiveness but i am happy to share my thoughts on any of the IT Sephora exclusives!

Run to your local Sephora and stock up!  OR click here to check out all the wonderful IT goodness happening at Sephora! Xo, Carla - FMM

*press sample - all opinions are my own base on my experience with these products.

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Life Chat...

Oh how i miss this view of Cabo... I wanted to take a moment to come on here and have a little chat about life.  Lately I've been feeling really conflicted with balancing my time or lack thereof really. This isn't a woe is me kind of post by any means! This is simply a means of communicating with my loyal readers all that has been going through my mind this past month or so.  I'm slacking on posts big time because I've been quite overwhelmed.  The month of September was insanely busy!  I barely had time to breathe or do the things that i normally to do keep my life organized.  When my home feels chaotic, i feel chaotic and my stress levels rise to insane levels.  Needless to say, September was quite stressful.  Sadly, one of my best friend's dad suffered a stroke a couple of weeks ago and passed away this past Sunday.  There is NO worst feeling than seeing someone you care so much about suffer the way my friend suffered these past few weeks.  I tried to be as supportive as possible by visiting her and her dad at the hospital, bringing coffee, treats, hugs... whatever.  Yet i felt incredibly helpless.  She's very close to her family as am i.  I know that this is something we all experience at one point or another in our lives but we are never prepared to let go of those we love so much.  My heart is shattered into little pieces for her and her family.  I just hope that they find strength to get through this immensely difficult time. Please consider keeping them in your prayers.

So as you can imagine, after a long day of work, homework, driving the kids wherever they need to go, making dinner, cleaning, laundry and the emotional stress of seeing my friend in such despair has left me with very little energy for my sweet little blog.  I just feel so physically and emotionally drained that when i sit in front of the computer to write a post about a beauty product or an outfit, the words just don't seem to flow and i simply shut my computer down and let it go.  And it's OK to do that sometimes. I tend to beat myself up over this and have to constantly remind myself that my blog is not a means of providing for my family, it's not my job (though many times I've wished it was because i love it so much), it's simply a creative outlet that allows me to do something i truly enjoy doing.  Yet I'm going to have my days where i am uninspired and my spirits are low.  I'm a human being and these days happen.  I'm sure you can all relate right?  So today, rather than a beauty or fashion post, I'm simply keeping it real!  I got home from work with a simple plan.  I baked something that made the house smell delicious, took a long hot shower, put on my flannel pajamas, made myself a yummy cup of coffee, and plan to spend the rest of the evening cozied up with my baby girls and hubby on the couch watching Halloween movies... warm blankies, pop corn and fuzzy slippers included!  I will not apologize for not posting about the boxes of products sitting in the 'makeup room' right now because i know that if i recharge my mind and body, i will begin to feel inspired to do what i love most.... write about fashion and beauty!

I hope you are all able to take the time to do the same for yourselves when you feel that you need time to recharge.  I'll be back real soon with my regularly scheduled posts!  Remember to hug your loved ones a little tighter today and tell them how much you love them.  Today is a gift... tomorrow is not promised.  Xo, Carla - FMM

évolué

Every so often i like to introduce new products into my skincare routine.  I try and keep the ones i'm completely attached to on rotation but i find that switching things up can sometimes be good. So when évolué skincare arrived at my doorstep, i immediately fell hard for its clean sleek packaging. As i read a little bit more about this brand, i was immediately drawn to the fact that they're cruelty free and take the time to find the highest quality ingredients for their products.  This peeked my interest and so i began to test these products out.

The LUÉ by Jean Seo set is beautifully crafted to tackle your most challenging complexion issues. It's designed for men, women and teenagers.  This three-step solution  major skincare issues... here's how you use it:

ERASE: Step 1 of LUÉ is a cleansing, exfoliating and brightening powder to help clear and balance your complexion.  This product is activated with water and leaves skin feeling clean and prepped for the other two steps.

BALANCE:  Step 2 of this set is a hydrating and calming serum which firms and tones, while controlling oil and shine to minimize pores.  This gentle and effective oil-free moisturizer can be used on all skin types to increase moisture retention and counter the effect of environmental aggressors.

CLEAN: Step 3 is a powerful compound that leaves skin smooth, radiant and clear using a special blend of 12 herbs and organic biodynamic alcohol.  This tinture is the ultimate spot control!  I have to say that while the smell is not the most pleasant, this product tremendously helped reduce my blemishes!

I've really been enjoying the évolué Gentle Cleanser/Makeup Remover!  It does the job effectively yet doesn't leave my skin feeling as though it's been stripped of it's natural oils.  It's definitely gentle but works like a charm.  I follow with the  évolué Exotic Oil which moisturizes and protects the skin from environmental toxins.  It calms damaged skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.  It's ultra-hydrating while restoring and brightening skin to give you a radiant, youthful glow.

I have to say i'm quite impressed with this skincare line.  I've been having quite a few great skin days and i attribute this to évolué!  Overall i highly recommend the products i've tried so far!  You can shop this skincare collection here.

Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

*press sample - all opinions are my own based on my experience with these products

Love Beauty Fully - Love is the Foundation

Love Beauty Fully^™ Love is the Foundation

Foundation Brush

This limited-edition brush is luxuriously crafted -  and supports a good cause!  For every Love Beauty Fully Love is the Foundation Brush purchased during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, IT Cosmetics will donate one to the American Cancer Society's Look Good Feel Better program to help women face the effects of cancer with confidence.  You'll be giving the gift of joy and beauty to another woman, and to yourself, and that's a beautiful thing!

Great Brushes Give You Great Skin

A must-have for every IT Girl's brush collection, this ultra-chic foundation brush features a weighted, streamlined handle and unique heart-shaped head with densely packed, award winning Heavenly Luxe synthetic hair for effortless, streak-free application of your favorite liquid, cream and powder foundations. Custom designed for precision control, it does the work for you and gives you flawless, airbrushed results every time! 

Love it. Live it. Give it.^™

From our IT Girls to IT Survivors, IT Cosmetics lives by the belief that beauty can change the world!  Together, we've donated over $10 million in products to the American Cancer Society's Look Good Feel Better program to help women face the effects of cancer with more confidence.

Support this wonderful cause!  It's a win win situation because when you purchase one of these gorgeous brushes you are supporting a wonderful cause!  

Purchase this brush here!  Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM 

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Sleep Tight Beauties

We all have our little routines and rituals right?  Well, one of the things i like to do is air dry my hair for a multitude of reasons. First, it's healthier than using constant heat.  Second, i have no patience for my hair and third, it's naturally curly so air drying is the best way to maintain my healthy curls.  The thing is, I'm often so busy that i don't have time to wash my hair until later on in the evening which puts me in a predicament during this time of the year when the weather is cooling down.  Sleeping directly on my pillow with wet hair is no good!  This is why a good hair turban makes all the difference in the world.  After washing, i apply my favorite products and wrap my hair in this Earth Therapeutics Quick-Dry Hair Turban made from angel-tex which absorbs excess moisture quicker than ordinary fabrics.  The button closure helps keep hair in tact while you sleep!  Honestly, this is such a time saving tool for me that helps keep my hair healthy and my curls bouncy!  It's machine washable and can easily be tossed in your travel bag unlike big hair driers and other hair tools!

Another one of my nightly rituals is this little pillow mist!  Earth Therapeutics Anti-Stress Pillow Mist makes dozing off so much dreamier! A few spritz of this beauty on my pillow and it feels as though I'm at my favorite spa.  I simply close my eyes and reflect on the day.  This pure blend of essential oils, herbs and botanicals enhances the restorative effects of rest and meditation.  However, you can actually bring this anywhere with you!  Think work... you know, during the height of your stresses, simply spritz 3 to 4 times on the floor beneath your chair, then breathe in the aroma for a little slice of heaven throughout the day!  Smells heavenly!

So now that I've shared some of my little rituals, what are some of yours? I'd love to hear what you love to do to pamper yourself!  Hope you're all enjoying your week!  Thank you so much for reading! Xo, Carla - FMM

*press sample - all opinions are my own!

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Lashes for Miles

I'm on a constant prowl for a mascara that will give my tiny lashes some length. I mean, i hate wearing false lashes because i find them to be so uncomfortable and truthfully, the application process is so tedious! Well, sit down because i wanna tell you about this lash game changer from Pixi!

Pixi Lash Booster Mascara - This unique formula boosts your lashes to give them a 'push-up' effect. It's very pigmented and long lasting without any of the flaking i dread with many mascaras.  A few coats of this beauty preps my lashes for the next step!

Pixi Lengthy Fiber Mascara - Oh how do i love thee... let me count the ways! Actually there are way too many ways to count because my love for this mascara is beyond words!  Let me preface by saying that this isn't a quick swipe n' go type of mascara.  You have to work every fiber into the lashes!  But let me tell you, once you do you'll look like you have lashes for miles!  I have yet to put this beauty down since it arrived at my doorstep!  It's everything i could ever want in a mascara and more!  Thank you Pixi for making such an amazing mascara!

Pixi Lower Lash Mascara - I personally think it's brilliant that this product exists.  After all, your lower lashes are so tiny and a typical lash wand is long and often thick making for a potential lower lash disaster!  Pixi's Lower Lash Mascara makes application easy and mess free!  The wand is super think and easy to really get into those lower lashes!

Seriously, i have not been able to put this trio down!  My lash game is so strong right now!  You have to try these mascaras out... especially the Lengthy Fiber Mascara!  It's bomb!

Thank you so much for reading! xo, Carla - FMM

*press sample - all opinions are my own!

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