All Posts By

Madeleine Wilson

Beauty

Mary Kay Obsession

I recently received this amazing products from a Mary Kay representative to test out and I have to say, I’ve honestly fallen in love. Each product is high-quality, long-lasting, and performs its function expertly. The best part – Mary Kay products are incredibly affordable!

Products:

Click here to order and receive super fast, FREE shipping!

My hands are already pretty soft, but it’s always so nice to have luxurious hand treatments like these to make you feel like a goddess. Smooth, moisturizing, and refreshing, these three products are perfect especially in the cold winter months.I never tried a lash primer before now, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this. Between the primer and the mascara, my lashes looked extremely full, long, and natural. There was absolutely no clumping. In addition, I was worried that the mascara wasn’t waterproof. But when I wore it outside in the rain, it did not run or leave residue under my eyes. When it was time to wash it off for the night, it came off incredibly easy. These lip balms are so gorgeous! I’ve never been able to find a lip gloss that was long-lasting until now. These are highly pigmented, so they look exactly how they do in the tube as they do on application. My favorite was the hot pink color because it went on semi-sheer, but with enough coverage to give my lips an extra pop. This has to be my favorite product out of all of them. This primer is magical. I naturally have a very greasy face so my makeup sweats off quickly throughout the day. However, with this primer, I hardly need to touch up during the day at all. I went through an 8-hour day without looking in the mirror once. When I got home, my makeup looked the same as it did when I first applied it. Honestly, finding a high quality primer will save so much money and time because you won’t have to keep touching up throughout the day and wasting makeup. I am so happy with this product!

3 Comments

February 10, 2015 by Madeleine Wilson

Fashion

Wearing Pantone’s Color of the Year

I am absolutely in LOVE with Pantone’s Color of the Year, Marsala. It’s so beautiful, rich, and versatile. This Brandy Melville dress from Pac Sun looks great in it. I layered on a chunky knit scarf from H&M and a long necklace from Charlotte Russe to liven it up a bit and then topped off the look with this gorgeous hat from Forever 21. I also paired the look with some cute booties from Guilty Soles.

Have you worn the color of the year yet? Let me know how you’ve styled it!

Shop the Look

Dress: Brandy Melville (similar) | Scarf: H&M | Necklace: Charlotte Russe | Hat: Forever 21 | Tights: Spanx | Shoes: c/o Guilty Soles

4 Comments

January 28, 2015 by Madeleine Wilson

Beauty

January Birchbox

My January Birchbox came! It came with Neil George shampoo and conditioner, Sumitra Color Contrast eyeliner, Silhouette by Christian Siriano Eau de Parfum, and Perlier Intensive Nurturing Body Balm. Overall, I liked my December box better because it had more of a variety of products. However, I do like that it had such large samples of the shampoo and conditioner so it’s actually realistic for me to take them with me somewhere when I’m traveling.

I love how large these samples are, but I was unimpressed by the shampoo and conditioner. I think for most people, you have a shampoo and conditioner that works for you and then you stick with it. Personally, I have my very specific products I use for my natural curly hair and others I use when I want to heat style. So for me, this missed the mark. But I am sure for some people they would love it!

This body balm smells like a dream! Absolutely incredibly rich lavender. I wish it was a bigger sample because this is really just the size to throw in your purse and use as hand cream. It would be so great to have it for an actual body lotion! If you’re looking for a gorgeous, creamy, long-lasting, and pigmented eyeliner, this is it. I really cannot say enough good things about this eyeliner. It was a beautiful, rich gold that I had to literally SCRUB off! Gorgeous color and texture – I just need to figure out a way to style this.I don’t LOVE this scent but I also don’t HATE it. It has an light, floral small which is great and usually what I look for in a perfume. But for some reason, there was a little something off. I would recommend trying it though!

What was in your January Birchbox? How did you like it?

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January 24, 2015 by Madeleine Wilson

Fashion

Outfit of the Day

I just adore Charlotte Russe lately! This cozy blanket scarf and polished striped dress are both from there. I am always surprised by the high-quality items that come out of Charlotte Russe. The dress is made of a thick material that is long-lasting and nice enough to wear to work and the scarf is massive and incredibly soft.

I styled these two pieces together because I love mixing prints when I can – it’s difficult to pull off sometimes but looks incredibly chic when done correctly. I threw of my favorite tights and some Hunter Boots and the outfit was complete! Perfect for running errands on a rainy day!

Shop the Look

Dress: Charlotte Russe (similar) | Scarf: Charlotte Russe (similar) | Bag: Michael Kors | Tights: Spanx | Boots: Hunter Boots

14 Comments

January 21, 2015 by Madeleine Wilson

Fashion

Thrifty Thursday

I love, love, LOVE layering. I’ve been on the hunt for a bright sweater and button-up combo for the longest time, so I was thrilled when I found both of these at my local Value Village thrift shop. I love this adorable layering combo! The blue plaid button-up from Old Navy pops perfectly against the hot pink polka dot sweater from J. Crew. For just $10 total, this was a steal!

I’m also wearing my favorite statement necklace from Jane, Hudson jeans, Michael Kors bag, Kate Spade watch, Sofft booties, and ring from Vintage Stamp Jewels.

2 Comments

January 15, 2015 by Madeleine Wilson

Lifestyle

5 Months to 10k

For the longest time, I have struggled with my health. From chronic pain to daily migraines to asthma – I can’t seem to get a break sometimes. One of my main health issues is called Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy (also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). It causes extreme widespread chronic pain throughout the body – for me it is manifested mainly in my legs and hands. The only treatment (because there is no cure) is physical therapy. Staying active is my key to remaining as pain-free as possible.

My mom ran marathons like crazy before her cancer and other medical problems became too much for her to remain at that level. I know she misses running so much, so I would love to share that passion with her and make her proud by taking advantage of how healthy I am now. The picture below is just a small section of her vast running book collection. I also want to conquer my stupid health problems by completing a massive physical goal. Since I struggle with staying active and managing my pain, I wanted to set a concrete goal I could work towards in the new year.

I’ve always said I would run a marathon someday and I’m determined to do that. Now, don’t worry, I’m not being foolish and saying I’m going to just get up and run a marathon this year. I know people train for years for them and I should set a realistic goal. What I want to do is run a marathon the summer of 2016, so my resolution this year is to run a 10k!

I will be running that Fred Hutch Shore Run on June 7th, 2015. I chose this run for many reasons, but mostly because it benefits cancer research – something very near and dear to my heart.

It’s not going to be easy going from where I am at now physically to where I want to be for the 10k. But what worth having has ever come easy? I have 5 months to get in shape. I can’t wait to start this journey! I hope you enjoy following along with my “5 Months to 10k” series!

Have you ever run a 10k or marathon? I’d love to hear your experience!

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January 7, 2015 by Madeleine Wilson

Lifestyle

The BEST Secret Spinach Smoothie

If you’e like me, you struggle to get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables. I developed a delicious smoothie recipe to make daily to get you 1. 5 cups of fruit, 2 cups of spinach, and a whole lot of protein. According to Chose My Plate (a government nutrition site), women ages 19-50 are supposed to get 2.5 cups of vegetables and about 2 cups of fruit. How awesome is it that with ones simple smoothie, you can almost meet those requirements? It’s a delicious blend of sweet and tart that will leave you satisfied and full. I promise you won’t taste the spinach at all!

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. almond butter

1 tbsp. chia seeds

1-1.5 cups almond milk

2 cups frozen mixed berries (I used raspberries and blueberries for this recipe)

1 banana

2 cups spinach

Directions:

Add ingredients and blend until liquid. Add frozen berries to thicken or almond milk to thin. Pour in a glass and enjoy!

2 Comments

January 5, 2015 by Madeleine Wilson

Fashion

Cozy Essentials

I’m sporting another beautiful knit headband from Ashly Wilcox today. This one is probably my favorite because it’s the most cozy. In my other post, I talked about how amazing knit headbands like this are as an alternative to hats or earmuffs for keeping your head warm! They’re so fashionable and don’t destroy your cute hairstyle.

I am wearing a cozy sweater from my local thrift store, Charlotte Russe blanket scarf which I wear almost everyday (similar), Hudson jeans, Steve Madden boots (similar), and a Michael Kors bag.

4 Comments

January 2, 2015 by Madeleine Wilson

Fashion

Cold Weather Chic

It’s been an adventure moving to Eastern Washington and adjusting to the frigid weather in Pullman. I’ve struggled with coming to terms with the fact that practical fashion is not always the cutest. I love expressing my personality through fashion and I was determined to not allow cold d temps take that away from me.

One super cute solution I’ve discovered is knit headbands. They provide all the benefits that ear muffs or even a hat might supply but in a chic and fashionable way. I especially love this headband with an adorable bow from an Etsy store called Ashly Wilcox. The owner, Ashly, creates handmade knit accessories like this one and I’m absolutely in love!

If you read my blog, you know I love supporting small businesses. Ashly is a 20 year-old Central Michigan University student who is perusing a doctorate in audiology. Completely self-taught, Ashly’s store has been an incredible success. She’s been thrilled as her hobby and passion have collided with a business. There’s nothing better than making a profit doing what you love. Be sure to check out her store because I promise, knit headbands like the ones she makes will last you forever and keep your ears toasty warm when it’s miserable outside. I have two knit headbands from from her store and wear them almost daily when it’s cold!