My Skincare Favorites!

If there is anything I am really passionate about, it is my skin and taking care of it! As a natural redhead, I have pale, sensitive skin that needs extra TLC. Unfortunately, when I was in high school & college I didn’t have those same thoughts. My goal was getting as tan as possible (shockingly, I can get a lot of color for a redhead…), whether it was laying on the beach for hours, covered in oil by the pool, or in the tanning bed (not a proud moment and never happening again!)

Now, I’ve grown up and realized my health is more important than having a darker glow. Mario Badescu, Josie Maren, and St. Tropez are my favorites for getting my skin in shape, and just how I like it! Mario Badescu is fresh and soothing for my sensitive skin but gets the job done! I see an improvement with every use! After washing my face, I can feel pretty dry due to my sensitivity, that’s where Josie Maren comes in. I love love love her Light Argon Oil! I put it all over my face before I go to bed, and mix it with a matte foundation during the day! It gives me a natural dewy look that is perfect for Spring & Summer!

To finish it off, since we are getting back into those pool and beach days, if the rain ever stops, I still like to have a nice glow! Usually 1-2 times a month I will go get a spray tan as it looks more even and it doesn’t rub off on my clothes. Then I will use the St. Tropez Bronzing Mouse between visits to keep up the color. It has a natural, brown hue, instead of the orange tint like most and it goes on easy with the mit!

| Photo by Anthro_Charlottesville on Instagram|

Keep It Simple!

When getting ready for the day, I like to follow the “rule of three.”  It’s a concept that makes looking put together a lot simpler and cut your dressing time in half in my own opinion. The “rule of three” basically consists of 1 top, 1 bottom, and 1 accessory piece (jacket, hat, scarf, etc.) The third piece of your outfit just completes the look, and it makes sense. It takes an outfit that falls flat, to an outfit that stands out!

Here are some of my favorite “3rd pieces” as of late!

Moto Jacket | White Vest | Leather Jacket | Necklace | Sun Hat | Scarf | Belt | Kimono

Spring Fever Must Haves!

As of yesterday, it is officially SPRING! I have been waiting for this day since the first snow hear in Charlottesville. Spring is the time of year where there’s fresh flowers everywhere, sundresses, and outdoor activities that last more than 30 minutes!

Spring style is my favorite because it is so effortless, you don’t have to wear 5 different layers. You can throw on a dress, necklace, and pair of sandals & be good to go! So I’ve decided to list some of my favorites from UOIOnline.com to give y’all some spring inspiration! Also, if you use the code KERRYMAR online, you will receive 10% off your entire purchase!

Happy Shopping!

Pink Dress | Grey Dress | Bracelets | Top | Skirt | Lace-up Flats | Lace-up Sandals

Easter Treat: How To!

Coconut Macaroons are one of my all time favorite desserts! They are so simple and the coconut is just delicious! Another reason I love them so much is they are very easy to get creative with. For Easter these last couple of years, I’ve been making these little bird nests that are so adorable! They are perfect for the easter season and they take under an hour to make!

I N G R E D I E N T S 

4 Egg Whites | 1/2 tsp Salt | 16oz Sweetened Coconut | Cooking Spray | Chocolate Chips | Egg Shaped Candy

I N S T R U C T I O N S

-Preheat oven to 300 degrees

-Combine egg whites, salt, and coconut until blended.

-Spray mini muffin tray with Cooking Spray and drop 2tbsp of mixture into each muffin cup.

-Place thumb in center of each drop to make an indent and pack the sides and bottoms around the muffin cup.

-Bake 30 minutes or until lightly golden on the edges.  Let cool in muffin cups for 10 minutes and then remove to cool all the way.

-Melt some chocolate chips and pour into center of each nest. Place egg shaped candy of your choosing and you’re all done!

Apartment Tour Pt 1!

I thought since I moved into my apartment back in October it was time to do a mini tour of the place! It isn’t any wear near completed, but it’s definitely improved since my last update (you know, having furniture now and all that)! I love my little place and all of it’s natural light from the giant windows— I took these photos during a thunderstorm and it is still just as bright! So here is a peak at my living area & kitchen!

|Excuse the missing knobs, they won’t stay attached so I’m in search for all new ones|

Boho Top Knot & Fishtail Combo!

This is how I create one of my favorite looks for the summer time! It is really easy and super quick, which is why I love it so much! It is perfect for those days when your hair really should be washed but you would rather just not deal with it! I hope you enjoy and let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!

Home Goods!

I’ve put together a few of my newest home goods all from my favorite store that just happens to be my place of work, Anthropologie! Ever since moving out of my parents home and into my own little place, my love for all things home decor is at an all time high. I swear I buy more pillows and kitchen gadgets than I do clothes these days! But I must say I don’t hate it.  Each of these are my recent favorites that make me excited to come home after a long day as silly as it may be!

Hope this helps give you some inspiration for your own place, and let me know what you have been loving and think I should add to my ever growing collection!

Room Spray | Pillow | Mug | Pineapple | Planner | Notepad | Coasters | Planters | Letters

My Top Beauty Hacks!

I’ve rounded up some of my top favorite beauty hacks that I use day to day! Everything can be found in your home or at your local grocery store. These tricks make your life so much easier and keep your wallet happy, the best of both worlds!

1.) I start most days out with an ice water facial. Not only does it instantly wake you up, but it helps get rid of any puffiness you may have from a rough nights sleep!

2.) Coffee grounds. Something I recently read stated that the beads you find in the scrubs you buy in stores are harmful to the environment due the fact that they are too small to break down. So I hopped on pinterest and found this concoction to take care of that situation and it works just was well in my opinion.  You can mix it with coconut oil or coconut milk which is what i like (I think it is more refreshing).

3.) Coconut Oil. My coworker introduced me to this trick when we got an EXTREMELY over priced coconut oil jar in stock. I remember saying, “I can’t imagine putting straight oil on my face!” To which she informed me it is actually really amazing for your skin, hair and nails. She recommended I get a big tub of coconut oil from the grocery store and it will last forever because a little goes a long way. And it doesn’t just remove your makeup, it repairs your lashes and split ends!

4.) Hairspray your bobby pins! This trick helps your bobby pins stay in all day and allows you to use less so you don’t feel like a metal head & you won’t lose as many which is my real problem!

5.) Whenever I wear any lip color, I always place a tissue over my lips after I’ve applied my lipstick, take some translucent powder and brush it over the tissue, a tip I found from Lauren Conrad. This helps to make sure the color doesn’t bleed or get on your teeth and if it works for her, it works for me!

6.) Instead of buying the professional makeup brush cleaners that can get pretty pricey, I just use baby shampoo. When I worked for Ulta Beauty, one of our Benefit girls told me about this when we didn’t have enough stock of makeup remover to tester out. Ever since then I haven’t gone back because it’s so much cheaper!  Just put some on your hand, add some water, and swirl your brush in your palm until all the old product is removed! I prefer the honest company shampoo brand and they actually have this tip on their blog as well!

Workout Gear!

Earlier this year, I shared my monthly workout plan to help keep on track with my goals. And I must say I have been following it pretty closely, with a few skips here & there. I thought it would be fun to share some products that I have been loving and have been making my workouts a little more bearable! From clothes to gear, these items are a go to for me each day!

Fitbit // Waterbottle // Hoodie // Sports Bra // Shoes // Earbuds // Yoga Mat // Bag // Leggings

As you can probably tell, I tend to workout and in darker clothing, preferably black. It hides everything so you don’t have to worry about looking too gross during your workout.  Longchamps are my favorite bags for anything, I use mine almost everyday for work, for the beach, a carry on, and a gym bag. They are lightweight and hold so much! I recently just purchased my new S’well Waterbottle and I am already obsessed with it. It keeps your water cold all day (literally all day)! I hope this was helpful for any of you looking to change up your workout attire. Let me know what your must haves are for the gym!

Winter Stripes!

Winter has finally arrived here in Charlottesville and with that came a giant blizzard that kept me way from work for almost 3 days! And I must admit that during those wonderful snow days, I went into hibernation, which pretty much means I wore nothing but leggings and sweatshirts all day long! But now that I am back to work it is time to step up my game a bit!

I am definitely a dress girl, no doubt about it. They are so easy and comfortable, but for some reason when you wear a dress everyone thinks that means you have your life together, which is perfectly fine with me! However dresses in the winter can be pretty tricky since it is so cold and they don’t provide all that much layering!

I found the perfect little dress that gives you great shape, it is fun & flirty, but has a sweater material to keep you nice and warm all day! To be honest, I bought this dress, returned it, and bought it back because I loved it that much! The best news is that it is now on sale for under $100!

 Anthropologie Dress