Mackenzie Billington

Turquoise Tuesday

August 18, 2015 by Mackenzie

Top | Shorts | Sandals (similar) | Earrings

Hey y’all! I am officially back from London. It’s been awesome to finally see my friends and family, but I definitely miss England. In celebration of the Lilly Pulitzer ‘After Party Sale’, I decided to break out my favorite Elsa top. I paired it with white shorts, white sandals, and some bold tassel earrings (that are only $32!). Turquoise, lime green, and white is such a fun color combination for summer. I head off back to college today, and I am very excited to get back into a routine and catch up with my friends there. I am very sad that summer is coming to an end, but I am very excited and optimistic to see what this fall has in store.

P.S. Check out my fun interview with Thomson Safaris! You can read it here!

8 Tips for Growing Long, Healthy Hair

August 13, 2015 by Mackenzie

For years my hair was always stuck at barely-past-shoulder length. I wanted long, beautiful hair, but no matter how long I waited, it still seemed to be stuck at one length. Not only was it ‘short’, it was completely fried and damaged (as you can see in the before/after picture below). I decided that if I wanted to see a difference in my hair, I needed to make some changes. Here are some tips that really worked for me:

1. GIVE YOUR HAIR A BREAK

When I was younger, my hair was naturally blonde. However, as I got it older, it turned dark brown. I started it coloring it back to blonde when I was in the 4th grade. I bleached and highlighted my hair for probably five years straight. In addition, I was straightening it with a flat iron every single day. My hair not only felt like straw, it looked like it as well. I had terrible split ends, and my hair felt really thin, especially at the tips. When I decided I wanted to get healthy hair, I gave up coloring my hair and using heating appliances. A hair stylist once told me when I asked her about growing my hair/coloring it, “You have to choose between blonde hair or long hair”. Going back to my natural color felt weird initally, but I got use to it over time! It was incredibly hard at first to give up heating tools because I was pretty addicted. I first started by limiting my heating tool use to once a week, and then over time, once to twice a month. It is honestly very difficult, but I do think it is the #1 most important tip of all, especially if your hair is currently damaged or unhealthy. I now only use heating tools if I have a special occasion. I do blow dry my hair once to twice a week because it is less damaging than direct heat (like a flat iron or curling iron). I put it on the low to medium setting and usually use cold hair. I gave my hair about a four year break from color, and I pretty much eliminated my heating tool use, which made the world of difference. So in general, I recommend going back to your natural color and limiting heating tools. I learned to embrace my natural wavy hair and to try heatless hairstyles. Braids are always my go to, and there are countless ideas on Pinterest to try out! Now that my hair is healthy again, I do color it. It is good to take year long breaks though if you color you hair just to give it some rest from the harsh chemicals.

2. LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE

This sounds like a cliche tip, but it is definitely true. Your hair is also a reflection of your health. If you are eating poorly, not getting enough sleep, and overwhelmed by stress, it will most likely show in your hair. When my hair was unhealthy, I was eating lots of junk food, never sleeping, and I was constantly stressed out and upset. As I started to change my lifestyle, I noticed a difference in my hair growth and overall health.

3. GET FREQUENT TRIMS

This tip sounds so counterproductive, I know. It seems weird that cutting your hair would actually help it grow. The truth is- it doesn’t actually help your hair ‘grow’, but it allows you to see the growth. Let me explain. Lots of girls say ‘my hair doesn’t grow’, but that is not always correct. Your hair is growing from the roots, but you aren’t seeing the growth because it is splitting off at the tips before it has the chance to get long. When you have split ends and your hair is splitting off at the bottoms, you are losing length. Over time, split ends will split higher and higher up on the hair shaft, causing even more loss of length at the bottom. When your hair is healthy, it will have fewer split ends – thus less hair breakage at the tips. You will start to notice it appears to be ‘growing faster’. I recommend getting hair trims as often as needed depending on how healthy your hair is. When my hair was unhealthy and damaged, I went every 5-6 weeks to get the split ends cut off. With that being said, it’s never good to go too frequently or you will never notice growth. The healthier your hair is, the less you will have to go in for trims (which saves money- yay!). I only trim my hair once to twice a year now because I rarely get split ends. When I do go in for a trim, I only get half an inch off usually, and I get it cut straight across. Some hair stylists can be a little too ‘scissor friendly’, so make sure you clarify exactly how much you want off.

Also, when you first begin your journey to healthy hair, it’s best to get a hair cut before starting. Go to the salon and get those damaged, fried ends cut off. Shorter healthy hair always looks more beautiful than long, damaged hair (in my opinion). Start with a fresh hair cut! When I first decided that I wanted to grow my hair out and get it healthy, I not only colored it back to my natural color, but I got all those fried and damaged bits off. Though it was even shorter than before, my hair felt and looked much better.

4. BE GENTLE

Being very rough on your hair can cause lots of breakage at the tips, especially if it already damaged and fragile. Hair is at its most fragile state when it is wet. I recommend combing your hair with a wide tooth comb when your hair is wet. Don’t towel dry your hair. Dry blotting your hair with a soft tshirt, and then letting it air dry. Don’t use hair ties that have metal bits on them as those can actually contribute to breakage. I really love using scrunchies and those fabric hair ties like Emi Jays. When you sleep, keep your hair in a protective style. This is totally embarrassing, and I can’t believe I am writing this on the internet, but I actually use to sleep in a silk night cap when I was first tying to get my hair healthy (my sister and high school friends are probably laughing currently as they remember me putting on my silk ‘hat’ every night). I now usually sleep with my hair in a low bun using a scrunchy. This keeps it secure and out of my face while I get my beauty rest. Switching to silk/satin pillows can really help as well because cotton pillows can actually lead to hair breakage/damage. Be gentle to your hair to avoid breakage!

5. TREATMENTS

Give your locks some TLC. To ‘repair’ my damage hair and add moisture, I did hair treatments several times a week. My go-to for very, very damaged hair is olive oil. I would heat olive oil up in a little dish for around 20-30 seconds. After it was heated up, I would apply it to the bottom third of my hair and on any damaged bits. I would pull it back in a low bun and give it time to work! You can use this treatment for 5 minutes or even up to an hour. However, if you leave it on too long, it can make your hair greasy. The current hair treatment I use weekly is called Hsau Wen Hua by Lush. My sister and I have both been through tubs of it, and I will continue to repurchase it for as long as they make it. It’s great for damaged hair or anybody that wants to give their hair a little rehab. A drugstore favorite of mine is the Loreal Everpure ‘moisture restorative hair masque’. It smells awesome, is super affordable, and definitely is a great mask for dry and damaged hair! After washing your hair, apply a leave in conditioner. My all time favorite is ‘It’s a 10’. Comb your hair with a wide tooth comb after washing your hair, then apply the leave in conditioner to the bottom half of your hair. In addition, I love applying oils to my hair. I think this has really made a huge difference in my hair health and growth. If you want to splurge, Moroccan oil is fabulous and is most definitely worth every penny. My favorite drugstore brand for hair oils is OGX. Their anti breakage coconut serum is heavenly, and I have been through around ten to fifteen bottles of it over the past few years. I would highly, highly recommend it. In general, you can’t go wrong with moroccan, argan, and coconut oil products! Definitely check out OGX next time you are at Target, Walgreens, or any other drugstore. They are absolutely fantastic!

6. DON’T FALL FOR GIMMICKS

Many products will claim that they will magically make your hair grow super, super long. Don’t fall for it and don’t waste your money. For example, a lot of people claim ‘Mane N Tail’ is a magical shampoo (which is actually intended for horses) that will make your hair grow. It doesn’t. I have it tried it, and I would not recommend it. I actually found it to be quite drying on my hair. A lot of people also swear by biotin for magic hair growth. When I first tried to grow my hair long, I gave biotin a try. After months of use, I saw no difference in my hair. However, my nails grew even faster, and my skin was breaking out like crazy and more oily. I went into my dermatologist, where he gave me a long chat about biotin. He told me that biotin is actually not a good option for those with acne prone skin as it can make your body produce even more oily, which leads to more breakouts. After doing a ton of research when I got home, I found out there were tons of other women out there who experienced less than great results with biotin. As soon as I stopped taking biotin, the breakouts stopped and my skin went back to being semi-oily. Biotin is not a miracle worker, so be careful about taking it if you have acne prone skin.

7. SKIP THE SULFATES

These ingredients can be overused and can really cause you some hair problems. I decided to switch to sulfate-free shampoos/conditioners about 3-4 years ago, and it was such a good decision! My all time favorite is the Loreal Everpure/Everstrong line. It’s incredible, y’all. Not only do they make your hair smell amazing, they show great results. It was weird going sulfate free at first, but I really do feel like it’s made a huge difference in the health of my hair. So many drugstore shampoos have silicones and sulfates in their formula. Silicones coat your hair to make it look and feel healthy, but in reality, it can cause buildup and lock out nutrients. Sulfates are what cause your hair to lather, but they actually strip your hair of moisture. When I first switched to sulfate-free shampoo after years and years of using brands like Pantene and Garnier, it was weird to not experience that nice lather. However, I got use to over time, and I will continue to repurchase the products from the Loreal Everpure line (I linked my favorite ones below). They are the best sulfate free products I have ever tried, and I would most definitely recommend them.

8. PATIENCE

Lastly, patience is so essential. Long hair does not happen over night and neither does healthy hair. Over time you will notice a difference, but sadly there is no overnight solution to hair growth or condition. Continue to be patient & you will have long and beautiful hair before you know it!

(Here is the difference in my hair in just four years)

I hope that could help! I get asked all the time on Tumblr for hair growth tips & tricks. I am definitely no expert whatsoever, but these are all things that have worked for me! Let me know if you have any more tips that you love! Thank you so much for checking out my blog!

xoxo,

Mackenzie

Here are my favorite products/recommendations:

St. Tropez In-Shower Tan Review

August 11, 2015 by Mackenzie

St. Tropez In Shower Gradual Tan: Hit or Miss?

When this ‘in shower self tanner‘ came out a few months ago, I knew I had to try it out. I love self tanners, but between their unpleasant scents and the time I have to spend waiting for them to dry (while praying they don’t turn out streaky or ending up all over my white sheets), I am always a tiny bit skeptical when a new self tanning product comes out. It can be hard to find that perfect self tanner that gives you that bronze summer glow.

This product is described on Sephora as:

‘The most convenient way to tan—simply apply in shower and rinse in just three minutes. Great for all skintones and types, it delivers a natural-looking, bronze glow and extreme moisture without streaking or transferring onto clothing. It is made with a 100 percent natural DHA and infused with sweet almond oil to nourish the skin for a smooth, soft, hydrated finish. Use daily to gradually build an intense tan.’ (Sephora even has a little video you can watch on how to use the product that I found really helpful)

I couldn’t lie- it sounded too good to be true. I always look at reviews online before purchasing something, and even though this product didn’t have stellar ratings, I couldn’t resist picking it up when I saw it in Boots last week. After trying it for almost a week now, here is my honest opinion:

The Pros:

The #1 pro of this product for me is that it doesn’t have that strong, unpleasant smell that most self tanners tend to have. It honestly doesn’t have much of a scent whatsoever in my opinion, which is awesome! I also really like the whole concept of applying this product on wet skin in the shower. It’s easier to get a more even application. This is a small thing, but I do actually like the packaging. It’s sleek and nice, which is something I appreciate in beauty products. I think there is a good amount of product in the bottle, and I will be able to get tons of use out of it. You really do get your money’s worth. As for the results, I really think this product gives a nice, beautiful glow! It isn’t orange at all, which is great because it can be hard to find a self tanner that gives a natural looking color. I also love that this self tanner is buildable. You can definitely see the gradual build of color with each use. The color also lasts for days, so it’s nice that it doesn’t fade quickly. It also doesn’t come off on my clothes or sheets, and I can’t complain about that! The St. Tropez in-shower self tan is also not ridiculously expensive in comparison to other more high end self tanners. Retailing at $25 for 6.7 oz of product, it’s not as pricey as some of the self tanners I have seen in Sephora before. I also think that St. Tropez tanning products give a more natural color than most of the drugstore self tanners I have tested out in the past.

The Cons:

You are suppose to turn off the shower, apply the self tanner in circular motions, and then wait for 3 minutes before rinsing it off. It is honestly a little bit of an annoying process to turn the shower off, wait, and then hop back in. I get super cold! I use this time though to deep condition my hair and jam to some Katy Perry, but it can be quite irritating to have to wait outside of the shower, and then get back in again just to rinse the self tanner off. I also found it was difficult to apply to my hands/feet without streaking. My legs and arms looked very even, but as you can see in the picture above, my right foot didn’t turn out so great (which might be because I wasn’t applying it correctly- I’ll take the blame!). However, I have never had that specific problem with any self tanners I’ve used in the past. Luckily, I was able to scrub that little splotch off with some warm water and exfoliating scrub. I will definitely exfoliate my hands/feet the next time I use this in-shower self tanner. Another thing I don’t love about this self tanner is that it really isn’t as dark as other self tanners I’ve used before. It doesn’t offer any ranges of colors as it is suppose to be a ‘one size fits all’ kind of product. If you are medium to dark, this self tanner would most likely not give you noticeable results. I would recommend it for paler girls though as it is more of a lighter, sheerer glow.

In conclusion… would I repurchase this product? Most likely! I really love a lot of aspects of it, but I would not consider it a ‘holy grail’ self tanning product for me. If you are also tempted to try it out, I would definitely recommend it! I have no regrets purchasing this unique self tanner, but I don’t know if I would run out and repurchase it again the second this current bottle runs out. However, I am definitely glad I picked it up. Though it has a few flaws, I would still vote it as a hit!

Let me know if you have any favorite self tanning products that I should try out next!

Mumu Monday

August 10, 2015 by Mackenzie

denim shirt / shorts / tassel earrings / sandals

It’s official. These are the my favorite shorts I have ever owned. I’ve worn them over twenty times this summer (no exaggeration), which is pretty crazy. They pair perfectly with almost all of the tops in my wardrobe and are perfect for day or night. I also think they are really comfortable and flattering. Show Me Your Mumu has easily become one of my favorite brands over the past few months! I absolutely love their bold prints and fun florals.

Here are some other ways to style my favorite tropical-pattered shorts:

Thank you for checking out my blog! Hope you have an awesome Monday!

Free & Easy Gold Font Tutorial

August 6, 2015 by Mackenzie

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Hello friends! I’ve had so many of you request for an easy tutorial on how to make ‘gold font’. For months I kept seeing gold-foiled font on so many blogs, and I was desperate to figure out how to make some for myself! Every blog/website I went to at the time only had photoshop tutorials. Also, most of the tutorials were incredibly complicated to understand and figure out. I used photoshop back in middle school because I was on yearbook staff, so I knew the concept of layering. However, without photoshop it can be tricky to make gold font and use layering. I decided to make a quick & easy tutorial on how I make gold font. Best part? It’s 100% free!

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*PLEASE READ: I just wanted to mention real quick that this tutorial is only for white backgrounds! I hope to make a tutorial in the future for colored backgrounds, but this specific tutorial is for white backgrounds only

ALSO

PicMonkey has recently changed their policies to where you can only have a free trial now (it was 100% free when I created this post 2+ years ago. As of October 2017, this policy has changed and PicMonkey is no longer completely free)!*

1. Go to www.picmonkey.com. This is my favorite photo editing website. My sister and I share a ‘Royale’ account, which we really like. Every time I create something on Picmonkey, I usually go to the ‘design’ tab and select the square.

2. Write out your text. Definitely use a black font. It’s also best to pick a thicker font! For this little tutorial I used three of my favorites- ‘Lilly Belle‘, ‘Bebas neue‘, and ‘notperfect‘. They are all free fonts, and I linked them so you can check them out!

3. Combine the layers. Okay, so after you put town your text, click this little button (that looks like two pages and an arrow). This will flatten the layers and get your font prepared for the gold layer.

4. Next- find a gold texture to use! I just googled ‘gold foil texture‘, and then saved my favorites to my computer. I also searched ‘gold glitter texture‘ for the 3rd font. I recommend saving a couple of different ones, so you can try out a few and see which texture you like best!

5. Go to the ‘Overlays’ tab on picmonkey (it looks like a little butterfly). Click on ‘Your Own’ which is at the very top of the Overlays tab. Select your gold texture that you want to use.

6. Select ‘Lighten’ under ‘Blend Modes’. This is on the Overlay popup that should come up once you upload the gold texture. You’ll see a category called ‘Blend Modes’, click on where it says ‘normal’ and then scroll down. You’ll want to click on the ‘Lighten’ option. Drag the gold over the black font!

You can also apply this little trick to any black objects/clip art! I used a little black leaf from the ‘Leafy Stems’ section on Picmonkey (Leafy Stems is one of the options on the Overlay tab) to show you an example of using shapes.

7. Save your masterpiece! You’re done & now you have some gorgeous gold font!

I hope that could help! Let me know if you try it out! If you have any questions, please send me an email at

ma******************@gm***.com

! Thank you for checking out my blog!

xoxo,

Mackenzie

P.S. Check out my post ‘My top twenty favorite free fonts‘

Cobalt Crave

August 5, 2015 by Mackenzie

Top: Red Dress Boutique (similar) / Shorts: Red Dress Boutique (similar) / Sandals: Jack Rogers / Earrings: Kendra Scott

So this is a short, little throwback post that I’ve been meaning to put up! Cold shoulder tops, patterned shorts, statement earrings, and braids are just a few of my summer faves. I got this outfit from Red Dress Boutique a few months ago, so it is not available anymore. However, I linked some similar options. I love cold shoulder tops because they are a little more comfortable than off the shoulder tops (you don’t have to pull them up every five seconds), but they still add something fun and different to your outfit. I paired the outfit with a simple braid and some bold, blue cobalt earrings for a night out!

Hope you all are having a fabulous, fabulous Wednesday!

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My Everyday Makeup Routine

August 4, 2015 by Mackenzie

MAC Face Primer / UD Eye Primer / Bobbi Brown Touch Up Stick / Bobbi Brown Long Wear Foundation / Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer / Benefit “Hoola” Bronzer / NARS Blush in “Exhibit A” / MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in “Soft & Gentle” / NARS Duo Eyeshadow in “Key Largo” / Maybelline The Falsies Mascara / Wet ‘n’ Wild Mega Liner Liquid Eyeliner / Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in “Carmel” / Eyelash Curler / Make Up For Ever HD Setting Powder / Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick in “Naughty Nude” / Beauty Blender / MAC 224 Brush / Eco Tools Eyeshadow Brush / MAC 150 Brush / ELF Small Stippling Brush / Real Techniques Contour Brush

Hey friends! So this has been highly requested, and I just wanted to share my makeup routine with y’all. This is the makeup I wear on a daily basis if I am traveling, spending the day with friends or family, shopping, going out to lunch, or attending a day time event. It usually takes me between ten and twenty minutes. I will skip a lot of the steps depending on how my skin is that week and how much time I have. When I have class or errands to run, I will typically only apply concealer and blush!

I start by applying face primer and eyeshadow primer. If you have oily skin like I do, primer can make the world of difference in helping your makeup stay all day! I then apply my foundation with my beauty blender sponge, and then I apply concealer to my blemishes and around the eyes. I then set it with setting powder. Next is color. I apply blush to the apples of my cheek and lightly down my nose and forehead. My very favorite blush is NARS ‘Exhibit A’. It looks really scary in the pan because it is bright red, but it looks really nice if you use it with a light hand. I then apply bronzer to the outsides of my face and cheeks. In addition, I contour my nose a little on the sides. My favorite highlighter is MAC ‘Soft and Gentle’. It’s super shimmery and looks really nice on the cheekbones and down the bridge of the nose. It’s definitely worth the money because it will last you ages. I then fill in my eyebrows with a pencil because they are naturally sparse. Anastasia Beverly Hills makes the best eyebrow products. Eyeshadow duos are so easy for day time, and NARS ‘Key Largo’ is my very favorite. It has a peach tone on one side and a beautiful bronze on the other. After applying a little eyeshadow, I curl my eyelashes and swipe on some black liquid liner to the top lash line. I put on two layers of black mascara after. The final step is setting my face with setting powder. I use my large MAC 150 brush to apply my powder, concentrating on my t-zone. Lastly comes lipstick. My go-to is ‘Naughty Nude’ by Too Faced. It is the one nude lipstick I have tried that actually doesn’t wash me out. I definitely plan on purchasing another one of the Too Faced La Creme lipsticks- they are gorgeous!

Let me know what your favorite makeup products are! I always love trying out new ones. Hope you all are having a terrific Tuesday!

Shopping Haul

August 2, 2015 by Mackenzie

Cleanser • Toner • Lotion • Pore Minimizer (primer) • Tea Tree Oil • Naked Palette • MAC 224 Brush • MAC 150 Brush • White Dress • Romper • Pom-pom Top • Bardot Top • Black Top

I love shopping. With only one more weekend left in London, I decided it was time to do some retail therapy before hitting the library to cram for exams. After leaving my dorm around 10:00 or so, I visited The Body Shop first. I have actually never been in The Body Shop before, but I recently read some great reviews on their tea tree products for acne prone skin. I’ve been struggling with angry breakouts the past few months, so I’ve been trying a ton of different products in hope of finding some that will help my acne. I picked up these five Body Shop products in two little sets that totaled around 30 pounds. The products I got include the tea tree facial cleanser, toner, lotion, pore minimizer (primer), and treatment. The products claim to make a difference in your skin in just three days, so I am going to put them to the test! I’ve only tried this new skin care routine twice so far, but I really like it so far. I will review these products in more detail once I use them a little more and get an opinion. Next stop was Topshop. I’ve been really obsessed with the store, Topshop, lately because I love their variety of styles, great quality, and petite line! When you are 5’0, it can be really hard to find clothes that fit perfectly without needing alterations. Luckily for me, there is a 3-story Topshop right here in London, and it’s incredible. They were having a huge sale this weekend where I was able to purchase this off the shoulder top, pom-pom top, and beige romper all for about half-off each! I actually have the pom-pom top in black already, but I’ve been wearing it pretty much weekly. When I really love a clothing piece, I always get it in every color! I was really excited when I saw my favorite pom-pom top came in white and was on sale- I just couldn’t resist. I also really liked the beige romper I found on sale. I’ve been really into tie-front tops/dresses lately, so I thought this romper was really cool. Something else I love about Topshop is that they actually offer a 10% student discount, which does help save you a bit of money!
Next stop was Victoria’s Secret. When you walk down Oxford Street in London you see hundreds of people with the pink, striped Victoria’s Secret bags. I decided it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check it out. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked in- it was huge! Never in my life have I been a four story tall Victoria’s Secret. I ended up purchasing a nude, strapless bra, which I felt would be a smart investment because I actually do not own one. It’s also multi-way, which makes it super versatile and practical. I was really glad I stopped by to check it out! Across the street from Victoria’s Secret were some makeup counters. I picked up two MAC brushes. I chose the MAC 224 brush because I felt like it would be an awesome brush for blending eyeshadows. I do not actually own a blending brush, so I felt like this pick would help make my daily makeup routine that much easier. I also splurged on the MAC 150 because I knew it would be an awesome brush for applying finishing powder. I also read reviews that raved about what an awesome brush it was for applying and blending bronzer! I also stopped by an Urban Decay makeup counter to get my favorite palette. I got the UD Naked Palette for Christmas a few years ago and fell in love. You really do get your money’s worth with any of the Naked Palettes, and they have awesome pigmentation! I actually used up my entire first Naked Palette, and I have been procrastinating buying a second. I don’t usually repurchase products because I love trying out new things, but I loved this palette so much that I decided it was worth it to purchase another! I would highly, highly recommend it if you are just getting into makeup or looking for that perfect, versatile day-to-night palette!

My last stop was Lush. I *no joke* spent almost two to three hours in Lush Oxford Street because I knew it would most likely be my last time to visit. I have been saving up my money all summer for my big Lush shopping spree, and I didn’t spend as much as I originally assumed I would. I walked out with tons and tons of awesome products to try out and gifts for my friends and family back home. I am going to do a thorough post and review on the products once I get home, but I don’t have anywhere to photograph them here in London! I am really excited to share my huge Lush haul with y’all, and if you follow me on Snapchat (mackenzieken), you probably already saw some of my snaps on some of the things I picked up! Lush is actually bringing in some new products to the states, so I hope to see some of the Oxford Street exclusives in all of the stores over the next few months! I am so glad I got to check out the flagship store! It was unbelievable to see a three story Lush store, and I absolutely loved the amazing staff and products there. So stay tuned for my Lush haul in the next two weeks (I included a little sneak peak below)!

Here are some pictures of my purchases:

Thank you so much for checking out my blog! Hope you all are having an awesome Sunday!

White Midi Skirt

July 30, 2015 by Mackenzie

midi skirt (not available anymore • similar & similar) // chambray shirt // sandals // earrings

Never did I ever think I would wear a midi skirt, let alone fall in love with one. A few months ago I was shopping for skirts online and stumbled across this one on forever21. I hesitated for a second or two before putting in my cart because I wasn’t sure if I would end up actually wearing it. It was such a good impulse buy and has easily become one of my summer staples. This is a little bit of a ‘tbt’ post because I wore this outfit back when my mom was visiting me in London. I paired this white midi skirt with my favorite chambray button down for a night out in the city to see Mama Mia, one of my favorite musicals. I really, really enjoyed all of the lively songs and costumes.

Sadly this exact skirt is not available anymore online, but it might still be in stores because I purchased it about two months ago. Below I posted some different ways that I plan on styling my white midi skirt over the next few weeks.

Thank you so much for checking out my blog! Hope you all are having a fabulous week!

Scents of Summer

July 29, 2015 by Mackenzie

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

I get asked so frequently about my favorite perfumes and body sprays, so I decided to a make a little list of my favorite ones for the season. In the daytime, I love a tropical body spray. They aren’t as heavy as perfume, but still add a nice fragrance. Bath & Body works makes my all-time favorite body sprays. They have such a huge variety of scents, but their ‘Hawaii’ line that came out a few months ago is amazing. It’s embarrassing, but I have actually been through three full bottles of the Oahu body spray. No joke. What I love most about the Oahu body spray is that it has coconut notes, but isn’t overwhelming at all. It smells like vacation in a bottle. I also love the Maui fragrance from the line as well! With notes of mango and hibiscus, I instantly feel like I am back in Maui! For nights out and special occasions, I love Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia and Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue. Both smell very fresh and beachy, and I love them for summer time! My last favorite scent for summer is Sun by Lush. It doesn’t have the best staying power, I am going to be honest, but I absolutely love the fragrance. It has strong citrus undertones and smells just like oranges. I always throw it in my purse or backpack because it is a solid perfume and is awesome for ‘on-the-go’ use. It’s the perfect mid day pick me up. I love all of the Lush solid perfumes, but this is my favorite for summer!

Let me know your favorite scents for summer! Hope you are having an awesome Wednesday!