I have honestly been thinking about this blog post for like six months now- not even kidding! I have been a crazy lady when it comes to drugstore makeup and I'm pretty sure I've tried just about everything there is- this year especially. No, not all of these things are new this year, some have been around for a while but it's just a roundup of all of my favorites as of now. I am wearing these products in the photos as well :)

This post is NOT sponsored, although I wish it were. It is truly just the things I really do love (although there are affiliate links). All opinions are my own.



1. MILANI BAKED BLUSH

I have it in the shade Dolce Pink. I don't like crazy, super obvious blush so this one is perfect for me. Goes on light but is super buildable if you want a more pigmented look.

2. LOREAL COLOUR RICHE POP BALM

I have a few different ones but my favorite is the shade Tender Mauve. Great for days where you don't want to look like you're wearing a ton of makeup. Is also a lip balm so moisturizes your lips at the same time.

3. WET N' WILD LIQUID CATSUIT LIPSTICK

Wears just as well as any other matte liquid lipstick I have tried but is like 1/4 of the price.

4. MAYBELLINE BABY LIPS

Smells amazing and literally makes your lips feel baby-soft.

5. PHYSICIANS FORMULA BUTTER BRONZER

I know I have already talked about this like 100x on my blog/social media so I'll just let you know that I absolutely love it and leave it at that :)

6. MILANI CONCEAL + PERFECT FOUNDATION

This stuff has amazzzzing coverage and goes on so smooth! I have had more people ask "what foundation are you wearing" when I have worn this than any other foundation (including the expensive ones). I wear the shade 02 Natural. 

7. MAYBELLINE FIT ME SET + SMOOTH POWDER

I use this to set my under eye after applying concealer (when I'm going for a more full-coverage look) so I usually like to look for one of the lightest shades I can find. It smooths my skin so well and is better priced than most of the pressed powders I've tried. The entire Fit Me line is honestly just amazing all the way around.

8. WET N' WILD DEWY FACE PRIMER

This is BY FAR the best-priced primer out there and I love that it isn't matte like all the other ones! It gives my makeup such a smooth, dewy finish and I keep buying it over and over again.

9. WET N' WILD PHOTOFOCUS CONCEALER

Wet N' Wild is seriously killing it this year. Love how smoothly this concealer goes on. Stays put throughout the day and is UNDER FIVE BUCKS. I use the shade Light Ivory. 

10. COVERGIRL TRU NAKED EYESHADOW

Truly obsessed with this one. I wasn't sure what a 'buttery eyeshadow' was until I tried this one. They have a bunch of different pallets but my favorite is the 'Roses' one.

11.WET N' WILD RETRACTABLE BROW PENCIL

Before I bought this one I had the Anastasia Brow Definer (which I really liked) but this one is literally the same exact thing and is waaaaay cheaper. So I returned that one and stuck with this one. Lately it has been the only thing I use on my brows.


12. MILANI HIGHLIGHTER

Milani is one of my favorite newer drugstore brands and I think they make such great stuff. Love this powder highlighter in the shade 'afterglow'.

13. NYX MATTE LIQUID EYELINER

I am VERY picky about liquid eyeliners. I have tried so many lately and this is the only one I like! Goes on smoothly and stays nice and black all day long.

14. PIXI FACIAL TONERS

I have tried probably around 7 different toners over the past year and these ones take the cake. I am loving the Rose one especially because it smells AMAZING. I use them after I wash off my makeup at night and before I put on moisturizer :)

WHEW! Okay so there you have it! Let me know if you have tried any of these products and what you thought of them! Also let me know if there is a drugstore item not on this list that you are in love with and I will be sure to check it out.

Thanks so much for reading!


xo

November is here and here in Utah it feels like it! Over the past few days the weather has gotten cold and a little bit more gloomy. Normally I don't like that type of weather but it has felt so dang cozy and I am super excited for the holidays so I don't even mind!

This is a super quick post but I just wanted to link mine and Jack's outfits since I had a lot of questions about them! They were actually a lot cheaper than you might think :)

Jack doing his first trunk-or-treating at out church Halloween party!

He is done putting up with his mom's picture-taking. Can you tell?

I also made these spooky treats for our Church party. They were so easy and fun to make! I don't even know if it's necessary to post directions because they are probably pretty self-explanatory but I got some mini-Reese's cups and some thin Oreos and put them together with some homemade sticky frosting!

 I don't have pictures from actual Halloween but you can imagine how it looked. Me and Jack watched Coco and handed out some candy. Kody got home late from work that night so when he got home we grabbed Jack's costume and did some quick trick-or-treating around our apartment complex. It was a perfect little night!

xo

A couple of days ago we got back from one of the most fun vacations I think I have ever been on! For my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary we were able to get a big group of family together and go on a fun little Carnival cruise! It also happened to be the week that both Kody and my little brother Gunnar had the week off of school for fall break so it worked out perfectly for us. I had never been on a cruise before and boy was I MISSING OUT. You guys, it was the coolest thing ever and now I want to just spend all of my money on cruises for the rest of my life.

Okay, not for real but kind of. It was so much fun!

I was nervous but excited at the same time to bring our 15 month-old along. I wasn't sure how he'd do but he actually did great and loved it so I am actually really glad we brought him.

The cruise left from Long Beach, California so we were able to spend a few days staying with Kody's parents and hanging out at the beach before and after the cruise which was nice.

The cruise left around 5pm that afternoon and we were at sea until the next morning when we arrived in Catalina Island. I have always wanted to go to Catalina Island (usually you can see it faintly on the horizon from some southern California beaches) but have never been able to until this cruise. It was the CUTEST little island/town ever. We rented some golf carts and rode all over the town, up and down the mountian hills. Pretty much everyone there drove golf carts around and ours included a car seat for Jack so I felt safe about it. I LOVED riding around. We did it for about two hours and Jack was able to get a good nap in. We also stumbled on a little family of deer who were NOT shy at all and walked right up to the golf cart and sniffed/licked us. I was absolutely dying. Catalina had a huge selection of food, shopping and all sorts of activities. I want to go back again and again and can't get over the fact that people actually live there!!! SO CUTE.

Having so much fun on the golf cart!

Snuggled and sleeping on the ride :)

Breakfast on the ship

Riding the ferry. Jack wasn't actually as sad as he looks in this picture, I promise! :)

Forever my favorite person to travel (or do anything) with. He makes life so fun and I love him.

Our spot at dinner was lovely <3

Pop pop (grandpa) and Jack playing pat-a-cake at dinnertime.

Elegant night with my handsome guys.

Jack LOVED the little towel-animals that our cabin attendant (a sweet man named Made) made every day!

My cute parents :)

Jack & his uncle Bailey

Jack & 'nanny' (grandma)

my brothers racing down some little slides

The next day we docked in Ensanada, Mexico. I have only ever been to Mexico one other time (on our honeymoon in Cancun) and it was a little different than Catalina! While we were there we took a tour bus to the other end of Ensanada (about 45 minutes away) to a little market where they were selling allllll kinds of stuff (and were very persistent in trying to get you to buy their stuff and barter and make deals with them). This market was right near a little 'blowhole'-type rocky water area called La Blufadora which was super neat and Jack absolutely loved. We bought him a little cowboy hat, a Mexican poncho and some other goodies while we looked around there.

The people there were very kind and it was interesting driving around Ensanada. It definitely wasn't America and made me realize how lucky I am to live where and how I do. Some of the people there are so unbelievably poor and I'm sure I didn't even see the worst of it.

Jack walking around like he owned the boat

The next day we were at sea the whole day and it was fun swimming, eating and enjoying all there was to do on the cruise ship. It was the Carnival Inspiration and had lots of fun things.

Overall we had such a perfect time! It was a short cruise but was still so much fun. I was honestly expecting it to be more of a party/"booze cruise" but while there was a good share of drinkers, there were also lots of families with children and people of all ages. It was a lot more family-friendly than I expected and I would 100% do it again in a heartbeat!





TIPS FOR CRUISIN' WITH TODDLERS:

-pack lots of diapers! recommended rule: enough diapers for the duration of the cruise + 1 extra day, just in case.
-bring a comfy pack n' play mattress. Our ship put a mini crib in our room and our mattress made it nice and comfy for Jack.
-take advantage of childcare on the ship! I felt bad 'ditching' jack but finally did on the last night while we watched a little concert and I wish I would have done it more! He had fun playing with toys/other kids and I had fun relaxing.
-read into EVERYTHING you can about the boat you'll be on. Look for reviews from parents and know exactly what you will and will not need for your little one.
-bring blankets and jackets. Being on the ocean can be a lot cooler than you think and you'll want to snuggle your baby up at times when you're outdoors
-bring tylenol/ibuprofen just in case
-bring a small stroller + a baby carrier if your little one likes those
-have realistic expectations. don't expect to be up every night 'til 1 AM partying. Take it easy and relax about schedules, naps and all that. Try to go with the flow :)

xo

October is officially here, and you know what that means?
It's officially sweater-wearing time and I could not be happier!

Every year I get so many questions about where I find my sweaters so I thought I'd put together a nice little list for you guys! I really find them from three main places: H&M, Amazon and Target. I don't think you have to spend tons of money on sweaters in order for them to be cute and feel cozy. It is honestly a little embarrassing how many sweaters I own but for the prices of some of these, you really can't go wrong!

H&M

H&M has become one of my favorite sweater places because I believe they have completely mastered the over-sized-sweater thing. I am usually a medium and have these in medium + larges. I recommend ordering a size up if you want that over-sized feel. The V-neck ones are definitely my favorite and those come in all sorts of colors. My favorite way to style them is with some black leggings and boots! So easy to dress up or down (in these photos I am wearing this v-neck one in grey).



TARGET

I know this might be blasphemous but over spring and summer this year I was not crazy about Target's selection of clothes (am I the only one?). BUT I feel like they are starting to redeem themselves with some of their fall clothes- including their sweaters. They have a big selection of unique sweaters and offer a lot of them in plus-sizes as well.