
Transitioning Into Fall With A $29 Plaid Skirt
TOP | SKIRT | JACKET | SHOES (Similar) | BAG | NECKLACE | BRACELETS
Happy October!
Yall. I am SO excited for this month because it means ALL things Fall. From pumpkin decor to pumpkin spice, I am here for it! Gosh, it makes my heart happy 🙂 But something that doesn’t make me happy?! When the weather can’t catch up to the season! Like, get it together please. I need 70 degrees, NOT 90 degrees! Lol. We’ll just pretend it’s cooler until it actually happens I guess!
I do have good news, though! You can still incorporate Fall pieces into your wardrobe even though the weather is uncooperative. Think sleeveless sweaters and plaid mini skirts, and you’ve got yourself a cute look for the hot temps! My exact outfit is on MAJOR sale today too! (Top and skirt are both $29!!) I’m wearing a small in the top (needed an XS) and a 00 in the skirt (it runs big). I also love the denim jacket I added to complete the outfit! No need to invest when this one is perfect at $48 (And 15% off with KELSIE15) And I have been on such a mini skirt kick lately, so I’ll include some others I’ve ordered or had my eyes on below. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
XO,
Kels
Current Beauty Product Must-Haves
ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN | EIGHT | NINE | TEN
I don’t buy a lot of beauty products unless I stop liking what I currently use, but I started incorporating some new items into my makeup routine that I love! I also haven’t shared a makeup update in months, so I thought it was the perfect time after I went a little crazy at Ulta last week. Would anyone be interested in a makeup tutorial? More people have been DMing about it, so I’m debating right now… We shall see! 🙂 Below, I am listing each product and how I use it! Everything is linked! 🙂
1: Morphe M321 Bullet Crease Brush
Let me just say, these Morphe brushes I listed are unbelievable for 2 reasons. One- THEY ARE CHEAP. I mean under $5 cheap. Two- THEY WORK. The best brushes I have ever purchased! I use this one to blend my crease out after applying with the M431.
2: Morphe M431 Precision Pencil Crease Brush
This is the first brush I use to apply my darkest shade in my crease, and then I blend it out with the M321. (So these two brushes basically go hand in hand!)
3: Morphe M310 Large Soft Fan Brush
If I’m being honest, I’m not sure the exact purpose of this brush. (I could Google it, but I have made up my own uses lol) After I apply concealer, I take my Laura Mercier setting powder and dab it under my eyes to set or “bake” it. Then I dust the excess powder off with my snazzy M310 fan brush!
4: Morphe Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette
Well, I have heard rave reviews about this palette for MONTHS, so I’m happy to report it has lived up to the hype! My only regret is not buying it sooner. It also blows my mind that it’s around $12 cheaper than a Naked palette, but has a lot more colors! *Currently wishing I had someplace to wear the blue colors, though* (I swatched them on my arm, SO pretty)
5: Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick (Big Spender)
If I could sell this lipstick like people sell Lipsense, I WOULD. I normally hate matte kind because it dries my lips out, but this is the exception. I want them to make more colors!! (Maybe not because I would buy them all..) Big Spender is perfect for Fall though, it’s a rose-tone!
6: Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer
I am ALL about something that makes my lashes look extra long, and this primer works! To me, it’s better than the drugstore version. I apply then let it sit for a few minutes, but I don’t like it to dry completely before applying mascara!
7:Â Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick (Bawse)
Refer to #5 for the inside scoop! This color is a great red lipstick because it doesn’t fade or smear much. It’s hard to find a red lipstick that doesn’t wind up all over your face by the end of the day, but this one doesn’t! *Insert praise hands*
8: L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
HOLY GRAIL ALERT. This mascara is the best I have ever used, and it’s $10! It’s like Better Than Sex without clumping. I was truly blown away!
9: Neutrogena SkinClearing Oil-Free Liquid Foundation
I had never tried the Neutrogena foundation before doing a campaign with them last month, and yall, I’m SO impressed. I was using Estee Lauder Doublewear (which is great), but it’s pretty thick and expensive. The Neutrogena kind isn’t as much coverage, but I personally like that better since I apply concealer and contour over it! Plus, it helps reduce acne/blemishes, so I am all for that!
10: Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
I loved using my Anastasia primer, but I needed something for dry skin because mine is the worst! It feels like a moisturizer too, and that was a huge selling point for me. It works really well with my Neutrogena foundation too!
HOW I STARTED MY BLOG
I wanted to preface my blogging Q & A post coming soon by telling how I actually got started blogging. Sometimes I struggle with being open with you guys about my journey with blogging and life in general, but it’s not intentional! I just get so busy and sidetracked that I forget to post. As much as I love keeping everyone updated, it’s so nice to live in the moment and just be present with my friends and family! Instagram Stories aren’t as effortless as they look. Or maybe it’s just me making it complicated?! Haha.
The first blogger I ever discovered was Jamie from A Southern Lady in 2012. (or 2011?!) Someone retweeted her on Twitter, and I found her Instagram shortly after! I immediately fell in love with her southern style and fun personality! The next two bloggers I followed were Caitlin Covington (Southern Curls & Pearls) and Emily Gemma (The Sweetest Thing). I feel like I fell down a rabbit hole after them, but those girls are the ones that really made an impression! I don’t want to say I stalked them religiously, but I stalked them religiously. LOL!
For years, I dreamed of being like them and having a platform like theirs to share my own personal style. I vividly remember Caitlin publishing a post on being a full-time blogger, and I thought to myself, “Gosh, I will never be able to do that”. I never realized how much work went on behind the scenes! But ultimately, I was my own worst enemy when it came to chasing my dreams and discovering my true passion. I continued to make excuses as to why I shouldn’t start a blog instead of looking at all the reasons I should.
Fast forward to July 2016 when I finally decided to put my fears and insecurities aside, and I launched Sassy Southern Blonde! I had every intention of my blog just being a fun hobby, but after a year, I knew I was capable of SO much more with this platform. I was establishing my brand and voice and people actually wanted to hear it! In August 2017, I made the decision to go all in and really make Sassy Southern Blonde a source of inspiration for women!
To be blunt, I had absolutely NO clue what I was doing. Sometimes, I still don’t! I learn more and more about this industry every day! But I knew I would never be happy/satisfied if I didn’t give this blog a chance to become a real, possible career. During the last semester of college (Fall 2017), I dreaded graduation because I had zero clue what I wanted to do. I knew I wouldn’t land my dream job fresh off the boat, but I wanted to at least semi-enjoy the place I’d be spending my days.
I was on my way back to Starkville from a job interview in Birmingham when everything came into focus. (This was last October!!) The company had just offered me a position, but I knew in my heart that it wasn’t for me! I called my mom, and she encouraged me to give blogging a chance. She knew how hard I had been working on Sassy Southern Blonde, and the consistent growth was enough to convince both of us that it could actually take off!
Since graduation in December, I have been full-time blogging, and I am so excited about the progress I have made! I’m not going to pretend that I can fully support myself yet, but I AM SO CLOSE. I swore up and down I would NEVER move back to my hometown after college, but here I am. It was a sacrifice I had to make to be able to build this platform! But I realllly want to move by the beginning of next year, so we shall see… 🙂
XOXO
Kels
Gucci Inspired Tee With United Monograms
TEE | SKIRT | BOOTS | BELT | BRACELETS
I know I’m not the only one when I say that I love the Gucci tee trend! The price tag not so much, though! 😉 Paying over $400 for a t-shirt isn’t very practical for most people, but I have found such a fun option from United Monograms that’s Gucci inspired! Did I mention it’s currently on sale for $25 dollars?! United Monograms is having a HUGE end of July sale and everything is discounted btw! (Including my favorite weekender bag and this cute pizza tee!)
Even though I am still fully committed to summer, I did style this outfit with a fall vibe! (I have no choice though- it’s hot until November where I live HAHA) On the plus side, my skirt is definitely a staple piece and can be worn year-round! This tee is super versatile as well, and I’m planning on pairing it with my denim shorts too. It’s pretty fitting that it says “coffee” on the front because I have turned into a total addict lately! Oops! I have been popping k-cups in my Keurig left and right. Lol!
I feel like I haven’t given yall a life update in SO long. (Sorry about that!) My best friends and I went to Rosemary Beach, Florida last weekend and stayed at The Pearl Hotel. It was hands down the coolest place I have ever been! I’m going to do an outfit recap on the blog next week from the trip!! (It should be up by Tuesday) If you have any questions about sizing, drop a comment below! I’m wearing a small in the Gucci inspired tee above! 🙂
XOXO
Kels
*Special thank you to United Monograms for sponsoring today’s post*