jamie ann

This post is sponsored by GapKids. Check out all the fun Shine On activities at your nearest Gap store. For event dates and locations, visit Gap’s Facebook page and join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #ShineOn.

When I saw this opportunity, I knew I wanted to share it because I totally dig the idea. Now I may not have any children yet, but as someone who has worked as a nanny for several years, has a metric ton of little cousins (hi, big Mexican family) and a tiny (okay, not so tiny. Sorry, boyfriend) case of baby fever – I always believe everyone should encourage kids to express their creativity in whatever outlet they can. I love kids and am always the first one to get down on the floor and pull out some crayons or look up little craft projects we can do to show off mom and dad when they get home. Not only does it keep them busy, it helps them express their feelings in another way and they are so proud of their work afterwards. It’s a total confidence booster for little ones and I’m 100% behind that!

So.

This month, select GapKids stores in stores in across the country will host Shine On Saturdays events, a series of special art projects by Merrilee Liddiard of Mer Mag that will help kids show off their inner artist! Each project was inspired by the GapKids and babyGap fall collection, including the best new 1969 denim (which is adorable!).

At the Shine On events children can make geometric masterpieces on canvas using paint and tape to colorful, custom journals to get kids ready for back-to-school and really get those creative juices flowing. GapKids Shine On Saturdays will be held in the Chicagoland area soon. Check out these dates and pack up the car and get to makin’!

Saturday, August 18th
GapKids at Westfield Old Orchard
4999 Old Orchard Center #A6
Skokie, IL 60077
10am-1pm

Saturday , August 25th
GapKids at Oakbrook Shopping Center
533 Oakbrook Center
Oak Brook, IL 60523

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

I don’t know about you, but summer has always been a bit of a pain for me. My favorite season is fall – I love layers and boots and scarves. Summer with its tanks, shorts and, most of all, SWIMWEAR, isn’t really my thing.

It’s so hard for me to find a swimsuit – I have to make sure there’s coverage where their needs to be, but most of all I need to feel comfortable in it. It seems the key to that is options. I like a nice variety to choose from. Do I feel like a halter top this season or maybe a tankini? What’s going to be the most flattering? Do they have it in a color I like?

SO MANY THINGS!

Luckily, Old Navy has some pretty cute options this season. I’m feeling this adorable blue number at the moment. It doesn’t seem like something I feel like I would fall out of and the ruching will be super flattering as well.

Also, I’m hoping to squeeze a couple weekend getaways into my summer. We’re thinking about a camping trip and then maybe another small trip, just a couple days away and a short drive from Chicago. (any suggestions?) And then there’s that bigger vacay that boyfriend and I were just talking about. That will will definitely include a beautiful beach and delicious ice cold drinks. Hopefully that will happen because we freaking deserve it.

Now that I type that out – summer plans make swimsuit shopping way more fun!

Thank you again to Old Navy for sponsoring my post. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.

I have them.

And yeah, they are pretty great if I do say so myself. I’ve had no complaints.

But my great boobs are besides the point. What I’m talking about is what helps accentuate the pure greatness of them: a good bra.

It’s that time again. Bra shopping.

Normally, I’ll just go to Victoria’s Secret pick out whatever is prettiest or is closest (depending on my shopping mood) in hopes that I’ll look like Marisa Miller when I put it on. Clearly, that hasn’t happened just yet because I would be walking around in my underwear all day, every day regardless of the fucking weather.

(Get on that, Vicky. Share that secret with the rest of us normal folk and we will shower you with more money than you can dream of.)

But really, people just assume Victoria’s Secret is the best place to go for all things lacy, sexy time-ish and push upping. Is this really the case? Does Victoria’s Secret do it best? Should I be looking elsewhere? Where are all the best bras at?

Most of my readers are female so I’m sure you have to have some input on this topic.

Bras. Pretty ones. That don’t suck.

Where can I find them?

(Within reason, of course. If I had the money, I’d clearly be walking into Agent Provocateur and suiting up.)

Help the girls out.

P.S. Boys, if you read this far in hopes to see some boobs, here: your reward.

Retail therapy is probably one of the best inventions ever.

No, really.

Sometimes you just need to buy shit. And then that shit makes you feel better.

This past weekend I went out to buy a new pair of boots and flats. But I happened to walk into TJ Maxx first because sometimes they just have good pieces and you get lucky. Well, I just had to do a quick run through of the handbags and then my eyes fell upon it.

THE BEST BAG IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

(okay, maybe not world but the most perfect bag that I’ve never needed that day)

And I told twitter that I was in love but was having a hard time justifying it, you know with the whole been poor and jobless thing. So I proceeded to take many a lap around the store trying to talk myself into buying it or putting it down.

So I walked and walked around the store and then this happened:

This bag has been sitting here. Taunting me. Begging me to just take the damn tags off already. But I had to consult you all first. Here it is in all it’s purple leather, long strap AND handles WITH a zipper, roomy glory. It’s kind of everything I want in a bag that doesn’t start with “M” and end with “arc Jacobs.”

(It kind of reminds me of this Miu Miu bag I’ve been obsessed with for the past 2 years that I will probably never own until I get a sugar daddy.)

(Now accepting applications.)

So there you have it. The bag I probably should return.

Keep it or return it?

P.S. You’re fucking crazy if you think I’m going to return this. I just felt better pretending I would at least consider it. Let’s just talk about how pretty it is.
P.P.S. Don’t judge me! It wasn’t that that much.
P.P.P.S. FINE, stop pressuring me. It was $150 but it was the best goddamn $150 I have spent recently. Don’t you see how pretty it is?!
P.P.P.P.S. PURPLE LEATHER. STRAPS. HANDLE. ZIPPER. PURPLE.

This time it’s not for me. We all know how much I fail when it comes to make up. But yes, make up help!

As some of you know, my sister is going to school for special effects make up. Not only does she get to do fun stuff like make blood, learn how people are shot in the head in movies and make human hearts out of candy but she is learning about regular make up.

Monday she is going on a field trip to Sephora.

I know right? Field trip to SEPHORA.

Lucky bitch.

But the point of the field trip is to build up her makeup kit. So she needs some recommendations and you guys have never failed me before!

What are you favorite make up products?

ETA: Specifics from the sister: I need eye shadows and blushes. Eyeliners. Lipstuff. Brushes and other applicators

You know how I post tons of adorable things I find? Well I finally made a seperate blog for all that stuff!

Oh! How Lovely! shops

New items will be posted daily! More than likely, my contests and features will move over there eventually so go add it to your feed reader!

And if for some silly reason you don’t have this blog added to your feed reader, you should probably do that now too!

I returned some products full of FAIL to heaven AKA Sephora and since they have an awesome return policy, I now have $61.99 to spend!

So tell me, lovelies, what should I spend my new found money on? A new fragrance? Some luxurious bath products? Stuff to make my hair look even more amazing?

Suggestions and comments are definitely welcome!

First off, thank you all so much for your input on my makeup help post. You ladies are fantastic and I’m not sure what my face would look like without you. I’m sure everyone is dying to know how my Sephora and Macy’s trip went, so I’m going to spill.

I hit up Macy’s first to check out the MAC counter since it was pretty evident that many of you all are MAC fans. I figured I would give it a go. I had a girl who basically didn’t care about anything help me. Note to everyone: MAC in Macy’s at Orland Square Mall sucks, well the people at least. Whatever, I got my shade of Studio Fix and left.

Next up? Sephora. I needed a new moisturizer and decided I needed a foundation primer. I read great things about Smashbox primer so I figured I’d try that out. Instead of the regular primer, I went with Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer in Color Adjust. It’s green and should help tone down the redness I have, as well as help the foundation stay put. I bought a tiny sample size of it because the big one was like $40 and I’ll be damned if I spend $40 on something that doesn’t work miracles. If it goes well, then I suppose I will buy it.

Then I needed a moisturizer. I had a really helpful girl (who had the most ridiculous fake eyelashes on) pick one out for me. She has skin like me that freaks out at just about anything, so she pointed me in the direction of Juice Beauty moisturizer. SPF 30, all organic, lots of antioxidants and all that great stuff.

Hopefully this stuff all works out well for me. I will keep you updated!

P.S. ANTM post coming later!

I need help, makeup help. You ladies are just the people to give me some too.

See the thing about me is, I hate makeup. I touch my face a lot, even though I know I shouldn’t. I’m scared I will poke or draw on my eyeball with eyeliner. Eye shadow? Forget it. I enjoy lipgloss, even when my hair sticks to it. My face is almost always red or blotchy around my cheeks.

Basically, I need something light, not heavy. It’s going to be summer in Chicago, I’ll admit it, I sweat. I perspire gracefully because I’m a girl, but it is still sweat. Shut up, you all do too. Sweaty face, no matter how gracefully it’s done, and makeup don’t mix.

I need something that looks natural and will cover up my redness. Don’t say Bare Minerals because it gets a big, huge FAIL from me. Messy and I felt like I didn’t get enough coverage. Right now I am using Philosophy’s Supernatural Airbrush Canvas. I still feel like I look red though. Or it could be entirely possible that I’m not doing it right! Should I give Bare Minerals another shot?

Mineral? Liquid? Pressed powder?

I fail at being a girl. Help me out here, ladies. What works best for you?

ETA: I have sensitive skin too!

I’m currently working on paying off three trips, one to Florida in June, one to San Francisco for BlogHer and now Las Vegas in October. I really need to pick up a part time job, as in I might bite the bullet and do retail again.

Living the Good Life and working as a part time nanny doesn’t go hand in hand. How do I deal with this?

Shopping, obviously.

But seriously, I’ve been looking for an every day bag to use for work and and just running around. I mean, really, I can wear my MJ out, he doesn’t deserve that. I also wanted an bag that goes across the body. I decided Etsy would be the perfect spot to look considering my new found obsession with it. So I searched and searched until I came across this lovely little shop.

Infusion
Here you will find a fine infusion of organic and natural fibers such as hemp, linen, cotton, silk, wool, buckwheat and kapok. We appreciate materials the body can relate to. We hope you enjoy too.

I ordered this bag on Tuesday and got it on Thursday.  It’s perfect from the size down to the little details make the bag so much better. Abby was super sweet and even threw in this little tiny pillow filled with herbs. It smells amazing!

Definitely go give Infusion a look. There are all kinds of wonderful bags, pillows and more.

Etsy finds may be a new thing around here. I’ve found so many awesome shops on Etsy so I think it would be kind of cool to put them up every now and then. I’ve already ordered from 5 shops in the past week! Also, no one is paying me or giving me stuff to do this. I just thought it would be fun.