In between juggling work, a 5 month old, a sassy pup, and all of life's other demands, I've gotten pretty darn good at mastering what I call the "5 minute face." Just enough to make me feel put together without taking up too much time...because let's be real, no one needs to contour to go to the grocery store or HomeGoods, am I right?!

I get to work by popping Laura Mercier Secret Concealer under my eyes because the bags are real and they ain't designer, y'all. I just use my fingers to blend.

I'll follow that with the YSL Touche Eclat down the bridge and sides of my nose to brighten them up - this stuff is a crap concealer but it's a great brightener.

A pop of Benefit Dallas Bronzer on the apples of my cheeks, hairline around my forehead, and down my nose is next for a sunkissed look.

A swipe of RMS Beauty Living Luminizer then goes on the tops of my cheekbones. I've tried a couple of setting powders from the drugstore that have been ok at best, but I'm impressed with the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder (thank you to the Laura Mercier, Sephora and Influenster team for the complimentary sample!) for keeping everything on lock for the entire day. Good stuff.

I then coat my lashes with a few swipes of Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara, brushing them out if I have a little extra time since it can get a little clumpy looking (though I don't mind that since it gives more oomph to my stubby lashes). 

The look is finished with Fresh Rose Lip Balm. I hate that I love it so much because it is so expensive for a lip balm, but it's my ride or die.

So that's it! A few of my daily faves currently in rotation that help me look less like Gollum and more like Gigi (haaaaa....I wish). What are some of your everyday favorites, chickadees? Dish in the comments!

Today, I'm sharing a few treats and trinkets I've recently acquired that have earned 5 gold stars in my book! 

Feast & Dwell candle // I picked this up at my sweet friend Jen's amazing newly opened shop, Moulton. Curated to perfection with lots of artisan goods, I couldn't resist taking home the sandalwood and birch candle.

Dr. Jart Water Drop Moisturizer // This lightweight moisturizer arrived in my Sephora Play! box, and I love how it melts into my dry skin without an overly dewy finish. Nobody's got time to run errands looking like a greaseball! 

Herbivore Jasmine Body Oil // I don't have much time to go beyond the basics when it comes to personal care these days (my ratchet hair and ragged nails can attest to that), but this natural body oil I picked up at Cove makes me feel like a million bucks. The smell is out of this world yummy, which offsets the 'eau de spit up' that I am usually wearing.

The Champagne Gypsy Feather Necklace // The perfect necklace that dresses up my basics for everyday, and is a staple in my layering game. Bonus points that Astra, the maker of these pretty baubles, is one of the kindest souls I've ever had the pleasure of (virtually) knowing.

Lemon Glaze Ceramics Texas Dish // Handmade in Texas (obviously), this dainty dish holds my rings and earrings and other trinkets when I call it a night....at like 8pm. I'm such a granny, which is exactly who this dish reminds me of with its pretty pressed lace pattern. 

It's no secret I love me some Flash Tattoos. So, natch, I added added a little one-two-punch to my basic pink mani with some Sheebani designs. I love how it turned out, and - more importantly - how easy it was. Ain't nobody got time for those complicated nail art tutorials on Pinterest. Bling bling!

Wanna deck your nails out too? Check out the post I wrote on the Flash blog for the full tutorial.

Nail Polish: 'Tickled Pink' by Sally Hansen // Flash Tattoos: Sheebani // Rings: Satya, vintage, Tiro Tiro

Being stuck inside during a very rainy (and slighty terrifying) Memorial Day weekend, a makeup bag full of empties, and a voucher offer on Gilt City for $30 off at Bobbi Brown's website meant it was the perfect time to go on a little beauty bender. I've never had a bad experience with Bobbi's line in the past (and there's some nostalgia there since I used her line for my wedding day), so I kinda had this #treatyoself mentality and went nuts. Here's the general consensus of what I stocked up on:

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick // I loved my Benefit foundation while it lasted, but I ran out and bought some cheapo Boots foundation to tide me over. Sometimes liquid foundation is a little high maintenance or too much for everyday. My co-worker Alex uses a foundation stick, which basically made me realize I pretty much needed one ASAP. I love how quick and easy it is to even out your skin tone without getting foundation cake face. Bonus points for it being TSA-friendly.

So there you have it. Spring beauty arsenal almost complete. And vow to not spend any more money has been made.

Some fun weekend reading...enjoy the winks (weekend links)!

+ Have you guys been watching House of DVF? I kinda love it....John even got a little into it when shit hit the fan about Kier's giant gold bow. Anyways, I heart and admire Diane so I thought this article on Refinery 29 was an inspiring read from a very smart biz lady.

+ If you don't follow Megan's blog, what the heck is wrong with you? Add it to your RSS immediately. I loved this podcast she did with Jessica of One Part Plant. She gets real and talks cancer, menopause, adoption, her book, upcoming screenplay, and....why meth babies are a deal breaker. ;)

+ TXSC 2015 is on....pack your best plaid, find yourself a s'mores stick and reserve your spot! This year, the conference is about getting back to basics, so the theme is CAMP. I'm super bummed that I won't be able to go this year because of SXSW commitments - boo hoo!

+ This illustration on Cup of Jo had me laughing out loud. I can't help but eye roll when couples are all "Weeee're pregnant!!!" so I am 100% behind that one. Another one are those stupid BINGS on airplanes that scares the crap out of you when it wakes you up. What are your pet peeves?

+ The '60s are my most favorite decade - the fashion! the beauty! the decor! the movies! - so this post was definitely bookmark-worthy. It has me rummaging through my hair bin for my teasing comb within 10 seconds flat.

+Speaking of which, have you seen these classic films? With the exception of the Marilyn Monroe movies, I haven't watched any of them. I feel a movie marathon coming on....get ready, Netflix.

+ Flourless pumpkin almond butter bars with dark chocolate and coconut? Ummm, get in my belly.

+ Elsie and Emma hit it out of the DIY park with this rad marbled clay ring dish tutorial. Brilliant!

J.Crew Printed Silk Snood // I can't wait to get a little more bundled up...I'm counting the days until the Texas temps dip below 90! Scarves are one of my most fave fall accessories, and the little fringe poms on this round-about style is too cute. 

TooFaced Bulletproof Brow // Since we aren't all blessed with Cara Delevingne's epic brows, this budge-proof brow pomade looks like a pretty rad way to get some power brows. 

Frends with Benefits 'Layla' Headphones Oil Slick // You know when you are at the gym pounding the pavement on the treadmill, and those silly little earbuds just won't. stay. put. no matter how hard and deep you shove them into your ears? Yeah...I've had just about enough of that. These seem like a super cute solution to blast my tuneskis on. 

Hydrangea Hello Boxed Card Set // The perfect little notes to say hello to pals near and far. 

BTWN Wind + Water Crossover Bag  // A rad cross body bag in one of Austin's newest boutiques, this carry-all is the epitome of sophisticated boho with natural indigo tie dye on ultra-soft goat leather. When open, the bag fits an iPad. Shop it at Hacienda on 204 Colorado St. 

Cynthia Vincent Eloise Flats //  Cute little flats with a design to go with grey skinnies and a crisp white shirt for fall.  

Moulton // My talented friend Jen is launching 40 (!!!) new jewelry styles on September 15. If you want to get in on a discount code and first peek at new jewelry, sign up for her newsletter by Sunday night. Homegirl makes the best minimal jewelry - so great for piling on. Mo' Moulton, mo' better!

So I just started a new show to binge-watch on Netflix - "Once Upon A Time" - and in between compulsively hitting "next, next, next, yes I'm still watching - thanks for the reminder that I've been glued to the sofa for 3 hours, next..," I painted on this neon and neutral manicure. Each time I look down, I get a little shock because the coral color is so bright - especially in contrast to the warm beige base. I dig it.

Texas in August...a time when attempting to look pulled together is more fantasy than reality. Makeup melts off your face in protest of the heat, your blow drier was forced into early retirement, and the looser, the better when it comes to getting dressed.

With the dog days of summer in full swing, a gal can't help but daydream about a way to make a great escape. Where do I go, you ask? Back to Italy, where I consume gallons of gelato without a morsel of guilt, smooch my hubby on the banks of the Arno where we first met, and play games of chicken with the motorini whooshing down narrow streets at unreal speeds.

Although we're saving a trip back to Florence for our 10 year anniversary, there's no reason why I can't channel a little bit of la dolce vita with some gorgeous lipsticks - inspired by some of my favorite Italian destinations - from my (heavily) air-conditioned confines in Texas.

Channel the Italian sunset on the beautiful island of Capri with Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Sweet Nectar, a citrusy orange hue that pops perfectly against a tan.

Experiment with artistic shades like this bright purple Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Violet Volt in the city that was an epicenter for the masters of Renaissance art. Not to mention cheering on the Firenze Viola at the top of your lungs. Forza Viola! I was really frightened of this one at first, but it actually turned out to be my favorite! This just proves the theory that I love anything and everything about Florence. ;)

One of the fashion capitols of the world, Milan will inspire you to strut your stuff. Go bold or go home with Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Rose Hip, a vibrant and bright pink color.

For just under $6 a tube, these lipsticks are such a fun way to brighten your summer beauty routine without having to worry about creasing eyeshadow, smearing eyeliner, and melting foundation. What are you go-to lipstick colors?!

Gosh, why did no one ever tell me that your late twenties (ahhh, ermahgerd!) are spent battling both wrinkles and pimples?! ARGH. It was time. I needed to buy a foundation.

The word 'foundation' was scary to me....it conjured up visions of older ladies with thick cakey makeup spackled on that was glaringly obvious when they wore it. Ewww. I dragged (and by dragged  I mean happily skipped) myself into Sephora, and started dotting different colors of foundation and concealers all over my arm. About 15 minutes later, I started loosing all hope. I was certain my skin color was uncharted territory since NONE were matching up. #firstworldproblems

A sales associate could see that I was flailing in the deep foundation waters, and offered to use a nifty little machine to essentially figure out what Pantone swatch my skin matches with, and the corresponding foundations and concealers to match. It's a free service they offer in-stores (why didn't I do this sooner?!), and it was eye-opening to say the least. I was looking at shades that were a good 2 shades too light and the wrong tone! What?! You guys....get matched.

I was looking for hydration, medium coverage, and a dewy finish....and boom! That's what I got. Not too psyched that foundation requires a primer and application with a brush, but I am hoping that the extra little bit of effort when applying will result in (hopefully) bionic makeup that won't melt off in this blasted Texas heat.

Have any of you tried these? Any favorite foundations or concealers you swear by? Any drugstore kinds you like?

Benefit 'Hello Flawless!' Oxygen Foundation //  Laura Mercier Secret Concealer // Josie Maran Argan Moisturizer SPF 47

Monday nights are usually pretty quiet for John and I, as we settle back into our work routine. Well, relatively quiet. The standard scene is me sitting on the couch, painting my nails while yelling at the dodos on the Bachelorette. So, as I will be scrubbing off my glittery blue nails tonight in preparation for another summery hue, I figured I'd share some of my favorite colors in rotation right now. Bright corals, breezy grays and cool blues.....makes me wanna say "She sells sea shells by the sea shore" five times fast.

Do you guys ever catch yourself going farther and farther into the black hole that is Youtube? I mean, how many hours watching hair tutorials, make-up how-to's, and clips of hilarious cats is too much? All I know is of all the Youtube 'Hall of Famers,' Lisa Eldridge is one of my favorites. It's actually a rather dangerous channel for my pocketbook. I freaked the freak out when I saw Lisa did a vid with Alexa Chung because, duh, just look at Alexa Chung. She's a total babe. The more I watched, the more I was scribbling beauty notes like mad woman, clamoring for every. single. product. that Lisa mentioned.

Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner? Check! Chanel Vitalumiere Skin Perfecting Foundation? You bet. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer? Yes, please. Eyeko Me and My Shadow Sticks? I'll take one of each, thankyouverymuch. Eyeko Brow Gel? Mmmhmm. Rimmel Stay Blushed in Sunkissed Cherry? See you at Target. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Nude Delight? Count me in.

(PS Aren't you a little bit in awe that Alexa is literally glowing even when fresh faced? Freckle-face over here is kicking herself for not wearing sunscreen as a teen.)

PS This Modern 'Baby Bardot' video is my other fave tutorial of Lisa's...zexy!

When Jessica, the creative genius behind J.Hannah Co, asked if I wanted to attend one of her workshops, I was all "Hell to the yes!!!" because what's not to love about a cool girl creating beautiful, custom, and natural fragrances in Austin. Every morning, I spritz myself with one of the bottles on my vanity that I have been wearing since high school and it was certainly time for a change-up. A scent soul-searching, if you will. So, I headed out to her studio last Saturday, and I can't recommend the experience enough.

After walking up to her door and being greeted by her cute pup Julep on the balcony, she led me to the most cozy and cool studio space. Light filled the corner that held her precious oils - all super high quality and made with care. I'm talking hundreds of gorgeous bottles filled with oils derived from moss, fir, rose, jasmine, lavender, cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver, and some sort of cat-pee-harvested-from-a-particular-rock scent (I don't recommend that one) tucked neatly in rows, ready for the picking. She literally has a collection that would make Ariel from The Little Mermaid wicked jealous. We had a little chat about perfume-based murder mystery movies, career insights and just generally being two Chicago girls that wear cool glasses in Austin, and then got right to the nitty gritty: perfume 101.

So, all perfumes are comprised of three notes: base, middle and top. Base notes are typically those deep, heavy and long-lasting scents that ground the scent. The "dirt," you could call it. The middle is the heart of the perfume, where all the pretty florals and fairy dust live. Then, just like the cherry on top, you have a top note - a burst of scent that introduces the fragrance with a bang, then quickly evaporates. Jessica, being the wise sage she is, did point out that all these lovely scents are influenced by one 4th element: you! Everyone's body chemistry and natural scent is different, so the same perfumes will smell totally different on someone else (which was very much the case with my blend!).

We went down the line, sniffing and sampling pairings of the bases, middles and top notes that I was attracted to. You know, one of the most interesting things that I learned was just how different different species of plants can smell. Take lavender, for example. We tested three of Jessica's lavender oils out and I was shocked by how different each variety smells - one was very savory, the other sweet, and another I would not have even known had it been a blind smell test.

Anywho, I was really drawn to a fancy bouquet of vetiver, labdanum, a hint of frankincense, ylang ylang, jasmine, rose, lavender, pink grapfruit, cardamom, and ginger so that's what Jessica blended up, carefully dropping each precious oil in the vial. It's tangy and earthy, with a bright floral burst in the middle with just the right amount of nostalgia swirled in. I chose cardamom because it reminds me of our Swedish Christmas celebrations, pink grapefuit in homage to the boxfuls that my Dad doles out on behalf of our generous family friends in the valley, and lavender because it makes me think of my mom. So, there you have it.....eau de Triple Max Tons. I think it's pretty much the next Chanel No 5. ;)

Many, many thanks to Jessica for hosting me, and I can't encourage you all enough to visit her for a workshop or private session. Jessica is such a gem, and you'll not only leave feeling like a bona fide betty thanks to your uniquely tailored scent that conjurs up all your sweetest memories, but you'll also leave with some new-found knowledge. A smarty pants that smells good...all in a good day's work. Sign up yourself and a friend, host your very own perfume birthday party (how fun would this be for a bridal shower or birthday gift!?), and start blending the day away!