how pinteresting.

welcome to another round up of my favorite "pins" for the month {of november}! the original site is linked in the description above the pin, and the link to the board where it is found on my pinterest site is below. enjoy! 

mmm... heat a mug with 2 tsp of vanilla in the oven for 1 hour at 300 degrees. 

pinned here.

amazing idea.

pinned here. 

so true.

pinned here.

bbq chicken quinoa salad. y u m. 

pinned here.

nutella stuffed sea salt chocolate chip cookies. woah...

pinned here.

pretty pop of pink. 

pinned here.

i know skinny jeans are still in, but i love this look!

pinned here.

so true.

pinned here.

seen.

i am afraid to show you who i really am, because if i show you who i really am, you might not like it--and that's all i got. 

-sabrina ward harrison

i've always been a "girlie girl." applying a full face of make up is just a part of my routine as brushing my teeth. 

i had a recent epiphany about this "practice" of applying my make up.

{the less make up i wore, the clearer my skin got.} 

when i have breakouts, it's such a natural instinct to plaster on layer upon layer to try and hide each blemish and uneven patch of my skin. but in reality, all of this make up is just further clogging my pores. and not allowing the healing to happen--but just providing a "quick fix" and cover up.

and i thought, wow. that translates to our lives too.

the more we let ourselves be seen, the more freedom we find. 

there is such healing in our lives {and "clearing" of our skin} when we peel back the layers and shed our defense mechanisms {hiding, retreating, reverting to what is comfortable}.

cleanse. 

the fear and anxiety of the "truth." uncovering what's hidden. what no one really "sees." {release and allowing}. daily.

exfoliate. 

slow, circular motions. the deep cleaning. to remove the dead cells, that which no longer produces life, and stunts growth and forward motion. we must exfoliate to reveal the beauty, underneath.

moisturize. apply life giving nutrients to the body & soul. once the filth has been removed, drench yourself with affirmation and healing emollient. {pamper.}

sometimes it starts with first, seeing ourselves. and not grimacing or wincing. but smiling. and delighting. and accepting. and loving. 

kelly & liz have helped me to embrace the practice of self portraits. capturing ourselves, for who we are:

And here it is. Me. Breathing, being, knowing me. The me who walks this path trying to tell her story through words plus photos. The me trying to just lean into the truth that loving this body, this beautiful body that houses this soul who is me, is the only way forward now. Me. Beautiful. Real. Me.

Try it. Take a few self-portraits. Take 100 if you want. Find the you in there. The beautiful you. Choose to see your beauty. 

(original post here).

i am beautiful. today. now. just the way i am. 

i am not too much. 

i am not too scarred. 

or imperfect.

i do not have to hide.  

i am seen. 

i am accepted.

i am embraced

i am loved.

drugstore beauty haul {video}.

today, i'm inviting you into my living room for a chat sharing some of my favorite products from the drugstore recently. it combines two of my loves {thrifting} + {beauty & make up products}. all of these items are $10.00 or less. i have included links below the video, as well. enjoy! 

revlon colorstay foundation 

maybelline color sensational lipstick 

suave dry conditioner

burt's bees citrus facial scrub

any questions? do you love any of these products, too? i'd love to hear from you!

youtube gurus.

do any of you find yourself getting sucked into the the wonderful world of youtube? do you search for one video and then twenty clicks later, you have learned how to peel an avocado, curl your hair and are an expert on the latest revlon lipstick product? i have learned so much from youtube "experts" and now subscribe to quite a few channels to make sure i don't miss out on the latest trend or technique. 

today, i wanted to share a few of my favorite ladies on youtube. 

emily from the beauty broadcast

after watching one of emily's informative & fun videos, you will quickly realize she is a news broadcaster. she has an incredible on camera presence; her videos are the most professional beauty youtube videos i've ever seen. she covers both high end and drugstore products. i guarantee if you have a question or product you are wondering about, she has a video for it! some of my favorite videos are:   

my favorite revlon lip products, emily awards 2011: face, and top ten elf products. and you can see her beautiful heart here with an interview with one of her make up role models. emily also blogs here. 

kandee j from kandee johnson

kandee is bubbly, joyful & so sweet. just warning you, once you start watching a few of her videos, you will not be able to stop. her smile is infectious. she is a celebrity make up artist and shares her favorite products, techniques, DIY beauty treatments & fun hauls of her outrageously awesome outfits. i have used so many of her videos in my everyday life, but here are a few on my "must watch" list: perfect skin for cheap, the skin doctor: lemon trick, and how to make eye make up remover. kandee has another more "personal" youtube channel here and she blogs here and here.

mr kate

i was first introduced to "mr.kate" from alison's youtube round up post. she has some amazing DIY ideas. her channel is so professional & unique. she features a lot of nail art, clothing tutorials and fun, random crafty ideas. a few of my favorites are: DIY boho boots tutorial, painted purse tutorial, and DIY studded shorts tutorial.

judy from it's judy time

she's gorgeous, right? she is another beauty vlogger who shares reviews, tutorials and other fun tips on her youtube channel. she is incredibly classy and relatable! some of my favorites are most worn summer things 2012, affordable drugstore makeup tutorial, and top favorite neutral lipsticks.

i would be delighted to hear of any other youtube gurus that i'm missing out on! any tips?    

fall make up trends.

happy tuesday everyone! hope your week is off to a great start. 

i've been scouring the internet for the make up must haves for this season. my favorite look from this summer was simple mascara and black liner with bold, bright lips. but i'm ready to embrace some new looks for the cooler temps and changing fashion! here are four of my favorite looks for autumn:

sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 

// really rosy cheeks. the flushed cheek is so in for this season. i think it adds a nice warm glow to accompany more pale skin tones. {at least for me...}

// brown smoky eye. i love this subtle twist on the normal black & grey smoky eye. it's a very versatile look that can easily transition from day to evening. 

// deep red lips. this fall i will switch my bright pink lips for bold burgundy. so sultry! 

// bold earthy shadow. if you are in the mood for nude lips, try this wash of earth tone shadow all over the lid. adds an instant pop of color with a neutral outfit. 

which one is your favorite? have you already started to embrace any of these fall make up trends?

pin approved!

{this background image was also a "pin" but i can't get the link to work. just fyi. i like to give credit where credit is due}

i was inspired by lindsay to share some of the ideas from pinterest that i've tried and liked! i know that people have their varying opinions about pinterest, but i feel the original intent was to share ideas & provide inspiration to actually try. here are some of my most recent projects that were {mostly} successful:

tape painting.

pinned here.

this was a surprisingly speedy process. it looks much more complicated than it is. i just used regular scotch tape, and picked a completely random design. (i think it looks so impressive for how easy it was). i touched up a few places with white paint afterwords, but it only took me about 30 minutes from start to finish! 

my version:

coffee body scrub.

pinned here.

this was amazing!! don't throw away your coffee grounds. it's a great consistency for a body scrub! my one tip--> lather up with the scrub while the water is off in the shower and then rinse WELL. it's quite messy, but smells great & leaves your skin silky smooth! 

tshirt head wrap.

pinned here.

what a great way to re-use an old tshirt or tank top! only a few steps and you have a comfy headwrap! (isn't mandy adorable?)

i made two, one in grey and this one:

you can follow me on pinterest here.

have you tried any 'pins' lately?

hope you enjoy your holiday weekend! <3

loving lately: lipsticks.

as much as i love shopping for make up, it can be quite overwhelming. {so many promises, colors, formulas, shapes, applicators, etc.} but when i find a product i really love, naturally, i want to share it! {to save others time, energy, money, frustration, etc.} i recently picked up these three new lipsticks {based on recommendations from fellow bloggers and friends} and i love them all!

revlon just bitten kissable balm stain in lovesick. purchase here. 

i was a little skeptical of this product claiming to be a "balm" and a "stain" at the same time. but honestly, it's so true. the color lasts so long (like a stain) but glides on, leaving your lips soft and moisturized (like a balm). and this color, lovesick, is the perfect pop of pink!

wet and wild mega last lip color in purty persimmon. purchase here. 

i read this review about the wet and wild mega last lip colors and decided to try this one out. i didn't own an orangey red, so at $1.99, this was the perfect time to try this new shade! i wore this lipstick today for the first time and it lasted all afternoon. it's got the prettiest hint of orange without being too bold.

elf studio matte lip color in nearly nude. purchase here.

i asked on twitter for nude lipstick recommendations and my friend courtney told me about elf's matte nude lip color. i have been wearing so many bright lipsticks this summer that applying this nude color was shockingly light. but it's the perfect paired with a dark smoky eye. so worth the $3.00!

do you have any favorite {budget friendly} lip colors to share? 

 

mint condition.

hello to all my new followers (and readers). i found out this weekend that some of my new friends here in connecticut are following along on my little blog adventure here at style of a songbird. and i'm so grateful. 

did you know you can follow/subscribe to style of a songbird through email, google reader or bloglovin to receive all my posts directly?! (just see the right sidebar for links). also, be sure to "like" my facebook page here to receive inspiration/tips/updates throughout the week as well.  

thank you to each and everyone of you for supporting my blog through reading, following, commenting. i truly don't take it for granted! <3

do you have a favorite scent? i love laundry right out of the dryer, my husband's cologne, freshly baked bread/cookies, and last but not least, mint anything. just the other day, i was drawn into a store with the scent of peppermint oil wafting through the air. mmm...
i have always been a "mint" girl. i love peppermint tea, body scrub, candles, you name it! i know i'm a little behind on the mint green trend as far as clothing and decor, but here are a few of my favorite mint finds:

one // peppermint oil. i've recently jumped on the essential oil band wagon, and i'm so glad i did. i mostly use peppermint oil to soothe headaches (rub a few drops on your temples), breathe it in for relaxation (rub a small amount under your nose and take deep breaths) and for massage oil (add a few drops to coconut oil. <---my husband thanks me). you can use peppermint oil to flavor your coffee too!

two // mentha lip shine. this has been my staple lip product for years and years. you can find it online or at bath and body works. it has the best mint flavor, tingles as soon as you apply and provides amazing shine! it freshens your breath at the same time. plus, bath and body works almost always has a buy 2 get 1 free deal on these. at $5.00 a piece, you can't not afford to pick these up!

three // mint statement necklace. this necklace from forever 21 would be the perfect accent to a neutral ensemble. and for under $7 bucks, it's the perfect price too!

four // essie polish in mint candy. as most of you know, i am a die hard shellac fan, but this mint polish is so pretty.

five // pureology hydtrate shampoo and conditioner. i seriously look forward to washing my hair because of this stuff. the hydrate line is super moisturizing so it's great for color treated or dry hair. it smells amazing and tingles your scalp. i highly suggest you at least try this shampoo and conditioner in travel size---you'll be sold. i promise.

{click on any of the above links to purchase these amazing mint products}

have a great week, everyone! 

to thine own nails be true!

according to my manifesto, pampering myself is a must. one of my absolute favorite ways to do this is getting my nails done. a pedicure can brighten any day! can i get an amen?! 

if you haven't had a shellac manicure, you are missing out! 

shellac is similar to a gel polish that sets under UV light.

two of the most amazing features of shellac vs. regular polish are...

no dry time {which means NO smudges!}

chip free polish that lasts weeks {and looks as shiny as the first day!}

{source}

you can see the progression of my nails in the photo above. by using shellac consistently, my nails have grown tremendously! i get compliments all the time and lots of people think my nails are fake! 

if you live in/near grand rapids, mi, you must check out pleasant nails (28th street and the east beltline). they are the sweetest people and do excellent work.

if you live near milford, ct, let me know your recommendations for a great nail salon that does shellac!

also, shellac doesn't come off with regular nail polish remover. you need to get pure acetone and soak them {or put some on a cotton ball and wrap them in aluminum foil and leave on for 15 min}. this will save you tons of frustration :) 

let me know if you have any questions.

happy shellac-ing!

oh how pinteresting // june {a little late} edition.

{happy independence day!}

 
{source}

i've decided to share my favorite pinterest finds once a month instead. here are my favorite pins for june and i will share more at the end of july! i have lots of original content and ideas, so i thought once a month would be a great balance to do a pinteresting post! :) enjoy!

frozen banana goodness.

pinned here.


these colors are stunning.

pinned here.


i'm dying to try this homemade bread in the crock pot! {kinda skeptical though}

pinned here.

love this soft & casual look.

pinned here.

y e s !

pinned here.


some of these are extreme, but so much inspiration!

pinned here.


drool.

pinned here.

how pinteresting!

happy pinteresting wednesday!
here are some of the fabulous pins i've discovered recently...
enjoy!

i would wear, no, ROCK these.

pinned here.

i've been trying hard to keep my heels silky soft this summer. what a smart idea! 

{moisturize and wear these to bed}

pinned here.

love how two shower curtains look. so classy.

pinned here.

my friend is selling her print. isn't it gorgeous?!

pinned here.

refreshing fruit flavored water.

pinned here.

beautiful.

pinned here.

watermelon lime frosty! mmm...

pinned here.


i've been more aware of birds since i started this blog. love this necklace.

pinned here.