JACKPOT! The perfect summer tank

It's almost summer in Texas, which means it's about to get ridiculously hot.  Like silly hot where all you want to do is be in a pool or indoors in air conditioning with a nice frosty beverage.  To combat the hot summer weather, us Southern girls must wear as little clothing as possible.  What better way to do that then to throw on a tank?

Tank tops are a staple in the summer for me because they are so effortless.  Tanks are obviously typically casual, but I think they can totally be dressed up with cute vintage cuffs, some affordable statement necklace or a pair of dangle earrings.

I must say though, it's been difficult over the years for me to find THE perfect tank top.  If it's cropped too short or loose fitting, it's not flattering.  Jackpot ladies! I found a freaking gold mine at NY & Co a few weeks ago.  I present to you the perfect tank:

NY & Co's Streetwear Long Ribbed Tank

This baby comes in three colors: black, white and heather gray.  You better believe I have one in each color and I'm seriously considering buying a second tank in each color, "just in case".  What if they quit making them?  You just never know.

I. am. obsessed.  I loveeeeee how long they are because they're super flattering and slimming.  I'm only 5'4", but I know you tall girls will appreciate the length.

While I was there, I also bought a pair of their cropped yoga pants, and I actually like them better than the Victoria's Secret cropped yoga pants.  Yes, I said it and I don't take it back.  Plus, these are cheaper.  SOLD.

NY&Co Cropped Yoga Pants

You waiting for the price?  The tanks are regularly $19.95 each, but the three I bought were 50% and 40% off.  (I went back to buy every color after I became obsessed.) 

I am also signed-up for NY&Co's e-mail list and they send me promos and coupons literally every day.  I don't think there is any reason for you to pay full price for these tanks, so please don't. 

Do you have a tank you're obsessed with or have you been on the hunt and I just made your dreams come true?  Tell me!

My confessions: Someone hates me edition

Since blogger was being such a little b word on Friday, I didn't get to do my confessions.  And since Rissy confessed yesterday and Ashley today, I couldn't be left out.

Forgive me blog world, for I have sinned ....

I confess that someone, maybe even Jesus, hates me.  If you're my Twitter or Facebook friend, then you probably already read about this story. However, I'm sure you'll still get a laugh the second time around.  Here's why:

Last night I was at Aldi picking up some groceries and maybe a bottle of wine jumped in my grocery cart.  There I was checking out and minding my own business, when I out of the corner of my eye I see my wine bottle start to topple off the conveyor belt.  Naturally, I'm going to jump to the wine's rescue. 

Before I know it, I'm on the floor surrounded by a puddle of glass and sweet nectar.  Swear.  The people's faces waiting in line to check-out looked a little something like this:

Trust me people, I was just as shocked and confused as you.  I leapt forward, but ended up losing my balance and flying backwards (I blame the Old Navy flips with zero traction that I was wearing). 

All I could think when I realized I had just tumbled to the ground was, "this is not my life."  All in the name of wine.  But seriously, someone must hate me because I didn't even end up leaving with a bottle of wine.  All I got was a bruised elbow and ego.

I confess last Friday I ate a donut (& a few donut holes) and Slimfast for breakfast.  They cancel each other out, right?

I confess that I just threw away Easter lunch leftovers and Easter eggs from my fridge last night.  Yes, I'm disgusting.  You can say it.

I confess I did laundry 2 weekends ago and didn't put it away until last night. 

I confess I haven't checked my mail in weeks.  Checking my mail makes the list of my least favorite things to do along with pumping gas, laundry, emptying my dishwasher, etc.  Basically, I'm just lazy and in my second life, I'm coming back as a cat.

I confess the highlight of my week was the Real Housewives of New Jersey premiering last night.   

I confess that last week I had to carry my nephew, his car seat plus my Mary Poppins purse down my stairs, so I did what any other normal person would do.  I strapped him into the car seat and carried him down the stairs buckled into the car seat.  He said "Aunt Lindsey, I'm scared.  You're gonna drop me."   I would never drop cargo as precious as this:

Happy Tuesday!  What do you confess?

Don't waste money on trendy jewelry

Here's my theory on buying women's jewelry.  It is my opinion that you should only spend money on classic pieces that will never go out of style (i.e. pearls).  Anything else you want because it is trendy and in style should be affordable.  Odds are whatever is a "must have" right now will be out of style by next season.  You with me?

So, if I'm buying "costume" jewelry or trendy pieces, I have a go-to store and that's Charlotte Russe.  I recently bought several necklaces and earrings this Spring and I get compliments on them every time I wear them.  We're talking several compliments a day from strangers at the grocery store, out to eat, co-workers, etc. 

I always just say "thank you", smile and hope they think it was a really expensive piece.  Little do they know I only shelled out about $8 bones for the damn thing.  Me so sneaky.

The Charlotte Russe necklace I'm wearing today.  It's one of my faves:

And just for y'all, I went online and found 4 pieces I would totally buy right now if I wasn't currently broke.  Do you ever get really scared to log-in to your online checking account?  Your stomach starts hurting before you even see the damage you did during the weekend.  That = me this morning.  I really need to find a sugar daddy, and preferably a non-geriatric one. 

You could buy all  four of these pieces for only $40.  Or you can go to Express (don't get me started) and spend about that on one plastic ring.  I mean, it's totally up to you. 

1  /  2  /  3  / 4

Where is your favorite place to buy trendy jewelry?  Do you agree with my theory?

Meet my new BFF: "The Cosmetics Company Store"

It's official:  I'm obsessed with The Cosmetics Company Store (CCS).  It's an outlet makeup, fragrance, and accessories store that features the Estee Lauder-owned brands MAC, Estee Lauder, Origins, Prescriptives, Bobbi Brown, and Clinique.  I briefly mentioned it once here.

The products include overstock, discontinued colors, and limited-edition items that have been taken off department-store shelves priced 10 to 50 percent off retail.

I realize you don't all have access to an outlet mall, but if you do, I highly recommend you pay one a visit.  It's my new favorite place to spend my lunch breaks, and since I know you're going to do exactly as I tell you, here is the list of all 74 locations.

I present you with my favorite recent purchases from CCS starting with the MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo color I found there in "Illusionary Burning Ambition", which I wore to work yesterday:

At first I thought it might be too shimmery for work or every day, but once I swatched it in the store, I didn't think so at all.  I paid $13.25 for it, and MAC Mineralize Duos are regularly priced $19.50.  Not a huge discount, but I'll take it.  I really love the smokey brown eye it creates.

I'm a natural blonde, so my eye brows are basically non-existent.  I've never really done much to fill them in because I feel like a drag queen when I do and am petrified of looking chola.  Well, the Bobbi Brown Eye Brow Kit in blonde/wheat caught my eye while I was there, so I purchased it for $24.50 (from my online research it appears it was originally around $38 to $40 full price).

The kit has two eye shadows for filling in brows, a mini eyebrow brush and mini tweezers.  You can actually see my eyebrows now and the best part is, I don't even look chola:

Don't get me wrong though, a serious chola brow can be exquisite.  There's this trick who works at the grocery store I go to and she rocks the best sharpie brows.  It takes everything in me to refrain from creeping a pic with my cell.  She looks a lil something like this:

[via]

The entire reason I even went there this week was to get a neutral all-over base color for eyes because I was out of mine.  Don't you love when you go to a store for one thing and walk out with more? Me too!  I got the Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Bone 2 for $14 (normally $20). 

Recently, I also purchased MAC's Knight for $10.25 (normally $14.50).  It's actually what I was wearing in the vlog yesterday.

Last but not least, I couldn't finish this post without sharing what's on my lips because it's such a good deal.  It's actually this lip balm called Gentle Lip Care Pearl & Shine from Aldi's beauty line, Lacura.

Do you want to know how cheap this stuff is?  It comes 3 to a pack for only $1.49!  I have one in my purse, make-up bag and bedside drawer.

Now you can't say I never told you anything!

p.s. A few of you little bargainistas have mentioned I should do a make-up tutorial, so I've been thinking about doing a vlog (shoot me now) or step-by-step tutorial on my make-up routine.  Any thoughts on this?  Let a girl know!

How I Chi curl my hair [video]

This vloging stuff is for the birds.  I don't know how those beauty vlog gurus do it.  I didn't even get to talk to y'all and be my normal, witty self.  I was too worried trying to explain how I do the Chi curl, which I'm almost 99 percent sure is probably still pretty unclear after you watch this.

I really hope this video makes a little bit of sense to you because it is way harder than I ever thought to explain.  If not, at least I tried, and you'll have something to laugh at.  Feel free to show your friends and make fun.  I had to ghetto rig my little point and click Canon digital camera in my living room. 

This is simply the basic idea behind what I do to Chi curl my hair, please don't watch this video expecting some legit hair tutorial. 

Of course, I will be happy to answer any questions you have, just make sure your e-mail address is connected to your google profile or leave it with your comment.  Here goes nothing, don't mind my double chin.  It brings all the boys to the yard.



And p.s. It took me all night to upload this, I am never doing a vlog again.