Hunter, Author at VITAL BLONDE

SEPHORA SPRING SALE

Apr 23

If you know me at all, you know I can’t resist walking into Sephora as soon as I see it. (Okay honestly I pretty much run as soon as I see it.) Lucky for all of us, Sephora’s Spring Sale is back, BUT it ends today. I decided to round up some of my favorite or “must-have” products for you to snag before the sale ends tonight. Today is my 23rd birthday, so I had no shame clicking “add to cart” on a few items as a little birthday present to myself.

SOOO… HOW DOES IT WORK?

First off, you need to be a Beauty Insider to participate in the sale. You can sign up here. Once you sign up and have your items all in your cart, you’ll want to enter the code for which level Beauty Insider you are.

Beauty Insiders: 10% off everything with code YAYINSIDER

VIB: 15% off everything with code YAYVIB

Rouge: 15% off everything with code YAYROUGE

MY FAVORITES:

INVISIBOBBLE // These are my favorite hair ties! They look way cute in your hair and don’t leave a crimp.

KOPARI COCONUT BODY GLOW // I want anything and everything that will make me glow AND smell like a tropical paradise.

LAURA MERCIER TRANSLUCENT POWDER // I always need more powder. Always. #OilySkinProbs

NARS POWERMATTE LIP PIGMENT // This liquid lipstick does. not. budge. I have the shade “Get It On” because I’m incapable of resisting a cheeky color name.

ANASTASIA DIPBROW POMADE // This is the secret to amazing brows.

T3 HAIR DRYER // I have an older model of this hair dryer, but it’s made a HUGE difference in my hair. (aka I dislike washing my hair a little bit less now)

ANASTASIA GLOW KIT // Does anyone else want to bathe in highlight? Just me? Ok.

DR. DENNIS GROSS ALPHA BETA PEEL PADS // Every time I use these my skin feels BOMB. Read more about why you should get these here.

KATE SOMERVILLE EXFOLIKATE // I use this in the shower, turn the water heat all the way up (I enjoy burning my skin off it’s fine), and then enjoy the steam for a couple minutes before washing it off.

WHAT I BOUGHT:

SOL DE JANEIRO BRAZILIAN CRUSH FRAGRANCE MIST // I just wanna smell like summer all the time.

DR. JART ALL THAT CONTOURS SHEET MASK // I’ve heard this sheet mask is similar to getting Botox, so I will report back with results. Sidebar — I got Botox almost 2 months ago and I’m working on a post about that experience!

NARS CREAMY CONCEALER // This concealer has a cult following, and since I’m almost out of my beloved Tarte Shape Tape I decided I would give this a try.

ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLE WEAR FOUNDATION // This is a repurchase for me! I love this foundation because it has great coverage but also feels super light.

If I had it my way, I would probably purchase just about everything during this sale. BUT I’ve done a little too much #treatyoself this month (birthday month so it’s justified?) so I had to limit myself a bit. Let me know what you’re picking up for yourself from the sale — be sure to hurry, it ends tonight!

FAVORITE SPRING TRENDS

Mar 15

sunglasses // dress (similar) // denim shirt (similar) // handbag // sneakers (similar) other similar

Spring is just around the corner (uhh next week hello? Where has 2018 gone?) Spring is by far my favorite season, and we’ve already started to get a little taste of warmer weather here in Austin. My favorite part of a new season starting is all the new trends to try out. I’ve rounded up all of my favorite spring trends for 2018 and breaking down my picks for you.

SHEER

This is probably my favorite of the trends – sheer everything please.

SATIN

Might not be the most comfortable look as the weather gets warmer, but satin has a classic and elegant look to it that can step up any outfit.

SMOCKED

Smocked pieces always have a playful and childlike feel to me, which is one of the reasons I love this look for spring.

SEQUINS/METALLICS

Gimme all the metallics, all the time.

PAPER BAG WAIST

I definitely think this trend will die out faster than others, but I’m loving the look right now.

COLOR

Notable colors for the season: dusty pastels, bold prints, lavender, red & pink combo and “gen Z yellow” (Is it really the next millennial pink?)

PLATFORMS

I might sprain my ankle again in some of these, but I’ll look good doing it at least. Chunky “Dad” sneakers are also in- dig out your Skechers for some Balenciaga vibes.

Keep an eye out for fringe, square necklines, punk styles and the 90s making a major comeback as well this season. I don’t know about you, but so far I’m loving all of these trends and super excited for spring to begin. What are your favorite spring trends this year? Let me know on my latest insta!

SO I GOT MY LIPS FILLED

Jan 09

Okay, so, SURPRISE. I got lip fillers! Well, if you’ve seen me in the past few weeks that may not be much of a surprise to you. I made this impulsive decision just before Christmas. I moved my appointment to get a lip augmentation with Juvederm from a week ahead to the literal day after I decided I wanted my lips done right then.

Here’s the thing- when I decide I want to do something I want to do it now. Patience is not my strong suit when my mind is made.

I decided I wanted to blog this experience because I don’t know many people who have gotten a lip augmentation and was really curious about the process and what all to expect. So whether you’re curious too because you want to have your lips done also, or you think it’s weird and gross and just wanna know how things go, I’m here to tell you my experience.

My appointment was with Mara at the Med Physique in Austin. I ended up getting 3/4 syringe of Juvederm Ultra Plus injected, with 1/4 syringe saved for touch-ups later. I wanted to go for a full, natural look without looking like I stepped out of Real Housewives.

Full disclosure: I work for Allergan, the pharmaceutical company that makes Juvederm, which is why I chose this specific filler. Juvederm has a whole family of fillers used for different things. I honestly can’t tell you much about the different types, but Med Physique recommended Ultra Plus for volume so that’s what I went with.

Now you’re probably wondering what on earth is in these fillers and why I would agree to inject them into my lips. Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid gel. Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in your body, and you likely see it as an ingredient in some of your skincare products. Because of this, fillers like Juvederm aren’t permanent, and for lip augmentations can last up to 6 months depending on how your body metabolizes the hyaluronic acid. If you’re wanting to keep your lips nice and full, plan on getting injections around twice a year with a couple of touch-ups in between too.

And now you’re thinking… Does it hurt? Short answer: kinda. It doesn’t feel like rainbows and clouds and lollipops and everything sweet and nice that’s for sure. Mara numbed my lips with lidocaine prior to the injections and I could barely feel any part of my mouth for the actual injecting part. Of course, you can tell that something is being injected and you can feel pressure, but the injections themselves don’t hurt too much. The whole process from start to finish was really quick, only about 30 minutes.

Afterward… that’s a different story. It took around another 30 minutes for me to be able to feel my lips again to the touch, and even then there is lidocaine in the filler itself, so your lips will still feel a bit numb.

Let me be honest- this is when it starts to get painful. Not anything too bad, but definitely sore and uncomfortable. It’s like this for a few days, and your lips are very very swollen.

At around day 3 my lips weren’t as swollen anymore and just slightly sore. At 1 week later, they were only sore in two small places and just barely swollen there at all. I iced my lips the whole evening and next day after I got them done, and I think it made a huge difference. In all, it took about 2 weeks for the swelling to go down completely.

Overall, I’m extremely happy with how they turned out. They still look natural, where people who don’t know that I’ve had them done won’t think, “oh my god her lips are so fake.” Most people don’t even know I’ve had it done unless I tell them.

Would I do it again? I would consider it. I like the look right now, but I am glad that they’re not permanent so I can choose to not have them done again if I want to.

If you’re in Austin, I recommend going to Med Physique where I got mine done. If not, I would do some research on different dermatologists or medspas in your area and look at their before and after pictures to make sure their clients have a look you’re going for. A consultation is typically done to recommend how much to have injected and all of those details, so don’t stress too much about having it figured out ahead of time.

The whole process was incredibly easy and I’m glad that I ended up doing it. I was on the fence for a while and was worried about what people would think, but the bottom line is I’m happy with it and that’s what matters. If you want to get yours done too- I say go for it!

There’s a lot of stigmas that come with cosmetic procedures like this and I wanted to be upfront and real about it to try to break some of that down. I try my best to be an open book when it comes to blogging and kind of life in general. I never want to be that girl who acts like she can’t remember where she got her shoes from or won’t share her secrets. If there’s anything more you want to know about the process, feel free to ask!

I linked some hyaluronic acid products below, and I now take a hyaluronic acid supplement each day to help ensure the filler lasts as long as possible. Would you ever get lip injections, or what are your thoughts on it? I wanna know! xx

2018, LET’S DO THIS

Jan 08

So I’m a little behind here, I know. I don’t like resolutions, I never have. Something about resolutions has always felt staunch and unachievable. I’m more keen on the idea of setting intentions for the year.

I wanted to pick just two things to focus on, because any more than that and I feel like I’m being pulled in different directions.

In 2018, I intend to be present and to grow my passions.

Be present

This is a big one for me. As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, being present is not my forte. Recently I read a quote that said depression is living in the past, while anxiety is living in the future. That really stuck with me. I quite literally have a problem with living everywhere else but the present.

This isn’t something that will ever come easily to me, but I want to be better at it this year. So much time can slip right by if you aren’t paying attention and worrying about what’s coming next. I’m not going to let that happen anymore.

Grow my passions

Essentially what I mean by this is that I want to focus on the things that make me happy, the things I’m passionate about. Example- every year I say I’m going to blog more, and then I get absorbed in all the little details and forget my passion for writing and for sharing thoughts with others. As I get more caught up with everyday life, I forget about practicing all these things that make me happy.

This year, I want to make sure I don’t forget about the things I’m passionate about. I want to make sure I’m putting them into practice, making them a priority and growing with them and as a person as well.

Adjusting to post-grad life hasn’t been the easiest process for me, and I’m looking forward to feeling like I have my feet more underneath me in the coming months. I’m so excited to see what 2018 has in store, and I’m ready to enjoy every moment of it along the way.

What are your resolutions/intentions for 2018?

LOOKING BACK AT 2017

Jan 02

2017 wasn’t all that I expected it to be. I’m not sure what I really expected it to be, honestly. Mostly, it was a year of change. I experienced more “big life changes” this year than probably any other year in my life. A lot of this year was very hard. Change and I are not BFFs, and I am still learning how to be comfortable with it. But, I learned so much about myself and grew as a person in more ways than I thought possible.

I started 2017 off by doing the scariest and most exciting thing I’ve ever done; I moved away from the only state I’ve ever lived in across the country to New York City to intern for my last semester of college. I learned to love the cold (this was the biggest surprise to me.) I learned how alone you can feel in a city surrounded by millions of people. I learned what it’s really like to work for a fashion designer (hint: The Devil Wears Prada isn’t a perfect depiction) and loved every minute of it. I learned the city can feel like home if you let it. I also learned that I wasn’t quite ready for it to be my home, and I decided to leave the city to start my “real adult” life back in Texas.

Fun fact: Between living there and all the trips I took, I spent more time in New York than in Texas in 2017!

Looking Back at 2017 Graduation | The Lipstick Tales — *Photo by Shelby Nickel Photo*

Then, I graduated college. I crossed the stage twice and officially earned two degrees in retail merchandising and public relations, and then I panicked. Okay, I’m done with school… now what? I had already been away from my friends for 6 months, but I started to realize we weren’t all going to be living just a minute’s walk away from each other now that I was back in Texas. So what was my solution? Move back to Austin and pretend everything is the same anyway!

So I moved back to Austin. I made a lot of new friends, started my first full-time job, and learned that Austin post-grad isn’t what I wanted it to be. And that’s okay. I’m 22, I’m figuring it all out still.

It seems like every year I look back and think of everything I could have changed, everything I wanted to be different, every way the year “went wrong.” It’s okay if the past year wasn’t your best year yet, and it’s okay if it’s nothing close to what you thought it would be going into it. All in all, 2017 through me for a loop. With each step I took, (or misstep – #tbt to spraining my ankle by stepping off a curb wrong) I learned something about the world and about myself.

As with any year, I’m ready to close this chapter of the book and start a new, fresh page. As I get older, the less I know what to expect with each coming year. I probably won’t have it all figured out by the end of 2018, either. Although this year shook out different than I thought, I will always look back at this year and smile. This year I realized my strength and resiliency. In each of the 9 pictures below, I can detail out the excitement I had for what came next, and that’s the exact feeling I have about the coming year.

2018, I’m ready for you.

NEW YORK CITY GUIDE

Jun 06

There’s a reason why they call it “the greatest city in the world.” There is no limit of things to do or see in New York, which was one of my favorite things about living there. In my 5 months of time that I called myself a New Yorker, I explored and visited everything I could and had some of the best experiences of my life. If you’re headed to New York for a week, month, a year or even just a weekend, here are some of my favorite things to do and see!

Where to Eat

I’m going to apologize in advance for this being one of the longest sections… there is SO much good food in New York.

Ilili – Probably my favorite meal I’ve had in New York. Amazing Mediterranean/Lebanese tapas. Get the brussel sprouts and the beef fried kibbeh.

Beauty & Essex – It’s a speakeasy, and they give you free champagne in the bathroom. Go for brunch, get the pancakes and the grilled cheese/tomato soup things.

Tao – This place can get kind of touristy, but it’s a fun place to go and it is always crowded.

Vandal – This restaurant is inspired by street food and street art, and everything I ate here was amazing. I loved the Bao Buns.

Pietro Nolita – A pink as f* restaurant with amazing cocktails and pasta. It’s tiny, they don’t take reservations and only take cash or AMEX so plan ahead. No shortage of Instagram-able moments here.

Catch NYC – Super fun seafood restaurant in the middle of the Meatpacking district. Great food, and there’s a rooftop bar if you just want to go for drinks.

Cacio e Pepe – Pasta made in a cheese wheel. Enough said.

Totto Ramen – My favorite ramen I ate in the city. Cash only, no takeout and no delivery which is kind of a bummer but the food is delicious.

Fig and Olive – Get the truffle pasta, thank me later.

Junior’s – Go to the original one in Brooklyn, it’s less touristy. Get the cheesecake, they’re famous for it.

Gran Electrica – Cute restaurant in Dumbo with great street tacos. I might be in love with the wallpaper.

Balthazar – Very touristy spot, but great food nonetheless. Go for lunch instead of dinner.

Piccola Cucina – Amazing pasta in Soho.

Deux Amis – The most authentic and best French food. The Coq au Vin was to die for.

Quality Meats – I’m not a big meat eater, and I loved this place. That being said, I got the lobster but everything I tried was great.

Jing Fong Restaurant – If you’re looking for a truly authentic Chinatown experience, this is the place to go.

Gramercy Tavern – I only went here for a drink, but this place is so cute and I’ve heard nothing but good things about the food.

Boqueria – Nutella churros. That’s all I have to say about that.

The Smith – The best mac n cheese I have ever experienced in my life.

NoMo Kitchen – This restaurant has a beautiful view at sunset. Bonus points if you can tell me what the scent in the hotel lobby is.

Don Antonio – I actually heard about this place from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and decided to stop by for a post-theatre meal. It was amazing.

Pizza Beach – This place will transport you to a beachside pizza shack, but in the middle of Manhattan. Oh, and you’ll get some amazing pizza.

Quick Bites

Juice Generation – Don’t ask me how many PB Acai bowls I ate in 5 months from here.

Sweetgreen – I was a self-proclaimed salad hater until I ate here.

Chop’t – The Kebab Cobb salad is my all-time favorite salad ever.

Shake Shack in Madison Square Park – Burgers with a beautiful view? Yes, please.

By Chloe – It’s vegan food, but don’t let that keep you away. It’s amazing, and you won’t even miss the meat or cheese.

The Bagel Store – The rainbow bagels you’ve seen everywhere. They taste more like donuts to me TBH, but they’re fun.

Ess a Bagel – AMAZING bagels. It’s a mom and pop type place that I lived way too close to for my own health. There’s almost always a line out the door, so plan ahead.

Joe’s Pizza – Some of the best cheap pizza in the city. Don’t go to New York without making a stop here.

Cheese Grille – A restaurant devoted to grilled cheese. I think you get my point here.

Liquiteria – My other favorite smoothie/acai bowl place.

Good for drinks

While We Were Young – The cutest little spot in West Village, with the best cocktail I’ve ever had.

Mr. Purple – Amazing views of the city from the Lower East Side, great drinks, plus, they gave us free cheese puffs the first time we were there.

Westlight – An amazing view of the city from Williamsburg.

Sweet & Vicious – Really fun bar in Nolita.

Bar SixtyFive – Don’t pay to go to Top of the Rock, make a reservation here and go for drinks. You’ll pay less for the same amazing view, and get a drink out of it.

Ghost Donkey – We went here for the popsicle prosecco drinks, but the nachos looked bomb too.

Empire Hotel Rooftop Bar – Gossip Girl fan? Me too. This place is a must-see if you are.

Sweets

Baked by Melissa – Tiny [expensive] delicious cupcakes.

Carlo’s Bakery – Yes, the one from the TV show. They have great cannolis.

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory – Amazing (egg free!!!!) ice cream with a beautiful view of the city.

Holey Cream – Ice cream sandwich made with a donut. You’ll gain 5 pounds but it’s worth it.

Do – Yes, this is the cookie dough place you’ve seen on Facebook. IMO, it’s not worth waiting more than 30 minutes for. Go on a weekday for a shorter wait time.

Big Gay Ice Cream – The ice cream is as fun as the name suggests.

Magnolia Bakery – Get the banana pudding, it is divine.

Laduree – This place is definitely touristy, but they have the best macarons.

What to See/Do

Broadway – Hands down my favorite thing to do in the city. If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on tickets, go to the TKTS booth in Times Square. Not all shows will be available here but you can get a really good deal.

Top of the Rock – If you want a great view of the Empire State Building, this is where to go.

One World Observatory – Be sure to go on a clear day, and this view is breathtaking.

Brooklyn Flea & Smorgasburg – Why wouldn’t you want to snack on a ramen burger and browse a flea market?

Paintbox Nails – If you want a really fun manicure, this is the place to go! I got the gel design and it lasted for more than 3 weeks.

Chelsea Market – A fun, indoor market with great food and some shopping.

The High Line – The High Line is an abandoned train track turned into a park and runs along the west side of the island. I love walking the High Line and then stopping at Chelsea Market for lunch.

Central Park – You will get lost in here, and it will be worth it. One of my favorite days spent in NYC was walking through the park after a blizzard came through and playing in the snow.

MoMA – I’m a huge fan of modern art, so this museum is always one of my favorites.

The Met – To truly conquer this museum, you need to devote an entire day to it. There is so much to see!

The Whitney – Several floors of this museum were closed when I visited, but it is definitely the “trendy” art museum to visit right now.

9/11 Memorial and Museum – While very somber, this is definitely a must-see on a trip to the city.

DUMBO – My favorite quaint little area of Brooklyn! You can find great views of the city, the Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge here. Not to mention there is a cute carousel on the shoreline!

Brooklyn Bridge – I took almost every person that visited me to walk the Brooklyn bridge because it is so fun. I loved walking across from Manhattan and then exploring Dumbo, but you also get beautiful views if you walk from Brooklyn over to Manhattan.

Shopping – Let’s be honest, what’s a trip to New York without shopping? Soho and Fifth Ave are great spots, but they can get really crowded. There’s no shortage of it in New York, with great shopping areas in Soho, Fifth Ave, Flatiron District, West Village and the Upper East Side just to name a few. Soho can get pretty crowded but it was always my go-to spot for shopping! Also be sure to check for any sample sales going on when you’re visiting to score a great deal!

PHEW. This may have been the longest post I’ve ever written! Obviously, there are TONS of great things to see and do in New York and there is no way I could have included them all. If you’re visiting there soon, please send the city my love.

22 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT ME

Apr 21

My 22nd birthday is this weekend, so I decided to share 22 facts about myself in honor of my birthday. I’m honestly not that excited about turning 22. I mean, after 21 are there really any more exciting birthdays? Is this what getting older really feels like? Anyway, here are 22 things that you’ll probably make fun of me for when you finish reading this!

1. I’ve fallen out of a moving truck.

Lock your doors and wear your seatbelt, trust me.

2. I’ve also fallen on an escalator.

I’m pretty clumsy, needless to say, I even sprained my ankle recently from stepping off of a curb. Don’t run up an escalator.

3. My belly button isn’t an innie or an outie, it’s somehow both.

I got my belly button pierced to cover it up, because I think it’s weird. I’m legitimately terrified of what it will look like one day when I’m pregnant. I don’t think I’ll find that out anytime soon, though.

4. I won my 4th grade spelling bee.

I came in third the next year even though I wore a shirt that said “queen bee.” I was really bitter about it.

5. I have synesthesia.

My favorite color is the letter “i.” Read about why this makes sense to me but not to you here.

6. I used to hate my name and demanded to be called Alysse.

Alysse is my middle name, and I hated that Hunter sounded so masculine. My parents essentially told me they would only call me Hunter, so I gave up on wanting to be called Alysse and now I just own my name.

7. I have two tattoos, one with each of my parents.

I got a ladybug tattoo with my mom and a lightning bolt tattoo with my dad, and each one has a special meaning.

8. In middle school my email address was [email protected].

I’m not ashamed.

9. I also had an unhealthy obsession with the Jonas Brothers, specifically Nick.

I’m still not ashamed, did you see his Calvin Klein ads?

10. In high school I woke up one morning with a spider bite on my face.

I still have a faint scar from it that turns bright red from time to time. I don’t think I’ve slept right ever since this happened.

11. I don’t like avocados.

Please don’t hate me, they’re gross.

12. I get really bad motion sickness/car sickness.

I once threw up in my Meme’s purse in the car on the way to Muir Woods in California. I also have thrown up on her feet in a McDonald’s in Times Square, but that wasn’t from motion/car sickness.

13. I’ve never broken a bone.

Somehow I didn’t break anything with the fall out of my mom’s truck. We’re all surprised about this one given my clumsiness.

14. I’m allergic to eggs.

Everything with eggs in it makes me sick, but I eat them anyway and then complain about not feeling well. Sorry bout it.

15. I have a huge sweet tooth.

I need to be supervised around chocolate and ice cream.

16. I’m a third generation Texas Longhorn.

My Granddad, my Mom and my Dad went to UT. My Granddad’s freshman and sophomore year were 1969 and 1970, when we won the national championship back to back and I’m lowkey really jealous.

17. My favorite food is oatmeal.

I literally eat oatmeal every day. I cried a couple months ago when I realized we didn’t have any oatmeal at my dad’s house for breakfast. I have the diet (and emotional stability when it comes to oatmeal) of a 5 year old.

18. Taco Bell is my guilty pleasure.

Beefy 5 layer burrito or crunchwrap supreme, please.

19. I double majored because I was going to graduate a year early if I didn’t.

I started college with 53 credit hours, and I’ve been classified as a senior by credit hours since my sophomore year.

20. The 1975 is my favorite band.

I cried the entire time the first time I saw them in concert a year ago. I met Ross, the bassist, at Rio after the concert. I’m still not over it.

21. My little sister and I regularly get mistaken for twins.

She’s five years younger than me but she’s taller than me.

22. I’ve never actually been hunting.

My name is misleading.

So now that you think I’m sufficiently weird for all of these things, do you have any weird fun facts about yourself, or did you know any of these about me? Let me know in the comments!

APRIL PLAYLIST

Apr 04

It’s my favorite month of the year! Okay, I’m a little biased because I’m an April baby, but I love this month for more than just that. I love that this is the first full month of spring, and I am extremely upset that I’m missing all of the beautiful Texas wildflowers while I’m in New York! I make a Spotify playlist for each month with my favorite songs that I’ve been loving lately and add onto it throughout the month, and then repeat the cycle all over again when a new month comes along! I love doing this because I can be like, “wow September last year was great” and then go listen to my playlist from that month and it’s like I’m taken back in time!

I decided to start sharing my monthly playlists, and I will also share some of my other favorite playlists designed for a specific genre, mood, or artist. I have a very wide music taste which you’ll probably see from these posts, so I am always open to hearing your favorite music as well, so please comment below with some songs you’ve been loving lately!

Hope you love this new little blog series! You’ll be able to find all of my playlist/music posts under the category “Listen” in the header bar!

YOU’RE A PEACH

Mar 13

It’s no secret that peach is having a major moment right now in makeup trends. People went nuts over Too Faced’s Sweet Peach Palette when it was released, and peach is easily going to be the color for spring makeup. I love this trend because it’s universally flattering, so I picked out some of my favorites for you to try.

MAC Soft Brown and NARS Orgasm are some great staples to have in your makeup collection! Orgasm is my most used blush, and it looks beautiful on everyone. Soft Brown is a perfect transition color, especially for bold eye shadow looks.

The one product I can’t wait to try out of these is Glossier Cloud Paint in Beam. I recently tried a few Glossier products after stumbling upon their showroom on Lafayette Street one afternoon, and I’m obsessed. Their products look so natural and feel lightweight, definitely give them a try!

What do you think of this makeup trend, and do you have any peach product favorites? Let me know in the comments below!

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

Feb 13

I’ve been talking about moving to New York since before my first trip here at nine years old. I always loved the energy of the city, and knew my ambitious personality would thrive here. My first few days as a New Yorker were hard. I cried a lot, missed my family and wanted to go home to Texas. I was afraid I wasn’t actually cut out for this city, afraid I wasn’t bold enough or independent enough. These fears shocked me, because I have always considered myself to be very bold and independent.

If I’ve learned anything in the time I’ve been here, it’s that your dreams will scare you. They’ll terrify you and make your heart race. Fear can’t and shouldn’t stop you, especially from achieving your dreams. I currently am living out a dream of mine and working for a tremendously inspiring woman, Rebecca Minkoff. Something she said helped me while getting used to my new life here in New York.

“It is so important to be a fearless leader, even when faced with uncertainty. You are the only one who knows how fast your heart is beating. To the outsider, be fearless.” – Rebecca Minkoff

There’s a voice inside my head that keeps saying “you can’t do this, this city isn’t for you.” Every time I hear that voice, I go back and look at this picture above and think, “I can’t let her down.” I can’t imagine the excitement she’d have if little three year old Hunter could see me now. If I threw in the towel over a little bit of fear, I would disappoint her. I didn’t come here to be afraid. I came here to accomplish things that I’ve worked all of my recent life for, and to love every second of it.

I’ve now been here for almost a month, and while it has taken a lot of adjustment, it is feeling more and more like home. I’ve already had such amazing experiences, and while I still miss home, I wake up each morning with excitement of new adventures this city will offer me. There’s an energy in this city unlike any other. If you’ve never experienced it, get here ASAP.

So, for everyone wondering “How’s New York?” It’s amazing, wonderful and everything I hoped it would be. Also, it’s cold. Come visit if you can!