September Favorites

Hi beauties,

It's that time of the month again! Time for my monthly favorites post that is... I know that my blog has been lacking in posts lately (my last post was my August favorites!). I am very sorry for this. My school outfits have consisted of nike shorts and oversized t-shirts with a few dresses and blouses mixed in. Honestly, it's still so hot that I can't bring myself to care much about my appearance at school - the heat and humidity have my face oily anyway! I'm excited for the weather to cool down so I can pull out my sweaters and boots. But until then, I probably won't have much to post. Now on to my September Favorites:

Beauty

Sonia Kashuk 'Confidential Concealer' and Maybelline 'Mega Plush' mascara.

The two products I've been using almost every day this month. 'Mega Plush' is my favorite drugstore mascara and I've needed a good concealer for my dark under-eyes lately.

Hair

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth shampoo and conditioner.

This haircare duo was super inexpensive and works wonders for my frizzy hair.

Shoes

Hunter 'Original Tour' boots in red. 

We've had quite a few rainy days this month where I live. These boots are bright and comfortable, perfect for walking through puddles in a downpour.

New Purchases

1D+OD nail polish set. 

One Direction 'Our Moment' perfume (available here and here)

And my One Direction obsession continues... But in all actuality, both of these purchases are amazing. They are not only celebrity-branded, but also great quality products. I will be doing a review on both the nail polish set and the perfume. I wore the nail color 'Confident' (Niall's color) this month.

Blog

Chiara Ferragni, The Blonde Salad.

Obsessed with Chiara. Can I have her life, please?

Events
I saw This Is Us! If you want to see a picture of me with cardboard cutouts of a British-Irish boy band, here you go. The movie was phenomenal and made me realize that I need to meet a boy with a British or Irish accent ASAP. But really.

I also ran (walked) a 5k with two of my best friends to benefit a children's cancer center. It was a good experience and the weather was wonderful. I actually hate running though. Here's a picture.

Miscellaneous

New "reading" material! I haven't made much time for pleasure reading lately because of all my other responsibilities. But I can always justify a quick flip through a catalog or two. Especially Fall catalogs. (Dreamy eyes and a sigh.) I enjoyed the Nordstrom, PBteen, Anthropologie, Teen Vogue (September), and Harper's Bazaar (October) catalogs/lookbooks/magazines/WHATEVER.


Well, that sums up my September Favorites. I have a few blog posts planned for the next few days (weeks). I will be doing reviews on the 1D nail polishes and perfume. I also might have a few outfit posts coming up soon. And other great surprises, as well! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed.

Follow me on Instagram, @marthafab

life lately & August favorites

Hi lovelies,

I want to apologize for not blogging very much this month. August, to be honest, has been absolutely hectic, crazy, and busy and I've just been overwhelmed! Unfortunately, this meant that my blog had to take a backseat for a little while. I'm hoping now that things have calmed down and I've gotten into a routine, I'll be able to blog once or twice a week. I can't make any promises about a schedule right now, but I will do my best to upload frequently and regularly.

So, August. NYC. Babysitting. School. Swim. Pretty much sums up my month. I started school again two weeks ago, and swimming (I swim for my high school team) started the second week of August. I babysat the entire week before summer break ended. And I took a quick trip to New York City in early August (you can read about it here). I haven't kept a great record of my favorites this month, and none of them are fashion related. That's why this is an informal, personal post. I promise that I'll have some fashion posts up soon. It's hard to do daily outfit posts because I go straight to the pool after school (hey, that rhymed!). But I will work on coming up with an alternative solution.

I have a ton of music favorites this month. I've discovered a lot of new music and many songs that I'd never heard before. One Direction...sigh. I never hated 1D. But I'd also never listened to any of their songs besides the few that make it to the radio. Until this month... Let me just say, I'm obsessed. I'm going to see This Is Us (their movie) this weekend. It's not even worth listing my favorite songs, because the list would have to include all of them. Marry me Harry. Martha Styles... it kind of has a ring to it, don't you think? Anyway, beyond my newfound love for One Direction, I've really rekindled my love for Demi Lovato this month. Her new album, DEMI, and her third album, Unbroken, are amazing. I love Neon Lights, Made in the USA, Really Don't Care, and Warrior from DEMI and Skyscraper and For the Love of a Daughter from Unbroken. I've been listening to a lot of Lana Del Rey, Florence + The Machine, and Ellie Goulding this month, as well. I also love Skinny Love by Bon Iver, Tennis Court by Lorde, and Warzone by The Wanted. And lastly for music favorites, Like a Champion by Selena Gomez. And thanks to Pandora for exposing me to many of these great songs this month!

I haven't been reading as much as I'd like lately. However, I did read a few great books this month. The four Throne of Glass novellas were spectacular and had me in tears by the end. Of course, then I had to reread Throne of Glass. Speaking of which, the sequel, Crown of Midnight, was released this past Tuesday! I might just have to pick it up over the long weekend. I also FINALLY got around to reading Scarlet, by Marissa Meyer (sequel to Cinder). I preordered this book before it was released last February and had been meaning to read it for months. It was amazing and I can't wait for the next book in the series. You can see the cover reveal for Cress here.

I've done a good deal of TV watching this month. The Pretty Little Liars season 4 finale was this past Tuesday, and I can't wait for the Halloween special now! EzrA. I don't believe it for a second. I've also enjoyed the Real Housewives of Orange County three part reunion. And of course, Keeping Up with the Kardashians is entertaining as always. I've also gotten back into Dance Moms this month. I think summer television is the best, and am sad that all the seasons are ending.

In other miscellaneous news...

• I made a Tumblr.
• My one-year blogiversary was August 18th. I was planning on doing a special post, but time got the best of me.
• I saw Mamma Mia! on Broadway in NYC at the beginning of August. It was amazing. You can read about my trip here.
• I toured two colleges!
• I discovered HelloKatyxo. She's my favorite YouTuber of the moment!
• I created an "About Me" page. You can find it by clicking the pink button in the right sidebar. 
• Frozen yogurt was my favorite food of the month. 

18 oz. of deliciousness. Cost me $10, too. 

I hope all of you had a great August. I appreciate your patience and support. Thanks for reading! 

Follow me on Instagram: @marthafab

July Favorites

Hi beauties,

I apologize for not posting as much or as regularly this month. I've been out of town three weeks this month (the first two in Alaska and Canada, see those posts here and here). I was in North Carolina all of last week touring colleges and visiting family. And tomorrow, I'm off to New York City! I can't tell you how excited I am. I will be posting photos of NYC on Instagram. You can follow me at @marthafab. I will be in the city from Thursday to Sunday. Now on to my July favorites!

Nail Polish:

The blue polish is Essie 'Butler Please', an all time favorite of mine. The lime green is OPI 'Did It On 'Em' from the Nicki Minaj collection.

Clothes:
This month, I've been gravitating towards loose and flowy shirts paired with textured shorts (crochet, embroidered denim, and frayed edges). I'll usually add a long chain necklace with a pendant or a scarf, as well as a pair of strappy sandals. With all of the heat we've been having here, I have needed an outfit that will keep me feeling cool and looking chic. In Alaska, I wore my military green cargo jacket from J.Crew almost every day. I love that jacket so much!

Shoes:

I got some good use out of these bright red beauties in Alaska! They are the Hunter 'Tour' boots, a pair of travel friendly, light-weight, foldable rain boots. Definitely more comfortable than the original Hunters, and they held up well, too. If you're interested, I purchased them from here (they are also available in several other colors). 

Beauty:

I finally tried my Benefit 'They're Real!' mascara this month, and I love it! It really darkens and lengthens lashes, and was very easy to apply. I definitely recommend trying it out! 

The Dove Clinical Protection deodorant has been a lifesaver this month. It smells great and works exactly how it says it does!

Bag:

My Coach Swingpack has accompanied me on all of my travels this month, and I am so thankful for it! I've been able to go hands free when exploring while still being able to bring essentials like sunscreen, lip balm, and my phone everywhere I go.  

New Purchase:

I just got these adorable heart-shaped shades from Nordstrom BP. today. This summer, heart sunnies have been popping up everywhere, and even celebrities like Lana Del Rey have been seen wearing them. I also love this pair.

Blog:

Photo is from www.thepinkpeonies.com

I discovered Rachel Parcell and her blog, The Pink Peonies, earlier this year (in the spring). She is a charming, and quite fashionable, Utah-based blogger who shares her style, recipes, and tidbits of her life with her dedicated readers. Reading her blog is so refreshing and has been making me very happy and inspired this month. Go check her out!

Music:
Bravado by Lorde
Paper Doll by John Mayer
First Time by the Jonas Brothers
We Can't Stop by Miley Cyrus (love the song, hate the video)
Stars Dance, Undercover, Love Will Remember, and Slow Down by Selena Gomez (I love the whole album, but these are my favorites!)

As you can see, I've had a Disney singer throwback month. I also discovered Lorde (Ella Yelich-O'Connor), a sixteen year old singer from New Zealand, this month. She has an incredible voice and writes her own songs. I also love John Mayer's new song, Paper Doll (even though it's about Taylor Swift) because it's so clever and emotional.

TV Show(s):
Pretty Little Liars (season 4 is so intense and amazingly good)
Keeping Up With The Kardashians (love the family vacation episodes; this season it's Greece!)
The Real Housewives of Orange County (need I say more?)

Event(s):
I've really loved traveling this month! Both trips were great. In Alaska, I really enjoyed visiting Denali National Park, as well as visiting Martin Buser's Happy Trails Kennels and holding Alaskan husky puppies that are future Iditarod champions.

Picture is from my Instagram, @marthafab.

In North Carolina, I toured Duke University, which was an eye-opening experience. The campus is beautiful, and Duke Chapel was especially magnificent.

Picture is from my Instagram, @marthafab.

I had quite a few favorites this month! It's been a crazy, busy, and exciting month. I can't believe July is already over! In just over two weeks, I'll be headed back to school (sigh). I'll probably be doing a few back-to-school type posts in early August. I hope you lovelies enjoyed this post and I'll blog again after NYC.

June Favorites

Hi beauties,

I am on a long flight to start my first trip of the summer as you are reading this. However, I wrote this post a few days ago since I knew I wouldn't be able to complete it on an airplane. I will be away for two weeks, and am not sure whether I will have a good enough internet connection to post live while I am on vacation. But being the smart, resourceful young lady that I am (go ahead and laugh), I have written scheduled posts to go up every few days in the event that I cannot post myself. I will be working on my travel series while I am gone, and will hopefully be able to upload new posts. But unfortunately, there is a strong possibility that you will have to wait until I get back home to see my trip (and outfits, of course!). I apologize for this, but do still check back here every few days for a new post either way. I appreciate your patience, and in my next post I will announce where I am going!

So with that rather confusing introduction, here are my June Favorites:

Nail Polish

Essie 'Mint Candy Apple' and 'Bikini So Teeny'

I love Essie polishes and these two pastels are simply stunning. I painted all my nails except my ring fingers with 'Bikini So Teeny' and used 'Mint Candy Apple' as an accent color for the other two nails. I didn't even have to reapply top coat or fix the edges, and this manicure lasted me almost three weeks with very minimal chipping.

Essie 'Tart Deco'

I borrowed this polish from my friend so I don't have the bottle to show you. I will definitely be purchasing it soon, though. It's a gorgeous salmon color that applies beautifully.

I also really love Sephora by OPI 'Ocean Love Potion', which I have on my toes right now.


Accessories

Speckled infinity scarf shown above is from Nordstrom.

I've been loving scarves with prints and patterns this month.

Tribal pendant necklace is from BP.

I love long gold chain necklaces with pendants hanging from the bottom. 

Clothes

Picture is from my day dress post.

I have been living in sundresses since school got out earlier this month. They are so simple, comfortable, and you can really accessorize with them. 

I have also been having a coral craze lately. My nails are coral and I've been wearing coral scarves, shirts, shorts, and skirts. I've always adored this color, but it has recently become an obsession.


New Purchase

Oversized geometric sunglasses are from American Eagle.

I absolutely love sunglasses. Oversized, Jackie O inspired sunnies have been grabbing my attention lately. I especially love the dramatic frame shapes, such as pentagons and hexagons. 

Book

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

The amazing sequel to last month's favorite, Grave Mercy!

Music
Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation
When I'm Gone by 3 Doors Down
Done. by The Band Perry
Made In America by Toby Keith
Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain) by Gary Allan

These are the best songs that I've listened to and loved this month.


Movie

Saving Private Ryan

This movie had me bawling. And trust me, I am not a crier. It is so sad and moving, and really opened my eyes to the consequences of war. I have to say, Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorite movies now.

TV Show

ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars, Season 4. 

Season 4 of Pretty Little Liars premiered earlier this month and I can already tell that it is the best season yet! I love this show so much and have watched it since the beginning. I think it's better than the books.

Other shows I've been enjoying this month are Keeping Up With The Kardashians, The Real Housewives of Orange County, and Pretty Wicked Moms. You can probably tell that I enjoy reality TV.

Quote

Picture is from my Instagram, @marthafab.

This quote has really helped me with blogging this month. I'm an amateur photographer at best, my little sister takes my OOTD pictures, and there are so many more "professional" seeming bloggers out there. But I have to remind myself that starting this blog was a huge step forward for me and that it's okay not to be perfect, especially when I've been blogging for less than a year. This quote is a great reminder and pushes me forward when I start to feel like my blog isn't good enough yet.


Event

Picture is from my Instagram, @marthafab.

School finally ended the first week of June. I'm so relieved that all my exams are over. So far, my summer has consisted of swimming, dinner with friends, shopping, blogging, and volunteering. 

This month I seemed to have a ton of favorites! Summer has been great so far and I'm so excited for the trips I have coming up. Traveling is so much fun, and I'm really looking forward to leaving my city behind for awhile. I'll be announcing the surprise you've all been waiting for, my first destination, in my next post. And posts will be going up either live or scheduled, so you'll still have something to read while I'm gone. Thank you for your understanding!

May Favorites

Hi lovelies!

I know that there are two more days left in May, but this month has flown by. This month I had a Biology end of course exam, two AP exams (U.S. Government & Politics and Human Geography), a Spanish speaking and writing exam, and an English writing exam. Needless to say, I am so excited to be done with school in a little over a week! I thought I would start doing a post every month on my favorite products, accessories, and other little things. These posts will be a little more personal, and I think this meme will be a lot of fun. I have enjoyed all of these things this month, and hope you will find something new to try by reading. Unless I mention it, the items are not new. If it's available online, I'll link it.

So for my May favorites...

Nail Polish:

OPI 'Are We There Yet?' {the perfect melon with a slight shimmer}

China Glaze 'Riveting' {red-orange jelly base with lots of gold shimmer}

China Glaze 'Salsa' {a classic red and all-time favorite of mine}

Accessories:

gold Betsey Johnson watch 

tribal dream catcher necklace with coral beads from BP.

vintage gold wedding band

jaguar ring from BP.

coral dot ring from local boutique

colorful tribal scarf by Hinge (new from t.b.d.)

New Purchase:

Ted Baker wallet (new from Nordstrom; sold out but similar here)

Books:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas {young adult fantasy}

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers {young adult historical fiction}

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken {young adult dystopian}

Music:

Come & Get It - Selena Gomez {Single}

Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Rey {Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby Soundtrack}

Anthem Lights {despite their appearance, they are not your average boy band}

I know the categories were a bit miscellaneous, but I wanted to share a little of everything I have been loving this month. I went to two amazing events in May and am so happy that AP exams are over! I also did some major summer shopping over Memorial Day weekend. May has been a great, productive month, but I'm so glad it's over and summer is nearly here. 

I also wanted to update you all on my social media accounts. I now have a facebook page (Fashion Amour Forever), which you can check out and (hopefully) like. I also have an Instagram (@marthafab) which might just be my new favorite social media! And of course Twitter (@fashion_amour), Pinterest (which I'm obsessed with), and Polyvore. You can follow me on bloglovin' by clicking here. All of these links are in the sidebar, too! Thank you so much for your support and I would love hear what you think in the comments under each post. 

xo,

Martha