Tarte Haul with Swatches (In Bloom palette, Lipstick, and more)

I had a gift card for Tarte and decided to splurge and pick up a few items.  I found one palette on clearance and then picked up the In Bloom palette and a lipstick.  I thought I would share my review and some swatches in case you're interested in them for yourself:

I have the first Tartelette palette and loved it.  All the shades are matte and I love them!  This palette is a mix of matte and shimmer shades and they are all really pigmented and beautiful.  I think I prefer the first palette since the shades are a little more neutral but this one is really pretty too!

This is my first Tarte lipstick ever and I'm definitely a fan.  This is the Tarte Drench Lip Splash in Cabana Boy.  It feels really nice on my lips, very hydrating, the color is beautiful and it lasts really well.  

This was the palette I found on clearance.  It was around $30 and while the colors aren't quite as pigmented as the Tartelette palettes they are still nice colors that are easy to blend.  The colors are really pretty and neutral and I've been getting a lot of pretty looks from them.  

What to bring on your Cruise

Travel Mug: Coffee, water, lemonade and juices are provided on the ship free of charge.  The cups they provide are pretty small so a travel mug is perfect for getting a normal amount of liquid and you can carry it around with you.  

Cardigan: I freeze in air conditioning so a cardigan was a must for me!  I brought one to dinner every night and it definitely came in handy.  You would be surprised how chilly the decks can get at night with the breeze as well.  

Wristlet: I carried this guy with me all week.  On the ship they give you a card that is your room key, payment info, and your way on and off the ship.  This is obviously something important to hang onto and something you will need on a daily basis.  I kept mine in my wristlet along with my id, phone and Chapstick.  

Water Bottle: Again small cups are the only things provided and sometimes your spot for the day is far away from any sort of refreshment.  A water bottle is great to carry with you and stay hydrated.  

Plastic bags: I stuffed a couple of these in my suitcase and was so glad I did.  They came in handy for keeping our passports together and clean, keeping sand out of my phone and also storing things like bathing suits and such in larger ones.  

Beach bag: On excursion days we brought one beach bag with our ship towels, sunscreen, books, and whatever else we needed for the day.  I love a big bag with comfy handles and a cute design.  

Floppy hat: I almost didn't wear my floppy hat but was so glad I did.  I wore the stank out of mine.  It was so nice to wear around and keep the sun off my face and shoulders.  

Sunglasses: These are an obvious must-have.  They are great for lazy days when you don't want to do your makeup but still want to look semi cute.  

Powerstrip: Little known fact of cruise ship rooms: they have about two plug in spots, not even kidding.  We survived because we really weren't using our phones and didn't have a lot of electronic devices to plug in.  If you have more than two appliances to plug in bring one of these suckers.  

Sunscreen: Again this is a no brainier but make sure you bring it!  My husband got burnt in less than thirty minutes in the sun.  Trust me that sun is intense! 

Highlighter: You might think I am crazy but we actually used ours.  Everyday you get a ship itinerary for the day.  There is a lot going on in a day and you want to make sure you don't miss things.  We used highlighters to go through the list the night before and mark what we liked. This helped to keep track of what we wanted to do.  

What are your must-haves, tips and tricks?

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Cruise Tips

1. Take full advantage of the provided entertainment- There is never a lack of things to do on a cruise ship.  We went to a few comedy shows, a magic show, a tea party, heard live music and that was only a few of the options.  Make sure you go to at least one!   

2. Bring a bottle of wine- Check your cruise lines policies but most will allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person (over 21 of course) on your cruise at no charge.  If you want to bring it to dinner make sure you pour a glass before you go or they will charge a bottling fee.  We enjoyed a glass in our room after dinner with a cheese and fruit plate to go from the dining room.   

3. Go ahead and order two entrees, appetizers...or dessert- It's your vacation so enjoy yourself.  My favorite part was dinner in the main dining room every night.  They had different options every night and it was fun to get dressed up and enjoy a nice dinner.  Almost every night I ordered two or either an appetizer, entree or dessert (sometimes all three).  It was fun to try new things!

4. Check the ships schedule online for free- If you turn on your wifi on your phone and bring up the ship's wifi option it will open up a browser window.  Scroll down to the bottom and it will have a few options for free use.  One of these is the daily schedule for the ship.  This is an easy way to see what's going on throughout the day without having to bring your big paper schedule.  

5. Always use the stairs!- Trust me you are eating delicious food pretty much all day, you want to do something to counteract all that indulgence.  The stairs are a great way to burn some extra calories, you get there quicker and you're not waiting on the elevator with all the other people.     

6. Order room service- Room service is one of my favorite things.  I love being able to pick out breakfast and have it delivered to my room.  On a cruise room service is a provided service that they offer free of charge, we still like to tip for their effort.  (You can order more upscale items for an additional fee but the basics are free).  We had room service delivered on the last day for breakfast to avoid the long lines at the buffet (which is another tip).  It was really nice to be able to relax and have breakfast while we finished packing up to leave.  It was a little celebration of our last day.  You also don't have to do room service for a meal they will deliver desserts to you anytime of day or night (not even kidding, cookies and milk, cheesecake, and more).     

7. Be prepared for tipping- Cruises are an all-inclusive endeavor (food, room, entertainment).  You do pay extra for drinks, certain restaurants and excursions but still.  Even with all the inclusiveness there are a few "hidden" fees.  Tipping is something you should be prepared for.  You can prepay for this when you book or you can pay after your cruise.  The estimated cost per person is about $12 a day.  If you have any questions or discrepancies make sure to visit the guest services desk.  

8. Look for smaller hidden restaurants- Most cruise ships will have one or two main dining rooms for dinner and then a very large buffet style area for breakfast and lunch.  Ships may also have small lesser known restaurants around the ship.  Ours had a small Italian spot that was free for lunch.  It was a make your own pasta dish that was absolutely delicious.  I loved the atmosphere with it being more quiet and hidden away from all the crowds. 

9. Make sure you use your onboard credit!- When you check in you will be notified that you have onboard credit in your account.  This is money that you can use on the ship for anything you would like.  (Souvenirs, drinks, tips, etc).  We didn't use ours by the end of the trip and instead of blowing it on a bunch of things we didn't need we made a trip to guest services and they cashed it out for us.  

10. Change your phone to NOT change time with location time zones- We traveled with a group and made plans to meet for dinner.  The rooms don't have clocks so plan accordingly.  We were using our phones to check time.  I had an alarm set on mine but little did I know it was switching between time zones as we were traveling.  We ended up late for dinner and very confused about the time.  So make sure your phone is set to stay in one time zone, you can configure that in your settings.  

11. Put your phone on airplane mode!- To avoid any unwanted fees for roaming and data charges make sure your phone is on airplane mode before you set sail!  Trust me you don't want that bill! 

I would love to know your tips for cruising, leave a comment down below! 

Five Things Friday

Coconut Chai: I have been on a coconut kick for a while and this stuff is delicious!!  I love a good chai and this one is my new favorite!  It is super creamy, has a good spicy chai flavor and just a hint of coconut.  I have been making mine with almond milk (or almond coconut milk) and it is perfect for relaxing mornings.  

Prada Candy: I have only had samples of this but I have gone through one and working on my second.  I thought it would be way too sweet but I am hooked on it.  It is the perfect blend of sweet, slight spice and warm scent.  I am in love with it and it's on my list for a full size.   

Rio Olympics: I find so interesting to see what these amazing athletes can do (also a little intimidating).  My husband and I have been watching it at night and I just get hooked on the competitions and end up staying up way to late to see how it turns out.  I have really been enjoying keeping up with the gymnastics (those girls kill it!) and all the water sports.  

Aldi: My mother-in-law always talked about Aldi but I never had one close by to shop at.  It is my new favorite grocery store.  They have great prices, especially on produce.  You do have to bring your own bags, which is a pain sometimes but I just load the goods into my reusable bags in my car.  I'm a fan.  

Nature Box Big Island Pineapple: I have tried the NatureBox subscription box and liked it but didn't know they had snacks in store until I saw them at Target.  I happened to catch these guys on a cartwheel deal (they are a little pricey) and gave them a try.  These things are like candy!  I love pineapple and these are slices of pineapple dried.  They are the perfect "dessert" when you are trying to be a little healthier, but I would eat them all the time.    

What have you been loving lately?

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What I read in July

I can't believe July is over and we are already speeding through August.  This year is flying by!  

I read three books this month.  None of them were really standouts.  Just normal easy beach reads.  

The Beach House by Jane Green: This book was a little confusing to start off with.  It's one of those with multiple characters and stories but they all collide and connect in the end.  The basis is a lady has a beach house and she is running out of money so she rents it out as a b&b.  The multiple characters (and all their issues) come and stay for the summer.  Lots of drama, blooming relationships and a happy ending.  It was a quick, cute summer read.  

The Vow by Dana Wilkerson and the Carpenters: I picked this one up as I had seen the movie and was interested in the story behind it.  I felt like the writing was a little uninteresting and very much just a this is what happened style.  It was interesting to get a behind the scenes real look at this couple but I felt like it could have had more personality and heart.  

Folly Beach by Dorothea Franklin:  This was my second book by Ms. Franklin and again it was a nice, easy beach read.  Very much a southern author she sticks to her roots.  This book was set in South Carolina and it followed a woman whose husband just died and left her with nothing.  She heads down south and rents a house that once belonged to a famous southern author and his wife.  She sets off on a journey of self discovery  through learning about the wife.  It was an interesting read with the past and present ideas mingled together.  

What have you been reading this month?  

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Designer inspired necklaces at Walmart!

Thank you to @WhoaWaitWalmart on Instagram for the info that Walmart has some pretty designer inspired jewelry pieces out.  

Ya'll know I already am a fan of Walmart, I mean you can get your groceries and everything else you need in one spot.  

I have gotten cute jewelry pieces from Walmart before so I had high hopes.  

I went to my Walmart soon after seeing the instagram post and sad day my Walmart only had a slim amount (like 3).  

I hadn't been to Walmart in around a month and walked in the other day to get milk.  I figured I might as well check out the jewelry and finally it was all stocked!   

Look at all those pretty necklaces!  They had arrowheads, stones, beading, and layered pieces.  

I am in love with that deep rich blue with the tassel! 

This one is adorable and looks like Kendra Scott!  I love that blush stone and tassel! 

There was also this little section of necklaces for $3.88.  They were lariat style and I'm loving this trend right now.  

Love all the crystals and tassels! 

Guys these necklaces are all $5 or under, seriously you can't beat that!  They are perfect for summer right now but I'm also mentally planning out outfits for fall featuring these pieces.

Have you found any of these cute pieces at your Walmart?

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