Oscars 2016 | Best Dressed

One of my favorite things to do around awards season is to lay in bed in my sweatpants and face mask, and judge famous people's fashion choices. The Oscars were today and I had a blast watching the red carpet arrivals and seeing all of the amazing fashion choices.

Usually in these posts, I choose a few best dressed and a few worst dressed individuals, but I really didn't have any terrible opinions this time! I only have great things to share today. I've narrowed it down to my top 8 favorite looks from the night and what stood out to me. Leave a comment below and let me know if you agreed, or if anybody else caught your eye on the carpet. 

Previous award show posts: 

2014 MTV Awards

2015 Grammys

*If I don't have enough things to say, I sometimes will just feature my favorite on my Instagram. 

Charlize Theron

I loved the intense red shade of this dress. It is tailored to her body perfectly and the train is the perfect length. I also really love the straps on this dress, I like how they are thin spaghetti strap, but have the visual of a thick strap. I'm not the biggest fan of the necklace choice, but overall I thought she looked so great in this dress. 

Chrissy Teigen

I swear she is ALWAYS on my best dressed list, regardless of which award show she is attending. Her style is so flawless to me. This dress is so elegant but equally sexy with the plunge in the front. She is clearly pregnant, and so I love how this dress walks the line between elegant and risky. I loved her look tonight, especially with the bump!

Jennifer Garner

I feel like this is such a classic look. I love the texture of this dress, how one side appears to be matte and one side appears to be shiny. It is a way to add a pop of texture to a dress without needing a crazy pattern or color. I also love the neckline of this dress, it seriously appears like they combined two separate dresses but they work together perfectly. I thought Jennifer looked very elegant. 

Jennifer Lawrence

I'm obsessed with this look! This dress is also walking that perfect line of elegant and sexy, and she pulls it off perfectly. I think what really tops it off for me is her really causal hair style. This might be my favorite look that Jennifer Lawrence has ever worn on a red carpet! 

Margot Robbie

Anyone who knows me personally knows that I'm overly obsessed with the color gold. If I found a gold toilet plunger at the store for sale I would probably buy it just because is is gold. I think Margot Robbie pulls this bold color off PERFECTLY. I absolutely love the cut of this dress with the long sleeves and the plunging neckline. I will say that I'm not the biggest fan of her clutch, but I can look past that. This is my favorite look from the night! 

Olivia Munn

Orange is a hard color to pull off and she does it so well. Her skin tone looks so beautiful in orange and her simple makeup with the orange lip really pulls it together. I really love the neckline of this dress and how there is a very small chain. Her hot boyfriend really tops this look off... ;) 

Rachel McAdams

Easily my 2nd favorite of the night next to Margot Robbie. The color of this dress is so unique and works with her skin tone and blonde hair so well. I love the slit in the dress and how it is showing the perfect amount of leg and featuring her simple silver shoes. I saw some photos of her makeup as well and she used a turquoise eyeliner on the bottom lash line which really pulled this look together. 

Saoirse Ronan

Blondes in turquoise really stole the show! Again, I love this color with blonde hair and I think she wore this perfectly. I love the sparkle and the texture and especially love the straps on this dress. Her earnings and casual hair really pulled this look together. 

Who were your favorite looks? Leave a comment below.

As always, thanks for reading.

xo, Jaimie

Local Love | Arch. A Premier Brow Studio - Tumwater, WA

Introducing an extremely fun new series on my blog, local love. Local love is where I feature local (Washington) businesses to help them gain exposure to people in the area. My mother has always been a small business owner, as well as myself and my sisters throughout the years. I would always rather do my business through small family owned businesses than huge chain companies, so I thought it would be fun to feature local businesses that I love. 

My first local love feature is Arch. A premier brow studio. 

I have been wanting to start this series for a while but never knew where to start, until my brow lady opened up her OWN studio! I have been seeing Falisha for my brows for around a year now at a company she used to work for, she decided to open her open business in January of 2016, and I happily remained a customer of hers. Arch is located in Tumwater, Washington and is a premiere brow studio. Falisha is so talented at waxing brows, and I trust her completely with my brows. I am going to show you all her new space (adorable) and be featuring some information about Falisha and her business that I believe you should know!

I asked Falisha some questions that would help you all better understand her and her business, and some common questions that I know a lot of people have about getting their brows done! 

Q:  How did you get started in this industry? 

A: I started out in this industry wanting to be a makeup artist. At the time there weren't schools, degrees or certificates you could receive in makeup. I thought the esthetician program was the next best thing. 

Q: What services do you offer at Arch? 

A: All things brows! Currently waxing with other brow services coming soon!

Q: How did you come up with your business name?

A: When thinking of a name, my first priority was simplicity. I wanted it to reflect who I am as a person and how I view brow waxes. I wanted something that was easy to remember and easy to spell. "Arch" was perfect because it's the number one word that I hear from clients. It's also short for "Architect" because I feel like I create balance and structure for everyone's face frame.

Q: How do you want your clients to feel when they leave your studio? 

A: Not many people know this, but I want people to leave knowing they felt welcomed. There's no pressure here. You can come any way you'd like and you will still be treated the same.

*I will be talking more later on about my experience as a client, and the way that I feel when I leave Arch. :)

Q: What is your favorite part about what you do?

A: Eyebrows are my outlet, my art. It's just so peaceful to me. My favorite part is definitely shaping brows. 

Q: If someone has very little eyebrow hair, is there anything you can do to help?

A: Yes, so many ways! It's not how much hair you have, but more so what you do with it. We have a new serum (which I love) that helps them grow quicker, we can tint them and I can how you how to fill them in. Also, ironically enough, waxing them helps them look fuller as well. 

Q: Do you help maintain eyebrows of male clients?

A: Yes! I've always waxed male brows but since opening Arch we have had so many that I added a "guy-brow" service to the menu!

Q: What is one thing you wish all of your clients knew before their first appointment at Arch? 

A: Where we are located! Map Quest will take you across the street (I will have all location information listed at the end of this post) Also, how many times a day I hear "bye Felicia!" haha!

Q: Should I be doing anything to my eyebrows in between appointments? 

A: Let's be real, there are very few people who don't touch their brows for weeks. I give credit to my clients who do. I just let clients know that if they do tweeze in between visits that they may remove hair that is needed. The technique that I use requires hair to be in a smooth line, one wrong hair removed and it can throw it off.

Q: How often should I be coming in for an appointment? 

A: The most popular time frame is four weeks. I have some that come every two weeks and others that I see twice a year. 

Here is a before/after shot of my most recent appointment with Falisha! 

 

Her space is so adorable. It feels like you are in a very high-end salon, it is very chic and refreshing. It also feels very comforting, I don't feel like I don't belong but I also feel like I am in a luxury space. It is so well decorated! 

So how do I like being a client of Arch? I love it. Like I said, I've been seeing Falisha for around a year, but my visit into her new business was more than pleasant. She makes me feel so comfortable during my appointment that I barely even remember that I'm getting my brows done. I never have to worry if she is going to get it right, which makes it so I can relax and enjoy the conversation. She is so fun to talk to and she always remembers details about my life so our conversation can pick right back up where it left off at my previous appointment. Falisha truly takes pride in her work and ensures that when I leave her studio that I am in love with my brows. I am always so impressed with how good my brows look when I leave. I would highly recommend Arch Brow Studio if you are looking for a place to maintain your brows, after all, they are so essential to frame your face! 

The Details: 

Business: Arch. A Premier Brow Studio

Location: 204 Pinehurst Drive SW Suite 102 Tumwater, WA 98501

Hours: *I recommend "liking" her Facebook page as she often lists late night appointments or openings that she has. I am really bad about making appointments so I often snag appointments that she lists on Facebook the same day!

Tue:	10:30 am - 6:30 pm
Wed:	9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thu:	10:30 am - 6:30 pm
Fri:	10:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sat:	9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Facebook Page

Instagram Page

Book your appointment here!

If you try out Arch, tell her that Jaimie (or Glitter with Grace) sent you! Great brows are something that every girl (and guy!) deserve to have and Falisha can totally help you get there. I HIGHLY recommend this business and I hope some of you try her out! 

As always, thanks for reading.

xo, Jaimie

Stitch Fix #3 | Third Time's a Charm!

Hi friends.
I decided that it was about time to order my third Stitch Fix box. I had such a fun experience the first two times that I've used this service and gained two new cute shirts out of it (which I get a lot of compliments on, and they are still GREAT quality). I ordered my third Stitch Fix, and today I am going to share what I received this time.

If you missed my first few posts about Stitch Fix, you can find them below. I really detail the entire process in the Stitch Fix #1 post, with how the payment works and all of the fine details. If you want to know more details about how this service works, I recommend checking out my first Stitch Fix post!

Stitch Fix #1
Stitch Fix #2

So let's get into Stitch Fix #3! I will let you in on a hint that my stylist really hit the nail on the head this time!! She understood what I was asking for and really hit my style perfectly, I ended up keeping all of the items (more on that later) and I will definitely request the same stylist next time! She took the time to look at all of my Pinterest boards and my Instagram account to get a good sense of my style, I love that!

1. Loveapella - Dolli Mesh Knit Top >>> $54.00
This top is so adorable, I've already worn it twice since receiving this fix about a week ago. The front is a very basic stripe shirt with a small v-neck. The back has a cute keyhole opening that isn't too large (I wore this to work and felt comfortable having that amount of my back showing) and it has mesh detailing on the back and down the sleeves. This shirt is a hit for me, it can be dressed up or down and is the type of basic top that I really go for.
Verdict: Kept!

2. Fate - David Leopard Print Button-Up Cardigan >>> $58.00
If I had to send an item back, it would have been this cardigan. Down below I will detail how the payment works, and I would end up saving more money by keeping all 5 items instead of sending one back. I don't hate this by any means, I'm sure I'll wear it eventually. I just wasn't crazy enough about this to want to pay $58 for it. This cardigan is longer but still very flattering, I definitely will get some wear out of this.
Verdict: Kept because it would save me money!

3. Kut From The Kloth - Maisha Ponte and Faux Leather Jacket >>> $88.00
OH COME ON. This jacket is so perfect. I've been wanting a black leather jacket lately, but all of the jackets I've tried on have been too heavy or bulky. I really was just wanting a cute black jacket that I could wear on date nights or out on the town that would dress up a basic outfit. I definitely wear more brown/earthy tones than I do black, but I really don't have a nice black jacket in my wardrobe. This jacket is so flattering, the way the pleats lay in the front, and the cut of the back are very flattering. I love how the entire jacket isn't leather, I can't say enough good things! I am in love with this jacket!
Verdict: Kept, obviously. 

4. Collective Concepts - Lowe Lace Inset Blouse >>> $54.00
This blouse is perfect for my lifestyle. I work in a business office, I do an internship at an elementary school, and I go out on the weekends with my friends. This is a tank top that I can really make applicable in all situations! I can dress it up with a black blazer or cardigan for work, or throw on a leather jacket on the weekends to dress this down. This shirt is a very pretty purple/maroon color. My camera wasn't picking up the color perfectly, but it is gorgeous!
Verdict: Kept!

5. Kut From The Kloth - Jennifer Knit Pant >>> $68.00
Now if you remember from my first Stitch Fix post, you would remember that I received a pair of pants and absolutely hated them. The size was so wrong and they were terrible. When I saw pants in this box, I immediately thought that it was going to be a similar situation and I wouldn't even be able to get them on! I was so wrong about that. These black pants are so simple, yet so unique and special. These fit like a jegging almost, but they aren't. They fit me very well. If I ever want black pants, I wear leggings, so I'm exited to have a nice pair of blank pants (that aren't slacks) in my wardrobe!
Verdict: Kept! *PS: Pants are really hard to photograph... 

So I kept ALL five items! What!? I was very surprised, but glad that I made that decision. I just stocked my wardrobe with five high quality items that will be very versatile and have the ability to be dressed up or down. Let's break down the payment of this box.

Total of ALL five items: $322.00

$80.50 discount for keeping all five items.
$20.00 discount from my styling fee which I paid at time of scheduling my fix.

Total after keeping ALL five items: $221.50
This brings each item to an average of $44. Since the cheapest item was originally $54 and the highest item was $68, I think this is a great deal!

If you are interested in trying Stitch Fix, you can sign up through my link here. This is an affiliate link, which in turn would give me a bit of credit to be able to keep doing these posts for you all!

Let me know if you have any questions!
As always, thanks for reading.
xo, Jaimie!

2016 | Creating Happiness

The new year is always the perfect time to reflect on the things going on in your life, and make changes for the better. This year, I decided to forego the traditional resolutions that I always make, and just make a general commitment for this year. I am in such a great place mentally and emotionally, that I just want to continue that throughout this year and not let anything get in the way of that. With that being said, there are some things I'm introducing into my life that is helping me stay in a positive mindset, manage my stress, and be the best me that I can be. Today I thought I'd share some of my new favorite things that are helping kick my year off to a positive, happy start.

This instant happy journal is the epitome of what I'm trying to accomplish this year. I am trying to have more gratitude for every day that I am given, and reflect back on my own strengths and build my own confidence. This book has daily prompts to help you reflect on your current feelings and build your own "instant happiness". You can find your copy of this book here. I think this would make an extremely great gift for a friend, or also a fun gift for yourself. I've had similar books to this that already have dates built into the book, and I ended up forgetting to write in it some days, and then just gave up because I got behind. The good thing about this specific journal is that there aren't any dates built in, so you can go at your own pace, or even jump around from page to page if you wish.

One more book that I just finished up and LOVED was The Emotional Edge. It was a really powerful book about finding your inner strengths, and turning your fears into courage. I struggle a lot with irrational fears and anxiety, and this book really helped me work through some of those challenges and re frame my mindset. I have already recommended this book to a few friends and colleagues, and I definitely recommend you check it out! You can find it on Amazon here.

Another thing that I've been trying lately is meditation. I know, I know, it sounds a little crazy. I have always thought about meditation as something that is way beyond my lifestyle, and totally not necessary. I struggle with a lot of anxious feelings at night time, and often have an extremely hard time falling asleep and shutting my brain off. I have been meditating at night for a little over two weeks now, and I've never slept better or fallen asleep faster! I have been using the app Stop, Breathe, & Think and I highly recommend it. You "check in" with your current feelings of that day, and then it generates 3-4 options for you to choose from. Most meditations are around 5-7 minutes, which is perfect. I know it is a little weird, but it honestly has been a huge game changer in ending my day on a positive note. You can learn more about this specific app here, or you can download it in the app store.

This year is already off to an amazing start (other than the fact that I spent this weekend with the stomach flu) and I can't wait to start introducing more things every month that help me stay extra positive, thankful, and motivated to have the best year ever. Do you guys have any specific things you do to remove negative energy/people/things out of your life? Share below.

As always, thanks for reading.
xoxo, Jaimie

Glitter with Grace | 2015 In Review

2015 was a really great year for me. I went through major changes in my personal life, but I'm so thankful for every change that occurred. I'm so close to being done with my masters degree, and I am seriously on top of the world with how grateful I am for the people in my life. I thought it would be fun today to share my favorite products and moments from 2015. 

Favorite Makeup and Hair Products of 2015: 

BECCA x Jaclyn Hill Highlighter in Champagne Pop 

This highlighter is so beautiful! I don't always wear highlighter, but when I do, this is the only one I reach for. I get a lot of compliments when I wear this because it looks really great on my skin tone. It is the type of color that truly would flatter a lot of different skin tones. I also use this as an eyeshadow quite a bit! If you would want to see a blog post about how I apply highlighter and some tips and tricks, let me know! 

Loreal Infalliable Foundation

This truly doesn't require a lot of explaining. If you are a fan of medium to full coverage foundation, you need to try this out! It is such a good price at the drugstore, and it truly compares to a lot of my high-end makeup. I highly recommend this! 

Garnier Texture Spray

This texture spray has changed the game with my hair! I chopped my hair in the summer to a "lob" style haircut, and this spray has been my best friend since. I usually curl my hair with a curling rod, brush it out (I like it really messy and not looking curly) and then spray this all over. This adds such great texture and volume to my curly style to give me the exact messy look that I go for. I would highly recommend this affordable product to anyone who loves a good amount of texture to their style! 

Batiste Dry Shampoo

I've talked about this so many times on the blog, so it doesn't require much explaining. I've tried so many dry shampoos, and I can guarantee that this is the BEST one on the market at a reasonable price point. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a good dry shampoo that truly absorbs the oil in your hair and helps extend your style. They do carry an original version (without the brown tint) but I like the version for brunettes. I have repurchased this multiple times, and I've gotten many of my friends and family members hooked on this too! (I have an entire post about dry shampoo here)

Favorite Blog Posts of 2015: 

I have a lot of favorite posts from this year, so I'm going to share my top 5 most viewed posts from 2015.

1. My Wheel of Fortune Experience
2. Vacation Summary from Aruba 2015!
3. Prom Essentials | What You Really Need
4. My Favorite Blushes
5. My Top 5 Fashion Staples

Favorite Photos from 2015: 

Biggest Accomplishments of 2015:

I would say clearly my highest outstanding memory of 2015 was being on Wheel of Fortune. I'm not sure that I will have a memory that tops that for a really long time! Here are some other things that I'm rather proud of this year:
>>> Cruising through my masters program (I'm done in 6 months!)
>>> Balancing a full time job and a 400hr internship at an Elementary School
>>> Making myself a top priority and making so many memories with friends
>>> Doubling my blog views from 2014

Why I'm Looking Forward to 2016:

Do you ever have a really good feeling about something? Well I have that feeling with 2016. I don't normally fall for the hype of new years resolutions, but I have a feeling this year is going to be a major turning point in my life! Here's why:
>>> I'm going to be graduating with my Masters Degree at 23 in June.
>>> I'm hopefully going to be securing my first job as a School Counselor.
>>> I'm planning on relocating and moving in the summer to live completely by myself.
>>> This is the first year since I was 18 that I've been focused on myself as a top priority, and not another person.
>>> I have a LOT of fun things planned for the blog for this year, a lot of new blog series and posts that I can't wait to start.



I hope you all have a very happy New Year.
As always, thanks for reading. xoxo, Jaimie.