Another haul from SHEIN because they have some great pieces on their site y'all! You can literally be on there for hours... ha! They have styles for everyone and every occasion at an affordable price point (which is a major plus for me as a recent grad a budget to stock her wardrobe with variety). These are the items that I shared on my Instagram Story. You can shop these items by using the links! :) 

Figure Print Tee

Honey Tee

Stranger Things Tee

Corduroy Pinafore Dress

Who else shopped the Nordstrom Rack Labor Day Sale? They had some AWESOME sales; I was shook! I shopped for a few items that I could wear both to work and outside of work on the weekends. I shared a try-on haul today on my Instagram story on the things I ordered from the NR sale. Want to shop the items? Just click the links below (the items are still on major sale!)

1. Sate Off-the-Shoulder top

14th & Union Eyelet Flounce Sleeve Tee

Lucky Brand Batik Side Tie Tank

Dolce Vita Dane Wedge Sandal

Nike Trainers

I recently ordered some items from SHEIN for the first time. I was a little skeptical when buying because I have seen mixed reviews... but I am so satisfied with the pieces that I ordered! Shipping was fast and everything came packaged in individual little bags. I like finding affordable pieces that are of nicer quality, that I can wear to and outside of work. Below are the links to the pieces that I shared earlier on my Instagram story. 

V Neckline Pep Hem Blouse Only US$10.00 

  

http://www.shein.com/V-Neckline-Pep-Hem-Blouse-p-495243-cat-1733.html

Contrast Print Frill Hem Blouse Only US$12.00

http://www.shein.com/Contrast-Print-Frill-Hem-Blouse-p-381257-cat-1733.html

Single Breasted Ruffle Hem Blouse Only US$14.00

http://www.shein.com/Single-Breasted-Ruffle-Hem-Blouse-p-547797-cat-1733.html

Tie Neck Striped Top Only US$5.00

http://www.shein.com/Tie-Neck-Striped-Top-p-510302-cat-1733.html

Graphic Print Tank Dress Only US$10.00

http://www.shein.com/Graphic-Print-Tank-Dress-p-469643-cat-1727.html

Embroidery Appliques Floral Dress Only US$25.00

http://www.shein.com/Embroidery-Appliques-Floral-Dress-p-526295-cat-1727.html

Tribal Print Button Half Placket Dress Only US$16.00

http://www.shein.com/Tribal-Print-Button-Half-Placket-Dress-p-540256-cat-1727.html

Lace Up Tassel Striped Split Tribal Dress Only US$19.00

http://www.shein.com/Lace-Up-Tassel-Striped-Split-Tribal-Dress-p-520048-cat-1727.html

   

Blogging is a forever learning process. There are always new things to learn and improve. Since I have started my blog, I have learned some things that take away from your blog from personal experience or from when I am looking at other's blogs. Today I am going to be sharing 5 things that are hurting your blog that you can easily fix!

Not having uniformity

     If you want to have a successful blog and branding, uniformity is key. I have branded both my Instagram and my blog so that the color schemes and some of the information matches. For example, if you look at my banner on my blog you can see that there are different colors within the floral design. I used the color picker option on Photoshop in order to get the color code for each color in the floral design. I then customized the accent colors throughout my blog to match my banner. I did so by pasting the color code from my banner colors. This might sound complicated, but it really only took me a few clicks, copying, and pasting! When scrolling through my blog, you now see that all the colors match my banner, but I use two different accent colors for different links and hovering. It also helps your blog to be cleaner and more appealing when someone visits your page. You want to attract your readers so they'll come back. 

Not being consistent

     This was such a tough one for me when I was trying to blog, go to school full-time, and also work part-time. I had absolutely no time to actually sit down and brainstorm and plan my posts for the upcoming week. I was taking like seven classes each semester while I was trying to grow my blog. I mean most of my brain cells were being sucked away from all the studying I was doing. (Hallelujah that I am now graduated!) I had to just take a break from my blog and get through school and I was determined to get back on my grind after I graduated, and I have! If you want to grow your blog, you have to be consistent. If you have a lighter schedule with school, try and plan out your blog posts in advance so that you can work on your posts in your free time. Your readers are going to be more engaged in your blog if they know you are creating content consistently. 

Not having clear, nicely edited photos

     It is so important to have photos on your blog that are clear, well lit, and crisp. You don't want to oversaturate your photos, or have really dark and grainy photos. You don't have to go out and purchase a super expensive camera to achieve better photos. Most of the newer cell phones have really great quality. Most of the time I use my iPhone 6s, my mom's iPhone 7 plus, or my Sony a5000 Mirrorless Camera. If you're wanting to invest in photo equipment then go ahead! I am actually thinking about purchasing a ring light and another lens for my Sony a5000 (it has interchangeable lenses) so that my photos are brighter and crisper. For now, I am working with what I have though. 

Not proofreading before hitting publish

     Ok, ok... I am totally guilty of this! I have been so excited after writing a blog post that I don't even go back to proofread what I wrote. All I want to do is hit that publish button haha! I will have my blog post up and my #1 fan (a.k.a, my mom), will text/call me and say "Mariah, I found some grammatical errors in your post". So shout out to her because they would probably still be in my posts til this day! I use the Grammarly Chrome plugin that really helps, but sometimes it doesn't catch everything. I might type some extra words or type the wrong word that's actually a word so it might not catch the mistake. So just make sure that you are proofreading your posts before hitting that publish button!

Not having a well thought out 'About Me' page

     When I had first started my blog, I definitely did not know what the heck to write for my About Me page. I later realized that it was time to update that page to help the professionalism of my blog and to attract readers more. Your About Me page is like how your Instagram bio is. You put important information in your bio like your blogging niche, your location, hobbies, and other things so that when people click on your profile they see that information. Your readers might live in the same city or state as you which might attract them to follow you. (and so on..) So it is important to have that same type of information on your blog so that your readers can get to know you in a glimpse. You can check out my About Me page and other bloggers you enjoy reading so you can get an idea of some of the information to include!

As always, thank you for stopping by and reading my post. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope that these tips help you with your blog. Have you made any of these changes yourself and notice a difference?

There is so much makeup out there on the market that sometimes it can be overwhelming when trying to find products that actually work, especially for you. In today's post, I am sharing my everyday makeup essentials. 

Before I start I want to mention my skin type so you all know what might be best for you if you have similar skin. My skin is more on the oily side, with some dry spots around my nose. I also have acne prone skin and have suffered from cystic acne over the years. I have finally got that under control (it was a struggle)... Now let's get into it!

FACE

Depending on how long I will be wearing makeup, and what type of look I am going for, I will use a primer. I use the Nyx Studio Perfect Primer. This primer is a clear silicone based formula which goes on smoothly and I feel like it helps my makeup last longer. For foundation, my holy grail is the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation in the shade '128 Warm Nude'. It blends so well and gives such a smooth look. This foundation is great for everyday use and is buildable if you want a heavier coverage. Although it is not full coverage, it still covers a lot in my opinion. I also love how they make the matte and dewy version so it fits different skin types. I also use the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer and I am in the shade '20 Sand'. I love this concealer for blemishes, under my eyes, and for cleaning up my eyebrows. I have seen many reviews stating that this concealer is comparable to the Tarte Shape Tape concealer. To set my foundation and concealer, I use the Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder in the shade '10 Fair Light' (can you tell that I like Maybelline products?). I wish that they offered a translucent color because I am not a fan of having to pick out a powder to match my shade because I use it more for setting my foundation and concealer. I love how it is a loose powder and it does not leave my makeup looking cakey. I have been using the Makeup Revolution Bronzer in the shade 'Ultra Bronze'. Makeup Revolution has really great quality products at an affordable price! I like to add a bit of blush on my cheeks as well, and for this, I use the NYX Powder Blush in the color 'Cinnamon'. They actually do not make this shade anymore but the shade 'Summer' is the most similar color. Lastly, highlight. Can't forget that highlight girl! I am obsessed with the Colourpop Super Shock Highlighter Flexitarian. It is so pigmented and looks great with any look. When I am done with all of my makeup, I set my face with the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray or the Mario Badescu Facial Spray. 

EYES

On daily basis, I stick to just mascara and maybe some eyeliner. I will only wear eyeshadow if I am going out on the weekends or going to an event where I need to put some more effort into my makeup. If you would like to see a post on my favorite eyeshadow palettes I would love to do that! Just leave a comment down below if you are interested. My all-time favorite mascaras are the Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Mascara and the L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara. I have been using the L'Oreal Telescopic mascara for a few months now because I had been using the Falsies mascara since I was in 9th grade, and I am now 22 years old. It was definitely time for a change! Whenever I wear eyeliner, I alternate between two depending on if I want a pop of color or not. If I want just a simple black liquid eyeliner I use the E.L.F. Cosmetics Waterproof Eyeliner Pen, and it's only $2!! What a steal! My eyelids get really oily, especially during the summer, and this eyeliner works great for me. If I want a pop of color, I usually use a purple liquid eyeliner because it goes well with my brown eyes. The one that I have been loving is another inexpensive eyeliner, and that is the Wet n' Wild Megaliner Liquid Eyeliner in the color Electric Purple. This eyeliner is only $2.99! They have other shades to choose from so definitely try one out. For eyebrows, I have recently been using the NYX Tame & Frame Tinted Brow Pomade in the color 'Espresso'. It is such a great product if you love feeling in your eyebrows and want them to last all day. After I fill in my eyebrows I use the NYX Proof It Waterproof Eyeshadow Primer, which helps keep my eyebrow hairs stay in place. My mom actually used this product and let me try it and I fell in love with it. I hate when I get those random hairs hanging down, it just throws off my eyebrows.  

LIPS

For lips I normally use chapstick or a pink tinted lip color. For chapstick, I use the Burt's Bees Lip Balm in 'Beeswax' or the Blistex Medicated Lip Balm. If I want a tint of color, I will use the Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip Liquid Lipstick in 'Sunday', or the NYX Butter Gloss in the color 'Strawberry Parfait'. I love these shades because they add a tint of color to your look without being too bold. 

Do you use any of these products? If you try any of these out let me know how you like it down below. Thanks for reading!

Hello there! Today I did my first every try-on session at Target. This was a mini try-on session with different pieces that they have for the summer. There were so many things to choose from, ugh. I could have been in there for hours! Here are some of my favorite pieces that I found today. I featured these pieces on my Instagram story so be sure to check that out! 

#1 - Navy Floral Top

#2 - Distressed Denim Shorts

#3 - Off The Shoulder Floral Dress

#4 - Red Bandana Dress

#5 - Olive Linen Shorts

All of these looks are super affordable, I was so shocked! They are having a major sale right now that goes through this Saturday, May 24th. All dresses are 20% off so it is a perfect time for you to pick up a cute dress or other pieces for Memorial Day! 

Which piece is your favorite?

So for those of you who follow me on Instagram then you know that I recently traveled to the big city of Chicago, Illinois. I stayed for three days and I had so much fun! This was my first time visiting Chicago so my family and I made sure that we made plenty of time to sightsee. Chicago offers so many shops, activities, dining, and more! I got some awesome shots of different places that I visited and passed during my time in Chicago. I will be sharing them with you today!

DAY ONE

Ok, I'm a morning person to a certain extent. One of the circumstances in which I'm not is when I have to catch a flight at 7:50 in the morning and have to have myself and my belongings together. I am thankful that our flight was so early because we didn't have any connecting flights to Chicago so we got there super early! (by 9:30am) This gave us basically a full day to take on Chicago. We stayed at a super cute hotel called the Conrad Hotel. It was so spacious, modern, and had a nice view! Another great thing about this hotel is that we could literally walk outside and all the shops and dining were RIGHT THERE (guess this isn't great for those of us who like a little retail therapy). We grabbed lunch at this super yummy restaurant called Shake Shack. Shake Shack is not your regular burger and shake joint; they put a twist on everything that they offered on their menu. I tried the shroom burger thinking that it was a burger with mushrooms on it and boy was I wrong. It was actually a portabello mushroom that was fried, on a bun, with cheese. When I tell you that was the best decision I made... I mean it! If you love mushrooms, cheese, and bread you have to try the shroom burger from Shake Shack. It was such an amazing taste! After letting our bellies settle from all the goodness, we hit the streets of Chicago. We walked around to see all the different shops that were on Michigan Avenue and there was just too many for my eyes... We stopped by the three-floor Nike store which had a 'special' top floor with custom Nike clothing and shoes. We also went to Nordstrom which was basically on steroids! I thought the Nordstrom I have been to at Lennox Mall and SouthPark Mall was huge; nuh uh girlfriend. I honestly could have spent three hours in the women's accessory department. For dinner, we went to this Pizzaria called Labriola to try the famous Chicago style pizza. I'm already a pizza lover so I was super excited to try the pizza there and it was delicious! Messy but delicious. Attached to Labriola was Stan's Donuts & Coffee. They had cake, cookies, pastries, and gelato. I got an apple pie to try and it was so good... 

The Conrad Hotel - Chicago

Shake Shack

Magnificent Mile

Stan's Donuts & Coffee

DAY TWO

Day two consisted of more eating, shopping, and exploring. We tried out this breakfast place called Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe where they served specialty breakfast options (a.k.a, another place on steroids - at least their breakfast options were) I really wanted waffles but I also really wanted something with egg in it so I ended up getting a 'Make Your Own Omelette' with a Belgian waffle and hashbrowns. I. WAS. STUFFED. We walked off our big brunch and stopped by Dylan's Candy Bar which lit me up with heart eyes. Who else loves sweets?? We went to other shops like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Kate Spade, Michale Kors, H&M, etc. Later that evening, we went to Jake Melnick's Corner Tap restaurant because we read reviews that said they had really great wings. My family and I are fans of some really good, crispy wings. I tried the Pb&j boneless wings and although they sound really disgusting, it was actually a unique taste!

Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe

Dylan's Candy Bar

DAY THREE

Day three was our last day exploring this beautiful city and it sucked a bit because I had enjoyed being in Chicago and soaking up all of its beauty for the days that I was there. This day was really exciting though because my family and I did a boat tour that took us down the Chicago River. The tour was 70 minutes (and I wish it was longer), and the tour guide told us about the city's history, the early architecture, and new buildings to come. It was amazing floating down the river seeing all of the buildings so high in the sky, and how unique some of them were with their design. After taking Art Appreciation this past semester, I have found a new love for architecture and its history. After we finished our tour we headed to the Ghirardelli store because why not? Again, my eyes lit up with hearts. Before walking into this store, I never knew that Ghirardelli had so many flavors of chocolate! You could buy bags full of the mixed flavors, of one flavor, or make your own bag/tin can of whatever flavors you wanted. I decided to get the tin can and I literally fit 30+ Ghirardelli squares of chocolate in that thing... After getting our sweet tooth fix, we headed back to some shops to do any last minute shopping since it was our last day. We stopped at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse which is inside of the Intercontinental hotel. I, of course, got salmon (my fave), that came with a creamy rice. For dessert, we went to Grand Lux Cafe where I had the Warm Sticky Bun Bread Pudding with ice cream. It was basically like a cinnamon swirl bread pudding with candied pecans on top! I could eat it every day. 

River Boat Tour

Ghirardelli

Grand Lux Cafe

I had so much fun exploring the city of Chicago for the first time. It was definitely an experience that I will always remember, and I will probably visit again in the future! If you have never been to Chicago and want to go, I hope that you try out some of the places I visited. If you do, let me know. I hope you enjoyed reading my travel diary about Chicago, Illinois!