Franish

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

beauty tuesday: the best self tanner

Although I'm a blond haired, blue eyed German girl, I actually tan pretty easily. In my younger days, I spent a lot of time outside (with sunscreen on!) working as a lifeguard, camp counselor, and in marching band - I always had a nice tan going in the warmer months! Are you ready for a throwback? Below I am at band practice, summer camp, my first day of college, and working as a life guard in high school. I sure know how to strike a pose ;)

Anyway, now that I have to pretend to be an adult and no longer have a reason to spend most of my days outside, I am consistently pretty pale. I appreciate those who really embrace their natural porcelain skin, and there are many women who look better with their pale skin...but I personally don't believe I'm one of them. I just like to have a bit more color sometimes! Over the years, I've tried various methods to add just a bit of color to my skin. In college, I stupidly went to the tanning place a few times over the winter - luckily I really only went maybe five times, but still, that was not the best decision. I've gotten a few spray tans, but hated how expensive they were. I've tried the slow self tanner lotions, but I hated the smell, and never noticed that much of a difference. I'd always wanted to try a self tanner, but never knew where to start.

One of my favorite beauty bloggers, Cara from Maskcara, wrote this post about her method for using a self tanner, and so I obviously wanted to try it. She said that her favorite product was a foam from Tanwise, which I of course immediately ordered. I also ordered this mitt to apply the product. I've been using that combination on and off for the past year, and after showing a bit of the process on snapchat this past weekend, figured it was time to finally share what I believe is the best way to use a self tanner.

the morning of:
1. Shave & exfoliate. To get an even color from the self tanner, you don't want any dry skin patches for the color to stick to. I like to shave the morning of, and just gently exfoliate - I don't do anything crazy, I just use a basic loofah.

2. Moisturize. Again to prevent any dry spots. My favorite lotion is from Lubriderm - it's not some cute bottle with a great smelling lotion, but it really works well. It's the only body lotion I use now. I personally like to do the shave + lotion hours before the self tanner, just so I'm not applying self tanner to lotion rather than my moisturized skin.

later at night:
1. Get naked. Or as naked as you want to be. I go down to just being in my underwear. May be an obvious step, but hey, just throwing it out there!

2. Apply the self tanner. With the mitten on my hand, I use about 1 squirt for each of the following body part: lower leg, upper legs, arms, chest/neck, and abdomen. When you apply, it's important to not spend a lot of time in one area - that's how you get splotchy and streaky. Really move back and forth, and making sure you get all sides of the body part - it's easy to forget your ankle or the back of your legs, but that's how it's easy to spot self tanner. Some people like to use this self tanner on their face, and some don't. I prefer to use it, but in a modified fashion. The mitten I use comes with a smaller "finger" mitten. On that, I put about half a squirt of the self tanner, start on the edge of my face and work in. I'll let them sit for the rest of the time I'm using the self tanner, and then I'll wash my face. This way it gives me a little bit of color without leaving me looking too tan.

3. Wash your hands and toes. No matter how much you try, the color will settle in between your toes and fingers. Rinsing them off will prevent that dark pooling that can easily happen.

4. Don't get dressed for 20 minutes. But since I don't like to run around the house naked, I just put on a (navy) robe once my skin has dried.

5. Put on loose pjs, and go to bed. I have white bedding, and have never had a problem with my sheets turning colors from my self tanner. This isn't to say that it may not happen for you, but that's just been my personal experience so far.

6. Take a shower the next morning. You will be a bit orange when you wake up - I promise that's not the final look! In the shower, you'll notice that the water will turn a bit brown for the first minute in the shower. Just use a normal body wash like you always do.

7. Ta da! Now you look like you just came back from vacation (where you diligently still wore sunscreen, but just got a slight tan).

The color fades slowly throughout the week, so I usually do it like every 7-10 days. This is not something I do all year long, but something I do for the first few weeks of the leg baring months and before special occasions. It only takes a few minutes but I find it makes quite a difference in how I feel I look.

I personally use the dark color, but it also comes in a medium and lighter version if you are afraid of jumping in with too much color. I definitely recommend using a tanning glove though to get the most even coverage - it really does make a big difference!

And don't forget...sunscreen is your friend, and you should still use it, even if you look tan ;)

Monday, April 18, 2016

review: #tallgirlproblems

A question I get asked often is how tall I am - the answer is 5'9'' (I've been told often I look shorter in pictures?). Now granted, 5'9'' is not that tall - it's really the beginning height that tall sizing was created for. But those four extra inches above the average woman's height creates some difficulties when buying clothes. Below are a few things I've tried recently, and while I'm keeping most of them, a part of me wishes I had the option of buying them in a tall size, just like many of the items are available in petites. Now who do we petition?! ;)

First up is this drapey t-shirt dress from J.Crew Factory. When I first discovered this dress two months ago, almost all sizes were sold out, but eventually a size 10 popped back, and although the reviews said to size up, I ordered it anyway. I now agree with the reviews - that size 10 was way too short and tight on me! That dress was immediately returned, and I continued to watch the site waiting for a size 12 to pop back, and luckily it did! So this is a polyblend t-shirt style dress. It has a slip underneath, which makes it opaque (love when they do that!). The fabric is just a bit crinkly, I wish it had a bit of cotton in it, but that's not a big deal (just wanted to give you a heads up!). As far as the fit goes, I find it just a tiny bit too loose in the waist (which isn't always a bad things - I need room for brunch!). It's quite shorter than what I typically wear though, as I like dresses to go right above my knees, and this is about an inch below my finger tips (as you can see in the middle picture). This is one of those situations where a tall option would have been great! I typically try to buy clothes I can wear both in my professional and my personal life, but you know, sometimes you just have to keep the fun dress and wear it on the weekends, even if it's just a bit shorter than you would normally wear. The dress is currently 50% off, plus if you use the code SRSLYSPRING, you can get free shipping too!

Next up is Madewell's eyelet tee. I mentioned this a few weeks ago, and while I was considering ordering it in navy instead of my go-to white, I just knew I would love the white more. I ordered this in a size large. This peekaboo lace is so freaking pretty! As you can see, it does require wearing a cami underneath (I'm wearing my favorite from Express), unless you're super daring and much cooler than I am. As most things at Madewell, this top is just a bit boxier than I generally prefer, but luckily that has an easy fix! In the back, you can see that is gathered near the top. My plan is to put in a few stitches down the back, to about the level of my waist, to bring it in just a little bit. This will give me the definition I prefer while keeping the general look of the shirt. I clipped in the picture on the right, so you can see that it's just a bit less boxy than before. Again, I would have loved if this was about two inches longer in front, but that's something I'm more than willing to ignore for such a pretty blouse.

The other item from that Madewell order was this button-back top. I feel in love with this shirt on Nicole, but it just does not look as good on me as it does on her. Again I'm wearing a large here. I find that it falls at a weird point on me - right at my widest point, and with its boxier shape, it really makes me look much bigger than I am. If this had been about three inches longer in the front, I would have loved this shirt. It's actually a very well made (Madewell? har har) shirt, with a heaver fabric and great details. It just didn't work on me, unfortunately.

BLANKNYC 'Hotel' Distressed Skinny Jeans

The last item is one I'm torn on. This is the Hotel Distressed skinny jeans from BlankNYC. Here are the things I love about them: they are so soft (must be the 97% cotton/3% spandex combo), the distressing is just the right amount, the length is great (31 inch inseam), and the price isn't horrible. The two things I wish I could change would be to make them just a little bit darker, and to get rid of the whiskering (why is this still a thing?!). I'm honestly considering buying a darker blue fabric marker and coloring it in, just to cover those up a bit (I've never done that, but I'm willing to try!). So I'm like 90% in love with them, and while I typically say don't keep it unless you 100% love it, maybe that's a bit extreme for a pair of distressed jeans? Like, if you find something that is pretty darn close to what you've been looking for, just be happy? Thoughts? (side note, the reviews did mention to size down, which I did, so if you are interested, I'd also advise going down a size!).

Sunday, April 17, 2016

top three [04.17.2016]

this BR top is still one of my absolute favorites - more colors please!

medicine

The DeBakey classification is used to separate aortic dissections into those that need to be surgically repaired and those that are managed medically. The man who is responsible for this classification, Dr. Michael DeBakey, a world renowned cardiothoracic surgeon who pioneered the treatment for aortic dissections, not only invented this classification, but also suffered from aortic dissection himself. If that's not irony...
During the first 7 weeks of gestation, the gonadal tissue of the fetus remains undifferentiated. The male sexual differentiation is an active process, and without the signals to become male, female sexualization is the default setting.
Hypertelorism: an abnormally increased distance between two organs. It's usually used to describe eyes that are too far apart.

on the internet

I loved this classic look on Katie - plus her Tuesday posts are always a fun read!
I'm a big believer in threading (5 minutes of pain for 6 weeks of no hair!), but I'm intrigued by Allie's post about face shaving. Have any of you tried it?
Jessica's post about face masks just added like three more face masks to my wishlist!

spotted

I saw this straw tote at Target this weekend, and it looks so much more expensive than it is - I love that tassel. It would be such a fun tote for a beach trip!
This top from Gibson would be a great going out top - the perfect mix of sexy, cute, and comfortable!
Still on the hunt for comfortable dress shoes, and I stumbled upon this mary jane pair from Skechers - not usually a place I shop for shoes, but they're kind of cute, right?

ask me anything

I will be applying to PA schools this upcoming cycle as a California resident. I'm sure you can appreciate how competitive it is, and therefore I am applying to many programs including those out-of-state. I have been fortunate enough to visit some of these out-of-state programs, so I have some small idea of what the surrounding city is like. But I am still anxious about all the possible places I might end up geographically. Like, will I legit be able to survive in areas that are cold and snowy??? What about feeling at home in places like Utah that seem to be very...homogenous?? I'm wondering, how did you adjust to moving to a totally different area for school? How far in advance did you move? Do you have any tips for adjusting to an area where you've never lived?

First of all, best of luck with the applications - what a pain, but hopefully it will all be worth it! So I moved about 700 miles away from home, and while it was still the Midwest with similar weather, there was still quite a bit of adjustment. I went from a moderately sized city I loved to a small city that I was not that big of a fan of initially. The biggest thing for me was finding places that felt like "my places" - coffee shops, study places, restaurants. These were discovered through classmates, yelp, and just going out and exploring! Once you have a place you enjoy being at, the area you live in will just feel more like yours - that may sound silly, but it really has made a difference for me these past three years as I keep moving around small Midwest cities that don't always have the most to offer. Just really think of those years you are at school as an adventure - like how often in your life are you going to move to a completely different state and meet a whole bunch of new people and do something completely new to you? Not many, probably! And in the end, if you really hate where you live, it's only temporary - it's 2 years at most. One of my closest friends moved from Southern California to one of the snowiest places in the country, and although he used to say he wouldn't leave the house if it was below 45 degrees, he survived those two years, and now is almost a proficient driver in the snow ;) As far as moving goes, I moved about two weeks before school started - I moved in just my car, with just my dogs and clothes, so I needed a bit of time to go buy furniture and get a house together. That was just a personal choice since I wanted a bit of time to adjust and get my life in order before the craziness of school started.

Going on your day in the life post, I am so impressed that you can get up so early in the morning, especially with your heated mattress! (jealous). So, my question is, do you have any tips or tricks for 1. just plain old getting up in the morning without major grumbling and 2. making the most of that time? I'm a shower in the morning person but I usually leave myself 10 minutes to do that, and everything else, and it really makes me a grump for the rest of the day to leave my house with wet hair and no makeup. I can't bring myself to be a morning person!

I am definitely still not a morning person, but I've definitely gotten better about it! The biggest thing for me is just going to bed early enough, which I know is not easy, and to be honest, I'm still really working on that. I have found using the Sleep Cycle app has really made a difference though - not only does it track your sleep, but it works by detecting your sleep cycles, and wakes you up at the best waking times. It has made such a difference in waking up because instead of being jolted awake by a buzzing alarm, it slowly wakes you up. As far as getting ready, getting into a habit of not washing my hair often actually has been awesome - I wash my hair like twice a week now, thanks to dry shampoo! I've used a ton over the years, from inexpensive versions to pricier versions (currently testing out the Living Proof dry shampoo, and really enjoying it!). Not washing my hair every morning gives me at least 20 extra minutes every morning!

I'm turning 30 this year and had my first baby almost 8 months ago. As "swimsuit season" approaches, I find myself personally less and less comfortable with the idea of a two-piece swimsuit. I used to be a moderate bikini fan (no string bikinis!)... Any suggestions on cute/non-matronly one-piece options?

Congrats on the new baby! I don't have a baby yet, but I'm also on the one-piece bandwagon - I just feel a bit more comfortable with everything a bit more covered up! My favorite one right now is this scalloped version from Kate Spade - expensive, but so darn cute. I also really like this strappy number that is currently on sale (it also comes in a few different colors if black isn't your style!). From Miraclesuit, this suit is a little va-va-voom while still keeping everything covered up!

on franish

on the blog: tips and tricks on how to get your makeup to last all day
on the instagram: brighter, blunter, blonder :)
what you missed on snapchat (@fhasselhof): first thoughts on my Sephora purchase

notable sales

Anthropologie: 40% off sale items

I have always loved gold flatware (CR disagrees) but come on, how cute is this flatware?! Want.
This textured front zip jacket is adorable - it would look equally great over a dress, or casually with jeans and a tee.
Can't you see Clare Underwood wearing this wrap dress? Perfect for you ladies who have to dress more professionally for work!

J.Crew Factory: 40% off new arrivals!

I feel like I need to own this seersucker pencil skirt. Seriously.
I really want to try this short sleeved popover - wouldn't it look great with white jeans, or tucked into a pencil skirt?
If I had a beach vacation coming up, this tunic would also be mine - such a pretty color.

Kohls: save 20% if you spend over $50

From the REED collection, the white eyelet dress is so fun - I love that it can be dressed up or down.
And in the "can't ever get enough polka dots" section, a blush + polka dot dress will always win.
I'm officially an LC fangirl, so of course I love her perforated pumps - I'll take the rose version, please!

personal

This weekend, CR and I went to a local Amish market and omg, do those ladies know how to make baked goods! The best apple fritters I've ever had (and trust, there's a large sample size!).
My Sephora order came in, and I've had so much fun playing around. Favorites so far include the Living Proof dry shampoo and Becca's highlighter. Things that will probably go back include this Tarte lipstick - I should stop buying lipstick without trying it first!
I finally got my hair colored and cut this week, and I feel like a brand new person! Now how do I get someone to style my hair for me all the time? ;)

Thursday, April 14, 2016

so trendy

I ordered these Topshop lace up flats a few weeks ago, and am so happy that it's finally stopped snowing so I can wear them! You may have noticed that I don't really own a lot of shoes - I have four pairs of flats that I wear on a regular basis. I tend to spend a little more on shoes, and therefore own less of them. I also have a very makeshift closet, so I have little room for shoes, so I just don't buy a lot of them! While these shoes are a bit out of my normal comfort zone, that's kind of what I love about them. The lace up flats trend is definitely a big trend this spring, and for under $50, I'll gladly play along with the cool kids for a few months.

As far as fit goes, I do find they fit true to size - I'm typically a 9.5, and the 9.5 fit me perfectly. I wore them all day, and it wasn't until about six hours in that I felt them rubbing a bit on my heels (that's why I always keep this in my purse!), so definitely not as much of a break in needed as some of the other shoes I own! If you're interested, I've noticed that sizes keep popping in and out of stock, so just keep an eye on it as your size will probably be restocked at some point.

Blouse: Banana Republic [similar]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [similar]

Shoes: Topshop [exact]

Bag: Mulberry [similar | exact]

Watch: c/o Larsson & Jennings [exact]

In my list of top ten bags I'd love to own some day, the Reed Krakoff Boxer tote is definitely on the list. Like the rest of the bags on the list, that bag is a bit out of reach right now. Thankfully, with his collaboration with Kohl's, we can now get the look for less. I personally think the Kohl's collabs are almost always better than the Target ones, but without the crazy frenzy. Take a look at this behind the scenes article that explains his design process for the line a bit more.

I'm teaming up with Kohl's in a few weeks to show you guys a few of the products from the line, but wanted to mention some of my favorites today since they are now available. I love that this collab line shares the same essence of his own line - the shapes and colors are so expensive looking! Some of the pieces are basically the exact same look, just for less - here is one of his original designs, and then compare it to the REED version - they are basically identical!

Here are my picks - can you guess which one I ordered?!

one | two | three

four | five | six

seven | eight | nine

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

beauty tuesday: how to get your makeup to last all day

Now that I've been working longer and longer days, I've been looking for makeup that lasts as long as my time in the hospital does. Below are the products, methods, and tricks I've found that work for me! While my makeup didn't exactly last through a 28 hour shift, it does hold up for 12+ hours!

start with the right base

No matter your skin type, using a primer is the vital first step to getting your makeup to last all day. There is a whole range of primers out there that address all and any of your skincare concerns. For me, I need something that is hydrating. My staple is the Laura Mercier hydrating primer, but have also enjoyed using Nivea's post-shave balm (review here), Urban Decay's Pore Perfecting primer, and Becca's Backlight Priming Filter. I would really like to try Too Faced's primer, partially because of the good reviews and partially because the packaging is so cute! Unfortunately, since I do not have experience with oiler skin, I don't personally have any recommendations - if any of you do and have found a primer that works well for oiler skin, please share below in the comments!

I personally rarely use an eyeshadow primer - I find that using my face primer on my eyes is usually enough to stop my eyeshadow from migrating and creasing, but I also don't wear a ton of eyeshadow during the workweek. This may not be the case for you if you have oilier skin though. I do own the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer, and it's the perfect primer for nights out when I go a little heavier with the eyeshadow.

And for those of you who have issues with mascara fallout, you need to try a primer! I'm a big fan of the Urban Decay primer, and just ordered my second tube. Not only does it keep your mascara right where you want it, but it makes your eyelashes look almost fake they are so big (see here for proof!). If you are looking for something a bit more inexpensive, try the primer side of L'oreal's Double Extend mascara.

pick the long-lasting products
Seems kind of like a no-duh statement, but it surprisingly took me a while to find products that really did stay on my face for 12+ hours. Below are the ones that stick around for an entire shift:

Estee Lauder's Double Wear Light: I've heard great things about their Double Wear foundation, but since I didn't want a full coverage foundation, I went with the lighter coverage version. I plan on having a full review of this in the coming weeks (completely with 12 hour later pictures!), but let's just say that this stays right where you put it. Highly recommend!

Smashbow Powder: I seem to work this into every beauty post, but that's because it is one of my absolute favorite beauty items. Not only does it even out your skin, make your pores disappear (truly!), but this is what sets all the rest of your makeup. I've purchased...probably at least 8 of these over the years.

Brow Pencil: I used a brow powder for years before switching to a pencil. They say that powders look more natural, but I find that with the right pencil and technique (you have to use the spooley!), not only will your brows look "natural" (but better, obviously), but they'll also be there by the end of the day. I'm currently using Charlotte Tilbury's Brow Lift, but if you are looking for something with a few more colors, Anastasia recently came out with a similar product with more color options. If you are still noticing that your eyebrows are disappearing, try a brow gel after coloring in your brows!

Stila's Liquid Eyeliner: It says it right in the name - stay all day! Another one of my holy grail items, I've purchased probably at least 20 of these, and the day I find out they discontinue it is the day I order 20 more online. This truly stays on my eyelids all day long - through allergy season, sad movies, and afternoon naps.

Too Faced's 16 hour blush: A recent discovery, this blush not only comes in adorable packaging, but lives up to its name. It gives you just the right flush while staying put all day.

finish with a setting spray

This is fairly new to me, but I've been using Urban Decay's setting spray for about six months now, and have actually noticed quite a difference! Once all of your makeup is applied, apply your RBF (so that your face is neutral, unless you are lucky and don't have RBF like I do), and spray one-two pumps on your face. Wait about 15 seconds for it to dry before talking or really moving your face, otherwise it will settle into the crinkles of your skin.

I hope that helps getting your make up to last all.day.long! If you have any tips, tricks, or products that have helped to increase the longevity if your makeup, please share below in the comments!

Monday, April 11, 2016

the best way to store your watches

I used to not be a watch girl - I don't think I even owned one until after I graduated from college! Since then, I have slowly built up my collection. Obviously a watch's main function is to tell you the time, but I think they really help elevate any look. I love wearing my bigger gold watch with more casual outfits, while sticking with my thinner leather watches for my time (har har) at work.

My ultimate wishlist watch is the Cartier tank watch, but it's looking like it'll probably be a few decades until that happens (doesn't mean I won't keep stalking eBay looking for one though!). Below are a few I've had my eye on - the Marc Jacobs has a pretty similar feel to the Cartier...at a bit of a more reasonable price ;)

Marc Jacobs | Michael Kors | Kate Spade | Fossil

After I owned a few watches, I didn't really know how to store them - for a while I just kept them all in a bowl! So I started looking for watch boxes, but all I could find where really masculine ones - think dark leathers, grey felt, and big hardware. I wanted something more feminine looking, so I was thrilled when I found the Mele watch box a few years ago. It's white, clean looking, and the best part, it's portable. It holds ten watches, so it's the perfect size to either keep your large collection in order, or have room for growth!

top row: Kate Spade | c/o Larsson & Jennings | Michael Kors [on sale!] | Fossil | Michael Kors

bottom row: c/o Daniel Wellington x 4 | Boccia

As you can see, I have over the past four years amassed quite the Daniel Wellington collection. The Classic Sheffield, with its black leather and gold case, is the most worn watch in my collection. I wear almost every single day, and it still looks as good as the day I received it years ago. DW recently reached out again, and offered to send me something new. I'm thrilled to now own the St. Mawes as well - as you can see from above, I don't really own a cognac leather strapped watch, and combined with its bright white face and classic hardware, it really is going to give my Sheffield a run for its money!

If you've had your eye on anything from Daniel Wellington, from watches to a new leather band, you can use the code FRANISH to receive 15% off your entire order. The code is good until May 15th!

Sunday, April 10, 2016

top three [04.10.2016]

it's denim jacket time :)