April 2017 – The Hustlin’ Homemaker

APRIL FAVES

Hello! It’s the end of April, and I thought I would do another favorites post! I don’t do these every month, only when I have some standout products to share. Let’s get into it!

I have two nail polish favorites that I have been wearing nonstop.

First is this purple color with gold shift called Zara by Zoya. This is GORGEOUS and totally not like anything I’ve seen before. It is especially pretty in the sunlight.

The other one is Bikini So Teeny by Essie, and is a longtime favorite of mine (I think this is my 3rd bottle of it). It is just the prettiest sky blue/periwinkle color that just POPS on my nails. I put glitter overtop of it the other day, and I’m in love!

For makeup, I have been wearing Make Up For Ever’s Ultra HD Foundation a lot. It feels so lightweight on the skin, and gives really nice coverage with a satin finish. It is buildable also, so good for a full coverage look too.

I have been keeping Colourpop’s lip pencil in Lumiere in my purse for a couple of weeks now, and it’s all I am reaching for! I fill in my lips with this, put a gloss overtop, and it is such a pretty pink with a hint of like…grayish purple? It’s super cool toned and I think it’s the perfect pinky color. It’s so creamy and glides on nicely.

ALSO, I got a new highlight, this Tarte Highlight Powder in Stunner. Yes, I am on the NO BUY, and this was a deluxe sample that I got with an order from Sephora. AND NO, I was not buying makeup. I placed an order for sunscreen and moisturizer…BORING! But anyway, this highlighter is so sparkly and gives such a pretty gold sheen! I’m taking this with me to the beach this weekend.

I’ve got a few skincare faves, first up is the Dr. Jart Every Sun Day Sun Fluid SPF 30. This is my go-to sunscreen for every day. I apply this under my moisturizer (or just use this as moisturizer) and it sinks in fast, doesn’t make me feel greasy, and protects my skin. Love it!

I have also been using this face mask, the Origins Retexturizing Mask With Rose Clay a few times a week, and I just love how this makes my skin feel. It deep cleans my pores and makes my skin texture so smooth.

That’s it for my faves!

What have you been loving this month?

xx amy

How To Style : Boyfriend Jeans

Boyfriend jeans are sometimes a tricky trend to pull off. Most boyfriend jeans have huge rips or holes in them (like mine), and they also have a baggier fit around the legs. I like to cuff mine at the bottom because I am on the shorter side, and I don’t want them to look like they’re swallowing me. To avoid them looking sloppy, I like to try and dress them up a bit.

Here is my take on how to style them!

Outfit 1

This outfit is the most dressy option, but still not over the top. I paired the jeans with a black lace overlay top that I think really makes the outfit look fancy.

I’m wearing some black slingbacks and a black clutch with some floral detail for a small pop of color. For jewelry, I am just wearing a simple gold watch.

Outfit 2

This outfit is a lot more casual, I paired the jeans with this off shoulder, 3/4 sleeve peasant-type top. I love the paisley print, and it’s so comfortable and flowy. Off the shoulder tops are so in and I am loving how feminine they look.

For shoes, I love these suede wedge booties because they are really cute with cropped pants, and even though they are a heel, they are comfy. I’m also wearing a rose gold clutch crossbody, which I think dresses up the outfit, and of course, big gold hoop earrings, which I love.

Outfit 3

This outfit is the most casual out of the bunch. I’m wearing just a simple blush colored tee with some lace detail at the bottom. So comfy, but still cute!

For shoes, I’m wearing my favorite espadrilles with a floral print. I’m carrying a casual tote, and I put on a long gold necklace just to dress it up a bit. I really went for a more feminine look with this.

Do you like boyfriend jeans? What is your favorite way to wear them?

Thanks for reading!

New Spring Bag + What’s In It

Bags are my favorite way to accessorize. I have a lot of bags, but recently I have been really into small, clutch type bags. Day to day, I really don’t need to carry a large bag. My two year old is fully potty trained, so I don’t really need to carry anything for her in my bag anymore! For running quick errands and shopping, I prefer a small, crossbody bag.

I saw this bag at Nordstrom, and I HAD to have it. I usually go for brown instead of black when it comes to shoes and bags, but I made an exception for this! The pink studs and embroidered flowers totally won me over.

This is the Topshop Rosie Floral Stud Faux Leather Crossbody Bag.

This bag is very small, but is thicker, so I can fit everything I need in here. It has a long gold chain that you can use to wear crossbody, or you can tuck it into the bag for a chic, night out clutch! Inside, there is a zip pouch and a little pocket to put cards into.

It is ADORABLE.

Here is what I keep inside.

Of course I have to keep my favorite Dior Lip Maximizer, my Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Liner, and my blotting powder, Too Faced Primed and Poreless.

A rollerball of Elizabeth and James Nirvana White is always with me, as is the Honest Hand Sanitizing Spray that I love to use for my girls.

I’ve got my key holder in here that also holds a few cards, and I always pack a protein or granola bar of some sort in case I get hungry.

I can also fit my phone and some sunglasses in here. I just love this little bag!

What kind of bag do you like for spring?

xx Amy

Home Organization | Medicine Cabinet Essentials

When we were building our home, I requested for the builder to have wooden medicine cabinets put into every bathroom. I love the idea of a medicine cabinet, because you can fit so much in it, and it’s easy to have access to all of the products you need in a daily basis. I don’t like a lot of clutter on the bathroom counters, so this helps to keep the clutter hidden and looks more organized. I originally got this idea from my friend, Gillian, of A Pretty Trippy Blog, who did a Medicine Cabinet post awhile back! I loved seeing what she had in hers, so here is what I keep in mine!

On the bottom shelf I keep mostly hair products. This shelf is the tallest, so I can fit larger items here. I have a couple of my favorite dry shampoos, a hair serum to apply to my hair if I’m wearing it straight and want a sleek look, a hairspray, a blow dry/heat protectant spray, a wave/texturizing spray, and lastly (not a hair product) but my makeup removing water.

The next shelf up has my skincare. I’ve got a few samples I’m trying to use up, my lip scrub, eye cream, my retinol treatment, sunscreen, my everyday moisturizer, and deodorant.

Lastly, the top shelf has my dental products and some cotton pads. I’ve got dental floss, my toothpaste, and toothbrush up here.

As you can see, everything I need for the day is right here at arm’s reach! I am able to fit so much into here and I love not having anything on my countertops.

Do you use a medicine cabinet? What’s in yours?

xx Amy

EAT | The BEST Fresh Salsa

Hey guys! Is it just me, or is it really hard to find good salsa in a jar? I want salsa that tastes fresh and like the kind from a restaurant! After trying out different recipes, I decided to just create my own and put everything into it that I like about salsa. Here it is!

What you’ll need:

3-4 cups of chopped tomatoes (I use 5 Roma tomatoes)
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro
2 cloves (1 tsp) garlic
2 tsp lime juice
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup crushed tomatoes

Start with chopping up your tomatoes. You should have about 3 cups.

Chop up your onion.

Give your cilantro a rough chop- it isn’t really necessary if you’re using a food processor, though!

Add everything into your processor (you can also use a blender).

Add your garlic, lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper. Blend up. You can make it as thick and chunky or as smooth as you like. We like ours somewhere in the middle.

I then like to add about a cup of crushed tomatoes. This gives it a more savory taste, and thickens it up. Fresh tomatoes are good, but this just gives it a little bit something extra. Tastes more like salsa, less like pico de gallo.