When Things Go Wrong (But Turn Out Ok)

As you might have heard, I'm moving. As you also might have heard, I was supposed to fly into Wisconsin Tuesday. But things don't always go as they're supposed to, do they?
On Tuesday, the United Airline network crashed nationwide. All this really did was delay a specific window of flights, including my first flight to Denver. I ended up missing the second leg of my journey.

Now, I respond poorly when travel plans go awry. By 'poorly' I mean that I follow standard Cravi procedures:
1. Panic internally
2. Decide it will be fine
3. Call parental person
4. Speak in an urgent and exasperated voice for a solid minute to three minutes then insist I'm just tired.
5. Calm down and decide to be a grown up about it.
6. Put some food in me to subdue the Hanger beast
7. Make sure I'm as nice and understanding and sweet to the poor airline people as possible

Boom- Problem solved.

This is my usual course of action.

This time, the solution to my no-airplane problem was to be put up in a hotel overnight and jump on a plant the next day. At first, I was cranky. Then the clouds parted and I realized: Hotel= jammies. Hotel = room service.
HOTEL= JAMMIES + ROOM SERVICE.
Finally, the transitive property is working for me.



See kids? We really do use math after the SATs.

So what started out as a stressful, cranky, sweaty day turned into reveling in two food vouchers worth of cheesecake, wine, and french onion soup while watching Chopped and Dance Moms.

Basically, I lived the dream.

BearBear agrees.

It's Time!

I'm flying to Wisconsin today! After a harrowing getting to the airport experience (which was 100% my fault,) I made it to the airport. Now to make it on the plane...

For updates on my travels, check my instagram. Happy end of the month everyone!

Inspiration: Posters and Wall Art

That's right sports fans.

My big move is THIS WEEK!!!


I know, I'm excited too.
But calm down, kids- theres still a plane to ride, several boxes to send, and quite a bit of unpacking to do before this girl lives in Milwaukee.
Before then, there's still a little time to daydream, this time about posters and pieces to put on my walls. My favorite part of moving in is putting all my keepsakes and pictures up. or me, thats what makes a room into my room. So here's a taste to wet your appetite:

What do you think? Any winners in the bunch?

Weekend Pin Ups

lana turner

Here's this weeks pinterest round up. Have a good weekend!

Happy Belly: Cool Lime Refresher

I have a deep love of Starbucks. It started in high school, and I've never really been able to shake it. Every once in a while, in an effort to save money, I'll get a coffee maker and a vanilla or pumpkin flavored syrup and tell myself it totally tastes the same. In the inside I know that's just not true. Then I break and get a pumpkin latte and colors seem bright again. In the summer, though, it's just too stinkin hot for hot coffee so I switch to their iced teas. I'm usually a staunch trenta-green-tea-shaken-lemonaide-un-sweetened girl, but when I saw the ads for the cool lime refreshers, my ears perked up- what is this magic?

Turns out it's delicious magic. It's the best parts of lemonaide without that odd dry mouth aspect, and has a zing of lime. Its the kind of flavor you never really get sick of, you know? They also use some kind of green tea extract to add some natural caffeine (yay!). Plus it's a pretty color. Which is always a plus for me. In any case, I've definitely found my new summer drink.

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Dress Is More: On the Beach

I love the beach. I rarely take the time to actually go to the beach, but when I do, I love it.
My favorite part of the beach, besides the ocean, is the dress code. I love that wearing a draped, soft open-weave cotton sweater, ragged cutoffs, huge sunglasses and a bright green bikini is considered modest in this day and age. I also love that you can drink beer at noon. And the sand, salt, and sunscreen smell. I love that sunscreeny smell.

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Wish List: End Of Summer Dresses

It's that time of year when the dresses turn from floaty gauzy numbers to more structured, deeply colored dresses; Just as the leaves turn, so does my wardrobe! I popped by my favorite websites to see how the transition is coming. Much to my excitement and chagrin of my thin wallet, there were many many fantastic dresses out there that were neither too summery, nor too autumnal. Check it out!

anthropologie

free people

mod cloth 

mod cloth

Lookin' Good: Travel Kit

Traveling has been a huge part of my summer. As a result, I've gotten pretty good at piecing out the products and bits I need in my tool kit (or makeup bag- potato, potato). Let's take a peek:

 Let's start with the brushes. All I bring is my fluffy powder brush, a blush brush, eyeliner brush, and concealer brush. Basically, my blendyest brushes. Bringing your best tools really does add an element of comfort to traveling (if your'e me, that is). I also always bring tweezers for that errant eyebrow hair or that unforeseen splinter.


I find that keeping it clean on vacation is best; you never know how tan you'll get or how humid it really will be, so why risk bringing buckets of face products? At the end of the day, you're on vacation. So you win no matter what.

Face products are fairly straight forward: just the favorites. I bring my Chanel foundation, Chanel bronzer and Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick for all my facial needs.

face pretties- bronzer, foundation and shimmer brick

The foundation, Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Makeup, is deliciously light and smells fantastic. you only need a drop or two for your entire face. Their Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Powder is equally lovely. I have the lightest color,  Desert Coral, so I can use it all year around no matter how pale I get. It's finely milled, so it blends well with blushes or just into my cheeks for a glow. Blush-wise, I love my Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar. Its the perfect parts color and shimmer, making me look awake and cheerful, not painted. I've been using my shimmer brick for six or seven years and it's always been the right choice.

eyeliners and eyeshadow

As for eye makeup, I've gotten this down to a science. I bring my two favorite eyeliners and one eyeshadow. Boom. My eyeliners are  both from the Sephora Collection. One is their Kohl Waterproof eyeliner, which is one of my all-time favorite eye pencils. It really lasts and has a creamy texture an deep, dark pigment which I love. When I wear black eyeliner, I want it to be super dark, inky black, not that sad graying black you sometimes see. My other favorite is their Smoky Cream Liner, which comes in a little pot. I use this brush from e.l.f to apply it. It goes on smooth as can be. I'm still practicing with the brush, and on good days I can get a fantastic, liquid-looking cat eye and go full-Joan Holloway.

The eyeshadow is a particularly victorious find. It's Bare Escentuals High Shine Eyecolor in Golden Sand, which comes in a little tube with a sponge applicator. I love it because it travels great with no spillage. Plus, it blends fantastically and can be made more dramatic with layering taking me from day to night in a swipe. So it becomes the best travel or commute option I've fount to date. Oh, and the color is really pretty!

Last, but far from least, perfume. I always bring a bottle. This time, Chanel No. 19 Poudre, which is fresh and fantastic and smells great with that coconut/ sunscreen smell of vacation.

So there you have it- I'm ready to go anywhere now!

chanel

California Is Really Pretty

No, seriously. Don't believe me? See for yourself...

Sometimes Weeks are Crazy.

This is one of those weeks. I'll see you all next week!

Inspiration: Lacy Things

I love lingerie.
It's my favorite thing to buy.
By far.

However, buying really pretty and fantastic lacy bras and matching undies (I hate the word 'panties') is not exactly possible on a post-grad budget. But, thanks to the internet, I can fill fake carts and leave them stranded in the middle of the store, minus the guilt. (Note: anyone who has done this in a real store will know the cold flash of guilt that trickles down your back when you do this. The glares from the clerks as they watch you slink out the door will amplify this feeling).

To be fair, my collection is fairly extensive. But theres always room for more... Right?

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Weekend Pin Ups

This week turned out to be colorful and cheerful. Take a look!

Happy Belly: Umami Burger

My family has... a thing for burgers.

Well, more of a history really.

Once upon a time, when my father, Papa Cravens, was 8, he was determined to build the perfect burger. He spent a meal painstakingly stacking and layering and engineering each layer to ensure maximum taste and structural integrity. Without fail, each time the burger was built to specifications, he would pick up the beast and take a bite, only to be greeted with defeat. By defeat I mean all of the luscious ingredients squirted lamely out the back of the burger. This pattern continued for the bulk of the meal. 

Finally, in the Papa Cravi's rarely seen but oft dreaded rage, he took the burger in his hand and crushed it as Zeus crushed the Titans. 

This story has become legend in our family, known universally as The Hamburger Story.

Since The Hamburger Story, Papa Cravens has mastered the art of the burger. I, quite frankly, fancy myself his grasshopper. 

I swore revenge* on all burgers after hearing the legend.  

And I have vanquished every burger in my path. Usually with relish (pun). 

*By revenge I mean I eat burgers like it's my job.

Then I met the Umami Truffle Burger. 

This is the Siren of burgers. It needs no pickle, no ketchup, no onions, no garnish or embellishment of any kind beyond it's truffle cheese promised in the description. 

It seems meek and simple at first glance. Easy to overtake. Then you pick it up and see how... juicy it is. Your pace quickens. You hold the burger lightly, careful to keep the contents in the bun. The aroma is intoxicating.

Then you take the first bite.

And your mind goes blank.

But seriously, this burger is the very definition of Redoncuous. 

Oh, and there are also truffle cheese fries.

I'm just sayin. 

Dress is More: Teal Maxi

This is one of my favorite impulse buys. I found it at Forever 21 while in line to check out. I didn't think I was much of a maxi dress person at the time, but there was something about this one. Now it's one of my go-to dresses; it was even my graduation dress. So I guess it goes to show that going with your gut is usually right (when it comes to clothes, at least.) I wore it on the plane ride home with a little gray cardi and my Frye harness boots. Needless to say, I looked awesome.
Or at least I think I did.

Wish List: Wall Decals and Papers

I love a pop of pattern on a wall.

So I've been investigating wallpapers and decals for a possible decorating idea in the new apartment. Looking at all them together, I clearly have colors and patterns I'm drawn to... mostly trees and geometric patterns. Anywho, here are my inspirations and ideals for a splash of fun in my new room:

Lookin' Good: At-Home Pedicure

As you may have heard, I love a pedicure. But sometimes you just can't make it out to get one or you don't have the cash to make it worth it. Or the couch Is really comfy. Either way, the prospect of going out together your feet prettied isn't always likely. That's why I've whipped up my own at-home recipes and steps to tide you over till you can scrape together the change to get a professional to do the job.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Here's what you'll need product-wise:

sad feet; lemon, salt and oil at the ready!

• Salt
• End of a lemon
• Olive oil or coconut oil
• A bucket, sink or bathtub
• Your favorite lotion
• A yummy pair of old socks

That's the minimum. If you wanna go all-out, you'll need:

• Your favorite foot mask
• A small hard ball, like a golf ball or tennis ball

Ok- you got everything? Let's do this.


First, if you want to, start with a foot mask. All you do is slather it on and wrap your feet in plastic wrap or ziplock bags (this part is a little weird at first, but you get the hang of it. Then you wrap them in a warm towel and watch an episode of Say Yes To The Dress.

"i wanna be a princess..."

If you dont want to/ dont have a foot maks you like, start by taking your lemon half and putting a bit of oil on it. Then sprinkle the grainy sugar on it. Add some more as needed. then, over your tub or sink, use the lemon to scrub the ever-loving crap out of your heels, arches and toes. Really get in there! The acid in the lemon helps break down the dead skin cells, the salt scrubs them away and the oil moisturizes. Once your content with the scrubby goodness, rinse and pat dry those feet.



Now hobble over to the couch.



Take your favorite lotion and warm some up in your hands. I like to rub my feet starting with the arches and gently rubbing each toe and muscle. Once your hands hurt, glob on a layer of lotion and carefully roll on your old socks.

If you want a deeper massage put that hard ball on the floor and roll your foot over it to get th knots out. I like to do this with my socks on. I do it kind of mindlessly while I watch another Say Yes To The Dress or Income Property.

happy, soft feet!

Bam-you have happy, soft feet!And you got caught up on your HGTV and TLC shows. So everyone's a winner.

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