fashionable flip flops

Happy Friday! I'm coming to you from the beach, which makes today's post extra appropriate. Flip flops are great for summer; they are easy to throw on, breathable and comfortable. But let's be honest -- {most} flip flops are just not cute! Whether they are boring and bland, or maybe you are rocking the crocs or reef flip flops on the regular. Whatever your situation, if you are a flip flop lover you can do it fashionably! Here are some of our favorite fashionable flip flops for summer... combining comfort, effortlessness and style ::

So add some flair to your flop selection this summer. There is no reason to sacrifice style to achieve comfort & effortlessness. From stay-at-home moms who need comfort & ease, to those of you who just don't like to bother with straps and buckles, you can have it all!

Wishing you a happy & stylish weekend ahead!

Courtney

thursday's beauty giveaway!

Happy Thursday! It's almost the weekend, so hang in there! Today we're making your Thursday a little brighter with another beauty giveaway from Painted Earth Skincare & Cosmetics. I have been using this Moulin Rouge Baked Mineral Blush in Apricot Swirl for a few weeks now and I am IN LOVE.

It has an iridescence to it which gives your face a finished, soft & all-over smooth look after using it. I apply it over my powder and a little bronzer to give my cheeks a pretty pink finish.

The apricot swirl is a soft pink, so it's not too bright or overpowering. Perfect for light makeup during the day or taking into the night, this blush gives you the perfect natural look.

And, it's great for both fair & tan skin; you can see here where I applied to the underneath of my arm, where my skin is more fair, and then to my hand which is tan after spending time at the beach!

This Baked Mineral Blush can a sunny addition to your spring & summer makeup palette! To enter to win, simply leave a comment below. A winner will be drawn on Monday, April 28th so stay tuned to see if you're the lucky one!

Until tomorrow,

Courtney

spring into the season with perfect polishes

Today we're talking about the hottest nail colors for spring :: from pretty pastels, to shiny metallics, and everything in between! Everyone loves a good mani; there's something about it that makes you feel polished and put-together! So next time you're due, try playing with one of these shades and introducing your nails to the spring weather we're all anticipating!

What are your favorite nail colors this spring? We'd love to hear from you!

We also love your feedback :: If there is a specific topic, trend or how-to you'd like to know about, simply leave a comment on the blog and we will be sure to address it in an upcoming post.

Stay stylish!

spring beauty giveaway!

Radiant Orchid is the Pantone Color of the Year for 2014, and that doesn't mean it has to end with fashion. I'm bringing this fun purple-y hue to the face with Painted Earth Skincare's "Orchid Luxury Lipstick & Polychromatic Eyeshadow in "Purple Night". I absolutely love this brand for so many reasons; one of them being that was started right here in Atlanta. All of their products are natural & organic, so you can feel good about wearing their cosmetics and using their skincare. Scroll down to the bottom for the details on this BEAUTY GIVEAWAY!

I am loving radiant orchid this spring. It is such a flattering color on virtually any skin tone and hair color. I have to admit, I was a little nervous about trying this lipstick. I tend to stick to corals and reds, so I have never gone towards the purple side! After using it once, I was in love. The orchid lipstick is not only a great shade for lips, but it glides on so easily and looks smooth & creamy.

Here's my orchid lip & eye look ::

How would you like Painted Earth's Orchid Lipstick & Purple Night Eyeshadow for yourself? They can be yours, free!

Enter into our giveaway between now and Monday morning by commenting on our facebook page, "Pick me!"

OR

 re-gram the Instagram photo  & use the hashtag : #orchidlipsgiveaway

The winner will be picked on Monday {4/14} and you will receive a Luxury Lipstick in Orchid along with a Polychromatic Eyeshadow in Purple Night {$30.50 + shipping value}

*note - all of my makeup used in this post is Painted Earth. I will be sharing more products with you each week, so be sure to stay tuned for giveaways, tutorials, reviews & more!

Stylishly Yours,

Courtney

These are a few of our favorite spring things...

Happy Hump Day, y'all! Today I'm sharing my Spring Wish List. From bags, to clothing, to beauty buys and more, these items are sure to make their way into my hands before spring is through...

First up, this to-die-for foldover leather clutch from K.slademade. I love the soft leather, the size, the color options and the fact that you can add a simple gold monogram to any bag!

Second, the Stella & Dot Norah Pendant. Citrine is a must-have in your closet for spring, and trust me when I say that you can wear this beauty with EVERYTHING! From navy, to coral, to neutrals and patterns, the Norah is the perfect necklace to take you into spring & summer.

Next on the list is one of my splurges :: Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for Tory Burch! The heel height of the Savannah Wedge is perfect for a sweet daytime dress, andtaking it into the night with a white skinny jean or fun skirt.

The fourth thing on my wish list is a beauty buy. Too Faced "Return of Sexy" eye palette is full of bright colors that I'm dying to experiment with this spring. I love a pop of bright eye color blended in with other neutrals; especially those fuchsia tones. Radiant Orchid, anyone?

I always say that if I were forced to only shop at one store for the rest of my life, it would be Anthropologie. {I could go into the reasoning behind this, but I will keep it short and sweet by saying that they carry all of the basic necessities, plus the prettiest patterns and the most unique, compliment-receiving pieces} So naturally, there are a few {okay, twenty} things on my spring wish list from Anthro.

Everyone needs florals in their closet this spring. This skirt will help do that. It's girly, pretty and flattering. I would pair it with a navy and white striped tee, or a silky white blouse for a simple, put-together chic look.

Last, but certainly not least on my Wish List is some pretty gear to {hopefully} inspire me to work out! Great justification, right? And let's be honest - I will be hanging around my house in this even if I don't make it to the gym! The color is perfect for spring and I love the built-in bra. Lulu Lemon works her magic once again!

What's on your spring wish list? I could have gone on all day... We'd love to hear from you!

Stay Stylish,

Courtney

Friday Feature :: Painted Earth Skincare

TGIFF! I hope all of you had a fabulous week. Today I'm spotlighting one of my favorite new skincare brands, Painted Earth, based right here in Atlanta. Here is a little bit about the company, as adopted from their website ::

"Painted Earth was founded to offer an alternative to pore-clogging chemical skincare products, and our exclusively organic, natural and non-toxic products don't force users to sacrifice health for beauty; instead they make accentuating beauty a healthier process. Why settle for a basic skincare line? Painted Earth products are infused with advanced ingredients, making it easy to transform skin from blah to beautiful. When it comes to finding the perfect skincare products for any complexion needs, it all starts with the ingredients."

Below are a few of my favorite products from their line. I will be highlight many more in the future!

This eyeliner is everything. It goes on like a marker, giving you full control over it that you don't get with a liquid liner. It also has a sharp, precise line that you won't see with a pencil liner. The best of both worlds!

This Mineral HD concealer is the perfect under eye concealer. It instantly camouflages dark spots, leaving your skin looking light and bright around your eye area. I also use it over any blemishes, and around my nose, chin & forehead for added brightness. A tip for extra bright eyes? Buy a shade lighter than your skin tone.

Last but CERTAINLY not least, a true miracle product. Yes, I said it. A miracle! "Boo Boo Gel" is the perfect fix for any of your skin problems ; from blemishes, to dark spots, to burns and scrapes. It is anti-aging, skin-perfecting and pore-reducing. All natural and organic, this product has been a true miracle worker for both myself and many Painted Earth customers around the country. It is a skin saver!

You can check out Painted Earth and all of their fabulous products on their website HERE. You won't be disappointed!

Wishing you all a stylish weekend ahead. Until Monday!

xoxo.

Friday Feature :: Favorite Eyeshadow Palette

TGIFF! This Friday, I'm featuring my favorite eyeshadow palette, the Lorac PRO Palette. Everyone seemed to be all about the Naked Eyeshadow Palette this season. I happened to ask for it for Christmas, and ended up getting both the Naked2 and the Lorac sets. Let me tell you, this Lorac set blew the Naked2 out of the water! The shadows go on super easily, while I found that you had to get a lot on your brush with Naked2 for it to even show up on your eye. The colors in the Lorac palette are much more vibrant, and there are shades to compliment every eye color; from blush & champagne, to mauve, to espresso & plum.

A few tips ::

• the eyeshadow primer is a MUST. It helps the shadow stay on all day long, and into the night. It also helps prevent the loose powder that can sometimes drop below and around your eyes during application.
• here's my regimen with this -- I start with WHITE directly beneath my brow. I then move to LIGHT PINK and cover the rest of my lid with that. I apply MAUVE in the crease of my lid, followed by GOLD ontop of that and LIGHT BRONZE on my lower lid. I then use SABLE in the crease for a more daytime, casual look, or ESPRESSO or DEEP PURPLE in the crease for a more dramatic, nighttime look. This is perfect for brown eyes. Follow with a thick black {or brown} liner and you'll be good to go!

What is your favorite go-to eyeshadow palette? Please share! You can hashtag #fridayfeature on Instagram, or comment on our Facebook page!

Wishing you a stylish and relaxing weekend with {hopefully} some lovely spring weather!

Back to Reality with Emerald Accessories

After a much needed vacation to Deer Valley, Utah, it's back from my blogging hiatus and into reality! We had a great time skiing in perfect weather with wonderful friends, but I am excited to get back into the swing of things.

While Wednesday would normally be "Working Girl" focused, since we left off there last week I'm going to change it up a bit. In the spirit of Saint Patrick's Day at the beginning of the week, I'm sharing my favorite emerald green accessories that you can use to add the perfect pop of color to your spring wardrobe!

I love emerald because it is a bright tone that is still classic and elegant. It looks great with virtually any color, especially navy, white and corals/fuchsias. It is the perfect addition to your spring outfits, from work to play, day to night.

Who doesn't love a fabulous statement necklace? Statement necklaces can really take your outfit from "drab" to "fab" {pardon the cheesy cliche}. These are no exception to that rule ::

I'm loving the peacock tones in this necklace... Emerald and cobalt are the perfect color combination ::

This cuff is perfect for layering with other bangles, bracelets and watches ::

Love a good statement earring? These picks won't leave your ears {or your style} lacking! ::

I am loving these fun studs incorporating a little more of a minty green. ::

Last but not least, you can never go wrong with a chandelier earring. These are a bit more muted shade of green, for those of you who prefer pastels & paler colors ::

What are your favorite emerald accessories this season? We'd love to see how you style them & hear your feedback!

Until tomorrow, stay stylish!

Thursday's Tip :: Tone on Tone

Try mixing it up in your wardrobe without having to shop :: The tone-on-tone look. Pair some of your similarly-toned pieces together. Tone on tone can be done with a shirt and a necklace, cardigan & shirt, etc. Simply choose a piece in your closet that you like the color of, and then choose an accessory that has the same tone, yet not in the exact same shade. {i.e., a turquoise sweater with a pale turquoise/mint necklace, or a pale purple blouse with a plum blazer}

Courtney did this with the Pantone Color of 2014, Radiant Orchid. Styling an orchid dress with a darker-toned cardigan is one way of rocking the tone on tone look ::

Here are some other tone-on-tone looks to inspire you ::

What are your favorite tone-on-tone looks? We'd love to hear from you. You can hashtag #toneontone on social media and tag us, @lifestyledatlanta on Instagram or visit our facebook page.

Wishing you a stylish Thursday! The weekend is almost here!

The Oscars :: Best & Worst Dressed

The Red Carpet is by far the best part of any awards show... {Well, for the Oscars, Ellen as a host comes in as a very close second} I absolutely love seeing the Red Carpet looks for the Oscars... So much glamour and elegance. So many trainwrecks.

Here are some of my picks for BEST & WORST dressed at the Oscars ::

BEST -- Kate Hudson

I love everything about this dress :: The cut, the fit, the neckline and the draping. It is perfect for her. The plunging neckline is flattering on her small chest, and the rusching around the midsection adds detailing and shape to her boyish figure.

BEST -- Olivia Wilde

Proof that you really can never go wrong with an LBD! How cute do Olivia and her baby bump look in this black gown?! I love how simple and elegant this look is, and the neckline works perfectly on her. Also, I'm loving the pockets!

WORST -- Liza Minelli

I just don't even know what is going on here. Jumpsuits are tough to pull off. And when you are that age, and that short, you just can't do it. The fabric choice is wrong and everything is drapey and bulky on her short figure.

WORST -- Chrissy Teigen

I've never been the biggest fan of black and pink patterns. To me it usually looks cheap, unless it's a little black dress with hot pink accessories. This dress is no exception. I don't like the pattern, the colors or the fabric.

BEST -- Naomi Watts

I am loving the simplicity of this white gown. The embellished collar is amazing, the fabric is perfect and I love the cap sleeves. Naomi can pull this off perfectly with her ultra-slim frame. It is a win-win!

BEST -- Emma Watson

Edgy and elegant -- two words that always describe Emma Watson and this look is no exception. The a-line is perfectly figure-flattering and I love the contrast between the top and the bottom. The top is all edge, bottom all elegance. Love!

WORST -- Sarah Paulson

This color - is just wrong! When you have such a fair complexion, you should never opt for a color that is virtually the same. She is totally washed out and blending in with the dress. Maybe if it were a different color it would be different. But then again, maybe not.

BEST -- Jennifer Lawrence

Who doesn't love Jennifer Lawrence? She is quirky, fun and shows us a side of normalcy in Hollywood. I'm loving this peplum red dress on her. It flatters her shape nicely and accentuates her curves. I kind of wish the top were a sweetheart shape, but I wouldn't know until I saw it! The straight-across neckline might be best for her shoulders and chest. Either way, she looks stunning and did everything right with this one!

What about you? Do you agree? Disagree? Feel free to share the looks you were loving, and not-so-much!