Last minute shopping for my Spring Break Trip!

I am so excited for spring break! I know a lot of people have already had theirs and some still haven't … and this technically isn't even mine, its just a week off between quarters. But I'm still excited! 

I am leaving tomorrow morning to go on my five hour journey/road trip to the mountains! I know what you are thinking, most people would go to the beach for spring break. However in my defence there are no bears, elk, or other awesome wildlife at the beach, and that why I am going to the mountains. All the bears have cute little cubs now! So how could I resist going to photograph that?!? 

When I woke up yesterday I felt overwhelmed with all the things that I needed to get done, which isn't all that much really … I decided to get all my last minute shopping done for little things that I am out of that I would need to pack. 

The first store I went to was Victorias Secret 

I am not going to show you specifically what I got (I just think we aren't that close yet lol) , but I will tell you the patterns. I also didn't technically buy these items either. I am subscribed to the mailing list, or whatever it is they do, so I get something in the mail about every month and it always has a free pair of underwear, $10 off a bra, and a free gift with $75 dollar purchase vouchers in it. 

So I got two pairs of undergarments (my mom also gets this offer in the mail, and does not like the style sometimes so I get her coupon too!) one is in the pattern VS Aloha Print and the other is a print that they don't carry online, which is kinda dumb, and I don't know the name of it … but it is a blue-to-green ombre with white palm trees on it. 

The next store I went to is Bath and Body works!

I didn't necessarily need anything because I am pretty well stocked up on body washes and lotions from Christmases and birthdays, but they were having the buy three get three free sale so I couldn't resist! I ended up picking three things and since my mom was with me she picked three things since I didn't need six products! And I was still going to pay the same amount either way!

I ended up picking these body scrubs, because while I have two or three shower gels in my cabinet I really love their scrubs! $14.50 each

From left to right, I got in the fragrance SKY, it is just a really fresh scent that isn't too over powering (sorry I'm not the greatest at describing smells yet!) the one in the middle is from the newest summer line in the scent HAWAII it is a passionfruit and papaya blossom with a hint of macadamia fragrance, and last but not least I got the OAHU (this is the one that I have decided will be accompanying me on my vacation!) from the summer line as well it is a coconut and tiger lily smell that I can only describe in one word : Summer (fitting since its from the summer collection!) 

The really cool thing I like about the Hawaii and Oahu scrubs is that they have pink Polynesian sand in them to help exfoliate your skin and they also contain natural oils like Monoi and Kukoi that help keep your skin super soft! 

And the Final destination on my shopping to do list was Target

(you all know I love me some Target!)

The first thing on my list was the Simple Cleansing wipes $4.99 that double as my makeup remover as well! You may remember these from my post where I reviewed their starter face cleansing kit! And if you read that post then you know that I absolutely loved these wipes, so I had to go back to get some more. This pack came with a big packet of 25 wipes as well as a packet of 7 wipes which was convenient for me because I will be using the smaller packet to take with me on my trip, and then I will not have to worry about needing more what I get back!

The next thing I got is the Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara  in very black $4.49  

I have been looking for a new mascara for a while now, and had originally set out to get Maybellines The Rocket because of all the great things I had heard about it but I ended up with this one because of the applicator. My lashes are naturally really long, just not dark in color and aren't very volumized. So I was worried that The Rocket would lengthen them a lot and I haven't tried this one out yet but I am hoping it just adds that bit of volume I am looking for! 

If you have any other suggestions for mascaras let me know in the comments!! 

The last beauty product that I got is the Shine Eraser Oil Blotting Sheets by e.l.f. 

I don't know if it because winter is over or what, but my face has never been this oily before and I figured that 50 sheets for $1.00 was a pretty good deal! This packet is also the perfect size to keep in your purse or wallet!  

The last thing I picked up in the check out line is this cute little pack of tic tacs! Basically I just thought that the Easter/bunny theme was really cute so I just had to pick them up! The green ones are green apple flavored and the purple ones are grape! $1.04

I hope you all enjoyed this spur-of-the-moment post that I hadn't planned on doing but thought it might be fun to share some little things that I needed to get for my trip! I am going to be posting while I am gone as long as I have internet! I will also be tweeting through out the week keeping you updated on if a bear attacks (hopefully not)!!

I do have a  5 to 6 hour drive ahead of me tomorrow morning so if you have any song recommendations I would love to get some for a road trip playlist I am currently working on!

I also want to add a quick thank you to everyone who reads my blog, people who comment, and people following me on twitter and tweeting me!! I never thought that people would actually read this and invest their personal time to do so. It means the world to me, THANKS!!!

Ashton

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Minimalist Photography!

As you all know (or hopefully have guessed by the name of this blog) I am a photographer. Now, what I can tell you that you don't know, unless you follow me on Twitter,  is that I am also a currently a student as well. So occasionally I want to share with you fun projects and photo shoots that I do! I hope you guys enjoy these types of posts as well as my 'regular' posts, and maybe even get inspired to do some photography of your own whether its with a super duper camera you have or even with your phone!

I had an assignment a couple of weeks ago to get back to the basics and really simplify what I was taking pictures of, in other words (or rather one word) minimalism. So basically my goal is to keep the viewer guessing what is actually photographed. I really enjoyed this project because it forced me to look at really simple things, and to see them differently than most people that would just glance over. So I hope you enjoy looking at these photographs!

If I have inspired you to look at things differently and you take some pictures of your own I would love to see what you have come up with! So leave a link in the comments!

I hope you guys liked this post, even though it is not the normal type of post that I have been doing! If you do want to see more posts like this one where I share what I am working on in school or for fun in the world of photography let me know! 

Ashton

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Spring Break starts officially this afternoon sometime! (I've got one more class I am about to go to) yay!!!  Let me know in the comments if you want to see how/what I am packing for my trip to the mountains! an if thats something you would like to see I will work hard to get it up before I leave on Sunday or Monday (I haven't decided yet…) 

Spring Nail Colors!

I cannot believe that Spring has arrived so quickly this year, and I think that it is time to show you my favorite nail polishes for Spring 2014!   I will leave links to webpages specifically for all of the nail polishes that I share with you guys as the names of the polish colors and also at the end of the post, just incase you want to check them out for your selves! I will also link the general websites while talking about each polish!

First I just wanted to share this base coat with you guys called Instant Artificials … I was so happy that I found this product one day while walking around Sallys Beauty Supply ! For a base/top coat it was a little pricey at $8.49 but I thought I would give it a shot … and boy, am I glad I did! This has done wonders for my nails, they don't chip as often as they used to (which was quite often)! While the packaging has changed a bit since I bought mine, it is still the same great product! 

Lets start colors off with Blush in Ivory, a Continuous Color 3-in-1 from CoverGirl. Now to a lot of you looking at this you are probably thinking this is the most boring color that you have ever seen, but it is the best nude nail polish that I have tried! When applied it does not look super opaque, which a lot of people may not like, but to me it doesn't make my nails look as 'fake' as other nude colors that I have bought before. It is also not an overly warm colored nude, so it looks and feels light and fresh, which is why I chose this as a Spring nail polish favorite. I purchased mine at Target for $3.49 Now, unfortunately this polish is not available via the CoverGirl website anymore (It has been a while since I bought this…) but it is still possible to purchase via Ebay for around the same price! 

This is one of two essie nail polishes that I want to share with you… 

This is essie's Splash of Grenadine! I heard about this from Essie button or Estée. She was in love with this color and was getting tons of complements, people wanting to know what it was and what brand. So I figured I would give it a go! I ordered mine off of Amazon, so I only paid $5.89 including shipping (bargain!!)  The sellers price has gone up to $6.10 with free shipping, but its still two dollars cheaper than retail! Heres the direct link to the seller  I am in love with this colour I put it on as soon as I opened my package! I did have to apply three coats though, but thats the only downside!

The next essie polish I got is Butler Please. I have had my eye on this for a while now and thought it was about time to get it! I also paid the same price for this, $5.89 so I did not pay full price… yay! I got this from the same amazon seller > link for this polish the price for this one is now also $6.10 with free shipping! I like this color because its not a navy but its not quite a cobalt blue either!

The last color I want to share with you is a color called Rise & Shine by Sinful Colors. I have been searching for the perfect teal for quite sometime now and I suppose it was only fate that I found it just in time for Spring!(I am very specific when it comes to teals since it is my favourite color)! This color is a very pretty teal on the bottle that has very very small sparkles of greens and blues. I found this at Target for just $1.99! When I saw this I had never heard of the brand before so when I tried it out for the first time I was going in blind … With this nail polish there is no doubt that you need at least two coats, it is fairly pigmented but just not quite enough to only apply one coat. After I tried it on for the first time it applied how it looks in the bottle, but as it dried it did come out as more of a green-teal color which I was not looking for. However even though it did not stay the shade of teal that I was looking for, I am still a fan of it for Spring because it is bright and cheerful!

I hope I have helped you discover new colors to add a bit of pizazz for you to welcome Spring manicures and pedicures with open arms! If you have any questions about a polish, or want to share your favourite colors for Spring leave it in the comments or tweet me @PhotoBeautyBlog !! 

My spring break also starts officially this saturday!!! YAY! So even though I am going on vacation for a few days I will still be writing posts and most likely buying some new things to share with you!!

Ta-Ta for now!

Ashton

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Spring Smells!

Spring is here! And as the seasons change so do the scents of candles and products we use in our everyday lives. 

So I thought it would be fitting that I share some of my most loved scents for Spring! All of the product scent names will be links if you are wanting to check these items out for yourselves as well as the store names being general website links!

Lets start off with my new obsession of CANDLES! (as well as a gigantic shoutout to Target !)

All of these candle I purchase at Target, I was really surprised when I found them one: because I have never really looked at buying candles and two: because for some odd reason I did not think that Target had as good of a candle selection as they do!

This first candle is a 4 oz soy candle I purchased for $5.99, it does not really have a specific brand so I just call it the 'Target Brand' candle (but it is manufactured by a company called Illume). As shown in the picture the scent is Lavender Lemonade. I was really drawn to this smell because I am a fan of both lavender and lemons, but the scent is not over powering and each aspect of the scent does not cancel out the other, so it makes a very relaxing and soothing atmosphere while burning. 

 

This next candle is also a 'Target Brand' 4 oz soy candle that I got for $5.00. The scent is called Very Berry  (this exact scent was not listed on the Target website but the link will show you the same type and size of candle, I am not sure why it is not listed because I know that this product is still available in stores), and it smells almost exactly like fresh fruit which I just think screams Spring time!

  

The last candle on my list of Spring smells is one that I mentioned on my 'Get to Know Me Tag' post as a scent that I am loving at the moment. It is made by Nest Fragrances and is part of a Target exclusive line called MELT. I found this is the clearance section for $7.98 and the original price is $16.99, at just about half off there was no way I was letting this Citrus Lime Basil candle sit and collect dust on a store shelf!

Moving on to lotions, body mist, and body butters this is my shout out to Bath & Body Works as well as eos!

I will start off with the B&BW products first…

These first pair of products is from the new spring line for Bath & Body Works and it is called Beautiful Day. This scent is described on the back of each product as "Beautiful Day is a fragrance as beautiful as the perfect spring day with sun-kissed apple, wild daisies & fresh pink peonies" . It was clearly carefully developed for Spring, so what would it not make my list of Spring smells?!? 

This Body Butter is absolutely wonderful! Paris Amour is a staple (year round) fragrance found at Bath & Body Works. It is sort of a heavier smell, something I only use on elbows, knees, etc. but it isn't too overpowering either! 

My last lotion is by eos and it is their hand lotion in Berry Blossom. I purchased this at Target for $1.99 , it is the same size as any normal travel size product from other brands, but that is good (in my opinion, to keep in a bag for on the go! It is not particularly a very strong fragrance, which is something I love about it, for those days when you want to wear something more subtle, like for going to the grocery store or running other errands, but it is extremely moisturising! It does take a couple minutes to 'sink' into your skin, and at first when you put it on it does feel a tad greasy, but just be patient and that will go away and will leave your skin super soft!

The only thing I do not like about this product is the packaging. While I like that you can open it and smell it before you buy it, a lot of people see this as a perfect opportunity to try as much of it out as they want. Especially when they see it hanging by the check out area… So when I purchased mine I took off the first few bottles from the hanger and then grabbed the one that I actually bought. 

So that about wraps it up for my favorite Spring smells of 2014!

 I would love to know what your top scents or favorite candles are so be sure to leave them in the comments and I will check them out! 

Ashton
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Spring/Summer Clothes & Shoes : Wish List!

Lets face it, with the internet so in-our-faces every waking moment we are all bound to do some online window shopping (or as I call it online screen shopping ^.^ ) We have multiple tabs open to our favorite shops and have a full cart in each one … but how often do we actually buy all of the carts full of goodies (without editing them down to a few products so that the price isn't below a certain goal you have set for yourself)?

So today, since spring is two days away, I decided that I am going to share that pre-checkout stage of online shopping. You know, that stage where you are teetering back and forth on if you want to actually buy or if you actually need these things…

I picked a couple of the stores I often find myself shopping at online and want to share things that I think are good for Spring/Summer or things that are just plain cute and I have been unable to stop thinking about!

Urban Outfitters:

Kimchi Blue Sparrow T-Strap Sandal $34.00

These are perfect for warm weather! I think that the metallic adds a little oomph to any outfit and these could go with just about anything! 

Hairtrade :

(They do ship worldwide!)

Yogi Curling Hair Wand: £61.28 or $101.21

I've been looking at curling irons for a while now. I have never really considered getting one because I have naturally curly hair (but not the good kind … the kind that does whatever it wants and is not easy to manage) I recently found out about Hairtrade and thought I would have a look at their website.  The Yogi hair wand produces long lasting curls and waves whilst leaving the hair in ultimate condition. It is lightweight, quick and easy to use with its extra long 360 degree swivel cable.And its pink! hehe pink isn't my favorite color, but it is up there in the list so thats an added bonus! 

H&M:

Lace Top $14.95 

Even though its black, which normally people want to stay away from in the warmer months, it would be really cute if you know your not going to be outside all day or for a bonfire at night! The sleeves and the side panels are lace which provides that 'flirty or girly' vibe! It also comes in plain colors, if your not much of a floral print type person :)

Patterned Tunic $24.95

I really like this because its not a close fit so it won't be uncomfortable outside on a hot day, and because who can resist the classic black on white polka dot print?! It can go with black shorts, jean shorts, or skinny jeans! (light or dark wash)

Denim Shorts $24.95

These are pretty much just a general choice of jean shorts. But the belt is cute and sort of adds that care free feel of Summer!

Chiffon Dress $24.95

Normally Im not one for dresses, but this is too cute. Ive said it before in my Spring/Summer cosmetic bag wish list post, that I'm also normally not attracted to floral prints either but apparently in 2014 my tastes are changing. 

5-pack Ankle Socks $7.95 

I saw these and they just screamed 'pick me!' I am not sure if I would even wear these with shoes/out of my house. I am one of those people that doesn't like to wear shoes in the house, but I don't like to walk around barefoot either … I have a very extensive and colorful sock collection lol. 

I saw a sweater at Target the other week and I keep wondering If I should go any buy it… 

Mossimo Supply Co. Junior's Graphic Sweatshirt $19.99

This is a really pretty pink rust color that would look good on anyone! the bike graphic is really cute and this would be perfect to wear on those cold summer nights!

I hope you liked seeing some of my Spring/Summer clothing picks! I hope I get my hands on some of them soon! lol 

But I also want to know what your Spring and Summer clothing picks are, leave me some links in the comments!

Until next time!

Ashton

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Spring Beauty Tag!

Last Friday I was tagged by Zoe or Beauty Pie to do the spring Beauty Tag that she created(You may remember her from my fellow blogger interview!)!!  :)  So here it goes : 

1. Do you change your makeup when spring arrives? if so, how?

I think the main thing I change is that I skip using primers a lot of the time, they make my face feel heavy (if that makes sense) because of the heat (I'm in the south lol). The other main thing that I change is transitioning from neutral matte colored eye shadows to bright and shimmery colors!

2. Whats your favorite spring fragrance?

Ive recently discovered LUSH (I know kind of late, but the closest one to me is six hours away!) and I am so obsessed with Karma! 

3. Whats going to be your favorite accessory this spring?

I recently went through my dresser to get rid of all the heavy winter clothes in order to replace them with shorts and tee shirts galore, and I stumbled across a pink leather bracelet I had made at a cute little shop last year with my name engraved on it! I haven't gone long without wearing it since then, and when I do forget to put it on i feel like I'm missing something.

4. Whats going to be your most worn item of clothing this spring?

Probably a pair os shorts that I bought last year at Target. They are a really faded/pastel blue with a pink floral print!

5. What are your top three favorite nail polishes?

I am actually planning a entire post for this in a few days! lol But I would have to go with essie Butler Please, essie Splash of Grendaline, and Sinful Colors Rise & Shine! 

6. Do you prefer pumps or sandals in spring?

For everyday wear I would probably go with sandals because I move around a lot and I don't want my feet to hurt all day lol, but to go out or to go to a nice restaurant for dinner I would go with pumps. 

7. Whats your favorite spring jacket?

I am currently looking for a new spring jacket because a friend borrowed mine from last year and I never got it back … so if you have any suggestions leave them in the comments please!! :)

I hope you guys enjoyed this post!! 

I tag:
Just 506  @Just506_ : http://just506.wordpress.com
Zazie @zaziebibi : http://a-little-treat.blogspot.com
Sue @healthyskincan : http://healthyskincanada.blogspot.ca
Monelle @monellebeauty : monellebeauty.blogspot.com.au

I want to thank anyone reading this! And even if i didn't specifically tag you feel free to do this tag and leave me a link to it in the comments so I can check it out!

Don't forget to read about the skinade giveaway and how you can enter here http://photobeautyguide.blogspot.com/2014/03/skinade-giveaway-and-why-you-should.html 

When you enter I do receive a small commission, anything I earn from posts such as
 this I am saving up for when I host a giveaway for you all! 

Ashton
                        x

Skinade Giveaway and why you should enter! **

If you are following me on Twiter @PhotoBeautyBlog you may have seen a couple of tweets I posted earlier about a giveaway from a company called skinade.  They are giving away 30 days worth of skinde free (£90 value or about $150)!! 


Skinade was developed in the UK and it helps to strengthen the collagen matrix under your skin, which means that it helps improve your skins hydration and can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles!
It also repairs connective tissues that will help improve the strength of your hair and nails and make them grow faster as well! 

They use high quality ingredients and no artificial flavors or dyes in this drink, and it only contains 35 calories. The ingredients include : Marine Collagen, Vitamin C, MSM, B Vitamins, Omegas 3 & 6, and L-lysine. To find out more about what these ingredients do for your skin > How it works  

Above I mentioned that this is a drink, it is not a pill like most companies make and the reasoning behind this is simple. Research has shown that liquids have a higher absorption rate, which means you will see results quicker! With skinade being a liquid it is also more convenient to take and tastes better that pills. 

Below are the statistics from a survey of 60 people that used this product for 30 days (what you could win!) about the results that they noticed after drinking skinade. The following is directly from the home page of the skinade website. 

In a trial of 60 individuals; after 30 days participants reported that their skin looked or felt:

More hydrated	97.6%
More radiant	95.1%
More youthful	92%
Clearer	93.1%
Healthier	97.1%
Smoother	91.51%
Fewer fine lines and wrinkles

- See more at: http://skinade.com/skinade#sthash.LjpalMm9.dpuf

So here is how you can enter :

simply go to http://bloggernetwork.e-tailwebstores.com/scripts/click.php?a_aid=APhotographersBeautyGuide&a_bid=f95cccbc  

or click the skinade picture at the top of my sidebar! 

Its that easy and you only provide your email address!

I am not hosting this giveaway, it is being hosted by skinade. See PR/DISCLAIMER page for more details. 

For my posts with ** in the title I may earn commission or a set amount depending on page views, or in this case entries(decided by the brand), a lot of this is going towards a savings that I will be keeping in order to host giveaways for you guys (my readers)!! 

 Ashton 
             x

Simple Skin care Starter Kit Review!

It is time for my first review! I hope you like it! 

I was on a search, for a new face cleaner because the one that I was using didn't help with break outs at all! I am even convinced that it caused more breakouts than one it made go away, so I picked up this little kit! 

Simple Skin Care Starter Kit: I used this everyday for one week

 I decided to buy the Simple Skincare Starter Kit on a whim when I saw it while in Target one day (I go there a lot don't I?). I had seen commercials for Simple but had never bought it because I heard some people say that the smell was horrendous. And I don't know about you but when I hear someone talk about how bad a product smells, I do not really want to buy it.
 Never the less When I saw that it was only $4.99 for the Starter Kit I thought I would give it a go! 

Starting off with the Facial Wash;  I was surprised by how little of this you need (a dime sized amount or maybe even less!) because other face washes like this I always found my self using quite a lot at once. This face wash lathers really nicely, it is not a soapy kind of lather but more like a smooth silky feeling. As most face washes it was very straight forward on how to apply, The only negative thing I have to say about this is that I wish their was some kind of exfoliant in it (even if it is just barely noticeable). Now, I do know that this brand makes other types of face washes, and I believe that they do have a couple with exfoliants in them so maybe this just is not the one for me as far as exfoliation goes. But it is great as an everyday cleanser! As far as results go, it did keep my problem areas from getting worse like they would if i didn't wash my face, but it didn't make them disappear either.  I am not sure if I would recommend this particular face wash, but I would recommend this brand! 

This Replenishing Rich Moisturizer is amazing! It is by far the best one that I have tried so far. Again with this product a little goes a long way! But saying that it goes a long could be different for other people, when i apply moisturiser after I wash my fave I normally just put it on my dry skin spots; my forehead and cheeks … and use what ever I have left over on my have for the rest of my face (which isn't much).

 I would certainly recommend this for all skin types because it didn't make my skin oily, it made my dry skin less noticeable, and my skin was super soft all day! 

Last but definitely not least are the Cleansing Facial Wipes! These are so soft on the skin I was amazed. Most facial wipes I find are always too rough on my skin, but these were just right! I used them at night to remove my makeup and to start my nightly face cleaning routine. Even though I didn't solely use these as a makeup remover and cleanser in one my main 'experiment' with these was to see if what they advertised (takes off water proof mascara easily) was true. And to my surprise it was! with just a couple wipes my mascara was off with no hard scrubbing or pain. I really recommend getting these especially if you have had trouble finding something to get your waterproof mascara off! 

I will definitely buy these again in the future!

I hope you guys found this helpful if you have seen this brand around where you live, and aren't quite sure if you wanted to try it out or not. If you do decide to give it a go let me know what you think about it and how it worked for you in the comments! 

And if you liked this review and want to see others like it leave your suggestions down in the comments or tweet me @PhotoBeautyBlog of what you like to see, and you just might! 

I hope you guys are having an awesome weekend! 

Ashton
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