My Lash Journey

My lash obsession started about two years ago when I saw my hairdressers lash extensions.  They were so beautiful, long wispy, full, and in that moment I knew I wanted to try lash extensions for myself.  My obsession and journey really started the moment I saw the lashes on myself for the first time!  I couldn’t wait to save myself an extra few minutes in the morning not having to worry about putting on mascara.  Or goodness still looking fabulous without putting on any makeup during those busy morning hustles with a toddler.  I was obsessed!  Every two weeks I would go in and get my lashes filled.  This went on for about 14 months.  Then last fall I started developing a reaction to the bond used for lash extensions.  My eyelids would get a little puffy and irritated.  This would subside after the first couple of days.  I continued going every two weeks, even though it still irritated my eyelids.  After a few months of a minor reaction the reaction became worse.  So we tried a “sensitive” bond instead.  My reaction was even worse to this.  My eyelids were so swollen, I could barely open them.  My wonderful lash tech told me we needed to remove the lashes immediately.  Upon removing the lashes, a couple of days later my eyes were back to normal!  Thank goodness!  But unfortunately this meant I was no longer a candidate for lash extensions due to my reaction to the bond used.  I was devastated.  My natural lashes were short stubby and bare (naturally I had long curled lashes).  They were so short and stubby and I was devastated.  I was so accustomed to seeing myself with these thick long lashes that going to damaged lashes was a  horrible experience for me.  I immediately started trying anything I could get my hands on to give me the look I missed.  Also, thanks for listening Facebook, because all I saw on my feed were advertisements for lash products for a good few months.  So during this fun time, I tried a plethora of products from magnetic lashes, strip lashes, to magnetic eyeliner and lashes.  It took me awhile of trial and error before I found a product that worked for me and that I was so thankful to come across.  Below I have listed all the products I tried during this part of my lash journey.  I have rated them on the following scale 1-worst to 5-best on the following items:  Application process, overall look, longevity of wear, how many uses per set, damage to lashes and price point.  I will also include the links to each product in case you want to try them on your very own lash journey.

1.) Lash Extensions- I loved having lash extensions!  They saved me time in the mornings and I loved the look of them.  Despite all the love I had for them they were expensive, the application process was time consuming (the application process took an hour to a two hour appointment every two weeks depending on how many lashes I would lose) and allergies can develop from the bond used even after you’ve had them for years.    Out of all the products I have personally tried lash extensions have been the most damaging!  So even though I loved the look of lash extensions, the damage and reaction I developed from the bond was clearly not worth it!

  • Application Process-1
  • Overall Look- 5
  • Longevity- 3
  • Damaging- 3, most damaging
  • Price Point- 1, most expensive

Find a lash tech that you trust and has good reviews!

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First time getting lash extensions!
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12 Hours after application, it was this reaction that had me give up lash extensions for good!  

2.) Magnetic Eyeliner and Lashes Combo Kits- I personally tried three different brands of magnetic liner and lash combos.  The only one out of the three I’ll even recommend or mention in this post are the ones by Tori Belle Cosmetics.  The other ones I tried the liner was thick and tacky and near impossible to get on smoothly and then the magnetic lashes either looked so fake or there weren’t enough magnets to adhere to the liner and they’d pop off.  The Tori Belle liner/lashes were really great!  The application process was fairly easy for me,  it took me roughly 15 minutes to apply the liner and the lashes.  The longevity was good as well, they did last throughout the day.  They have about 20 uses per set, which is great for the price point.  Honestly my only complaint about this product is the fact I personally don’t like wearing black eyeliner or any eyeliner and felt I needed a full face of makeup for these to look great and they did feel a little heavy on my eyes.  I highly recommend them for a night out though!  There was also no damage to natural lashes!  Yay!

  • Application Process- 3
  • Overall Look- 2
  • Longevity- 4
  • Damaging- 5, no damage!
  • Price Point- 4, comes out to about $2.75 per use!

https://shop.toribellecosmetics.com/kenziewomack/home

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Wearing the 9-5 Magnetic Lash Bundle from Tori Belle Cosmetics . 

3.) Silly George Magnetic Lashes-  I honestly loved these magnetic lashes!  The application process was fairly easy, but may take a couple of tries to position them correctly!  Overall look was fairly natural once positioned correctly!  The price point was phenomenal and worth at least trying them! They last all day, but the magnets are very fragile and I lost magnets when removing them from my eyelid on a pair.  Overall out of all the magnetic lashes I tried theirs were the best!

  • Application Process- 2
  • Overall Look- 4
  • Longevity- 3
  • Damaging- 5, no damage!
  • Price Point- 4, great price!

The Magnetic Lash – Redesigned!

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Wearing Silly George, dailies, my favorite set of theirs!

4.) Esqido Mink Strip Lashes- I loved these mink strip lashes!  They were so easy to apply.  I loved their price point and overall longevity of product.  They looked great and I was so impressed with their quality!  For a day to night wear these would be my top pick if you were looking for something less permanent!  Also, no damage to natural lashes!

  • Application Process- 4
  • Overall Look- 3
  • Longevity- 3
  • Damaging- 5, no damage!
  • Price Point- 4

Companion Eyelash Glue

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Wearing Esqido mink lashes, unfortunately I can’t remember which ones these are!

5.) Lashify-  If you are looking for a product that is customizable, can last longer than a day and has the look that more closely resembles lash extensions, then look no further!  Lashify has been by far my favorite product I have tried to date and will be the product I will continue to use in the future as for their longevity and ability to customize my own look!  The application process may take a little while to get the hang of, but this company has phenomenal customer service, as well as one on one calls to help you with application, as well as a phenomenal Facebook group with tips and tricks!  They have a monthly membership program to help you save money as well!  After my first day of trying their products I signed up for their membership!  You can’t feel the lashes when wearing them, they look natural, their flexible, and again you can customize any look you’re going for!  Need a bolder look for a night out, you can create it, want a more natural look, they’ve got you covered!  I can’t wait to continue to experiment with these lashes and create fun and new looks!!!  I honestly wish I knew about these before I ever got lash extensions, because I would’ve been sold!

  • Application Process- 2, there is a learning curve, but tons of support through their customer service and Facebook Group!
  • Overall Look- 5
  • Longevity- 5, these last longer than my extensions, and if I lose a lash I can instantly fix them, rather than wait for my next fill appointment!
  • Damaging- 5, no damage to natural lashes!
  • Price Point- 2, not the cheapest, but I also believe you get what you pay for!  These were still cheaper than my lash extensions and fills.  With their membership program you can get them discounted!  The set I’m currently wearing (C’s) in the photo below, have lasted me 5 days and 4 nights and their still going strong through showering, workouts, chasing a busy toddler around, and wind and rain!  So definitely worth it just for the longevity!

Follow this link to save $20 off your first control kit with Lashify:

https://prz.io/ddn6lDH2

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Wearing C12 and C14 from my control kit with Lashify!

Overall, I had a lot of fun trying all these different products and would recommend each of them depending on what you are looking to accomplish!  Good luck on your own lash journey lash addicts!

Blessings,

 

Janae Lee

Four Simple Looks for The Fourth!

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How is it that the Fourth of July is already upon us?  This summer is flying by!  I literally can’t get over how quickly time flies by once you’re a parent!  I’m trying to soak in every moment of this summer!  It’s our last summer before my little guy starts elementary school.  I’m already in tears thinking about that!  But here we are!  I’ve teamed up with four other amazing bloggers to share four simple looks for the Fourth of July with items you already have in your closet, to create a fun and simple look for any Fourth of July celebration on a budget!

The Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays since I was a young girl growing up in Southeast Alaska.  The Fourth was always such a big deal in my hometown!  The big parade, booths on the dock, boating, bbq’s and so many amazing memories with friends!  So it’s been so important to me to share that joy and make memories with my own son on this great holiday!

Creating four looks with things I already had in my closet was surprisingly simple!  I wanted to create looks that could easily be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.  I also wanted to create four looks for little man, because he loves dressing up for the holidays as much as I do.

For our first look I kept things super simple!  I wanted something fun to wear for a parade, hanging out at the lake, having a bbq!  I started with a fun red tank (any red tank would work for this look), my favorite pair of high waisted acid wash shorts, a hoodie tied around my waist in case it gets cold, and a pair of striped sandals.  For Toshko, these looks were so easy, because red is his favorite color, we have so many red tops!  A simple red tank, an acid wash denim shirt and some navy shorts and these darling shoes I found on clearance at Target a few months back!

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Our second look is my favorite look of the day, mainly because this dress has been a staple piece in my wardrobe for years, and is one of my favorite dresses of all time!  It’s one of those dresses that always makes you happy, it’s easy to dress up or down and I love the flattering fit!  I paired this dress with a simple hat and a pair of striped sandals, to dress this up, I’d add a pair of wedges and some jewelry!  For Toshko, we had this cute Stars and Stripes button up shirt from Target, a pair of navy shorts and a blue pair of shoes.

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For our third look I went with my favorite pair of high waisted jeans from American Eagle, this darling button up top from Target, striped sandals, a fun hat and some white earrings!  For Toshko, he’s wearing a basic red T-shirt and a cute pair of striped shorts!  My outfit could easily be dressed up with some heels for an evening event.

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For the fourth and final look, I stuck to a casual look with a basic v-neck, some high waisted denim and sandals.  For little man, I also kept it simple with a blue striped shirt and some navy shorts!

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I hope these outfits give you all some inspiration to create similar looks for the Fourth with items you already have in your closet!  Make sure to follow me on Instagram (@copperbush) and watch my stories to find all the links to the bloggers I teamed up with!

 

Happy Fourth from our family to yours!

 

Blessings,

Janae

 

Three Classic Looks

One of my favorite things about blogging and Instagram is the amazing community I have found between them.  But even more than the amazing community Instagram and blogging have given me over the years, are the friendships I have made.  One friend in particular is the amazing Ashleigh over at Sparrow’s Apple!  She is a fellow stay at home mom, lover of fashion and DIY, and honestly I truly can’t even say enough great things about her.  So happy those little squares on Instagram brought us together!

We have teamed up to show you three completely different ways to style those adorable Universal Thread Utility Shorts I shared with you all last week from Target!  Here’s a photo to refresh your memory.

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The one thing I absolutely love about these shorts is how easy they are to dress up or dress down with simple pieces you already have in your closet.

For my first look, I wanted something casual and comfortable for an evening at the lake, on the beach, hanging at home with friends, a bbq, sitting by the fire on a cooler summer evening.  I am all for comfort and a little style!  So I kept this look simple, wearing a cute oversized vintage hoodie from Wild Kard Vintage, the utility shorts in olive green and a simple pair of Sperry shoes.  I could live in this outfit everyday!603BE053-F62F-4E06-A62D-578239624E78.jpeg

 

The second look I wanted to style was to dress these shorts up a little!  I am all about comfort and went for that with this style.  I am loving this darling mustard colored Button tank from Target with this fun draped vest also from Target, I finished off this look with a pair of espadrilles sandals in a pretty camel color and some simple jewelry.

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For the final look I wanted something fun for running errands, chasing toddlers, walking the dog, something easy for every day.  I paired the shorts with my current favorite basic from Target, those amazing pocket T-shirt’s by Universal Threads!  I am always cold in the stores this time of year so tied my favorite denim jacket around my waist and finished off the look with a pair of Sperry’s.

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Head over to Sparrow’s Apple (http://sparrowsapple.com) to see how Ashleigh styled the same pair of shorts and make sure to follow her on Instagram (@ashleighcoryell) for more style tips, home decor and DIY.

Links to purchase:

Shorts:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-utility-shorts-universal-thread-153/-/A-54255838?preselect=54312343#lnk=sametab

USA Sweatshirt:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/502600370/new-big-usa-retro-comfort-colors-blue?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=wild+kard+vintage&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&organic_search_click=1&bes=1&col=1

Sperry Shoes:

https://www.sperry.com/en/crest-vibe-vintage-twill-sneaker/36233W.html?dwvar_36233W_color=STS84560#cgid=women-shoes-casual&start=1

Mustard Button Tank:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-v-neck-button-front-knit-woven-tank-top-universal-thread-153/-/A-54510795?preselect=54474501#lnk=sametab

Kimono Vest:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-woven-striped-kimono-jacket-universal-thread-153-one-size/-/A-54280914

Espadrilles Sandals:

The Hayden Espadrille in Chocolate

Pocket T-Shirt:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-monterey-pocket-v-neck-short-sleeve-t-shirt-universal-thread-153/-/A-53162356?preselect=54276588#lnk=sametab

Denim Jacket:

https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/us/p/acid-wash-denim-jacket-13526819?seq=01&faceout=model

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I hope you enjoyed these three looks and make sure to comment below if you want to see more style tips like this!  I hope everyone is having a great start to summer!

Blessings,

Janae Lee

 

Birthday Shenanigans

DE90EDE3-6390-4091-83E1-9B4B079D2C74Goodness, another year older, another year wiser?  Since becoming a mom, the years just roll by.  This season of my life is flying by, I swear I was just graduating high school, a young girl ready to experience the world and ready to show my independence, yesterday.  But nope, alas, here I am just turning 33.  33!!!!!  When did this even happen!?  Birthdays have changed, still important, but important in new ways.  So thankful to be alive, to be in this new season of life, and thankful for another year, albeit challenging as it has been.  Motherhood is challenging, and the days tend to race by.  So here we are another year older, another year of learning, another year of motherhood.  Another year flown by!

My birthday this year was busy!  I woke up to a sweet little face that gave me big hugs and birthday wishes!  We then had to dash to the vet where one of our dogs had to go in for dental surgery.  A tough place for a busy boy to sit still.  My busy boy informed the entire vet office it was my birthday, and everyone was wishing me birthday wishes.  The introvert in me was dying on the inside.  But seeing how excited my son was for my birthday, I couldn’t help but smile and enjoy the moment.  The rest of the day was filled with a stop to my favorite restaurant, ice cream, appointments, and more ice cream.

So another year older, another birthday spent but this time instead of enjoying it for myself, I enjoyed it through my sons eyes.  Remembering the joy of birthdays as a child and continuing to instill that in my little man.  These birthdays are coming faster, and this season of my life is flying by too quickly.  So here I am soaking in the good, my son is still always wanting to match clothes with me, gives me the sweetest hugs and I know these moments will change.  So I will soak in another year of this season of life, grow and be thankful for all the beautiful blessings my life currently has!

Here are the outfit details for this darling outfit I put together celebrating another season and birthday of my busy life!

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Dress:  This summer dress is my favorite of all time!  It has working buttons all the way down and is so flattering!  It is also currently 60% off!

https://www.loft.com/floral-button-flutter-dress/503371?skuId=27325568&defaultColor=9378&catid=catl000013

Denim Jacket:  So I had been wearing the same denim jacket since my senior year in high school!  But I finally decided to get something new and found this darling girlfriend fit jacket from Abercrombie and I had been eyeing it for some time!  It finally went on sale and I had to snatch it!  It is amazing!  Hopefully this one lasts a good 15 years like my last one did!

https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/us/p/acid-wash-denim-jacket-13526819?seq=01&faceout=model

Shoes: I am obsessed with pops of color in the summer and these darling sandals from the loft did just that for me for this outfit!  They’re also 40% off right now!

https://www.loft.com/refined-slide-bow-sandal/507940?skuId=27581216&defaultColor=8250&catid=catl000022

I hope everyone’s month is starting off perfectly and you’re all beginning to enjoy the summer season!

Blessings!

Janae Lee

 

 

Target Steals!

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As per usual, you never arrive at Target and tell Target what you need.  Target shows you what you need as you walk through their store.  My entire outfit today is due to just that, Target basically showed me I needed it.  I’m a sucker for comfy shorts and tanks!  And of course their floor design staff put some comfy shorts on display.  Again, I’m a sucker for a great comfy casual pair of shorts, so of course they snuck their way into my cart!  But they’re so comfortable and at such a great price it was worth it!  I love how relaxed these shorts are, I am wearing my normal size of an extra small and they fit perfectly!  One thing I love about these shorts is the fact that they aren’t tight on my thighs!  They are so nice and loose in the thighs but still have a feminine flattering cut!  These shorts come in a magnitude of colors, which is just another plus to them!

I also snagged a couple of these button tanks because once the shorts sucked me into the clothing section, I found these darling tanks!  I love these tanks because they have working buttons, they’re a thicker material and so flattering!  I am wearing an extra small in the burnt orange/beige striped tank and I also purchased a small in the all black so I could also unbutton the bottom two buttons and tie it.  These are definitely going to be a staple piece of my wardrobe!

I finished my look today with a denim button up shirt!  I sized up to a small so it would be more oversized on me!  I have had this button up for almost a year now and it’s still one of my favorite purchases from Target!

I love all of these pieces because they’re such staple pieces for your wardrobe!  Nothing beats a comfy and casual outfit that makes you feel good!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Blessings,

Janae

 

Links:

Button Up Shirt:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-labette-denim-shirt-long-sleeve-button-down-shirt-universal-thread-153-dark-wash/-/A-53162338?preselect=52926201#lnk=sametab

Tank:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-striped-button-front-scoop-neck-tank-top-universal-thread-153-white-orange/-/A-54315528?preselect=54202759#lnk=sametab

Shorts:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-utility-shorts-universal-thread-153/-/A-54255838?preselect=54312343#lnk=sametab