Inexpensive (Halloween) Beauty Must-Haves!

Halloween is ABSOLUTELY one of my favorite holidays! I plan on doing many blogs throughout the month of October revolving around Halloween! So, obviously, today's post will be about.. You guessed it! Halloween! Well, Halloween beauty acessories!

I totally understand that as you grow, dressing up becomes more of a chore than something you look forward to. But who said you need to wear a full costume to be considered a "Halloween spirit"? I'm going to list some accessories that you can throw on and join in the Halloween fun!

Foam Wigs - These fabulous wigs can be found at Target. They range from $15-20. Throw on one of these fierce hair-do's, a basic black dress and you'll be set for the night!

Lip Tattoos - If you love doing make up, these lip tattoos are the perfect Halloween accessory for you! They're EXTREMELY easy to apply and only cost $9.99!

You can find more lip tattoos at Violent Lips!

Back from Vacation and Ready to Blog!

Hello everyone! I've missed blogging so much. I just got back from my vacation in Orlando, Florida. I went to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights as well as both theme parks. I definitely intend on making a post about that later in the week but for now I want to talk about a new nail polish brand that I stumbled upon!

The brand is called Julep and they have some of the most ahhhhmazing colors I've ever seen! The nail polish comes in a tube that resembles a lip gloss tube, which I think is extremely different and innovative! And the best part? They come out with new colors daily! They constantly update their website with new colors as well as their "retired" ones. I am a huge nail polish fan so, I was absolutely gushing over the funky and fun colors. I'm going to share some of my favorite colors off the Julep website with you!

 Esmeralda - $14.00

Candice - $14.00

Nail Polish - Favorite Colors for Fall!

Put away those summer shades and make room for some amazing and eccentric fall nail polish colors! Fall is definitely one of my favorite times of the year and nail polish is one of my favorite beauty products. Luckily, for a few moths during the year I get to combine my love for both fall and nail polish! I always try my best to keep up with the nail polish colors that are currently in style, I rocked mint on my nails and toes pretty much the whole summer! But, now, it's time to move on to fall and switch your shades!

Raspberry

Show off your chic side from day one with a bold, raspberry polish! It's an unexpected, darker shade that's more exciting than plain black nails, but not quite as overtly girly as a bright pink.

Try:  
1. "Laurel Canyon Lolita" by NCLA, $16, shopncla.com  
2. "Pulp Fiction" by Sonia Kashuk, $4.79, target.com  
3. "Intuition" by Seche, $8.50, Ulta and salons  
4. "Don't Make Me Wine" by China Glaze, $8, salons

Dark Cherry

If you and your crush have plans to walk through the park drinking maple lattes, give your mani a subtly romantic vibe with some this deep cherry polish. It's a bit more mysterious than your average red, and the darker shade pairs perfectly with cozy fall flannels!

Try:  
1. "Dinner Party" by Candie's, $8, kohls.com  
2. "From The Heart" by SpaRitual, $10, sephora.com
3. "Lost on Lombard" by OPI, $9, ULTA  
4. "Control Freak" by Sephora X, $9.50, sephora.com

Fall Definig Beauty Products

Who doesn't love fall? I sure do! Once I feel the crisp air start to creep in, I immediately get super excited and start to prepare myself, my skin, and my wardrobe for fall! While it's extremely important to make sure your wardrobe matches the weather, it's also very important to change your beauty routines to match the weather, too. 

Cold air means chapped lips and cracked skin which is a huge no no! One very important thing to remember during the chilly months is to keep your body hydrated and drink lots of water to keep your lips fresh and your skin smooth! You also want to change your make up products to blend in with the fall season; hot pink eyeshadow isn't as cute for fall as it is for summer!

Since fall is right around the corner, I've gathered up some fall beauty products that I am DYING to try this fall! So, put your credit card down, stop buying oversized sweaters and direct your attention toward some fall defining makeup!

 

Eyes: Colored Mascara

Enhance your eye color with mascaras in shades other than black and brown! These might look scary, but one swipe provides just a hint of color that will subtly brighten up your peepers. Pick one in a shade that’s opposite your iris on the color wheel for the ultimate enhancement! 

WINK Mascara, $20, butterlondon.com

Alex and Ani

I've been hearing lots and lots of talk about Alex and Ani bracelets, so, I've decided to check them out for myself and post about them! If you're sitting there scratching your head, wondering, "What is an Alex and Ani bracelet" .. No worries; that's what I'm here for! There are three main and very important facts about Alex and Ani jewelry. 

1) They are made in America.

"Alex and Ani is a company dedicated to creating products of unparalleled quality and beauty that promote consciousness and unity. Manufacturing in the United States and reusing and recycling materials is an integral part of Alex and Ani’s mission as a conscious and eco-friendly company. Alex and Ani’s collections are not only eco-friendly, they are made up of powerful, meaningful, and spiritual pieces, which uplift and inspire all who wear them."

2. They are Eco-Friendly

"The Alex and Ani aesthetic underscores the idea that what is pure and natural is most beautiful and creating jewelry from recycled materials enriches the beauty of each piece. Founder and creative designer Carolyn Rafaelian embraces a philosophy that is based upon using eco-friendly, recycled materials made entirely in the United States. Because of this, Alex and Ani is able to purchase metals from local mills who have received recycled scraps from refineries, which in turn, use those pieces and sell their scraps back to the Mills."

3. They are infused with "positive energy"

FRI"DIY" - Mason Jar Candle Holders!

Good morning and happy Friday! Friday is definitely the best day of the week, right? I think everyone will agree when I say that the weekend is awesome! The weekend is my chance to have some down time and relax. My forms of relaxation are taking baths and reading. Another thing that helps me relax are candles, especially when candles are lot while I'm taking a bath or reading. I'm always so paranoid when I lite candles while taking a bath because I'm worried that they'll spill over (etc). Which is why I got the idea to combine two of my favorite things: mason jars and candles! Since mason jars are a great size, they allow the candle to be surrounded by the high walls of the jar to prevent spilling. After I got that idea, I said to myself, "Well, you can't just throw a candle in a mason jar and call it a day.. It has to be decorated!" Annnnnd here we are! Let's get started!

What you'll need:

I got the mason jars from Michaels, the tape, spray paint, sanding bar and tape from Lowe's. Michaels had spray paint; however, it was $11.99 a bottle which is why I went to lowes.

Two mason jars - 2.99 ea.

Sanding sponge - 2.99 

Scotch painters tape - 1.99

Valspar spray paint - $5.99 ea.

Transition Trends From Summer to Fall!

One of my favorite things to do during my downtime is create sets on Polyvore! Polyvore is an app (based off of Polyvore.com) that is loaded with merchandise that allows you to create different "sets." They have a bunch of categories that you get to choose from and you select which items you like and they get put on a blank canvas; then you get to arrange it however you want. Sometimes I sit there for hours and scroll through the many many pages of items and find current trends that I'm into at the moment and create my own mini scene. I'm really into it and I want you to check out a few Polyvore "sets" that I have created revolving around some trends that I am gushing over! The trends listed below are ones that can be worn during summer and throughout fall, allowing you to easily transition your wardrobe from season to season. Check them out!

This fall is going to revolve around pastels! They're very flattering and versatile. They're perfect for the transition from the summer season into fall. I paired the pastel color-blocked dress with some mesh heels and a tan cross-body bag; very simple yet it still makes a statement! I also chose to go with neutral make up colors to give the colors in the dress more room to pop!

Looking to shop for some pastels?

 Forever 21 "High Waist Ankle Pants" - originally $17.80 ON SALE $11.99

Forever 21 "Cutout Chiffon Shirt" - originally $19.80 ON SALE $15.90


 Forever 21 "Faux Leather Peplum Jacket" - originally $27.80 ON SALE $25.99 

From pretty pastels to dark and grunge! Another trend prediction for fall is cut off flannels! I feel like they're going to be HUGE. A cutoff flannel won't be as hot as you would be in a long sleeve flannel but they also warm you up more than a tank top. Don't forget to pair the outfit with your favorite pair of Toms! And of course, you could never go wrong with a cross-body bag, a bowler hat, some electronics and your favorite pair of circle sunglasses!

 Looking to shop for some items like the ones above?

Forever 21 "Self-Tie Plaid Shirt" - originally $14.80 ON SALE $9.99

Forever 21 "Sleeveless Plaid Shirt" - $14.80

Forever 21 "F3328 Round Sunglasses" - $5.80

The upcoming trend portrayed in this Polyvore set is POPS OF COLOR! Just because summer is ending doesn't mean that neon can't stick around for a little while longer. I love the neon paired with basic neutral colors; it allows you to stand out without over-doing it. And isn't this background just adorable? Fall is the time where basic shades are really accentuated; which is why I love the neon, it's a new spin on an old trick!

Looking for some pops of color?

Forever 21 "Cool-Girl Colorblocked Crossbody" - $24.80

Forever 21 "Two-Tone Scarf" - $7.80

Forever 21 "Neon Pop Maxi Dress" - $27.80

Unfortunately you will not see any of the sets above on my Polyvore account because I had to make them on my work computer in order to get a screen shot of them. I have many other great sets, though! If you already have a Polyvore or if you plan on making one, you can follow me (briannaonabudget) and I would love to look at some of your sets! 

In other news, I got a new CAMERA! Thanks to my, wonderful, boyfriend Cody. Starting (most likely) this Sunday I will be posting video blogs each week! It's something that I've wanted to do for a while and definitely something I'm looking forward to. So, keep an eye out for tomorrow's blog post as well as an upcoming VIDDDEOO!

PS (to those who watch Pretty Little Liars) - I'm looking forward to tonight's episode! Who do you think pushed Jenna into the lake?

What're some things you'd like to see me talk about/do during my videos? Comment below to share!

Healthier Habits & Gym Gear (On A Budget)

Good morning! Another Monday, another work week. I've been in a great mood because I'm really looking forward to a vacation I have coming up to Florida! For my boyfriends birthday I bought him tickets to Universal Studios for the Halloween Horror Nights. We are so excited! Since we are going to Florida and the weather will be nice there, I decided there's no better day than today to start getting in shape! I went food shopping last night and bought ONLY healthy and nutritious food, which I plan on blogging about in the near future. In addition to me finding a pair of sneakers I FINALLY like, I also plan on signing up for the gym tonight! In honor of my new attitude, I've decided I want to write a blog post on some inexpensive gym clothes! I LOVE the way workout gear looks and I think that just because you're working out doesn't mean you can't look cute while doing it! Let's get started!

As I was browsing online I noticed Aeropostale had such great gym clothes for an even better price! If you're looking for affordable clothes Aero has really cute merchandise. They got a new designer around 2010 and ever since then the look of their clothes have improved a lot! I would definitely shop there.

Marled Contrast-Stitch Active Leggins - $39.50 ON SALE $20.00 

(Other colors available)

Inset Active Capris - $39.50 ON SALE $20.00

(Other colors available)

FRI"DIY" - Make Your Own Bath Bomb!

Friday is here! And not only does that mean it's time for the wonderful weekend, it means it's time for a new DIY project! The idea for this DIY came to me last night while I was taking a bath. Baths are one of the greatest forms of relaxation and I frequently engage in the activity. Anyway, last night I was taking a nice, warm, relaxing bath wishing I had some sort of amazing smelling bubble bath or bath bomb! So, I grabbed my phone and began looking online for places I could stop by in the morning to pick some bath essentials. The more I browsed, the more I realized that most of the bath accessories I wanted were a little too pricey for me; which led me to wonder how much it costs them to make the product. Then that little light bulb went off in my head and I was determined to make my own, cost friendly, bath bomb! And here we are!

What you'll need:

Sea Salt or any kind of big grain salt - $1.99

Cream of Tartar - $2.99 ea. This is what makes the bath bomb fizz!

Almond Oil - $3.99. I chose Almond Oil because it's great for enhancing the elasticity of your skin, preventing stretch marks and wrinkles. And it smells GREAT!

Cake Pop Mold - $4.99. You can buy any sort of mold you would like or use any one you have laying around your house. I decided to do mini bath bombs.

Food Coloring - $1.99. This part is optional, you only have to add color to the bath bomb if you would like too!

Baking Soda - $2.99

I got everything for this DIY at Shop Rite and in total it came out to around $23.00. This is a great deal because I made about 12 bath bombs which means each cost LESS THAN $2.00.

You'll also need: