Nobody likes to wake up in the morning, especially when it's cold, but I hope you can pick up some tips from my routine to help you out (or even leave me a suggestion in the comments)!

Pictures via Pinterest

11:00 p.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Bed time
Getting a good nights rest is so important to me. I wish I could say I followed these exact times every day, but I try! I rely on an alarm to wake me up, so I make sure that is set before I go to sleep. I like to set it about twenty minutes before I really have to get up so that I can start to prepare for getting up and at it when I hear it go off. After I set my alarm, I like to scroll through Pinterest to get outfit ideas, read inspirational quotes and look at yummy food. My favorite thing to look at is devotionals- it's so important to me to start my day and end my day by having quiet time with God.

9:00 a.m. – Time to get up
The first thing I like to do when I get up is check my emails and social media. (I usually do this with one eye open and the other still closed!) Once I finally get up I go to the kitchen and get a glass of water to start my day off. It's important for your body to do this and get things going by flushing out toxins, kick starting your metabolism and fuels your brain.

9:05 a.m. – Clean up
I use this time to take a shower or, if I showered the night before, wash my face and brush my teeth. Something about water on your face in the morning really does wake you up! It doesn't matter when I take a shower because it relaxes me at night and wakes me up in the morning- a win win either way!

9:15 a.m. – Make my bed
I absolutely HAVE to make my bed. It makes me feel like I've already been successful for that day. It take five minutes-tops-and you'll feel better doing it! Coming home from school to a clean room and a nice made up bed is so nice.

9:20 a.m. – Get ready
I usually have my outfit picked out to wear the night before so that I can save time and not have clothes all over my floor! Once I get dressed I like to take my time doing my hair and makeup. The first thing I do is turn on Spotify and jam out to some music- it gets me pumped for the day. My hair takes longer to do if I showered the night before because I generally straighten it and/or curl it. After my hair I start the makeup process which I usually keep the same routine, I just switch up the products.

10:00 a.m. – Breakfast
Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, so I try to always make time for it. My favorite breakfast meal is just a banana and peanut butter. I started eating it when I was at Troy and I think it actually takes me back to sitting in Trojan Village room 3210 with my best friend, Katie. I always drink a glass of unsweetened green tea with my breakfast and/or on the way to school. It's great for your metabolism!

10:30 a.m. – Head out
I'm lucky enough to not have a class until 11, so I usually try to leave around this time. I'll use some mouthwash, spray some perfume and get my books.If I'm feeling extra sleepy and have the time, I'll grab an iced coffee on my way (yummm)! I don't live far from my school this semester so I get there with enough time to review the homework from the last class session. By now I'm put together and ready to tackle class and the day!

I try my best to stay with this routine, at least on the days I don't have to be at school until 11! Even if I don't have class, I try to stick to the same schedule so that I'm used to it. Staying consistent helps to make mornings easier and more enjoyable, then you can get a great start to your day!

What is your morning routine like? Let me know in the comments!

To adult or not to adult? If you're in your 20's or almost in your 20's- this is for you. When people said growing up stinks, they weren't kidding. We know adulthood is coming, but are we there yet? Here are five signs you're almost an adult:

1. You don't buy the shoes. Y'all- this is the worst for me. I don't mean to sound vain, but I genuinely have a problem. I have no sense of when to stop buying shoes. Don't have that color? I need them. Don't have that style? I need them. You create that budget, but you don't actually stick to it. When you have to decide if you want the shoes or to have gas to get to work, you know you're almost an adult.
2. You'd rather stay at home. I would rather stay home and blog, read, or watch a movie than go out most of the time. Since when did I think about what time I need to be home by in order to get my full nine hours of sleep? (And trust me when I say I NEED that nine hours!) When you would rather be on the couch than out late, you know you're almost an adult.
3. You have to create a resume. How do you pronounce that word? HAHA. I recently had to create a resume for a class and didn't even realize how important it is to have one until I created it. I've needed that bad boy twice since I made it, so thank goodness I had it! I miss the time when  all you had to do was fill out an application and you got the job. When you finally have to sit down and figure out how to create a professional looking resume, you know you're almost an adult.
4. You're Facebook feed. Don't tell me you haven't been noticing all the engagements, marriages and babies. I'm just siting here reading a book about waiting on the right man God has for each person and wondering when I'm going to meet him... Is it really almost time to be settling down? I don't think I'm emotionally stable/ready for that hahaha. When everyone around you is getting engaged, married or having babies, you know you're almost an adult.
5. You're parents are talking about what they'll do with your room. Okay wait, just because I'm moving out doesn't mean you need to turn my room into a craft room, ma. (I'm not kidding-that is an actual discussion that has happened in my house.) Isn't it funny how they think you'll never come home? I guess we should be taking that as a sign they don't want us back. When you want to redecorate your room and your parents tell you there's no point because you're leaving soon, you know you're almost an adult. 

My makeup obsessed self is all about switching up my routine for Fall! Here are my latest and greatest finds! 

Face Products 

IT for Ulta Airbrush Buffing Foundation brush
Becca Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal
Ulta blush in Adore
Nars blush in Sin
Smashbox Primer Water
Lancome foundation in 210 Buff

Top swatch is the Becca highlighter- I love using this right above my blush! I got the mini version to see if I would like it or not and I definitely do!
Middle swatch is the Ulta blush- I love this dark rose color with a hint of gold! Such an unusual, but beautiful color.
Bottom swatch is the Nars blush-I've heard a ton of good things about Nars blushes, so when I found this purple/mauve color I had to have it!

Eye Products

NYX Za Za Zu mascara (I love that this is a fiber infused mascara! Great dupe for the Younique mascara.)
Tarte Amazonian Clay mascara
Ofra highlighter & eyeshadow in Bliss (Sold out, but the Becca highlighter in Moonstone or Champagne Pop is very similar!)
Elizabeth Mott Queen of the Fill tinted brow gel in light/medium

This is such a great pigmented product! I really like using it as a base for my eyeshadow and also below the brown.

Lip Products

NYX lip liner in Peekaboo Neutral- bought from Ulta
Essence lipstick in Porcelain Doll
Elf Matte Lip Color in Praline
The Balm Matte Liquid Lipstick in Committed

Swatch on the lower left is NYX lip liner- Want a Kylie Jenner color? This is the liner you need! Pair it with a great browny nude lipstick and you'll be set!
Next swatch is Essence lipstick- Y'ALL. This is the nude I have been looking for my whole life. I'm obsessed!
Next swatch is Elf matte lipstick- I really love that I can wear this alone and it will last for a good amount of time! It's also a good product to use as a liner as well.
Last swatch on right is The Balm liquid lipstick- This color is golden paired with the first NYX liner. If you really want the Jenner lip, just slightly overdraw your lips and you'll be set all day long.

Leave me a comment letting me know what your ride or die/go to/right hand beauty product for Fall is!

Want to chat? Have business inquiries? Send me an email here- mccauleyblaine101@gmail.com

Meet Blaine McCauley: A Jesus following, fashion conisseur who loves blogging, beauty, and the city. Blaine currently resides in Western North Carolina and plans on attending SCAD Atlanta in the upcoming year.

Welcome back! I'm so excited to bring y'all a fall favorites post! I'll be the first to admit that I don't like fall...I know, I know.. so terrible- butttt I will say that I really enjoy dark lips, booties and scarves. Since it's been getting colder outside I'm slowly starting to incorporate these things into my makeup and outfits. I'll be sure to post links to where you can find everything! Feel free to comment and share! Talk to you soon!

Hair- This You Curl wand by Conair is A M A Z I N G! I've been loving the loose curls look lately and this wand  makes it easy even for me, the worst person at hair.
Since I'm so terrible at doing my hair- when I finally get it done good I like to keep it that way by using the Dove Volume Dry Shampoo. It smells so good and works like magic!
Wand
Dove Dry Shampoo- any drugstore!

Makeup- As the weather gets cooler, my tan is getting lighter.. I recently needed a new foundation that matched my skin color and would keep me matte. I found the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H Makeup in 210 Buff and I loooove it! It goes so far and has SPF 15- double the bonus!
Another thing I love is a dark + vampy lip! I discovered the NYX Simply Vamp Lip Cream Stick in Bewitching and it's been the perfect dark purple.
Foundation
Lipstick

Shoes- These booties are giving me life. The first pair on the left are by Steve Madden. I don't know the style name because they are from last season at DSW. They're a taupe suede with a chunky heel and tassels on the zippers- does it get any better?
The pair are the right are a fringe + lace up heel in a tan suede from Charlotte Russe. Y'all- suede is everythaaang this season!
Steve Madden Booties
Similar to Charlotte Russe heels!

Ipsy Bag- If you haven't heard of Ipsy- it's a monthly subscription bag that you get every month for $10. You sign up, take a quiz, and then receive five beauty products! I love the surprise it brings every month and you get products that total way more than $10! It's so fun getting to try out new products! I'll post the link if you're interested in signing up- you'd be crazy not to girl!
Ipsy Link

xx Blaine

"Are you talking to anyone?" is something I hear way too often. My response is usually, "Not right now" or maybe even a, "No, the last one was a jerk." Let's be honest though, it just never happens for me. There's nothing quite like a friend saying how she's been single for almost a WHOLE MONTH and I'm over here thinking about how I've been single almost twenty....yes, twenty....years. So why has it been that long? I'm a curvy girl with dirty blonde hair and a not-so-shy personality, so maybe not drop dead gorgeous, but I have some things going for me- so what's the problem and why am I the only one out of my friend's who hasn't had a boyfriend yet?

Let's start off in middle school when dating wasn't huge, but it was starting to get to that stage. I would come home telling my parents about the most recent relationship gossip and then ask why I couldn't have that or why did nobody like me? They always responded with the nice things parents say like, "It'll happen one day." or "You're too pretty to worry about it." Fast forward to high school and I was still waiting on that "one day". By this time I had pretty much convinced myself that my personality was too big, I needed to be prettier, etc. I started to get more attention, but it wasn't anything that would last or anyone who wanted something more than the physical aspect of things. I began to try hard to understand what a guy wanted- was it looks? knowledge of sports? a certain hair color? Then I started to giggle at how desperate I was getting and realized that nobody was mature enough for me or nobody could handle me so I would just wait until college. Well now I'm in college and I bet you can already guess...I'm still the third wheel and just a bridesmaid (Get it? Always a bridesmaid-never a bride). 

I watch my friends become single one by one then, like clock work, find someone else. I've witness a lot of problems, drama and heartbreak that I never knew existed. I've never understood how someone can literally go back to the same person that hurt them so badly before, but I guess I wouldn't know without being in that situation. The biggest thing is the girls who rebound so quickly. How do they have no single time??? Up until college I always saw it as a blessing to never be single, but now I'm seeing it as a curse. Is it an identity thing? Maybe they don't know who they are other than being a girlfriend. Maybe they don't know their worth outside of being in a relationship. Regardless- I'm starting to see being single as a relief more than anything else. 

I like to always remind myself how confident I am and that I can do anything I want to on my own, but don't let this fool you because I still wonder what I'm missing out on. (I even go to the extent of redownloading Tinder...awkward). I don't let myself binge watch Netflix series or eat bowls of ice cream as big as my head, but I do get insecure at times. So the question remains- when will I meet the man God has in store for me? I don't know, but that's okay because I know I'll be perfectly fine until then in this time of growth for myself.  

xx, Blaine