Hey there. So I've debated for a very long time whether or not I should write about my very interesting and tumultuous summer. This post won't be light or cheery or related to beauty in any way, but it's a part of me. It's also a huge reason why I've neglected you guys for the past few months which, again, I apologize for. However, for the sake of not making this blog post a short novel, I'll get right into it.

While my struggle to find a job initially after graduating was a huge thing weighing on my mind, the real challenge I was experiencing was navigating through a really difficult breakup. I don't know how much to share without dragging his name through the mud, so I guess I'll keep it pretty vague. Point is, some choices were made on his end that I found...still find...incredibly hurtful. I go through bouts of extreme happiness and acceptance of the situation to extreme sadness and confusion. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground anymore.

The most frustrating part is that I feel like I wasn't able to get any type of closure or explanation. One day he just woke up and didn't want me anymore and I was left to pick up the pieces he left behind. Just when I think I have most of the puzzle completed, he comes back with more news that throws my puzzle against a wall and leaves me to start again. The most recent piece of news? He has a new girlfriend. Yay!

The type of woman I want to be stays above the fray and is a respectful, classy lady through and through. The type of woman I'm feeling on the inside, however, is hurt, angry, confused and would love nothing more than to make his life as miserable as he's made mine. But, that's just not me. I wish it was most days, but it isn't. One day I'll look back on this period of my life and be proud of my behavior, but right now the very public jabs I'm taking without a fight are getting pretty humiliating.

I can talk for hours about this, but that's not helping anyone, especially not me. I can't change his behavior, but I can improve mine. I've been working out five days a week, seeing a counselor, catching up with friends I haven't seen in years and recently got an incredible job offer. I don't want my negative emotions to overshadow all the good that's coming my way but I've always sworn to be transparent with my readers and that's still what I strive to do.

One day I'll be okay...and it's okay that day isn't today. All I can do is continue to be the best woman God has taught me to be, move forward and not look back.

Thanks for listening to my rant and I promise, I'll return to our regularly scheduled programming in the next post.

Love you guys!
Jordan Cathleen

I know we're well into fall at this point but hey, a girl can fill up her online shopping cart dream, can't she? Here are just a few pieces that I hope make their way into my closet this season.

Put as simply as possible, strobing is highlighting. Period. The beauty industry (bless its heart) makes it a point to "discover" a new trend every so often in order to put yet another dent in our pockets. It is a multi-billion dollar industry after all. But for those of you who are still baffled by the trend, let me break it down for you.


The process of highlighting and contouring, made popular by the Kardashian clan, has been a trick used by makeup artists for years. The purpose is to make some parts of the face look more chiseled and slim while making the high points of your face appear glowing, dewy and youthful. Well, subtract the contour part of the process and you have a whole new routine on your hands: strobing.

By placing a concealer or foundation a couple shades lighter than your actual skin tone on the high points of your cheekbones, under the eyes, down the bridge of the nose, forehead, cupid's bow and chin, you have just been strobed. Those are the most common areas but each person is different and should only highlight in areas they are most comfortable with and that are most flattering to their face shape. Set it in place with powder (matte or shimmer is completely up to you) and the technique is complete!

Still a little shaky on how to try this trend? Check out the videos below for great demonstrations on how to make this look wearable for everyday. The summer sun may be fading but our glow doesn't have to!

I know. We're in the double digits of September so the sight of an August favorites post on your Bloglovin' feed must be a bit unsettling. My apologies. There is a ton of change going on in my personal life right now which I'll be sure to update you all on later. Regardless, the show must go on! Here are a few of the things that made me smile last month.
Beauty | The NYX Illuminator is an awesome dupe for the coveted Nars Albatross highlighter. A white, intimidating powder in the pan, this illuminator transforms on the skin into a beautiful, shimmering gold that went perfectly with my summer tan if I do say so myself. I can definitely see myself wearing this well into the fall and winter to keep that sunkissed glow going during the colder months.


Fashion | There's not much I can say about these pants besides, "unmphhhhh!" They're a beautiful shade of pink (which I've recently come to accept is, in fact, my favorite color). They're professional but with a ton of personality and I can't wait to get plenty of wear out of them.


Accessories | What a surprise, another pink item. I picked this up on a whim after getting my phone screen repaired this summer and while I typically don't like to spend too much money on something like a phone case, I'm glad I did. This case is incredibly unique and really does a great job protecting my phone so kudos to Native Union!

Techie | Another application this month, Glassdoor has become my new go-to app. If you follow me on Twitter then you know I've been on the job hunt and Glassdoor has everything anyone would ever need to know about any company or position. This summer I've probably checked Glassdoor more than my Instagram feed...and that's saying a lot.

Song | What can I say? Drake's done it again with Hotline Bling. This is such a fun song and it has become my anthem for the summer (or what remains of it). And wouldn't you know it? The album art is pink. Go figure.

Munchies | Whenever you have a craving for something sweet, reach for this. I promise Outshine fruit bars will satisfy the sweetest of tooths (teeth?) without compromising your end-of-summer cleanse. My tip: catch them when your local grocery store has them on sale so you can get both the yogurt-based and fruit-based bars. I know cravings can get super specific so if you have both, you can consider your bases covered.


Person | She's not just my person of the month, but of life. If you haven't heard of her then A) I'm very sorry to hear that and B) she's a DJ, designer, director, entrepreneur and total badass. A constant inspiration, Vashtie continues to change the game creatively and serves as a reminder that girls women truly can do anything they set they're minds to.

If you haven't guessed by now, TPN Cribs will be a new series in which I share yet another interest of mine: interior design. I still have yet to see if I'll be as skilled at styling my own home one day as I am at picking out other people's lovely homes but in the meantime, I plan on sharing the occasional design inspiration post.

I hope you enjoy and if there is any design theme you would like to see in the future, let me know in the comments below!

A photo posted by King Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Jul 3, 2015 at 5:12pm PDT

At this point it's no secret what Kylie uses to perfect her 90s pout. It's been revealed that she relies on the MAC lip pencil in the shade Spice, which is a more pink-toned nude that MAC describes as a "pink cinnamon stick" shade. Now while that perfectly suits her light to medium, olive based skin tone, that may not have the same results on everyone else. So, if your looking to achieve that perfect nude pout this fall, here are a few more MAC lip pencil suggestions for my fairer and darker skinned ladies.

A photo posted by King Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Jul 31, 2015 at 4:20pm PDT

Light/Fair Skin Tone

• Pinky nude - Whirl, dirty rose
• Brown nude - Stripdown, creamy brown-beige

Medium/Olive Skin Tone

• Pinky nude - Spice, pink cinnamon stick
• Brown nude - Oak, soft beige-brown (I know, super original description from Stripdown)

Dark/Deep Skin Tone

• Pinky nude - Chicory, soft muted peachy-brown
• Brown nude - Cork, muted golden brown

A photo posted by King Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Jun 16, 2015 at 6:04pm PDT

Personally, I don't think this beauty trend will be going anywhere, anytime soon. (Kudos, Kylie). If done right, it's super flattering and works with any makeup look. If you haven't already, give the nude lip a try. You might just surprise yourself with how chic you look!

It's back to school season and whether you're mentally ready or not, you can definitely make sure your beauty arsenal is prepared ahead of time. After going through both high school and college (crazy how fast that went by), here is my list of five beauty essentials that should be on hand at all times.

• Lip balm - Let me start off by saying most of these products will be extremely obvious. However, those "obvious" products are life savers for a reason. Lip balm will keep your lips soft and hydrated throughout the school day. Double points if it has SPF for protection from UV rays. Triple points if its tinted so it can double as subtle lip color. High end - Fresh. Drugstore - Maybelline.
• Mascara - Even if you don't have time for a full face (which if we're being honest with each other will probably happen often) putting a couple coats of mascara on helps to lift and open the eyes. Also, whether you have issues with your mascara smudging or not, choosing a waterproof formula will ensure it will last all day and holds a curl much better than non-waterproof mascaras. High end - Tarte Cosmetics. Drugstore - L'Oreal. 
• Moisturizer - Now it's up to you whether or not you want your moisturizer of choice to be scented or not, and there are benefits to both. Unscented you can obviously use on your entire body, including your face. Scented, however, can really be a life saver if you want to freshen up your fragrance throughout the day. Both are great to keep around but if you have limited space in your bag, one or the other works just fine too. High end - First Aid Beauty. Drugstore - Eucerin. 
• Eyebrow gel - It's true that brows not only frame the face, but can completely transform the appearance of it with a simple flick of a brown pencil. So, much like mascara, if you don't have time for anything else, take a few minutes to lightly fill in your brows with a quick and easy brow gel. It will set them in place to keep them from being too unruly and also adds a bit of definition. High end - Clinique. Drugstore - Maybelline. 
• Wipes - For those moments where all of the products listed above forsake you (and yes, this may happen at the most inconvenient time) have something in your makeup bag to wipe all your troubles (read: smudges) away. Bonus points it contains soothing ingredients for an awesome double-duty product. High end - Korres.  Drugstore - Yes To.

It's been a long time (long time). I shouldn't have left you (left you). Without a monthly favorites post to step to (step to). Sorry about that, I couldn't help myself. But it truly has been a while -- like a year -- since my last favorites post so without further ado, here are a few of the things that have been most loved in July. Grab a cup of coffee because this is a long one!


Beauty | This is one case where you definitely should believe the hype. I won't go on to gush too much about this product since it's already been well circulated throughout the beauty world, but this mascara does a fabulous job of lengthening and separating my lashes which is just how I like them. The only note I have against the product is that it takes an awfully long time to set, which can frustrating if you need to touch something up around your eye area. Other than that, it's an incredible mascara and I've heard nothing but praises for its recently expanded collection.


Fashion | Admittedly, I haven't had these for very long. In fact they were added to my closet around the end of July. However, I've been pining over these mules for months now. They're super chic, on trend and incredibly comfortable. If you can find them in stores (I believe they're sold out online) I would definitely advise you to give this trend a try.

Accessories | Again, these made their way into my home closer to the end of July, but they quickly stole a top spot in my heart. I was looking to branch out from my typically minimalistic taste in costume jewelry and buy a statement necklace. I think these chokers were a great way to ease me in. They're still understated but really unique. The color pattern is actually wrapped thread! While they can be worn separately, I tend to stray from separating the pair. Even though I like that I have the option, they look better together.

Techie | If you have an iPhone and have bothered to update it in the past month, then you should already know the true joy that is Apple Music. Another music subscription service, Apple Music has somehow found a way to combine the features of both Spotify and Pandora. What other music services seem to miss, Apple Music has perfected. It curates different radio stations and playlists that it thinks you'll like based on your music preferences and you have the ability to add new music you discover right to your own collection. If you haven't already, start your free three-month trial on your computer or phone today! If you're a music lover like me, you won't regret it.


Song | If I'm being honest, I couldn't tell what the song White Iverson by Post Malone is about. I just like the vibe it evokes and the way it makes me feel: completely chilled out. I've needed that kind of energy around me after the hectic month I've had, so this song came at the right time.

Munchies | Blue Diamond almonds are so good it's ridiculous. I typically just stick to the lightly salted ones but I was recently sent the bold sriracha flavor in the Sunshine VoxBox and wow. Life changing. If you're craving something salty and crunchy but don't want to completely screw up your diet, give these a try.


Person | New category alert! I'm on the fence about bringing back Best, Finds, where I share links to new online content creators that I've been loving every week. Instead, I think I'll feature a new blogger or YouTuber every month. My first favorite person is stylist and YouTuber Nina Vee who I found through another personal fave, Chloe Morello. She's gorgeous, chic and so down to earth. Check out her channel for awesome everyday makeup looks and outfit inspiration. I know you'll love her just as much as I do.

So if you're a bit of a beauty junkie like myself then you'll know that the Lorac PRO Palette is far from new. However, as of a few months ago, it's new to my collection. Therefore, here is my candid (and extremely one-sided) review of the bestselling palette.

So for a while I've been considering a new series on the blog that would basically be a monthly book club. But if I'm being perfectly honest (with you and myself), I've definitely fallen off the reading wagon. However, this month I have gone on a bit of a television show bender. While I'm not incredibly proud of this fact, I figure the least I can do to redeem myself would be to turn it into something productive.



That being said, I'm considering doing a review of a new television series every month. Watching these shows has been a great distraction from reality, but in order to come back to Earth I figure I'd involve someone else (more like all my readers) in my madness. If this is something you would even be remotely (haha) interested in, let me know in the comments below!

P.S. For an idea of some of the shows we (yes, we) would be discussing, I've recently watched (and am itching to talk about) Jane the Virgin, American Horror Story: Murder House and Suits...to name a few.

I recently tweeted how excited I was to have ordered this gorgeous floral duster from ASOS. Now that it's finally come in...I was a little stumped on how to style it. Luckily, that minor road block didn't last very long and here are just a few of the combos I've come up with.

Mix It Up | I used to love mixing patterns, but I realized I've shied away from that lately. Rule of thumb: as long as the patterns you're mixing are in the same color family (here both patterns have navy blue in them), you're good to go.

How would you style such a statement piece? Either tweet me your own picks or share your suggestions in the comments below!

Green is exactly what your friends will be at the sight of your glowing, clear, blemish-free skin with this product I have to share. I decided to take the corny, cliche route and honor St. Patrick's Day with an awesome little product that, you guessed it, is green.

Fairly recently I purchased The Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil which I had seen a few bloggers rave about before. I have to say, I understand the appeal. It does a great job at reducing both redness and blemishes.


Now, for those of you who have been following my blog for a while now (I see you Best, Jordan readers), you know that my heart will always belong to benzoyl peroxide creams. However, this is a fabulous alternative for those with sensitive skin or who find benzoyl peroxide too drying. This tea tree oil has been my go-to during these harsh winter months when my skin could use a bit more nourishment and a lot less stripping.

Another bonus: no white streaks! The peroxide creams I use are white and unless you are meticulously applying it in a mirror, the chances of walking out of your house with odd white streaks on your face are pretty high. Because this product is an oil, it's simply absorbed into the skin...which comes in handy when I'm getting ready in a rush...which is always.

The only possible con is the smell. While I personally don't mind it too much, I must admit it has a very pungent medicinal scent. Don't let that hold you back from trying a great product though; the scent disappears in no time!

If you've tried this product before, let me know your thought in the comments below!

photo cred.

I know what you're probably thinking: here comes the cliche post where I share how to look Fourth of July ready without looking like a Washington, D.C. tour guide. But hey, if you can't beat em join em, right? And I can't help but feel inclined to share my own favorite patriotic pieces after scrolling through my Bloglovin' feed this morning. Here are just a few beauty products and outfit pieces that show your festive side in a more subdued and chic way.

With the heat steadily rising and summer finally here, it's only right that I share with you a few items that have caught my eye. I know these pieces will quickly become staples in my upcoming summer wardrobe so stay tuned this season to see how I end up styling them! Well, that is if I don't spend my money on Made In America tickets instead...which is an extremely high possibly now that I think about it.

ASOS | F21 | Zara | Nylon

Missguided | Topshop | H&M

Leave me a few links below of any items that have been burning a hole in your online shopping carts! I'd love to see what's made it on your wishlist this season.

P.S. Triple points to any of my readers who understand the Pinor Noir tank.

Claire of HeyClaire | To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure where to begin with Claire. If you haven't heard of her by now, where have you been hiding? She's a wizard with a shadow brush and her wardrobe is even more magical. Check out her videos because they genuinely speak volumes...much more than I can ever say to do her justice. YouTube / Blog

Though it seemed to have taken its sweet time getting here, it's no secret that summer weather is finally upon us. With it comes a lot of sweat, humidity and makeup smudging. As a girl who already struggles with extremely oily skin, trust me, my sympathy is with all of my overheated readers. However, just because it feels like you're melting, doesn't mean you have to look it too. Here are a few products to keep you looking flawless (or as least flawed as possible) throughout the day.



Brows | When trying to keep your brows from sliding down the sides of your face, it's important to look for a product that is wax-based or claims to be waterproof. Otherwise, you'll be wiping more than sweat from your brow.

• High-end: Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade
• Low-end: NYX Tame & Frame Brow Pomade

Eyes | Whether you regularly suffer from eyeshadow creasing or not, we can all fall victim during the warmer months. Luckily, a few brands have stepped up to the plate (or palette) and created the best bases to layer on your best summer looks.

• High-end: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion or MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot
• Low-end: e.l.f. Studio Eyeshadow Primer or Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Leather

Skin | At the end of the day, we don't want all of the hard work we put into our no-makeup-full-face-of-makeup look to run off in an embarrassing and revealing scene. Whether you choose to prep your skin before, prime it after or do a combination of both, it's best that you add one more step to your routine if you want to keep up this illusion of perfection.

• High-end: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer or Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray
• Low-end: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer Skin Transformer or NYX Makeup Setting Spray

I debated including a few must-have cheek and lip products, but decided against it. If you're using a primer or setting spray your cheek color should stay in place, and for lips all you need is a long wear shade that you're in love with and you should have no issues. However, if you would like to know a few of my favorites drop a comment below and I'll be happy to share those with you!

Hope this helps on those outdoor dates, bar crawls and beach trips this summer!

photo cred.

Despite having a bad rep, flared or wide leg pants have always had a special place in my heart. In my opinion, they're super flattering (especially for curvier girls), chic and, if done right, can instantly polish up any outfit. Apparently, I'm not the only one who shares that sentiment. Here are just a few long-legged ladies that I've come across sporting what appears to be spring's newest trend.

Happily Grey.

Native Fox.

Sincerely Jules.

If you've been a long-time follower of mine, then you know I've been gone for a while. But, that absence hasn't been in vain. I've been working on this little baby: The Polished Novice. What exactly does that mean? Well I may not have the credentials of a professional makeup artist, but I know how to make a girl feel beautiful. I may not be a licensed dermatologist, but I do have a few tricks up my sleeve that can keep your skin clear and glowing. I may not have everyday access to designer brands (yet), but I know what looks chic. So while some may call me a novice, I'm polished enough to get the job done.

A lot of the same series and features from my previous blog will also be included here (including all of the same horrendous images I call myself designing - I figure there's no use hiding my mistakes, it just makes my growth look even better), but if there's anything you want to see, let me know! After all, my content is for you.

It's good to be back. Talk to you soon!

photo cred.