April Favorites And The Cutest Song Ever

This month has seriously flown by. It seems like every month has since we first found out we were moving to Italy back in December. It has just been nonstop going! I can't wait for May to be here. We are finally getting all of our furniture on Thursday, and in about two weeks my mom will be here with my puppy! You guys seriously can't imagine my excitement! 

This month I've also gotten a lot of really awesome beauty products! Probably more than one could possibly need, but eh, a girl needs her cosmetics!!!

This month my top favorites have been the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, Benefit's The Bronze of
Champions kit, Cliniques Take The Day Off makeup remover, KIKO Milan False Lash Concentrate, Benefit's Coralista blush, Revlon ColorStay foundation, and Jergens Natural Glow daily moisturizer.



If you guys have never tried any of Benefit's kits, shame on you! Seriously. Benefit is a pretty pricey brand, and their kits make getting their products very affordable. If you're a makeup hoarder like I am, then these kits are perfect. You get just the right amount of product. I'd say they're all about half of the size of the actual product, and with Benefit, a little goes a very long way. So even though you're getting deluxe sample sizes of these products, you're definitelly getting enough to last you a very long time.

This baby is the Naked 2 palette from Urban Decay. If you haven't heard of this, where in the world have you been? I feel like I really can't say much about this, other than it's absolutely amazing. Just get one for yourself. 

Benefit's Coralista is my favorite blush. Ever. Hands down. I originally got this in one of the kits and I had to get the full size. I have used this almost every day for the past two or three months and I am nowhere near hitting pan.

I found this mascara primer at an Italian makeup store. I belive the name is KIKO. This stuff is just incredible. It makes my lashes about twice as long as they actually are. This is the best mascara primer I have ever used.

I am really loving Revlon lately. I was never a huge fan, but recently I'm just on a kick. This foundation has been my most used for the past month and I don't see myself getting tired of it any time soon.

Clinique has never been a brand that I've tried a lot of or been too interested in. This makeup remover though is something that I've been using for years. It removes waterproof eye makeup effortlessly.

Summer is right around the corner and I am trying so hard to get tan! I don't tan very well in the sun. I don't burn or anything, I just kind of stay the same. I've been using this for the past few weeks and I love it! It really does give you a nice, natural glow. I'd say it's gotten me about 1 1/2 shades darker and it's helped me build a nice base tan so I can tan in the sun. 

I am so madly in love with this song! If you don't know, Hunter Hayes is a Country singer from Louisiana. Just another reason that I love him. This song is so darn adorable, as is all of his songs. But this one is my favorite. Besides the one he wrote for Act of Valor. Since that song is about a military relationship, it just hits home. But anyways, listen to this song and love it as much as I do! PLEASE! And after you listen, go to iTunes and download his CD! It's just perfect and I swear you won't regret it!

Sorry about the length of this post. If you actually stuck around to read all of it, I appluad you! Have an awesome day, ladies!

Rants of an Army Wife: The First of Many

Today, I won't be talking about anything beauty related. So to my readers who come here for those reasons, you may want to just go back to whatever webpage you were at before coming here. 

First of all, I hate the army. Well, not all the time, just at times were they do incredibly stupid stuff. Like today. Actually, they do incredibly stupid stuff all the time, but whatever. Why do I hate the army? Well, because everything has to be ridiculously complicated. Actually, ridiculously complicated is the biggest understatement ever. 

Calling a specific phone number on post should not be this complicated. Why the hell would you have a specific phone number, and then in order to call that phone number, you have to add 4 numbers and drop 3 numbers. And if that doesnt work, you have to change the 4 numbers that you added. Like, how in the hell does that even make sense? 

Oh, and then when the Italians can't understand you, what do they do? They just transfer you to Germany. Because that makes so much sense!

Why did I need to get in touch with an office on post, might you ask? So I could track our shipment of, well pretty much everything we own, that left the states on February 25th. 

Well, after calling sixteen, SIXTEEN different numbers, I finally was able to speak to someone who knew where all of our stuff was. Where was our stuff? In Italy. In a warehouse. How long has it been here? Almost a month. Oh, but they sent out an e-mail. An e-mail that has to be confirmed before they can deliver our stuff. 

There was never an e-mail. 

So now, they have to resend an e-mail that should have been sent three weeks ago. I can't just call the movers and tell them to deliver my stuff, we have to tell them via e-mail. WHAT THE ACTUAL F***?!?!?

Why do I need to tell you in an e-mail when I just told you on the phone?! 

I JUST WANT MY STUFF!!!

So, anyways. This is my day. This is my great, amazing, fantastic day. 

How's your day going?

The Dress

Okay, so I may just be pulling this out of my ass, but I am pretty sure that we have a military ball coming up in the next few months. I'm not sure what the rules are for it, like if you have to have been deployed etc., but if we do have to go to it, this will be my dress!!! If I can't have this dress, I won't go. It's just PERFECT!

To military balls, you're typically supposed to wear floor length, formal gowns. It's like the Oscars or Golden Globes for military wives. Or, like prom. Maybe I shouldn't go as far as celebrity award shows. But anywho, since I live in Italy and the ball would be here, I figure why not wear something super Italian and eccentric?

This dress is from H&M Italia. I am not sure of what "brand" it's under, because I can't get the page to translate, but I know that it's not the standard H&M brand, as this dress is 99euro. But nonetheless, this dress is gorgeous and just so me! Let's hope that if we are able to go to the ball, my husband will actually want to go. 

I JUST WANT THIS DRESS!

XOXO, 

Megan

Our Italian Villa: A Sneak Peek

Why, hello there!

    As promised, here are the pictures of our new home in Italy. It's not ours quite yet, but we have started the leasing process and it will be ours in about two weeks. This house is HUGE, has a pretty "Americanized"  kitchen, AMAZING views, a huge yard, and best of all, a room that is nothing but closet storage! You can probably guess which part is my favorite. ;)
***I apologize for the horrible quality of these photos. All I had on my that day was my iPhone and I shot these all really quickly.***

 
  The first picture is the view from one of our living room windows. We can see the entire city of Vicenza from our living room! The second photo is only about two thirds of our gigantic living room. I'm obsessed with the beams and the fire place! You can't see it in this photo, but one wall is nothing but a huge built-in entertainment center.  
    Excuse my husband's booty, but this is our kitchen! Yes, it's a bit outdated, by American standards, but by Italian standards, this is an amazing kitchen. My favorite part is all of the counter space. Also, the room my husband is peeking in is a huge storage closet. The house has two or three of these huge closets and I love them.      

  The first picture is my bathroom. It's all pink and grey tile. Don't you just love that window above the tub?! My husbands bathroom isn't pictured, but it's all yellow and grey tile. It's the same set up pretty much, it just may be a tab bigger. The next picture is my closet room! You can only see one wall, but there is another one of those cabinets across from that one, and there is a large armoire with mirrors to the side of the photo that isn't pictured. The last photo is of part of our master bedroom. The door leads to our balcony, and here is the view of Vicenza from it:


 
   These last few photos are of our yard, and it is probably my favorite part of the house, which I'm incredibly head over heels in love with. The yard is SO huge and has so many different trees and shrubs. There are concrete steps all throughout it because the yard is multiple levels, which is really cool. You can't tell from my horrible photos, but we have not one, but TWO massive patios. I cannot wait to start planting some flowers and hosting bar-be-ques this summer! I never thought that I would be THAT wife, but this house makes me want to be! Is that crazy? Whatever.

 

   Sorry for the picture overload tonight, I just couldn't help myself. Once we are actually in the house and not rushing through to see it, I will be posting better photos. I'm thinking a room-by-room series will be necessary once we get all of our stuff and I've decorated everything the way that I have planned. I seriously can't wait to decorate this amazing house!


 XOXO,

 Megan

Army Wife 101: PCS-ing Overseas Part I

Hello all!

     I hope your weekend went by much slower than mine. I also hope that it was much less stressful than mine. As you all know, we are PCS-ing to Italy in TWO days. That's right, two short days. This weekend has flown by, and tomorrow is official move out day. My first experience with the Army's movers was pretty okay, let's hope they do as well of a job tomorrow as they did Thursday. (Please, Jesus, don't let them mess up my soo gorgeous, ridiculously overly priced couches!)
    The first thing I thought I would talk about with PCS-ing overseas is "What to Pack on Your Flight" I thought this was appropriate, since this is pretty much the only step we've taken so far. In case you were wondering, Delta (who the Army is contracted with) allows PCS-ing soldiers and their family members to EACH carry up to FOUR checked bags, up to SEVENTY pounds a piece. I know, you're thinking that is a TON. But, when PCS-ing overseas, you have to bring enough to last you 30-60 days. Your unaccompanied baggage (stuff you CANNOT live without) gets shipped from the United States to wherever overseas (in our case Italy) in approximately 30-45 days. It CAN take longer, but typically the longest you will wait is a month and a half. Now, furniture and other household goods can take up to 90 days. These items are just my suggestions and what I think would be most helpful for anyone moving overseas. I'm sure once having actually done this, my packing list might change, but for a first timer giving advice to a first timer, these are the bags/items I would recommend.
     I have a total of three checked bags, and a carry on and over sized tote to bring on the plane. In my largest duffle bag (made by my incredible mother-in-law, NOT Vera Bradley), I have one medium sized space saver bag with...a lot of clothes. Surrounding that space saver bag is more clothes. I have enough to last me for two months. Since we are going in Winter/Spring, I had to bring winter and spring clothes. I have a good variety in this bag. I would highly suggest using the space saver bags. They allowed me to pack twice as much, and my husband was able to fit six pairs of ACU's in one bag, saving him tons of space.
 
  In my second duffle, I have pots, pans, plates, bowls, and utensils. This is a MUST from what I have been told. I made this bag a priority to pack.These items are good to have in the hotel room with you, so you don't have to eat out every single meal, and also for when you move into your house. It would be pointless to buy brand new things from the PX just to have your things come a month later. In this bag I also have most of my shoes, belts, scarves, etc. I also have a few plastic bags full of shampoo, soaps, toothpaste, etc. I bought enough to last us a good two to three months. This bag will be a must for any of you PCS-ing overseas.
   
     My third duffle is probably my most important, to me at least. It is filled with all of my jewelry, three traveling cases full of make-up, a purse, my favorite teddy bear (corny, I know), and my most favorite black wool cape from www.thelimited.com. (it's in its bag, so you can't see it in this photo.) I really wish that I could bring this bag as my carry on, but I'm too scared that TSA would throw away all of my pretty make-up. Now, this bag is NOT essential to everyone, I know. It's just essential to me.
 
    My fourth bag is a small, carry on sized suitcase. I have about four changes of clothes in there, two pairs of flats, a pair of boots, and a purse. I would pack everything that you want to wear for the next few days in this bag, just because it will be easier to get in and out of than your big bag/suitcase full of clothes. This suitcase will also house my laptop while on the plane.
 
    My last bag is actually my most important. This bag carries both of my cameras, phone chargers, headphones, and all of our important documents, including copies of our orders and my passport/visa. I also have a hat and scarf in the bag, just in case it gets cold. This bag is something I would say that is a definite must have for the PCS-ing Army wife.
 
    I hope this post was helpful to any of you who may be PCS-ing overseas soon, or anywhere for that matter. Tomorrow is our last full day in the US and it will be a very long, long, long day. Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to it. Can I just wake up and be in Vicenza already?! Womp womp. If only. This will probably be the last time I post for the next few days. I promise to update you all as soon as I possibly can when we settle down in Italy. The husband and I are heading to Venice on Saturday, so I should have some pretty pictures for you all! :)

XOXO,

A very, very sleepy Megan

A New Start

Hi everyone!

    This is a new project that I'm working on. I thought I would tell you all a little bit about myself, for those of you who don't already know me. My name is Megan. I once was a blogger, (www.theposhpearl.blogspot.com), many moons ago. (If you can even call ten months "many moons.") I've changed so much over the past ten months that that blog is no longer even relative to my life. Well, not really. It's not what I want in a blog anymore, so I just decided to start completely fresh. And can I say that I really don't understand any of this Google+ crap. Anyways.
     In September of 2012, I got married to my AMAZING hubby, Stephen. We moved up to Fort Bragg, North Carolina from Louisiana in October, once he graduated OSUT from Fort Benning. We moved here because he had some training to do for a few months and I really didn't want to spend six months alone in LA without my new hubby! We just got orders around February 1st for, wait for it......ITALY! We are actually moving to Italy on the 27th...of THIS month. So a week from today I will be living in Italia, Y'ALL!
     The reason that I am starting up this blog is actually because I will need something to occupy my time while we are living in Europe. Because of the way the whole visa thing works, I cannot work on the Italian economy, since I'm there with a military visa. It is VERY hard for military wives to find jobs in Vicenza at Caserma Ederle because not much is available. It's kind of a dog-eat-dog world over there for us military wives as far as the whole job search goes. Or so I've heard. Hopefully this blog will keep me busy for the time that we are there (three years! eek!) and hopefully when we move back to the states as well!
     The purpose of this blog is all in the name. Army Wife. Style. Life. I'll be posting about life as an Army wife, and hopefully I'll be able to give advice to those of you who may be new comers to Fort Bragg, Fort Polk (I'm from LA, haven't been stationed there) or maybe even Caserma Ederle in Italy. I will also be posting about my personal style, which I can see being a little outrageous since I'm moving to what is essentially the most stylish region of the world. (Venice, Rome, Milan, hours from Paris, etc.) Another big chunk of my blog will be made up of make-up reviews, tutorials, hauls, etc. I'm a HUGE make-up junkie. You'll come to see that soon.
      With our big move coming up next Tuesday I am not totally sure how often I will be posting over the next few weeks. With the whole Italian internet switch, living in a hotel, etc., it may be hard, but I PROMISE come mid-March I will be posting on a regular basis.
      I look forward to sharing my life with all of you! Please stop back by over the next few days/weeks to see what all I have in store for you guys!


XOXO,

Megan