#ShareBeauty What's Your Beauty Story? Enter and Win!

in , , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 5:07 PM

This post is sponsored by Regency Beauty but all opinions are my own

Beauty and makeup is something most girls love to experiment and play with. Your first experience with makeup usually comes at a young age and it's so exciting, so thrilling to finally get to play with all this stuff that you've watched older women apply for years.

I used to love sitting on my bathroom floor, watching my mom apply her blush, mascara and lipstick. It was so strange to watch her transform into this other person, the minute she touched a brush to her face.

I think my first taste of makeup came at the age of 12 or 13 when I started hanging out with boys. I was allowed to put on a touch of eyeliner, mascara and lip-gloss. I felt so cool, so old. It was awesome to get my first experience with make-up.

Though, it wasn't until I was much older and in college, around the past two years that I really divulged into the world of beauty. I discovered new products, learned how to apply them correctly and figured out what kind of brands I liked best.

I think the first time I ever really got the true message of make-up was when I was watching "Burlesque" and Cher applies lipstick to Christina Aguilera's lips and gives this whole speech about beauty. It was beautiful and that was the moment that I realized make-up was so much more than products on shelves.

Make-up and beauty products make me feel good about myself, they give me confidence. It has nothing to do with boys, as some may think. I've come to see that boys don't like a lot of makeup on girls so it really isn't about dressing up your face for the male species.

Make-up is about feeling good about yourself and being your best self. It makes me feel womanly and girly. It's so much fun to paint your face and become a different person.

Red lips make me feel powerful. Nude lips and a smokey eye make me feel fierce. Pink blush makes me feel romantic.

There is makeup for every mood and personality. It's so special to be a girl and be able to be whoever you want to be.

That's my beauty story but now Regency and Refinery29 want YOU to share your beauty story!

#ShareBeauty
Regency and Refinery29 have teamed up for the #ShareBeautyContest which runs through Aug. 13th. One lucky winner will be chosen following the end of the contest. Each person who enters will have the opportunity to win a customized VIP beauty treatment worth $2,000.

Try a trend revealed by Regency and Refinery29, take a photo to post on Instagram and make sure to hashtag #ShareBeautyContest to ensure your chance of winning!!


What's your beauty story? Tell me in the comments!!

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Links to Love

in , , , , , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 7:30 AM
This was an incredibly long, dragged out, stressful and tiresome week. I'm happy that it's finally Friday and just hoping for a better week ahead of me!

Just like there are every week, there were loads of links, articles and quizzes that kept me sane! Also a nice little surprise in the mail warmed my heart.

I won Preppy Love's May Designs giveaway a few weeks back and my customized notebook arrived in the mail. I chose a nautical themed, lobster print because that seems to be really popular nowadays and I instantly fell in love.

Follow me on Instagram for more pictures like this :)

I was also surprised to see my testimony from a recent Her Campus Blogger Network survey on the homepage. I truly love being part of the HCBN; it has given me so many opportunities and it's such a great place to meet and work with fellow bloggers. 

If you have a blog and want to apply to become part of the HCBN, go to this link and see it all for yourself :)

Here are some of my favorite links from the week!







What did you love this week? Tell me in the comments!! 


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Royally Planned: Lilly Pulitzer vs. Kate Spade Agendas

in , , , , , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 7:30 AM
So I am a normal Type A personality who loves her agendas and all things organization. For the past two years, I've become a Lilly Pulitzer agenda addict. I live and breathe by these babies because they're so colorful, fun and make organization that much more fun.

There's not outstandingly special about these agendas; they don't breathe fire or are made from magical unicorn hairs, they're just simple planners. They have monthly views in the front, a few blank note pages and then then the standard planner pages: monthly and at a glance weekly pages. 

My Lilly Pulitzer agenda was the source of color and fun in my life during the school year but when I graduated, I thought that maybe I should get a plainer planner, something more sophisticated and for the office.

I weighed my options but ultimately decided on a Kate Spade planner. I fell in love with them when they were released for the first time last year but had already ordered my Lilly one. This year I decided to take the plunge and order my Kate Spade planner; I decided on the classic stripe planner and waited for it's arrival. 

In the meantime, I saw the Lilly agendas being released and was insanely jealous. I wanted to order a small one to have for my blog and because I couldn't just stop my Lilly love cold turkey.

That's why I was sort of thrilled/relieved when I got my KS agenda in the mail and hated it. Yes, that's right, I hated it.



It was a quite large agenda, a little too big to carry around all day, everyday. It was also very plain inside. Like really plain, old boring. I instantly missed my colorful pages and printed monthly tabs. I was longing for the queen of pink and green. 




The KS planner is set up the same way as Lilly, the only difference being size and plainness. I did though, like the little quotes at the beginning of each month. It just wasn't enough to satisfy my need of color.

There wasn't anything wrong with this Kate Spade planner, though. If the Lilly agendas are too much for you, this might be an answered prayer. 

I then returned my KS planner and ordered a Lilly one, in the print Hot Spot. My goodness it was nice to be reunited with my colorful pages.


Sticker pages
A new Lilly story page
Monthly calendar
The Lilly planners are set up the same way they always are, but there is a more color, more prints and a little more craziness than usual. They definitely upped the ante on these agendas and I love every second of it.


Month at a glance
Week at a glance
I can't wait to start using my new agenda when August comes; it's the best day of the year!

Also, aside from these planners, I'll post a review on my Whitney English Day Designer next week. (I received it in my goodie bag from the SGG Conference, read about that here).

What are your favorite planners? What did you choose this year? Tell me in the comments!!

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Her Campus National Intercollegiate Conference 2014

in , , , , , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 7:30 AM
It was truly the week of conferences. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the 3rd annual Her Campus Intercollegiate National Conference.

This was my second time attending the conference and I was hesitant to attend. I didn't know if because I was no longer a college student, would it be worth it for me? I was also skeptical because I knew I'd be exhausted from the SGG Conference and didn't want to waste the day.

Once the schedule was released, I knew I had to go. The main selling point for me was the blogging panel, featuring ALL my favorite bloggers: Hallie from Corals and Cognacs, Jessica from Bows and Sequins, Mackenzie Horan from Design Darling and my number one, Carly from The College Prepster.

I wanted needed to go just to see them, hear their advice and be in their super blogging presence. I also really wanted a goodie bag, meet some of my blogging besties and be around that inspiration. I couldn't deny the feeling anymore.

I bought my ticket a week before the conference and was super happy with my decision. Saturday morning I got up, dressed up in Lilly and hopped in my car to drive to Manhattan for the very first time.



This year the conference was held at Colombia University, located across the street from Morningside Park and my goodness, it was beautiful. The conference was three floors and one floor totally dedicated to the awesome sponsors such as Luna, Intel and Amtrak. It was so cool!

Peek at the fab swag bags
Windsor in all her glory
When I got there, I grabbed some breakfast, peeked in my goodie bag and then listened to the welcome from the lovely Windsor Western, co-founder and President of Her Campus. Windsor is always bubbly, sweet and full of inspiration and fun!

#official
After Windsor's awesome welcome, we listened to Carley Roney, the founder of the XO Group, which is the umbrella company for The Knot, The Bump, and The Nest. We listened to her story and her advice and it was so real and heartfelt. She was also hysterical; I always appreciate a funny, inspirational speaker.

Here are some of my favorite pieces of advice from her:


Focus in who you are and who you want to be and all that other stuff will follow

It's too fun to have it all but you never really have it all

Perfection is ultimately completely impossible and imperfect is where it's at

It's not a straight line to anywhere awesome

My only regret in all of it is that I stressed all the way

If you try it and it doesn't work, don't have an ego about it

All Lilly-ed out during the panels
After the keynote, I headed to the first panel of the day entitled "Does the Devil Really Wear Prada" which was all about the lives of magazine editorial assistants. I attended this panel last year and the girls speaking seemed so much older than me. Now, these girls were my age and it was pretty cool to hear their stories and advice.

The line to get into the panel
The panel that was center stage for me was next and that was "How to Make your Blog a Powerhouse". I jetted out of the first panel and by the time I got to the room for the blogging panel, there was already a line. I was terrified that I wouldn't find a spot but I did, next to one of my fav blogging friends, Caroline from The Caro Diaries.

Carly and Mackenzie #cuefreakout

All the fab bloggers #OMG
We were both FREAKING OUT when the lovely bloggers walked into the room. We kept saying that this isn't normal, why are we so nervous, they're just people like us. 

Seeing four of your idols/role models in person was surreal. These are women that I know so much about just from reading their blog everyday and it was kind of strange but so exciting to see them in the flesh. 

They were fabulous, as usual, dressed in adorable dresses and ready to shell out their best advice.

Here are some golden nuggets of wisdom from this dynamic blogging foursome:

Be self motivated with blogging-Jessica

Have specific ideas for when pitching to other bloggers-Carly

Take a look at your social media platforms and see which ones work best so you're not spread too thin-Hallie

Give readers content you won't find anywhere else-Mackenzie

When you live your life it'll only inspire your life-Hallie

Don't get caught up in the excitement of it all-Hallie

You are your own brand-Hallie

Make the right choices for you, don't say yes because it's an opportunity-Carly

If you wait for the right moment you'll be waiting your whole life-Mackenzie

After the panel was over, all the girls rushed to the bloggers to talk and network a little. I spoke to both Carly and Hallie and it was truly incredible. Hallie is one of the funniest people ever but she was so sweet, welcoming and so down to earth. She was so real.

#dreamcometrue
Carly is the sole reason I started this blog back in 2012 so being able to speak to her was a dream come true #inspiration. 

Then we had lunch and I left the conference; I had to get home for other reasons but it really was a rewarding experience, as always.

Aside from sitting with Caroline at the blogging panel, I also met one of my favs, Ashleigh from DarlingDaily.


My goodie bag was also jam packed with lots of fun stuff! My favorite part had to be the Bobble water bottle, the Milani beauty pack, and the Essie polish. Hello gorgeous :)

Once again, the Her Campus Conference did not disappoint. 


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Tuesday Inspiration

in , , , by RoyallyPink, 8:35 PM
UGH I haven't done these in a while. I'm in desperate need of some inspiration because #postgrad is surely getting to me.



It's 8:30pm and I feel like it should already be Friday. 


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The Smart Girls Group Conference

in , , , , , , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 7:30 AM
Last week I had the lucky chance to go to the Smart Girls Group Conference, the first annual one in fact. It was a two day conference but I only went to the first day. It was really something special to be able to go to the first conference of it's kind and see all these ambitious, intelligent, determined young women. 

I was definitely one of the oldest there, a lot of girls were in high school and in their mid years of college but it was still a rewarding experience.

If you don't know what Smart Girls Group is, it's an online community and magazine that helps young women reach their fullest potential. It gives us articles on real world news, career advice, college help, and all in between.

It was all started by Emily Raleigh but more on her later; she's a warrior, an incredible young women who made that conference happen, who made Smart Girls Group happen.


The conference started at 8 with registration, breakfast and a Smart Girl Expo with tables set up from the SGG Conference sponsors like Chole + Isabel, Onli Beverages, and others! It was really cool and great to see.

At 9:30am, we were welcomed by Emily and she is the most adorable, kindest and sweetest girl around. She was so inspiring and it was truly something special to watch her welcome us all to this conference that she put her heart and soul into.


Emily welcoming all of us smart girls!
From then on, we listened and were inspired by some great, successful women. There were speakers from Marie Claire, Forbes, KMPJ, Comcast, and many other corporations.

How to Achieve Your Dreams by 30 panel
Two of my favorite speakers had to be Shiza Shahid who is the CEO of the Malala Fund and Stephanie Ruhle who is the Editor at Large and Anchor of Bloomberg News. 

Shiza spoke about why she wanted to get involved with the Malala Fund and all the hardships girls in the Middle East and other 3rd World countries go through just to go to school. She spoke of Malala and her story as well. It was so inspiring, I had chills as Shiza spoke; I kind of wanted to cry but it sparked a real passion and fire in me. It was incredible.

Stephanie Ruhle was a real talker. She gave it to the audience straight, didn't skimp on the gory details and just told us what it was really like to be a woman in the financial media industry. She even got a little choked up on telling us about the sacrifices she's made for her family and friends in order to be successful.

The one thing that all the speakers had in common is that they were there to empower women and they did that well. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the speakers that just resonated with me in a powerful way.

We have to help one another do something that no one has ever done before- Stephanie Ruhle on women in the financial industry

Feminists sometimes have a very anti feminine brand-Stephanie Ruhle on feminism 


If Malala can survive, the world can be a better place-Shiza Shadid

Life takes you where it wants to take you and you have to keep your eyes open and be ready for the ride-Shiza Shadid

Don't let your to dos get in the way of your what ifs- Ashley from The Daily Candy

You have to take control of your own life and change your situation because no one can do that but you- D'Arcy Rudnay

See? How inspiring! When I left the conference all I felt like doing was going to save the world or something crazy like that.

Onli provided delicious, bubbly drinks for the whole conference
Along with the great speakers, we got an awesome goodie bag as well! What is a wonderful conference without some great, free swag?
 
Swag Bag :)
By far my favorite part of the gift bag was a Whitney English Day Designer. This is the ultimate planner for the inner entrepreneur in you and I've seen so many reviews on it, but $50 is a lot for a planner. That's why when I saw this, I legitimately freaked out. I'll do a separate post on the planner in coming days.

Also, I got an awesome Stella and Dot laptop case and wallet-so chic and cute!

Altogether, the SGG conference was a great experience. I was so happy to go, learn more about SGG and be inspired by the lovely women who were there.  

If you went to the conference, what was your favorite part? Are you involved in SGG in any way? I really want to get involved and I'm going to look into it because SGG is truly something special!


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Links to Love

in , , , , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 7:30 AM
It was a short week it seemed like and I had my fair share of fun. The SGG Conference was a blast and I can't wait to fill you all in next week! Tomorrow I head to the Her Campus Conference and I can't wait to meet all my fellow HC Bloggers.

Even with the short week and the not so great (hot, sticky and humid) weather, there were a ton of articles, lists, and blog posts to love. 







What did you love reading this week?


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