gbs x chi recap

do you remember when i attended the go blog social conference back in march (and it totally blew my mind)!? well when i heard they were takin' it to chicago (a city i've really grown to love) i knew i had to go! so i purchased my gbsxchi ticket, plane ticket, got my girl lauren from classy and fab girl to, then hotel, and packing! haha packing! 

i literally loved every speaker this year too! the started off with brush brews, delicious breakfast treats, and great giveaways too! the first speaker was martiza from beauty for bloggers and she gave some really amazing tips and tricks, my favorite was the not-so-complicated-complicated-looking knot braid. you literally pull your hair into two sections, braid them, and then twist them. done and done. i also loved getting to meet so many wonderful bloggers from chicago! it's so fun getting to connect and hear about why they started their blogs, and what they blog about, and how the heck we are (well basically all) working full time and blogging. it's a pretty amazing for sure. it was also pretty neat to meet danielle from the everygirl. all i can say is that girl is presh, inspiring, hard working, and kind. she was super honest and gave great advice and insight on how she does it all (with her wonderful business partner/ roomie alaina + wonderful team) to make the everygirl what it is. i loved when she talked about the specifics of what they did to launch the everygirl. they used their network that they had genuinely built to blow it up. and boy has it. 

i can't wait to show you the amazing things that katie and i have been working on. there will be something super special happening on birthday. i'm so excited about it i could scream, but i won't, i just want to tell you now. but i won't, not just yet. but just know you're gonna love it! ps my bday is the 19th!

x0,

cait

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ulta store opening

i had the honors of attending the grand opening of the new ulta beauty store that opened out south. it's located on 135th in between metcalf and nall. awesome! love having a location closer to me! but my budget might not, haha. the store is huge and filled with over 20,000 products ranging from drug store brands to high end brands. for the event they had a nyc based tarte make up artist - giving tips and tricks, brow bar (i indulged by getting mine done), a braid bar (just for the night), complementary treats and drinks too. i really enjoyed getting to chat with all the make up artists and other bloggers about their favorite products. ps - i am now going here all the time for any beauty product i need. they really know their stuff, so ready and willing to help. made for such a great event!

i love bare minerals and have for almost 10 years now! (wow, that makes me feel old). i can remember when my step-mom bought me, my first starter kit, i was a freshman in college, and i didn't have a go-to foundation that i really liked, until bare minerals, and i was in love. i had never used a powder that covered so well and gave my skin such a luminous glow. i've recommended this product to numerous friends. i can honestly tell you, if you're looking for a new make up routine, i would highly suggest going to ulta and having them set you up with some bare minerals. ps the moxie lip gloss is my newest obsession. it's a little bit sticky, so it stays on well. plus, they have a great tomato red and berry pink. 

the big easy by benefit is the hot product of the moment and i found out why. it is one of those magical bb creams that goes on like a liquid, but covers like a powder. sounds pretty good to me. oh, and it balances out the moisture to control shine, and adjusts to match your perfect complexion.  hello! awesome! now, i totally understand all the hype.

if you ever wonder how any girl gets that perfect dewy radiant glow look, this is the product they are using. there wasn't a girl in the store that didn't already know, and use the benefit high beam highlighter. i apply is directly on the tops of my cheeks with the nail polish styled brush, then lightly blend the highlighter into my skin. that's it and i am good to go. i highly recommend buying this!

checking out the benefit lip and cheek stains. you can apply these just like the highlighter, awesome product to have in your purse to add a little rouge to your cheeks and lips, when you are on the go.

the adorable andrea from style my way learned how to create the perfect cat eye. you can check out her ulta experience over here. i love a good cat eye and loved getting to see how it all turned out. she looked gorgeous, of course!

i totally got hooked up by anna an esthetician at the ulta event (she's there all the time too) at the brow bar. i'm not one that "goes to get her brows done" but, i thought, tonight, why not? anna did such a great job shaping and cleaning up my brows, they look great. plus, she used some magical cream to make the area around my browns not look red, at all. i was amazed. i think i have now turned into a girl that "goes to get her brows done." do you go to get yours done? what are your favorite tips and tricks?

anna's tools

ulta hosted a wonderful event and it was so nice to get to hang out with morgan from eeny meeny miny mo, meg from chasing davies, erin from pretty, polished, perfect, andrea from style my way, sandy from sandy a la mode, sarah with sarah scoop and co-founder of go blog social with kathryn . can't wait to see y'all at go blog social!

ps - check out ulta.com for all of their products! they have great "how to use" segments for all of their products. enjoy!

xo,

cait

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