Smile Darling

Lifestyle and Fashion Blog

Real Talk

Warrior- Domestic Violence Awareness Month

This post deals with a very real but heavy topic. If you have ever dealt with Domestic Violence, you may find this post triggering.

“Now I’m taking back my life today. Nothing left that you can say, ‘Cause you are never gonna take the blame anyway

Demi Lovato

A year ago, I opened up and shared one of my most personal posts to date (See Here). Writing it down made me relive that pain all over again. I felt it was time to get it off my chest to really move on and let it go. The overwhelming response from you left me speechless. Your stories that you shared with me privately are forever engraved in my mind. My heart broke to see that many women reaching out to me to share their experiences.

Your response made me realize there are so many more people than I could have imagined that have been through Domestic Violence. So many strong women who feel they need to stay silent.

I was one of those for a while. I felt so ashamed that I let it continue for as long as it did. I felt confused as to why this was happening to me, and why I still loved that human with every fiber of my being. I felt like people would think I was making it up to be dramatic, or for attention.

Once the physical bruises fade (if there are any at all), there is really nothing you can show as proof.

This platform I’ve created for myself has really empowered me. I hear my own voice now. I ignore the opinions of others a lot more than I would have. I wanted to find a way to help others, even if it was small. So, that is what I did. I told my story.

A year later, I am still so glad I did. I have zero regrets. I don’t care about any judgement. I feel like it helped me personally close that chapter of my life permanently. Even though the relationship had ended 9 years ago, it’s amazing what trauma can do. Yes, trauma. Domestic Violence will mentally fuck you up. Someone was mentally conditioning me to feel a certain way and believe certain things. He may have thought I’d forget all those times, but I remember.  

When I look at my reflection present day, I see a new person. I see thicker skin. I feel stronger than ever before. I’m taking back my life.

I needed to lose you to find me

Selena Gomez

Someone asked me last year if I was scared he would read my post. My answer is no. Everyone needs a reality check sometimes. I was very respectful not to use his name or personal info. I wrote my experience in a way that was as respectful to his family as I could have been. If he cares, I haven’t heard about it. Honestly, I don’t really care about offending him.

Recently, I learned some very alarming info. When I moved to Charleston, someone shared something with me that left me feeling paralyzed. I was told that South Carolina is among the nation’s deadliest places for women. This is due to the states failing efforts to stop domestic violence. The state came in #6 in the rate of women killed by men in the latest ranking from the Violence Policy Center. LIKE WHAT?! How can this be happening? The fact that this has been an on going problem for over a decade is so messed up. Why are there no efforts in trying to stop this?

After learning this, I reached out to My Sister’s House. My Sister’s House is a nonprofit Organization in Charleston, SC. They provide services, programs, and resources to empower domestic violence victims and their children to live free from abuse. They operate an emergency temporary shelter at an undisclosed location. They also have a 24 hour crisis line. I was going to collaborate with them this month, but it fell through. Next year, I hope to participate in their events.

If you don’t live in the Charleston area, you are still not alone in this. You can find resources at NCADV.

Thank you again for all your kind words. If you want to read last years post, see below.

xx Courtney

Skincare

Are You on The “List”?

Hi QT’s! You are probably reading this header and thinking this must be some exclusive list I am referencing. That was totally just clickbait LOL, anyone can be on this list!

If you love skincare as much as me, you know it is hard to find great products at an affordable price. And I’m talking about products that actually work. When Preen.me heard about my serum obsession, they reached out to me about a hot new skincare line that just hit the market in the US. The INKEY List. I knew this was something I had to get my hands on!

The INKEY List just launched in Sephora. To celebrate this launch, I partnered with Preen.me and The INKEY List. Although this is a collaboration and the products were gifted to me, all words in this post are my own.

Now that I added all that legal jumbo in there, let’s get to the point of this post! The INKEY List’s mission is simple: making premium skincare accessible to all with simple to understand, easy to use products. Whether it’s Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, Turmeric or Caffeine, The INKEY List exists to be Your Beauty Translator. And by that, they mean “breaking through the jargon and simplifying skincare, one ingredient at a time”.

The INKEY List brings you the hottest ingredients in skincare at affordable prices – all priced under $15.

I would say their biggest competitor is the brand The Ordinary, which I have been using for over a year.

At first glance, I liked the simple packaging of The INKEY List. To be honest though, I thought they had sent me samples. I did not realize that was their official packaging. I like the black and white, with easy to read labels. I do not like the actual container. I think it looks cheap. The Ordinary is the same price point and has nice glass bottles with a glass dropper. The INKEY List bottles are squeeze bottles. These bottles waste product because sometimes you squeeze too much out. The bottles are the same and standard size as most serum bottles though.

Now for the actual products! Over the last three weeks, I have been adding these different products to my skincare regimen. I have found my favorites in the bunch. I love the Hyaluronic Acid, and will definitely purchase more when it is gone. It leaves my skin with the perfect glow. I also love the Polyglutamic Acid. It moisturizes my skin like no other! It beats out even my favorite moisturizer when it comes to quenching my skin. The Retinol has a weird smell, and is more of a cream. I am used to using more of serum or oil Retinol. I don’t think I would buy it again. The Collagen Booster works well. I like it a lot! But for me, I would use a Retinol over it, or alternate them into my routine.

Because I love you guys so much, I am giving one of you a chance to try two of these products for free! I have a giveaway going on my Instagram, so be sure to join!

Thank you for reading my post and I hope it helps you find the right product for you!

Xx Courtney

Make-up, Places, Travel & Adventure, Skincare

Lu.nu.la Nail Lab

Hi babes, it’s me! As you guys know, I love shopping small. If it is a woman owned business, I am about it even more! When Angela from Lu.nu.la reached out to me about a collab opportunity, I definitely couldn’t refuse. Here is my experience!

Lu.nu.la is a modern nail lab owned by Angela (@lunulanaillab) located in downtown Charleston on Exchange Street. She is located in a building with a bunch of independently owned salons. Her techniques and advanced nail care are like no other.

When I walked into her salon, the space was small but she definitely made the most of it. Her decor was pretty and fit her brand so well!

Angela has an array of nail services, but she is known for her nail art (see instagram). Angela is literally an artist. Fun fact, she started out in the hair industry. She was filling in as a nail tech at a previous salon, and fell in love with nails.

My Service

For my service, we did a gel manicure and some easy nail art. I saw a design on another blogger via Instagram and knew I wanted to have Angela emulate it. Angela was super friendly. She explained to me that there are different types of gel polish…boom! Mind blown. Apparently shelac (the Essie and OPI brands) are not considered real gel.

I picked out a neutral tan tone for my base. Angela knows what she is doing, so I let her take the reigns. The design colors I picked were black and a silver. It was so cool to watch Angela at work.

Services Offered

Lun.nu.la offers a great range of services. Her manis are definitely affordable and comparable to other salons. Her pedis I do find to be a little pricey. See below for more info, for a full list of services check out her site!

Blue Moon Polish Change – $15 (Gel $25)

Half Moon Mani (shaping, buff, polish)- $20 (Gel $30)

Full Moon Mani- $30 (Gel $40)

New Moon Mani (add serum with LED therapy and mask)- $40 (Gel $50)

Half Moon Pedi- $35 (Gel $45)

Full Moon Pedi- $65 (Gel $75)

New Moon Pedi- $85 (Gel $95)

Lu.ni.la is closed Sunday-Monday. She is open Tuesday-Friday 12pm-6pm and Saturday 10am-5pm.

If you live in the Charleston area I definitely recommend you checking her out here!

Places, Travel & Adventure, Travel

Charleston Vacays

As you guys may have saw on my Instagram stories last week, I had the opportunity to tag along on my bestie Kristin’s (@a_southern_confession) PR travel trip. This trip was all made possible by Charleston Vacays. (@charlestonvacays).

Charleston Vacays- CKC Hospitality put us up in a beautiful and brand new apartment style vacation rental. The space was absolutely precious! It was so modern and charming. The gray and neutral color pallet made this place feel like home.

I only participated in the evening events, because I had work.

On day 1: I met some of the most awesome and sweetest girls. I can confirm that Becky (@heyitsbecks) and Alexis (@alexispaigeb) are just as stunning in person as they are on Instagram! That first night we went to Fleet Landing (@fleetlanding) and had a delicious dinner. It was a travel day for the other girls, so we just kept it low key.

Day 2: I joined the girls late in the afternoon, and we had a dinner collab with Taco Boy (@tacoboychs). Taco Boy is soo cute, they have such a great aesthetic! ANDDDD THEY ARE WOMEN FOUNDED! I love supporting women owned businesses. There are three locations in Charleston (Downtown, Folly Beach & Summerville). We went to the one in downtown. Taco Boy has authentic taqueria/ cantina food and drinks.

While there, we definitely got festive! We ordered a tequila flight/ sampler. It was… haha good but strong. It was a fun experience. We ordered the trio of guac, salsa and queso. They have SUCH good queso. While we waited for our tacos, I got a Skinny Margarita. They have a great drink selection. We did what any “influencer” would do, and we took a ton of pictures. Their outdoor patio area is perfect for that.

My time on the trip ended that evening because I tripped and hurt my broken toe even more lol.

If you are planning a trip to Charleston, definitely check out Charleston Vacays and put Taco Boy on your agenda! Thank you again for having us!

Real Talk

You Asked, I Answered

Hey beautiful people! In case no one has told you today, you are amazing and loved.

As you can probably tell from the title- I am answering your questions in today’s post! Remember that time like two months ago when I asked you to send me questions? No? Me either, haha. JUST KIDDING! I do remember and I saved everyone!

Let’s not waste anymore time! I hope you find this enjoyable! Happy reading.

1. How did you get a hand tremor?

  • We are just jumping into the hard questions aren’t we, lol. Honestly, I don’t know and neither does the doctors. I have always had a baby tremor in my hands, but I never noticed it. The only time it was brought to my attention was when I would get my nails done. Three years ago, I was sitting on the couch eating a bowl of mac n’ cheese. I was minding my own business when my hands started shaking uncontrollably. That was the day my hand tremor was born, haha! In all seriousness, that was the first time I was like “woah, what is this”. It never went away, and has not gotten better. A month after the first initial time, I went to a Neurologist. We did a CAT scan of my brain and everything came back normal. I was diagnosed with an Essential Tremor. Usually an Essential Tremor is hereditary, but not for me. From there, I was put on three different seizure meds in three months. That was fun. I fainted at work on one, was suicidal on another, and got rapid heart beat which has not left. It was a hot mess, I was a hot mess. After about a year later, I went to a new Neurologist. I felt like I wasn’t being listened to at my other. My newer Neurologist told me that she thought I had a thyroid disorder. Blood was taken and came back that something was up. I needed to see a specialist. At this point in time, my contract at work had ended so my health insurance no longer existed. Since then, I have not been back to be checked or tested. It is on my list of things to do. So, to answer the question: I have either an Essential Tremor or a throid disorder that causes my tremor. I’ll keep you all in the loop when I know more. But that is why I never go into detail, because we don’t know what it is for sure.

2. Why did you start blogging?

  • I get this question often! For the full story, you can reference the post I wrote on it here. But to make a long story short, it was a passion and something I was super interested in. I was obsessed with following bloggers, and I have always been a HUGE online shopper. I felt like I had no purpose, and my jobs were not satisfying me. When I was in between jobs, Smile Darling Blog was born.

3. How do you start a blog?

  • The first thing you need to start a blog is passion and drive. If you have passion and it is something you really want to do, then you need to educate yourself. I can’t stress education enough! You need to immerse yourself in the blogging world. Follow the bloggers that fit your niche. See what they are doing. Watch YouTube! This will be your best friend for step by step instructions on: how to start a blog, how to take photos, what apps to use, how to edit photos, and what widgets to get for your site. The education never stops. Listen to podcasts to stay up-to-date. My favorites are Work Party, Goal Digger, LikeToKnow.it Influencer Radio, What We Said, Often Ambitious, The Influencer, and Six Figure Influencer. When it comes to what host and site to use, my friend Erica with Coming Up Roses has a whole post on it. See it HERE. She was so helpful! I personally use WordPress.com (there is a WordPress.org too be sure to learn the difference), and I use Host Gator for my domain and hosting.

4. What skincare do you use? You have great skin!

  • Omg, thank you!! I have a whole post on my skincare that you can read here! If I could only use a cleanser and one other skincare item, I would absolutely pick serum. I am a serum junkie! I love retinol, hyaluronic acid, rosehip oil, and Vitamin C! One of my fave affordable serum brands is The Ordinary. For moisturizer and cleanser, my go-to is Tula! I have been using Tula for 2 years!

5. Where do you shop?

  • I am a huge online shopper, but I also love to shop small. While there are so many boutiques I could list, I am most loyal to Red Dress Boutique, Vestique, Julies Boutique/ Ivy & Leo, Vici Collection, Shop Impressions and Shop Hopes. I have been shopping with Red Dress for 7 years! I also shop at Nordstrom, Abercrombie, Forever 21, Amazon, Princess Polly, and American Eagle.

6. How do you grow your following?

  • I have no idea, when you find out tell me! This is so hard to answer. It varies by person. I have friends who gained over 20K in a year. Sometimes, I feel really behind. But, then I have others who have been blogging for 5 years and are at 5-10K. I try not to focus too much on the number of followers. I grew in the beginning by engaging. Engaging is key! I spend 7pm-11pm on my phone at night most days of the week just commenting, liking and saving other bloggers and non-blogger posts. Right after I post, I make sure I am immediately responding back to comments for the first hour. Also, I constantly refresh my home page and interact with the new posts on my feed. I’ve done giveaways, but I really do those to give back. The people who follow you usually unfollow you anyway, so it is not a good way to really get followers. You want people who will want to interact with you. You want people to stay long term. I know this isn’t a good answer, so sorry haha.

7. What do you use to get your skin to glow?

  • Serum! As I mentioned above, I love it! I use a serum every morning, and at night I use either a serum or face oil.

8. How do you edit your photos?

  • The short answer: I use a preset in Lightroom. The Preset I currently have is by Suzy @suzyshattuck in “Wonderlust”. The long answer: I use my preset, manipulate it in Lightroom to get it just right. I adjust the color, the lighting, etc. Then if I need to remove anything, I use the app “Retouch”. From there, I use the app “Facetune” to bring out details if you can’t see them well, edit things out with patch, or smooth.

9. How do you keep your skin looking so good?

  • Haha you guys are rocking the skincare questions. I wash my face twice a day. Morning and night. At night, I use a Clarisonic. I ALWAYS take off my make-up! Even when I am tired or drunk the make-up comes off. I keep a make-up wipe in my purse when I go out just in case I sleep out, haha. No shame.

10. Where do you shop for graphic tees that are not bands?

  • One of my fave places to shop graphic tees is Nasty Gal. I mean, they do have a lot of band options but ones that aren’t too! The ones I have been finding lately are at boutiques. Vestique has a ton in stores. I also love supporting small businesses. My friend Anna has a great tee shop called Juniper Mountain. I also love ShopBash,and my friend Elle’s shop Blush & Bourbon.

11. What sunblock do you use on your face? The ones I use break me out.

  • I have really sensitive skin. Sunblock on my face always burns. The one brand I swear by is Supergoop (not sponsored)! They make sunblock for sensitive skin. They have some really good face options. They are a little pricey though.

12. How are you liking Charleston?

  • Charleston is a beautiful city! I have made some really great friends, and I love being by a beach again. I really like it here, but I do not see it long term. I don’t picture myself having a family here. But, you never know what can happen. I definitely miss the city and having a skyline. No buildings in Charleston can be taller than the tallest church.

13. Summer plans?

  • In all fairness, I did ask for these questions two months ago. Now that summer is coming to an end, I am really looking forward to fall. Southern summers are brutal! But, to answer the question: I did not make summer plans. I have a lot of weddings this fall and I don’t have PTO yet at my job. Also, I wanted to stay local to get acclimated with my new city.

14. How old are you?

  • I am 29! My birthday is in March.

15. How do you work with brands?

  • I am a Fohr.co affiliate. Brands find me on there. A lot of times, brands find me through hashtags too. I just started reaching out to brands, I always have waited for them to contact me. Some have been paid, but almost all have been product in exchange for a post.

16. Do you blog full-time?

  • No! I have a full-time job and I blog after hours and on the weekend.

17. Are you always on your phone?

  • Yes and no. I have Instagram notifications turned off, and on the weekends I don’t engage a ton. I like to semi-unplug on weekends. During the week though from 7pm-11pm and sometimes during the day, I’ll be on my phone.

This was so much fun guys! Thank you to all who participated! I hope I answered your questions, and you had fun getting to know me!

Fashion, Places, Travel & Adventure

Rellery- Made With Meaning

When it comes to wearing jewelry, I really only put it on for shoots or weekends when I go out. Durning the week, I am in too much of a rush to decide what earrings to wear with an outfit, or if a choker would match.

When I do wear jewelry on more casual occasions, I love to wear rings! They are my go-to. Since rings are the accessory I wear most, I really like to wear ones made from high quality materials.

#RelleryPartner When Rellery reached out about a collab, I was so excited! All their jewelry is stunning! Their rings are made from high quality material like Sterling Sliver, 18K Gold, 14K Solid Gold, and 14K Solid Rose Gold. I also love dainty jewelry, and theirs is just that! Simple, beautiful, and perfect! The rings are so light weight and great for everyday wear.

Rellery makes their jewelry to order. All their jewelry is ethically made and sold directly to the customer. So you get expert craftsmanship at a fair price. Their rings are made with meaning. A more personal approach to jewelry.

Rellery gifted me a ring from their Personalized Collection. I couldn’t wait to make it my own.

“Vivere”.

A simple word, with a beautiful meaning. Vivere means “to live” in Italian. I tend to be one who sweats the small stuff. With my Grammy being sick, this felt like the perfect word for me. To remind myself life is short, so take risks. Do the things you may not want to do. Savor every moment, just live.

Crafted with love in NYC, this pretty collection makes for a great, personalized gift. Check out Rellery here!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

N-Sale: Public Access Shop

Hi beautiful people! The day you have eagerly been awaiting is here! By now, I’m sure you are all probably so sick of hearing about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. That’s probably because every blogger has been talking about it. But now it’s your chance to join in on the fun (if you did not have Early Access)!

Some items have been restocked from Early Access, but not all are going to be. I will update links throughout the next week or so. Until then, happy shopping!

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Amazon Prime Day

Amazon Prime Day Tips

Prime Day is Amazon’s biggest global shopping event held exclusively for Prime Members. 

When is Prime Day?

Alexa, when’s Prime Day?

Prime Day starts Monday, July 15th at 3:00am EST (12am PST) and runs through Tuesday, July 16th. It will run for 48 hours, which is the longest Prime Day to date! Yay!

What to Expect

Prime Day is comparative to Black Friday. Expect to shop hundreds of thousands of items. This year will feature more than 1 million deals world wide! Like, woah baby! Items like smart TV’s, fire sticks, Apple iPads, Ring Video Doorbell, Echo Dot, 23andMe DNA Test, and Instant Pot will have major savings.

Other non-tech items like food, apparel and home goods will be on sale too.

Do You Have to have Prime to Shop?

Yes! Prime Day is basically like a “thank you” to their Prime Members. You have to have a Prime account (or borrow your family or friends) to gain access to this sale.

But, its not too late to get yours! If you’re not a Prime Member, you can totally sign up for FREE for 30 days! Weee! Sign up now so you can shop these exclusive deals!

If you’re a college student, you can get a discounted Prime Membership! After your trial, Prime Student is only $6.49 a month. Get Prime Student!

 Prime Day starts in just a few hours, so be sure to start a Wish List of items you are looking for. Also, be sure to check out Early Access deals! Currently, there is major savings on Amazon devises, like Alexa.

Stay tuned for a post tomorrow with my fave deals!

xx Courtney

Fashion, Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

N-Sale Early Access- Shop

Hey babes! It’s currently 12:30pm on July 12th! Early Access just became live, yay! I have rounded up my favorite pieces, some items I purchased, and things I know will sell out fast due to popularity.

I want to take a moment to truly thank you so much for using my links. It helps me gain more traction to my site and helps me see what you like so I can be a better resource. I get a tiny commission at NO (zero, none, zippo) extra cost to you! And the best part? I’ve found all the links for you. Just simply click!

As a reminder: if you do not have Early Access (Nordstrom credit card or debit card) you cannot shop these looks until the 19th! But, I totally got you babes! I’ll have an updated post available with items still in stock come then.

Without further ado, let the shopping commence!!

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