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Friday, December 12, 2014

The Perfect Pair

My family always gives at least one Christmas gift upon purchase.  Usually it is the biggest, main purchase and it's because none of us can contain the excitement of giving and receiving the one thing that we know is really desired. This year my brother gave to me a pair of black suede heels.

I've been searching high and low for a pair of heels that I can wear to work every day. I was seeking both comfort and style. With an uncommon shoe size, it is hard enough for me to find shoes, let alone ones that I can walk around in all day as a housekeeping manager of 503 hotel rooms and 60 associates.

I finally found them: The Perfect Pair. Check them out at nordstrom.com

Saturday, November 29, 2014

NARS Digital World Lip Pencil Coffret



It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone; it is officially Christmas season! If you're wondering what to buy for your best friend, sister, or someone obsessed with lip products, look no further than this beautiful collection of NARS lip pencils. It includes 2 matte shades and 3 satin shades and comes in this festive, snowy white "coffret." At $49 (sephora.com) it is pretty pricey but keep in mind that it has a $96 value after all - just about double the price!

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Essie Fall 2014 Collection




This set includes 4 colors from Essie's Fall 2014 Collection

Dress to Kilt: bright red and festive color

Take it Outside: grey, neutral color with a slightly muted lavender hue

Partner in Crime: dark plum

Style Cartel: rich, royal blue

I've been wearing each color relentlessly. It's a great range of autumnal hues. I especially received a ton of compliments when sporting my favorite color from this range: Style Cartel.

This set is also a bargain: $17. You can find the Winter 2014 4-pack at Nordstrom.com. Do keep in mind that these are "mini" bottles but whoever uses a full bottle of nail polish anyway?

Let me know which is your favorite!


Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Californian Beauty








I am sat here thinking of a spontaneous visit from a good friend back in August. She made plans to visit San Francisco on her own and asked me to meet her there. The whole point of her trip was to go to a tribute to Bill Murray, an art show. I hate to drive so long story short, she changed her entire flight itinerary to fly in and out of Sacramento and we spent 2 full days together visiting Monterey Bay and San Francisco, me in the passenger seat of my own car; she is the best!

This whole trip and visit has become such a treasured memory for me. I thought I'd share some of the Californian beauty I witnessed during our short time together.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Urban Decay


So there is something that I've been using every day for the month of September. It is this 'Start Getting Naked' Ultra Definition Complexion Kit from Urban Decay, which has proved to be extremely effective and such a pleasure to use every day. 

I originally went out in search of a new primer because I had almost run out of my current one. I wanted to buy the Instablur by The Body Shop but after testing it in store, I felt it was way too thick and silicon-ey. 

When I made my way over to Sephora, my eyes gravitated towards the Urban Decay Beauty Balm Primer and as I was standing in front of their display, I noticed this kit. My sincerest apologies that I do not remember the price but I want to say it was about $45. I don't see it on the Sephora website but I bet you can still buy it in store. It is such a bargain because the full-size foundation comes inside the kit as well, which is $39 itself. I also added my own 'Step 4' to the mix: De-slick Makeup Setting Spray. 

After the month, I've already ran out of the 'Step 1' B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Prep Spray and I plan to repurchase this in the near future. In the meanwhile, please believe me when I say that this combination is such a treat. After my 12-hour work days, my makeup stays on better than it ever has before, I highly recommend this super amazing line of products from Urban Decay!

Prep, Prime, Perfect, Mist, and Set!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Do you love me too


If you know me well, you know that I absolutely love to watch and listen to duets. I find that when two voices that complement each other come together to form music, it just warms my heart. This duet has got to be my favorite at the moment so I wanted to share it so that maybe you can feel what I feel when I watch this. Also, Tessa Violet's album Maybe Trapped Mostly Troubled is the only thing that's been playing in my car lately so you should definitely check it out!

Monday, July 21, 2014

That Wasn't Me


Currently my favorite song: That Wasn't Me by Brandi Carlile

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Beautiful Berries


I was packing my lunch for today when I had a "stop and smell the roses" moment. I had to literally drop what I was doing and grab my camera to capture the immense beauty and perfection of these berries! Just look at them, they were meant to be fruit models for my blog. It will be a bit sad to have to eat them but at the same time, I will probably be too hungry to care. Berries are my favorite fruit to eat in the summer with a cup of vanilla greek yogurt.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Capitol Building







I live in Sacramento. This trip was very much overdue for me! I work across the street from the state capitol building and I've never stepped foot inside until today. I took the official tour and learned some history of California. There are so many intricate details about this building; I was amazed. No wonder it took 14 years to build!

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Atlantic City










I recently flew home to Pennsylvania to visit my family. I touched down in Philadelphia and we drove to Atlantic City. My mom wanted us to see the ocean since we all haven't in a while. She is sporting the cutest Chambray cap from J. Crew. She bought me the same one! We played slots and roulettes a bit and lost about $300! What a bummer. But I had such a good time at home. I missed my family so much! It definitely didn't feel like I moved to the West Coast only 4 months ago. This trip was the first time I flew on a flight by myself. I am slowly growing my independence!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

20 Minutes of Yoga

I just got my butt kicked by yoga! I went to my gym to try to run at least 2 miles before I fly home to Pennsylvania for the week but it was closed because they're painting! What a bummer. So I quickly searched for another option while I had it in my head that I was going to fit in a workout today.

I read Dana from The Wonder Forest's blog about her FITSPO Friday plans and it inspired me to follow suit and do this workout. It is a YouTube video less than 20 minutes long but it sure warmed me up!

If you would like to try it as well, the video is here!

#StayFit

Friday, June 20, 2014

River Island

I couldn't resist. I have such an obsession with shoes! I just bought these Black Patent Chunky Sole Sandals from River Island. It was originally $100 but I purchased them for the sale price of $40 with free shipping. I think that's a fab deal. I have always wanted black patent sandals or flats, but these are better than what I ever imagined! The chunky sole/strap combination is gorgeous detail. They look pretty comfortable so I'm sure I will get a lot of wear out of these! 

Update 6/28/14: I just received these shoes! It turns out they're not the perfect shoes for me. But I am selling them on eBay if you are interested in purchasing them at a discount!


Thursday, June 19, 2014

SoleSociety


I just bought these Emmy shoes by Julianne Hough on SoleSociety.com! It is one of the many partner websites of ShopRunner.com so since I am an American Express cardholder, I am a member of ShopRunner.com and received free 2-day shipping! How awesome is that and how cute are these shoes?!

These beauties are currently on sale for $23.98, originally $59.95!

Even though I have odd sized feet, the 3 straps will hold my feet in place if the size 5 happens to be a bit too large. I am so excited to get these in the mail!

If you purchase anything, please share with me what you bought!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Bohemian Plants on My Patio



I live in an apartment complex on the second floor so I do not have a garden. Instead I have a patio and a 50-60 hour work week. So this is what I’ve started on my patio..a baby cactus and a succulent!

One of my supervisors at work gave me the cactus. He says it will randomly grow flowers – I cannot wait for the day! I did not know that cacti can grow flowers. I’m not sure what the cactus that I have is called exactly but isn’t he so cute?!

I got my succulent at the Davis Flea Market about 2 months ago for $5. It is still going strong! It isn’t growing much but it’s definitely still living and well. I thought the gal that I bought it from – Melissa – said it is called an Elephant Trunk succulent but I just looked it up on Google and it doesn’t appear so.

Does anyone know what type of cactus/succulent is on my patio?! I’d love to know! Also, if you have any succulents or cacti of your own, please show me some photos!


Thursday, June 12, 2014

The Body Shop



For the first time ever, I trekked my way into The Body Shop and browsed their selections for probably a good hour. I was so happy with my decision to go into the store because they had such great promotions happening on the day of my visit.

50% off all body productsBuy 1, get 1 50% off!Buy 2, get 2 free!Buy 3, get 2 free!
Aren’t those promotions just amazing?! I couldn’t help myself I spent $50 in a heartbeat. The body products promotion is no longer but the others are still on, and so is the Father’s Day special – 50% off all men’s products!

Anyway, let me talk about what I purchased! I got 3 things from their Tea Tree Oil product line.
1) Cool & Creamy Face Wash: When they said cool & creamy, they really meant it! This product leaves a cool, minty, refreshing feeling on your skin for up to 10 seconds after you apply, scrub, and wash it off. It is perfect for the morning when you are feeling groggy and need a pleasant wake up call! It is suitable for blemished skin so if you are having one of those days where you feel like your skin is troubling you, this is perfect to use!
You can find the product here.

2) Pore Minimiser: I apply this product to my T-zone to minimize the appearance of my ugly pores! They can go away and stay away. It really mattifies my skin and acts as a great base for my make up. However I use it at night time sometimes as well. I’m not sure if it is just in my head but I do tend to notice a difference. The only beef I have with this product is that it smells very strongly of tea tree oil – not very pleasant when I’m trying to apply it onto my nose.
You can find the product here.

3) Tea Tree Oil: This is the straight-up tea tree oil that you can apply directly to your blemishes. Actually, it says 15% tea tree oil so I’m sure it is very diluted with water but it surely does not smell so. This formula smells so musky – I find it difficult to endure the scent. It does seem to help my blemishes so I weigh my pros and cons ;-)
You can find the product here.

Then I purchased the Brazil Nut Body Butter because their body butters are all the rave! However, I would never pay $20 for a tub – that is just too expensive for body moisturizer! I only bought it because at 50% I paid $10. It is an impressive product though. This particular scent would be perfect for those of you that tend to go for the shea butter, vanilla type of scents. The Brazil Nut scent reminds me of a vanilla cupcake bakery. I even preferred it over the Shea Butter scent. I look forward to showering every day so that I can indulge in this body butter afterwards. My body just takes it all in – so much so that I feel like i can apply the whole tub to my body and it would be just fine!

You can find the product here.

I also paid $10 and joined their membership club – Love Your Body. I can earn points and get special offers through the card. Apparently on my birthday, I get $10 automatically loaded onto the card so I get my $10 back eventually. I thought that was harmless and a great way for them to make some revenue! Props to the Body Shop all around – I will definitely be back soon!

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Formula X for Sephora | Thrilling



I recently purchased a nail kit from Sephora: their Formula X “The System” which includes 4 different bottles of formulas for 4 steps of application:

1) Cleanse – Nail cleanser2) Prime – Transparent base coat3) Choose your own color – Nail polish4) Shine – Top coat
I got this nail kit for $32 which is a $44 value. The nail polishes on their own are $10.50 each, which is pretty steep pricing if you ask me! I don’t think I would buy the nail polishes without the nail kit because of the price. But don’t get me wrong, it is definitely a lovely product, especially the shade that I bought – Thrilling.

As you can see, the shade is a beautiful neutral shade – light lilac purple. I tend to go for the more neutral colors because of work. I recently had taken this color off and applied a different nail polish from Urban Outfitters, but honestly I have to go back. I’m not over the infatuation with the shade just yet!

The manicure lasts pretty well. Having said that, I do work in the housekeeping department of a 503 room hotel so my manicure had chipped in different spots by day 3. I am the type of person who cannot keep chipped nail polish on my nails so I guess I waste a lot of product reapplying my manicure!

As you can see below, I loved this shade so much that I applied it to my toesies as well. Please excuse my ugly feet – no shame!

What is your favorite nail polish? I want to know!

You can find the product here.


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Hourglass N° 28 Lip Treatment Oil



To get 0.25oz of this product it is $42. I decided to give it a chance because that is how much TLC my lips were needing. My initial thought was, “How do I even apply this to my lips?” After reading the instructions, I figured out that as you push down on the indicated lever type, lush essential oils dispense out of the tiny hole on top. The applicator is claimed by Hourglass to be plated in 24 karat gold – do I believe this? Maybe. Can I take this to a pawn shop when it’s empty?

Anyway, the product is worth its price tag. I’ve been using this as an overnight treatment for my sad lips. It’s been working its magic for sure. I wake up to smooth lips to the extreme, and my lips just crave for more! I try not to apply it during the day because it’s a bit heavy and also because I eat too much when I am awake and I don’t want to take any chances on wasting this precious product on food!

All in all, I would highly recommend this product for anyone who needs a pick-me-up for their lips!

You can find the product here.