I fully intended to skip my Julep Maven Box this month. Not because I don’t love it, but because I have A LOT of nail polish + not so much money. That being said, I am SO glad that I didn’t!
The Bombshell colors were just to die for…
And a while back I got the Beach Tonic, loved the scent, loved the product, HATED the bottle. I couldn’t get it to spray consistently without have to pull the nozzle up after EVERY. SINGLE. SPRAY.
So, even though it was probably just a bad bottle (I also got the Sea Salt Hair Spray, in the same style bottle and it worked just fine), I didn’t use it nearly as much as I would have liked to. This month the featured item was the Bare Body Milk, that smelled just like the Beach Tonic, but in lotion form. I die.
Now I get to rock the scent that I enjoyed with the hassle. Plus, it works really well!
While science isn’t a subject that I fully grasp (don’t get me wrong, I get the basics), experimenting with beauty products is a completely different story. Trying new things is seriously SO much fun!
This month (so far) I tried a ton of different new products + here are five that I absolutely love:
Bioré has been featured on so many blog recently, so after getting a sample in a magazine, I rushed out to get the full size. Later while perusing the aisles at CVS I found a deluxe sample and since summer is all about traveling (well, at least mine is) I grabbed it to add to my to-go products. Also try their heated masks!
I first learned about Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Push-up Liner from Birchbox. They offered the chance to win a sample in your June Birchbox. The catch? You wouldn’t know until you got your box if you would be receiving it or not.
Patience is not my virtue.
So, I bought the full size liner off Benefit the second I could. And. Let. Me. Tell. You. This liner makes up for the fact that they don’t have a Big Easy shade for my complexion! I mean I love black eyeliner. I love gel liner. It is legit struggle city for me to apply gel liner, so I ofter opt to forgo the intensity and settle for pencil instead. But NO MAS! Now thanks to the geniuses at Benefit I can have my cake and look hot too!
The mini? I actually ended up not getting it from Birchbox (hey, you win some, you lose some) + got an offer from Sephora that I took advantage of instead (it really does pay to be VIB Rouge).
For my June Julep Maven box, I decided to add-on. I wanted to start trying out different top coats and read some good reviews for the Freedom Top Coat, I got both the full-size and the mini as a set. I gifted the mini, but use the top coat every time I paint my nails. I cannot get over the shine + it’s pretty quick drying. I still want to find something that is more like gel (without the light), so if you have any suggestions please throw them my way!
The Target dollar bins section KILLS ME! I mean live in Vermont, so whenever I go to another state that has a Target, I suffer from serious fomo (fear of missing out).
I want it ALL.
Not too long ago I picked up a bunch of travel sized littles and one of the was Dove deordorant. I usually wear men’s. I sweat. A lot. Especially when I’m cold. I have considered getting those botox injections in my pits to handle some of the perspiration but would rather buy shoes than pay for that. I have tried clinical strength and that was a waste of money for me because I still sweat like crazy. Then, I learn that the PR girl for Oscar de la Renta used Old Spice and gave it a try, it worked better than anything else I’ve tried, so I converted. I’d even keep a mini in my purse at all times. I saw the Dove mini and wanted to try the scent and I was in the dollar bins section so really I didn’t need a reason, I was going to buy it regardless. I not only liked the scent but it worked! 48-hour protection was my answer. I don’t expect it to work 48 hours but all I need is to get through the day. I blew through the mini and picked up a 2-pack of the full-size and keep one in my bag and the other in my bathroom. Perf.
So, I don’t have mini of the eos shave cream, but I know it exists, because I saw it. At Target. In the dollar bins. But I didn’t buy it. Hear me out! I am pretty hairy chick, so shaving isn’t something I can just sample, I need a lot. Running out mid-shave is not an option. So I didn’t get it. I will say that this is the only shaving cream I will ever buy again. It claims, as many other shaving creams/gels do, that you can dry shave with it. I tried and yes, yes you can! I HATE dry shaving and only do it if it is my last resort. I hate how itchy and dry my legs feel after so I avoid it at costs. Remember when I said I must be a cat? Well, my curiosity got the best of me, and I tried it. I am telling you, you can dry shave with this stuff! That being said, I still prefer to shave in the shower, I enjoy it…
Lately, I haven’t been feeling very inspired. So, when the manfriend asked me what I wanted to do (which he does everyday, it’s one of our things…), I said walk around town. Usually, I respond with something outrageous that we could never do, but I figured why not explore Poultney.
(Chambray Dress: Old Navy, Gladiator Sandals: Charlotte Russe (this style is longer available, but you can get similar + even better ones here), Bag: Kelly Moore, Sunglasses: Foster Grant, Nail Wraps: Scratch)
We didn’t do too much, but I did enjoy a strawberry smoothie from Café Pazienza + a Full Belly Deli Pepperjack Bacon Melt (the sandwich that turned me on to sandwiches). And if you know anything about my relationship with the manfriend, you know that movie nights are another one of our things, so we picked up three movies. You don’t have to go all out to have an inspiringly uplifting day.
Even though I often find history a tad on the dull side, that doesn’t matter when the history is about me! Going through old photos at my mom’s always ends with some great photos for #tbt.
Apparently, I have always had a thing for taking pictures. Go figure.
This just proves that photography (albeit, maybe not professionally) is and has always been something that I enjoy. Taking pictures allows me to save the moments I want to keep and express myself in a way that words cannot + believe me I’ve tried, I didn’t study English in college for nothing!
To take this pastime to the next level I decided to take Mastering Your DSLR with Candice Stringham from A Beautiful Mess.
I mentioned before that I approached Candice about her camera bag (we both have the same one + in the same color!), not realizing who she was, and ended up with the deal of a lifetime!
I have taken other A Beautiful Mess e-courses before, like Blog Life (a must take for bloggers), and Use Your Stash (which I like to call How Not to Hoard Craft Supplies) + I knew I liked her style, so I just knew I had to take Candice’s class for sure!
So far, we learned about shutter speed + aperture settings, but I swear I can feel my photos getting better! And I’ve been practicing…
Here’s some photos I took of cupcakes using natural window light + playing around with the aperture setting.
The manfriend even helped. Well technically he tried to eat my props, but I ended up with some pretty neat shots!
I work in higher education as live-in professional. I won’t bore you with what that means (but please feel free to ask questions in the comments!), but I have a tiny apartment and while I can’t complain too much about it (#rentfree), I am not completely in love with it.
I mean, I don’t hate it.
I just don’t love it.
I want to love it.
Enter Pinterest. I am currently pinning images that I believe would make my apartment feel more like home. I want to start with my bedroom, because that’s where my desk is + so I spend most of my time there.
Recently, I have across some boards that have just the feel + look that I am going for. The perfect pinspiration, if you will. If you aren’t following them, you should really check out these out!
I have expensive taste, but not so big a budget. I am thinking about DIYing a lot of projects for what I want in my space and sharing them. Also, some before + afters will be shared.
These Intagram photos of my place should hold you over until then. If not, you can always follow me on IG…
This is what happens when you pack in the pitch dark, because your power went out thanks to a storm.
If you’re not sure what I’m getting at by that, let me explain. The shirt was a rescue from the manfriend’s sister’s to be donated pile. I grabbed it since I didn’t have anything else to wear, and cut off the sleeves + just threw it over a basic H&M dress.
The Converses we share. I think they were originally mine (or maybe my little brother’s), but I gave them to her, and she never wears them but when I visit I do sometimes.
I have zero regrets of doing this, but I don’t think I will be getting another one anytime soon. I’m a wimp + I’m OK with that. I’m pretty sure that the manfriend is still in shock that I actually went through with it, but that’s just how I live my life. Like, I have five piercings and none of them were technically “planned”…
But I mean, seriously, who goes to a party, makes a new friend, and goes home with a tattoo appointment for the next day? Apparently I do!
With the Fourth of July being this weekend, I started to think about what I was going to wear to all the BBQs, parties + fireworks.
I get really excited about holidays because they can inspire some pretty great + creative outfits. Hey, any excuse to dress festively!
When I think about Independence Day, I think red, white and blue, so I styled four different red, white and blue looks. While I don’t expect anyone to want to copy any of these looks exactly, I hope that they can still spark (pun fully intended, ain’t no shame in my game) some outfit inspo!
Nothing in this post is new or even recently purchased, everything was already in my closet (or on my bedroom floor)…except for the Birkenstocks, I got them on Poshmark about a week or two ago + have worn them pretty much everyday since.
After Alt Summit, I really wanted to at the very least attempt to get back to the heart of why I started blogging.
Simply put, I like to learn + to want to push myself to try new things.
At Alt Melissa Esplin hosted a DIY booth and shared some pointers about calligraphy. I chatted with Christa of Beatrice Clay and decided that I would redeem my Bing Rewards points for Amazon gift cards, which I used to purchase Modern Calligraphy.
Since then, I have been practicing calligraphy and painting with watercolors daily. (The two arts kind of go hand in hand, so I figured why not.)
My work is pretty rough, but since I’m only just starting out, I don’t mind it so much. I find the process rather meditative + thoroughly enjoy it, so it’s totes worth it!
Do you have a summer hobby or have you started learning something new recently? Would love some ideas of what to look into for my next something new!
Attending Alt Summit SLC Summer was one of the best experiences of my life. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. I’ve done several free online classes through Alt Summit + Alt for Everyone. These were pretty great too, but if you ever get the chance to attend Alt Summit SLC, you NEED to take advantage of that opportunity!
The things I learned at Alt are things that I plan to use. I have gone to countless conferences where I had some good takeaways, but Alt actually taught me things to better myself + my blog. I won’t go into everything thing I learned, but I do want to sum up my Alt experience with 10 things that I learned.
1. Go out + make opportunities.
Joy Cho gave a extremely motivational keynote. She shared her experience and made it clear that you have to be a go-getter to get what you want. Figure out what you want to do and then do it!
2. Know your numbers.
Ryan Stern (@collectivelyinc) + Ashlee Prisbrey (@imtopsyturvy) showed the averages of blogs in the various stages of blogging. They encouraged us to use Google Analytics because of the information it can provide about your blog + your audience.
3. Dream BIG!
Alice Yoo + Eugene Kim of My Modern Met taught about growing your community. You should set goals, long term, and then break them down into steps. Believe in yourself and work hard! They showed this video during their session and I’m sharing it with you!
4. Share your story.
Sarah Deragon of Portraits to the People + Lisa Anderson Shaffer of Zelma Rose really broke Instagram down! I came away with SO many tips and tricks to really step up my Instagram game. They also gave us a coupon to Photojojo and I plan to use mine to get the Foldio that they showed us.
Practice, practice, practice. I’m thinking a photo challenge may need to happen…Maybe I’ll come up with my own!
5. Stop + smell the roses.
Audrey King of French Knot Studios made us get hands on with photo styling. She gave us supplies a few basic tips and said that the best way to learn is to do. So we did! The pointers she shared allowed me to take a step back, see what I was working with, and gave me the confidence to try all kinds of things…I was even asked if I was a photographer a couple of times!
6. Get growing!
These ladies (PJ Feinstein of A Girl Named PJ, Tan Rutley of Squirrelly Minds, Ciera Holzenthal of Ciera Design, Mariah Danielsen of Oh What Love, and Melissa Bahen of Lulu the Baker) kill it when it comest to collaborating, period. They inspired me to think outside the box and consider new ways to engage.
7. Media worth considering.
I use social media. Mostly Instagram + Twitter. I’ve tried Google+, but Jamie Dorobek of C.R.A.F.T. really made me want to give it another go! And Meg Conley of Meg in Progress + Kris Schoels of Young Married Chic talked about break into radio and TV. I plan to try more videos and now maybe even podcasting…
8. Sponsors are your friends.
All the Alt sponsors were amazing! I learned to see them as people, because they are, and that changed everything for me. During her keynote, Martha Stewart even spilled that Home Depot loves to work with bloggers.
I’m sad Alt is over, but it was just the spark I needed!
