Social media has quickly become my source for outfit inspiration. I saw how someone else had styled this blue Milly vest on the Rent the Runway Instagram and knew that it had to be in my next Rent the Runway Unlimited order.
Last summer I just had to have a pair of high waist denim shorts. I got them and they show a little more cheek than I anticipated. The vest covers that right up and I don’t have to worry.
And I wore heels with it because I’m obsessed with these Charlotte Russe finds, but I will be holding on to the vest for a while so I can wear it again with a pair of cute sneakers or flats.
I really can’t get over the pop of color! I mean, royal blue isn’t something I have a lot of, but maybe that should change…
I have tried a number of different skincare products, but I have to say that When Face Masks are some of the best. So, I was beyond thrill to partner with When to share about my experience with their face masks.
After trying, I found that each of the masks felt and worked pretty similarly. Not surprising, since the main ingredients are essentially the same. Opening a packet and taking out the mask inside initially makes you think what have you gotten yourself into. These masks are thick! But after you remove the paper and whatnot, you are left with what is still a pretty thick but completely manageable product.
This is no 10 minute mask, so I highly recommend using these when you have some serious downtime. Like most masks, these feel a little cold on your face. And this is where I found the masks started to vary. I found that 10:00 PM stayed cool and left my face looking younger. Not years younger, but definitely less tired. Whereas, Snow Magic seemed to warm up a bit. It made my skin feel kind of tight and let my face with more of a healthy glow.
I am a little bit of a bronzer junkie. Probably because I associate it with summer. A matte bronzer is the best for contouring, but I have yet to find a stand alone bronzer for me to use that way. When there’s a shimmer to it, I use it all over, otherwise I use it like a setting powder. I knew Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer wouldn’t be dark enough, but because of the hype I wanted it anyways.
COOLA is a brand I like for sunscreen in general, I’ve sampled their products through Birchbox a couple of times, but never a makeup setting spray. I’ve been looking for a natural alternative to Urban Decay’s All Nighter and I’m really happy to have found this, even if the full size does cost a little bit more.
Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of the color, but the ModelCo Lip Lacquer feels like a pretty good gloss. I would love to try it in a shade like Morocco instead. Birchbox carries their sample sized trio for $16, it includes both Crème Brulee and Morocco, in addition to Viva.
Perfumes, shampoos and conditioners are not my favorite samples to get, but I don’t mind so much when I get all three for a total of six samples this month. Sure the conditioner is a small packet, but I really wanted to try the Davines LOVE set. It’s for course or frizzy hair. I have both. (Apparently, Davines changed the formula, and the new didn’t exactly get rave reviews. I still have yet to use it, but am choosing to remain optimistic since I didn’t see any reviews from anyone with course hair.)
The perfume is a heavy floral. Which I did not love and made the mistake of spraying in on myself rather than in the air or on a piece of paper to smell it for the first time. And it’s strong.
Despite my feelings towards the fragrance sample, this month’s box was still one of my faves.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #BestSummerMemories #CollectiveBias
As nice as it would be to pack up and go to Palm Springs, not all of us can.
Life gets in the way.
I know I personally can’t afford to right now. And even if I could, I doubt that the manfriend could take the time to get away from work.
That doesn’t mean that we can’t start making summer memories now. With all this nice weather, I’ve really been wanting to go to the beach. Since that’s not really always an option, I decided to do just that by bringing the beach to me.
BBQ style.
I grabbed a blanket, and some 20 oz bottles of Coca-Cola™ (which I like better because you can take them with you incase you do decide to go somewhere. Check out the Best Summer Ever Deals at your local CVS. Buy 2 20oz bottles of Coca-Cola products for $3! I also got a ton of ExtraCare coupons because I stop there so much).
The bottles have song lyrics on them and they help bring life to any summer gathering. I mean, with lyrics from songs like Summertime, how could they not? (Plus, if you download the Shazam App on your phone you can get the song!)
Sometimes a statement piece, other times a dainty everyday something. My dream necklace is something classic enough to wear with anything, while still standing out enough to be somewhat of a conversation starter.
And when there’s a story behind it? Even better!
UncommonGoods is all about products with a story. They really care about and connect you with the artists behind their handmade goods.
This Golden Slice Agate Necklace is was crafted by Lucy Dalton. And although, in my mind, she created it for me, I was gifted two. One for me and one for a very lucky reader. Please note, that this is technically a flash giveaway and only runs for 24 hours!
It seems like whenever I tell myself that I’m not going to select the featured box the next month, I end up doing the opposite. Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s that I was that unimpressed with the sample choices. Either way, I went with the April 2016 Birchbox featured box.
I don’t want to pretend that I loved or even wanted everything in my box this month. However, I was very pleased with the Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten. I can use it as blush with a highlighter or as a highlighter with a blush, or alone.
TOCCA Hand Cream is one of my favorites and it is my goal to eventually try them all, I really like the scent I got, it’s fruity and floral, which to me is perfection!
Surprisingly, I liked the Marcelle Micellar Solution, but not nearly as much as I’d expected to. Especially since it costs as much as it does, but the drugstore versions work just as well.
Liftra Contour Cream kind of confuses me. Since I don’t 100% get how it works or what exactly it’s supposed to do, I have yet to touch it.
As for the PALOR, I raved about the blowout spray, but the volumizing spray isn’t a product I cared all that much for. Not because it doesn’t work, but volume isn’t really something my hair lacks.
Which product would make this box worth it for you? If you’re interested in signing up for Birchbox, you can use my refer a friend link here!
In case you missed my announcement on Instagram, Lookout Rooftop and Bar at Lookout Rooftop & Bar at The Envoy Hotel is now officially open for the season!
Myself, and some other local bloggers were invited to check it out a little early. The view is breathtaking and the drinks delicious! If you’re close enough and looking for something to do the weekend, there’s really no better way to kick off the season, than with sips at Boston’s #1 rooftop hotspot.
There is so much that I’ve learned from my mother. I am thankful for her and the lessons she taught me. I probably should have listened when she told me not to touch my eyebrows.
When it comes to makeup, she taught me that less is plenty. And although I hoard makeup, like she does kitchenware, I know to make sure to have my few essentials on hand at all times. We probably define essentials differently, but I’m way more into makeup than she is.
My mother’s makeup bag is a minimalist’s dream. Even though she almost always takes forever to get ready, she does her makeup last and can do that in less than five!
Trust Fund Beauty is a brand that I follow because they just seem to get me. No, I am not rich. But that rich girl mentality? I’m all about that vibe. And their color names! I recently won one of their Instagram giveaways, and received Hollywood Hipster. I love it for spring and plan to wear in well into summer.
I usually don’t get all that excited about getting fragrance samples. But every once in a while there’ll be one that I want to practically bathe in. Tender Romance is one of those scents. I truly didn’t expect to love it even a tiny bit as much as I do!
It’s not secret that I love dramatic lashes. There are some mascaras that make my lashes feel super heavy and covered in goop to achieve that bold lash look. PÜR’s Fully Charged Magnetic Mascara uses magnetic technology to give you that maximum volume look without weighing them down. It’s been my go to mascara most of the month.
Speaking of PÜR, I love their Hydrafluid Water Serum Foundation, but lately have been finding myself using the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup. Yes it’s a mouthful, but it’s nice to have the perfect shade for my complexion without having to mix and match. Plus, it really is super lightweight. It’s going to be great to have when the weather starts to heat up.
Contouring can be difficult. Mostly because it’s really hard to find a contouring kit with a shade that is anything close to two shades darker than my skin tone. While at Ulta Beauty, I came across their kit and it’s the best one I’ve found. Plus, it’s only $18!
On Instagram, I shared a sneak peek of the dress I rented from Rent the Runway for my eighth anniversary with the manfriend. It was not the same dress that I wore to our anniversary dinner at Ballo Italian Restaurant, which may have caused a tiny bit of confusion.
The Slate & Willow Carlene Dress was what I wore after dinner. We stayed at Mohegan Sun and gambled the night away.
I say that very loosely.
While we did gamble a little, we mostly walked around, did a some window shopping and grabbed ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s. And we talked.
A lot.
We talked about how far we’ve come in our eight years together. About mistakes we’d made and the future we see for ourselves. It was the perfect way for us to celebrate our anniversary.
As we walked and talked, we also broke a lot of necks! I mean it’s kind of hard not to draw attention in a sequined statement piece like this Slate & Willow one. Especially with the low cut back.
