Twenty Something Plus

March 6, 2014

What’s in My Bag: Summer Essentials

I know that it isn’t even spring yet, but I live in Vermont and am beyond done with snow. Taking advantage of the winter by trying xc skiing was a blast, but I need the summer sun. I miss the beach and the smell of the ocean.

In anticipation of daylight saving time and the first day of spring, I am switching over to my summer work tote and using some of my summer essentials. Pathetic? Maybe. But it sure is brightening up my mood.

Are you yearning for summer? What do miss most about it? How are you prepping for warmer weather? What are some of your summer essentials?

March 5, 2014

Two Subtle Ways to Try Orange Lips

It seems like everyone is talking about orange lips and while I’m all for bold, I’m not sure orange is something I’m ready to jump into…At least not yet.

Want to try it without actually trying it? There are two ways that I have started bracing myself for giving this trend a shot:

1. Not ready to go so bold? Try a colored balm, it gives you the orange color minus the shocking electric effect.

I used Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in 12 Oversized Orange

2. Don’t mind bright lips, just not sure about orange? Go for a red lipstick with an orange tint.

I used MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Lady Danger.

Already dived in? What orange do you use? Have any recommendations? Would love to hear your suggestions, in case I do decide to give this orange lip trend a try!

March 4, 2014

Sick Day

Sick days are always bittersweet. On one hand it’s a day off, but on the other…you’re sick.

I know I always end up out of bed trying to get things done around my place, instead of resting like I need to. This time, I am making the extra effort to get rest and take care of myself.

My plan?

1. Stay hydrated.

Gatorade Thirst Quencher Orange, Schweppes Ginger Ale, LOTS of H2O (not shown in photo) — Gatorade Thirst Quencher Orange, Schweppes Ginger Ale, LOTS of H2O (not shown)

2. Soup.

3. The world’s best tissues and Vicks Vapor Rub.

Kleenex Cool Touch Moisturizing Tissues, Vicks Vapor Rub

4. Meds.

Halls Defense Dietary Supplement Drops in Assorted Citrus, Mucinex

5. Pinterest. Because, otherwise, whenever I wasn’t sleeping, I’d have no reason to stay in bed.

Mad that I turned my sick day into a blog post? I couldn’t resist, what can I say? I am an opportunist, lol! How do you spend your sick days?

March 3, 2014

Mani and a Magazine: The Classics

When deciding on what color to paint your nails, you can never go wrong with red. Likewise, when picking a magazine, you can never go wrong with Vogue. These are the classics.

Picking out which shade of red may be another story, but I went with Butter London’s Ladybird (Because it’s my newest red polish, and it matches this month’s cover of Vogue).

March 2014 Vogue, Butter London in Ladybird, Foster Grant Sunnies, Catbird Ring. Oh, and photobomb courtesy of my cat Valentino Gronkowski. — March 2014 Vogue, Butter London in Ladybird, Foster Grant Sunnies, Catbird Ring. Oh, and photobomb courtesy of my cat, Valentino Gronkowski.

Is red your go-to nail color? Do you have a a favorite red nail polish? Share in the comments!

March 2, 2014

One Perk of Being VIB Rouge

Being VIB (Very Important Beauty) Rouge status in the Sephora Beauty Insider program has it’s perks. Some of the reviews I’ve read online on various makeup forums and beauty blogs say that the only benefit is the free shipping. I disagree with this on so many levels, but I wanted to share how the free shipping is amazeballs! Not only can you buy one item, any item and get the standard three free samples, but you don’t have to spend $50 for free shipping.

Givenchy Le Rouge deluxe sample in 202 Rose Dressing, Marc Jacob Lash Lifter - Gel Definition Mascara deluxe sample, and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 deluxe sample. — Givenchy Le Rouge deluxe sample in 202 Rose Dressing, Marc Jacob Lash Lifter – Gel Definition Mascara deluxe sample, and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 deluxe sample.

Why is that such a big deal? I get emails that are exclusively for Beauty Insiders. This happens quite often as I also get emails for VIB only and occasionally for VIB Rouge only. I don’t always take advantage of these deals but one was for three free luxury deluxe samples with a purchase of $35. I was torn because I didn’t want to spend any money, but I had a few things I needed (OK, maybe just really wanted) so I got them and the deluxe samples without having to torment myself by debate between paying for shipping or spending another $15 just to qualify for free shipping. Again AMAZEBALLS!

Givenchy Le Rouge deluxe sample in 202 Rose Dressing

Do you shop at Sephora? What are your thoughts on their BI program? Where do you prefer to buy your beauty products?

March 1, 2014

My “March Madness”

While I enjoy going to sporting events, I am not much of a sports fanatic. I have teams that I root on, but I think what I like most like about sports is having plans to hang out with friends and family when attending a game (or match, or meet, or whatever).

I get basketball. My whole household played at some point in their life, except for me. I suck at it, but I did manage the boys basketball team in high school so i understand the jargon and can speak the lingo. However, my personal “March Madness” has nothing to do with basketball.

At the end of the month my younger sister and I will be participating in a Spartan Workout and the Cosmic Run. Now, neither one of us are really all that physically fit, I think she has a gym membership and I try to be active when the mood strikes me, but I am using these events as motivation to get in shape. Partially because I don’t want to die (especially not from passing out during a 5k), but also for the benefits that are associates with living a healthy lifestyle.

To start off March, I woke up earlier than I normally would on a weekend morning and popped in A TurboFire workout DVD. My plan is to do some form of workout everyday this month in hopes of making it a lifelong habit.

Do you have a workout routine or know of one that you’d recommend? What motivates you to workout? Any tips would be great to hear!

February 28, 2014

A Week Plus: Leopard Heels

Ever since high school, and maybe even before that, I have found planning out my outfits for the week to be enjoying and somewhat meditative. Writing ideas down helps me to stay organized when planning, my notes aren’t entirely legible, but they work for me.

A fun fact about me: I LOVE LEOPARD PRINT…leopard any and everything. When asked what my favorite color is, I would say yellow, but in all honesty it’s leopard print.

The famous Jenna Lyons quote, “As far as I’m concerned, leopard is a neutral,” is an understatement.

So naturally when I wanted, another understatement, to do a second A Week Plus post, I felt I had to incorporate leopard somehow. Given that one of my favorite shoes are Steve Madden leopard print, pony hair heels, I went with it.

What is your take on leopard? I mean, I LOVE it, but are you over it? Do you own anything leopard print or have a favorite leopard print something? What is it? Please share, links to photos are more than welcome, they are encouraged…I want to see!

February 27, 2014

Something New: XC Skiing

This is my second year in Vermont and I don’t do any winter anything, unless you count starting the car while my fiancé shovel it out. Given that winters here are long and I can get a little listless, I wanted to give skiing a go.

I want to first mention that I work at a college and have been fortunate to try a lot of things for free, including: beet canning, bread making, and sausage making.

When I found out about the opportunity to learn how to cross country ski, naturally I just had to! It was a bit challenging and I fell 3 or 4 times, but once I got the hang of it, so worth it! I found that the step and glide technique was harder to learn but easier to get the hang of, and double poling was more exhilarating and slightly easier to learn but harder to balance and keep up with. Overall, I had a great time and plan to do it again next week. Not sure if I’ll ever get around to any other types of skiing or snowboarding, but I am considering it.

The only advice I really have are to bundle up, wear gloves, ear warmers or a hat that covers your ears, and just have fun with it. I stayed in the back of the group so I could practice the techniques we learned, but that was my personal preference.

Have you ever went cross country skiing? Do you have any tips? Please share!

February 26, 2014

Grasie Mercedes X Foster Grant

I have entered a lot of contests and giveaways in my twenty something years. And I mean A LOT. I’m not entirely sure why, because I never, and I mean NEVER win. However, when Grasie Mercedes hosted a giveaway for 8 pairs of Foster Grant sunnies on her blog, I just had to try my luck so I entered and prayed that I’d win.

I had wanted to start a blog for a while now and after reading the Darling Magazine post, Why You Should Start a Blog, Part I on their website, I started to believe that I actually should. I bargained that if I won the contest, then I would.

Well, obviously, I won…

Do you own any Foster Grants? What is your favorite style? Share in the comments!

February 24, 2014

A Week Plus: Yellow Blazer

I scored this Banana Republic blazer on Poshmark and although I absolutely adore it, I wish I wore it more often.

After doing a few Instagram photo challenges, I thought about some different ways I could style outfits around my beloved yellow blazer. Using Pinterest for inspiration (because, well, who doesn’t?), I came up with just over a week’s worth of outfits.

Want your own yellow blazer? Try this!

This was a lot of fun, and I’m sure I’ll be doing this again! Have something that you’re not entirely sure how to wear? Tell me what it is, and if I have something similar, I’d totally be up for styling it!