Summer Favorites 2021

August 5, 2021Leave a comment

Ok so it’s August.

How on earth did this happen? January through May is like one endless blob of time and the months do not matter because nothing is happening and all we do is sit in front of our $40 happy lights from Costco. Then it’s June and we blink and it’s the 4th of July and there is a fire ban so we buy our kids a pack of sparklers and pop-its and are patriotic for exactly 24 hours. Then August blazes by and all of the sudden we’re getting excited about pumpkin patches again. Then it’s New Years Eve. It’s madness it is.

I love summer. Revel in it. I owe everyone a summer re-cap really. We have gone on a few little family jaunts and the lessons learned are bountiful. If these lessons had titles, they would go something like, “Cocomelon and You”. And, “So What if She Doesn’t Fit in the Pack and Play?” Sure we’ve had our struggles, but each moment has been so much fun – thank you vaccine!

A few newly discovered items have come ’round this summer . And here they are!

Kyte Living Pajamas & Toddler Twirl Dress

The world’s softest baby pajamas are also available in adult things! This blush pink pajama set is trimmed in cloud and made in their signature bamboo blend fabric. I may never take these off. Seriously the most comfortable set of pajamas I own.

This toddler twirl dress in the shade sunset has been a summer staple for Clara. The fit is absolutely perfect and the drape of the skirt makes it totally perfect for twirling. We are in love!

Scünci Bow Tie Elastics

Thanks to my buddy Renata for pointing these out at Ulta! These are great for thin hair, no damage and adorable. They do stretch out very slightly over time, but only after LOTS of use and who cares at $4 a set?

Revy Skincare

The Revy skincare system has been a huge hit with our 10-yr old. She LOVES having “her own skincare regiment” and this one is simple to use and amazing for her sensitive skin! At 10 years old, we are still in the years of not being psyched about personal hygiene, yet the hormones are ramping up. These products have kept her skin clear, healthy and nourished. Revy only uses the cleanest of ingredients in their products, and all are plant-based. With free US shipping on orders, we are such fans!

Vital Proteins Collagen and Beauty Gummies

YOU GUYS. These friggen’ little gummies actually work! I have been taking them for about a month now and holy smokes – my nails have been growing SO fast and are very thick. Also, NO JOKE my hair has grown significantly more in the last month. I am stunned. I have even gotten compliments that my skin looks better! I am a believer in these things and will continue to buy them. Also sidenote – I only take 2 of the purple collagen gummies per day rather than the recommended 4.

DSMD Beauty Sponge and Case

This has easily become my new favorite beauty sponge. They come in 5 different colors, are SUPER soft and bouncy and are on sale right now for only $6 each! However I might be more obsessed with the cases – they protect your sponge for travel and are made of a silicone material that is super soft. No more dirty beauty sponge floating around in MY makeup bag, thank you! This brand is owned by Amanda Effiom, a Nigerian beauty blogger (check out her insta) and hello – check out the messaging on the case. Absolute perfection!

Papaya Reusable Paper Towels

If you have not tried one of these MAGICAL dish rags…sorry but you need one. Or several. Whoever invented these is a genius. They absorb 20 times their weight in liquid AND one cloth replaces 17 rolls of paper towels. And they are lemon print. I MEAN — GTFO. This adorable set comes with 2 cloths and a little hanger. I am in LOVE.

Sephora Vacay All Day Set

This set contains 7 items and 3 are full-sized. I was in the market for a new face sunscreen and the Dr. Brandt version in this set retails for $65 on it’s own!

The other products in this set are super impressive. A full sized mascara and Nars lipgloss? Uh yes please.

The smaller sized items are also great, especially the Milk Makeup cream blush!

Alba Soothing Sunscreen

And speaking of sunscreen, allow me to introduce you to a new favorite! This stuff is absolutely wonderful. It sinks nicely into the skin, has SPF 45, smells like lavender AND is all-natural. Hat tip to my good buddy Anna for bringing this into my life.

Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Moisturizer in Lime Coolada

YOU GUYS. Buy this in bulk. This body lotion smells like heaven on earth, both limey and tropical. It is the perfect treat for your skin after being in the sun!

L’Oreal Infallible Lip Gloss in 135 – Posy

This bright fuchsia lipgloss features a beautiful blue translucent shift and subtle sparke that is gorgeous when it catches the light. The blue undertone and shift make teeth look white but be warned, this only looks good with a bit of a tan (I recommend fake). It is also a bit sticky, but I find the texture does keep it a bit “glossier”. This is another tribute to lovely Anna who wore this gloss in Palm Springs and made me a believer.

Wet’n’Wild Lipstick in Pink Ice

I grabbed this .98 cent lipstick a few weeks ago and have been reaching for it nonstop. If you cannot already tell, I have been digging the bright pinks as of late, and this little powerhouse delivers on all fronts. It is a true frost, and if you have not tried the good ol’ Wet’n’Wild lipstick formula – do yourself a favor and grab a couple. I especially like the $1.99 formuals.

Milkshake Leave-In Conditioner

Ok so this is one of the best leave-ins I have tried. And not just because it smells like COOKIES (yes it does), but because my hair is looking vastly better after using it. I am obsessed with this and want to try more products from the line. ALSO – I bought this at a local salon but just discovered it is on Amazon!

8 Greens Original and Skin Drink Mixes

Thanks to my Aunt Sandi for introducing these amazing drink mixes into my life. And let me start by saying that I am a Crystal Light girl. A Diet Coke gal. A Fresca fan. I do not like pressed juices, kombucha, kefir, green smoothies – basically anything good for me. It was a problem. That is until I tried these! These have allll the greens you need and are packed with vitamins. But the best part is that they taste great – lemon +lime and slightly fizzy. I had been experiencing some issues with my blood (low B12, white blood cell count, etc.) and I really think these helped my levels normalize.

Alright guys, that is it for today. Stay tuned for a lengthy vacation post soon!

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

May 2, 2021May 2, 2021Leave a comment

Hear ye! Hear ye!

Mother’s Day is upon us.

Let us celebrate and buy stuff! But Moms are just SO worth it, aren’t they? And when I say “moms” I mean allllll the moms. We’ve got hot-mess moms, competitive moms, helicopters, granolas. We all know a few of each. But ALSO – we have the step-moms, foster moms, fur-moms, non-binary moms, moms who have lost, mother earth. There are so many moms and all are equally important!

Here are some gift ideas for that special mom, or mother figure in your life.

Zeep Bath

Ok guys, I may have found my new Lush. Zeep Bath is a small, family-owned business located in Wichita, Kansas. I found out about them on Instagram and was immediately drawn in by the cuteness of the products and just overall aesthetic. I meannnn….

They carry both bath & body products and home fragrance (which I have yet to try) in absolutely scrumptious scents. David ordered me their Sugar Whip (whipped soap + sugar scrub) a couple weeks ago for our anniversary and GUYS, I am hooked.

Their Malibu Barbie scent is described as “exotic island coconut, juicy white pineapple, and sexy sweet pink sugar”. After using it one time, David said I smelled like a “Hawaiian tropic girl” (ala Dumb and Dumber, I am guessing) and the scent lingered for hours. I am now ordering the body spray and whipped soap in Malibu Barbie because I want to smell like this 24/7. It shall be my new signature scent!

Zeep also has a referral program, which I happily joined. Use this link for $5 off any purchase of $25 or more!

*Also, this company did not send me anything, nor is this sponsored.

Bunnies by the Bay

Bunnies by the Bay is a Washington-based company that sells some of the sweetest, most high-quality stuffies, lovies and baby gifts you will find. The best part is that several of their stuffies come with a backstory! If you or your kiddos love Peter Rabbit, you will absolutely love Bunnies by the Bay! I was immediately drawn to one of their signature bunnies, Blossom of Cricket Island and knew Clara would love it.

I am getting side-tracked, this is a MOTHER’S DAY gift guide!

When I saw their adorable Blossom Bunny mommy & me face masks, I knew what a sweet mother’s day gift they would make!

First of all – the PACKAGING:

No detail is overlooked when it comes to their adorable packaging. Clara and I were squealing at how cute everything came. And the look on her face when she pulled out little Blossom, just says it all!

But these mommy and me face masks?! I DIE.

Here is E, modeling the kid mask:

And yours truly in the adult version:

For get $10 your first purchase at Bunnies by the Bay, click here!

Bombay Hair Curling Wand

Perfect for the lady who desperately needs to upgrade her hair-tools game, look no further than Bombay Hair. I have never invested in nice hair tools, and have been using the same teeny tiny Conair curling wand for years now.

Enter – the Bombay 32MM curling wand.

I meannn, just check out the gorgeous packaging!

This extended wand is 100% tourmaline and features a cool tip which helps with styling burns. You also get a little stand and heat protectant glove.

The best part about this curling wand? It heats up in literally 10 SECONDS! You can select an exact temperature and the LCD screen turns from blue to green when it is ready to go.

Check out these amazing curls, that seriously last ALL DAY.

And here is a video of me using the curling wand! Be warned, I am verrrry professional at this:

Dossier Fragrances

YOU GUYS. This company basically makes designed imposter (remember those millenials?!) fragrances, but like bougie. I discovered them on Instagram after trying to find a knock-off of my most coveted perfume of all time, Le Labo Rose 31. I have wanted this perfume for probably 10 years and realized I needed to somehow make it a reality.

Then I stumbled upon Dossier’s Floral Rose.

They also have versions of everything from Le Labo, to Jo Malone, to Chanel, YSL and Tom Ford. And they only cost $29 or $39!

The glass bottle is actually quite weighty and feels expensive. But the scent?! I was BLOWN away! This smells exactly like Rose 31…it is almost uncanny. I do not think the lasting power is quite as good as the Le Labo version but for $39 I will take it!

I have been dousing myself in this everyday and could not be happier.

Elise Design Company

Christa was kind enough to send me a few pairs of the gorgeous and unique Belle Stud handmade earrings to try and I am absolutely gaga for these.

These earrings are made of acrylic, are lightweight and make a statement while still being dainty. Also, they’re only $15 and they have free shipping!

I could not get E to take off the rose gold version, she just adores them.

I die for these black and gold ones! And ignore my dark spots…they’re a work in progress.

So impressed with the quality of these earrings from this small business. Totally want to get the initial necklace next, which would also make an amazing mother’s day gift!

The Great Oregon Wine Company

Doesn’t wine always make the easiest and best gift? I recently tried this Pinot Gris from Great Oregon Wine Company and it was love at first sip.

I am no wino, but this went down very nicely and was super bright and refreshing. And also – May is Oregon Wine Month! You can get $10 flat-rate shipping on 4 bottles or more right now! Go get you some.

Crocs

Yes, I am including Crocs. Mainly because I actually want some for Mother’s Day. They are ugly, yes. But in a cute way. I just feel like by me not owning Crocs, I am doing myself a disservice. PLUS, I actually think they are kinda cool right now. As in, I see cool people wearing them from time to time.

You can get them on Amazon Prime and they will be here by tomorrow. What’s not to love?

And that will conclude my list for now friends. Have a fabulous mother’s day!

ThredUp Goody Box Review

March 16, 20211 Comment

Hello and welcome!

Before I dive in to this review, I feel I owe everyone an explanation of this service and why I chose to try it out. This is in no way sponsored…I wish.

ThredUp is an online consignment store. Their Goody Box is a subscription service (or you can just purchase a single box, like I did) that works similarly to Stitch Fix, Trunk Club, etc. You take a “style quiz”, pay a $10 styling fee, and they send you some clothes. The $10 fee will apply to any items you end up keeping and return shipping is free. This service appealed to me specifically because it is second hand stuff!

The main reason I wanted to try this is because I am having a major fashion identity crisis. I am an old millennial and like so many of my Y2K sisters and brothers, my closet is filled with things that are somewhat flattering on my body type. IMO the in-fashion styles as of late beg the question, “who can look the ugliest?”. And PLEASE do not take this to mean that I think the youth of today are ugly – I simply feel that the clothes themselves are SO unflattering.

Let’s take these jeans and sock + shoe combination. I mean. It doesn’t even look good on the model.

Or this lewk from Urban Outfitters? It’s as if she is about to pull out a hacky sack and Cranberries CD.

I rest my case.

So back to my crisis – I need to find a way to take the fashions of today (said in a little old lady voice) and make them work for me. I also realized I have not really shopped for clothes since before I had a kid (2018). I decided to try the Goody Box from Thred Up and see what they would come up with for me. Here is what went down:

My box shipped pretty quickly!

I was sent 10 items in total. Each box also includes a pricing sheet:

Here are the items I was sent:

Max Studio Dress – $29.99

Old Navy Dress – $18.99

Dolan Blouse – $20.99

Madewell Jeans – $39.99

Ro & De Blouse – $21.99

Madewell Sweater – $30.99

Lauren Conrad Sweatshirt – $23.99

J.Crew Shirt – $21.99

Vero Moda Jeans – $22.99

Anthropologie Shirt – $29.99

Overall, I really liked everything they sent. I felt they listened to my style quiz answers and sent brands and sizes that were appropriate. Let’s get to the try-on!

*DISCLAIMER – I am not a fashion blogger, nor did I accessorize or dress up these items cutely. I simply put them on straight outta the box.

Ok absolutely just f*#! no.

This dress is really cute but I do not neeeed it.

Really love this blouse. Floral, flowy. So me!

The Madewell jeans fit really great but as you can see, they are cropped and skinny. I am trying to avoid skinny jeans (and a side part) RN.

Forgot to photograph this one during my “shoot”. Cute but I know I wouldn’t wear it very much.

Nice lil sweater but nothing to write home about.

I actually really loved this sweatshirt and the color alot. But I feel like the twist front tops had their moment.

This J.Crew top and Vero Moda jeans are aigghht. The shirt sleeves just were not quite long enough and while I did appreciate the relaxed fit of the jeans, I just did not love them.

This top was REALLY soft but not $30 soft.

So – I ended up keeping the floral blouse for $20.99 and sent everything else back. I really enjoyed the experience though, and will definitely be ordering more!

For $10 off your first purchase click here to join and order your own Goody Box! Using the link means I also get credit and promise to show more purchases.

Bath & Body Works Haul

February 5, 20184 Comments

Hello little dingo babies!

I don’t know about you, but I feel there are few greater things than a good sale. You see, I was raised in a household where we never even looked at regular priced items. The front of any store was basically off limits except for Goodwill. In adulthood I have realized that some things must be purchased at the regular price, but most things are attainable for less. Enter: BBW. One of my all-time favorites. Candles, triple-moisture body cream, wallflowers? I love them all. And a few times a year, they mark down all their sh*t. It is a lovely time of year known as the semi-annual sale.

The semi-annnual sale or SAS to any BBW aficionado is a great time indeed. We all race in, dig through giant bins of $3 hand soap, lotion and shower gel! Everything is coated in a thin layer of something that leaked at the bottom of the barrel but WE DON’T CARE. Give us that last, pumpkin cupcake room spray or GIVE US DEATH.

I digress.

Last year, my lovely betrothed gave me a $25 gift card to BBW for Christmas thinking I’d probably come home with a couple of candles, maybe a new fragrance set. HA. Little did he know just how far I can stretch a dollar at the SAS. FEAST YER EYES on this smorgesbord you guys. ALL purchased for just 30 bucks.

Proof:

I attribute a haul of this size and magnitude to sticking almost soley to items 75% off.

This made the wallflowers I bought just about $1.60 each. Aw yiss. In addition to the lovely spring scents below, I also got Marshmallow Fireside which is currently plugged in!

They also had wallflower plugs on sale for 75% off!

These came out to about $3 each and the bronzy one is also a nightlight!

Next – hand soaps. And BBW’s are the best. They smell good, they clean your hands and I also use them to clean my beauty sponges. I got a couple for the end of the year and a couple to enjoy now.

The fall/winter scents were 75% off, coming out to only $1.60 per bottle and the other two were $3 apiece.

I also found this cute honey handsoap which I’ll probably save for winter as well. It was in the $2 range :).

Next they had a wall of random small, one-wick candles for 75% off as well. They ended up coming out to being just a couple of dollars. Some of them were a little bit mucked up but I found three that smell amazing! Beach Cabana is one of my all-time favorite scents from BBW, I would have bought all them if they had more.

I also grabbed one of their wax melts to try in my Yankee warmer. This cost just cents.

I did walk out with a couple body care items for 75% off as well. I knew I was getting the marshmallow body wash because HELLO and when I saw this ROSE scented mousse-to-oil I was like aw yiss.

Using my $25 gift card meant that I left BBW only paying $5 out of pocket. Not bad for a lunchbreak’s work.

And check out the length of this receipt!

Summer Sephora Haul

July 27, 20153 Comments

G’Day Chickadees!

I have a few odd and ends recently purchased at Mecca and so I thought it was time I let you all in on what I got because well, I know you’re DYING to hear.

Sephora Summer Crushes Kit

I had to get this thing because it has SO many of products I have been dying to try. Just feast your eyes…

The Via Liberata tanning mousse alone was reason enough for me to purchase this set. Y’all know I am self-proclaimed tanning product whore and shelling out the $50 to buy the full size just can’t happen right now.

Everything else in the set I cannot WAIT to try. Especially the Lavanila Labratories fragrance, the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray (mermaid hair HERE I COME) and Caudalie Divine Oil which is a HUGE-ASS bottle.

Sephora Classic Mini-Multitasker Brush

Seriously just go to Sephora and feel this puppy. I feel like it could do anything. I plan to keep it in my purse and use it in the following situations:

I get to work and realize my blush def aint on fleek
my aging skin is making my foundation settle into my wrinkles
touch ups! Because duh.

Annnnd for the CROWN JEWEL of this haul….

THE BECCA SHIMMERING SKIN PERFECTOR IN CHAMPAGNE POP

You guys have no clue how excited I am to own this. Think of the most excited you’ve ever been in your life (acing an exam, jumping out of an airplane, etc.) and multiply that times 1,000 and you might begin to understand how freakin’ excited I am to dust this powder sent from baby Jesus on the tops of my cheekbones.

Jaclyn Hill collaborated with Becca on this stuff and she is def one of my all-time favorite YouTubers so this just adds to my excitement.

You guys, just loooooooooooooooooooooooook at the majesty.

I am so in love with this product that I am going to swaddle as if I would my own baby. I’ll sing to it. I’ll raise it to be an individual. This highlighter and I will have a long, loving relationship together.

Forever 31

June 19, 20157 Comments

HAHAHAHAHhahahaaaaa

Already laughing at my own joke per usual 🙂

But really, how great would Forever 31 be? A place where Anthropologie and Ross meet, fall in love, and produce a place where Sam Smith’s angelic voice fills the air. And the racks are stocked with tasteful and age-appropriate cheap sh*t that falls apart after 3 wears. Where a pair of cute shorts you know will only last one summer, but that DO NOT show the bottom of your ass-cheeks, will only set you back $9.80! Where is this place, my friends? WHERE.

So what, if I want a borderline slutty tank that I can wear to book club and drink red wine in (because in your thirties you drink red wine)? And don’t go sayin’ that us 31-year-olds shouldn’t HAVE to shop at F21 anymore because our mid-level jobs are providing us with the means to shop exclusively at Nordy’s. Honey. I don’t care if I make 200 GR a year, I will STILL crave that $24.90 maxi dress.

So until this obvious gap in the market is remedied, I will continue to spend time hunting the racks of my local F21 in hot pursuit of the few items that work for my sassy, 31-year-old self. And here’s what I found.

Embroidered Peasant Shirt

Contrast Button-Down

Textured Striped Skirt

I also found a flowy blush pink racerback tank top that is the perfect color. But I couldn’t find the picture online because there are 21897437 tank tops and aint nobody got time for that.

Assorted Haul

May 29, 2015Leave a comment

Hello kittens!

Today I bring you another haul of a few things I have picked up whilst out and about.

The beauty section at T.J Maxx can be quite treacherous. It’s like everytime I go in there, I feel like I’m swimming in a sea of unknown brands, well-known brands and wondering “why is this Clarins face serum only $19.99?!”. It can be a scary, deep, dark place and navigating around isn’t easy. I find that I can usually tread water fairly well, picking up a random Joico K-Pak conditioner for $7.99 or a bangin’ Essie polish for $3. But other times, I drown. I just do.

My friends, this time I may have plummeted to the ocean floor, with all the muck and bottom-feeders.

Sugar Baby Golden Glamour Instant Self Tan Spray

When I saw this product, I was immediately attracted to the packaging because yes – I am a basic white girl. Throw a pin-up girl on just about anything and us basics go weak in the knees. It was only $8, so I quickly googled the brand and saw decent reviews and high price tags – SCORE! I brought ‘er home to realize two depressing facts:

1.) It was NOT a sunless tanner, instead a spray-on temporary tan (like Airbrush Legs) which wasn’t the end of the world, I just thought I was buying a self tan.

2.) It doesn’t work. The directions recommend laying a towel down under you to protect your floors and surfaces so I just went outside on our ~~dirty~~ balcony and went to town. It literally came out basically SHEER with a subtle brownish-gray tint.

DO NOT BUY THIS.

Shiseido Pureness Foaming Cleansing Fluid

So. I was very hesitant to buy this because there HAS to be a reason a department store brand like Shiseido is at T.J Maxx for $12.99, versus the $30+ this would cost at Nordys. But, I rolled the dice and thought, “Meh, if it’s a little expired I’m sure it’s fine.” And at first I thought it was making me break out. Not like gross cystic whiteheads but those little skin-colored bumps around my hairline. But I persevered and kept using it only to discover that you have to rinse it SUPER well or else it will leave a little film on your skin which is probably what gave me a weird texture.

All in all, it’s fairly good for $12.99 and it also removes makeup.

Justin Bieber Someday Perfume

Y’all are laughing I KNOW, but I could give two sh*ts because I LOVE this perfume. I get compliments on it allll the time and I never tell people what it is. Muaahahahaaa. “Oh this? It’s just m’Biebs.” Can you imagine?

New Tanning Mitts

I recently purchased both the Ulta brand tanning mitt and the St. Tropez one for $1.50 more and guess what?! I like the Ulta brand better. I think normally these are around the same price ($6.50), which is ludicrous that a cheap piece of foam is more than 75 cents AMIRIGHT!?

Bodycology Runaway Heart Sugar Scrub

Self tanning also denotes the official commencement exfoliation season. I really should exfoliate all year, but dead skin + self tanner mixes together about as well as orange juice and toothpaste. I bought this scrub at Target because it was the cheapest one and guess what? I am in loooove with it! Srsly go to Target right now and get yerself a whiff of this because your might change. I need the body spray NOW.

THIS Makeup Bag

OF COURSE I BOUGHT THIS, WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?