Honeymoon Haul + Wedding Bits

June 24, 20144 Comments

As some of you may or may not know, Bryan and I are going to Bali for our honeymoon. We leave on a red eye basically 24 hours after we say “I DO” and could not be more excited.

Source

We figured since we’re putting ourselves through that crazy red-eye, Hep A shots (which were a little B, btw), typhoid vaccinations, and the possibility of Bali Belly, we deserved a few odds and ends to make our stay a little more comfortable and yes, stylish.

Bry hit the mother-load at the Rack, procuring himself swim trunks, a few tee shirts and maybe the odd tank top. My trousseau shall be filled with travel-friendly (read: comfortable) and fun (read: cheap) vacation-wear. In addition was the SAS at Victoria’s Secret and a pair of falsies spotted at Sephora that I just HAD to try.

Here are the goods!

From Target:

I chose this bikini for two reasons. One, the top is push-up and two, the bottoms ARE NOT string-tie. Why doesn’t target have a 30 years + swim section?

I am usually not a fan of maxi skirts (ON ME) because I always end up feeling like they are a bit too short and I don’t think it is appropriate to “sag” your maxi skirt. This one however, I am excited to wear with, wait for it…CROP TOPS. Yes, m’friends. I shall don a crop top and bare my upper tum-tum to the world!

I decided to grab this little white pocket crop-top to pair not only with the tulip skirt but also with a pair of shorts to wear possibly over a swim suit. We shall see how I feel about it.

From T.J Maxx

There is the classiest T.J Maxx downtown Portland. You wouldn’t think it, but every time I go, I am treated to perfectly arranged clothing racks, sparkling dressing rooms and a well-stocked candle section. A + downtown T.J. A+.

Boring navy tank. I SWEAR this brand from T.J Maxx makes the softest tees and tank tops. They are always under $7.99 and I mean, you just CANNOT beat that.

Shorts like these were all over the store. And being the true Maxxinista that I am, I had to partake. Dare I say, they look a bit like pajamas but I feel like Bali will welcome this look. Plus, they have a stretchy waist band. YES please!

They had a TON of makeup brushes this time around. Some off-brands that I had never heard of, but also ones by Borghese and Models Own. I decided to grab this little blending brush because it was $2.99 and it looked decent.

Sephora & Victoria’s Secret

I spotted these at Sephora a few weeks ago and was all, “yeah right”, they cannot be real mink. Well, jury’s still out. I haven’t the slightest idea of what they are truly made of, but really, I don’t care. Just look at that crazy lash action. I think these might be a wedding-day contender, and at $10, they didn’t break the bank.

I spent a mere $13 on ALL of these goodies (gotta love that SAS). A VS Heavenly (my FAVE VS scent) body wash, Lip Plumper in Baby Pink, purse-sized Heavenly Body Mist and a nail polish in String Bikini. Don’t mind if I do!

And that’s it for my haul – check back soon for a re-cap of our awesome weekend!

Happenings

June 21, 20143 Comments

Bryan was in San Francisco for 3 days this week. While he was gone, here is what I did:

Woke up super early in the morning and immediately made the bed.
Painted my nails purple (which is NOT an approved color around here. ~~HUSKIES~~) And let it be said that Zoya might be my new favorite brand of polish.

Watched Orange is the New Black Season 2. V scares the BEJESUS outta me and wtf was the part with her and her son? Like, no V. I definitely DO NOT want to see your sweaty boobs.
Ate an entire box of Fruity Cheerios.
Did one 20 minute elliptical sesh.

mmm

WINNING at life.

While OITNB fed my appetite for racy, over-the-top sensationalized television, I still needed something to wet my wholesome-TV whistle. Enter, The Paradise. Has anyone seen this? It takes place in a period I like to generalize as, the olden days and focuses on a cast of characters whom all work at the “first ever department store”, The Paradise. Basically it’s amazing and the main character looks kinda like Legolas. It’s BBC and is getting me through the weeks until PLL is on. DON’T judge.

We receive wedding gifts to our home what feels like on the daily. Beautiful things are unwrapped, squealed over and then sadly, tucked back into tissue paper and stored for later use #threekitchencupboardsproblems.

I am going through candles like cray ~~kinda like m’programs.~~ Therefore, I visited my BBW during the semi-annual to stock the F up. No such luck. 50% off. 50% percent off!? Like, no! I want $6 3-wicks. $5 3-wicks. I want foaming handsoaps for $2.50 and wallflowers for $5. Maybe I missed the opening days and good deals, because mama wasn’t happy.

My gal Lacey and I went out for lunch to La Provence and had the best time chatting over salads and of course Diet Cokes. The place was adorbs and I kind of wanted to move in. We both got stuff from the pastry cake on our way out because really, how could we not!?

Lemon, Chocolate and Almond Macarons

I FINALLY got the throw from Pottery Barn I have been DYING OVER for like 2 years. It only comes out on the floor during the winter months and rarely does it go on sale. We had a couple of gift cards and decided it was time to take the plunge. Yes, $129 is a lot for a throw but it is worth EVERY PENNY.

Our First Portland Hike

June 19, 20142 Comments

Hey hey hey!

Last weekend, as a treat for Bryan completing the CFA exam, I decided to grace him with my presence on the hiking trail.

You see, while living in Jackson Hole, I lured Bryan into my clutches by pretending that I was somewhat of a hard-core hiking lady. Of course this couldn’t be further from the truth, but months of running had given my body the aptitude to take on 10 mile + hikes and thousands of feet in elevation gain. So, I would ho-hum along the hiking trail, impressing him with my ugly-but-cool hiking pants and alleged excitement of yet 75 more switchbacks.

Since then, things have somewhat changed.

While I do enjoy the out-of-doors and the odd camping trip, the boy is mine (as Brandy and Monica might say). I no longer have to work for his affection, and thus – I let my freak flag fly.

I wear whatever I feel suits me best when I hike. Be it a sparkly VS hoodie circa 2006 or knee socks with shorts. Within the first 15 or so minutes, at least 2-4 complaints have escaped my mouth and probably another couple requests for the water bottle, granola bar, etc. I am needy. I talk too much. I get mad. But I’m also a darn good time.

Bryan and I decided to do a loop around Multanomah Falls, the largest waterfall in Oregon. We started out on a paved black-top and I must have made the comment, “Oh, I just love that this is paved!” about a million times. It was steep, but at least it wasn’t all rocky and full of tree roots.

The hike was full of twists and turns, bridges over bubbling brooks and mini waterfalls. It was DEFINITE unicorn territory.

As the pavement slowly faded into earth, so did my motivation. My muscles were tired, the muggy air made my whole body sticky and I knew we weren’t even halfway done. Bryan told me we had gained about 1,200 feet and for that, I was grateful.

Just before we reached our destination towards the top, I realized that my sentiments towards hiking, mirror the stages of grief.

1. Shock and denial – The initial shock of going uphill is never good. I’ll often ask myself, “I don’t remember signing up for this!”

2. Pain and Guilt – The pain has set in. I’m hurting and I want to stop and devour all the m&ms out of the trail mix. But I don’t. I keep going because I will feel bad if I poop out now.

3. Anger and Bargaining – Then I just get MAD. Real mad. I see Bryan easily handling the steepness and I just wanna throw my water bottle at his head. Why is he putting me through this? Then I’ll try to barter, “Hey, if you go down and get the car now, I’ll make cookies for you tonight!”.

4. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness – After the anger has subsided, I’m just sad. Why is this hike so hard for me, yet so easy for all these other people? A tear might escape my eye. Bryan is now a good 15 paces ahead of me. “He doesn’t even care”, I think.

5. The Upward Turn – This is usually when we reach the top, or whatever destination we have been going towards. I know we are now going downhill and so I smile.

6. Reconstruction and Working Through – I’ve now told Bryan that I hate this hike, I hate these trees. I’m recovering from my tantrum and as the sweat dries up, so does my anger.

7. Acceptance and Hope – I’ve done it. It is over and I am better because of it. This is where I get really chatty, lovey-dovey and want to stop for little breaks to snap pics, hold hands and breathe in the moment.

You see? It totally applies. Which brings me to my next idea, which is – hikes that ONLY go downhill. Yes please.

Influenster Spring Fling Vox Box

June 16, 20148 Comments

So.

If you are active on the social medias, have a blog or BOTH than you need to be signed up for Influenster if you haven’t already.

It took me about 10 minutes, I linked up all my SM accounts and BAM – 2 weeks later I was notified that I would be receiving the Spring Fling Vox Box. FOR FREE. Yes, my friends. I actually received free things. I feel like a real, live beauty blogger. Who is begged by major brands to promote their goods and services on the daily. I’m SO cool you guys.

AnyWHO – yes. Anyone can sign up, so give ‘er a try. I have no referral link and am not getting a dime for talking about any of these products. I just like free stuff. Simple as that.

Here’s what I got!

Kiss Press-On Nails

I am really excited to put these on. I have tried the Impression ones and they were SO thick that I couldn’t run my fingers through my hair without ripping out 20 strands. These look pretty and fairly natural, obvs I will report back.

Nivea Skin Firming Body Lotion

I am already a huge fan of Nivea. This formula seems like it’s RIGHT up my alley though – skin firming!? Yes please.

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Retro Glam Mascara

When I think of retro glam eyelashes, I think Twiggy. Yes, I will take a set of those! I am not sure about the hourglass brush, but of course I will give it a shot.

Peach Cobbler Air Freshener

This was to promote the movie Labor Day…whatevs. You guys know I love me some car air fresheners, esp the ones by Yankee. Not too sure about the peach cobbler scent and how that would mix with dirty hiking clothes in the back of Bry’s Jeep.

Softlips 5 in 1 Cube

I am SO PUMPED to try this little sucker out. It seems all the chapstick brands are trying to emulate the EOS balms (which I find to be fairly waxy, btw, they do work well as a lipstick base though). This will get lots of use this summer!

Playtex Sport Tampons

Let’s just go ahead and discuss this, shall we? Ew. Free feminine hygiene products are always a win in my book, I hate buying them. Also, I love that there is a chick hurdling on the box. It’s the stupidest predicament to feature, like how many women that buy these actually hurdle? Why not show a woman sitting on the couch with seven blankets, a Bud Light tall-boy and a Dance Moms marathon. MUCH more accurate if you ask me.

That’s all she wrote, folks.’Til next time!

Engagement Photo Prep

June 1, 20142 Comments

Happy Weekend BBs!

Tomorrow, (well today if you’re reading this on Sunday) we are taking our engagement pics. IknowIknow, it’s like 3 minutes before our wedding (really it’s 34 days) but SHUT UP, we’re just a little late mmmkay?

So today, while Bryan took 4,000 practice exams and calculated derivatives I got ourselves ready to put on our Sunday clothes. I chose two dresses a week ago at Express that I died over. I am wearing ONLY dresses in these pics because I am a classy broad. I am outfitting Mr. Nash is slacks, crisp oxfords, khakis and a casual button-down. Call me old-fashioned but there’s something about a couple posing sweetly in sandblasted, rhinestone encrusted denim in a park that makes me shutter. Hence, we shall opt for the route more tradish.

I also needed to procure a couple beauty aids to make me into an attractive human being.

1.) A new set a’falsies

These’ll do ya.

2.) Napoleon Perdis Boudior Mist Foundation…totally NOT a necessity but me and Christian (at the Portland Nordstrom) determined that yes, actually it is.

I am really anxious to give this baby a test-drive as I wore it all day and it performed like a champ. FLAWLESS coverage, like air-brushing, paraben free and it DOES NOT BUDGE. Boom-shakalaka!

This morning I painted my feet with Sally Hansons Ruby Sequin and my fingers with Mod About You and obvs slathered Out the Door topcoat for a high-shine, LOCK-IT-DOWN look.

Next I showered and applied my Michael Todd Pumpkin Mask (which STINGS btw, youch!). I rinsed that off and let two SKYN under eye skin-cooling pads do their thang for 15 minutes. After that, I self-tanned with the Tarte Maracuja Self Tanner and watched 1/2 an episode of Scandal naked while waiting for it to dry.

After that, I applied Moroccon Oil and Pureology 21 Benefits to my hair and wide-tooth combed it. Five minutes later, I went in with my Heat Tamer Spray and let that sink in before blowing my hair dry upside down.

Later tonight, I plan to brush through my extensions and get them prepped for curling tomorrow. After I iron our clothes and consume a couple BLLs I should be all set 🙂

Wish us luck! I’ll obviously be sharing the photos…duh.

What’s in my Bag

May 20, 2014May 20, 2014Leave a comment

I am such a sucker for these.

Whether it’s in a magazine, on YouTube or a blog – “what’s in my bag?” gets me err’ time. Esp when it’s like Cara Delevingne’s bag. It straight turns me into that chick from Mean Girls:

Anywho – onto the goods!

Currently I am using the Tory Burch Holly shoulder bag in vintage vechetta. Pretty fancy name for a brown purse, it was a gift from The Bry and I lurrve it.

Thank you Cards

Thanks Target Dollar Bins!

I always have thank you cards with me for some reason. I mean, you never know when you will be sitting at your desk and realize “CRAP! I never sent my aunt a thank you for bringing me cupcakes last week when I had a cold!!” You see? They are essential.

2. Wallet

Why YES. That IS a senior picture of The Bry himself!

This would be my black Hobo wallet purchased at Jackson Hole Bootlegger on sale. It was a HUGE splurge at the time and has served me quite well over the past 3 or so years.

3. Mini Makeup Bag

Valentines Gift from Bry’s Mom!

Contents include NYX Butter Gloss in eclair, Mac Fleur d’Coral lipstick, chapstick from Whistler that was $6, Rimmel blush and Covergirl blush brush, Yaby concealer, Jo Malone samples in Peony & Blush Suede and a mini Origins mascara. Whew!

4. Various Meds

For my ailments.

5. BBW Hand Lotion in Warm Vanilla Sugar

How can you not love this scent? I like it all year long. The formula is actually decently thick and moisturizing too.

6. Glasses and glasses cloth

SNOOZE.

7. Various Coupons

99.9% of the coupons I clip never actually get used. When I do remember to use a coupon, I feel SO triumphant. Like, I could have $200 of useless crap in my cart from Target, but if I used a $1 off coupon on ANYTHING I am SUCH the bargainista!

8. Weekly Planner

Let’s be honest. Since there are no kids, job, or house to run (haha, like I ever did that anyway) my planner now contains such momentous events as “last day to use 20% Ulta coupon” or “Dance Moms Marathon”. You know, the IMPORTANT things in life.

Enthralling, I know! What is a staple in YOUR bag??

Hello Portland

May 16, 20142 Comments

Hello Newman.

Well hi and a ho there!

I am officially blogging at ya live from Portland, Oregon. How mighty good it feels to be done with moving. All the annoying cardboard boxes are broken down and awaiting a she-she recycling bin here in what seems to be the “green” mecca. Summer clothes are hanging in the closets awaiting weekend trips to Canon Beach and of course, local pizza has been ordered. Are we Portlandians or what?

The new place!

It all started last Saturday, when two movers showed up at our house and managed to fit all our worldly possessions into one moving truck. I drove the Jeep down early with the important, ULTRA fragile stuff (read: my makeup, perfumes and the 2 crystal wine glasses we own). I arrived to gray skies and a townhouse that had not been cleaned. SONOFA.

Whatevs. We shoved the 5 boxes or so on top of the rubble (and I do mean rubble, the place was recently renovated) and headed out for much-needed drinks and food. Substantially woozy an well-fed, we blew up the air mattress we brought along for the evening. Our movers weren’t coming until the morning so we had to “rough it” the first night. And rough it, we did.

We went for a little walk around our surroundings and I looked like a regular doofus in m’white tenni-runners. The idiot that is me forgot to pack an extra pair of normal shoes in my overnight bag. Such a tourist.

That night, I woke up no less than 38 times, as did Bryan. Our air mattress, while somewhat comfy, is definitely NOT the king bed we are used to. The next day when the movers arrived to unload the truck – my crazy mind decided it was the perfect time for a mild panic attack. So I peaced and left the boys doing what they do best.

After my walk and brush with hurricane Farrah (my panic attacks warrant the names of catastrophic weather patterns) I was back and BETTAH THAN EVA. Bryan and I spent the day leisurely unpacking, having newspaper fights and stopping for beers on our front stoop petting our neighbors dogs.

I’M KIDDING.

Really, we were hot, smelly and already mad we moved here. I tuckered myself out after our lunch of Jimmy John’s and promptly PTI’FO.

That night, per tradish we ordered pizza for dinner and selected a place called Hot Lips Pizza. Later, it was decided that we liked it. Win! We ate delicious chocolate cookies that my boss sent me off with and went to bed with happy tum-tums.

Monday morning Bry had to go to work, which meant housewife Natalie got to show her true colors. And per Bryan, “she worked it”. I spent the day and I do mean THE DAY getting the place organized. We’re talkin 7:30-5 here folks. Of SOLID work.

Since our new place isn’t as, *ahem* spacious as our 2,600 square-foot house we moved from (imagine), I had to economize a bit. Which means that things like winter clothes, that fancy stock pot, or my 10,000 cookbooks are and will remain in a box. There simply isn’t the closet space for all of our clothes, winter coats, ski pants and all my tap shoes (kidding).Luckily, we have a spare office space off the garage we can use to store any extraneous items.

What else did I do, you ask?

Re-folded and categorized each piece of clothing into neat and tidy piles, put away
Moved furniture up and down the stairs by MYSELF
Arranged the guest room (it is to die)
Completed 4 hip thrusts
Organized all beauty products according to function
Organized all makeup into my vanity
Arranged candle collection in drawers
Sang Baby Beluga by Raffi X 8

By the time Bry got home from work that night, I was FINISHED. And he was astounded. I really wowed him, esp with the guest bedroom. I wish I had taken before and afters. It’s like HGTV quality. The second bedroom might just be the crown jewel of our new digs, probably because I hung up all my girly stuff Bryan hates! tee hee

And because Bry got a fancy new phone and I was feeling all proud of my work, I did a little room tour! (apologies that the camera is the wrong direction, I’m still a novice).

So here we are. Living in a brand new city. Getting lost all time and using our phones to navigate us two blocks to the Nordstrom. Realizing we live in a really cool area by the river where everyone has cute dogs and nice legs. Where we are surrounded by bars, restaurants and plenty of weird Portland-folk who have proven to be the BEST people-watching of probably my entire life.

What’s next? It’s anyone’s guess!

Til next time.