It's New Years Eve and I've never been more excited to say goodbye to a year. This year was filled with lots of trials & tribulations, both personally and in society. I lost my dad, moved into a new apartment, dealt with some friendship & family issues, struggled at work, dealt with my anxiety, and just in all, it was a more difficult year.

I don't think I've ever been happy for a year to end and leave in the past as I am of 2016. Still, that being said, I hate New Years Eve. I hate the parties, I hate the change, I hate the pressure to dress up & have fun.

My mom & sister are going to a party tonight and I'll be meeting them later, right before midnight. I just feel like I need to do something for me. Why should I make myself miserable at a party where I don't know (or like) anyone, just because it's New Years and just because I HAVE too?

That was a major lesson this year... to just be me and do things for me instead of what I feel like I should be doing. I've spent so much time doing what I thought I should be doing instead of what I wanted too.

Am I excited for the New Year? I don't know. I don't think so. As I get older, everything starts to blur together and I almost can't tell the years apart.

I don't think I did as much as I wanted to in 2016 so maybe 2017 will be the year I actually do the projects I want... like writing a book & actually finishing it, or producing blog content that is outstanding, and really launching my freelance writing career.

I want to do so much, and need to find the motivation, energy, and strength to do it all.

Does this make sense or am I rambling?

It's probably a little of both... but I'm done with depressing, rambling thoughts.

I haven't written a weekly wrap up post in a few weeks, but I thought I'd post my favorite blog posts of the year instead of my favorite links of the week!


I already talked about all my favorite books, accessories, and beauty products, so it feels appropriate to talk about my blog posts.

Here are the ones that were the most read:

And here are my favorites that I wrote... 

I hope you all enjoyed the year and I hope you have a fabulous New Years Eve and ring in 2017 with your friends, family, and loved ones. Thank you for giving me another year of Royally Pink, and thank you for reading and all the love & support. Here's to 2017!

xoxo
B
We've discussed books, accessories, and now we are onto beauty. Beauty is my number one love, and I think 2016 was the year that beauty really exploded; 2014 & 2015 were warm ups and this year, the beauty industry took it's rightful place as a booming industry.

Working in the industry is very exciting because everything is changing and evolving in the best ways possible. Youtube, social media, and beauty influencers have changed the game greatly and brands are giving into that. They are developing products more on par with trends, and collaborations with influencers aren't going anywhere.

This was the year that I reigned in my beauty buying a bit, and discovered the art of returning and selling unnecessary things. Because of this, I was able to discover what I really liked and what worked for me.

beauty favorites-2016-anastasia-tarte-kylie


In no particular order...

  • Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit: If this wasn't the year of Kylie Cosmetics, what will be? Myself, and the rest of the world, became addicted to scoring lip kits & other Kylie products when they were released, but then she got down a formula to have the site regularly stocked. I have 8 lip kits and I wrote a Brand Buzz here, but I still need to get my hands on the eyeshadow palettes! 
  • Anastasia Master Palette by Mario: I tried to not purchase a lot of eyeshadow palettes this year (that's my general rule of thumb) but this was the palette I was most excited for this year. My beauty in review post is here, but the palette is super pigmented, versatile, and I love it.
  • Tarte Shape Tape Concealer: One of the most talked about concealers this year and with good reason. It's blendable, full coverage, and doesn't settle into any lines or creases. Blending it with your finger, beauty blender, or brush will give you awesome results. It's the only concealer I've been reaching for in recent months. 
beauty favorites-2016-anastasia-tarte-kylie


Below are some honorable mentions: 


What were your favorite beauty products of 2016?

xoxo
B
DISCLAIMER: This was a post I found in my queue from TWO YEARS AGO. I searched the blog and never found it, so therefore I don't think it was ever posted.

PPS: This was SO FREAKING GOOD and now I want to make it again!

********

I don't cook nearly as much as I want too. I always see recipes and have such a desire to go out to the grocery store and buy all the ingredients to cook up some fabulous, unique meal.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've always loved baking and experimenting with food and as I got older, along with the invention of Pinterest, that desire has only increased.

I've definitely made a few Pinterest dinners and desserts before, some hits and some misses, but I never let that get me down.

A few weeks back, before Thanksgiving, I was watching so many cooking shows and surfing Pinterest, and was feeling so inspired...and awfully hungry.

I saw a recipe and decided to try it out.



I wanted something easy, quick, and something I knew I would love. I was set with the task of cooking dinner that night for me and my mom so it seemed like perfect timing.

Chicken Alfredo Bake






Ingredients

-1 box of pasta of your choice (I used Penne)
-Alfredo Sauce (I didn't know where to start with making my own so I used jarred sauce)
-Baked Chicken (Chicken cutlets will probably work fine but I bought a store rotisserie chicken and it worked fine)
-Shredded Mozzarella Cheese





Instructions

1. Boil pasta in salt water, al dente (tender but not fully cooked, it will continue to cook in the oven)
2. Heat Alfredo sauce in microwave or separate saucepan until hot
3. Shred chicken into small pieces
4. Once pasta is cooked, combine pasta, chicken, and sauce in a greased baking pan.
5. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese
6. Bake in 350 degree oven until top of the pasta bake is golden brown (or until you like it)
7. Let sit for a few minutes and dig in!

This is one of those recipes that is nearly impossible to mess up. Everything is already precooked so it's just a matter of cooking them together. Also, you are in complete control of everything...if you like your pasta a little harder, don't cook it as long...if you want to use a different kind of cheese—go right ahead! It can be whatever you want!

I have to say, this was so delicious. It's basically baked ziti, just with Alfredo sauce. It was cheesy, gooey, and such a great comfort food. It didn't even last the night...after dinner was over, later in the evening, both me and my mom went back for seconds.

Happy cooking!
Yesterday was filled with all my favorite books of the year. Books are one of my favorite things in the world, and I explained that in yesterday's post.

Today, I want to discuss my other favorite items: accessories. I have always and will always be the girl who loves accessories. When I was little, whenever I'd go into a store, I was drawn to the jewelry, handbags, and as my mom would call it "junk" section. I never cared for clothes, maybe because I hated trying them on and accessories were fit for everyone, but I always wanted bags and wallets and keychains and phone cases.

I'm not a shoe girl, and while I love clothes, I don't need the fanciest or most expensive. I'm more simple when it comes to my clothes. I live for comfort with a bit of style. I don't need what's trending, I just need to feel like me.

Accessories on the other hand, I always needed and I needed the new ones. I want the latest handbag or the newest jewelry trend; I was also always the bag lady. I keep everything and anything in my bag. I am always prepared, but maybe that's more to to with my Type A personality and not my love of accessories.

That being said, I wanted to count down my favorite accessories of 2016. That seems a bit silly but this year was the height of my shopping habit, but also the downfall of my beauty habit. I purchased more home decor and more accessories and jewelry than beauty.

This year was the height of my love of Kate Spade, and the newly ignited passion for Henri Bendel, which resulted in all of these favorites.

accessories-favorite-2016

accessories-favorite-2016

accessories-favorite-2016

accessories-favorite-2016



  • Hello Kate Spade Phone Case: Does this count? I got this from my mom for Christmas but I've been obsessed with it. I've wanted a flip phone case like this forever and while I loved this one from Kate Spade, the moment I saw THIS one, I knew I had to have it. I feel so fancy having a leather phone case and that's the point of my entire well being: to feel fancy. 
  • Henri Bendel Planner: I've ranted and raved about my Lilly Pulitzer planner for ages, and I've tried other planners but they never live up to par. That changed this year though. I used my Lilly Pulitzer planner from August-November but it got a little heavy in my bag (another favorite we'll talk about in a minute). When I saw that Henri Bendel released their 2017 planners, I had to buy one. The illustrations of Henri Bendel just get to me and I have to have everything with the illustrations on it. I bought it and I fell in love; I couldn't wait for December 1st to start using it. It's really organized and I feel so fancy using it (see, fancy is a buzzword for me). I don't mind not having colorful pages, but it just makes planning easy. I still use my Lilly planner at home for day to day at home stuff. 
  • Kate Spade Card Case: I felt like I needed something small to carry my work ID and metro card in, and who better to turn to than Kate Spade! I have a larger Kate Spade wallet that I use for day to day stuff but that was just too heavy & too big to carry every day on the train. I found this tiny card case and I've been obsessed with it. It fits 4 cards & some cash, so ideal for the working gal like myself. (The exact one I have isn't available anymore but here is a similar one) When Kate Spade released these personalized stickers, my aunt bought me 2 when we went to the Kate Spade store in New Jersey for the first time! Such a favorite of the year. 
  • Henri Bendel Jetsetter Backpack: When I discovered Henri Bendel, the first thing I knew I needed was their signature backpack. Backpacks are in style again and I wanted to get in on the trend. I purchased this bag a few months ago and it's been so wonderful. It's nice to have your hands free on the train and traveling to work. It fits a lot more than you' think, and is very light. I want to do a "whats in my bag" post about it and will hopefully get to that soon! 

  • Kate Spade Wink Drive Bag: This is a tote I've talked about before but it's my favorite bag of the year. I love the felt material, and the design, and how it's so structured. I get so many compliments when I wear it, even from complete strangers, which is not something I hear very often, but it's an incredible bag! (Currently out of stock on KateSpade.com but if you see it ANYWHERE, pick it up!)

Below are a few honorable mentions of the year!:






What accessories were your favorite this year?

xoxo
B
I think this was the year of books for me. I mean, every year is a year of books because I'm obsessed with reading and always have been. Ever since I could remember, I loved book stores and cracking open a new book and getting lost in it. Books are my life and it lead to my love of writing.

Starting around when I was 13, till the age of 17, I asked my book loving aunt for a basket of books for Christmas. And every year, I got around 25 books to read for the year... that's how addicted to books I am.

When deciding what I wanted to write about this week leading up to the New Year, I thought I'd do a yearly favorites of my favorite items, so today is books.

This was the year that I decided to stop my silly rule of reading only one book at a time. I always felt that I couldn't focus on more than one book at a time, but this year that went out the window. I listened to one book, read a few physical books, and a few on my Nook. That way, when I didn't feel like one book, I had another I could read.

That got me thinking... I enjoyed and read a lot of books this year and I read a lot of books that I really didn't like, which was kind of a first for me. There were hardly ever books I didn't like!

I thought I'd break down my top 5 favorite books that I read this year. Not all the books were released this year, but it's what I enjoyed this year!

Without further ado... (These books aren't listed in order, expect for the 1st one)

PS: I'm almost not going to go into major detail, as I've written Book Review Wednesdays for every book on the list, that I will link below.

book reviews-best books of 2016-yearly book reviews



  • The Selection Series: This was without a doubt my favorite series of the year. I've been wanting to read The Selection for YEARS, probably ever since it was released but I never got around to it. Finally, I did and I was addicted. I finished reading it within 6 hours... seriously, I stayed up all night to read the entire series and I haven't done something like that since I was 14 years old. It was dramatic, romantic, had a little bit of action, and had a monarchy! It was the Hunger Games meets The Bachelor and I was addicted. Please, read this series. You WILL NOT REGRET IT. Read my entire review here!
  • Me Before You: Another book I've been meaning to read and never did. The movie being released is what pushed me to read it and I'm so glad I did. This book was truly a romance story that rivals The Notebook (did I just say that?) but it's true. It was a beautiful, tragic love story & I loved every moment of it. Read my review here.
  • The Dollhouse: 2016 was the year of the thriller for me and while this doesn't necessarily fall in that category, it doesn't NOT fall in that category. I loved that it took place in the past and present, and that there were so many twists and turns. It wasn't Gone Girl but it was truly very interesting. Read my review here.
  • The Couple Next Door: A true page turner that rivals other suspenseful thrillers. A couple's baby goes missing and no one was in the house expect for them -- you think you know what's going on and then suddenly you don't. It's incredible! Read my full review here.
  • All the Missing Girls: So I said this wasn't in order, but I think this is right behind The Selection for my favorite book of the year. I don't know what it was, but it pulled me in. Romance, suspense, family drama... this book had everything. I listened to it on Audible but I honestly may buy it to physically read. Read my full review here.
What were your favorite books of the year?

xoxo
B
I hope you all had a great holiday weekend with your loved ones! I'm so sad to see Christmas go, but excited for a fresh start in 2017. I'm off from work the entire week so I'm planning on doing lots of writing, lounging, and watching Netflix!

Now, for a different kind of Manicure Monday....

I've been experimenting with other nail polish brands aside from Essie. The most reasonable place to start is with the other drugstore empire, OPI.

I've tried some OPI polishes through the years, and they are some of my favorite shades ever. From the Washington DC collection to my favorite Pumpkin Spice shade, they are some fabulous nail polishes. Good formulas, unique colors, and good quality; OPI is the brand that I won't technically buy on my own expect if I find a color that I must have.

However, when I found out that OPI was releasing a Breakfast at Tiffany's collection, I nearly jumped out of my skin. I adore Audrey Hepburn & Breakfast at Tiffany's, so I knew I needed this. To my surprise, my job was doing a partnership with OPI and we received most of the collection to photograph & use for social media purposes!



Therefore, I have the entire collection (minus one or two shades that I gave away) and my mind is blown.





I now have the ability to try out a handful of OPI polishes and truly test them out. I've already had my hands in some of them (more on that later), but I'm obsessed with all the colors.

From deep, dark reds to a true Tiffany blue color, and glitter top coats, there is something in this collection for everyone. There is a mixture of classic OPI formulas to their new Infinite Shine Gel collection.







By far my favorites of the collection are:





For Christmas, I decided to go with Ring the Buzzer Again and a touch of Champagne for Breakfast. Both of them applied beautifully and evenly, no complaints at all.



As for the other products I used I had the Formula X FIX Treatment on for a few days as my base coat, so I didn't apply a new one. I then used the Glisten & Glow top coat and ORLY Flash Dry Drops. I do have some chipping, 3 days later, but it was lots of cooking, cleaning, and opening gifts; also, I think reds are more prone to chipping on me!

All in all, I'm pleased with the first two polishes I tried and I can't wait to use the rest! 

xoxo
B

Christmas in Season

in , , , by RoyallyPink, 1:20 PM
There hasn't been much Christmas talk on the blog this season, expect for the Christmas decor post. That wasn't intentional and it wasn't because I'm not in the Christmas spirit, because I definitely am!

It's been nonstop Christmas movies, treats, sitting around the tree, and just soaking in it. Right now I'm wearing this Noel sweatshirt & Santa socks.

I didn't want to do a gift guide (even though I'll include something similar later in this post) because everyone always does gift guides and I don't think I have anything new to offer. Also because I have YET to finish Christmas shopping -- tomorrow is my day!

Christmas is going to be difficult this year because of my dad, but I'm determined to make it a good one.

I'll be celebrating Christmas Eve at my house with my mom's family & we'll be doing the classic Italian tradition of 7 fishes ... seriously, it's the best ever! Christmas Eve is always a little more exciting for me and it always has been. I love the anticipation of the entire day/night... it's just so much fun!



All of this being said, I wanted to at least acknowledge the holiday on Royally Pink, so below you'll find some recipes I can't wait to whip up tonight & tomorrow, along with my favorite last minute gifts.

Funfetti Shortbread Bites

Peppermint Oreo Truffles
Vanilla Cranberry Mimosas
Below are some last minute, tiny gifts for people you may have forgotten, a Christmas dinner hostess, or some little stocking stuffers!



Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!
xoxo
B
The love affair with Drybar is still going as strong as ever but it came to an all time high in mid November when I purchased the Drybar Tress Press Digital Styling Iron & the 3-Day Bender Curling Iron.

I have very thick, unruly, frizzy and coarse hair. My mom & sister have the same exact hair, so when you have three women with horrific hair, you go through hot tools like hot cakes.

The curling iron we had broke, and the straightener we had was on it's way out so I decided to splurge and buy both items.

I got the Tress Press iron at Ulta when I had a coupon and I purchased the 3-Day Bender Curling Iron from QVC and it was a little cheaper than it is usually, and it came with some mini Drybar products.

Both products are incredible, and definitely some of the best I've ever used. I really don't know how to use a curling iron so I was skeptical about buying this, but it's very, very easy to use. I don't know if I just learned how to use the iron or if this is super easy, but it's great! My hair always holds a curl so I don't know if this item is a testament to that, but it does get very hot & creates a great curl.

beauty in review-beauty-hair-drybar


The Tress Press is one of the best irons I've ever used, right behind a classic Chi iron. It does leave my hair slightly static but it heats up to 450 degrees, which I think a lot of irons only go to 400. I use the Drybar Prep Rally heat protectant so I'm not that worried about putting the heat on my hair.

The degrees makes all the difference because my hair has never been so quick to straighten.

Both of these items get an A+ from me so if you're in the market for a new iron or curling iron, definitely check these out! I do recommend buying from Nordstrom or Sephora because they have the most lenient return policies if the tools aren't to your liking!

xoxo
B


This box was sent to me in exchange for review but all opinions are my own

For me, it was the year of POPSUGAR Must Have and I'm so happy to have received this box again. Thank you to POPSUGAR for always partnering with me -- one of the reasons that I love this company so much.

In the New Year, I will for sure be subscribing to this bad boy again. 

The theme of the December box was of course Christmas & holiday related -- straight from the booklet that comes with the box "festive, snowy, white, minimalist, giving, celebrations"

This might be the best box all year round, and I think a lot of December subscriptions boxes are the  best because it's the end of the year & all about the holidays.

It was definitely my favorite box and truly Christmas themed in so many ways.

popsugar-must have-december

popsugar-must have-december

popsugar-must have-december


Odeme Catchall & Ring Dish: I could never get enough jewelry trays so these are right up my alley. They're neutral, elegant, and gorgeous! 

Baublebar Snowfall Pendant: The first ever BaubleBar item I owned was thanks to POPSUGAR so I'm happy to have another item in the box. It's a gorgeous pendant necklace (I've really been into them lately) and I'm excited to wear this throughout the rest of the holiday season.

Mane Message Date Night Bobby Pins: I don't know if I'll get much use out of these because my hair refuses to keep a clip in, so we'll see. They are very cute though.

Winky Lux Lip Pill in Bunny: I've heard some things about Winky Lux, an indie beauty brand. This is an adorable lipstick in a neutral, cranberry shade that I can't wait to try out.

Sisters Gourmet Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix: I love the idea of the one jar cookie mixes and I've been waiting to try one out. I will for sure be making these bad boys for Christmas Eve.

Dessange Top Coat Serum: I love Dessange haircare so I'm excited to try this serum; it's basically just a hair oil to keep your hair shiny & smooth, but I bet it's awesome.

If you want to grab a box, use the code SHOP5 for $5 off! 

xoxo
B

We're 8 days away from Christmas Eve and I couldn't be more excited. I'll be sad to see the season be over but happy to say goodbye to 2016!

Right now I'm writing this from a hotel room in Pennsylvania because I'm at QVC for another work trip! BTW; I started my job's first blog so please go check it out!

This week was filled with odd stressors but also a lot of fun stuff... like winning The College Prepster's Kate Spade giveaway! I mean, how exciting is that? She emailed me on Monday and I received my prize on Thursday before I left for PA.

How adorable is this bag and keychain pairing?

Cameron Street Lane
Champagne Bottle Keychain

Here are the links I loved this week:

I got another article published on Elite Daily so please go check it out. It was definitely a hard article to publish.

Also, subscribe & listen to the Basic Bri podcast! I'm trying to get it up and running and a little more professional but its so much fun to record every week! 

Have a great weekend everyone!

xoxo
B
This was one of the last thriller books I read before taking my plunge back into the celebrity memoirs. It was a really good book for a send off out of this phase; I really enjoyed the entire plot, the narrator and everything about it.

"What She Knew" is a thriller by Gilly Macmillan that was released last December and it was her first novel ever released. Well, what a novel.

It wasn't on the edge of your seat thriller, but the last few chapters were wild. Like all good thrillers, in my opinion, it had the classic twist where you just didn't see it coming. You're floored beyond words and you want to scream and throw the book across the room.

Or that's just me...

What She Knew centered around a kidnapping/missing child. It's set in England, where all my favorite books take place, and Rachel is out with her son Ben when he runs ahead of her, and suddenly is gone.

what she knew-book review wednesday-royally pink


Rachel is divorced from Ben's dad, but all seems well in the Jenner household. There isn't any prolonging drama between the parents, and everything seems very ordinary.

The book is a little slow at the beginning, not in the boring way, but in the way that a lot of time passes before they find anything related to the missing boy. There are a lot of suspects, with pretty good motive, but none of them stick.

Also like all good thrillers, the narrative switches back and forth between Rachel and the cop involved with the case. The cop's part of the tale is told through diary entries with his therapist, because the case really messed with his head, for reasons you find out later on.

There are a handful of other stories going on while everyone is looking for Ben, and it's very interesting to see it all play out. There's a story involving Rachel and her family that is a really interesting twist and a nice addition to the story.

Not too much detail was given out, like in another thriller I read, and it kept my attention the entire way through.

The author does lead you to believe there is one specific suspect, and you just have a feeling that it's exactly that person, when the rug is pulled out from under you.

I definitely give "What She Knew" my seal of approval; it was a quick read but in the best way possible.

What books have you read lately?
Brand Buzz is usually a series reserved for my favorite beauty brands but this time, I felt the need to talk about an accessories brand that I've grown to love over the past few months.

Henri Bendel is a very old brand; it was started in 1895 and since then has been a leading retailer for the best items around. The history of the brand is very interesting and if you're interested in reading about it, there's a great story page on the website.

henri bendel-accessories-fashion


Henri Bendel used to be a retailer for other brands, but then it started to focus on it's own line consisting of handbags and luxury accessories recently. I feel like I always knew what Henri Bendel was but never cared much for it because I thought it was too luxurious and I wasn't the main demographic.

Then I saw fashion bloggers using the bags, followed Henri Bendel on Instagram and I was hooked. The branding is right up my alley, and makes me feel inspired & happy the way Kate Spade does.

That's when I started really enjoying Henri Bendel and looking to get anything from the brand I could get my hands on. I started out with some accessories and just purchased my first handbag from them a few months ago... where I also got a free handbag as a gift with purchase.

henri bendel-accessories-fashion
A few photos from my first trip to a HB store a few weeks ago!
That's another great thing about Henri Bendel, they are always having sales & free gifts with purchase, so you never really have to pay full price for anything. I don't think I've purchased ANYTHING at full price since I started shopping there.

First, let's start with my handbag, the Convertible Jetsetter Backpack. This is HB's signature bag and what they are most known for. Backpacks are back in style and I loved the look of this one, but didn't know if I really wanted a backpack. Well, my life has been forever changed.

Wearing this backpack to work and on the subway is life changing. Your hands are free, it's stylish and comfortable, and isn't too heavy. There's tons of compartments to keep tiny items, and the bag is convertible so you can wear it as a regular shoulder bag.

henri bendel-accessories-fashion

henri bendel-accessories-fashion


This is another bag I've had my eye on forever. I saw it in store recently and it's even more gorgeous in person. I especially love the classic brown & white stripe design that HB is known for.

Now onto accessories... As much as I rave about Lilly Pulitzer planners, the planner was too heavy for me to carry to and from work so I decided to splurge on a Graphic Image/Henri Bendel planner. The illustrations are ADORABLE and it's tiny and compact, but still big enough to write a lot in. I started using it last week and it's changed my life. This is my new favorite planner!

I have a few phone cases from Henri Bendel, and they're super adorable. Like I said, the illustrations get me every time.

I just purchased this pill box for travel... I take a lot of medication so it'll be nice to have everything in one, neat place.

Megan Hess, a fashion illustrator, also puts out some collections with Henri Bendel. I wanted to get my hands on something of hers and saw these coasters. Do I need coasters? Not at all... but I had a 20% off coupon, and they're adorable and go nice with my room. I use them on my furniture and as decor pieces, and they're perfect.

Henri Bendel is on par with Kate Spade as one of my favorite brands of all time. It's chic, luxurious, fancy, adorable, and perfect for everyone.

Have you ever purchased anything from Henri Bendel? Shop my other picks below:




When we enter December, I put away my warm color nail polishes and go for something a little cool, like a white, silver, or classic red. I haven't purchased any nail polish recently because nothing has been speaking to me.

I've been having some trouble figuring out what kind of nail color I want when it's time to change.

I was looking through my nail polish drawer and was going to use Essie's Apres Chic, which is a great December color, until I saw a color that I have no memory of ever purchasing or using.

Go With the Flowy by Essie is a Winter 2016 color, so I'm assuming I purchased it within the past few months. I've never used it and honestly forgot I had it. It's the perfect winter color, though and I'm pretty obsessed.

It's a really unique color in my opinion, and one of a kind in my collection. It's neutral, with a touch of white, silver, and almost blue hue. It's described on Essie's webiste as a dusty, dove gray which is a good way to put it.

essie-manicure monday-go with the flowy

essie-manicure monday-go with the flowy



It resembles to color of the weather outside, since it's getting really cold in NYC (THANK YOU, FINALLY!) and I love it!

This is definitely a go to right now; it would also be a great base for some Christmas nail art!

Here are the other products I use in conjunction with all my manicures lately.

essie-manicure monday-go with the flowy
Julep Oxygen Nail Treatment 
Orly Flash Dry Drops
HK Girl Top Coat
What is on your nails this Monday?
I've always adored Christmas, I mean, which kid doesn't? As I got older and Christmas started feeling less like Christmas, the presents under the tree were smaller and more expensive, and the climate changed (It was 70 degrees on Christmas Eve last year!!! GTFO), it started feeling less and less like Christmas.

It depressed me like no other because I didn't want that feeling of Christmas to go away. I wanted to feel jolly and holly all day long.

It was then I discovered that I can make it feel like Christmas, even if it doesn't REALLY feel like Christmas.

This means, watching only ABC Family/FreeForm the entire month of December, sitting near the Christmas tree, making Christmas themed desserts, and decorating every corner of my house.

Now, this was difficult the past few years because I was sharing a room with my sister and the room just wasn't what I wanted it to be. Now, I have my own room and I've been decorating the way I want too.


christmas-christmas decor-royallypink


I decorated for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and now Christmas. I put out my mini decorations the day after Thanksgiving, along with helping my mom set up the Christmas tree and the rest of the house decorations.

christmas-christmas decor-royallypink

christmas-christmas decor-royallypink


Stringing Christmas lights along my ceiling and burning Christmas candles every night is such a huge help in lifting my spirits.

christmas-christmas decor-royallypink


I started looking at Christmas decor during October and saving what I wanted as I went along. I just finished Christmas decor shopping last week and I don't even care.. I'm so happy with my little corner of the North Pole.

It may not look like much, but it is exactly what I wanted.

christmas-christmas decor-royallypink
Nordstrom At Home Blanket

christmas-christmas decor-royallypink
Christmas Pajamas! 

Below, you can find some of my Christmas decor along with what I wanted but didn't end up getting:






Along with some Christmas themed loungewear! 





How do you make it feel like Christmas 24/7?
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