I'm always a deep lover of handbags and buy them all year round. It's been that way since I was a teeny tot; I just loved carrying everything with me at all times, and loved having a variety of bags to showcase my belongings.

As I've gotten older, my tastes have changed and the addiction is worse than ever, with the discovery of new brands and different types of handbags: totes, shoulder bags, satchels, crossbody clutches, etc.

Like I stated previously, I buy handbags all year round; some are impulse purchases, some I've had my eye on for months, even years! The fall, however, truly brings out the handbag lover in me. Maybe it's the deep, dark colors, or the release of the fall collections but I become an obsessive madwoman and want every single bag in creation.

With the fall season fast approaching, I feel that familiar itch and I've been lusting after so many different styles:

Here are some of my top picks:





What are your top handbag picks for the fall season?
I did this post last year but it seems like I have some more to discuss! I never want to straight up bash a brand, because I do really like most beauty brands products. It's not often that I find something that totally didn't work for me, so when I do, I feel like I need to tell someone.



These have been tested over the past few months and they were not my favorite... at all!

1. Too Faced Born This Way Foundation: I really wanted to like this foundation, because I love Too Faced and everyone in the world seems to love this foundation, but after applying it and wearing it for one day, I was appalled by how it made my face look. Even my coworkers were shocked at how bad it made my skin look. It caked up onto my face, enhanced my pores, and was separating on my skin after a few hours. I didn't even try it a second time, I immediately returned it because I never wanted to try it again.

2. Too Faced Born This Way Concealer: I guess I really just don't like the Born This Way line...or better yet, it doesn't like me. I was excited about this concealer because they are my favorite beauty product, but no go here! It was very sheer coverage, and would probably work for someone who doesn't have intense dark under-eye circles. I tried to make it work, but it just wasn't doing anything for me. The formula and application was nice, it just wasn't enough coverage for me.

3. Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Cream: Skyn Iceland has quickly become one of my favorite skincare brands. The idea of having products for stressed skin is really intriguing and I've loved everything from them, minus this product. My under eyes dried up and became irritated after using this and it was just not good! I have very sensitive eyes so that is definitely a factor, because my mom used it and it seems to be fine. Just beware if you have sensititve skin, this may not do well.

4. Verb Leave In Mist: I love the Verb Hydrating Mask; it works wonders on my dry hair and has a great price tag. I wanted to try out more Verb products and always love anything advertised as a leave in conditioner/mist. I picked this up, used it a few times, and it went straight back to Sephora. It made my hair oily, sticky, and more unruly than it was to begin with! My hair is naturally curly/wavy and this just made it unbearable to work with; my hair felt disgusting after it dried.

5. DryBar Mai Tai Spritzer Sea Salt Spray: Another hair product from another amazing brand that I love. I was in a spray, beach wave mood a few months ago and wanted to try a Sea Salt Spray. I figured I liked other DryBar products so I mind as well try this one out. UGH, no! It made my hair feel just like the Verb Leave In Mist, crunchy, oily, unruly, and sticky. It was a disaster and I couldn't wait to rinse it out of my hair. After a handful of uses and hoping it would get better, I returned it to Sephora.

6. Eye Doctor by Origins: This was purchased around the same time as the Skyn Iceland cream, and it gave me the same effect. It was a little heavy, and irritated my eyes. It just didn't work out for me as I would hope.

Have you ever tried a product out that just didn't work well for you? What were they??

This is it. Summer is officially over. I am coming alive as the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to change.

Nothing is better than the fall season in my opinion; I walked into Target yesterday and there was already Pumpkin Spice everywhere, and some Halloween candy to boot. I refrained from buying any pumpkin flavored things -- I'll wait for after labor day to do that.

My fall wardrobe is ready to go and I'm happy to say goodbye to my kimonos and sandals.

Bring it on, world. I am ready!

That being said, August was a good month. It was hot, busy, and fun... but I'm happy to say goodbye to it.

It was my first full month in my new home/room (I promise I will stop talking about this eventually), and it's all complete! My interior design was definitely a number one August favorite, but here are my others:





1. Josie Maran Skincare: I purchased this kit from QVC this month and have fallen in love with two of the products. I've been wanting to try the Argan Oil and Hydrating Milk Treatment for a while now and I figured this was just as good a time as any! These two together, at nighttime, has made my skin a dream. I apply the milk first and then the oil; my skin is super oily, obviously, but in the morning, everything is soaked in and my skin feels super smooth and soft. I've noticed a different in how my skin feels, and I feel like it's helping the discoloration in my skin as well. These two items have been my go-to every single night this month and I'm obsessed!

2. Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rose: I fell in love with Nirvana Black & White last Christmas, and was feeling like I wanted a new scent. When I saw this on Sephora's website, I immediately bought it. It's weird that I buy fragrances online, but it works for me. This fragrance smells like roses but not too feminine. The notes describe it as confident and seductive which I can agree with. I wear it on a daily basis, to work and while running errands, and it's not too powerful, or too soft. If you like rose, but not an overpowering floral scent, this would work well for you.

3. Spinning Lipstick Tower: A lipstick tower has been dream for a while and I finally got one this month. I put it on top of my shelving unit and put most of my lipsticks (my liquid lipsticks don't fit in there), in it. It's so chic looking and really useful because I can see what I have and am able to wear even more colors, getting actual use out of my products.

4. Water Bottle: I really needed a new water bottle, and wanted something big, durable, and good for the gym. I hated not having plastic water bottles around and it was always an issue when I wanted to go to the gym. I stumbled upon a great website, AnKit, and fell in love with everything. I picked up this water bottle and it's awesome! It's super big, easy to drink out of, and it fits ice!! This website also became my favorite because I picked up this gorgeous marble phone case. So cute & chic!

5. Instagram Stories: This is super random but I feel like I need to mention it. I really hated the idea of Instagram stories when it was released because I didn't like that they so obviously copied Snapchat, but also because I am clear about who I like to follow on Snapchat. I only follow my close friends/favorite celebrities/favorite bloggers/brands, because they are the only people I care about. I follow certain people on Snapchat and certain people on Instagram, and I don't want the two to mix. Well, I've changed my tune. Sometimes it's more difficult to find people's SnapCodes so it's nice to have some diversity on my Instagram feed. I especially love following certain bloggers that I love having on Instagram, and seeing their behind the scenes. It's also a nice boost of inspiration!

What did you love this month?
I'm currently writing this from a hotel room in Pennsylvania; the glamorous life of social media!

It was a fast week and I can't believe September is next week! Fall is so close I could taste the Pumpkin Spice Lattes; we even got a taste of fall weather this week in NYC. It was glorious!

I am ready for fall clothes, drinks, food, and weather. I'm over the summer and ready for candles and cozy blankets. I am just so much more of myself in the fall!

Anyways, I don't really have much else to say because my mind is lost in Pennsylvania but here are the links for this week!

PS: I was published again on The Haute Mess. Check it out!


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I guess there wasn't much this week! Enjoy your weekend everyone :)

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I've had a blast decorating my room over the past month and it's pretty much complete. I know decorating is never finished, as times and seasons change, your design will change as well.

When moving into my new room, I knew I wanted to decorate with coffee table books. I think they're so chic to have in various places around the room, and I'm already such a big book worm.

They were some of the first pieces I looked at for decor and they've become my favorite part of my room. I still want to add a few more to the collection, but below are some of my favorites so far:

coffee table books
Love Life Style The Little Book of Skincare Lauren Conrad Beauty
Kate Spade Things We Love Lauren Conrad Style



Below are some of the books on my wishlist! 



What are your favorite coffee table books?

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I'm always in search of a better product; to me, I am never satisified with the beauty products I have. Do not get me wrong, I have my favorites and items that blow me away, but I know there are always new things that are being released and I just assume they're better than what I have... which is why I'm always buying new products.

While I have holy grail foundations, concealers, etc, there is one beauty product that I'm just not convinced that I've found the right one.

That item is Dry Shampoo.

I've tried really good dry shampoos and really bad ones. I've used dry shampoo for months, been pleased, and then one day it just feels like it's not working anymore. I've used dry shampoos that I know are bad right off the bat.

While I do have my favorites, I'm always searching for the next best thing.




That's why I was so excited to receive a Dry Shampoo VoxBox from Influenster. I received the Nexxus Dry Shampoo Refreshing Mist; I LOVE Nexxus because they're sold in the drugstore but have that high end feel; even though the products do come with a higher price tag, I am more drawn to these products.

I had a feeling that I would really enjoy this dry shampoo & so far, I was right.





The mist is very fine so I feel like I have more control over how much product I'm putting into my hair. I never go crazy with the dry shampoo because my scalp is very sensitive and I don't like too much product build up.

Nexxus claims that it removes oils from your roots without leaving visible residue, which I can attest for. It's completely invisible and not heavy at all on your hair. Sometimes I can feel the dry shampoo minutes after I put it in my hair, or when I touch my hair, it feels greasy.

This Nexxus one does not do any of that .

It also smells like a Bath and Body Works candle without being overpowering and I'm kind of obsessed.

As for right now, I really like this dry shampoo and I think I will be repurchasing after this HUGE bottle is done. I would also say this is better than some high end dry shampoos I've tried!

What is your current favorite dry shampoo?


The heat wave is officially over... I think aka I hope! It's back to regular summer weather, for the time being.

Did I mention that I can't wait for fall? It's a mere month away and it cannot come soon enough. Give me riding boots and sweaters and Pumpkin Spice Lattes!

In other news, this week was incredibly long and I couldn't wait for it to be over. I'm headed to the beach for a family party, and next week I'm headed to QVC for work. It's always fun to travel for work and I haven't since April so it'll be good to get back.

Another random tidbit, I bought a Keurig from QVC this week. I've been toying with the idea of a Keurig or Nespresso for a few weeks now and decided that a Keurig was just better at this point. While a regular coffee pot is fine, I've always loved a Keurig and especially with the winter months coming up, I felt like I wanted something different.

While a Nespresso would be so nice and SO fancy (my ultimate goal), it seemed a little complicated to use and a little out of my price range. By buying a Keurig on QVC, I was able to spend less than $100 and pay in ezpay installments, which QVC is known for.

(No this is not sponsored by QVC haha)

Anyways... I was published twice on TheHauteMess this week:

Morning Routine Tips to Maximize Your Workday Hustle
4 Ways To Sweat-Proof Your Makeup


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I'm having such a great time writing for them; it's such a fun, quirky website -- something I really can identify with. I think a lot of you would enjoy the site; it's made for young women, by young women, and gives such great advice about career, organization, beauty, DIY, and everything we want to know about.

Before this post gets super long, here's what I loved this week:




Enjoy the weekend! 

xoxo
B

It's not very often that I get on here and discuss one stand out beauty product. I usually do a roundup of products, a focus on a specific category of product, or my current favorites.

Rarely I do single item posts *unless it's a sponsored post*, but this one needed a spotlight.

A few weeks ago I felt like my skin was looking kind of dull. It didn't feel like it was getting cleansed the proper way, and it felt clogged. My other cleansers weren't getting the job done and I wanted something new. I felt like my skin needed a good change.

That's when I got onto Sephora's website and started looking at cleansers. I noticed a trend amongst the products in front of me, something I hadn't seen before: cleansing sticks.

I knew cleansing sticks were an upcoming trend but I didn't really understand them. It's just a solid cleanser that you run across your face? Do you rub it in? What does it feel like?




Well, I can't pass up a new beauty trend so I decided to pick up the Tarte Frixxtion Cleansing Stick. It's a charcoal, exfoliating cleanser and the charcoal intrigued me. I know charcoal is great for the skin (I use charcoal masks all the time) but have never tried a charcoal cleanser. I thought this would be the perfect thing to make my skin feel better.

The reviews were fantastic on Sephora's website and I had seen a Youtube review or two about this product. The price was right at $22 so I couldn't pass it up.

Tarte describes this as a 3-in-1 cleanser that can also be used as a mask (I haven't tried it that way yet). It exfoliates, cleanses, and removes impurities; it gets deep into your pores to get a really great clean. It's hypoallergenic and vegan while also removing oils and reducing shine. (this is all paraphrased from Sephora's website).

I can attest to everything Tarte says!

I've never really tried Tarte skincare expect for their Maracuja Oil which I was allergic to and I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this cleansing stick.

I use it mostly in the shower because of the easy application; I just wet my face, glide the stick across my forehead, cheeks, and chin, and rub it in. At first the cleanser feels gentle and once you start to scrub, you can feel the exfoliating beads start working.

After rinsing my face, my skin has never felt better. It was smooth, clean, and actually looked healthier. I've been religiously using this every night and my skin looks good and feels good. I immediately feel like my skin is 10x healthier after washing my face with this.

If you're in need of a new cleanser, don't mind shelling out $22 at Sephora, and just want something that will show you results in a few weeks, this is for you. You can always return it if it turns out NOT to be for you, but with the heat, sweat, and makeup clogging my pores (not to mention the pollution from the NYC subway), my skin feels incredible after cleansing with this.

My next step is to use this as a mask and pick up another cleansing stick ASAP!

What's the latest beauty trend you've tried and loved?

xoxo
B
Another wishlist Wednesday is here...and its the beauty edition! I love putting these together because I am constantly looking at what new beauty products are out on the market... it's my job as a social media coordinator & blogger to know what the trends are and what is being released.

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I never want to keep these things to myself because what's the fun in that? I'm in the market for a good beauty buy; ever since moving, I haven't spent any money on makeup because I've been buying decor items (and some fall clothes!)

That's why this may seem like a long list... because Sephora is calling my name!





Has anyone ever tried any of these beauty products? What are your thoughts? Give me some reviews before I waste my money ;)

xoxo
B
Since becoming a Chloe & Isabel merchandiser at the beginning of the year, I haven't talked that much about it. Ever since my dad passing away back in March, I've kind of fell off the Chloe & Isabel bandwagon. I was busy with work, and then moving, and it just was the last thing that I was thinking about.



Now, they just released a new collection and it's gorgeous! The moment I saw it, I fell in love.

Rose gold, dainty pieces, crystals... it's the perfect collection to transition us into the fall season.

I wanted to post about it here because I feel like it's right up our alley... you know, you and me.

It's very girly, chic, and elegant but still wearable for everyday.

Here are some of my favorite pieces.


PS: Before we get started, I want you to know that when you shop, this month only, you get $25 in jewelry credit when you spend $50. So basically, spend $50, and you get $25 back in credits to be used later. That's a sweet deal.



Also, if you didn't realize it, I get a percentage of sales because I'm the merchandiser. You can only shop C+I through a merchandiser... FYI

If you have any questions about the jewelry, please email me! (For C+I purposes, use brianaluca@gmail.com)

I'm really feeling this type of jewelry for fall.... is it here yet?!

What is your jewelry style for the upcoming fall season?

xoxo
B
It's that time of year... back to school season. I loved going back to school -- I never dreaded it, I always couldn't wait. I loved shopping for my uniform, loved going to Staples to pick out new notebooks and pens, and I LOVED picking out a new backpack.

I still have that passion for work bags, stationery, and new planners ... and a fall wardrobe. I still feel as if the year starts over in September, not January.

That being said, I still have a deep love for all things back to school. Whether you're

Here are some of my most beloved/lusted after back to school products!


What are some of your favorite back to school products?

Weekly Wrap Up

in , , by RoyallyPink, 8:46 AM
This week flew by in my opinion and I'm super happy about it. I felt off this week; it could be the RIDICULOUS HEAT that we've had in New York (I am NOT happy about that!) or that time of the month... TMI?

It's a long weekend for me, and we're nearing the end of the summer and I am thrilled. September 1st can't come soon enough...before we know it it'll be Halloween and the holiday season and I'm so happy I could cry.

Does anyone notice anything different around here?

Yeah, I changed my design up!

I'm trying to work on a bigger transition within the next few weeks (hopefully it all works out!) but I came across this template and it just really spoke to me so I knew I had to make it happen. I also changed the layout myself and I'm really proud of that!

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Like I said, I have a long weekend (thank you summer fridays) and I'm not planning on doing much. Tomorrow I have a lunch planned with a friend, and then my aunt's birthday where I get to meet my new baby cousin, who is also my Godson! I am so happy about that!

Otherwise, I'll be laid up in my room, in the AC, because it's 100 degrees outside and too hot to function.

Here are all the links I loved this week:



What did you love this week?
I feel like there are so many books that I was drawn to over the past few months, mostly because of the cover, and because so many bloggers and online articles were telling me to read them.

The Assistants were one of them.

I was in the middle of moving and didn't want to order a bunch of books that I would eventually just have to pack up in boxes, so I opted to listen to this book instead of reading it.

If you're new here, I listen to Audible audiobooks on my commute to and from work. I find it much more relaxing than music, and I find that I'm able to really pay attention and get into a book. I have so many books I want to read and it's just not possible for me to read all of them, so I opt for listening to a few.

It didn't take me long to get into this book; sometimes when I start listening (or even reading) a book, it could take me a minute to get into it and follow along. I didn't have that trouble with this, and the story started right away, so I was eager to get to the meat of the story.



Tina Fontana is the assistant to media mogul, Robert, who can be compared to Rupert Murdoch. He owns Titan, a huge news corporation that has news channels, newspapers, magazines, publishing companies, and etc. He controls the media and is one of the most powerful men in the world.

Tina is his 30something year old assistant who has been working there for a number of years; she is living in a dingy apartment, doesn't have enough food to eat, and has significant student loan debt (like all of us in this world).

Tina is happy at her job, and loyal to Robert, even though she can barely afford to live in Manhattan. He also treats her really well, and she tells herself that she's the assistant to the most powerful man in the media industry, nad having that kind of access to him is unique.

However, the main point of the story comes when a technical error gives Tina the chance to take a sum of money and pay off her student loan debt.

Everything that comes after, as you can assume, tumbles into something much bigger and the entire focus of the novel.

I have to say, the novel was good. I enjoyed listening and wanted to find out what happened but I was so highly annoyed by the characters. Tina, the protagonist, at some points was so unbearable, I wanted to go through the book and punch her in the face.

Aggressive but whatever.

I thought her choices were poor, and she was just digging herself deeper without standing up for herself. Granted, it's a book, but it got on my nerves at certain points.

Would I recommend it? Yes. It's a quick, interesting read that has a deeper message which I can appreciate.

Have you read The Assistants? What did you think?


POPSUGAR sent me this Must Have box to try but all opinions are my own!

I love reviewing subscription boxes because even though the market is flooded with them, they're still exciting to receive and see what is stuffed inside.

POPSUGAR, like I've mentioned in the past, is one of my favorite subscription boxes. For $40 a month you can receive this lovely little box, and it's filled with all full sized products in a variety of categories, and the value is always so much more than the $40 you pay.

I was so excited to receive another box courtesy of POPSUGAR and review it for you!

I received the July box and it was filled with all kinds of summer fun. Sunny.Retro.Fun.Vintage.Playful.Cheeky.Warm is what it says on the card which is definitely the vibe I get from the box.




The beauty products I received were the Sachajuan Hair in the Sun and European Wax Center Oh My Brow Highlighter. I love the idea of Hair in The Sun, a treatment that protects your hair from the UV rays and helps keep it healthy post sun. The brow highlighter is also gorgeous, definitely a step up from any other highlight I've seen.

Those were probably my favorite items but this next item is a close third. House of Pom Emoji Cocktail Napkins are so cute and such good quality! I don't host that many cocktail parties so I figured I'd keep these in my room and use them as coasters. Improvise, people!




I won't get that much use out of the Sunnylife Inflatable Swan Drink Holder because I don't have a pool, but if you do, it's such a cute summer idea!

I already tied the Michael Stars Porcelain Skinny Scarf along with the Pintrill Pineapple Pin on my Tory Burch Perry Tote, as an added decor item.

Some fun extras in the box were Joe Chips Sea Salt Potato Chips *which were delicious* and a $20 gift card to Trove, which has gorgeous, dainty jewelry.

This was such a fun box and honestly, there is hardly anything in these boxes that I don't find a use for.

If you're in the market for a subscription box, in my opinion, the only one to go for is POPSUGAR Must Have. PLUS, you can use code SHOP5 for $5 off your FIRST BOX!

Happy subscribing everyone!


I love a good beauty trend: highlighting, contouring, and everything in between. I love a good skincare treatment, or anything that will help make my skin better.

That's why, when I saw that lip oils were about to become a hot trend late last year, I got really excited. I was skeptical at first because the thought of slathering an oil on my lips wasn't enticing. After doing a little more research, lip oils are a mixture of a balm, a gloss, and an actual oil. They have great hydrating properties, keep your lips smooth and soft, but don't feel thick and slimy on your lips like some lip balms.

I have found that lip oils give a great tint to the lips and are a good alternative to lip gloss, or a tinted lip balm. The staying power is better than you would expect from an oil and they don't feel sticky on your lips. I actually prefer these over lip balms because they feel like they're actually doing something.

If you were hesitant to try lip oils, I promise you, you won't regret it. A lot of brands have been coming out with lip oils recently and I've tried to get my hands on as many as possible, because like I said, I have a slight addiction. I keep one in every makeup bag/purse and usually rely on these when I'm out and about instead of a lip balm.

Lancome Juicy ShakerLaura Geller Soft & Sultry Lip Treatment


I don't necessarily think I like any of these over another one -- they're all easy to apply and similar in consistency. I will say that the Hourglass is slightly thicker than the rest, and the thinnest formula is definitely the Sephora brand.

The Sephora brand was the first one I tried and it really set the bar for all the other lip oils. My favorite one, if I had to choose, is probably the YSL because it's the perfect combination of hydration, shininess, and consistency on the lips.

Have you ever tried a lip oil? What are your thoughts?


Weekly Wrap Up

in , , by RoyallyPink, 7:00 AM
This week went on forever and ever. I don't know why, but I'm so thankful it's Friday (or better yet Thursday night). I can't wait to just rest this weekend; go to the gym, run some errands, and chill out. I need to run to the store to pick up some more frames for my photos and actually start to hang more photos.

It was a hectic week to say the least; if you've been following the news, you've seen that there was a murder of a young woman in Howard Beach. That is my neighborhood. This is only a few blocks away from me.

I've lived here my entire life and there has never, ever been this type of crime.

To say it's not scary is a total understatement.

This is a close, tight knit neighborhood and to know this happened in my town, is making me sick to my stomach. The cops have been camped out at the crime scene, and its all over the news. My little town was on the front page of the New York Post & Daily News.

I've been following the investigation since late Tuesday night and my prayers go out to Karina's family. I hope they catch this monster sooner rather than later.

On a happier note, my cousin gave birth to her son this week, my little Godson, and I'm so excited to meet him!

Like I said, it's been a really long week.

Here's what you missed on Royally Pink:



Here are the links I loved: 



Illerations have been taken to a new level. I am not apologizing for it.

For the past 20 years, I've had my own room. There was time when I was around 8 that I shared a room with my sister, but the reason is unknown to me, because we transformed her room into a playroom. It lasted a few months before we switched back.

Then I went to college and shared a room for 3 years, until senior year, when I had my own apartment and own room again. I moved back home in 2014, and was forced to share a room with my 18 year old sister.

We are complete opposites, night & day. She is messy, I am neat. She is an outgoing, social butterfly and I am a homebody. It was not good for me, or for us. But this was the hand I was dealt and I had to deal with it.

I missed having my own space, decorating the way I deemed fit, and just having a place to call my own. I craved that personal space, and I really didn't want to be the 23 year old who lived at home and shared a room with my sister. I was starting to get self conscious about it (not that there IS anything wrong with it, but if I'm supposed to be an adult, I need space).

My mom used to tell me that when I was little, I would stay in my room for hours and hours at a time. I wouldn't leave to go to the bathroom or eat; I just sat on my floor, playing with my toys and dolls, watching television and completely content. I just enjoy being alone in my own room.

That's why when I found out we had to move, I demanded that we find a house with three bedrooms -- it was a deal-breaker for everyone involved. Well, low and behold, we found one and it's been 2 weeks since moving in and I can't remember the last time I felt this content.

When I feel anxious or angry or just feel like I need some alone time, I can go into my room and close the door. My room is super bright and girly -- I had a vision for my room and I knew I wanted it to look as if it popped off the Pinterest screen.

White walls, beige furniture, white bedding and gold & blush accents.

Well, I still have some decorating *gallery wall* to do, but it's coming along perfectly and when I lay in bed at night, I feel super content and comfortable because it feels like my space.

Once the gallery wall is done, and I have a dresser (I really just need one to store my winter clothes), my room will be 100% complete.

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see I posted a few photos but here's a wider look.

bedroom design


interior design







gallery wall
This will be part of my soon to be gallery wall! 

pretty desk




I'm going to share where I got some decorative pieces in another post but for now, there you have it! 




Once you've tried some beauty products, you've pretty much tried them all. GASP! How, as a beauty blogger, could I possibly say that?

Well, if you really think about it, it's kind of true. At some point, all blushes, bronzers, mascaras, eyeliners, etcs start to look and feel the same. Of course there are some that will never work, or some that causes your skin to react badly, but all in all, a lot of beauty products are similar.

I continue to buy them because I'm constantly trying new things, and if something is new or a cult classic that I've never tried, I need to try it.

That's why, when there is a beauty product that is unlike anything I've seen or tried before, I need it.

Over the past few months, I've been extremely drawn to unusual & unique beauty products. I love seeing what brands will come up with next and it's interesting to try something that you aren't used to.

From masks to primers to removers, there's tons of weird products out there!




  • Lip Masks: This might not be so unusual but when I saw it on Sephora's website a few months ago, I was intrigued. It's so smart to make a sheet lip mask and I don't know why I've never seen them. Thanks to the Sephora Brand Collection, I've been introduced to a new item. I purchased one and fell in love. It just so happens everyone else was too because they've been sold out forever. (Back in stock right now!) Thankfully, Patchology sent me some of theirs recently and I've been loving them! My lips are moisturized and smooth afterwards, perfect to do right before applying a liquid lipstick.
  • Origins Maskimizer Mask Primer: This was a product, when I saw it, said "Now they've thought of everything!". It seems a little gimmicky to apply a primer before applying a face mask, but if you think of it, why wouldn't it work? We apply primers before makeup to keep makeup on longer, smooth our skin, and other reasons, why shouldn't we apply it before a mask? This primer allows for your skin to absorb the mask more quickly, and loads better. A few sprays before your favorite face mask and your skin will feel better. I haven't noticed a physical difference but I do think my face feels better using it than without using.
  • Too Faced Mascara Melt Off: A mascara remover, that comes in a mascara tube? GENIUS! Once again, gimmicky but GENIUS. I don't wear a lot of waterproof mascara but like every other woman in the world, have a difficult time removing it. Apply one coat of this remover to each lash, let sit for 60 seconds, and wipe away. I've never tried anything like it and I don't think I ever will again -- it's SO good, I never want to run out. 
  • St Tropez In Shower Gradual Tanner: Self tanning is such a trend, and such a pain in the butt. Your hands turn orange, if you're not careful your sheets will too. Why has no one ever thought of making a tanner that you apply IN THE SHOWER? Well, St. Tropez gave us what we didn't even know we needed. I bought this in a pinch because I was white as ghost and had misplaced my self tanner amongst the many boxes when I was packing to move. I ran to Sephora and purchased this; within 3-4 showers, I had semi golden skin. It seemed like the most natural tan ever and it was completely fake. If you're nervous about self tanning, I highly recommend starting out with this. It's great for beginners.
Shop some of my other favorite unique beauty picks below:


What is the most unusual beauty product you've tried?




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I really really love alliterations and I always hate just writing "_____ Favorites", so let's call this the Monthly Muse. UGH I love the way that sounds!

Mostly I always write about beauty products because those are the items I always see in monthly roundups and they're the thing I use most during the month. I always try to throw a random non beauty item in there and this month, I have a few. It's definitely a nice change of pace.

This month was wonderful for one reason: my move. I've talked it to death on the blog but I can't help it. It's a huge deal to me. I've shared a room with my sister for 2.5 years, ever since graduating college, and it's been a nightmare. We are polar opposites and it was taking a toll on my sanity, and our relationship. I finally have my own space, that I can decorate as I please and relish in.

I've been so happy pretty much every day since moving because I get to come home to my room. I've always been the type to stay in my room -- my mom used to say that she wouldn't see me for days when I was little because I would just be in my room, content as could be, and entertaining myself. Well, 23 years later and not much has changed.



That brings to me to my favorites:

1. THE MOVE: I love my new house (I still live with my mom and sister) and it's perfect. It's nice and spacious, we all have our own little space, and it just feels like home. There's tons of light and it feels very open and airy. I will post a room tour this week -- the one thing I'm waiting on is my gallery wall and dresser, but I'll address that in the post.

2. iPad Mini: I've definitely mentioned this in my favorites before but I've rediscovered it. That sounds so silly but I go through stages with the things that I enjoy and I decided to remove my iPad from it's case and just hold it as it and I love it so much better. I ordered a sleeve for it, and I just love toting it around with me. I love how tiny it is but how I can actually get stuff done. I'm obsessed!

3. Mercari: I don't think I've ever used an app as much as I've used this. Mercari is a shopping app where you can buy and sell pretty much anything and everything. I've talked about Poshmark in the past but this in my opinion, is better than Poshmark. There are more options for sellers, there's more information needed to sell an item, and the best part? They don't take a commission from your sales. I've purchased a BUNCH of stuff from the app over the past month and I've SOLD even more stuff! Everything I've received is perfect and I haven't had an issue. I know there has been some scandal with this in the past, mostly with fake cosmetics, but if you're a smart buyer, you'll have no issue!

4. Caudalie Beauty Elixir: I was in need of a new refreshing spray and I knew it would be this one. I've been wanting to try it for months so I finally picked it up from Sephora. It has a peppermint scent and feels slightly tingly on the skin. It's perfect for a morning pick me up, or a mid afternoon refresher. I usually use this before my makeup application, as an extra priming step and I just love the way it makes my skin feel.

5. Laura Mercier Baked Bronzer: I received this item in a 500 point perk from Sephora and I'm so glad I did. Laura Mercier is a brand I've been wanting to experiment with for a while and I'm finally getting a feel for her products. This bronzer is the perfect everyday bronzer; it's warm but not orange toned and it doesn't kick up too much product. It distributes the perfect amount of product onto your brush and gives the most gorgeous sunkissed look.

What were your monthly favorites this month?



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