Happy Friday! I'm very excited for the week to come to the end and for the weekend to arrive because I'm going to Florida on Tuesday! It's for a work trip but I'm so excited to travel SOMEWHERE. I'm also going to Disneyworld so YAYYYYYY. It's the first time I've been in 10 years so I'm uber pumped.

On that note, I'll try to pre-write as much as I could and I will have some downtime so I'll get in a few posts if I can't write this weekend.

Be sure to follow me on social media, all my handles are @bribrilukes, as I'll be documenting the trip. Also, I'll be vlogging (YAY) so you'll have some videos when I come back. If you haven't subscribed to my Youtube channel, subscribe now, please & thank you!

Now, onto the real reason we are here... let's talk about spring! Now, onto the real reason we are here... let's talk about spring! I was introduced to the excited team at iRazoo a few weeks ago and their paid surveys, games and video options, got me thinking about Springtime inspiration and all the things there are to do and try out; so here we go!

Spring is not my favorite season and I dread it every year, but once it rolls around I'm happy to have it. I love light jacket or no jacket weather, a mild breeze with 60-70 degree weather, and just being comfortable. Not hot, not cold, just right.

It's the summer I truly hate and I should stop lumping the seasons together because they are not alike.

We haven't had too much spring here in New York; there's been lots of rain and windy weather but I'm sure things will turn around soon.



On that note, there are many ways to make the most out of spring, even if the weather isn't ready to follow.

1. Revamp your makeup routine: I love to do this whenever the seasons change. I start to use more tinted moisturizers, lighter eyeshadow colors, more 'minimal makeup' and try out a bolder color lip, like pink or coral. My favorite thing to do is switch out my nail polishes. I'm currently wearing a hot pink that will hopefully make it's way into Manicure Monday at some point. After wearing so many dark colors, I'm really excited to wear hot pinks, neon coral, and bright blue!

2. Wardrobe Change: I love fall and winter clothes so much, but I do like not wearing a jacket. In spring, I like to break out light sweaters and ballet flats; it's pretty much my go-to. I just purchased some new clothes and shoes from J.Crew and finally bought a jean jacket so I'm excited for that. I think changing up your wardrobe and buying a few new pieces to add to your collection is a great way to ensure a good spring.



3. Plan a road trip/fun plans: The key to being 'happy' during any season is making plans, I'm pretty sure of that. Once spring rolls around I like to plan something, whether it's a baseball game, a brunch, or a small road trip to another state. Having plans throughout the weeks will guarantee peace of mine and a good spring season.

4. Redecorate: Ever since moving into my new house and having my own room again I've been really into interior design. I loved decorating for fall and Christmas and I've loved transitioning my room to spring. With lighter color pillows, and blankets, new candles, and a few other fun trinkets. It's a great way to put yourself in the spring mood!

Open the windows, throw on a denim jacket, and put on some pink lipstick because spring is here!

Have a great weekend everyone!
xoxo
B

Who is sick of book reviews? I'd apologize but I really enjoy writing these posts. I love talking about books and I'm a reader before I'm a writer -- reading has been my safe haven since I was a child and for not one moment has that stopped.

I've become addicted to audiobooks because it allows me to "read" books even when I actually can't read it.

Years ago I would've never guessed that I'd be one for suspenseful and mystery novels but here we are. Most of the books I read, aside from self-help, memoirs, and career books, are mystery thriller novels. If this isn't your first book review Wednesday, you know this about me.

I've talked about the most f***ed up book I've ever read, Pretty Girls, but I honestly think this one beats it.

The Roanoke Girls was just released in March and has taken the publishing world by storm. I saw it on a lot of must-read lists and book reviews from other bloggers I read and I was completely drawn in by the summary.



Lane Roanoke has never met her mother's family; her mother fled the family home when she was 16 years old and pregnant. When her mother commits suicide, Lane is brought back to the place her mother left... with a new cousin, Allegra, grandparents, and an odd, old family house, Lane feels slightly at place in Kansas.

She meets a boy, makes some friends, and bonds with her new cousin. That is, until she discovers a dark, twisted, and disgusting family secret, which causes Lane to flee.

Now, Allegra is missing and it's 10 years later; Lane is forced to come back to face the reasons she left and to help find her cousin.

In classic thriller fashion, the book is told from past and present. You're constantly switching back and forth between Lane first arriving at Roanoke (which is what the family home is called) and her coming back after Allegra disappears.

But that's what Roanoke girls do, they disappear. No girl has ever left Roanoke and came back, expect Lane.

Before I get into the twisted secret, I want to say how much I loved this book. I loved all the characters and thought the development was great; I thought the writing was wonderful and the story was really well thought out. I think this is one of the best books I've read in a while, in terms of how it was written.

There is obviously a love story thrown in here between Lane and Cooper (Lane's old boyfriend from when she first moved to Roanoke) and it's something really powerful and what I find really romantic.

I love the history of Roanoke and I imagined the house so clearly in my mind; a house so rich with history and stories, with hidden passages and rooms... it's so interesting to me.

Now, onto the big part of the story.

I won't reveal anything but I advise you not to read any reviews on Amazon or Goodreads because pretty much everyone gives it away in the first words.

If you pay attention, you'll immediately pick up on it within the first 3 chapters. As the book continues, you'll be trying to remember which Roanoke girl is which and you'll figure it out. I say you'll figure it out because I did. Even though you may know what's happening, you won't really know until midway through the book when you're just like HOLY SHIT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT'S ACTUALLY TRUE.

The ending of the book, when the mystery is solved, it's so satisfying and so beyond what you thought was going to happen. It's incredible

The Roanoke Girls is SO WEIRD and SO SICK but it's so interesting. If you're squeamish, you may not be able to handle it and I'd be lying if I said there were times when I didn't want to gag but it's such a good book.

I promise you, you won't be able to put it down and you'll want to finish it within a few hours of cracking it up.

If anyone reads it and wants to freak out over it, please email me 'briana@royallypink.com' -- I feel like I really need to discuss it with someone!

Happy reading :) 
xoxo
B

Hi everyone! Just a small little introduction for my latest unboxing v-log. I opened a FabFitFun box, and lots of goodies from Ulta & Sephora.

Come back tomorrow for another book review... and probably one of the most effed up books I've ever read in my entire life.

Smith & Cult is back at it! It's not a secret that this pricey nail polish turned makeup brand has some of the best (in my opinion) polishes on the market. The formula is smooth and glides onto the nails easily; the brush is thin but not too thin so an even application is really easy to achieve.

The silver cap is very heavy which I think helps give you better control over how you're applying the nail polish, or at least it helps me.

Over the past few years I've built up my Smith & Cult nail polish collection and I have at least one of every color family; pink, nude, blue, red, and glitter. I'd really love to add Bitter Buddhist to the collection, especially for fall because a green shade would look awesome.

I wasn't planning on another Smith & Cult purchase but I saw on Birchbox's Instagram that they had a special Do Not Disturb limited edition box. It is themed around the Hygge trend, which is the idea of happy living and coziness. It's something that is right up my alley so I felt like I owed it to myself to buy the box.



Well, I received it last week and ugh, it's even better than I imagined. A picture of the box is below but one of the highlights was, of course, a Smith & Cult nail color that I didn't have. It's called "Exit the Void" and it's the perfect summer periwinkle blue shade.

It's very similar to Essie's 'Bikini So Teeny' which is an all time favorite of mine.




This is also really, really similar to another Smith & Cult shade I have 'She Said Yeah'. This is a little darker than "Exit the Void' but I probably wouldn't have purchased Exit the Void on its own, but since it was included in the box, why the hell not!

This will definitely be a summer staple and I'm so excited to have another great polish in my collection!

xoxo
B

Hello! It's been a hot second this week but boy oh boy was it a week. I don't remember the last time I was this busy. Let me give you a run down of my week:

Monday- Sister's 21st birthday so we went out for dinner after work. I came home afterwards and was so full and exhausted I passed out.

Tuesday: Super busy day at work and then I attended an after work event/panel about influencers and I didn't get home until 9 PM... once again, passed out.

Wednesday: Went food shopping with my mom after work and then got SO MANY packages so I had to go through them; cleaned my room and packed all the boxes up. Passed out by 10 PM

Thursday: I'm currently writing this but it was a super emotional day (personal reason) and I had a dentist appointment after work. I just uploaded my 2nd Youtube video *which you'll see down below* and am working on my 2nd v-log which will be up over the weekend.

Phew! There ya go, a long, laundry list of excuses of why you got 2 posts this week.

I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to sit down and write, and I couldn't really focus on anything this week. I feel like I could blame it on a few things, like PMS or the fact that I was so busy, and I realized that I hadn't looked in my planner too much. Hopefully next week will be better!



I head to Florida in less than 2 weeks for work and I'm sure I'l have so much fun video content for you! I've really been feeling my Youtube channel and I know I have to figure out a nice balance of what will be video content and what will be blog content; I'll cross that bridge when I come to it though!

For now, let's dive into my current video; a review of the Kate Spade Leewood Place Rainn Leather Tote, my new favorite work bag.



I talk in depth about it in the video but I wanted to come here and just talk some more! When I saw this on Nordstrom.com I didn't even think twice about purchasing it. It's very soft leather, a great shape, and I love the scallop detail. Scallops are a critical part of Kate Spade's design and I've never owned anything scallop so I thought this was a great little piece.

Aside from my Tory Burch Perry Leather Tote I didn't have a black tote so that's why I got it in black. It's currently available in a pale pink, beige, and mint and I'm feeling all of them.

My favorite thing about this bag is how light weight the bag is, and how much you can really fit inside. It's very deceiving from the outside so don't be fooled. It's also a very structured bag but is able to move with your contents. There are some structured bags that are so tough it's not flexible enough to be comfortable; this bag is totally not like that. This is probably in my top 5 favorite bags at the moment!

Below are some more Kate Spade bags I have my eye on (and a few versions of the Leewood Place)




I hope you all enjoyed the video & the review!
xoxo
B

It's 9 PM on Monday night and I'm so full from my sister's 21st birthday dinner, and also from Easter sweets at work, and from Easter Sunday dinner. I cannot even think straight and just want to crawl into bed.

That being said, I'm too lazy to go look in my blog planner to see what post was supposed to be up today, so here we are. I keep it real on Royally Pink and don't take myself too seriously. What fun is that?

First I was going to do a Thursday inspiration post but then I figured I always default to those posts when I'm feeling more lowkey. I should probably do an inspiration post because I had a rough weekend filled with lots of anxiety attacks, but I made it through. That also reminds me I need to do an updated anxiety post... putting that on my list now.



Instead, I think I'll show you some products I've been LOVING. They might not necessarily make it into my monthly favorites but I still wanted to mention them!




PS: I started my Youtube channel and below is my first real video. Subscribe here!



Sign up for the Royally Pink newsletter here!

xoxo
B

There have been like 4 beauty posts in a row so I apologize but I'm just feeling my beauty stuff lately.  I also know this is the 2nd Manicure Monday in a row but you know how I get when a new season starts ... I get manicure crazy.

I mentioned last week how excited I am to start with my bright, spring colors and I just dove head first into that deep end with this manicure.

Ever since I got this polish back in the winter I've been dying to use it and I made the bold choice to rock it all week long.





"I Believe in Manicures" from the OPI Breakfast at Tiffany's collection is a rockstar. The formula was great with smooth application and hardly ANY CHIPPING, and the color was bright & beautiful. It is the perfect Tiffany blue I've ever seen in a nail polish and nothing compares to it.

I've become addicted to it and can't wait to paint my nails that color again. I've really been enjoying OPI polish and they have really gorgeous shades on Ulta.com so I may start looking at them more than Essie.

Unfortunately, the collection is no longer available (whoops) but here are a few two shades:

• Forgot My Czechbook
• Suzi Without a Paddle

SaveSave

Hello and Happy Easter! I just wanted to pop on here and say that last night I started a Youtube channel!!!

It's something I've talked about here quite a bit and it's something that I've been wanting to start for a while so I'm really glad I took the plunge.

I did a small intro to my channel but you guys already know who I am so you can skip that if you want ;)

Below is my latest video that I just put together, a small v-log! I really like v-logging so it'll be something I do more often.

Join me on this journey!

In replacement on the weekly wrap up post, I'll be *trying* to add a regular post weekly. This was originally on my calendar for yesterday but Wednesday kicked my butt so no post Thursday... and here we are! I think a little behind the scenes is always good; blogging is not glamorous, ladies and gentlemen!

*PS: I talked last week about how I wanted to move weekly wrap up to email only content so sign up for my email newsletter here.

Just as I talked this week about fragrances, something I never talked about in 5 years, I rarely have talked about makeup brushes.

They say if you don't have good skin even the most expensive makeup won't look good on your face; the same goes with brushes. You could be using all Charlotte Tilbury & Tom Ford makeup but if you're using the wrong or really crappy brushes, it won't apply as well. You can do magic with makeup brushes, I've seen it happen.

Over the years I've accumulated a nice amount of brushes, two candle holders filled, to be exact, and I love most of them. I do have my favorites, as I'm sure we all do; I have my go-to brushes that I simply cannot live without.



1. PUR Cosmetics Skin Perfecting Foundation Brush: Ever since I've seen the Artis brushes come to play I wanted one. I bought a cheapy knock off from Amazon and it was garbage. I almost pulled the trigger on an Artis brush more than once but then I saw one of my favorite brands, PUR, release a similar looking foundation brush. It has the same shape and even feels the same (I've touched Artis). This brush is super densely packed and really smooths out your foundation. My foundation glides on my skin when I use this and it gets the job down fast. I HIGHLY recommend this, especially if you don't like foundation brushes. I religiously use a beautyblender but this changes the game.

2.  Morphe E8: I love this brush so much I bought two! Jaclyn Hill said this is one of her favorite brushes so when I heard that, I ran to the Morphe website to purchase one. I use it solely for concealer and it's basically replaced my beautyblender in that retrospect. It's soft, blends perfectly, and is the best concealer brush out there.

3. ELF Small Stipple Brush: ELF has some of the best brushes on the market and I have a few of them in my collection. This is by far my favorite for blending out cream products. I've gone through two of them and another one just appeared in my collection -- it's very nice to have it back. It's small enough to not blend the cream product all over your face, and is really soft on the skin. Go get it, it's only $6!

4. Too Faced Mr Right: This brush was released last year and I knew I needed it because it was so cute and I've never had a Too Faced brush. This has become my go-to for powdering my face whether it's with a loose or pressed powder. It's big enough to add a fluffy, airbrushed look to the skin but not so big that you feel like you aren't adding any product to your face. It's a little pricey but it's SO GOOD.

5. Anastasia #23 Brush: This was originally released when Anastiasa Beverly Hills released her glow kits and I was really drawn to it. I felt like this brush was a unique shape and size; the slim dome shape and soft bristles make it ideal for applying highlight. It's basically the only brush I use to apply my highlight and I love it! *This does have some shedding but it doesn't bother me that much.

Below are some of my other favorite brushes but the ones above are my top 5!




SaveSaveSaveSave

This is a book I actually read and it's a nice break between all the thriller novels I've been reviewing. Aside from thriller & mysteries, memoirs are my 2nd favorite genre. I love learning about people and getting insight into how a person thinks and how they came to be who they are today. I find it super interesting and I've always loved these books since I was little and had to do biography book reports.

I stumbled upon this book through a recommendation from the girls in my office. They were raving about this book and discussing it every day and I just realized I needed to read it because they were telling me I'd love it.

Well, they were right, in a sense.



How to Murder Your Life is about Cat Marnell, a former beauty editor of Lucky Magazine. I will read ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING having to do with beauty and/or the magazine world. That's an entirely different post... but this is the main reason they thought I'd love it, and they were totally right about that part.

Cat Marnell is a former, drug addict beauty editor and she writes about her reserved upbringing and how that turned into her becoming addicted to Adderall and moving to New York. Throughout the book, she takes you on these wild rides from acting school to Conde Nast internships to rehab.

The way she writes is truly manic and can be super confusing at times. It's also a little bit worrisome and kind of annoyed me; how can this girl be real??

It was interesting and weird and exciting in all the same breath. It combines the glamor of New York, the trials and tribulations of growing up, and how to come out the other side.

The ending of the book is really great and gave me some piece of mind. As crazy as the book is, you start to feel for Cat and want her to get the help she needs. Addiction is real and a true disease; even though Cat starts out addicted as a child, it grows into a bigger issue.

I think if you're someone who likes to be entertained and likes memoirs, you'll find this book interesting. It's not a difficult read and you can make it through fast (I read the last 200 pages in one sitting, but I'm also a crazy person).

It definitely got me back into my memoir mojo and I'm excited to see what Cat Marnell does next because now I'm a fan and I'm truly rooting for her!
SaveSave

I don't think I have ever, in 5 years, talked about perfumes on the blog. That is a pure travesty because I really do love perfume and I have ever since I was 11 years old.

When I was younger, my favorite scents were Britney Spears Curious & Fantasy, J.Lo 'Glow' and DKNY 'Be Delicious'. The DKNY scent has a special place in my heart because it reminds me of elementary school, my first kiss, and school dances.

As I got older, my taste in scents changed but the idea of perfume has remained the same. Certain scents bring me back to specific times in my life and I'm filled with a true feeling of nostalgia. It's amazing how a smell can transport you back in time, and how important a scent can be to a specific occasion.

I love the idea of wearing a certain scent on a vacation or on your wedding day, and not really wearing it any other time. It's so special and so nostalgic. *I love anything related to nostalgia if you couldn't tell.

There was a time that I couldn't wear perfume and you may remember that because I talked heavily about it here on the blog. I was having an allergic reaction to fragrance so my dermatologist told me to stop wearing perfume. I stopped for a solid year and it was so difficult. I love perfume and feel so much more put together when I spray a bit on before I leave the house.

After about a year of no allergic reactions I decided to test it out again but on one condition: instead of using a spray perfume I switched to rollerballs. Ever since I haven't had any allergic reactions. I think it really does make a difference because I'm keeping the scent concentrated in one place instead of walking through the spray or spraying it too close to my face.

I also think rollerballs are better all around; they're perfect for travel and much less inexpensive. You go through them faster so you can try more scents.

With perfume, I feel like a lot of people have very specific tastes. Either they like musky scents or floral, or very sweet. As for me? I don't discriminate and I pretty much love all kinds of scents. I will say that I don't like scents that are overly sweet or sugary, but otherwise, I like everything.

I'm so confident in my scent tastes that I purchase a lot of scents online without smelling them first and I've never returned a single one.

I figured spring was a perfect time to talk about my current favorite perfumes so here we go!



Marc Jacobs Daisy: This is my OG perfume and I exclusively wore it throughout high school and college. I still have a rollerball in my collection but don't wear it too much anymore. It's the basic betch scent of our generation and it's produced a thousand spin off scents, including Daisy Dream, which I have and love! Daisy Dream is very light and airy but, still has that signature floral scent that the OG has.

Sarah Jessica Parker 'Stash': When I saw that SJP was releasing a perfume, I purchased it without even reading the notes. It's a very masculine, musky scent but it's so divine. It has notes of black pepper, sage, pistachio, cedarwood, patchouli and much more. It's definitely more of a winter scent and I wore it constantly in the cold weather. It has a comforting smell and I really love that.

Tory Burch Love Relentlessly: This is my newest scent and I've been loving it! I've never tried a Tory Burch perfume and I smelled this in a magazine sample and couldn't stop thinking about it. The notes are Pink Grapefruit, Lemon, Sparkling Pear, Rose, Jasmine, Amber, and much more, but from those few, you can tell that it would smell floral & very fresh. It's a great everyday scent and I've been wearing it nonstop.

Elizabeth & James Nirvana: This is probably one of the most hyped perfumes of the beauty industry in recent years, right behind Marc Jacobs Daisy and Flowerbomb but I think the hype is real. The original scents were Black & White, which you could layer together. Later on, Bourbon and Rose were released. 2 years ago for Christmas, my sister bought me this mini set of Black & White and they both smell really wonderful. Black is a little muskier while White is more floral and feminine, but the good thing is that they're made to be worn together.

I also purchased Rose when it was released and it has a very strong rose scent but is not floral or feminine, if that makes any sense.

I also just purchased this set of Kate Spade travel perfumes because I've wanted them all for a long time and it comes with its own branded refillable spray case. I haven't tried them all yet but I wanted to include these as an honorable mention.

Shop some other perfumes that I have in my collection or have loved in the past below:

As we enter Spring, I'm most excited to switch out my nail polish colors. I love deep, dark colors more than anything but once March hits I start to break out my nudes and light pinks.

My nail polish collection has grown and grown and I've expanded a bit outside of the Essie bubble but they'll always be my number one favorite. That being said, I've really been feeling the Gel Couture line because so many more fun colors have been released over the past few months.

When I saw the Monique Lhuillier Bridal Collection hit Ulta.com, I jumped at the rose gold shade called "To Have and to Gold". Online photos don't do it justice but trust me, it's one of the most gorgeous Essie shades ever.



It applies very smoothly, probably better than any other Gel Couture polish and I think that's because of the metallic finish. It's a pure rose gold that shifts metallic but doesn't have chunky glitter which I can really appreciate. It's sparkly without being over the top or annoying, and I just love the way it looks. It's for sure a color that's perfect for spring & summer but I could see myself wearing this all year round.



I did my nails last Sunday and they held up really, reall well! I touched up once throughout the week and as I write this (on Sunday, April 9th) my nails look awesome. I think this is the best Gel Couture formula that I've tried so far because it's the one that's lasted the longest!



On another note, I was less than impressed by Essie's Spring 2017 collection so I'll probably be skipping it, but there is a new 'all nudes' collection coming soon and I cannot wait to get my hands on that!

Below are some of my favorite top & base coats for all nail polish looks:


What's on your nails this Monday?
xoxo
B

PS: make sure to sign up for my email newsletter! 
SaveSave

Happy Friday! I'm so happy to see the weekend as per usual. It felt like an unusually long week so I'm happy to have some time to myself. We had a sneak peek at Spring this week but it's back to 40 degrees and I'm freezing.

I'm starting to get into the swing of preparing for Spring, even buying a new kimono and my first pair of stylish sneakers, so I'm basically ready. I'm getting very tired of my riding boots.

I had a strange feeling this week and that was one of restlessness. It got the best of me on Thursday, but Thursdays usually bring restlessness for the weekend. I felt bored and wanting to do something different. I always knew I wanted to start my own business or do something on my own, which is why I started this blog. It's why I started my Chloe & Isabel shop, but it doesn't feel like enough.

I'm in the midst of writing a book (I have been for years) but this week I just felt like I wanted to do something else.. like start my own business, for real. I'd love to form Royally Pink into a business but that's me and 100 other bloggers on the Internet. Starting a business is no small feat and it's doesn't really have much to do with money... I just feel like I love "things" and "stuff" so why not create my own?

Do I know what kind of business? Surely not, but I know it's something having to do with creating goods. I just felt the fire this week and it's something I want to seriously think about.

In the same breath, I've been thinking more about Royally Pink and how to expand. That being said, I decided to move the Weekly Wrap Up to email only content, mixed in with some favorites from the week and other content. I renamed it the Royally Round Up and shared a few favorite, business related articles.

Ever since working in the beauty industry, I've become more interested in the business side of things. I've also always been someone who loves career books and articles so I want to try to incorporate that more into my blog content and freelance writing. Therefore, I think I'll be sharing a lot more business/blog articles in the Royally Round Up, through my email subscription.



It would mean the world to me if you signed up for my emails and I promise I will not bombard you with 100 spam emails because I cannot stand that. Just one simple email every week and it'll be like a continutation of the blog.

In other news, here's what you missed on the blog this week:

• Book Review Wednesday: The Perfect Girl
• Handbag Review: Henri Bendel Cenntennial Stripe Schoolboy Bag
• Monthly Muse: March Favorites

Back at it with another thriller book review. This was not so much as thriller as the rest of them and it was a rather quick read.... er listen.

The Perfect Girl centers around Zoe, a teenager who lives with her mom & her new stepfamily. Zoe has a secret that her and her mother, Maria, have kept between them for so long. It's weighing heavily on Zoe and eventually, it all comes to light.

Within a few hours after her stepfamily finds out, Maria turns up dead.



The entire book centers around trying to figure out how Maria died and flashes back and forth between Zoe's POV, Zoe's aunts POV, and Zoe's lawyer(?).

There are a few other story lines within the book but the main one has to do what happened with Zoe in the past, and what is happening with Maria's death.

Eventually, you find out what happened and it was super interesting, and it was even more interesting the way the book ended.

Was I seething at the mouth to find out what happened? Kind of but not as much as other books. This was on the more predictable side of thriller novels but it was still awesome.

I really did enjoy this book; it was just the right amount of suspense and mystery while also being entertaining. I would highly recommend this as it was interesting and a quick easy read.

*PS: Sorry if this seemed all over the place. I read this a while ago! Still a great book though ;) 

As I've mentioned previously, Henri Bendel has become one of my favorite brands. I've always enjoyed mid lane high end brands like Tory Burch and Kate Spade so when I stumbled upon Henri Bendel and realized that the brand was very old and had a great story as well as a lot of heritage I quickly fell in love.

You can read more about my love affair with Bendel in the Brand Buzz post but today is all about one of the many handbags I've acquired in the past few months.

This is a bag that I've had my eye on for a really long time. It wasn't really like anything else in my collection and I loved that it had the traditional Henri Bendel stripes without being truly overpowering.



The bag is the Centennial Stripe Schoolbag. 

It was one of the first bags I ever saw on the Henri Bendel website and I just never took the plunge. It's also a bag that goes on sale quite often so it's a little shocking that I never picked it up. A few weeks ago, when I went to the mall to get my Louis Vuitton luggage tag, I had to stop into Henri Bendel to return something and this bag was on sale on the website.

I asked if they had in stock and they did and I immediately took it. Originally it was full price but the associate honored the online discount and I scooped it up for $199. This is usually priced at $298 so it's a pretty sweet deal.

When I got home I immediately fell in love with it. It was perfect.





The interior has two pockets and a zipper pocket; outside, there is a thin slip pocket on the back of the bag. This makes it practical for everyday use since you can fit a lot in such a tiny bag.

It's a very light weight bag which makes it ideal because there's nothing worse than carrying a bag full of stuff that is already so weighted down on it's own.

There are two twist clasps on the front that are the way to get in and out of the bag. I think this feature adds something cute and different to the bag and gives it character; it is not the most practical to way open the bag but I can deal with it because I just love how it's not a classic zipper, it's very different from anything else.

The bag is also super structured so even when there is nothing inside, it holds it's shape and those are my favorite types of bag.

You could hold this bag but the short handle which I love; I think it looks super chic without the shoulder strap but I usually keep the shoulder strap on anyway because it's more convenient. The strap is adjustable but still very short, so this is definitely NOT a crossbody. I found that out the hard way when I brought it to Brunchcon and wanted to wear it cross-body but it was very uncomfortable.

While the Schoolbag is something that kind of screams my name I do feel like it's a little out of my comfort zone. I've been buying a lot of totes and work bags so this is the first bag I've bought for myself in a while that is an everyday bag.

This has quickly become one of my favorites in my collection and if the stripes aren't your thing, they have so many other colors. I'm pretty sure it's one of Bendel's classic bags that they release in new colors every season.

I'm so glad I finally purchased this baby because it's exceeded expectations!

Did you like this handbag review? Would you be interested in seeing more?
xoxo
B
SaveSave

It's April and the year is almost halfway over. Spring is around the corner and as much as I've hated it in the past, I'm a little bit excited for the warm weather and no jackets. I'm excited for iced coffee and kimonos.

March was so-so with some blizzards and rain storms. I got out of my funk and I'm starting to think that maybe it's seasonal depression, even though I adore the cold weather. Work has been super duper busy and things probably won't calm down until the end of June. I'm excited though -- I love when work is busy, it just makes it so much more exciting.

There's not much more to report other than that.

All my favorites this month are kind of random. I didn't do MUCH shopping so I don't have a lot of new stuff, and I haven't been wearing much makeup but what I have has been ride or die for the past 31 days.



1. Balmean Sweatshirt: I discovered that Betches.com has a shop and I went gaga over it. I love the website and their carefree attitude and I knew I needed something. When I saw this Balmain knockoff sweatshirt, I had to have it. I was iffy about it when it came in cause it seemed really big and I had crewneck sweatshirts but I decided to keep it. I cut a v neck in the top so it was more comfortable to wear and I'm wearing it as I type this. It's so comfortable and so carefree. I feel like a bad betch when I have it on.

2. Bitch Perfect Lipstick by Charlotte Tilbury: I guess I was on a bitch kick this month? This is one of Charlotte Tilbury's best selling lipsticks and I just felt like I needed to try another lipstick by her. I have the Hot Lips Kim K W one but I wanted something more pink. This is super natural, very comfortable to wear and a great every day color.

3. Stella McCartney Glasses: I got these glasses after the New Year and have been in love ever since. I'm surprise I haven't talked about them on here yet. I saw them in the eyeglass store and with a $300 price tag it was a hard no from me. I found them on eBay for less than $150 and jumped at em. They're very different because they're a white tortoise shell but people literally stop me on the street to tell me how much they love them. I'm so obsessed and I don't know if I'll ever wear a dark pair of eye glasses again.

4. Kate Spade Leewood Place Scalloped Tote: I was in the market for a new tote bag for work. I sold a few that weren't working for me and I just felt the need to replenish them. I wanted Kate Spade because my love affair with her is still going very strong and when I saw this simple, black tote on the Nordstrom website, I immediately bought it. I love the pebble rain leather and the tote is very light weight. The scallop detail is a perfect touch and I even added a little Kate Spade sticker to it. A full handbag review will be coming on it!

5.  Clarins Lip Balm: Ever since I saw this lip balm online I wanted it. I can't explain it but I was drawn to it.  Maybe it was the cute packaging or the fact that I love lip balms but I needed it. I finally bought it when it came to Ulta.com and it's hands down the best lip balm I've ever used. It smells like fruity Trident gum and keeps your lips super hydrated. I don't feel the need to constantly reapply and it does give a slight pink/peach tint to your lips. I want to buy 100 back ups of this!

What were your favorites of the month?
xoxo
B