In the world of Weight Watchers, I haven't felt super deprived of anything, except maybe bagels and pastries, which I do not eat that often.

I can have a slice of pizza, I can have pasta, it's all well and good. However, when I saw this recipe floating around the Internet a few weeks ago I immediately jumped at it.

The Two Ingredient Dough is 6 points in total, which is a STEAL. Once you add toppings it is, of course, more, but I hardly count that if you use the right stuff.

I've never made a dough in my life and even though it's only two ingredients, it was still hard to make. There was a lot of kneading involved, and it makes quite a mess but it is so worth it.

What are the magical two ingredients you ask? They are self-rising flour and greek yogurt.

1/2 cup of each gives you a small, little dough that tastes pretty damn good.








So far, I've created multiple pizzas, garlic knots, and everything bagel knots. There has never been a better time to test out Trader Joe's Everything Bagel Seasoning than with some dough and butter.



Really, you can make anything with this dough; I wonder how it would taste/come out as just a regular loaf of bread.

Even though I have created little bagel knots, I haven't done actual bagel yet and I really want to try. That requires me boiling the dough before baking it and that's a big commitment for me.

In conclusion, this dough is delicious and very versatile. If you're not on weight watchers but still want a good, diet alternative I highly recommend whipping a batch of this up!



If January was a slow month, February was insanely fast. It just feels like it was Valentine's Day and now we're so close to Spring.

I'm not ready to say goodbye to my beloved winter, but once I start seeing sandals, bright colors, and all things floral, I get a little excited. I feel like I'm betraying fall & winter when I say that.

As we say goodbye to another month, we say hello to the Monthly Muse. I've been on a no buy for most of the month (since Ash Wednesday aka February 14th) so these are just from my existing collection of items.



1. Physician's Formula Depuffer: I talked about this in yesterday's post but I must mention again. It is the best eye depuffer I've ever used, and it's under $10. I'm not a huge drugstore gal, which maybe I can save for another post, but this has quickly become one of my favorite products to ever be found there.

2. Kate Spade SmartWatch: This was the last big purchase before I went on my no buy and it was well worth it. I pre-ordered it in January and it arrived the first week of February. I have NOT taken it off and loved every minute with this. It's basically the Kate Spade version of the Apple Watch. I'm planning a huge post on it later this month but it's sure to be one of my favorite purchases of the entire year.

3. Target Magazine Rack: This is so random but it's a massive favorite. I've been wanting to get my desk more organized and I saw someone on Instagram use a magazine rack to put notebooks and papers in. I have SO MANY notebooks, too many, for a variety of different things. I stored them in my desk drawer but this makes it so much easier to see everything and they get a lot more use. It was under $15 at Target and it adds a really nice touch to my desk area.

4. Art Prints: I added two new prints to my gallery wall this month; a New York print that has all the different NY publication fonts, and one that says "Eat Sleep Blog Repeat". They're true to my writing roots and add a nice piece of inspiration to my walls.

5. Emergen-C: With the flu epidemic being so bad this year, and traveling on the gross New York City subway, I constantly feel like I'm getting sick. I never wanted to take Emergen C because I was afraid of what it tasted like. However, once I did try it I became obsessed! It takes like Sunny-D (do they still make that?!) and now I try to have a glass every morning. I've also been obsessed with Orange Juice this month so maybe I have low Vitamin C?

What were your favorites this month?
xoxo
B
I've said it multiple times before but I love a good concealer, and really anything related to the undereye area.

I feel like they're the products that I see the most difference when I use them, and because I have such harsh undereye circles, it's my problem area so I like to tend to that the most.

I've tried almost every gimmicky product under the sun and lately, I've been even more obsessed with finding the perfect under eye routine.

My no shopping for Lent is still going strong, so these products were purchased last month and I've been testing this for the past few weeks, and I have to say, I love every one of these products.

Whether everything really works or is it just a placebo effect is another story.



Physician's Formula Refresh Mint Cucumber & Bamboo Eye Depuffer: After washing my face in the AM with Simple Micellar Water, I run this under my eyes to depuff and cool. I first saw this in a Vogue Beauty Editor's Instagram Story and I needed it immediately. I loved that this was big enough to cover a large surface area, and I was just drawn to it. It feels so good on my under eyes and is naturally cool. It does do a great job at depuffing and prepping my skin for the rest of the products.

Julep So Awake Depuffing Gel Eye Cream: When I saw this first hit the market I knew it was something I had to have. It's not a traditional cream, but has a slight jelly feel to it. A little goes a long way and it really moisturizes my undereye area. It has caffeine which is one of my favorite ingredients in a beauty product because it really awakens the skin.

Becca Anti Fatigue Under Eye Primer: This is another new product that I ordered the minute it was available a few months ago. I apply it after I let the Julep cream sink into my skin as a good base for my concealer. It's a very solid balm, more solid than the Physician's Formula roller. It is NOT cooling at all but it claims to be so I was disappointed by that. However, I do like the feeling of it and I think it really does make a huge difference in my concealer. If you're priming your face and your eyelids, why not your under eye area?

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution: I bought this before any of the other products and I primarily use it at night. At first, it was drying my skin out but it just took a little getting used too. I think it has helped my dark circles over time because at one point, they were really, really bad but they have gotten a bit better. It is a pure, concentrated serum filled with Caffeine and Green Tea so it's probably your best bet when it comes to your under eyes!

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels: I don't know how much more I could talk about these masks but I have to include them in this post. I've tried so many eye masks but these are the ones I continually go back too. They are so cooling, I shiver when I put them on my eyes, and they are the most comfortable masks out there. I hate when the eye mask slides all over your face but these definitely DO NOT do that!

What are your favorite under eye products?
xoxo
B

This was a short week and I'm so happy that it's Friday! I have so many fun, blog/writing/side hustle related things I want to do this weekend and possibly see some friends/do something fun.

I know this next week is going to be hard; next Saturday is the 2 year anniversary of my dad's death and I can already feel the effects it's having on me. Maybe I'll do another post talking about my feelings, but I'm not in the right space to do it at this moment.

I'm currently watching the finale of Bachelor Winter Games, and writing a recap for my new entertainment news website, Breaking Bradshaw! I spoke about it two weeks ago in my round up post but wanted to mention it again.

I'm having SO much fun with it! I don't feel pressure to write, but when I do write I really enjoy it. It's been an amazing experience and I love having something else to put my mind to.



Please check it out if you haven't already, I think if you love entertainment and pop culture, you'll like it! 

There were a lot of good articles this week and one of my goals for the next few weeks is to be more connected to the content I'm consuming. I haven't been reading any news articles, blogs, or fun stuff lately (minus the stuff I share in this post) and I really want to connect to everything. I think that'll help bring my fire, ambition, and inpsiration to the forefront.

Here's what I loved this week:


Here's What You Missed on Royally Pink:
Have a great weekend everyone!
xoxo
B
When I found out the author of "Luckiest Girl Alive" was coming out with a second book, I was so excited! Then, when I found the book on NetGalley and was able to read it early, I was even more hyped; I think I actually yelped when I was approved to read "The Favorite Sister".

*I could've SWORN I did a book review on Luckiest Girl Alive but I can't find it anywhere!

I started reading the book and was very confused. There was a lot of POVs, and we went back and forth between the past & present, and I just couldn't get into it at the beginning.

The premise behind the book is that there is a group of girls, the Goal Diggers, who are on a reality show of the same name. Brett, Stephanie, Lauren, and Jen are the main characters and stars in Goal Diggers, and they each have their own niche.



Brett & Stephanie used to be best friends before they had a major falling out, and their reconciliation is the storyline for the next season.

Brett's sister Kelly joins the cast, as well as her daughter (Kelly's) Layla. The sisters have a SoulCycle type of business called SPOKE and they give back to third world countries in the process.

At certain points, I felt like I couldn't follow along; I was just confused as to what previously happened. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention and was distracted when reading it, or maybe it just simply was a confusing book.

However, in the middle of the book, I caught on and everything was good.

The book was very interesting and I loved that it gave you a weird, behind the scenes look at what probably happens on our favorite reality shows. It's not scripted, but it's definitely coerced and directed in the right way.

I was definitely missing the mystery/suspense feeling of the book until we get to the end of it. There's some secrets that are revealed, some marriage problems, and a whole lot of drama.

The end of the book is truly mind-blowing and makes up for the slowness of the rest of the novel.

My vote is, this isn't a must read but if you need a good, light-hearted suspense novel, this is a going to be a good one.

It's important to note that this book doesn't come out until April 24th so keep an eye out! I think if you like mystery novels but also like something not too dramatic, this is the one for you!

xoxo
B
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I am well aware that it is not Christmas or any other gift-giving holiday, but I had this idea and I just wanted to share. There are always birthdays and other gift giving occasions year round, so why not write this?

I've always been a bookworm, ever since I was a little girl. I hit peak readership when I was a teenager and started asking my aunt (who I got the book gene from) for baskets of books for my birthday and/or Christmas.

I would give her a list of about 20 books and she'd buy almost all of them for me; then she'd wrap them up in a gorgeous little basket and I was set for about 4-5 months.

My peak readership around 2008-2009 was also because of my discovery of the Twilight series. After that, I just wanted to read everything. I was also writing fanfiction (I know, I know) at the time so I took inspiration from everywhere.

Reading has always, and will always be my thing.

I've been getting back into a lot recently, but there are so many bigger bookworms out there. If you have a reader in your life, someone who lives, breaths, and eats books, these are just a few things to get them!





What would you get the reader in your life?
xoxo
B
Aside from the press on nails, I've been really into wearing different, unique color nail polishes lately. When I first saw the Winter 2017 collection from Essie, I wasn't really interested in any of the colors.

That is until I took a closer look at them and saw them on real nails, on the Essie Instagram. That's when the Social Lights color caught my eye.

It's so different from anything I have; it's metallic but has looks as if it has a hint of shimmer to it. It's described as a gray polish but has a hint of green in my opinion. On the Essie website, it also says that there is a hint of amber warmth which I  definitely agree with.



Social Light is the perfect winter color; it's warm, cozy, and just dark enough that you feel like you're on trend.





Also on the Essie website, it has a chart to show you where this color falls in comparison to similar shades. It's really interesting! I'm curious to go check out some other of my favorite shades.



I am obsessed with this color and have worn it quite a lot since getting it. The formula is one of the better Essie ones and I pair it with Julep Oxygen TreatmentEssie Gel Setter & my Orly Quick Dry Drops and it's a pretty good manicure!

What is on your nails this Monday?
xoxo
B
We got through Valentine's Day with flying colors! I am so pleased that I don't have to worry about February 14th for another year!

If you didn't read my Valentine's Day blog post, I recommend reading it now. It gives you a bit of an inside look at my dating world, something that I've always been hesitant to talk about, which I will maybe talk about in the future.



It was another long week here in the world of Briana... work has been very busy; my sister has started interning with me (it's a very interesting experience so far which maybe I will write about). Even though the week was busy, I felt oddly light. I didn't feel too stressed out, I didn't feel anxious, and I was in a fine mood.

It wasn't until today (Thursday) that I started to feel anxious. Maybe it's because the week is over and I'm looking forward to Friday, or it could be that the weekend has been giving me a lot of anxiety lately. I don't know if it's because work has been hard, or because I feel like I have a lot of things to accomplish in only two days, but it's weird.

This is the first week where my weekend anxiety kicks in TWO DAYS early. Why am I like this?

OH, this week Lent started and every year, I do try to give something up. The past few years I have failed but this year, I am giving up shopping. I am DETERMINED to do this no buy. As a good Catholic, I want to do my best. Let's see how it goes...

Ok, now for my favorite links of the week!


What you missed on Royally Pink:
Have a great weekend everyone!
xoxo
B



I mean, Happy Valentine's Day to all those ladies in relationships too! However, I feel like my bitter single girls need some extra love today.

Yes, we had Galentine's Day yesterday but today is the real day, the one everyone cares about. I've been single on all but two Valentine's Day and those don't even really count. I've never liked this holiday because it's just a reminder that I'm alone.

I don't talk about dating a lot on this blog because, to be honest, I don't go out on dates. I've had one semi-relationship that I don't want to talk about, for personal reasons.

I just got ghosted by another guy I was seeing (I'm upset about it) and I've been on dating apps a lot but nothing has really come to fruition. Maybe as I become more comfortable, I can share more.

However, I think all you single gals should celebrate Valentine's Day with your friends, family, and anyone who you love.



I'm spending the day at work and then coming home for a Lobster Tail dinner with my mom & sister, and I even made chocolate covered strawberries for us! I will also spend the night blogging & writing, doing the things I love.

I also love all of you who read this daily so Happy Valentine's Day!
xoxo
B

With Valentine's Day tomorrow, I thought today was a good time to talk about the love I have had, and currently have for Tiffany & Co.

Is there a girl who doesn't love the little blue box?

My love affair with Tiffanys began at a very young age. I went through a stage probably starting at 10 years old where I asked for a piece of Tiffany jewelry for every birthday and Christmas. I had the classic "Please Return to Tiffany" pieces and my lovely heart clasp bracelet; as I got older, I wasn't as drawn to Tiffany jewelry but there is something really special about the store, and the company.

I think it was the magic behind it, how Tiffany is put up on a pedestal, the history behind it, and the brand awareness. The store on 5th Avenue, which I've been to many times is like a girl's ideal playground.

To give you perspective, I loved Tiffany's so much as a tween/ teenager, I painted my room Tiffany Blue when pink is my favorite color. Yeah, I'd give anything for a blue box.

I can't even put into words how much I adore Tiffany's, and how I really feel like Holly Golightly when I talk about it.

That's another thing, Breakfast at Tiffany's is such an iconic movie, Audrey Hepburn in her black dress and cigarette holder is truly one of the most iconic photos of all time -- it's just simply wonderful. I didn't watch the movie until a few years ago, but it has become one of my favorites. I watch it whenever I feel a little down and it makes me feel whole again -- similar to how Blair Waldorf treated it (which I now need to go rewatch Gossip Girl).

I recently got the Tiffany bug again, one of the reasons being the new Blue Box Cafe that opened over the holidays. I cannot wait to really have Breakfast at Tiffany's. I will report back with a review/post when I do actually go, maybe later in the Spring.

With that Tiffany bug, I've been creating a wishlist of things I want. There are just a few pieces under $200 that I have my eye on. That's the thing about Tiffany's, there's something for everyone.



I'm hoping to take the 10-minute walk from my office to the iconic flagship store and buy this beaded bracelet. 



Do you have any pieces of Tiffany jewelry? Did you go through a Tiffany & Co phase?
xoxo
B
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A few weeks ago I had an urge for really long nails. When I was young, I was allowed to get french tips for special occasions like my confirmation, graduations, and proms. While I loved how they looked, I was bored of them after a week because they were too hard to navigate life with.

It's been a hot minute since I had tips, and while I always had moments when I wanted them I didn't want to shell out the money for them. They're really expensive and the upkeep isn't worth it.

Last year my coworker mentioned that she buys press on tips from the drugstore so I bought a pair and they've sat in my drawer ever since.



That is until 2 weeks ago when the urge for long, Kardashian like nails took over me and I finally put them on.

The imPRESS Press on Manicure One Step Gel nails are incredible; they're pre-glued and have a super strong hold. They fit my nails perfectly and I didn't have to fuss with a nail file or clipper to get them perfectly right.

It definitely took some getting use too, and I was fumbling with things for about a day and a half but I loved having long nails. I felt very glamorous, very chic and my favorite thing of all was typing with them. I felt very like myself with these long tips and they were less than $10!




At first, I was being super delicate with what I did while wearing the nails, and one did pop off when I was opening a package but it went right back on.

The nails are very hard to get off; when it was time to remove them because I was bored, I had to soak them in nail polish remover and then gently pop them off.



The packaging says that you shouldn't wear them longer than 7 days and I wouldn't want to wear them longer because like I said, I get bored very easily.

After I was done with the package I already had (there are enough for two wears but I wanted to try a different color) so I went to Target and got a white iridescent pack that I can't wait to try!

I am officially impressed with imPRESS manicure!

Have you ever worn press on nails?
xoxo
B

Royal Roundup: Week 6

in , , by RoyallyPink, 11:38 AM
This is a date late but with good reason. Work completely kicked my ass this week and I had a mental breakdown on Thursday morning, while at work. YUP. I cried at my desk and almost had a panic attack. It was really bad and has only ever happened once or twice before.

I was completely swamped and overwhelmed. I have never felt like this at work before and to be honest, I don't want to get too much into it.

It's Saturday morning, I'm watching Youtube videos and getting ready for the day. I have some errands to run, some work to do, and I just need to clear my mind. I've been waking up with massive anxiety every weekend morning and I think it's just leftover from the week. It's just not good, I'm not in a good place right now.

It sucks because I had such high hopes for 2018 and we're one month in and it's just not what I expected. I'm trying to not be discouraged because we still have such a long way to go; I still have hope.

In other news, I started a new website this week!! Breaking Bradshaw is my new website where I write all my entertainment news and will probably venture into some other areas like writing thought articles that don't really fit with the Royally Pink brand.

My voice on BB is a little snarky and bitchy, but honestly, that's kind of how I talk in real life. I have many sides to me and Breaking Bradshaw is just another one!

Don't forget to sign up for The Beaute Report, I'll have a new edition coming later today (another thing that was late this week!)

I'm trying to stay focused on my goals and hopefully, I can accomplish everything I want too. Next up, book writing!



Let's get into the links I loved!

Here's what you missed on Royally Pink:
xoxo
B
One of my greatest joys in life is a steaming hot cup of coffee or tea. I remember my first cup of coffee; I was a sophomore in high school and my friends & I always got to school really early. We would go downstairs to the cafteria for breakfast and eat, do homework, and chat.

I was curious about the coffee they sold in the cafteria so I bought a vanilla latte; it was the really sweet kind that was in the machine with hot chocolate. It was so sweet but so good, and there is where my addiction started.

I don't remember the last time I went an entire day without caffeine, and if I ever do, my withdrawal headaches happen for the next 24-48 hours.

I'm addicted to caffeine, coffee, and tea - I need it, it makes me feel good and I love sipping it in a gorgeous, fancy mug. Nothing I do is ever boring so why would my coffee mug be any different?

In the age of Instagram and having things be Insta-worthy, our mugs are expection. I love having an adorable mug to wake up with. It makes the day better and really is the defintion of the little things in life.

Here are some of my favorite (I have some, and others are on my wishlist)





What are your favorite mugs?
xoxo
B


For the past year, I have been living by a term that makes everything in my life seem peaceful and perfect. That term is hygge which is the Danish term for cozy living. It splashed onto the scene at the end of 2016 and has since made an impact on the wellness and lifestyle industries here in the US.

Hygge is such a major part of Danish living that someone wrote an entire book about it, which I recently finished late last year and I loved every moment of it. It describes what hygge is and how to have the ultimate hygge day. It compares the trend to other countries around the world and it just brought such peace to my mind.

I love nothing more than being cozy and relaxing so to have a term for it now, and for it to be 'on trend' aka socially acceptable makes me a little happier than it really should.

If you've ever experienced the warm coziness of being snuggled up in a blanket, with snow falling outside and a candlelit you've experienced hygge.

It's such an interesting concept and in a world where we are measured by how busy we can be at any given time, it's nice knowing that it's acceptable to take a break.

We're always rushing to do something, to experience something, to get that new job, to start the new side hustle, to experience something, that I don't think a lot of us ever take the time to just relax.

Even me, the queen of relaxing, has trouble with it. My mom always sees me sitting at my desk, typing away on the computer and continually asks "What are you doing?" and when I tell her about a new project I'm working on, she looks at me quizzically and says "Why don't you just put the computer and phone down and watch tv? Just relax"

I pride myself on being able to relax and unwind but after an hour or so, I get very restless and feel like I should be doing something. Then, I wonder why I'm always tired: because my mind, hands, and body are always working, always stressed and always thinking about what is coming next.

I've been trying to cut back, to just relax, at least for a few hours and sometimes it works, other times it doesn't.

However, I do think I am more qualified than most to tell you how to have the perfect hygge experience.

Threshold Blanket
Oil Diffuser
Tea
Pinch Provisions Self Care Kit
Diptyque Candle 
Sweatshirt
Kate Spade Slippers


Below are a few other of my favorite hygge picks!
I am not a fan of Valentine's Day. I hate it with a burning passion and maybe it's my eternal singledom that makes me so bitter but I don't really care.

I hardly even acknowledge the holiday anymore -- the only time I ever remotely acknowledged it was my senior year of college and the year after, but let's not get into that.

My reasoning for hating Valentine's Day is another post in itself but today, we're talking about Valentine's Day gifts for YOU.

If you don't have a significant other to celebrate the day, celebrate YOU. You love yourself, don't you? It's the day of love, so why not treat yourself?



I try to always give myself a little extra leeway on Valentine's Day, maybe just an extra treat or two, or maybe buy myself something I've been wanting. A little self-care and self-nurturing on a day that makes you feel bad about yourself is always a good thing; it's always a plus to turn a negative into a positive.

If you're anything like me when February 14th rolls around, you'll need some retail therapy too so these are just a few gifts to treat yourself too.





Will you be treating yourself to anything this Valentine's Day?
xoxo
B
The first favorites of the year always seem special to me. I love the clean slate that January brings and I think this January I realized a lot about myself. Whether those changes I realized I needed to make were actually made or not, I think making the steps is important.

One of the best things to happen in January; starting The Beaute Report. I took my Royally Pink newsletter and changed it into a beauty newsletter where I break down the beauty news/gossip of the week along with some new products that I think look particularly interesting.

Sign up here and I promise I won't spam your inbox; I only send the newsletter once a week, usually on a Friday

Now, let's get into some favorites!



1. Louis Vuitton MM Agenda: My preloved Louis Vuitton addiction has reared its ugly head again and it all started with my need for an MM agenda. I purchased this in late December off eBay and I have been obsessed. I will do a full post on this later this month but if you're considering a Louis Vuitton agenda, go with the MM. I have 2 PMs and the MM is so much better.

2. Alex and Ani Rings: I talked your ears off about my love of Alex and Ani but I really need to express my love for their rings. I've worn nothing but the Peace ring and my birthstone ring. As I write this, I'm looking at some other rings. They're so comfortable, gorgeous, and very simple-- all you could want in a piece of jewelry.

3. Laura Geller Color Luster Hi-Def Top Coat Lipgloss: I am NOT a lipgloss lover. I've tried so many different formulas, colors, and brands but nothing ever seems to stick with me. I just can't stand the feeling of sticky lips or when my hair sticks to my lips (even if it's not windy, my hair still ends up with lipgloss on the ends). However, these new lippies were released this month and I've been obsessed. The colors Pink Sapphire & Rose Tourmaline sit at my desk and I apply them all day long. They aren't sticky but stays on all day long, and don't add a lot of color, but more shine & shimmer. They're a metallic gloss but are so wearable. I'm OBSESSED!

4. NetGalley: I talked about Netgalley briefly in my review of 'She Regrets Nothing' but this has definitely been a favorite. I've been using it all month to try and read some new, unreleased books to review for you all! If you're a book lover, reviewer, or a blogger, I highly recommend trying Netgalley out! It's a great resource for those looking to share their recommendations!


What did you love this month?

xoxo
B

Happy Friday! I stayed home from work today because I've been feeling under the weather. I had a fever last weekend and I just felt off since. I know the flu is going strong this season so I'm trying to prevent that from happening.

Because of that, I had an unusual obsession with orange juice this week. Everyone I know was so confused because I never drink anything that isn't water, coffee, or tea. For me to have 1-2 orange juices a day is very out of character for me.

Maybe it's because I've been craving mimosas and brunch?

Anyways, my blog schedule was all off this week because, like I said, I was just off. I explained a lot of it in my Tuesday Inspiration post. I've been feeling unfulfilled, Like I want to accomplish so much more in my life and just don't know where to start.

I want to write more, I want to be a journalist, I want to be an author, I want to start a social media freelance business. I have so many dreams and aspirations but the physical act of doing those things, I just don't have in me.

I hope I figure it out soon because I don't like this feeling.

If anyone has any advice, let me know! I can use any help I can get.

It was National Croissant Day this week & it was heavenly

On another note, I skipped my January Favorites this week but it'll be up later tonight, tomorrow or it might even be in video form. We'll see what happens!

Let's get to the point of this post, my links of the week!

Here's what you missed on Royally Pink: 
Have a great weekend everyone!
xoxo
B
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