Royal Round Up: Week 39

in , , , by RoyallyPink, 5:00 AM
I write this as the 15th season of Grey's Anatomy is starting. Can you believe this show has been on for 15 years? It started in 2006, as I was starting high school and it's disgusting to think about. I can't believe it's still on the air and still remains an incredible show.

Shonda Rhimes is an insanely beautiful mind and I love her so much.

It was a really weird week and I talked more about that in yesterday's post. My leg feels so much better from the stitches and I'm just ready for the weekend. I'm really ready for it to be next weekend. That's how much I'm over everything right now.

What I'm not over is the incredible Fall weather we have had all week, with the exception of the one day it was 80 degrees and 100% humidity. I am relishing in the cool weather and it's simply glorious.

Before I go on another Fall rant, let's get into everything from the week!


Links I Loved

I bought my first Erin Condren planner this week, so a post will definitely be coming on that!

Have a great weekend everyone!
xoxo
B
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Monthly Muse: September 2018 Favorites

in , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 5:30 AM
It's the end of the first month of Fall and I can't believe how quickly it feels like time is moving. In actuality, I feel like September was very slow -- it feels like Labor Day Weekend was forever and a moon ago.

I am so excited for October I can hardly contain myself! There is so much to look forward too... first being getting the stitches out of my leg. I mentioned this last week but I got stitches on Monday in my leg after having the remnants of a mole removed. I've been in so much pain and discomfort, I just want them out of me!

Other than getting my body back, there's pumpkin picking, and Hocus Pocus and other fun Fall/Halloween activities. It really is my favorite time of the year.

September was good in terms of my favorites. I did well in terms of not shopping too much but I still have some new favorites to talk about.



September Favorites

  • Alex and Ani Path of Life Ring: Alex and Ani rings have become my favorite in the past 6 months. They fit really well on almost all your fingers and can be mixed and matched. They're very dainty and look so nice. I've been eyeing the Path of Life ring for some time and finally took the plunge at the beginning of the month. I have to force myself to not wear it every day! 
  • Amazon Handbag Organizer: I won't dwell too much on this favorite because I talked about it last week. I don't know how I am ever going to use another tote bag without one of these in it. I put it in my Tory Burch Perry Tote and it's a game changer, for sure! 
  • Slip Small Silk Scrunchies: I bought the large version of these scrunchies a few months ago but my mom and sister stole 2 out of the 3. When the Sephora VIB sale came around I figured it was time to stock up again. However, instead of buying the large scrunchies I wanted to try the slim version and it also comes with double the number of scrunchies. Well, I love these more than the original. They hold my hair a little better and I don't feel silly wearing them out of the house. I also love wearing one on my wrist as a bracelet and it adds something fun to my arm parties. I'm obsessed and haven't used any other scrunchie all month long! They also hold up very well and there is hardly any wear on them. 
  • Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Spice: When I saw that Fresh Beauty was going to release their cult favorite Sugar Lip Treatment in a SPICE color just in time for Fall, I wrote the date down in my calendar. I was in need of a new lip balm anyway so I knew this was just meant to be. I've been LOVING it and it adds the perfect amount of color to my lips. I also really love the brown/beige color of the Spice shaded and it is definitely a must-have for me for this Fall.

What were your favorites of the month?
xoxo
B
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Weight Watchers Wednesday: Vol 6 + What I Eat in a Week

in , , , , , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 7:00 AM
Buckle up for a long, long post! There's a lot to discuss.

I wanted to a do bit of a different Weight Watchers update because my weight is still up and down. Meal prepping and pilates are still helping but my willpower has just not improved. If I do cheat, I have been using my weekly points no matter how high the food is worth.

I need to be more inspired and maybe if I drop a few more pounds, and see some improvement I'll be more motivated. I'm stuck in this 3-4 pound ladder and I'm tired of it. UGH.

So, instead of the typical update, I'm going to break down what I eat in a week, but first... Weight Watchers announced HUGE changes on Monday Morning.

The company is no longer 'Weight Watchers' - it's now called WW USA. They have now rebranded as a wellness company because they are on their way to becoming one of the top wellness companies in the world. They've always been the top weight loss company in the world so it was time to change direction.

I'm unsure how I feel about the change; it doesn't seem like it will affect our weight loss journies too much but only add to it, which is exciting! Read here for more info!

Now for what I eat in a week... 

Breakfast: 

  • Instant Quaker Oatmeal in Original Flavor *I LOVE oatmeal. It has always been my go-to breakfast and to add some flavor, I add a few dark chocolate chips
  • Egg Muffins: I make my own little egg muffins with biscuits, eggs, and bacon. They are so delicious and really fill me up. I count them as only 1-1.5 points and it seems to be working!

Lunch

Lunch is my biggest issue because I hate eating lunch. When I'm at work I put off eating lunch as much as possible -- sometimes eating as late as 4 PM. I'm not sure why I hate it but I think the main reason is that I never know what to eat. I finally have some sort of routine when it comes to an at work lunch.
  • Cauliflower Rice + Trader Joe's Mini Chicken Cilantro Wontons or Chicken Potstickers
  • Trader Joe's Guilt Free Mac & Cheese
  • Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi with a touch of TJ's Lite Mozzarella Cheese
  • Steamfresh Veggie Pasta (a new discovery that I think need it's own post!) 

Dinner

Dinner was always an easy, healthy meal for me because of my mom and sister. They are chronic healthy eaters so my dinners are never as bad as any other meal. It was easiest to transition to Weight Watchers dinners and helped that at the beginning my mom did Weight Watchers with me.

*We usually stick to meat-based dinners as my mom and sister like to stay away from pasta.
  • Chicken Patties
  • Roasted Shrimp
  • Steak 
  • Mrs. Pauls Fish Filets 
  • Pork Chops *not a common occurrence
  • Hamburgers

Side Dishes

  • Uncle Ben's Ready Rice
  • Golden Vegetable Pancakes
  • Steamfresh Veggie Pasta (if I didn't eat it for lunch)

Snacks

  • 20 Synders Mini Pretzels
  • Pirates Booty
  • Angie's Boom Chicka Pop
  • Annie's Cheddar Bunnies or Squares
  • Annie's Chocolate Bunny Grahams
  • Multi-grain Chips *I forgot the brand and don't have any in my house right now*

So yes... that's just a rundown of my weekly meals. I tend to be a creature of habit and eat the same things time and time again, which gets annoying and why I get frustrated. That is the life of a picky eater on Weight Watchers!

If you have any advice on better meals, please let me know!
xoxo
B

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My Favorite Ways to Decorate & Prep Your Home for Fall

in , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 5:30 AM
If you are not familiar with me or my blog, hello, I'm Briana and I'm addicted to Fall.

Saturday was the first day of Fall and it truly is my favorite day of the year. I was so happy I could've cried. It was the perfect temperature, a light, cool breeze, and the sun was shining. I even saw a few leaves start to change color.

My room has been decorated for Fall since Labor Day but this weekend put me in the mood to change the feel of the entire house.

My mom and I conflict on decor every so often because I want our house to look like the holidays threw up on it but my mom is not so keen on that. That's why I always make sure my room is decorated to the nines. It makes me so happy and brings so much joy -- plus, my mom gets to keep her own decor throughout the rest of the house.

That's my compromise for everyone who still lives at home with their parents -- if you want the holiday/seasonal feel, decorate your own room instead of the entire house.

The beginning of Fall always has been craving the coziness of the season, which is the inspiration for this post.

If you want your home to feel Fall-y, follow these tips:

Layers

Add blankets on blankets, rugs on rugs -- do everything you can to make your room cozy! I love adding more pillows and cozy, autumnal colored blankets to my bed. I always switch things up and will add a thicker blanket onto my desk chair to add more of a cozy feel. If you don't like having a lot of blankets around your house, put them in a woven basket and use that as some additional cozy decor. I have my eye on this Barefoot Dreams blanket because it is just too beautiful and too soft to pass up.




Decor

Adding pieces of random decor is my favorite way to make my home feel like Fall. I have a lot of decorative pumpkins around my room, as well as fake leaves. I also love little farmhouse signs with fun sayings. I have a gallery wall of photo frames and I print out quotes/printables from Etsy and change it with every season. It's just a nice way to add something extra to your room.

Color Scheme

If you're not a big fan of autumnal colors in your home, there are plenty of fall decorations that you could find to fit your home look. Opt for white pumpkins instead of orange, or maybe you don't like the plastic look, get pumpkins or accessories that are cloth or 'sweater' material.

Candles

Do I even have to say it? There is nothing more that screams FALL than candles do. Even if you don't like to burn candles they automatically make a room cozier for Fall. Maybe you would rather flameless candles or a wax melter -- either way, flickering light, and scent are ideal ways to make your home fall-like.

Below is some adorable Fall decor that fits me aesthetic and exactly what I am talking about!

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Squeaky Clean with Summers Eve ®

in , , , , , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 6:00 AM
This post is sponsored by Summer's Eve ® but all opinions and content is my own
When I 'came of age' as a young lady in my teen years, my mom taught me that it's important to take care of myself, to be super hygienic and to keep myself healthy and clean. I'm talking about my vagina -- (oh my God, I said it on the Internet!) and keeping the lady bits fresh, clean and healthy.
To me, there has always been one brand that I trust with my feminine hygiene, the brand that has been at the forefront of teaching us how to care for ourselves for almost 40 years.
Summer's Eve ®.
I remember the first time I used Summer's Eve ® and I just felt good knowing that I was using something that would keep me clean and not irritate my skin.
Around 15 years later, I'm still a loyal Summer's Eve ® customer and I am very happy to be partnering with them today!
I never wash my lady parts with regular soap or body wash -- I always have a bottle of Summer's Eve ® in my house and don't even get me started on the cleansing cloths-- those are a LIFESAVER and I pretty much never leave the house without one of them. They're very helpful for after the gym, or just on the go. They are especially handy to keep yourself fresh at that time of the month.
Summer's Eve ® was never afraid to put it all out there -- they are the expert on feminine hygiene and health, but they do it in a way that educates us on the importance of these products. it's something I've admired and why I am so loyal to Summer's Eve.
Like I said, this has been ingrained in my brain since a young age and I've been obsessed with the brand ever since I was around 11 years old. I'm always interested to try our Summer's Eve ® new products and new scents but this new line takes the cake.
When I saw the Simply Line, I was more than excited. I'm not one to think about ingredients in my cosmetics products even though I know I definitely should. However, Summer's Eve ® has made it so simple you don't even have to think about it.



I've been using the Coconut Water Cleansing Cloths, the Lavender and Chamomile Gentle Foaming Wash and the Lavender and Chamomile Cleansing Wash. I've always used Cleansing Wash and the Cloths, but the Foaming Wash is new to me and it's just as incredible as other Summer's Eve ® products.





Both the foaming and cleansing washes do the same thing, it's just up to your preference which you would rather use!


The Simply line is free from dyes (who wants dyes in their feminine hygiene products?!), parabens and alcohol (another thing you definitely don't want in your feminine products). They also are infused with botanical extracts and are balanced for our natural pH. The botanical extracts allow for a gentle, effective cleaning -- what more can you possibly want?

The Simply Line (especially the cleansing cloths in my opinion) give you a burst of freshness when you need it. The coconut water cleansing cloths are super gentle and honestly just feel really nice. As I mentioned before I'm not one to worry about ingredients but I can really rest easy knowing that at least I am treating my lady parts nicely and using products that won't irritate me or affect me in a negative way.
I have always loved Summer's Eve ® and the Simply line just gives me more to love!


Have you used Summer's Eve ® products?
xoxo
B
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Royal Round Up: Week 38

in , , , by RoyallyPink, 5:30 AM
Does anyone else feel drained and defeated by the time Thursday night comes? I just feel like I can't do anything on a Thursday night; mostly because I'm anticipating Friday and the weekend and because I worked all week and I'm just over it.

That's how I feel right now and it took everything for me to sit at my desk and get some work done. I have a long weekend ahead of me because on Monday I'm getting a procedure done on my leg. I had a mole that had to be removed and the dermatologist wants me to go back in so they could cut the scar open and get the rest of the mole out from underneath my skin (sorry if you're squeamish!).

The type of mole I have is benign so there is nothing to worry about but I've never had any type of procedure; I've never even been in the hospital so I'm really scared about that aspect of it. I'll give you an update next week when it's all over!

Otherwise, I'm all tired out so let's get into some other things:

fall-apple picking-royally pink-weekly round up-pumpkin spice cupcakes

Links I Loved

So, if you haven't noticed, I completely changed the layout of the blog. I do this a lot -- way more than other bloggers and I know exactly why. I get very bored, very easily. That's why I'm always buying new things, always changing my room and redecorating -- it's why I've never minded moving so many times. 

I get bored with my blog layout a lot and I'm always looking to improve. I'm actually very happy with this layout right now.

I changed the logo at the top to something smaller and classier; I added a top navigation bar with drop-down menus and added my shop page so you can always shop my favorites! 

My social media accounts are also at the top of my page, to make them easier to find and also to clear up some space on my sidebar. I'm just so excited about this layout and it's really exactly what I've always wanted. 

My blog layout is never custom; I get them from this Etsy shop and install them myself. I think that it is a fine thing to do, and I don't really mind if someone else on the Internet has the same or similar blog layout that I do. 

I hope you enjoy the new layout/set up! If you have any questions or suggestions, please let me know! 

What I Bought

I've actually been doing amazing at not shopping but I did pick up some clothes because I am so sick of everything in my closet. Plus, I lost a lot of weight, nothing fits and I just need new things.



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Beauty Products I've Had Allergic Reactions To | Vol 1

in , , , , by RoyallyPink, 6:00 AM
This blog post was written in September 2018 but has since been updated.

I was never the type of person who had to worry about having a bad reaction to skincare and makeup. However, as I've gotten older my skin and body have changed and now my skin is much more sensitive to certain ingredients in products.

A few years ago, my skin started freaking out and I couldn't figure out what it was. I was having a bad reaction to something I was applying under my eyes -- or at least around my eye area because it was the only place on my face that was affected. My under eyes would blow up, get very puffy, dry and itchy and just look really bad.

I thought it was dry skin and tried all different types of products for that particular issue. Things would work for a week or so and then the reaction would come back.

I finally went to the dermatologist and the minute she saw my face she knew it was an allergic reaction to fragrance. After that, I stopped wearing perfume and using products with fragrance in it. I've slowly introduced perfume back into my routine (only using rollerballs so that the scent is being sprayed all over me) and I've gotten better about knowing what will give me bad reactions.

Now, though, my skin reacts crazily to all different products, even those without fragrance. It happens the most with lip products and I know the moment I apply a lip product to my lips if I'll have a bad reaction or not.

Because of all that, I decided it would be a good idea to write a blog post to inform you that if you have sensitive skin, some of these products might not work well for you.




Drunk Elephant Lippie Balm

I had finally taken the plunge and purchase this lip balm from Drunk Elephant, desperate for something else from the brand to try. Well, I knew the minute I applied this to my lips that it was not going to end well. The next day, my mouth was all red, dry and chapped and just incredibly itchy. That's my signal for 'do not use this'. I tried it a few more times to be sure but something in this lip balm did not agree with me.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue

I talked about how much I liked this expensive eye cream in the past and then one day, my skin rejected it. I hadn't had an allergic reaction like that in a while but after a few nights in a row using this, my eyes puffed up and were very dry and cracked. I think it might've been a slight fragrance or maybe the product went bad, but honestly, I'm not sure. All I know is that it was NOT a pretty sight.

Laneige Lip Mask

When this came to Sephora last year, everyone was going nuts over it. People are still going nuts over it now and I'm so sad that I can't use it. I used this for a solid month or so before it started giving me problems and it was great! I was thrilled that I had finally found something that moisturized my lips all night long and made such a difference. After a few weeks, I woke up one morning and my lips were huge! I looked like I had gotten lip injections and it was insane. I tried a few more times and it was the same result. As much as I loved this, it had to go back to Sephora.

FAB Kona Stick

Eye depuffing rollers have always been a hit or miss for me because they all irritate me. I figured something from First Aid Beauty would be good because they are fragrance-free and always save the day for me. However, this was not a good choice on my part. It wasn't as severe as other reactions but my eyes started to get really red and itchy after a week or so of use. I decided to not take any chances and just return it. A great eye depuffer that has not given me any problems is the Tula Glow & Get It Cooling Eye Balm. It's amazing! 

What are the beauty products that you've had allergic reactions too?
xoxo
B
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Amazon Handbag Organizer | Review

in , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 5:30 AM
*Elephant in the room -- an entirely new blog layout! I'll go through it more in this week's Royal Round Up but I'm in LOVE and I hope you are too! 

When I discovered the world of online luxury I didn't know what I was stumbling upon. It has cost me a lot of money, a lot of lusting and a lot of list making. I've learned so much in the 2 years I've been addicted to luxury items, mostly pre-loved but one thing I learned was that there are such a thing as handbag organizers.

Being the resident handbag lover that I am, I was stunned to see these felt contraptions that kept your handbag organized, shapely, and didn't move all your items around.

The OG bag organizer and ones that all the luxury bloggers rave about is Samorga and they cost a pretty penny. I was not about that life and to be honest, I wasn't completely sold on the handbag organizers.

That is until I got a Neverfull MM and wanted something to brighten up the inside, keep my things in their place, and keep the shape of my bag.



I finally saw an Amazon dupe for the Samorga and after seeing a few bloggers I trusted rave about it, I purchased it.

And wow... what a difference a bag organizer makes!

I've been using it for about a month and I never want to use a tote bag without it again. I must clarify that I've used this exclusively with my Neverfull MMs and my Henri Bendel Empire Tote (can we pause for a minute to talk about HB closing? I'm doing a huge post but I'm devastated)



I chose the pink Large organizer because that is the size that fits best in the Neverfull MMs.

When you first receive the organizer, it is folded up and you just need to expand it and put it in your bag. There are a bunch of different compartments that velcro together so you can customize it and remove or add parts. This allows you to customize how big or small you want the organizer, and how many compartments you want to be working with.

I keep all the compartments in because I like to be as organized as possible.




My favorite part about the organizer is that everything stays in their place and stays upright. I hate nothing more than when things in my tote bag are falling over and my bag becomes a jumbled mess that doesn't have any shape. I hate hearing my metal water bottle clink against my keys or when my planners get smashed against my makeup bags.

Now, everything stays where it is supposed to stay and my bags keep their shape. It's so nice to carry a bag that is organized.

Like I said, I've only used this organizer in three of my tote bags and I haven't tried it in any of my other bags, however, I think it's a good size that'll fit most of my bags. If not, I'll probably buy another size to fit those -- that's how good it is.

If you hate when things are a mess in your handbag, I highly recommend picking this up from Amazon. Test it out, use it for a big and if it's not something you love, return it. Or, if not, give it to someone who might enjoy it. Either way, it's under $20 and you can't beat that.

 Have you ever used a bag organizer?
xoxo
B
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Manicure Monday: Essie Fall 2018 - Stop, Drop, and Shop

in , , , , by RoyallyPink, 7:00 AM
At the beginning of every season, I'm ready to change up my nail polish. By the time August comes around, I want vampy, dark colors and am done with hot pinks and neons. I also get super excited for the new Essie releases and this season, the colors are INCREDIBLE.

I purchased my first one the minute I saw them available on Ulta.com (and it helped that I was already placing an order for the 21 Days of Beauty sale.

The first one I picked up was "Stop, Drop, and Shop" and I don't think there has ever been a more perfect nail polish name for me.



Online, it looks very red yet on the nails, it's slightly more berry/red and it's so, so beautiful. At first, I thought it was similar to Angora Cardi but I swatched them side by side and Angora Cardi is much more brown/plum.




It's described as a deep, mulberry shade, and I think that's a great way to put it. It has a little bit of all your favorite fall colors; berry, brown, and red.

My cuticles are a MESS. Please don't pay attention ;) 

The formula is really wonderful -- it applies like a dream, is very creamy and dries very nicely. I did notice that it chipped within a few days but honestly, there are few nail colors that do not chip on me.

While this performed like all other Essie shades I've recently tried, there was one big surprise when I opened my polish.

THE BRUSH IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.




I was stunned and so surprised that Essie had changed their brush. It made the polish and the nail painting experience so much better. It is wider, flatter, and fits your nail perfectly. If you have ever used the Gel Couture polishes, it's the same exact brush but I prefer the regular Essie polishes so I'm so excited they have implemented this change! I feel like it makes such a big difference.

I'm assuming that the other Fall colors have this brush and probably all new collections going forward!

When I wore Stop, Drop, and Shop I got so many compliments and I know it's going to be a polish I wear all season long. I highly recommend checking this out!

Another Fall shade I cannot wait to get my hands on but I'm a little nervous about is Fall for NYC, it's a mustard yellow but it looks so beautiful in swatches. I need it!

What colors are you excited about this Fall? Will you be picking up
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Royal Round Up: Week 37

in , , , , by RoyallyPink, 5:00 AM
TGIF and I've never been happier. My anxiety and depression were high this week and I'm ready to just not think about anything of substance all weekend. I know WHY I was feeling this way, for once, and it's mostly because I don't feel fulfilled. I need to write more and I want to write more because when I think about what I love the most in this world it's books and writing. I need to satisfy that part of my soul more than I am.

I also have been feeling like I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough at my job, I'm not a good writer, I'm not really good enough to be who I want to be. That is a very strange feeling for me because I've always had a lot of self-confidence. Maybe it's constant rejection, or the constant comparing I do on a daily basis to all the fancy editors and influencers I aspire to me. The 'not good enough' epidemic has finally come for me and I'm not sure how to combat it.

I'm trying to push that feeling deep down to a place where I can't feel it but I don't know how well I'm doing. Maybe it was just a bad week, maybe tomorrow will be better.

To help get through the hard days I immersed myself in goal setting, made 100 google docs for my life, from the blog to budgets, and watched Youtube videos on planning. The videos oddly calmed me and I recommend everyone watch Milk and Honey Life's videos.

In other news... I did my civic duty yesterday and voted in the New York Primaries. I had forgotten about election day until I was flooded with it on social media and I was already at work, far away from my voting location. As I mentioned, I was not having a good day and it would've been really easy for me to just go into my house and crash on the couch. However, I shook it off, got in my car and drove to vote. The entire process, door to door, took maybe 10 minutes. And guess what? I felt SO much better afterward knowing that I did my part.



Enough with the rambles, let's get into the good stuff.

Links

What You Missed On Royally Pink

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I had made some edits to the blog, some of which you probably didn't notice but I felt like sharing! 

I added a 'Mental Health' tab to the 'Pages' section so if you want to quickly search all my posts on anxiety and mental health, you can just click that.

In the backend, I went in and deleted some old, outdated posts. I also made edits to tags to help make searching a bit easier and reformatted some older posts. It was so weird and interesting to go back and look at old posts from when I first started and see how far I've come in terms of writing, formatting, editing, and photos. 

There will be more edits coming so stay tuned! 

What I Bought This Week:

I'm on a strict no impulse buy after I started reading Refinery29 'Money Diaries' and making a new, insanely detailed budget, but I had to get some things from the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty sale! 





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New Beauty Arrivals | September 2018

in , , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 5:00 AM
I was talking last week in my Current Beauty Favorites post that I was revulating all my beauty content, which in turn became a full on blog audit. I'll get into that tomorrow in the Royal Round Up but I wanted to kind of introduce this series.

Even though the market is so overly saturated, I still get so excited when brands release new products. There isn't a week that goes by that I am not obsessively checking the Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom 'New Arrivals - Beauty' section.

While I don't love everything that is released, nor do I want everything, I still love to talk about the new releases and almost analyze them, to see if it's a budding trend, something that is really unique or something that is so tired and overdone.

I tried doing that with my failed newsletter, The Beaute Report -- which was just too much to do so maybe a monthly round up post will be more managable.

Some of these items are things I'm really excited about and others are just really hyped up releases that you've probably already seen.

September New Arrivals



1. Summer Friday's Overtime Mask: The Jet Lag Mask is one of my favorite products of the summer and has quickly become a holy grail moisturier for me. I was completely overjoyed when I saw that they were releasing an exfoliating mask called 'Overtime'. The mask is in similar aesthically pleasing packaging that matches the Jet Lag Mask and also has pumpkin enyzmes as an ingridient so it makes it the perfect fall treat. I haven't picked it up yet but I will be this weekend!

*Something to note: It is $4 cheaper than the Jet Lag Mask coming in at $44, however, it does have the same amount of product (2.25oz)

2. Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk Collection: The Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillowtalk is one of the most coveted and talked about lip liners in the world. It's weird that I do not have this lip liner or the matching lipstick but I keep putting off buying it. They are both also frequently out of stock. That being said, Charlotte Tilbury has taken the love of Pillowtalk and created an entire collection around it-- well, she's added two additional items that follow the Pillowtalk theme; a blush and eyeshadow palette. I need both but they sold out within minutes and I missed my chance. It's a buzzed about collection so I'm sure she will restock soon!

3. Fenty Diamond Bomb Collection: The only Fenty product I have is one Matchstick that I don't use too often. I personally think Fenty is really overhyped and it doesn't do anything for me. However, everyone bugs out whenever there is a new arrival. The Fenty hype happened again this month when Rihanna put out the Diamond Bomb Collection, consiting of a Fenty Gloss Bomb in Diamond Milk and the Diamond Veil in 'How Many Carats' which is essentially a pearlsecnt, silver highlighter.

4. Too Faced Peaches and Cream Collection: TF expanded their Peach range this month to include more Moisture Matte Lipsticks (which I have one of and I LOVE), a Lip Balm & Scrub, and a new wet/dry face & eye palette. I'm very intrigued by the lip balm and it may eventually end up in my posession but nothing really excites me about this collection, expect maybe some new lippie shades!

5. Coverfx Power Play Concealer: I like Coverfx a lot but haven't tried a lot of their products. This concealer though, has me really excited. I didn't try their Power Play Foundation because it was marketed as more matte and I am as dry as the sahara, but this concealer is intriguing. I really like the weirdly shaped applicator and I'm drawn to the packaging for sure. It also has pollution defense (very trendy right now) and is supposed to be creaseproof. If I purchase and try it, I will report back!

Also in September, beauty brands start to release their holiday collections. Once everything is released, I'll probably do a full post but so far, nothing excites me!


What do you think about these new releases?
xoxo
B

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Book Review Wednesday: 20 Something, 20 Everything

in , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 6:30 AM
There was no post yesterday because I chose to honor 9/11 in silence. I've done so many posts in the past about that day, where I was and how I remember it. This year, I just wanted to take the day to reflect without a blog post. It's always a sad, somber day traveling on the NYC subway and just being a New Yorker but goddamit, I love my city more than anything.

Now, onto the book review...  


I've suffered from a quarter-life crisis since I turned 21 years old so I knew once I turned 25, it would only get worse. I've talked your ear off about it for years so you know exactly what I'm talking about.

In the same breath, since I started blogging and getting more into the digital space, I've seen one book floating around and I always knew that I was going to read it. It was on my to-read list for years and when I turned 25 years old last year, I knew it was going to be the book I finally bought.

It just so happens that instead of me purchasing it, my sister saw it in my Amazon cart and gave it to me as a birthday gift.

That book is '20 Something, 20 Everything' by Christine Hassler.



You've probably seen the somber blue cover with the woman looking into the water somewhere on the Internet; I know I definitely have! This book usually pops up on a lot of 'Books for 20 Somethings' lists, or anything related to adulting.

Because it's become such a classic in the world of millennials going through a quarter-life crisis, I was expecting a lot. I don't know what I was expecting but I know I wanted to be wowed.

I was definitely not wowed.

Why I Didn't Like It

1. The book felt a little outdated which it should because it's was published in 2005. It has since been updated to include social media, but if it wasn't published within the last year, it still would feel outdated.

2. It was very long and I felt a lot of it was unnecessary. It felt very wordy and drawn out for no reason. Because of that, it took me close to 8 months to finish. I just couldn't get into it because it was so slow.

3. Part of the beauty of this book was that it gave you interactive activities and prompts to do in every chapter. I am just not that type of person to stop reading, grab a pen and paper and jot down notes. I like to read because I want to escape, even if it is a self-help book. I think not taking advantage of those prompts defeats the purpose of the book and I wasn't able to fully enjoy it.

Why I Did Like It

1. It covered a lot of different topics and I felt like it did a good job of validating all types of feelings of 20- something women. From identity to career to love, this book has it all.

2. It was very validating. I felt like I wasn't alone in this book and that the feelings that I currently have are not unique. All women have felt like this and what I'm feeling is totally normal. 


Verdict

While it was a good book and beautifully written, I think there are other self-help/quarter life crisis books out there that will help you more than this. It was a very generalized book and wasn't a straight up, 'if you're feeling this way, do this' type of book. 

If you're someone who loves to write as they read, then DEFINITELY pick this book up. You will love it and you will get the most out of it. 

If you're curious and have been curious, it's probably worth reading because you want to quench that curiosity. You could definitely use it more of an inspiration than a true book on what to do in certain situations.

Has anyone read this book? What did you think? 
xoxo
B
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Kate Spade + WWD Style Dimension NYFW Panel

in , , , , , , by RoyallyPink, 6:30 AM
If you are an avid reader of Royally Pink and a follower of mine on social media (@bribrilukes on Twitter & Instagram), you know of my obsession with Kate Spade. It is my favorite brand of all time and I am constantly inspired by the beautiful, feminine designs and the brand truly brings so much joy to my life.

Everyone in my life is well aware of that love, including my co-workers and boss. That's why when my boss was invited to a Fashion Week panel that was presented by Women's Wear Daily and would feature the CEO and Creative Director of Kate Spade.

Well, when she told me that I nearly cried (mostly because I thought that it was the actual fashion show but I'll take anything Kate Spade featured during NYFW).

I attended the panel with another co-worker on Friday and it was really cool because it was held at the Samsung 837 pop up that had a bunch of other stations inside it, aside from the panel.



It started at 2 PM and we were able to get seats in the 2nd row, after waiting for a few minutes, and it was really surreal to be there with so many other fashion lovers.



The panel started off with watching the Spring 2019 Presentation from earlier that morning and it was amazing. The colors for Spring are bright, bold, yet true to the Kate Spade heritage. 

Something I want to note is that you may be able to see the glitter trail on the floor of the 'runway' in my photos below. Nicola said that one of the most notable sayings that people shared when Kate died was "She leaves a little bit of sparkle wherever she goes" and that is why they chose to put that sparkle trail in the show.

They also left a card with that saying on everyone's chair at the show. When she explained this, I instantly got the chills and started to tear up. It's happening again as I write this! 




Afterward, the Editorial Director of WWD, and the Kate Spade team came out to start the panel. They talked about everything from the inspiration behind the collection, how they feel about the digital age and social media, and how they are going to honor Kate Spade since her tragic passing.

Nicola Glass explained a few new things that you will see in the Spring 2019 collection and beyond.



  • There is a new take on the spade, to pay tribute to the heritage of the brand. It resembles a spade and interlocking heart
  • The hardware is a little chunkier on some of the bags which makes a statement in itself
  • The Nicola Bag is the hero product of the Spring collection, and the color-blocked bag represents Nicola and her identical twin sister.
  • The new Spade is present on all the new bags, especially the bucket bag in black, green and yellow (above) that is entirely made up of this new Spade
  • When the panel host asked who the Kate Spade customer was, Nicola put it best; "The Kate Spade customer is in love with life and has a sense of purpose. She is a mindset, not a demographic". It just hit me right in the feels.


A few tidbits that I already knew but might be news to the casual Kate Spade consumer:

  • Kate Spade donated $1 million to mental health causes after Kate Spade's death. They did a matching program in stores where if people donated, they matched the amount. They ended up raising about 150K and matched that. 
  • They instituted a mental health program in their office to help promote a healthier, less stressful mindset. 
  • Kate Spade uses sustainable materials in their products, something they don't promote too often
  • If you've ever seen their On Purpose line, you know that they have women in Rwanda make a collection every season to help these women live a better life
I'm such a digital nerd so it was interesting to hear the CEO talk about their approach. The fastest growing platform for them is Youtube and she said that they think they do digital and social so well because, at the core, the brand is naturally a storyteller. I think that is SO true because Kate Spade does have such a clear identity of telling a story, whether it's through a fun saying or a classic silhouette. 





It was so surreal to be in the same room as the women who represent the Kate Spade brand and make the products that I love so much. Deborah Llyod was the Creative Director before Nicola and I've seen her speak before, and she was my favorite. Now, Nicola is at the helm and I'm so excited to see what the brand does next!

After the panel, we walked around for a bit. There were a few different beauty stations set up where you can go and get touch-ups: Becca, MAC, Bumble & Bumble and Origins. We stopped and spent some time at the Origins popup and tried out the new Cannabis infused mask coming out in a few weeks.



Hopefully, I will have more NYFW content coming up this week so make sure you're following me on Instagram! 

xoxo
B



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Royal Round Up: Week 36

in , , by RoyallyPink, 5:00 AM
Another short week has come to an end and it was the first unofficial week of Fall... with 90-degree weather in New York! It should be cooling off now and I'm excited to get truly into the Fall feeling of things.

For as much as I love Fall and love the week after Labor Day, I just felt off this week. It could've been getting back into the swing of work, mixed with extra hot weather and just a lot happening. I really just want it to cool off so I could fully enjoy Fall and do all the things.

Also, NYFW started this week so my Instagram feed, as well as the city, is in full-on fashion mode! I get the worst FOMO during Fashion Week but I am planning on going to a few events. First up is today and I'm going to a panel to hear the CEO and Artistic Director of Kate Spade speak (OMG). Definitely, follow me on on Instagram & Twitter (@bribrilukes) to see all the great stuff.

This weekend I have some stuff planned, maybe a date and my cousins' birthday and I get to meet my newest baby cousin (so excited!!).




My Favorite Links

What You Missed on Royally Pink

What I Bought This Week


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