Nine years ago I decided to start a blog. I was going into my junior year of college, getting my feet wet with the idea of internships and becoming more involved in my sorority. I was looking for an outlet to showcase my writing, build a portfolio and start making my dreams come true.

Nine years later, life looks so different than what 20 year old Briana thought it would; I'm still living at home, I'm a social media manager for a major beauty brand, my dad passed away, I'm single, I've written for my dream publications, I lived through a global pandemic... life is just so weird. I've lost people in my life, gained people, been fired from a job, made major changes... it's just so weird how you can look back and everything in your life is different. 

The one thing that has remained constant is this blog. Royally Pink was something I started after reading Carly The Prepster (back then, The College Prepster) and becoming obsessed with this online world. Back then, Carly influenced a lot of what I did: I focused a lot on my career, I started interning at a company she was working at, I started shopping at J.Crew... and I started a blog. I wanted so desperately to be a writer and this seemed to be a great gateway. 

I started writing about beauty, fashion, career, books and nine years later, I'm still writing about all that stuff! I've partnered with brands I love, discovered a new work ethic of mine, and really thrived with having a 'hobby'. I can't imagine my life without this blog, without having something to work on when the workday ends and something to be truly fulfilled by. I love having a to-do list for the blog, working on new ideas and really making Royally Pink what I've always wanted it to be. 

Royally Pink, in my head, has become a brand to me. I might not always treat it like a brand but as someone in the social media space as a professional, really into the influencer marketing world, I like to think about RP as a lifestyle. It's girly, it's feminine, it's strong and powerful but also fun. The Royally Pink reader isn't afraid to talk about weight loss, mental health, grief but she also loves a product review. Royally Pink is light, yet serious and obviously loves pink! 

Pink has always been my favorite color and I've always had a special connection to it so naming the blog that made sense. When you add in the 'Royally' aspect, that comes from where I was in 2012, obsessed with the Royal Family and I liked how it fit together. Now, I can't get enough of my brand name and feel like it really fits me, now more than ever... just a little fun history for ya! 

Over the years, I've stuck with the blog, and never really got the itch to quit. I love having a space I can be myself, write about what interests me, and kind of be the editor in chief of my own little magazine. I love sharing my favorite products, writing about mental health and wellness, and just having something to do. 

My dreams for Royally Pink have always been to have it be a business, but at the core, always share my favorite items and be authentically myself. I want to do more with it; I want to do more brand partnerships, sponsored posts, more giveaways, more creative content on Tiktok and Instagram. I have all these lofty goals and one thing I struggle with is making them happen, actioning and getting off my butt to make shit move. It's one of my goals for the next year, to put my head down and work because I know I can do it.

To celebrate the nine year anniversary, I wanted to do another beauty giveaway! This one is filled with products from Tone It Up, Botanics, Hanskin and other beauty & lifestyle brands -- just enter through the widget below. 

All in all, I just want to say thank you for reading for the past nine years. I can't believe I'm still doing this, I can't believe next year is a decade of blogging. It's been such a joy, such an honor, and really just so much fun. I love you all!

xoxo
B

Memorial Day Weekend is one of the biggest sale times of the year, probably next to Black Friday. It can be really overwhelming to find the sales you want to shop, or to feel like you need to shop just because something is on sale. That definitely used to be me but in my old age, I've figured out to only buy the things I've been needing/looking at on big sale weekends.

Sephora: 20% off select items. I highly recommend these products! A lot of Fresh Beauty is also on sale! 

Jack Rogers: 30% off select sandals with code SUMMER. These are my must-haves. 

American Eagle Outfitters: Use code SUMMER21 to take $15 off your purchase of $75+, $25 off your purchase of $100+ and $50 off your purchase of $150+, plus select shorts are 25% off.

Baublebar: 20% off SALE items with code SALE20. I highly recommend the Alidia Rings. 

Good American: 40% off sale items. I just bought my first pair of GOOD LEGS jeans and I don't know what took me so long. The best jeans EVER. 

Charlotte Tilbury: 20% off beauty kits... I love the Hyaluronic Kiss lip balms

J.Crew Factory: 40-70% off the entire website. I just did an order and picked up all of this! 

Pacifica Beauty: 20% off the entire site. These are my favorite items from the brand. 

Have a great weekend everyone! Make sure to head to RoyallyPink.com on Monday for a giveaway!

xoxo
B

 This has been a weird week on so many levels which is why I only got one blog post up. It started off with me being so exhausted for no reason... I could barely get anything done on Monday and then the rest of the week kind of got away from me.

Then there was yesterday... ugh. My primary care doctor wanted me to go for a brain MRI because I've been getting severe migraines for the past year or so. They have gotten better with prescription meds but she still wanted me to go. I am extremely claustrophobic and have been since I was a teenager. 

That claustrophobia usually results in a very bad panic attack; in the past, I've only ever felt claustrophobic when I'm in very crowded spaces, like buses, planes, or a really crowded bar. I've walked out of bars before because I can't handle the crowd and I don't want to cause a scene. 

I've never been in an enclosed space by myself before but I figured I'd be nervous having an MRI. I tried to tell myself I wouldn't be because I was alone and would have my eyes closed. Well, I was severely wrong. I went for the MRI Thursday morning, got into the machine and within 2 seconds, squeezed the emergency button to have the MRI tech come in and take me out of the machine. I had such a huge panic attack, was hysterical crying, and basically ran out of the radiology building without getting the MRI. It was truly traumatizing and I can't even think about what it felt like to be in that machine without crying. I never want to experience that again. 

Partner that with the idea that there's something really wrong with me and you've got an anxious disaster. I'm trying not to focus on that though and hopefully will be able to figure out something with my PCP to get a different kind of MRI so I'm not in an enclosed space. 

With all that being said, Royally Pink's anniversary is next week and I've been wanting to plan something for it, but it's going to rain all weekend so I might not be able to shoot the content I wanted.. we'll see! Either way there will be something special! I'm also excited for the long weekend, even though the weather here in New York will be terrible. I'll make the most of it regardless of the weather! 

Let's dive into the wrap up! 

Pink Positivity of the Week

I did some solid work this week for my 'real job' and I'm really proud of myself for what I did. It's been a rough few months but I've grown into myself and have taken on more responsibility which is always a milestone! 

Links I Loved

• A really interesting article on MLMs
• Wellness essentials wellness editors love
• The story of Hotel Lobby Candles
• Milk Bar is launching ice cream and I need them all
• I was in a very Breakfast at Tiffany's mood this week so this article is perfect
• Secrets for better digestion 

What You Missed on Royally Pink

I only posted once and that was 'How I Care For My Mental Health'

What I Bought This Week

Have a great long weekend everyone!

xoxo

B

If you haven't heard, May in Mental Health Awareness Month and even though the month is almost over, I think it's still really important to talk about mental health, especially mine! I've been really open in the past about my anxiety, depression, and overall struggles when it comes to mental health so I think it's only right to give you an update. 

Like so many others, my mental health plummeted during quarantine, mostly toward the end of the summer and all the way through the end of 2020. It was probably my lowest point ever... before I went on medication even. It was really scary and really disheartening. I pride myself on being in control of my mental health, even when I'm feeling low and to not know how to handle it was a weird feeling.

It was so bad that I could barely get out of bed, couldn't muster up a smile or good thought, and cried all the time. I took control though and started implementing some strong changes that have helped. That's the entire point of this post, to walk you through some of my self-care practices that have really made a difference.

 This was a really hard week for so many reasons. I started off Monday feeling very anxious, overwhelmed, and confused about so many things. There was a lot to get done at work, my week was all over the place and then I just crashed. Thursday night was bad... the lowest I've felt in months and it was a scary feeling. 

This afternoon I got really bad family news and it just wrecked me. I don't really know how to handle it and it's weighing on me which is only dragging my mood down further. In addition to that, I have so many upcoming, serious doctor's appointments and it's just a lot. I'm just feeling so much right now. 

I'm trying to make myself better, to find ways of coping, ways to not let the small things take over my life, and to balance my mood & stay positive. It's really hard for me, it's something that I've struggled with for as long as I can remember and it sucks. 

That being said, I have a busy few weeks ahead of me: I have an engagement party AND bridal shower this weekend and the next weekend some fun Memorial Day plans with friends. I'm actually really looking forward to having a booked calendar and hoping I can maintain that excitement. 

Tonight is reserved for pizza, mini apple blossoms from Trader Joes, and Grey's Anatomy. Hoping tomorrow and next week will be better!

Pink Positivity of the Week

I went to the Stoney Clover Lane sample sale on Wednesday and it was awesome! I got some amazing pieces I've been wanting for an insane price but it was also really good to be in Manhattan, to be shopping, and in a chaotic, fun environment like a sample sale. It was invigorating in the best way possible! 

Links I Loved

What You Missed on Royally Pink

• Book Review Wednesday: Where The Grass Is Green And The Girls Are Pretty
• Beauty in Review: Current Beauty Favorites
• Is the Nook Glow Light 3 Worth It? 

What I Bought This Week

xoxo

B

I received "Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty" for an early review from Netgalley and it was published yesterday! 

This book is written by Lauren Weisberger, the author of "The Devil Wears Prada" and its sequel, "When Life Hands You Lulu Lemons", which I read and reviewed a few years back. When I first requested this novel for review, I thought this was the third book in the Devil Wears Prada series... and I thought that until about 2 chapters into reading. 

I've read other Weisberger novels as well, most notably "The Singles Game" which I adored. I love her  style of writing so it's no wonder I LOVED "Where the Grass is Green..." This was a simple (yet complex) women's fiction novel that wasn't stuffy or overdone but really funny, witty, and such a pleasure to read. I have to read more of Weisberger because her writing makes me so happy and full of life! 

Publisher's Summary

My Thoughts

"Where the Grass is Green...." is very reminiscent of the college admissions scandal that took place a few years ago and that is noted within the novel, which I appreciated. It wouldn't felt disingenuous if Weisberger didn't call that out. That way, it was like this book was taking place in the same universe as our reality. 

Within the book there are three POVs: Peyton, Skye and Max. All are really reliable narrators and I enjoyed reading them all. Peyton was definitely supposed to be the most unlikable character just because of what she did but she isn't -- I loved reading her and I loved her personality. I didn't agree with what she did but as the novel goes on and you start to see more of the real Peyton, you could understand her position. 

Skye and Max were interesting too, all very different characters and I felt for their personal struggles. You get a real insight into the characters, their personalities and the reasoning behind their actions. Weisberger really makes them come to life and makes them relatable, yet interesting to read. As someone who reads a lot of books, this is something unique to Weisberger in my opinion.

The thing I love most about Weisberger's writing is that she has the ability to weave real life problems with light hearted language and scenarios. It was one of my favorite parts of this book... we were dealing with real life issues, heavy & dramatic issues at that but it still felt casual. That takes real talent because it doesn't come across as boring or insensitive. It's a balancing act that she does so well! 

This is superficial but I love the way Westchester and NYC life was captured throughout the book. I grew up in NYC but went to college in Westchester (my college town even gets a shoutout!) so I understand both fairly well. I think Lauren captured it perfectly -- there was glamour, movement, busyness yet an odd calming feeling to some of the settings. 

While some parts of the book might not feel relatable: all the characters are 'famous' and wealthy, it felt very down to earth at the same time. I think this is a novel that everyone can find something they like: it has drama, romance, familial relationships and a bit of glamour & spark. 

As I said before, this book is really light and refreshing, maybe that's because I read a lot of drama and thrillers but I enjoyed every moment of this book. I was never bored and was truly captured from the first chapter.

I simply cannot recommend "Where The Grass is Green and the Girls Are Pretty" enough! 

xoxo
B

I have been so into beauty lately and it feels amazing! For the past few years I haven't really been inspired by anything on the market and was sticking to my old favorites, but something happened recently and I've been loving trying new things. 

Beauty is so fluid, the market and industry is always changing, trends come and go and as someone who has a career in beauty, both professionally & as a side hustle, I'm really interested in how those trends ebb and flow. It's so interesting to watch brands follow suit to what is popular, what editors and influencers are talking about and what new innovation is on the market. That's why I'm a sucker for everything and anything new! 

Right now, I'm all about skincare and so is the industry. Between the change in seasons and maskne, people are more concerned about taking care of their skin, probably because we all are having massive breakouts. That being said, I've been trying a lot of different skincare to help keep my complexion looking healthy, glowing and spot free. Therefore, it shouldn't be a surprise that there's a lot of skincare products in this post, however a post about a full routine is coming soon.

I've also been super obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury, though that isn't new, but I can't stop using her products. They're the best! 

Let's dive into it, shall we?

Maelove Serums

Fresh Soy Cleanser

This is an oldie but goodie that I restocked during the Sephora VIB Sale. If you haven't tried the Fresh Soy Cleanser you are missing out. It is the most gentle yet effective face cleanser I've ever used. It deeply cleanses without being too harsh or stripping your skin... my face never feels tight or overly clean afterwards. I usually use this at night when I'm not exfoliating my skin with a scrub or I love to use it with my Foreo Luna Mini. It adds a nice gentleness to the exfoliation process that the Foreo gives you. Whenever I use this I'm reminded at how much my dry skin loves it and I really need to stick with this face cleanser because there's nothing better! 

Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Lip Balm

I purchased this Glowgasm lip balm a few months back and have been loving it ever since. It's very reminiscent of the Dior Lip Glow balm as it leaves your lips with the slightest pink tint that matches your pH balance. I don't think this is as creamy and soft as the Dior and I do feel as if leaves behind more color. The packaging is to die for, as usual and I love how the actual lip balm is glittery but doesn't leave behind any glittery residue. It's perfect for throwing on during the day to add a touch of color to your lips without it being overly opaque and sticky. I'm very interested in picking up the red shade too! 

Gua Sha 

I like to use it under my eyes and in the hollows of my cheeks... it feels so good (especially when the Gua Sha is cold from my skincare fridge). I haven't noticed any effects of my face being more silm (I should probably take before & after photos) but I love how it makes my skin feel, and how it has become part of my self-care/skincare routine.

What are your current favorite beauty products?

xoxo
B

The first e-reader I used was the Barnes & Noble Nook. I wanted it over the Kindle because I liked the idea of supporting Barnes & Noble... I wasn't too keen on Amazon selling books. I loved my Nook so much and used it until it broke, then I bought another one and used it for years.

It was only a few years ago that I bought a Kindle because I wanted to read my Netgalley arcs on it and because my Nook was on the fritz. I love my Kindle but it always felt like something was missing with it... which is when I got the idea to ask for a new Nook for Christmas this past year. 

*If you're curious, I had a battle between my old Nook & Kindle a two years ago. 

I picked out the Nook Glow Light 3 because it was bigger than my Kindle and because it had a backlight, so I could read in a dimly lit room and not strain my eyes. That's definitely something that was missing with my old Nook and I'm really happy to have it.

Another week, another beautiful day in New York! Today was truly magical... I'm mostly talking about the weather. It was over 70 degrees, a slight breeze, and just wonderful. I spent the day running errands with my mom, getting my house cleaned and organized, and I set up a new TV I bought. It was productive yet relaxing and I'm pleased.

One thing that I struggle with on beautiful days is not having anything to socially do. As a single lady surrounded by friends who are married and in relationships, I have always struggled with finding something to do on a beautiful weekend. 

It makes me really anxious when the weather starts to get nice because I feel a lot of pressure to make plans. It's something that I have dealt with for years but over the past few years it was better because I was in a relationship. Then the pandemic hit and everyone was home. Now we're back at the beginning and I need to figure out how to maintain that anxiety on days like today. 

That being said, the next few weeks will be busy with parties and get togethers and I'm looking forward to it. The rest of the weekend will be spent with more errands, blogging, and hopefully checking some things off my to-do list. 

Pink Positivity of the Week 

Links to Love

What You Missed on Royally Pink

xoxo

B

It has been six months since I last shared a Little Loves post and I'm feeling less than happy this week so I figured this was a good compromise. I'm not really sure why I'm feeling so down, I think I'm just anxious and confused about life in general: relationships, career, post-pandemic life... there's just a lot going on and I feel like it's happening all at once. 

I'm at a really big standstill with so many things and it feels overwhelming to make those decisions, or really just to function day to day. I'm not necessarily depressed or dealing with the overwhelming anxiety I usually am but just feel lost. I think a lot of us are feeling that way.

The past few months have been fun though: I've seen my friends a ton thanks to celebrating their upcoming weddings and I know the summer is going to be even more fun. I have my first vacation in almost 8 years planned... thanks to my friend's destination wedding so that'll be a fun getaway.

Otherwise, life is just life. NYC is back and better than ever, I'm fully vaccinated and I'll be WFH throughout the summer. When we do go back to the office, I think it'll look a lot different than what we left in March 2020, which I think lots of people can relate to.

All of that being said, I wanted to share some little pieces of love from the past few months! 

My new Loren Hope Cotton Candy Ombre bracelet is TO DIE FOR. It's so sparkly and beautiful & I'm obsessed. I paired it with my Tiffany heart bracelet for Mother's Day and loved the mix metal look.

I purchased a new, really big mirror from Wayfair and I'm trying to get acquainted with OOTD photos. This is me running errands the other day!

I love the Rellery jewelry I received in partnership with the brand. Read my post here.

I'm going to feature this watch in an upcoming post but it's a faux Apple Watch and I've been loving it! It looked so cute with my Park & Beach bracelets.

A quick selfie before heading out to a bridal shower... I've been loving breaking out my Lilly Pulitzer dresses to wear to these events. Similar dress linked here.

Allergies have been killer this season. I'm constantly in pain, blowing my nose, putting eye drops in, or just suffering in silence from my bedroom. Pollen is truly the devil.

A little Mother's Day brunch isn't complete without a mimosa

Our company gave us the day off for no reason a few weeks ago and I decided to venture outside for a quick walk. I decided to go to Starbucks and broke out my Stoney Clover Puffy Fanny Pack.

My all time favorite eye gel patches... seriously, you need to try them.

When Amanda Gorman read her poem at the Inauguration I was completely captivated. When the poem was published last month, I could not pass it up! It's a piece of history and I love having it with me.

Pacifica sent me some of their new products to try out and I've been loving them, especially the Wake Up Beautiful Jelly Face Wash. Have a wonderful day everyone! xoxo B

I've been taking a break from thrillers recently but had The Good Marriage burning a hole in my bookshelf for a while. This novel was released last year and I received it as a Book of the Month. This isn't your traditional 'thriller', it's not even a thriller... I definitely need to get better at classifying books better.

"The Good Marriage" is a legal mystery with some murder and drama thrown in. It was very long winded but super interesting. I enjoyed it! 

*Thank you to Rellery for sponsoring this post! 

Jewelry has always been one of my favorite genres of accessory. I got my ears pierced when I was only a few months old, got my first piece of real silver jewelry before I was a teenager, and really never leave the house without my rings or bracelets. 

I love how jewelry makes me feel... luxurious, chic, and really put together. I could be wearing a t-shirt and leggings but with some rings and a dainty necklace, I feel like a million bucks. Jewelry makes me feel really feminine, beautiful, and fun! 

Over the years, I've garnered quite the collection of jewelry; though I have my favorites, I always love discovering new styles, trends, and brands. One of the brands that has been on my radar for a bit, one that I've seen around Instagram and have admired their viral pieces is Rellery.

You have definitely seen Rellery around the social media sphere; they are probably best known for their Checker Collection. It's really beautiful jewelry!

Rellery is a women owned business that is designed & made in the US, with a focus on ethical practices. They specialize in personalized pieces made with only precious metals (they are nickel & brass free, which is awesome!) Their story revolves around giving you moments of nostalgia, of providing you with big and small reminders of life's best and most precious moments. I love that, I love a brand with a beautiful story behind it... it makes it that much better! 

The jewelry that Rellery creates is not only beautiful but it's not overly expensive. When jewelry is well made with good materials most companies use that to mark up the price but Rellery keeps the prices moderate and fair. 

The brand reached out and kindly gifted me three pieces which I am completely in love with. I had to have some checkered pieces, like the ring & the heart necklace so I chose those. Then, I really wanted a pair of huggie earrings and these were really calling out to me. 

When I received the jewelry, it was incredibly packaged and super beautiful. I love the pale pink branding so much. My pieces came with two dust bags, one big and one small, along with a cleaning cloth. The jewelry is stunning; it feels incredibly well made and expensive. 

I love the matching ring & heart necklace; the necklace is dainty and lays nicely on the neck while the ring makes a statement yet is almost subtle at the same time. The black and white checkered print means that you can pretty much wear it with any outfit. 

The huggies are perfect - it sounds weird but my piercings are high on my ear lobe so it's hard to find huggies that actually fit. These, however, are perfect! They fit my ears well, don't hang too low and aren't uncomfortable. I like earrings that I can't feel and these are them. I'm a little obsessed. 

Rellery has beautiful pieces that can appeal to everyone, from dainty necklaces & chokers to statement or small earrings. 

All in all, the pieces are stunning and are already very much loved within my collection. I can't wait to purchase more pieces from Rellery. If you're looking for a new jewelry brand, for yourself or for someone in your life, I can't recommend them enough! 

xoxo
B

Happy Friday! Does anyone else think this was the longest week of their life? It feels like Monday was forever ago!

I got my 2nd dose of the vaccine on Monday night and really had no side effects; on Tuesday, I felt a tired and my under arm hurt. Around 2 PM, almost 24 hours after the shot, I felt achy, a little foggy and decided to take a nap. After the hour or so nap I felt a lot better but my under arm still hurt. My armpit still hurts now, 4 days after the shot but it's getting much better. I'm so happy to be fully vaccinated and to have had very minimal side effects... FYI, I got the Pfizer! 

That being said, since I was so blah this week I only got one post up on the blog but have a fun sponsored post coming up this weekend! It's my first sponsored post in a while and I'm really excited to share the brand and products with you all.

I have a busy weekend ahead of me: tomorrow I have a family party, a communion, and then Sunday is Mother's Day so I'll be with my mom, sister, and some of my mom's friends for brunch. As a reminder, if this weekend is hard for you, take a break. I've been without my dad for 5 years and every Father's Day is really hard so I could understand the pain Mother's Day might bring for people. Stay off social media, take care of yourself and do something for you. 

Right now, I'm watching Grey's Anatomy, am going to work on the sponsored post and relax ahead of a busy weekend! 

Pink Positivity of the Week

Getting the vaccine was definitely a highlight! It feels really good to feel like things are kind of going back to normal. It was also super beautiful in NYC for a few days this week and I got outside for a walk. It felt so good! 

Links I Loved

• The best ingestible collagen supplements on the market to try
• A beginner's guide to Real Housewives... a must-read
• Wellness products editors tried and love in April
• Amazon hidden gems to know about

What You Missed on Royally Pink

xoxo

B

April felt like a very slow month and I'm grateful for that. The year feels like it's flying by and I would very much like it to slow down. I can't believe it's already May... summer is upon us, NYC is coming back to life, and we're halfway to Halloween! 

April was a solid month, I think. I spent a lot of time with family and friends, celebrated bridal showers & weddings and also did a lot in terms of blogging, writing, and freelancing. It was pretty good. 

May is sure to be a busy, fun month as well and then summer is officially here. If you've been reading for a while you know how much I dislike the summer but last summer was pretty solid, pandemic aside, so I'm wondering how this summer will go! We shall see.

For now, let's get into the items I loved in the month of April! 

Love Wellness

Dior Rose and Roses Perfume

Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil

C&C Luxury Rings