If you haven't gotten the idea, March 2020 has been one of the worst months of my entire life. I didn't think March 2016 (the year my dad died) could be beaten but this is a close one. I got dumped, totally blindsided by the end of a relationship I thought was beautiful and strong. Then, the entire world decided to explode.

I think I'm speaking for a lot of people who would say this month is the worst we've had in a while. I mean, the world truly feels like it's ending and I keep expecting Katiness Everdeen to appear on my screen. All jokes aside, it's a really scary time in the world and I'm very fortunate to have a job, a healthy family, a roof over my head, and a creative outlet to help keep me occupied.

I said recently that I was having a hard time with the quarantine but the past few days haven't been so bad. I've been talking to my friends more, organizing and cleaning, working out -- a little routine really does make all the difference. Another change I made was to be a little more mindful of what I was eating. For the past two weeks I kind of have been all over the place in terms of a diet but the past few days, I've started tracking my Weight Watchers points again and I think that has helped level out my anxiety a bit.

It's all a struggle, truthfully. We are all in the same boat and in theory, that does help me feel a little better. I hope you are all staying safe, staying indoors, and staying healthy. As always, I'm here if you need to talk.

On a lighter note, I've loved a lot of things this month and I'm excited to share them with you!

The highlight of the month was being asked to be a bridesmaid for my BFF since I was 5 years old. She gifted us astrology themed items, like in the photo above!

Skyn Iceland Hydrogel Eye Patches

These eye gels are no stranger to the blog. They have been my favorite under-eye patches for years! I've tried other types and while they are good, nothing compares to Skyn Iceland. They are a bit expensive: $30 for 8 patches, which is why I buy them whenever they are on sale. I now put these eye masks in my skincare fridge and use them in the morning as I'm getting settled at my desk. They make my entire face feel awake and help with any puffiness (I've been crying a lot and not sleeping so these have been a lifesaver). The difference between Skyn Iceland and other brands is that they are formulated for stressed skin, and they are a little thicker than other brands. They aren't gel and aren't overly soaked with product, so they actually stay on your face without slipping and sliding all over the place. They are a true game-changer and my go-to product.

Roku Express Streaming Stick

I'm not sure if I mentioned this previously but back in November, I purchased a Roku Streaming Stick to turn my very old television into a smart TV. I wanted it primarily for Disney + but it has so many more capabilities, like Prime Video & Hulu. In times like these, it's been heaven sent! I love that I can lounge in my bed and watch pretty much everything and anything without having to go into the living room where our Smart TV is. I love mine so much I bought one for my mom to use in her room; she's been really into Netflix shows and wanted to watch Hulu & Prime as well so it's good for her while we're all stuck at home. It's very easy to hook up, easy to navigate and it was $30, which is the best part.

A to Z Mickey Bracelet

The one thing making me incredibly happy right now is all things, Disney. You know that I've had my moments with a Disney obsession but right now, I am fully in the midst of it. One of my favorite Disney themed pieces I picked up during the month was this gorgeous, handmade bracelet from the small shop, Shop A to Z. The bracelet I have is called the Zoe bracelet, and it' has gold filled beads and a small, pink Mickey/Minnie head. It's super well made, adorable, and adds the touch of magic to any bracelet stack. The shop is run by my favorite Disney influencer, Zoe, and her style is truly everything.

Touchland Hand Sanitizer

This is a no brainer this month but I actually purchased this in February, before we knew what exactly was going to happen. Well, it's been a lifesaver and it's pretty dam adorable. I've been meaning to buy a Touchland sanitizer for a while because of it's aesthetic, the scents, and the spray feature. I have always loved the idea of a spray sanitizer and this lives up to the hype. It's a little bigger than your average bottle of sanitizer but it's thin so it fits most places. It's easy to use on the go and I think that's what I love the most. It also blends seamlessly right into your hands so you don't have any wet residue left over. Keep an eye on their website & Ulta for when it comes back in stock.

I hope you all have a wonderful, safe day! 
xoxo
B

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

What were your favorites of the month?
xoxo
B

March was very long.

I know everyone always starts their favorite posts (myself included) saying that the month flew by but I think it went very slow. It feels like St. Patrick's Day was 100 years ago.

Honestly, I'm glad that the month went slow. I needed a breather, I needed some time. I hate feeling like time is flying by and I have nothing to show for it.

I can't believe it's April, and in another month I will have been out of school for a year. Now that my friends is a scary ass thought. It feels like just yesterday I was living in my off campus apartment, counting down the days till graduation and savoring every moment. I won't get too sappy because I'll save that for the one year post grad mark post. Just the thought of that sends shivers up my spine.

March was a good month. I don't know if anything truly significant happened but it feels like things are changing. It's a very odd feeling to feel like something is looming in the distance and not know what it is or when it's going to pop up. I'm sure I'll do a life update whenever that life altering moment occurs.

Anyways, I was a lot better about keeping track of my favorites this month. I need to create categories and pick my favorites according to them... let's see if I remember to do that next month!

Here we go...



//First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: In another episode of "Briana's Dry Skin Woes"... It was getting really bad at the end of February and I couldn't take it anymore. Nothing was working and it was really starting to get on my nerves. My makeup looked weird, my skin was constantly tight and uncomfortable. I needed relief. After some research, I rushed out to Sephora and bought the travel size of the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. It's supposed to be for your body but it's safe for your face as well. Within a few days, it cleared up my dry skin and I've been totally okay since then. I apply it as my night cream since it's really thick and I wake up with super moisturized skin. First Aid Beauty is everything if you have sensitive skin.

ChapStick Dual Ended Hydration: Okay, on that same skincare note, my lips were also super dry and crusty (beautiful image) and nothing was working. I needed something moisturizing for the night so a night lip balm was what I was searching for. Fun fact: I haven't bought a ChapStick brand lip balm in probably 10 years. I'm always attracted to other brands at the drugstore but I remembered that ChapStick came out with a night lip balm. It's a dual ended lip balm with day and night on either end. Within two days of using this, my lips were back to their normal self. This proves that you should always stick with the originals!

Sephora iPhone App: This is really random but I downloaded the Sephora App in the middle of the month and I've been loving it. I don't usually like/download shopping apps because the website is easier but this is a gorgeous one. It's easy to navigate and access your account and you can find a lot more promo offers on the app than just on the website... and they're pretty great offers. Also, I bought a subscription to Sephora Flash Shipping that allows your free two day shipping, no matter the minimum amount. LIKE HELLO! THIS IS LIFE CHANGING. For $10 a year, it's totally worth it.

Dessange Haircare: I blogged about this earlier in the month as I received it free for review from Influenster. I was not expecting to love this as much as I did but I need to repurchase this immediately. My mom and sister adore it too and we have a lot of hair so we've gone through both bottles in record time. It leaves my hair smooth and shiny. I've never loved shampoo and conditioner so much.

Hangover RX Primer: I purchased this during the Too Faced Valentine's Day sale and it didn't come till a few weeks later. I've been lusting after this primer for months and I'm so happy I finally decided to buy them. It's a moisturizing primer and I can't really tell if it makes a difference in my makeup longevity but I love it anyway. It smells like coconuts and is a little tacky at first but it is a great hydrating primer (which I desperately needed). I also like how "gimicky" it is... how it's a hangover reliever for your skin. I just love it!

Yoga: I've been doing yoga like a feen this month. It's been my go-to work out a few times a week and I find that it really does center me. It calms me down and makes me feel refreshed and less anixious. I'm actually obsessed and will do it even if I am beyond exhausted. I can't miss a day, I'm that into it. We got a Smart TV for Christmas so I watch yoga videos on it in my living room, lay out my mat, and get to work! The video I've been living by is Tone It Up Love Your Body With Yoga. I've noticed a change in my body and how I'm able to do moves in the video that I wasn't able to do on the first day so it's pretty cool.

Honorable Mentions: My Acer Chromebook and Nerve Tonic Stress Relief, both which will reviewed on the blog next week!

Here's to a more sunny, beautiful, snow free April!

What were your favorites this month? Tell me in the comments below!