I can't tell if February went by fast or slow... maybe somewhere in the middle? I'm not really looking forward to March because of a few things; it's my anniversary of my dad's passing, March feels like a filler month and it starts the spring season. I'm just not ready to let go of winter yet!

February was rough in a few ways because of my own personal issues; a lot of change happened at work, I struggled with being content in what I have in my life, and just felt like I was in a weird place. I'm putting on a more positive attitude and so far, it's working!

I don't feel like rambling for too much today so let's get into my favorites!

Amika Silken Up Dry Conditioner

I mentioned the dry shampoo in my January favorites and now I'm all about the Amika dry conditioner! I have a travel size that I keep in my work bag and it has come in handy so much this month! I felt like my hair has been kind of flat, frizzy and staticy and the dry conditioner takes all of that away! It's makes my hair silky soft while adding the tiniest bit of texture. I think I much prefer this dry conditioner to the Drybar one!

Kiss Instawave

I mentioned this in my "Current Beauty Favorites" youtube video but I have to talk about it here too! I did a post on this many moons ago and while I always loved using it, I never used it as much as I did my flat iron. Now, I've gotten into the habit of washing my hair, blowing it and then using the Kiss Instawave right after. I haven't used my flat iron to straighten my hair in a solid two months; I just love how I look with my hair curly and I find that my hair stays cleaner longer when my hair is curled! This is the easiest curling iron I've ever used and takes the guessing game out of doing your hair. If you don't know how to use a regular curling wand/iron, please pick this up!

Ponte Pants

I talked about how I needed to stop wearing leggings everyday earlier this month and I said that I purchased two pairs of pants from J.Crew and J.Crew Factory. Well, I have become obsessed! I've said goodbye to wearing leggings to work everyday and found the BEST PANTS EVER. I ordered the Anyday Pant which have a zipper in the back and feel just like a light weight legging and then the Gigi Pant which is much thicker and a pull on pant. Both are super comfortable, fit like a glove, and feel like leggings but look like dress pants. I haven't stopped wearing them and once I find a few other similar pants, I'm doing a full post on them!

A few honorable mentions that I've talked your ear off about before: Louis Vuitton Neverfull, Louis Vuitton MM Agenda, Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kits, and Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk Lipstick.

What did you love this month?
xoxo
B

Boy, what a week! I got home from QVC Wednesday morning and was truly so exhausted. I left work early and then it was a jam-packed Thursday, but now I am just beat. I didn't feel so hot while I was working 48 hours straight and felt super sick so I'm excited that I have today off to relax and catch up on rest.

All of that exhaustion and work is the reasoning I only got two blog posts up this week, both which were prewritten. I have a fun, busy weekend head of me so I'm hoping that I will have some more time to plan content and write.

There's also so much stuff going on with the blog and freelancing -- I'm so excited for all of it.

I feel like I don't have too much else to talk about so I'll get right into my links.

• Kendall Jenner found herself in the midst of a model controversy this week
• How to stay confident at work from Serena & Lily's CEO
• Do you remember the NYC blackout of 2003? It lasted more than 24 hours and was insane
• Wearable tech that is going to track your stress? That's sick
• Underappreciated Disney sidekicks... is your favorite on the list? 
• How to be productive and manage your time

What You Missed on Royally Pink:

What I Bought/Loved This Week

I mentioned it a few weeks ago that I was in the midst of a full blown Lilly Pulitzer obsession. I even wrote a blog post about my favorite new arrivals.

 My love for the colorful brand was reignited by the purchase of my planner and my Swell Bottle. Ever since I have purchased so many preloved Lilly items, bought a new dress, and have been pulling out my older Lilly Pulitzer phone cases.

There is something that makes me so happy about the bright prints and funky patterns. When I look at my collection and inside my handbags and see all the bright pink accessories, it just puts a huge smile on my face.

I wanted to talk about my current Lilly favorites that I simply cannot get enough of recently! Some are old, some are new, some are preloved...



1. Agenda: This was the first year I purchased the medium agenda and it's been such a game changer. There is still a ton of room for me to write and feel comfortable but it's not too heavy and doesn't take up a ton of room in my bag. I chose a bright pink pattern and I've been loving it so much! My full Royally Planned post can be found here.

2. Swell Bottle: When I heard the Swell Bottles were coming back this summer after they sold out crazy fast last year, I was ready to tackle the checkout process. I set an alarm for it and purchase mine within a few seconds on the Lilly app. I was so nervous about them selling out but they are still available!! I've had a Swell bottle before and hated it (I think I got a knockoff from Amazon) but my Lilly one has been amazing. It's not too heavy, keeps my water cold all day, even when it's in a hot car, and it truly a bright spot day in and day out. I've tried a lot of water bottles over the years but I'm confident that this one is my favorite! For reference, I purchased the 17oz bottle in the Seasalt Blue Swell Shell We Dance print.

3. Neck Pillow: For some odd reason I got it in my head that I needed a neck pillow. I wanted one to use while I'm laying in bed, watching TV and reading. The way I usually hold my head was getting uncomfortable and I just felt like a neck pillow would help. Well, when I was on my Lilly Pulitzer pre-love kick, I saw the neck pillow which you can usually find as a GWP during Black Friday or other big holiday weekends, and I jumped at it. I am so thrilled with the purchase and it's been such a big help when I'm relaxing in bed. Plus, the print is ideal Lilly and so beautiful and fun!

4. Tech Cases: I've had Lilly phone cases for a while but haven't gotten a lot of use out of them for a while. This kick brought them back out and I've been loving them, for the same reason I love all these Lilly items -- the colors are fun and make me so happy. I've also been using my Lilly laptop case which I got as a Black Friday GWP a few years ago; I tried getting a new Kate Spade laptop case but it didn't work out so I figured I'd stick with Lilly and it's been working out great. I also purchased a new iPad case in my favorite Tusk in Sun print and that's been a lifesaver. *I've been having a hard time finding iPad cases so this has been awesome*

Below are a few items that are currently on my Lilly wishlist-- hopefully I can buy them and review for you soon!

One of the most commonly asked questions that the public wants to know about bloggers is how do they make money?

I can only speak from experience but I make money through sponsored campaigns and affiliate links/networks. I feel like sponsored campaigns are a little more straightforward than affiliate links, which is why I'm going to talk about the affiliate links and networks.

An affiliate link is when a blogger creates a unique link through their affiliate network (the most commonly used ones are ShopStyle Collective & RewardStyle aka LikeToKnowIt). Whenever someone clicks that link or makes a purchase through that link, the blogger gets a small commission.



I've been part of Shopstyle Collective for as long as I could remember as it was much easier to get accepted than RewardStyle. I never really understood ShopStyle and how affiliate links worked so I never really bothered to use them. Also, you don't make a huge commission -- I make a few cents every click and for a smaller blogger like myself, it takes time to build up the money in your account. However, I do still find it useful and the more I use it, the more money I do make.

For the past few years, I educated myself and now use them daily; Whenever I talk about something I do use affiliate links and that's stated on my 'networks' page. I saw that affiliate links were good ways to make some extra cash but also see what my readers respond best too. I can see on my dashboard what YOU click on and what you purchase from my links, and it's so interesting to see what brands you genuinely like to hear about.

It helps me create content and understand YOUR buying habits & favorite brands

Another way to create affilate links is if you join an affilate network. Some brands have their own affilate network where they accept bloggers/influencers and provide them with exclusive links, banners, and deals to promote to their followers. In turn, you earn a commission on those clicks and purchases as well. I used to be part of a lot of networks but didn't really undestand how it worked, therefore I never used those links.

Within the past month or so, I did more research and discovered a great network, Pepperjam, that is easy to use and had great companies that I really liked. I haven't used any of those links yet but I do want to take a deeper dive into them.

So basically, the rundown of affiliate links & networks is an easy, passive way for bloggers to make a small income and better understand the buying habits of their readers.

Do you have any other questions about affiliate links and networks?
xoxo
B

This is a few days late, mostly because I haven't had a moment of downtime since Friday afternoon. I was planning on getting some stuff done on Friday night but then was hit with the worst ovulation pains. Has anyone ever experienced that? About two weeks before your period, you start ovulating and the pain feels worst than any period cramps I've ever had.

This never happened to me when I was younger but the pain started coming like clockwork about 6-8 months ago. I knew what it was because my sister used to have such bad ovulation pains that she went to the hospital when she was younger. It's terrible!

I was debilitated all Friday night, and then yesterday had my cousins' baby shower and a date last night (yes, a date -- maybe I'll share more soon but for now, I'm tight-lipped!) so I just haven't had a moment to myself.

Earlier in the week, if you follow me on social media, you'll know that I was in Miami for a work trip. I was supposed to come home Tuesday afternoon but because it was raining here in NYC, our flight was delayed and rebooked for Wednesday at 7 AM. I've never had a flight delayed so I was beside myself but once we realized we were going to be staying in Miami for one more night, I calmed down.



I went back to my hotel room (they upgraded us to a 1 bedroom suite which was amazing) and worked for hours, watched Bachelor in Paradise and ordered room service. I woke up at 4 AM the next morning and was home by 11 AM. It was nice to have an early flight to get home and be able to work and have the entire day.

It was a whirlwind week and I am finally catching up to realizing what day/time it is.

Tomorrow I had down to QVC for work and I'm there till Wednesday so it'll be a hectic week -- bare with me!

I seem to be in a bit of a writer's rut and my editorial calendar is totally blank for the next few weeks. I need to do some soul searching/topic searching because I'm just at a standstill... even though I feel like I've been doing pretty good at taking Royally Pink more seriously.

We'll see!

Here are the links I loved this week... 

I never considered myself odd, strange, or weird. I always felt like I was pretty normal and I was fine with it. However, as I got older and met new people from different walks of life, I realized that maybe I wasn't so normal.

My college friends, specifically, always like to tell me I'm odd and a little strange. My mom has even caught on the bandwagon and I realize that yes, I have weird ticks and rules that make me a little stranger than your average 25-year-old.

Today, I wanted to share a few of my weird habits and facts to give you more insight into who I am. If you've been reading Royally Pink for a while you've seen me go through a lot of changes and get real with you about a lot of things from my stress and anxiety to the death of my father and just daily struggles.



With this new feeling of inspiration for Royally Pink, I want to take you a step further and really show you who I am, and be totally real.

Let's start today... 

1. I'm scared of salad: Please, I know this is RIDICULOUS but I can't help it. Salad freaks me out. I hate when people are around me eating it, I hate looking at it and I won't even clean a plate that has had salad on it. It really sucks because it's all my sister eats and I have to have her put it on the opposite side of the table at dinner. I hate the smell of it, look of it, and the sound of it. UGH.

2. I have never eaten vegetables: I might've mentioned this in the past six years but it is a weird fact about me. Aside from cauliflower (which I love), fried eggplant and zucchini, I don't eat vegetables. I have never even eaten any vegetables because I have the same reaction I have to a salad. They just kind of freak me out. I find ways around it but yeah, it's a weird thing about me.

3. I have an obsessive personality: When I was younger I always went through phases where I would find something I loved and then have to gather every piece of information on it. For example, when I started watching General Hospital in 2006, I went back to Wikipedia and Youtube and watched/read everything starting from the beginning of GH, which was 1963. At the end of my obsession, I knew more about General Hospital than my mom and her friend who has been watching since they were in their teens. When I love something, I go full in and need to know everything about it.

4. The floor calms me: This started in college and has continued until now. Whenever I was really stressed out I would just throw myself on the floor. I'd stare up at the ceiling, or have my face in the carpet and just take a few deep breaths. It really helped calm my nerves and ever since, whenever I'm feeling crazed I sit on the floor. When I'm having a panic attack I have to sit on the floor in a cool room, not on my bed.


I know I have more weird facts about me but lately, these are the ones that have been on my mind!

What are your weird facts?
xoxo
B

This was a long one, folks! It was stressful, hectic and just insane -- I'm happy it's over. I know this weekend is going to fly by though and I will feel just as crazed on Monday morning. However, I will do my best to be present and not get ahead of myself. It's one of my biggest problems, really.

This week was also inspirational in a sense; I mentioned it last week but I have really been feeling Lilly Pulitzer lately. I always go through these phases when I become obsessed with different retailers, brands etc. I go through it a lot with Kate Spade, I recently went through it with Henri Bendel and now I'm back at where it started, Lilly Pulitzer.

If you've been reading the blog for a while, you know how much I loved Lilly back in the day but after college, it kind of took a backseat. Now, I'm back at square one and obsessed with all things color!

I purchased so many pre-loved Lilly Pulitzer things from Poshmark this week and ordered this dress (which already arrived and I'm obsessed). It has definitely been a highlight of the week and has kept me feeling happy.

It was National Planner Day this week and we all can officially use our Lilly agendas!

 I will definitely do a follow-up post/video on what I got but I also definitely need to slow down my spending. More on that to come...

For now, let's get into my favorites of the week! 

• These essential oils help with PMS pains so yeah, give me them all
• Reusable beauty products are LIT. I love all of these items! 
• A great blog post on if we have lost the art of the 'hobby'
• How to find a legit work from home job
• I get the worst Charley horses in the middle of the night (I got one this week and it still hurts) so I will be trying this remedy
• 52 great True Crime Podcasts -- I truthfully cannot listen to anything else

What You Missed on Royally Pink This Week

About 2 years ago I saw the news that actor, Patton Oswalt's wife, Michelle McNamara, died in her sleep. I only knew Oswalt from a few roles but it was still sad that he had lost his wife. I remember reading that she was working on a true crime novel and it would probably be released postumously.

Fast forward to earlier this year and headlines around the world stated that California authorities had captured the Golden State Killer -- the serial killer/rapist that McNamara had become obsessed with and written her novel about.

The term 'Golden State Killer' was coined by McNamara so everyone knew that her impact was far and wide... and I'm sure had something to do with the capture of this criminal.



After I saw that the killer was captured, I became very intrigiued with the case and immediately purchased 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' on Audible -- the book that Michelle McNamara wrote and was updated by her husband and another writer after her death.

Just a few chapters in and I was hooked on this case. It could have something to do with the narrator's voice, or the fact that you could feel Michelle's passion for this case... her obsession and it was so interesting. It was also very eerie listening to it, knowing that Michelle had died and knowing that authorities had just caught the Golden State Killer.

She takes you from start to finish of the first murder to the last and gives so much detail you almost feel like she was there. McNamara also throws in her own commentary about how she would stay up late researching the case and was just enthralled in this world. She searched online for auctions where the killer might be selling one of his 'trophies' and was just obsessed with finding out the who and why of these murders and rapes.

It was an incredible book -- like one, long true crime podcast.

If my memory serves me correct, I don't think I've ever read a memoir type of book about an actual true crime case. I've listened to my share fair of true crimbe podcasts and fictional novels but never a book on something real. I'm so glad this was my first one because it was a very interesting and long case with a seperate little story woven into it.

It was a wonderfully written book and it was really cool to almost see it come to life in real time as the Golden State Killer was captured. If you're someone who is obsessed with true crime, this is a no brainer for your next read!

What are you reading this Wednesday?
xoxo
B

If you didn't know, I have an obsession with astrology. More importantly, I have an obsession with Mercury Retrograde.

I guess it all started a few years ago when I started to see articles about Mercury Retrograde and began to take notice of how I felt during it. Soon enough, I was a tell-all book about this astrological phenomena because I found it so interesting that the planets could affect us this way.

Mercury Retrograde makes communication, travel, and technology all wacky. They say to not make any major decisions, buy anything big (like a house or car), and to be aware that things may not be what they seem.

I always notice these things going haywire during Mercury Retrograde, which happens a few times a year. We're now in our 3rd retrograde of the year and this is supposed to be a doozy because it combined with a Blood Mood. It ends on August 19th so it's going to be a long few weeks...

Mercury Retrograde has become very trendy over the past few years and now, Essie is jumping on the bandwagon.

When I saw this collection tease on Essie's Instagram I immediately bookmarked the date in my calendar. I needed these nail polishes and I didn't care what colors they were. They were marketed as Mercury Retrograde colors and I am the retrograde queen (how many times can I say retrograde in one blog post).

This is also another reason I am the ultimate consumer, but that's a different post for a different day.



The Mercury in Retrograde Nail Collection consists of 2 nail colors inspired by intergalactic colors and they are gorgeous. Keep Calm & and Mercury On are the names of the polishes and they are truly astrology inspired.

The collection is exclusive to Ulta and currently sold out. Essie has said that they are working to get a restock ASAP and didn't expect this overwhelming support of the collection. I am SO happy that I bought these the day they were released.

Now for the colors...

Keep Calm

This is two coats of "Keep Calm"

However, I was surprised that when I applied it to my nails, it was incredibly sheer. I don't know if I've ever worked with a nail polish that was this sheer. I applied about 5-6 coats without clumping or disturbing the polish to get a nice, even and opaque finish.

I don't think it was described as a sheer shade but it almost made me think that this was supposed to be a top coat color.




This was really the only downside to the polish as it was really beautiful on the nails and didn't chip until 4-5 days later, which is normal for me with a good polish. Maybe the multiple coats really helped!

I got so many compliments on this nail color because it really looked beautiful -- it glowed in the sun and flashed different colors, it's a very unique shade and I loved it.

And Mercury On

Final Thoughts

Thursday night could not have come soon enough. It was a really hard, long week at work and just in life. I was incredibly stressed out and drained all week -- it was just really upsetting and difficult.

I'm happy to be home and to have 3 days off, yet again. Tonight I'm going to the Taylor Swift concert in New Jersey with a few of my friends and I think it'll be a great way to kick off the weekend. Make sure to follow me on Instagram & Twitter to get the play by play of

In the midst of all the stress and nerves, I was really inspired to take the reigns on Royally Pink. I want/need to start thinking of it as a business if I want it to be a business. I have so much to my advantage and I love this blog so much, even when I'm tired and I don't want to write.

I want to make Royally Pink incredible and give all of you unique content. I want to build this blog into something big because I love it, and I want to share my thoughts with everyone on so many topics.

Anyways... we'll see what happens. I've said that before but I really want to stick to it this time.



For now, here's what I loved this week:

• How to meditate at work
• Spend your Sunday preparing for your Monday, in the best way possible
• What to do when your anti-depressants stop working
• How to let go of imposter syndrome -- because I always feel like an imposter
• 24 things Millennials haven't thought about recently ---*I think about Two of a Kind very frequently. 
• A wellness editor's guide to relaxation this summer
• I need to go to Casper's dreamery -- this look so cool!! 

Since I was a little girl I always loved face masks. I'd always beg my mom to let me get a Freeman mask from the drugstore and whenever she obliged, I was obsessed with doing them a few times a week.

When I think about that, it's no surprise that I turned out to be a beauty blogger and work in the beauty industry.

That being said, face masks are definitely one of my favorite skincare products and probably my top 5 favorite beauty products ever. There is something so calming about laying in bed with a face mask on your skin and being able to fully relax while also helping your skin heal.

Nowadays there are face masks for pretty much every skincare concern you could imagine. Maybe it's not technically a skincare concern but you taking a preventative measure like using an anti-pollution or anti-aging face mask.

I have dry, sensitive skin so I do use face masks that cater to those concerns but I also love a great pore removing/detox mask. I don't discriminate against face masks -- I love all kinds!

I've been testing more and more face masks out and figured I'd round up my current favorites/most used/most repurchased. These masks will all fall within one of those categories.

*I am sticking to face masks -- not hands, eyes, feet, etc.



1. Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask: This is a new mask that I only got a few weeks ago but I've never used a mask so much! I've used it every week, at least 1-2 times since I got it and I'm obsessed. I notice a slight difference in my skin but ultimately it feels really great on your skin. The effect afterward is even better -- the cooling and minty sensation on your face when you remove the mask makes it well worth it.

2. Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud Purifying Black Mask: I've had this mask for a few years and oh my goodness, this is the best face mask ever. It removes all the gunk from your skin while leaving it smooth and refreshed. Whenever I want to do a face mask but I'm not sure which one I want to do, this is my go-to. It's a mask that I 100% will repurchase when I'm done with it because it's something that I simply cannot be without.

3. Fresh Rose Face Mask: This is my ultimate hydration mask. Whenever my skin needs a tall glass of water, I ultimately go to this one. It's a very lightweight mask that has rose petals mixed into it (which is divine and makes for a great masking experience) and truly leaves your skin smooth and supple. It's much more than a mask -- I feel like it's a toner and lightweight moisturizer all in one. It's incredible and I highly recommend picking this up!

4. Drunk Elephant Baby Facial: This is a mask/treatment that has gone viral and is in many people's holy grail baskets. Well, it is THAT good! Drunk Elephant is bringing serious skincare into your home, without the help of a doctor and in perfectly beautiful Instagram worthy packaging. They've basically given us all the gift of a facial in a bottle -- and it's a facial that exfoliates and resurfaces the skin with the use of AHA and BHA, two important skincare ingredients that I recommend doing research on. My skin looks incredible after using this and I have to really limit myself because you shouldn't be using this more than 1-2 times a week.

5. Hey, Honey Take It Off Exfoliating Honey Peel Off Mask: I was on the hunt for a fun peel off mask that worked and I found it! This mask from Hey Honey is equally as fun to put on, peel off, and leaves your skin looking baby smooth. It exfoliates the skin, removes dead skin cells and blackheads and leaves your face brighter, smoother, and softer. It's such a good mask and great for all skin types. I highly recommend!

What are your favorite face masks right now? If you have any recommendations, leave them in the comments! 
xoxo
B

As much as I love The Devil Wears Prada movie I never attempted to read the book. I guess part of the reason I didn't read it was because I didn't want it to ruin the movie. The Devil Wears Prada is so iconic and nothing can really compare; it's similar to me not reading 'The Notebook' after the movie became such a classic. Nothing can live up the OG... and in these cases, the movie is the OG.

Well, when I saw that Lauren Weisberger was coming out with another DWP book, I got super excited. I don't think I realized that she already had a sequel called "Revenge Wears Prada" but I didn't even bother with that book.

I was super hyped for this third installment that followed our favorite frenemy, Emily, around. The book is titled "When Life Gives You Lulu Lemons" and something about that title just drew me in.



It recently came out just a week or so ago but I read it months back because I got an advanced copy on NetGalley.

This is the publishers summary which does a great job at summarizing what the book is all about:

Welcome to Greenwich, CT, where the lawns and the women are perfectly manicured, the Tito’s and sodas are extra strong, and everyone has something to say about the infamous new neighbor.

Let’s be clear: Emily Charlton, Miranda Priestly’s ex-assistant, does not do the suburbs. She’s working in Hollywood as an image consultant to the stars, but recently, Emily’s lost a few clients. She’s hopeless with social media. The new guard is nipping at her heels. She needs a big opportunity, and she needs it now.

Karolina Hartwell is as A-list as they come. She’s the former face of L’Oreal. A mega-supermodel recognized the world over. And now, the gorgeous wife of the newly elected senator from New York, Graham, who also has his eye on the presidency. It’s all very Kennedy-esque, right down to the public philandering and Karolina’s arrest for a DUI—with a Suburban full of other people’s children.

Miriam is the link between them. Until recently she was a partner at one of Manhattan’s most prestigious law firms. But when Miriam moves to Greenwich and takes time off to spend with her children, she never could have predicted that being stay-at-home mom in an uber-wealthy town could have more pitfalls than a stressful legal career. 

Emily, Karolina, and Miriam make an unlikely trio, but they desperately need each other. Together, they’ll navigate the social landmines of life in America’s favorite suburb on steroids, revealing the truths—and the lies—that simmer just below the glittering surface. With her signature biting style, Lauren Weisberger offers a dazzling look into another sexy, over-the-top world, where nothing is as it appears.

Let me just say, it was an incredible book and I read it pretty quickly. It's 'chick-lit' so nothing too serious or a book you need to be truly invested in but it was still excellent.

The great thing about the book was that you didn't have to read either of the first books to understand it or be invested in it.

It was really well written, well developed and had an interesting story that made me angry, in the best way possible.

Just as the summary and title states, the novel is filled with name drops of brands and has that same Devil Wears Prada vibe of wealth and fanciness. It's one of my favorite parts if I'm being honest.

Another great part about When Life Gives You Lulu Lemons? 

Miranda Priestley and Andy Sachs make an appearance or two and it just ties the stories together perfectly.

This isn't the first Lauren Weisberger novel I read. Two years ago I read "The Singles Game" and both books definitely have a similar style/storyline while still having that luxurious feel to it.

'When Life Gives You Lulu Lemons' is the kind of book I love when I'm not reading something thrilling. It's light-hearted but still has an interesting storyline that keeps you invested. It's not too cheesy or romantic -- it's a perfect read.

All in all, I think When Life Gives You Lulu Lemons was fun, annoying (because you were rooting for something to happen/figure something out), interesting and light. It was definitely one of my favorite books of the year so far so I highly recommend it!

Will you pick up When Life Gives You Lulu Lemons?
xoxo
B

The week after a holiday is always the hardest, and it's even harder when you launch a new foundation at work! YUP, Filter First Luminous Foundation by Laura Geller was released on Sunday and I've been nonstop working on it. It was stressful but really exciting -- we've never had a launch this big and the foundation is BOMB. UGH I am obsessed but more to come later on that...

I was working from home yesterday because I felt so run down and so sick -- I almost feel like I'm getting an ear infection because my teeth hurt so bad. It's very odd.

Today I have a Summer Friday, and a doctor's appointment and a few errands to run. Then I have plans all weekend which is nice, but of course I will still find time to relax and unwind. Next week I head to the Taylor Swift concert and I am so excited, it almost doesn't feel real. I saw her on the Speak Now tour and it was life changing -- the Reputation Tour has been getting rave reviews so I doubt I will be disappointed.

In other blogging news, the Nordstrom Anniversary sale started for card holders yesterday. I shopped the sale all day with so many issues and for once, it was honestly getting on my nerves. Working in E-Commerce Retail, I understand a lot of what goes on behind the scenes but for a company as big as Nordstrom to have problems year after year, it's a little frustrating.

I will be doing my own Nordstrom Anniversary Sale post as usual but once I figure out what I'm getting/what I'm keeping. I don't like to tell you what YOU should get because there are a lot of bloggers already doing that -- I want to show you what I'm getting and loving. However, I may give you my thoughts on a few handbag & beauty deals because you know those are my expert areas!

*There are a lot of good beauty deals, more than usual and I think I'll definitely be shopping beauty more than anything this year.



For now, let's get into what I was loving this week:

• The brains behind microneedling tell us how they got there
• Everything you need to know about cannabis 
• An adult easy bake oven? It sounds very interesting
• The books that made readers fall in love with YA
• Want to buy your favorite Blair Waldorf clothing? This chick started an eBay shop to give you just that
• Kylie Jenner is set to become the youngest billionaire ever and I am OBSESSED with that. LFG Kylie!!! 
• Prince Louis was christened this week and his big sister, Princess Charlotte, told the paparizzi they weren't invited LOL 
• How to avoid burnout as a social media professional

This was such an odd, long yet short week. As mentioned previously I was off from last Friday to yesterday. The long weekend + holiday really threw me for a loop. Combine that with oversleeping TWO hours yesterday and being late for work, plus a near empty office and I'm really off my groove.

I'm back at work today, getting things done and preparing for another week. I feel like I just got off a weekend, it's very weird but I feel very relaxed which is always the goal.

I'm happy it's July and it's finally feeling like summer; the heat has been intense the past week and while I usually hate the hot weather, I haven't complained much. It's a little refreshing to me, actually.

However, July means only a few months until Fall; July means halfway to Christmas; July means the Nordstrom Anniversary sale ... July isn't that bad of a month! There's a lot of fun stuff happening this month too; a few get togethers with some friends, the Taylor Swift Concert, possibly a conference or two. I'm excited!

I love my new makeup bag. Get it here

Speaking of conferences... if you've been a reader for a while you know how much I love the Her Campus HerConference. I've been to almost every conference since 2012 and that's a pretty cool record in my opinion. It's ideal for college aged women but honestly, I still find it so inspiring even 4 years after graduating.

For the past few years they've been beefing up their Influencer track and I really have been going for that aspect and it's really cool. They have the best speakers, awesome brand sponsors, the best goody bags and I mean, listening to Windsor and the other Her Campus founders is so amazing. I leave there every year truly inspired and full of energy to get after my dreams.

This year the conference is on July 21st & 22nd in NYC -- get your tickets here! 

Now onto the links I loved this week!

• Are class rings still a big deal?
• The best herbal sleep supplements -- spoiler alert: they mention HUM!
• Why do women always say they're exhausted?  
• How to boost your energy levels
• The crystal you should own based on your horoscope
• Ashley Graham is changing the world and I love her for it

Pinterest is a secret gem of blogging, creating, and everything that comes along with living an online life. I've been preaching Pinterest since it's creation in 2011; not to pat myself on the back, I'm pretty sure that I was one of the first people to be on Pinterest back in 2011.

I remember like it was yesterday -- I was getting ready to study for my Fall 2011 finals and my sorority sister told me about this new platform called Pinterest which was a virtual pinboard. I became so obsessed I almost failed my finals. I spent that entire winter break (I miss having a winter break) on Pinterest, creating boards and being inspired.

Fast forward to 2018 Pinterest is now classified as a search engine similar to Google. People are going to Pinterest to search for things from design to beauty to fashion to weddings and it's blowing up.

Credit

Because of my obsession with Pinterest, it's always been a tool in my blogging kit. I have always shared my posts to Pinterest and for years, it's been at the top of my referral traffic.

YUP. You heard that right.

I get the most blog traffic from Pinterest. More from Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, or organic searches. Pinterest is KING and it works!

The key to getting traction on Pinterest are two main things: vertical images and using the captions correctly.

Vertical photos get shared more because as you scroll, you are obviously going vertically so those photos catch your eye.

For captions, it's important to use keywords to describe your pin and what you are pinning because people are going to type in keywords to find what they're looking for. Also, a common misconception about Pinterest is hashtags -- do you use them or do you not? I spoke to someone at Pinterest and they said NO to hashtags so you heard it here!

While Pinterest isn't a social media network, there is still a huge sense of community. I've joined countless group boards where I share my blog posts and then look through others and share theirs. Being part of a group board just helps get more eyes on your pins and in this case, my blog content.

For a long time, I was sharing Pins directly from my blog pages. I was using the Pin button and manually doing everything but then I discovered Tailwind.

Tailwind is a dashboard specifically made for Pinterest (recently they introduced tools for Instagram) and it allows you to schedule pins, gives you amazing analytics and is just so easy to use. Tailwind tells you the best times to pin and allows you to stock up your queue and just pushes out the pins at the given time.



The actual Pinterest website hasn't gotten on board with analytics yet so Tailwind is a great secondary tool to use to track your Pinterest analytics. It's amazing to see how many people are interacting with your pins and how it compares to previous time periods.

Tailwind actually just introduced their own 'group board' idea and I have fallen in love with it. Tailwind Tribes is a new feature that Tailwind released within the past few weeks (or at least that's when I realized it) and it's basically a huge group board that you don't have to 'join'.

It makes group pinning super easy and just like a regular group board that you might've joined from a blogging network, it gets your pin in front of more eyes.

Whenever I post a blog I make sure I share it on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Whenever I'm scheduling Twitter and Facebook, I head over to Tailwind and share that pin as well.

I also make sure that I'm sharing other Influencer's content and non blog related content to have some balance to my boards.

Pinterest is truly a hidden gem that all influencers should utilize. You have to know how to use it and not treat it as another social media platform. Do your research, join Tailwind, and get to pinning!

xoxo
B

We are pretty much halfway through the year at this point and I'm so excited! I feel like I've been starting off all my Royal Round Up posts with that sort of language.

Summer officially started this week, I had another article published on Popsugar and 4th of July vacation is just around the corner -- I'm taking a super long, much-needed vacation (might not travel anywhere but the days off will be good) and I'm so excited.

However, I'm not really in the mood to celebrate the country or the 4th of July because of the atrocities that are happening at the Mexican border. I can't simply put into words what I'm feeling but Eva from Happily Eva After did an amazing job at explaining how I think a lot of us feel.

It was National Wear Your Lilly Day this week -- I was rocking my Lilly tote over the weekend!

Anyways...

Here is what I loved this week!

• I am SO HERE for masking brushes -- I've been using them for years and it's the best idea ever
• Stress is causing autoimmune diseases, which is not good
• All the summer beauty launches you should pay attention too
• Um, this body oil smells like a thunderstorm and I've never needed anything more 
• I've been following the WhatFranWore account for a while and I'm so happy to see this write up about her. Nanny Fine was an inspiration to me growing up and I still love Fran after all these years 
• This is an amazing article on Jackie Aina -- I've been watching her a lot lately and she is a boss ass bitch.
• I didn't think there was a 'right time of day' to apply a face mask, but apparently, there is

Nowadays there are always new beauty products being released from all different brands -- heck, there are new brands popping up every day. It's almost too much to keep up with, to keep track of but it's also really exciting.

With every launch comes a new innovation; brands are always coming up with something that we've never seen before, or their own take on a current trend.

Either way, I get super excited for new launches, even if it's something as similar as an eyeliner.

Something else that brings up excitement for me is the beginning of a new season. In my opinion, the best launches happen at the beginning of a season and I think summer is super exciting. There are all different SPF products, new makeup technologies and just a bunch of other fun stuff.

Out of all the launches that have happened so far this season, below is what I'm most excited for.




Ole Henkrison Cold Plunge Pore Mask: Put anything 'cold plunge' in a name and I'm going to want to try it. The description for this pore clearing mask is that it's supposed to mimic the feeling of a Scandinavian cold plunge, immersing your skin in pure ice. I want to experience that so badly! It sounds so refreshing in the summer heat and I can't wait to get my hands on this mask.

Flesh Foundation Stick: Flesh is a new brand under the Revlon umbrella and the big thing about this is that there are over 40 foundation stick shades in the first release. Nowadays, that is a super big deal. I took a look on Ulta's website and Flesh is coming out with a lot of new products that look really cool. I love a foundation stick so I am excited to try this new one out.

Dior Backstage Foundation: For someone who doesn't wear a lot of foundation, this is the 2nd foundation on this list. It was released this week and The Coveteur did a special article on it. It was identified as the foundation that Meghan Markle wore on her wedding day and that is all the reason I need to purchase something.

Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Serum: This is a little bit of a cheat because I already purchased this item and it's en route to me. This was a launch that I actually wrote down in my calendar and was super giddy about. It's a bronzed serum that has anti-pollutant properties to protect your skin from environmental stressors. Pollution protective products are going to be having a moment starting now and I'm all in on them. I will report back on this product as soon as I fully test it!

Sephora After Sun Sheet Mask: This product isn't super new and has been in my Sephora shopping cart a few times. After being super sunburned and exhausted from the sun this weekend, I think my skin really could've used this mask. It's a good product to have in your arsenal this summer.

What beauty launches are you excited for?
xoxo
B

This isn't the traditional manicure Monday because I'm not wearing any of these polishes at the moment (as I'm writing this I'm without any polish!) but these are my favorite summer colors.

Thursday is the first day of summer so this week is dedicated to all things summertime! It's not my favorite season but with the mild weather we've been having here in New York, I'm actually pretty excited. After a really hard, cold winter I'm looking forward to the warm sun and sitting by the pool, and doing fun outdoor activities.

But first I wanted to start off with one of my favorite things and something I know well-- nail polish.

Whenever the season changes I've been over that nail polish theme for a while and ready for something new. These are the colors in the past few years, and right now, I'm really excited to rock in the warm weather.

A few are old favorites, a few are new to my collection this year but all of them are super pretty, great formulas, and in fact, they are all Essie polishes.



Bikini So Teeny: This is the most classic summer shade that took over the world a few years ago. I definitely get the most wear out of this color and it's by far one my favorites of all time. There is something so beautifully summery about it, I can't get enough.

Pret-A-Surfer: I classify this as Bikini So Teeny's older, darker sister. It has a similar color but is much deeper. It looks gorgeous when you have a fresh from the beach tan and I'm obsessed. I've repurchased this shade and Bikini So Teeny more than once so you know I mean business!

Barbados Blue: This is new to my collection but I've quickly fallen for it. It's sheerer than the others but has a gorgeous ocean blue shift to it. When I look at it, I see only summer and it looks even better on the nails. *I can't find this online anywhere but Saltwater Happy is slightly similar

Status Symbol: Think of the most beautiful candy, hot pink your mind could imagine. That is what Status Symbol is. It's a unique pink that gives you the best of both worlds: candy, baby pink with a handful of fuschia. It's gorgeous and looks great on the nails! *I can't find this shade either but Bachelorette Bash is close enough

E-nuf is e-nuf: It's not summer without a bit of coral polish, is it? This is a mixture of a coral and pink but once applied to the nails pulls more coral/orange. It's the ideal summer shade!

Haute in the Heat: With a name like that how do I not put it on this list? It's a true hot pink but a shade or two darker than the typical hot pink. I'm obsessed and feel so girly when I wear it!

Here are a few other shades that I simply love but don't own at the moment:
What are your favorite summer nail polish shades?
xoxo
B

This was a book I got in a Book of the Month and one that I was a little skeptical about.

"When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal. By Monday morning, one of them is gone."

Kristin suddenly disappeared and no one knows anything. What everyone does know is that her husband is sketchy and they were in the middle of a divorce. They know that the husband was not the real father of her twins, and he is not who he seems.



There are a few subplots that are tacked on along the way, like the reaction one of the neighbors, Clara, has to the revelations about Kristin's husband. Clara had experienced something traumatic that brings memories flooding back and makes her more aware of surroundings. 

Another subplot was the new neighbor, Izzy, dealing with her own issues like being in love with her sister's husband (which was really hyped up to be something but it was really nothing. The dumbest part of the book!) Soon enough, Izzy is fully thrown into the drama and it definitely makes for an interesting twist.

I have to say, this book is very slow and you're constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because of that, I went through the book pretty fast because I was a little bored. You're trying to figure out what actually happened to Kristin while still trying to be invested in the other subplots. 

I think the character development was natural and well paced, as was the writing. I just wish this book would've been a little juicer. It fell flat for most of the story...

That is, until the last few pages. I was so stunned I had to go back and re-read everything to make sure I was getting it right. 

It was an incredible twist, the most epic ending I've ever read because I never saw it coming. It was like the first time I read Gone Girl -- I was stunned and couldn't have seen that coming from a mile away.

All the negatives of the book aside, it's well worth the read to just get that super satisfying ending. 

Have you read 'Not That I Could Tell'? What did you think?
xoxo
B

I've been loving the Grease Collection from OPI and really want to get my hands on more shades, but for now, I want to talk about the 2nd shade that I purchased.

I mentioned Frenchie Likes to Kiss in my last Grease OPI post but when I tried it out, I solidified my love for it.

I love a good lavender nail color and this is IT. Frenchie Likes to Kiss is the perfect sheer, lavender color that is ideal for spring and summer. It looks gorgeous on the nails and really pulls together a nice summer outfit.




There's something really nice about having a polish that makes you feel good and makes you love how your hands look (it's weird but you know what I mean) and that's how this polish makes me feel.




The formula is fine on this -- it's a little watery and sheer but two coats is enough.

I highly recommend this shade and this entire collection to all the #ManiMonday lovers out there -- it won't disappoint you!

What's on your nails this Monday?
xoxo
B