Spring is HERE and I am pumped about it. I mean, it might not even be spring but summer because it hit 90 degrees in New York the past two days and it is glorious.

I said it last week when it was first nice out, but I think I am officially excited for the spring and summer. I was off from work yesterday for a dentist appointment and then afterward my mom and I went to my aunt's house and sat in her yard.

How I spent Thursday: Ouai Son of a Beach Ombre Spray PVC Amazon Fashion Bag Kate Spade Sunglasses (similar) Meghan A Hollywood Princess book

I am nowhere near ready for the warm weather; no pedicure, no tan, and no shoes/clothes that fit me so I wasn't really tanning but enjoying the sun. It was incredible and felt so good! I got a bit of color and it was so refreshing to get some Vitamin D.

I am vowing that this summer I will make the most of it, unlike past years. I want to go to the beach and do more fun things -- this WILL be a good summer.

This weekend will be lowkey; I'll be with friends tonight and then tomorrow is filled with errands and heading to the gym. I've been obsessed with Trader Joe's so definitely expect a post about all my favorite items from TJ's!

Here's everything I've been loving this week:

• This Tiffany & Co. marketing campaign is amazing
• Is FOMO a mental health issue? 
• Find out if LED light treatments really work
• Why beauty is a state of mind
• New beauty products to try in May
• The best beauty products to launch in April
• What exactly is the 'coffee shop effect'?

I always used to think of candles of a Fall and Winter item. I never burned candles in the Spring and Summer because I didn't like the scents as much and obviously they gave off more heat than I needed.

I've always had an extensive jewelry collection and storing it has always been an issue for me.



I've had every jewelry box under the sun, and even had a small mannequin stand to house all my pieces. However, nothing ever seemed good enough for me.

When I moved into this new apartment almost two years ago, I knew I wanted to be able to see all my jewelry so I could wear it all. I have a hard time using things I can't see. I also have a hard time wearing all my jewelry. I always go through phases where I don't want to wear certain types of jewelry. Right now, I can't stand wearing anything but rings and earrings... but I still want the option of knowing what I have in my collection.





When I moved in, I had the perfect idea. In my little shelving unit, where I house all of my lipsticks, I have the first shelf as my jewelry shelf.

My necklaces are divided amongst the metals; so I have silver hooks, rose gold hooks, and gold hooks. I love this type of organization because it makes everything so easy.

I have all my necklaces hung up on the side of the shelf, hanging on clear command hooks. My bracelets are in one jewelry dish while my rings are in a few others. (I have a lot of rings). My earrings lay in  4th jewelry dish, and this ensures that I can see all my pieces and have them go in and out of rotation.

It's not a really unique organization system but it works for me. Everything is seperated, on display, and gets used (when I'm in the mood). It's working for me for now!

Shop more trays and organization systems below:



How do you organize your jewelry to make sure everything is getting used?
xoxo
B

Happy Friday! I'm very excited for the week to come to the end and for the weekend to arrive because I'm going to Florida on Tuesday! It's for a work trip but I'm so excited to travel SOMEWHERE. I'm also going to Disneyworld so YAYYYYYY. It's the first time I've been in 10 years so I'm uber pumped.

On that note, I'll try to pre-write as much as I could and I will have some downtime so I'll get in a few posts if I can't write this weekend.

Be sure to follow me on social media, all my handles are @bribrilukes, as I'll be documenting the trip. Also, I'll be vlogging (YAY) so you'll have some videos when I come back. If you haven't subscribed to my Youtube channel, subscribe now, please & thank you!

Now, onto the real reason we are here... let's talk about spring! Now, onto the real reason we are here... let's talk about spring! I was introduced to the excited team at iRazoo a few weeks ago and their paid surveys, games and video options, got me thinking about Springtime inspiration and all the things there are to do and try out; so here we go!

Spring is not my favorite season and I dread it every year, but once it rolls around I'm happy to have it. I love light jacket or no jacket weather, a mild breeze with 60-70 degree weather, and just being comfortable. Not hot, not cold, just right.

It's the summer I truly hate and I should stop lumping the seasons together because they are not alike.

We haven't had too much spring here in New York; there's been lots of rain and windy weather but I'm sure things will turn around soon.



On that note, there are many ways to make the most out of spring, even if the weather isn't ready to follow.

1. Revamp your makeup routine: I love to do this whenever the seasons change. I start to use more tinted moisturizers, lighter eyeshadow colors, more 'minimal makeup' and try out a bolder color lip, like pink or coral. My favorite thing to do is switch out my nail polishes. I'm currently wearing a hot pink that will hopefully make it's way into Manicure Monday at some point. After wearing so many dark colors, I'm really excited to wear hot pinks, neon coral, and bright blue!

2. Wardrobe Change: I love fall and winter clothes so much, but I do like not wearing a jacket. In spring, I like to break out light sweaters and ballet flats; it's pretty much my go-to. I just purchased some new clothes and shoes from J.Crew and finally bought a jean jacket so I'm excited for that. I think changing up your wardrobe and buying a few new pieces to add to your collection is a great way to ensure a good spring.



3. Plan a road trip/fun plans: The key to being 'happy' during any season is making plans, I'm pretty sure of that. Once spring rolls around I like to plan something, whether it's a baseball game, a brunch, or a small road trip to another state. Having plans throughout the weeks will guarantee peace of mine and a good spring season.

4. Redecorate: Ever since moving into my new house and having my own room again I've been really into interior design. I loved decorating for fall and Christmas and I've loved transitioning my room to spring. With lighter color pillows, and blankets, new candles, and a few other fun trinkets. It's a great way to put yourself in the spring mood!

Open the windows, throw on a denim jacket, and put on some pink lipstick because spring is here!

Have a great weekend everyone!
xoxo
B

The weather in New York has been...well rather less than appealing. I love cold weather more than anyone I've ever met but to be wearing a jacket in May and having cold rain for a week straight is less than ideal.

That being said, I have not yet broken into my spring essentials. I switched my closet over a while ago but thankfully I didn't put all my winter clothes away... or better said, I didn't take all my spring & summer clothes out.

I'm hoping that the last of the bad weather is behind us because I can definitely get on board with nice weather (70 degrees & a light breeze is my ideal). If this is the case, I need some more spring clothes & accessories. I much prefer shopping for the winter and I always have more clothes for the cold months.

When spring & summer roll around, I do a nice amount of shopping for clothes and shoes. Shoes are something I'm always in desperate need of, no matter the season.

I've put off buying until now, waiting to see what I have and what I needed.

I'm looking more toward casual & chic this spring, especially things I can wear to work. Last summer was all about comfort, and I'll never let go of that, but I want to be slightly more fashionable.

We'll see if I end up getting any of these items!

After a long, rough month, I am super happy for it to be over. March 2016 will forever be the worst month of my life, for the sole reason that I lost my first love: my dad.

I don't want to get into that, as vulnerable as I'm feeling. This is a happy post, talking about favorites!

With all the bad that has happened, a lot has good has happened in my professional life, which can't help but feel like a major Godwink from my dad.

All that being said, March was filled with lots of shopping because I felt like I deserved it, but when don't I feel like I deserve it?





1. Too Faced Eyeshadows: I talked about the two new palettes Peanut Butter & Jelly and the Sweet Peach Palette this month and I haven't really used anything else. These are both limited edition and have been extremely difficult to get your hands on but if you love Too Faced shadows and love collecting makeup, you NEED these palettes. If you could get your hands on it, jump at the chance.



2. Clinque Chubby in the Nude Foundation Stick: I've always been a fan of stick foundations so when I saw the chance to get a deluxe sample of this foundation at Sephora with a $25 purchase, I jumped at it. Well, what I didn't know was that I was going to fall in love with this formula. Like I said, I'm a fan of stick foundations and stick products in general, but I think this is my all time favorite. It's not cakey AT ALL, it applies & blends like a dream, and the finish is basically full coverage (on me). After I apply and blend, my skin looks near perfect. This has quickly become my go-to everyday, easy to apply foundation and I will 100% be buying the full size.



3. Kylie Lip Kits: Alright, I'm obsessed. I am not afraid to stand up and say I love the Kardashians. They are smart business women and I just love to look at them. Judge me all you want, disagree with me, but you can't deny that the Kardashians have changed a lot of things, including beauty. I have 3 of Kylie's kits: Dolce K, Koko K, and 22. I am addicted. They are by far my favorite liquid lipstick formula: nondrying, they last all day, don't flake off, and don't leave a weird ring around your lips as it fades. If you could get these, definitely buy them. My goal is to get all of the colors *that I like*, but we'll see what happens!



4. Chloe + Isabel: Shameless plug but I'm a Chloe + Isabel merchandiser which I announced last month. It's been an awesome 30 days since joining the program and I'm learning a lot about myself and what it takes to run a successful business. This is a favorite for a few reasons, mainly being the jewelry is BOMB and the fact that I'm running a business - something I've always wanted to do! I host my first party tonight and I hope it goes well. If you're in need of fabulous, gorgeous, inexpensive jewelry, look no further! (PS: Here's a post I did last summer all about Chloe + Isabel before I became a merchie)



5. BeautyBox: My beauty collection has since grown since getting my Alex IKEA drawers last year and I needed more space. A few months back I bought a small, clear drawer set from Amazon to keep on top of my Alex Drawers but I've outgrown those too. That's when I found this larger, similar to more expensive mainstream versions, beauty box. I have never been more obsessed with a set of drawers.  They are super spacious and hold a ridiculous amount of product. I love that they're clear so I can see everything and all my products are neatly organized. It has changed my life and I think everyone who has a large beauty collection needs one!

Honorable mention: I traded in my old iPad 2 this month for an iPad Mini 2. I'm ADDICTED AND OBSESSED. I thought having a smaller iPad was stupid

What were your favorites this month?

I was convinced this new nail color (new to me) was from the Spring 2016 Essie Collection but when I went to write this blog post, I was sadly mistaken.

I picked up Stones n Roses last week after falling in love in the drugstore beauty aisle (haven't we all fallen in love in that aisle?) and immediately put it in my basket. I couldn't leave without this pinkish coral color.

While writing this post and searching online for Stones n Roses, I realized that this polish was from the Spring 2015 Resort Collection *le gasp*.



I don't even care that it's an older polish, it is so beautiful and perfect for Spring. I switched my polish collection from winter to spring and my goodness, I forgot how much I loved bright colors.

This shade screams flowers and sun and springtime goodness. It's definitely pink but has the slightest bit of coral in it, which makes it really bright.



The formula is really good too -- it stayed on with minimal chipping for at least 4 days, if not 5. I probably could've gotten away with another day if I didn't start picking at my nails.

It was a really smooth application and two coats were more than enough. Essie polishes always vary in formulation and I think this color was one of the better ones. It wasn't sheer or clumpy and it didn't run onto my cuticles, which I'm always grateful for.

Stones n Roses will definitely be one of my favorite, go-to colors this spring!

What spring nail polish colors are you loving?

PS: Sign up for my newsletter--I'm going to be hosting a giveaway soon and subscribers will have first dibs on entering ;) 

I've always wanted to try a Butter London nail polish but I could never muster up the courage to buy a $15 nail polish.

Much to my surprise, I received a Butter London nail polish in Pink Ribbon as a gift and I was overjoyed to finally try such a well known and loved brand.

The shade Pink Ribbon is a very, very pale pink. At first, I thought it was white and it wasn't until I read the name that I knew it was the palest, baby pink I have ever come across.



I was very, very surprised at the formula of this polish. It is very thick, much thicker than any Essie polish I have ever used. It was so thick that it felt like a gel nail polish.

I did use my Sally Hansen base coat but I don't think that affected the formula of the polish.



I'm not saying that it's a bad polish, because I do like it, but the thickness is something I wasn't used too and it made working with the polish a lot more difficult. It didn't dry quickly and then the morning after I painted my nails, two of them were completely smudged.

The polish didn't really apply smoothly and I could still feel the bumps along my nails.


This may have something to do with the fact that my nails are gross & I need a real manicure to buff and smooth out my nails. I also had a gel manicure last week and that always "ruins" my nails.

I also needed three coats to get an opaque look and it honestly still wasn't enough.

All of that was my first impression of the polish but as I am writing this blog post (on Thursday night), I repainted my two smudged nails and it was much better.

I took off the smudged polish two hours ago and let my nails breathe. I painted one layer of the base coat, let it sit for a few minutes, and then gently took the Butter London polish to my nails and it was so much better. It was still a little thick but not as hard to work with and not as goopy. It still wasn't too opaque but let us remember that this is a very pale color.

I also think that white (or pale pink) polishes are very hard to do right.

In conclusion, this isn't my favorite polish but I will for sure use it and I'm glad I got to finally try Butter London Nail Lacquers!

Have you ever tried Butter London? What is your opinion on it? Is it just me or is this polish very thick and goopy?