July is here and the summer is almost over! We're so close to Fall!

Ok I'll stop now! I don't like when people remind me that winter is ending and spring is coming so I'll spare all you summer lovers!

I'm writing this on 4th of July because my plans got canceled and I haven't been feeling too great this weekend. I was super hungover on Sunday and I was running errands all day Monday so I feel like my body hasn't had a chance to truly catch up with itself. The good news is that I work Wednesday & Thursday and I'm off again on Friday -- this is the ultimate summer week.

As we move further into the summer, the weeks are going to get busier so I need to get my sh*t together. Trips, conferences, and fun things are going to happen within the next few weeks!

For now, however, let's get into my June favorites!



1. J.Crew Drapey Tank Top: I ordered one of these tank tops at the beginning of the season and fell in love with it. It's so comfortable and you can dress it up or down, depending on where you're going. It goes with everything-- jeans, leggings, shorts. I was so obsessed that I went back to J.Crew Factory and bought one in every color. I have purple, salmon, grey, black, and blue. I might have to go get the white one just to complete the collection.

2. Friday + Saturday Brunette Baseball Hat: I've been wanting to get into the baseball hat trend for a while but I wanted a cute, punny one. I saw this one on Shop Riff Raff and couldn't pass it up. It's so cute and makes any outfit a touch more casual and trendy. I haven't stopped wearing it all month long!

3. NARS Liquid Blush in Orgasm: I ravved about this in a post and a video this month but I had to mention it again. It's the only blush I've been wearing and it looks so natural and gorgeous, you could make it the only product you're wearing!

4. Benefit Total Moisture Face Cream: My skin has been on the drier side lately, which is weird for the hot summer but the one product that has been really helping me is the Benefit Cosmetics moisturzer. I talked about it my latest beauty video and while I haven't pulled the trigger on a full size yet, I will soon because I'm running out of the sample. It's super thick and hydrating but doesn't leave your skin greasy or tacky like you'd think a heavy cream would. It's so gooooooood!

What were your favorites this month?

xoxo
B

I feel like I should've gotten past my Kate Spade obsession by now but this phase has lasted for quite a long time.

I've always gone through phases over obsessing about something but this Kate Spade phase is nowhere near over. I think this is a long-term love affair and I'm quite ok with that.

I spend a majority of my time on the Kate Spade website, browsing the new sale items and adding to my wishlist. I always find something that I'm lusting after.

That's what inspired me to write this post... that, and the fact that Coach just purchased them for $2.4 billion.




Kate Spade is pretty good at releasing new products and I feel like it's more than once a season that we get a new collection. A few months ago it was their Moroccan inspired collection with colorful prints, camels, and fringe everywhere... now they just released their floral inspired collection with bright greens, pinks, and blues. I personally really love this collection and really want to buy this bag because it's a nice little crossbody.



They also just released their convertible bags; they've taken their convertible straps, stickers and bag charms to the next level and you can swap out covers for two different bags, the Byrdie and Candance Satchel.

There are so many different covers for each bag, giving them totally different looks. One of these is on my list but I may wait until my birthday to ask for it.

Below are some of my latest wants from Kate Spade!

Hello there! I'm back in New York after a long winded week in Florida. I was there for a special Ulta Beauty conference but it was an extended trip because we had an event at a local Orlando Ulta on Friday May 5th, otherwise I would've been home Wednesday night.

I do really like traveling and I'm happy to have a job that allows me to do that. Yes, the only places I really have been are to QVC in Pennsylvania and Florida, it's still a great experience. I've never flown alone before starting my job and it's definitely something that made me anxious the first time. Now I feel like an old pro and I throughly enjoy traveling alone. There's no one holding you up in the airport and you can go at your own pace, plus it's nice to just have some quiet alone time. I also feel super fancy walking through the airport alone, like I'm important enough to be by myself (does that make sense)




Anyways, it was a great trip with lots of laughs and lots of business. I got there Tuesday afternoon and jumped right into some work, with Wednesday being the day of the conference. Friday was another day filled with work but Thursday was my favorite because we got to go to Disneyworld.

I was really exhausted after my flight on Tuesday (it took off at 8 AM) and I don't think that I ever recovered. I was really tired the entire trip and as I write this on Sunday, I still don't feel completely back together. I'm very sensitive to everything from travel to the weather so anything will disrupt my routine/being. It was very taxing on me to be so tired for the entire trip but I took some naps and powered through.

We stayed at the Wyndam Orlando Resort and it was really nice. The hotel wasn't too crowded and I really liked that there was a bunch of hotel buildings instead of just one. It felt very tropical. I didn't sit by the pool at all but it was a nice pool. The food was also delicious even though I only ate at this hotel twice.




The weather in Florida was spectactular. It wasn't too hot or humid, even at Disney -- I was so pleased with this.

The trip in general was great, my flights were good for the most part (I got way motion sickness on both and both flights were delayed)

I got my makeup down by one of our artists @ the conference

Now, let's talk about Disney. I haven't been to Disneyworld since I was 14 years old so 10 years later, I was so excited! I got my Disney backpack from Danielle Nicole Handbags at Macy's and it was the perfect little bag to bring to an amusement park, and the fact that it's so festive is just a plus! It was comfortable on my back the entire time and fit so much... it's very deceiving in size!



The day was perfect; sunny with some clouds but not too hot or humid. We only went to the Magic Kindgom but in my mind, that's all you need if you want to experience Disney.









We went on a handful of rides: Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Speedway, Winnie the Pooh, the Tea Cups, and the Runaway Train. I really wanted to go on Peter Pan's Flight because it's my favorite but there just wasn't enough time in the day. We finished dinner at Tony's (the Lady and the Tramp inspired restuarant) we were going to go on It's a Small World, the Haunted Mansion, and Peter Pan's Flight but we wanted to shop and see the fireworks show, and there just wasn't enough time.

I was so tired at this point I didn't even care.

We got some Disney treats like Mickey Mouse icecream, ate lunch in Tomorrowland, and shopped down Main Street. I got a Cinderella ring, Mickey Mouse Birthstone studs, a Neverland shot glass, a Chip (Beauty & The Beast) mug, and a magnet. I went a little crazy but I was feeling the Disney magic.

Like I said, I haven't been to Disney in so long and going as an adult is something I highly recommend. Go without kids, go with a small group... I now understand why people go on Bachelorlette parties and Honeymoons -- it's so incredibly magical to be in Disney. You transform into a child with child like wonder and it made me so happy. I honestly cannot remember the last time I felt so light, worry free, and happy.

I've always been a Disney kid and I'm currently watching Aladdin; I love the message of all the Disney films and just the wonder that it brings to my life. It reminds me of a simple time when you had nothing to worry about and you were a child with not a care in the world. Being in Disney was so great and I could cry thinking about it.





I actually did cry at Disney; when I turned down mainstreet and saw Cinderella's castle, and during the fireworks show. The show is called "Wishes" and is based around all the 'wishes' made in Disney movies. At one point during the  show a voiceover of all the time wishes are mentioned in Disney movies such as "Genie, I wish for your freedom!", "I wish I could never grow up!" "I wish I was a real boy" and hearing that just sent me over the edge. I have never been so impressed with a firework show.

This is also going to be replaced with a new show on May 12th called "Happily Ever After" which I'll be excited to see next time I go... which I will be going; I want to go every single year!

So that is my little recap -- I hope it wasn't too boring or long but I just wanted to share the trip with you all!

xoxo
B
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I am by no means a traveling expert because I haven't been a ton of places. But, recently, I've been traveling more for work; whether it's a weekend trip or a longer period of time, I can pack accordingly. *I did this post back at the beginning of 2016 on how I pack for a weekend work trip

As you read this, I'm in Florida for my annual work trip for an Ulta Conference and I spent the weekend packing my life away. I'll be gone 4 nights & 5 days so I brought more stuff than usual and checked a suitcase.

I have a lot of new travel accessories that made packing a lot easier and I wanted to share how I packed this time around.

What I used:

• Target x DesignLoveFest suitcase
• Henri Bendel Makeup Brush Holder
• Henri Bendel x Megan Hess Jewelry Case
• Kate Spade Makeup Train Case
• Kate Spade Travel Wallet
• Henri Bendel Pill Box
• Lilly Pulitzer Wash & Wear Bags *similar Henri Bendel here*
• Various makeup bags

So, I start by rolling my clothes* and putting them on the bottom of my suitcase. The Target suitcase is super roomy, very lightweight, and comes with multiple compartments to help pack efficiently. It even came with a little extra bag that I assume would be used for laundry but I used it to put two pairs of shoes in.

*Rolling your clothes is best to maximize space and it works out really well for me.

After all my clothes are laid out, I stack on top. I'm not that concerned with my clothes being wrinkled, I can't remember the last time I ironed my clothes.

In the Lilly Pulitzer bags, I put my underwear, socks, and bras so that goes on top. I also had a pair of new, unworn shoes that I stuck in a corner.





I added two extra bags that I wanted to bring with me, my Gigi New York Clutch & my Mila mini backpack from Danielle Nicole.  If you really wanted too, you could pack things inside these bags to free up some extra space.

In one of the slip pockets on the side of the suitcase, I put two delicate, fancy shirts that I may not want to touch anything else.

I added my skincare bag on top of everything and will add my makeup brushes and jewelry case.





My carry on is going to be my Louis Vuitton Keepall 45; in there I'll keep a pair of flip-flops, possibly my makeup bag, a book, laptop, iPad, chargers, hat, sunglasses, etc. Anything I may need the moment I get off the plane, when I'm waiting in the airport, or on the plane will go in there. If you don't have anything over the liquid limit according to skincare, this would also be a good place to keep it.

In addition to the carry on, I'll bring my NEW Kate Spade bag as a handbag where I'll keep headphones, my cell phone, wallet, etc.




A few tips to stay organized: 

• Make a list of what you know you'll need to pack
• Write out what you will be doing each day you're away so you know what kind of outfit to bring
• Enlist the help of travel accessories to pack things in; don't just throw jewelry, socks, underwear, chargers, etc into a bag.

Hello there! It feels like it's been a very long month and I usually feel that way about April. I completely didn't realize I forgot my March Favorites post! I was looking for it to refrence and it's not there! This is the first time I've ever missed a favorites!

I'm excited for May (did I just say that) because there's so much going on work wise, I'm going to be very busy. I also like to think of it as if we're one step closer to Summer, we're one step closer to Fall!

When sitting down to think about my April favorites I felt like I didn't have too many but after looking around my room, I realized I did have a nice little amount.

I didn't use too much makeup this month because I spent a lot of time waking up late for work and running out of the house. I did buy a nice amount of makeup from Ulta and the Sephora VIB sale which you can watch in one of my vlogs.

For my favorites, it's a mix of beauty and fashion so let's get right into it!

1. Sephora Collection Almond Lip Balm: I had my eye on the Sephora Collection lip balms for a while and for $6, you can't go wrong. I picked this up in my local Sephora JCP and I have not stopped using it all month long. It's super smooth, nourishing, and doesn't leave any sticky or tacky residue on the lips. They have a bunch of different types which do different things and I highly recommend you check them out!



2. Kate Spade Perfume Collection: I briefly mentioned this set in my fragrance post and on my Instagram but it truly has been my favorite thing this month. I've been wanting Kate Spade perfume for the longest time but always just purchased something else. When I saw this collection, I jumped. I've currently being wearing 'Live Colorfully' all month long and it's the perfect light, airy spring scent!

3. Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black Dry Shampoo: When I saw this dry shampoo come on the market I was less than impressed. What is a perfume brand doing coming out with a dry shampoo? I've been obsessed with my Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo but lately it just hasn't been helping. I watched Kathleen Lights favorites video and she mentioned this so I decided to give it a dry. OMG It's SO GOOD. It's very light and doesnt leave any residue in your hair. The thing I love about this dry shampoo is that I can run my hands through my hair and it's not tough or rough. Does that make sense? I hate when my dry shampoo makes my hair sticky and tough.

4. TopShop Slides: When the slides trend started I was not feeling it but as I saw more people wearing them, they grew on me. I was browsing Nordstorm and saw these TopShop slides which look similar to a pair of Chanel ones and immediately bought them. I've only worn them a handful of times but they're such a great shoe to throw on and run out of the house, and they look good with every outfit. I highly recommend a pair of slides this summer! *The slides are not available at Nordstrom anymore but I love these by TopShop too! 



5. Coffee & Couture: This is a company by my new favorite Youtubers (and sisters) Toni & Allie Sevdalis. I started watching them obsessively this month and they are the reason I was inspired to finally start my Youtube channel! Coffee & Couture is their jewelry line and they hand make all the jewelry; after watching I decided to purchase some pieces and I've been LOVING them! I've mostly been wearing and loving the evil eye rings. I highly suggest checking them out; the jewelry is high quality and super adorable. I've been loving danity jewelry and this website is feeding my obsession!

Have a great day everyone :) 
xoxo
B

Smith & Cult is back at it! It's not a secret that this pricey nail polish turned makeup brand has some of the best (in my opinion) polishes on the market. The formula is smooth and glides onto the nails easily; the brush is thin but not too thin so an even application is really easy to achieve.

The silver cap is very heavy which I think helps give you better control over how you're applying the nail polish, or at least it helps me.

Over the past few years I've built up my Smith & Cult nail polish collection and I have at least one of every color family; pink, nude, blue, red, and glitter. I'd really love to add Bitter Buddhist to the collection, especially for fall because a green shade would look awesome.

I wasn't planning on another Smith & Cult purchase but I saw on Birchbox's Instagram that they had a special Do Not Disturb limited edition box. It is themed around the Hygge trend, which is the idea of happy living and coziness. It's something that is right up my alley so I felt like I owed it to myself to buy the box.



Well, I received it last week and ugh, it's even better than I imagined. A picture of the box is below but one of the highlights was, of course, a Smith & Cult nail color that I didn't have. It's called "Exit the Void" and it's the perfect summer periwinkle blue shade.

It's very similar to Essie's 'Bikini So Teeny' which is an all time favorite of mine.




This is also really, really similar to another Smith & Cult shade I have 'She Said Yeah'. This is a little darker than "Exit the Void' but I probably wouldn't have purchased Exit the Void on its own, but since it was included in the box, why the hell not!

This will definitely be a summer staple and I'm so excited to have another great polish in my collection!

xoxo
B

As I've mentioned previously, Henri Bendel has become one of my favorite brands. I've always enjoyed mid lane high end brands like Tory Burch and Kate Spade so when I stumbled upon Henri Bendel and realized that the brand was very old and had a great story as well as a lot of heritage I quickly fell in love.

You can read more about my love affair with Bendel in the Brand Buzz post but today is all about one of the many handbags I've acquired in the past few months.

This is a bag that I've had my eye on for a really long time. It wasn't really like anything else in my collection and I loved that it had the traditional Henri Bendel stripes without being truly overpowering.



The bag is the Centennial Stripe Schoolbag. 

It was one of the first bags I ever saw on the Henri Bendel website and I just never took the plunge. It's also a bag that goes on sale quite often so it's a little shocking that I never picked it up. A few weeks ago, when I went to the mall to get my Louis Vuitton luggage tag, I had to stop into Henri Bendel to return something and this bag was on sale on the website.

I asked if they had in stock and they did and I immediately took it. Originally it was full price but the associate honored the online discount and I scooped it up for $199. This is usually priced at $298 so it's a pretty sweet deal.

When I got home I immediately fell in love with it. It was perfect.





The interior has two pockets and a zipper pocket; outside, there is a thin slip pocket on the back of the bag. This makes it practical for everyday use since you can fit a lot in such a tiny bag.

It's a very light weight bag which makes it ideal because there's nothing worse than carrying a bag full of stuff that is already so weighted down on it's own.

There are two twist clasps on the front that are the way to get in and out of the bag. I think this feature adds something cute and different to the bag and gives it character; it is not the most practical to way open the bag but I can deal with it because I just love how it's not a classic zipper, it's very different from anything else.

The bag is also super structured so even when there is nothing inside, it holds it's shape and those are my favorite types of bag.

You could hold this bag but the short handle which I love; I think it looks super chic without the shoulder strap but I usually keep the shoulder strap on anyway because it's more convenient. The strap is adjustable but still very short, so this is definitely NOT a crossbody. I found that out the hard way when I brought it to Brunchcon and wanted to wear it cross-body but it was very uncomfortable.

While the Schoolbag is something that kind of screams my name I do feel like it's a little out of my comfort zone. I've been buying a lot of totes and work bags so this is the first bag I've bought for myself in a while that is an everyday bag.

This has quickly become one of my favorites in my collection and if the stripes aren't your thing, they have so many other colors. I'm pretty sure it's one of Bendel's classic bags that they release in new colors every season.

I'm so glad I finally purchased this baby because it's exceeded expectations!

Did you like this handbag review? Would you be interested in seeing more?
xoxo
B
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I was never the fashion girl, says the girl who has been running a lifestyle blog since 2012. I wore simple things from simple stores, but always envied those who knew how to put an outfit together.

I've definitely gotten better in the past few years, since discovering the online world of my favorite fashion bloggers and taking inspiration from them. I still struggle, mostly because I think I'm too big to pull off a lot of outfits that I see but I'm more confident than I used to be. Well, so I think.

While I owe a lot of that to my fav bloggers, I owe so much of that to Nordstrom.



When I was younger, Bloomingdales was my favorite store ever. I mean, there was Juicy Couture for miles and my mom took a liking to legendary Bloomies more than Nordstrom. I also thought Bloomingdales was just more glamorous. I hated going into Nordstrom and didn't give it a second glance.

That is, until I discovered online shopping and the fact that Nordstrom had free shipping and free returns, and that there return policy was a thing from the heavens. When I started Royally Pink and started following other bloggers, I saw that the Nordstrom Anniversary sale was a huge deal, that's the moment I fell for the big time department store.

When I got my Nordstrom credit card in 2015, just in time for the big sale, I fell deeper in love and it's been the most intense relationship of my life.... that's a total lie but hey, it's up there!

Now, the Nordstrom app is a permanent fixture on my phone (I even have Touch Id to login) and I am constantly searching the New Arrivals Section.

The beauty and shoe department is some of the best in the business, and now Nordstrom even does price matching, so if something is for sale on Rebecca Minkoff, it's on sale at Nordstrom where you can use your credit card, Nordstrom Notes, and the return policy stands.

I love that Nordstrom has clothes for any price and any size. If you want a $30 LUSH shirt or a $600 Burberry Jacket, they have both and you can get both at the same time.

Nordstrom has THE BEST customer service I've ever experienced and the website is a true dream -- and I work in E-Commerce.

If you think Nordstrom is the kind of retailer that doesn't ever go on sale, you'd be surprised at how often items are on sale there.

I've already mentioned free shipping & returns, on any price point, right?

Nordstrom is my dream retailer; it's my one stop shop for everything and anything. I will shop there forever and ever and this post has been a longtime coming.

Besides American Eagle (for jeans) and JCrew, Nordstrom is the only place I shop for clothes.... or shop for pretty much anything.

I love you, Nordstrom. Thank you for feeding this addiction I have for nice, pretty things!

Below are some of my favorites & must-haves that Nordstrom is currently caring:


xoxo
B

I am not a shoe lover and never have been. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that once or twice here before. I'm very rough on my feet I guess, because by the end of the season, my shoes are always ripped apart.

I mean, I was walking to work the other day and realized that my black riding boots that are 2 years old were falling apart on the heel. The entire sole of the shoe was ripping off. It's just never good luck with shoes and me.



That being said, I don't spend money on shoes that much and don't like expensive shoes. That has not changed, but in recent months I've caught myself lusting after a few pairs of shoes and it's very unlike me. There are so many cute trends for spring and I want them all.

I'll be traveling to warmer weather before it heats up in New York; a work trip in the beginning of May and hopefully a trip this summer (fingers crossed!) so spring/summer shoes have been on my mind.

Here's what I've been looking at:

I love nothing more than a good snow day but if you've ever kept up with this blog, you knew that already. I'm in my prime right now and ugh, it's utter perfection!

I'm not bothered by this blizzard as much as I would be if it was in April because even though I love snow and the cold, I hate climate change so March is still acceptable for me to be excited for a wicked blizzard.

I'll be lounging, working, and blogging today with coffee and junk food so I hope you enjoy your snow day as well!

I didn't post yesterday because I originally had a Manicure Monday planned but then realized I hadn't taken photos of my new nail polish before I removed it, and the weekend was busy and I didn't have a chance. I also was exhausted from Daylight Savings Time (anyone else?!) so I just needed a break.

My mom is in Florida on vacation so I drove her to the airport on Saturday and then headed out to the cemetery to visit my dad and grandfather's graves. It was quite adventurous, even though that seems very inappropriate to say but the cemetery was covered with snow *I guess Long Island had a bit more snow on Friday than NYC* and I was freezing; my legs went numb from looking for the headstones and then my jacket broke... so it was interesting.

Afterwards, I headed to the Walt Whitman shops in Huntington, LI and HOLY CRAP, it's the best mall ever and I will be going there constantly. There are so many high end stores but also regular mall stores like Victoria Secrets and Sephora. My favorite part was by far the Henri Bendel & Kate Spade stores... heaven on earth!

I went there to drop off my Louis Vuitton luggage tag to get monogrammed and then to return something to Henri Bendel. I bought this tote bag but realized that it was a bit unnecessary for me. I exchanged it for this gorgeous bag that I have been lusting after for a solid year. They had in stock, and it was on sale so I thought I mind as well pick it up.

*Sunday was a classic Italian dinner at my grandparent's house at 3 PM so my Sunday was truly packed along with headed back to Walt Whitman.

You've seen my post about the Louis Vuitton + Tradesy obsession and my blog planner post, but the collection has gotten bigger. I'll do a post on that soon, but I purchased a pre-loved Keepall 45 and that's where I got the luggage tag.

Hot stamping at Louis Vuitton is free and they do such a fantastic job. I didn't have a dustbag, box, or bag and when I picked it up, they packaged it so nicely. Louis Vuitton is the epitome of class for me and I'd be content with never buying another luxury brand.

Anywho... I just wanted to give you a bit of an update on the weekend; I had a different post scheduled for today but with the snowday, I just felt like posting something else.

This is the luggage tag I was talking about -- so cute!

There's nothing better than a coffee & croissant

I love my city

I've been loving ShopBetches lately and I got this sweatshirt which I've been obsessed with The cutest little sample from Sephora

Whenever a trend or a new company comes on the scene, the blogosphere is buzzing. The blog and this entire world is how I've discovered a lot of my favorite companies and products, but isn't that the point right now?

Social media, bloggers, and influencers are how we find out about everything now and it's only normal that a lot of companies are dubbed "social media companies" because that's how the word is being spread and how they're gaining customers.

Sorry for the social media rant, I've been on this knowledge kick because of my job and just researching more about the industry.

Anyways... by the title of this post you know that I'm talking about Bow and Drape; a company that lets you customize fun & punny sweatshirts, t-shirts, jackets, makeup bags, and even clothes for your dog.

They got their start a few years ago and have since made a huge splash with their high quality sweatshirts & sparkly appliqués. They do come with a hefty price tag -- around $65 for a customized sweatshirt but there is nothing more adorable than a sparkly, punny sweatshirt.

If you've never been on the website, I highly recommend heading over there now and playing around with some customization. From taxi cabs to hearts to pizza, and gold or black sparkly letters, the possibilities are truly endless.

I have 4 pieces from Bow and Drape; my first was an oatmeal colored sweatshirt that says Namaste in Bed; I can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten on it when I'm running errands or with my friends.



The thing about Bow and Drape is that their products are not meant to put into the washing machine or dry cleaned; just soak the item in your sink with some gentle detergent and viola -- it's clean! Because of this, it's stayed in great shape and is well worth the money.

For my 2nd sweatshirt I got a charcoal grey that says "I Can't Adult Today"; I like this one better than the Namaste because it's darker and is just slightly more comfortable but that could just be me and how I wear my sweatshirts.

I just bought my 3rd and 4th pieces this year; one from the NY Post Collection (the Sensational Sweatshirt) and a t-shirt that says "What Would Carrie Do?" as a homage to my idol Carrie Bradshaw.




As for sizing, the sweatshirts are true to size, maybe slightly smaller than normal but the t-shirts are VERY SMALL. Size up basically as much as you can -- that's my opinion.

I have so many designs saved in my profile on Bow & Drape  and I just want them all.

Graphic t-shirts are definitely back on trend and I couldn't be happier about it -- Bow and Drape plays right into that. I highly recommend grabbing a sweatshirt or something from them & trying them out! You won't regret it :)

xoxo
B