I'm working from home today because we are experiencing a huge blizzard in New York. It's also the start of Fashion Week and I feel for all the ladies experiencing this blizzard first hand.

I don't think I was expecting the storm to be this bad because usually the weather people are ALWAYS wrong when it comes to big snowstorms but I have to give them credit this time, it's really bad outside.

View from my bedroom window

I'm currently watching the Gilmore Girls Revival for the third time and enjoying the lowkey work day. Snow days are my favorite because it's an excuse to stay in comfortable clothes, read a good book, and just enjoy the coziness of the day! Pair that with some social media work, some blogging, and you've got the perfect Briana day!

Below are some of my snow day must haves!

It seems that Current Obsession is becoming my new favorite series these days and with good reason. I've been discovering so many amazing things that I need to share with you all!

This week it's all about leggings. I'm pretty sure I adopted leggings as pants before it was mainstream. Going against all my mother's wishes, I just had to start wearing leggings all the time. They're so comfortable, so versatile, and the best thing to happen to fashion in a very long time.

With the rise of athleisure, leggings are becoming a true staple in the fashion world. Every brand has a few pairs in their arsenal and I'd bet that all of you reading this right now have at least one pair in your wardrobe.

I abandoned regular jeans a long time ago and switched over the jeggings and nowadays, those aren't even good enough for me. I want my stretchy leggings day and night; at work, at the bar, or at the gym.

Now, don't get me wrong, I have different kinds of leggings for different activities. I have shiny, faux leather leggings for work/night play, my workout leggings for the gym or lounging days in the house, and then my everyday leggings that I wear running errands or to work on a more casual day.

I get all of my leggings from American Eagle because I've found that they fit the best, weren't too tight, weren't see through, and are super comfortable. I've never strayed from them, with the exception of two pairs of Victoria Secrets leggings.

Well, that is until now.

I was on the Kate Spade website browsing my heart away, as I usually do on a daily basis, and I saw that some of the clothing from Kate Spade x Beyond Yoga were on sale. I had an coupon code and decided to take a risk and purchase the high waisted leggings.

I am so thrilled that I did.



I opted for the classic black leggings (of course) and they have a little bow detail on the back of the ankle that adds something fun & flirty without being too over the top.

These are hands down the most comfortable leggings ever. They're high waisted which makes them slimming and it just feels like everything is kept sucked in. They're super soft material but also don't look frumpy as some comfortable leggings can. They hide everything, and can really pull a look together because of side panel details.

Now, I will say that these were a pretty penny; even though they were on sale and I had a 15% off coupon code, they were still a lot -- more than I've ever paid for a piece of clothing. But, in my mind they were 100% worth it.

I buy handbags, makeup, and accessories on a whim but I do not buy clothes that way. I am frugal when it comes to buying myself a pair of jeans or a shirt; I don't think I've ever spent more than $50 on one item, if that much.

I think that I should start changing my mindset on that because yes, I'll have my handbags & accessories for a while but clothes are what makes the outfit, right?

I saw these leggings as an investment because I could use a pair of good, high quality leggings (not that American Eagle aren't but there is a huge difference) and I'm so happy I took that leap of faith.

I've never purchased any Beyond Yoga or Kate Spade clothing but I think this has just opened a new door for me.

Take a look at some of the other must haves from the collection. Kate Spade just released their new arrivals a few weeks ago and I've been LUSTING after all of this activewear.


Have you ever tried anything from the Beyond Yoga x Kate Spade collection?

I had a post about the best nighttime moisturizers planned today, and was halfway through writing it when I realized I just did a post on it back in January. Blogger brain times 100!

We haven't had an inspiration Tuesday in a while and with good reason -- I've been feelign pretty good mentally & emotionally (THANK GOD) but physically, not so much. I want to discuss this in another post but I found out that I have a Vitamin D deficiency and that could be the reason I've been so exhausted lately.

It's nice to have some sort of answer in regards to my exhaustion, being the Vitamin D; average Vitamin D should be at around 30 & mine is at 9. The doctor prescribed me some hardcore Vitamin D supplements, not even OTC because that's how low it was. It explains something so I'm grateful or that.

It's actually gotten so bad and I'm getting so frustrated with myself because I'm constantly exhausted no matter how much sleep I get. I actually felt like crying this weekend because I could barely keep my eyes open.

I do think that there is something else wrong and will hopefully get it figured out with the doctor sooner rather than later, but I just wanted to share it with you all. So, if you see me go quiet on the blog for a day or two, it's because I literally couldn't focus I was so tired after work.

Anyways... all this exhaustion talk got me thinking & I came upon this little quote.

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I have trouble with shoes. 

No matter which shoes I wear, I'm in constant pain (expect if I'm in Uggs) and no matter what shoes I wear, they get destroyed.

I have to buy new shoes once every season because the ones from previous year are ruined. It could be because I'm very hard on my feet, or because I am in the subway & walking in the city and the ground is rough and dirty. 

I don't know why my shoes (and good, expensive shoes) get horribly destroyed but more often than not my mom will look at me and say "Did you go mountain hiking? What happened?".

Combine that with the constant pain, and like I said, I have a shoe problem.

I'm not even talking about heels-- forget heels! I wore heel booties to GenBeauty (WHY) and my feet were numb for over a week. I wore another pair of heel booties to a work event that I was at for maybe 3-4 hours and I almost started to cry because I was in so much pain.

My feet do not take well to heels, therefore I cannot wear them & I pretty much refuse to wear them.

That is, until Sole Patches came into my life. I was gifted these by the company through BrandBacker and it came right after the work event debacle so I jumped at the chance. I tried wearing regular insoles I picked up from Duane Reade and they just didn't work, so I thought maybe these would be a good idea.




Sole Patches are just little adhesive pads that attach to your feet or to the inside of your shoe to relieve pain and make shoes a little more comfy. They prevent your feet from sliding forward and can withstand 24 hours of wear.

If you want to be able to wear these more than once, they recommend sticking them to the shoe instead of your feet because once the day is over and you remove from the bottom of your foot, there is no going back.

I have a pack of 6 Sole Patches and they're shaped like a little flower which I think is a great shape because it covers a larger circumference of your foot.

I've used these twice, both with boots. I haven't tried them on heels yet because as you read before, I'm just terrified of them. I tried them with my Jack Rogers booties which have a bit of a heel & a pair of riding boots that have a heel. I placed them on my feet, under my socks and it was a bit uncomfortable at first but you get used to it.

These shoes do hurt me if I'm wearing them long enough but with these patches, I felt like I had that extra layer of support. They worked really well and the next time I wear heels I'll be sure to try them out!

What are your feet solutions?

xoxo
B

This Weekly Wrap Up is rather late but hey, better late than never! It's Saturday Night, I just finished some organic gluten free mac & cheese, and I'm watching Harry Potter on Freeform. That's my type of night!

I'm actually not as hermit crab like as you think because last night I had an amazing dinner with my friends at Patriza's in Williamsburg. There are a few all over New York so if you have the chance to go, I highly recommend it! It's family style Italian food in a very wild & exciting atmosphere; the food is delicious and it's just a really great place to go.

I didn't get too many pictures of the food but this pizza was amazing. I posted it on Instagram so go follow me ;)



I didn't do a Weekly Wrap Up Post last week because I was in the Poconos with my college friends & just didn't have the chance. It was a super relaxing, fun weekend; we didn't do much other than sit in the house, play games, and laugh our asses off. It was fantastic.



In other news, I took a trip to TJ Maxx today and spent over $70 on junk I didn't need, but picked up SO MANY MAKEUP GOODIES FOR SO CHEAP! I'm now obsessed and can't wait to try some of these things. (PS AGAIN: Follow me on Instagram because I've been posting so much more and posting more on Instagram Story. Follow along!)



Anyways, I loved a lot of things on the Internet this week so take a look:

• Day to Night Makeup in 1 Minute
• 3 Reasons Millennials Start Blogs _YASSSS
• Not the most knowledgeable on anxiety but it was a quick read & something that makes you think
• An amazing article on how to start your own beauty company; definitely makes it seem easier than it is but really educational 
• The lady behind the Glossier social media platforms was interviewed and I loved it
• Bloguettes is my new favorite blogging resource & this article on newsletters is fab
• The Worst Oscar Best Pictures & What Should Have Won
• Jamie Doran, you are a god

I've talked a lot about haircare on the blog... I've also talked a lot about my love of Drybar. Those two things combined is a match made in heaven for me.

Drybar cannot release enough products to satisfy my love & want for them, so when I saw that they were releasing a new shampoo a few weeks ago, I jumped at the chance to purchase it. I bought mine from Sephora when it was a VIB Rogue exclusive but it's now available to everyone at a variety of retailers, including Ulta & Nordstrom.

Double Standard Cleansing + Conditioning Foam is advertised as a something for ladies on the go, especially ladies who are athletic & focused on the athleisure lifestyle. That's because it is a deep cleansing shampoo that is also a conditioner, so no other product is needed.

Do I fall into that category? I suppose I can. I don't go to the gym before work, and I don't necessarily ever wash my hair when I'm in a rush but it's by Drybar and I was in the market for a new shampoo so mind as well try!



Double Standard is described as a gel foam formula that will gently cleanse & condition your hair. It claims to remove product buildup, prevent drying, and adding moisture to your hair -- all while staying lightweight and not weighing down your locks.

It contains volcanic ash which helps in absorbing the residue & removes the environmental pollutions that stick to your hair.

All sounds very enticing doesn't it?

It does & it is! This is by far my favorite Drybar product at the moment. I've never experienced a shampoo like this. My mom used it too and we can't get over the results.

Ok, so, I don't use a conditioner with this shampoo since it is 2-in-1. That's very unusual for me because I usually don't trust 2-in-1 products. I feel like they're a gimmick but this is not. It truly is a gel & foam mixed together, which helps cleanse and condition your hair at the same time.

I work part of it into my scalp to remove the impurities and then add a little more at the ends of my hair to condition. Once I get out of the shower and I brush my hair,  I do apply my Prep Rally Detangler/Leave in conditioner, but even before that it's insane how squeaky clean my hair is.

All the build up is gone and my hair has never been cleaner. After I straight my hair it's incredibly smooth & soft. I even felt my mom's hair after she cleansed with Double Standard and it was weird how clean her hair felt. It's almost unnatural because I've never felt my hair be so clean.

After washing & styling my hair with Double Standard

Now, the catch with such a heavy duty cleanser shampoo is that the directions say to use a regular shampoo every 2-4 washes. I did that and my hair seems to be fine.

My hair styles better with this and even stays cleaner a little longer.

For the record, I have very thick, frizzy, coarse, and unruly hair so it didn't make my hair oily or change anything in a negative way.

I know I say this a lot about products, and that's because I am a true product junkie but my hair is something I'm serious about, this is a hair product I will continue to buy and use because it makes my hair feel and look amazing. I may be taking a break from it for a bit because I need to use a medicated shampoo for a while -- I have a severe case of dandruff that is effecting my scalp, but that's besides the point.

If you're looking for something that will really cleanse your hair without stripping it of any essential oils & properties, try this one. Nordstrom has a mini size for $13 that you can buy to try it before splurging on the big size. You also need the tiniest bit of it to cleanse so you won't run through it too fast.

Please pick it up & let me know what you think! I'm always up for a chat about beauty so leave a comment or email me at briana@royallypink.com!

xoxo
B

We're seeing athleisure everywhere now and it's not just at the gym. It's a trend now but I've always loved athleisure wear. Give me a pair of yoga pants & a decent t-shirt and I'm all set!

I've never been one to be really into my fitness. I've been excerising pretty regularly since I was in high school but never set my mind to it. I still ate like crap and thought that excerising was enough. Well, for the past month I've been working in a totally different direction.

I don't consider myself fat & I'm pretty happy with how I look, but I know I could and need to do better. I've had a gym membership since July but wasn't using it as much or as seriously as I should.

Well, this has all changed within the past three weeks and I've lost four pounds, so I'm really proud of myself.

That's not what this post is about; weight loss and that journey is something I'm not truly comfortable sharing just yet... right now I'm talking about what to wear to the gym.

I want any excuse to shop and buy new items for a new fad in my life, so when I decided I want to gym it up, I looked for some new threads.


*I usually have worn short sleeve shirts to the gym but I wore a long sleeve shirt during a snowstorm or particularly chilly day and it was LIFE CHANGING. I don't want the summer to come just so I can continue to wear long sleeve shirts to the gym.

*I also almost exclusively wear old sorority shirts to the gym, and even though I have some new gear,  I still wear sorority shirts on laundry day.

Under Armor Long Sleeve Knit Shirt Nike Sneaker (similar) Nike Sports Bra Kate Spade x Beyond Yoga Leggings

I also buy all of my leggings for the gym & everyday wear from American Eagle. They have the best leggings that are really well made & aren't see through. I think we're at a point in fashion when all the companies stopped making cheap, see through leggings because leggings are pants!!

I also have a few sports bras from Victoria Secrets; I got them a few years ago and they're still in great shape. They really hold up well.

Below are a few of my other picks for great fitness wear & accessories that I really want to get my hands on.