Julep February 2014 Boho Glam Box

Hi guys!

I dropped the ball on Wednesday, so I'm making up for it today to show you my February Maven Box from Julep!

This month's box featured three polishes and Julep's new Eye Sheen Liquid Eyeshadow.

I get the Boho Glam box which this month included Rooney (walnut bark creme), Love (gold, pearl, and fuchsia microglitter), and Cameron (silver lilac stardust).

I chose to get the eyeshadow in pale nude because I thought it would make a great base for powder eyeshadow.

I'm actually less excited about this box now than I was when I picked it, and I'll probably end up trading Rooney and Cameron away eventually. But I think it was worth it for the eyeshadow which is ridiculously pigmented, the perfect amount of shimmer, and really soft. 

Did you guys take your box this month? Which box did you get? Are you loving the colors?

January 2014 Ipsy Bag

Hi guys!

Today I have my January Ipsy Bag to show you! I'm actually really excited about this bag. This month's theme is "19 Reasons." Don't ask me what that means. I don't know.

So this is my bag this month:

In it, I received:

Épicé Purifying Exfoliant

Proactiv Mark Fading Pads

Mica Beauty Tinted Lip Balm in Natural

Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow Pencil in Pearl

Healthy Sexy Hair Leave-In Conditioner

I'm really excited about almost everything! I love that Ipsy gave me natural colors this time around. You guys know I love my naturals.

Do you get Ipsy? What did you get this month that you're totally excited about?

Nail of the Week 1/13 & 1/20

As promised, my NOTW has returned!

I left the gels I got for New Years on for a ridiculous amount of time, so last week I only had one manicure to show instead of the usual two. Now I'm back on track, so let's see what I've been wearing!

Last week I was wearing Julep's Char with Julep's Missy as an accent nail. This was my original idea for New Year's nails, and I really liked this combination. It wasn't very long wearing, though.

This week I'm wearing Julep's Ciara which is almost impossible to photograph. It's a kind of reddish-fuschia-y base with teal microglitter. What shows up in the bottle is the teal, and what shows up on my nails is (mostly) the base. Still, it's lasted really well. I painted on Monday and took this picture last night. My right hand has a fair sized chip on my middle finger, but that's it. Sometimes Julep just gets it right!

What have you guys been wearing lately? Next week I'm going nude!

Long drives and late Christmases

Sorry this is a little late.

I've been a bum lately, you guys. Straight up.

I'm now back in Baltimore. I drove from Tallahassee to North Carolina yesterday. I wanted to make it to Virginia before I stopped for the night, but winter storm Janus had other ideas.

Now I'm back home and it's time to get down to business (to defeat the Huns) and start working on my resolutions. More reading. More exercise. More learning.

In other news, Alex and I FINALLY got to do Christmas tonight.

She gave me:

This beautiful scarf

Arrested Development pins!

This leaf-y bracelet!

I sent her John Green books and a mermaid necklace. We didn't get to talk very long, but we have a lunch "date" tomorrow.

I need to get my act together. Anyone got any tips for that?

Five Products I've Emptied

It's that time again! The time where I show you things that I've used up recently. Most of these are familiar products, but some of them are fairly new!


1. Love & Beauty Lavender Cleansing Wipes

Another package of these have come and gone. I love these cleansing wipes so much, and they're ridiculously cheap, but there is no Forever 21 near me in Monmouth, so I'll either have to stock up or switch to the Olay Fresh Effects ones I've been using currently.

2. La Fresh Cleansing Wipes

You can see a short review about these here. The summary is: I liked them, but they're a little too expensive for me to repurchase.

3. Earth Therapeutics Tea Tree Oil Foot Repair Balm

This guy first showed up on my October Favorites, and I loved him so much, I had to repurchase. It's a little expensive, but I found it on sale at Kohl's in December, and it's definitely worth it. Nothing makes my feet softer. And now that I have the accompanying socks, it's even better!

4. Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse

This used to be my go-to styling mousse. Unfortunately, alcohol is one of the first ingredients in it, and that's not good for hair at all. Still, if I run out of my L'Oreal Everstyle one (which is either not restocked often or ridiculously popular) I'll pick this one up. I try not to use it too regularly though, especially now that it's winter and my hair is dry already.

5. Ole Henriksen Truth Creme Advanced Hydration

This sample size originally came in the October Ipsy Bag, but I didn't get it. I traded for it, and I just finished it up recently. It's very light, and I liked it just fine. The smell took a little bit of getting used too. I also think it was a little more greasy than I usually like. I didn't really realize just how light it was until I went back to my other moisturizer. It was fun to use, but nothing I'm raving about.

PS I know I failed at my NOTW last Friday - it will return this Friday, I promise!

Way down upon the Suwanee river..

It's been a minute since I updated purely about my life!

I had a very quiet holiday season, but it was good none the less. After New Years my sister and I drove from Baltimore to Tallahassee in a drive that should've taken us 13 hours, but really took us 15. We listened to show tunes and the Bastille album (more than once) and it really wasn't that bad of a drive. I'm not looking forward to making it by myself, though.

I've been in Florida for about a week and a half now. Caitlin and I spent time visiting the few friends we have left here and our family (and the kitties!)

Lauren and I at the bar

Kitty brothers tolerating each other

She left on Sunday, but I'm sticking around for a little bit. My laptop fell yesterday, so the glass is cracked in multiple places. My dad had the same thing happen to his phone and replaced it himself, so I'm hoping he can do the same here. My laptop is still perfectly functional, and the LCD itself is fine. We also have a flea infestation which means I'm currently covered in flea bites. Home sweet home, y'all.

New bags from Express & Rebecca Minkoff!

Hi guys!

Just a quick post today to show off two new bags I received. The first is from Express, and I bought it with a gift card my sister gave me for my birthday that I just hadn't gotten around to using yet.

I was looking for something simple and stylish to have for work or traveling. It's big, but not huge, and it comes with a shoulder strap. I feel like I should get into using more than one bag for different things, and this is a great start.

The other one is a bag I've been lusting after since I saw it on Youtube. It's the Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac, and my best friend is the best.

Lauren bought this bag for me kind of out of the blue, and I am forever in her debt. It's perfect and beautiful, and I'm so excited about it! I will definitely be saving this one for special occasions. It comes in a bunch of colors, but I love the classic tawny color (as evidenced by both these bags).

Are you guys like me? Do you believe you can never have enough bags?