beauty diaries

Let's jump right in to this. We all know where this post is going. It is probably my 225th post about my monthly Birchbox, but I love sharing my beauty treasures and finds. 

{1. amika: Nourishing Mask I used this product immediately after receiving my box. My hair has been frighteningly dry with all the crazy weather ups and downs and my breakage is becoming painfully evident. I used this mask after my normal conditioner and my hair feels so soft and smooth, even the next morning. I am a fan!}

{2. COOLA: Classic Face SPF 30 I have been frequenting the pool every week since the weather has warmed up and I have been using all my Birchbox sunscreen samples. As long as I don't get burnt and peel then it is good in my book.}

{3. Marvis: Toothpaste There is nothing like a fresh tube of toothpaste. You have to put in so little effort to get the paste on to your brush, and that is a lazy girls dream.}

{4. Sumitra: Color Contrast Eyeliner This is my FAVORITE from this box. It is a classic eyeliner pencil but I have never had one go on so easy and smooth. It lasts for hours and withstood my makeup remover, which means that it will be great for hot, summer days!}

{5. Isaac Mizrahi: FABULOUS eau de Parfum Okay, I actually love this perfume sample. It smells great, but not too heavy, and doesn't give me a headache. And what a great coincidence that my current favorite shoes are Isaac Mizrahi, so I can coordinate.} 

Birchbox also sent me a fantastic pen, by Pilot, that writes easy and smooth and happens to be purple. I feel like putting hearts over all my i's today. 

Just 30 more days until the next box!

Best Year Ever

There is no post for the final night of Smitten with Friends and Food. 

I had planned on making pizza with homemade dough, but my dough didn't rise throughout the day so I had to move to Plan B, which was frozen flatbreads from Whole Foods. The margherita pizzas still turned out good with a simple tomato sauce, lots of mozzarella, and fresh basil, but in the rush of making them and the fact that I was exhausted on a Friday night there aren't any pictures. Sorry to disappoint! Just know that it was good food (yet another great recipe by the Smitten Kitchen) and wonderful company with some of my dearest friends.

The good news of the day is that during my Smitten Kitchen week I received my Birchbox and since I have had it for a week I have fully tested all most of the products and can give you great reviews on this months hottest beauty samples. 

 Overall, I wouldn't say that the box was a knockout, but there is always something that secures my love and devotion to Birchbox. This month that item came from one of my favorite brands that I have discovered from Birchbox, theBalm.  

(Clockwise from the top, left corner)

{1. Embryolisse 24-Hour Miracle Cream - "A favorite of models and makeup artists" that has been saving my winter-dry skin.

{2. Aerie Shimmer Fragrance - I was very excited about this when the description mentioned blend of peony and vanilla, but like most perfumes, it was too strong and went in to a drawer where are my other unwanted perfume samples live. 

{3. theBalm cosmetics Hot Mama Blush - This is my second product from theBalm and they are two of my all-time favorites. This blush is a great color with a little bit of highlighter to give light during these extra pale months. I love this brand!

{4. DDF Acne Control Treatment - Not to jinx it, but I don't have any breakouts right now so I will be saving this one for a later day!

{5. La Fresh Waterproof Makeup Remover - I also love this brand and I love having these little packets for times of need!

Tomorrow is a very special day!

Giving Back, Thanks, and Treats

I am typing from the comfort of my own bed, at my parents house, and I couldn't be happier. I am in full Thanksgiving mode and even though I am technically not on break yet, I had to come home to prepare myself for the food and family festivities this week. 

Being thankful is what this time is all about and even Birchbox got in the holiday mood with their November box. Along with giving me treats this month, Birchbox gave me the opportunity to give back to someone that I love.

The morning that I received my monthly Birchbox in the mail, there was another package in my little mailbox for me. You can imagine my excitement to have not one, but two surprises in the mail, especially when I realized that the second package was from my little sister. I opened her package first to discover that the sweetest gift that was inspired by her own Birchbox.

In this month's Birchbox came a small, purple box thats sole-purpose is to regift to someone else. It originally came filled with the monthly beauty samples, but can be filled with anything else to give to someone else. In the case of my sister, she stuffed it with the ultimate gift-- a Starbucks gift card. 

Thanks sis, you made my whole week!

Now I can't wait to give this polka-dot box away to "make that special someone smile". In fact this whole concept makes me wish that I had more purple boxes to give out!

Along with a wonderful reminder to give thanks and give treats was my monthly dose of beauty happiness.

{Masqueology Revitalizing Eye} 

An under-eye gel mask that can hide even the dark bags after an all-nighter. It brightens while giving the illusion that you slept a full 12-hours. Sounds like a miracle worker to me. Now if I could just find a product that actually let me sleep a full 12 hours each night. 

{MCMC Fragrances in Phoenix}

It is another miracle! A perfume sample that I love! I am so hard to please because I am picky when it comes to perfume, but this scent from the Brooklyn perfumer is warm and feminine and I am happy!

{One Love Organics Body Serum}

A skin serum that smells wonderful and keeps skin hydrated and feeling soft. I have put it on the last couple of days and the scent lasts hours and makes my hands feel wonderful.

{stila All Over Liquid Luminizer}

My favorite Birchbox product is stila, so I am always thrilled to receive another sample from the beauty brand. This month it is a liquid shimmer that you can add to any makeup to add a bit of shine and sparkle for every day or special occasions. 

Swoon.

{Masqueology Masque Cleanse and 7 Day Moisture Cream}

The moisture cream was the first thing that I opened this month. With the colder weather my skin has been crying out for something like this and I am a big fan. The tiny sample has already lasted me four days and there is more left. 

Better to give than receive. 

Things I Love

I have been wanting to post about these lovely items for days (even weeks!) but I used my small amount of self control so that I could actually post on a Thursday. 

(It was by no means an excuse not to blog until Thursday...)

I love that today is Thursday, meaning that tomorrow is Friday, and then a long weekend. The thought of three full days of catching up on sleep, meals that don't require a microwave, and outfits that don't involve a cardigan (gotta love working at an elementary school) make this day so much sweeter and full of anticipation.

Speaking of sweet things and items that I am constantly day dream about--

{May Books}

 Customizable Notebooks and Planners (and so much more)! What I love most about this, other than the quirky designs and personal touches, is that the website shows you exactly what your order would look like before you purchase it. That way you won't be disappointed when it arrives and it supplies me at least an hour of distraction while I try out every combination.

{Loren Hope}

Every piece of her fall 2012 jewelry collection is swoon-worthy. These earrings are just one thing that I am particularly coveting this week.

{Essie Mirror Metallics}

I had been searching for a good metallic gold nail polish for months and Essie delivered with their newest collection. I added "Good as Gold" and "Nothing Else Metals" to my collection of nail polishes last week, only to have to end up throwing out 7 other nail polishes that had dried up. I'm five short now and can't wait for fall colors to start hitting the shelves. See ya "Cajun Shrimp", bring on "Russian Navy"!

{Bond No. 9}

I have been wanting to blog about this perfume since I was in New York in late June. I was already a huge lover of Bond perfumes and received some samples from their store in NY. Usually I just throw them in the bottom of my purse for them to sit for all eternity, but my sample of Sag Harbor is now my daily perfume. I can only use one spray a day to savor this sweet, summer, Hamptons aroma, until I am absolutely forced to buy the full-sized bottle. 

{J. Crew Leopard Belt}

I have been looking, trying on, touching this belt every time I walk into J. Crew.

Then I found one half the price at Ann Taylor Loft, then one for free in my mom's closet.

I still love, love, love this one from J. Crew.

{ASOS}

Chevron rings. 

I am still obsessed. I loved the original rings that ASOS did in sweet, spring colors, but these neutrals and metallics are just asking to be worn all fall and winter. 

Even if they have to stay hidden under mittens sometimes, I still know they are there and they make me feel like an absolute rock star.

Love your long weekend.