Closet Crushes: Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!

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Long after Michael Keaton rocked this pattern, and well before Robin Thicke let Miley Cyrus grind against his similarly designed pants , I had my eye on these black and white vertical striped tights. I kept the rest of my outfit simple, and office-friendly, with a black skirt (the tights are see-through, so the extra layer of fabric is necessary) and a black tank top since it’s been pretty muggy out these past few days. When the chillier weather eventually arrives, I’ll probably add a black or white cardigan to the ensemble to keep myself warm while staying color coordinated.

Although I’d never pair these tights with a matching black and white vertical striped jacket the way the aforementioned Keaton and Thicke have done, I DID play them up with my well-worn Vera Wang boots, a chunky black and silver bangle bracelet, a pop of bright pink nail polish, and, of course- my go-to, every day/every occasion accessory- my red curls. I kept my makeup light and neutral since, despite the title of this post, I didn’t really want to fall into Beetlejuice-esque territory. Light brown eye shadow and a soft rose-colored lipstick were more than enough to pull it all together.

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Aug 31

August 2013: In a Nutshell.

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September is right around the corner, but the leaves are already starting to change! Taken in my yard earlier today.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, especially with Summertime in New England. The sunshine. The warm weather. Being able to swim in the ocean without getting frostbite. Knowing that snow and frigid temperatures are on the way yet again, it can get a little depressing to see this Summer leaving us- BUT– there is, of course, my favorite time of year in between now and then- and yes, I really do feel like I say that about every season. Autumn truly is my favorite, though, for lots of reasons. The weather is just right- not too hot, not too cold- and without that pesky pollen that comes with the similar temps in the Springtime. The scenery is gorgeous once the leaves begin turning rich shades or orange, red, and yellow (they’ve already started the process in my yard.) Salted caramel lattes are back in season, as are boots, leggings, and cozy sweaters. Pumpkin patches and apple orchards are open for the picking, and best of all- Halloween- undoubtedly my #1 holiday of the year- is on the way- which means costume planning & designing, and an abundance of horror movies until the season 4 premiere of “The Walking Dead” (October 13th. Don’t forget!)

But first I have to bid adieu to August 2013, a month filled with relaxing lazy days and exciting weekend adventures in the stifling Summer heat. I had originally planned to take a couple of weeks off from work this month to drive cross-country on what’s left of Route 66 to Santa Monica and back, but with recent changes in the office resulting in my current case load being, well, a lot- I’ve had to postpone the trip until a not-yet-determined date that would be more convenient to our clients, my boss, my co-worker, and myself (there’s nothing worse than taking a vacation, coming back to work, and being completely swamped!) I’m not fretting too much, though. I have a couple of mini-trips planned in the coming weeks to hold me over. Route 66 is still very much on my “to-do” list.

August, and really my whole Summer overall, was an amazing time. I met some incredible people, visited some incredible places, saw unbelievable concerts and shows, soaked up some sun and some waves at the beach, and enjoyed my fair share of late nights and sleepy mornings.

I’m excited for the coming cool, crisp days. I’m excited to break out my Fall wardrobe and build a dreamy playlist to match the impending grey and dreary days (which are still beautiful to me.) And I’m excited to share this most lovely and cherished New England season here with everyone who reads this.

xox

Aug 29

Miracle in a Bottle.

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TeaTreeOil Late last week, and over the course of last weekend, I noticed I had a few bumps emerging on both of my cheeks and along my chin. I’m no stranger to the occasional breakout, especially when it gets closer to that time of the month, so I didn’t worry too much about it and proceeded with my usual daily skin care regime, anticipating it to clear up within a day or two.

By Tuesday morning, my left cheek had cleared up, as had most of my chin, but the bumps on my right cheek had multiplied, forming a cluster of red, painful-to-the-touch sores, of sorts. I could tell by examining it closely that it wasn’t the typical pre/post-PMS pimples, but a rash. I was having an allergic reaction to something, and immediately backtracked to when I had first noticed the bumps to try and figure out what could had caused it. The only thing I’m allergic to are certain kinds of pretzels (usually the small, crunchy ones found in trail mix,) but when I’ve ingested those in the past, it resulted in minor swelling of the skin, and some hives around my body that had lasted about an hour or so- and then I was fine.

The sores/rash were only on my face, which made me think it was the result of some of my skin care or makeup. Immediately crossing off the products I had purchased at Sephora recently, knowing that I would have experienced a reaction way sooner had it been because of any of those cosmetics- that left the contents of my recent ipsy bag. Although I don’t want to blame any particular product or brand, I believe I have the culprit narrowed down to either the NYX mosaic blusher, or the Michael Todd charcoal scrub- and have ceased using both samples until my face is fully healed and I can conduct more research to see exactly what went wrong.

By Tuesday night, after furiously washing and disinfecting my makeup brushes and applying calamine lotion to the affected area in a last ditch attempt to get it under control, I was feeling pretty down. The self-confidence aspect aside, it was the uncertainty that was driving me nuts. I didn’t know if it was going to get worse before it got better, or just keep getting worse until I had to have a Doctor or a dermatologist intervene.

The calamine lotion helped as far as drying out some of the rash and keeping it from hurting as much as it did, but the sores were still visible and didn’t look like they were going to be fading away anytime soon. After struggling to get my makeup to cover the patch of skin on my cheek the best I could, I headed to the office- only to find the above-pictured bottle of tea tree oil on my desk that my co-worker, hearing of and seeing (because seriously- it was impossible to miss) my plight, left for me to try.

I’ve heard a few things about tea tree oil, but had never considered trying it before. Something about applying oil to break-outs/allergic reactions had left me a bit perplexed, but my co-worker swore by it. Having recently experienced a reaction to a new foundation she’d tried, she applied some of the oil to her face at night, and by the morning, her bumps and breakouts were gone. After doing a little bit of research, it turns out tea tree oil isn’t just for skin. It apparently works wonders for hairs and nails, too.

Having nothing to lose, I applied some of the oil into my cheek with a cotton ball before bed last night. It should be noted that this stuff smells REALLY strong (“Brian, I’m gonna be honest with you, that smells like pure gasoline,”) so if you want to try it, just make sure you have a fan on or a window open to give you some ventilation. The oil tingles, but it’s bearable and only lasts a few minutes- and it absorbs quickly. There wasn’t any kind of residue on my pillowcase when I woke up this morning.

As far as the condition on my cheek- the rash was SIGNIFICANTLY smaller, dryer, and less red this morning- which was a huge relief. I was able to apply my makeup without issue, and there was no further irritation on my skin as the day wore on. When I came home, I did the same thing- washed my face and applied more oil. I’m hoping that within a couple of days, the remaining couple of bumps will be gone completely.

I’m amazed (and thrilled) with the results from the tea tree oil- and even more so at the speed in which I saw those results. I really think having a bottle of this- and make sure it’s 100%- would be a beneficial addition to any medicine cabinet or first aid kit. It may not be suitable for every day use for skin or hair, but it definitely comes in handy when you need quick relief- as was the case with the reaction on my cheek.

I’m not being paid by any tea tree oil companies to write about their product or anything. I just wanted to share my experience because this whole week-long ordeal has been hell on my skin and just stressful overall, and should anyone reading this find themselves in a similar dilemma- natural oils, especially this kind- are a pretty easy, inexpensive solution that may work as well for you as it has been doing for me so far.

Aug 25

Lazy Days.

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Sometimes the weekends where I have absolutely no plans whatsoever turn out to be the most incredible. Having run all of my errands earlier last week, thus freeing up my schedule, but I hadn’t really come up with any specific place to go or any specific thing to do. My long-time friend Troy, currently living in Western Massachusetts- and in a similar predicament as me- got together with me in Northampton yesterday to spend the afternoon and evening just hanging around town. Our first stop was Paradise Pond at Smith College, and while Troy went for a swim, I was perfectly content with dipping my toes in the water and sunning myself on the dock for a while.

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Troy and I have known each other since my Freshman year of high school, so about 12 years now, give or take- which is more than enough time for him to figure out that I love finding new places to explore that are off the beaten path or are considered strange and unusual (as Lydia Deetz from “Beetlejuice” once said: “I, myself, am strange and unusual,”) so he knew I’d appreciate his leading me to the Montague Book Mill, which is exactly what it sounds like- a large mill, converted into a book store, art gallery, and café- located in the middle of nowhere. I was floored. I don’t know how much time I spent wandering from room to room until I finally took a seat in the photography section and skimmed through book after book while a very calming stream flowed below the window that was next to me, but it was so neat.

The books vary between new and used, and the entire building smells like old wood, so it was just sort of this appealing sensory overload. I got lost in it all until Troy found me, hiding away in one of the many nooks of the place with my nose buried in a book about photography in the 1930s, and took me to dinner downstairs at the Lady Killigrew Restaurant, where he introduced me to the concoction known as Maple Milk (ridiculously easy to make, and also ridiculously yummy,) and where I ate a really fantastic brie, apple slice, and apricot jam sandwich.

It was just a really nice, relaxing, sort of spontaneous day spent in good company in beautiful scenery. I really enjoyed myself.

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Earlier today, I went for a long drive with no real destination in mind. I stumbled on some old cars that were up for sale on the side of the road (I want the Buick!) and an abandoned antique shop hidden away on a turn-off. I stopped to snap a few pictures before I headed back home to veg out, watch some Netflix, and prepare for the work week ahead.

Such a lovely weekend.

xox

Aug 20

Ipsy Bag: August 2013 Review.

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For those who read my Beauty Box reviews, you may have noticed there hasn’t been a BeautyArmy post since June. After another disappointing selection window in July, I decided to cancel my subscription and instead sign up with a different service. I’ve heard a lot of good things about ipsy, and figured I’d try my luck with them. For $10 a month (with free shipping!) you get five deluxe-sized, and sometimes full-sized samples, delivered in a cute little makeup bag instead of a standard box. The bag also comes with a card that offers coupon codes for each of the samples included, so if you want to buy any of them, you can get a certain dollar amount of percentage off of your purchase.

Although you can’t select your own samples the way you can with BeautyArmy, I’m already impressed with the price and the brands affiliated with ipsy. I recently received my first bag with a back to school theme entitled “Glamour Academy.”

What I Received:

Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub

NYX Mosaic Powder Blush

Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream

Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Mascara in “Blackest Black”

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in “Anarchy”

Product # 1: Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub ($18)

I am always on the lookout for a decent facial scrub, and was eager to try this blackish-grey colored, bead-filled exfoliant. The color and texture of this product sort of reminded me of a mud mask. Lightly scented, this scrub gently sloughed away the dead skin cells on the surface of my skin, as well as the pesky dirt and residual makeup that sometimes finds itself trapped in my pores. When I rinsed my face, my skin felt smooth, refreshed, and thoroughly cleansed without feeling dry or “stripped” the way some other, harsher scrubs tend to make me feel.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I can easily see this facial scrub becoming a part of my daily skin care regime. It worked well for me each time I used it, and it’s reasonably priced- which is a huge plus.

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Product # 2: NYX Mosaic Powder Blush ($7)

When it comes to blush, I’m pretty much stuck on my NARS ‘Orgasm’ blush stick, but this pretty patterned compact caught my eye when I first opened my ipsy bag. Containing both matte and shimmery colors, this product is meant to give you a natural flush and a hint of a glow, and is advertised as being suitable for every skin tone. When I first swirled my brush on this palette and applied it to the apples of my cheeks, I was a little alarmed at how dark it looked. It took some blending to make it look a little more natural on my skin, but the finished look was quite nice, and it stayed in place all day with help from my finishing powder.

Would I Purchase?: Maybe. I’m still madly in love with my NARS, but this product wasn’t bad, and I wouldn’t be opposed to trying it in a lighter shade to avoid having to blend it as much as I did the first few times I wore it.

Product # 3: Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream ($16)

I knew I was going to have an issue with this BB cream the second I poured some out of the tube. This product was oily on contact, and had an unnatural yellow tint to it. Even still, I applied it to my face, hoping for the best. Needless to say, it didn’t work out. This particular formula gave me zero coverage, and yet still managed to make my skin look almost radioactive with the yellow undertones and excessively shiny with the minerals and moisturizers it’s loaded up with. I had to scrub it off and go back to my usual foundation, instead.

Would I Purchase?: No. This product was just not for me at all. If and when I do decide to go back to using BB creams, I’ll stick with my Dr. Jart formulas since they match my skin tone and give me better coverage. This BB cream was far too greasy and poorly tinted for my liking.

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Product # 4: Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Mascara in “Blackest Black” ($17)

I like my lashes to look fake. Thick, long, dark- the works. I’ve been using Too Faced’s “Better Than Sex” mascara for a few weeks now and have really liked the results it’s given me so far. That doesn’t mean I won’t try other brands/types of mascara, though. I gave this tiny, mint-colored tube a shot, and while the results weren’t horrible- they weren’t exactly what I look for in a mascara. My lashes did look a little longer, but not necessarily thicker or darker, despite the “Blackest Black” name.

Would I Purchase?: No. That’s not to say this is a bad mascara. It’s not. It IS nice and the shape of the brush allows for an easy, mess-free application, but I think it’s better suited for people who want a more natural look to their lashes as opposed to a dramatic one.

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Product # 5: Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in “Anarchy” ($22)

I think this might be my favorite sample in my August ipsy bag. This petite tube of lipstick packed one hell of a punch. In a shockingly bright and vibrant shade of pink, not only did this highly pigmented formula glide on easily and evenly, but it stayed in place all day- and when I say all day- I mean ALL. DAY. Long after my morning coffee, long after my lunch hour- and well into the late afternoon. I didn’t have to reapply once, and I didn’t notice the color start to fade until dinner time. This lipstick was hydrating, didn’t flake, and stayed creamy and glossy the entire time I had it on.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This is seriously fantastic lipstick. As much fun as I had with this hot pink, I would love, love, LOVE to try this formula in other, more subdued shades for the Fall. I’ve been browsing the Urban Decay website and so far I’ve added “Strip,” “Protest,” and “Naked,” to my must-have list.

Overall I’m very pleased with my August ipsy bag. There were a couple of products I didn’t exactly fall in love with, but I did find a couple of things that I really enjoyed- and it didn’t break the bank for me to try them, either. I’m looking forward to seeing what this beauty box/bag service has in store in the future.

Aug 19

“I Still Love You, New York…”

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Lately I feel as though I’ve been having a multi-city love affair, actively “dating” San Diego and New York City (with my heart belonging to my beloved Boston, of course- but that’s a given.) Both cities offer something unique that makes me fall head over heels in love with them whenever I’m there, and it’s impossible for me to pick a favorite of the two. The scenery, the people, the nightlife, the music and art scenes- they’re both so different from one another that I know I’m always in for a new and (usually) exciting adventure when I travel to either destination.

On a whim, I spent this past weekend in NYC with no real plans in mind- just strolling through the city checking out different shops, restaurants, street fairs, and the occasional tourist attraction. I’ve heard it’s frowned upon by some Native New Yorkers to visit the more “touristy” areas, but I think it’s all part of the experience of living in one of the greatest cities in the world. If you can’t go and enjoy seeing people from all over the globe flock to different parts of your city to admire and appreciate their significance- then what’s the point? Even in Boston when I’m passing by Quincy Market or walking through the Common, I can’t help but smile when I see different people from all walks of life posing for family vacation photos or looking at maps/pamphlets to learn more about the area.

Besides, if you’ve never eaten at Tom’s Restaurant (delicious food, and no, I didn’t order a BIG salad or a Snickers bar) or dragged your friend who’s deathly afraid of heights to the top of the Empire State Building for their first time (this recent visit marked my 4th time at the top of NYC,) then you just haven’t lived.

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A large chunk of my weekend was spent walking around Central Park, which resulted in a pretty painful muscle tear in my right foot (I’m typing this with my foot elevated on a pillow, wrapped up tightly, with an ice pack resting on it,) but I still managed to tough it out to visit the Central Park zoo before I headed home to start my work week.

Also, if anyone is looking for a lovely hotel to stay in for one or two nights that doesn’t cost a fortune, but is easily accessible from the subway and within walking distance of many points of interest- may I suggest the Affinia Manhattan Hotel on 31st & 7th? I booked a room literally hours before I took off to the city and it was comfortable, clean, and chic. I loved the combination of antique and modern decor. I had my own kitchen area, which was fantastic, and I thought the floral designs on the walls in the room were so cute.

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xox

Aug 13

Closet Crushes: Anchors Aweigh.

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AnchorsAweigh1 I’m a big fan of nautical, well, anything, really. Clothes, jewelry, prints, posters. You name it. I don’t know if it’s because I love being out on and by the ocean so much, or because I find boats and ships extraordinary, or maybe because I was a pirate in a past life or something. Truthfully, I think it has something to do with my grandfather, who was one of the most fascinating people you could ever hope to meet, and who was in the Navy and fought during WWII. Although my grandfather never talked about the combat aspect of the war much around us kids (for our sake, and I think for his, as well,) he DID talk about the happier times overseas with his comrades, and he proudly displayed photos around the home he shared with my grandmother of him in his younger years in the service. Looking handsome and very serious (a sharp contrast to the joking, mischievous side we saw all the time,) I used to marvel at his old Navy uniform, and even more so at the idea of sailing to new and foreign lands for weeks and months at a time. The war aside, it seemed like such a thrilling adventure.

In my closet, I have an ever growing collection of nautical pieces. Sailor-esque rompers, navy blue and red dresses- whose precise cuts and embellishments echo the crisp, sharp look of my grandfather’s old Navy uniform- anchor-print shorts, khaki capris, high waist skirts with striped and preppy crop tops. My ensembles vary between classic pinup girl and what I can only describe as a member of a yacht club- and I love jewelry that pulls it all together.

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Today I put together an outfit inspired by this anchor necklace that I’ve had for years now. It’s nothing fancy- just silver and rhinestones, but I love anchors- so much that when I do eventually decide to muster up the courage to get a tattoo- I want to have an anchor incorporated into it.

I digress, I paired some bright cobalt blue jeans with a white tank top, some navy flats, and this lovely hooded navy & white zip-up sweatshirt with quarter-length sleeves for a casual day at the office. I would have loved to pair the top part of this outfit with a khaki skirt I’ve been meaning to mix and match with as of late, but it was raining for a while today and I opted for the jeans to keep my legs warm and dry.

I also still have my nails inc. “Baker Street” nail polish on for the next couple of days- which I think was a nice, color-coordinated touch:

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Aug 09

Gettin’ Some Lovin’ on Bloglovin’.

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Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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Hey everyone! I really should have done this months ago, but am just getting around to it now. I’ve finally added Legally Redhead to the Bloglovin’ listing.

For those of you who may not be familiar with Bloglovin’ (and I wasn’t up until recently,) it’s a free and convenient way to browse all of your favorite and select blogs with one easy website/app- which definitely comes in handy when you’re on the go and want to stay updated. You don’t need to be a blogger yourself to use the service. You simply sign up, type in the URLs or names of the blogs you want to follow, add them to your list- and voila! Every time you log in, the most recent posts from every blog on your list will appear in the order they were published- giving you access to content from every site without having to visit them individually. You can also create groups to sort your listed blogs by (i.e.- music blogs, fashion blogs, foodie blogs, etc.) to keep things organized. It’s incredibly fast and easy.

All that being said and explained, feel free to add and follow me!

Aug 04

Talk Nerdy to Me.

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For anyone who has read or followed this blog for any considerable amount of time, or who has met me in person, you know- or you have at least had an inkling- that I’m a total and shameless geek. I’m a horror movie connoisseur, I’m an avid gamer, I can have long and heated discussions about which Avenger is the best in the group (Captain America, by the way. End of story,) or which character in “The Walking Dead” is best equipped for long-term survival- and even though I can’t speak Klingon and my comic book collection isn’t as impressive as others- I have a deep appreciation for the brilliant minds behind the artwork, books, movies, and television shows that I’ve come to love and embrace in my nerdy-ness. I also have so much admiration for other fans and the time, energy, and skill they channel into showing their passion for a particular series/character/etc.

Yesterday afternoon I headed down to the Seaport World Trade Center for Boston Comic-Con, which was originally scheduled for April but was postponed due to the Boston Marathon Bombings and the subsequent manhunt for the Tsarnaev brothers in the aftermath. I spent hours meeting wonderful new people, chatting with extraordinary artists, admiring some of the most impressive costumes I’ve ever seen, and running into a couple of famous faces. The convention runs through this evening (Sunday) for anyone in the area who may want to check it out. I personally had a phenomenal time.

Here are some of my favorite costumes/people I ran into:

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This guy had an incredible Bumblebee costume. It was massive!

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Holy shit at the guy in the background photobombing like a champ.

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Rick Grimes & Tyreese!

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I had such a mini freak-out over these brilliant Silent Hill costumes.

Kick-Ass!

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One of the coolest Tony Stark/Iron Man costumes I’ve ever seen. This guy was on point.

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There were so, so, so many more, and I truly wish I could have photographed them all. Major kudos to those who came in costume. You all looked fabulous- and thank you so much to everyone who posed for pictures. You were all so sweet and so fun. It was an absolute pleasure to meet you all!

Speaking of meeting wonderful people. I was fortunate enough to have a quick hello with Kristin Bauer van Straten of “True Blood” fame. She’s GORGEOUS.

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Laurie Holden (Her most recent role being Andrea on “The Walking Dead”) was also there- and just as stunning as ever. I had last seen her in June while I was in NYC. Aidan Turner and Dean O’Gorman from “The Hobbit” were present yesterday as well. Very, very cool.

And I didn’t leave without scoring a few awesome things, too. By the end of the day, my purse was bursting with business cards, contact information, and promotional items from different artists and independent publications- but I was especially fond of the following:

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The Dixon Brothers figurines from Funko POP! Television are two of the cutest things I’ve ever seen in my life. I can’t get over how adorable they are, and it pains me to know that they will forever be left in their respective boxes when all I want to do is cuddle them both. I mean, look at them!

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Merle has the little arm attachment, and Daryl has cartoon bags under his eyes. Way too precious (and hilarious.)

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I also got a pair of these “pixelated” frames which completely cracked me up. I’m not sure where outside of a comic convention I would ever wear these, but with YouTube’s first ever “Geek Week” kicking off today, who knows? They could come in handy.

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And lastly, an adorable addition to my collection of “quirky” jewelry, I took home this 3-D squid cameo necklace from Kay and P. They were kind enough to tie some beautiful ribbon through it, but I plan on getting a chord or a chain to go through the loop to guarantee it won’t come undone and that I won’t lose it somewhere. It’s just so cool looking.

Again, thank you to everyone I met who helped make this such a great experience. I had a blast, and I’m looking forward to doing it again next year!

Aug 02

GLOSSYBOX: July 2013 Review.

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The theme for July’s GlossyBox, “Le Grand Bleu,” was inspired by Summer beauty and frolicking on faraway, exotic beaches in crisp, cool water while under a beautiful blue sky. Sounds fabulous, doesn’t it? With products for face, hair, body, and nails- including a bonus sample- I was quick to dive in to try everything.

What I Received:

BVLGARI ‘Eau Parfumée au thé blanc’ Shampoo & Shower Gel

evologie Intensive Blemish Serum

Figs & Rouge Cherry Blossom Tinted Lip Balm (*FULL SIZE*)

Brazilian Blowout Acai Deep Conditioning Masque

Nicka K. New York ABSOLUTE! Make-up Cleaning Tissues (*BONUS SAMPLE*)

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Product # 1: BVLGARI ‘Eau Parfumée au thé blanc’ Shampoo & Shower Gel ($42)

For those of you keeping score, this is the third Eau Parfumée Au Thé Blanc sample I’ve received from GlossyBox. The first, a soap sample, I didn’t like at all, but the second, a bath tea- was surprisingly indulgent. The fragrance is a hit-or-miss for me, and unfortunately in this particular shampoo/shower gel combo, it was another miss. I didn’t use this product in my hair (I’m weary about the shampoos I use since my strands are color-treated and it’s easy for my red to turn orange-y,) so I can’t comment on how it works as a hair cleanser, but as a body wash- this product left a lot to be desired. The gel lathered up nicely enough, but the smell, much like the bar soap sample, was kind of gross on me- and it lingered on my skin for a long time.

Would I Purchase?: No. This particular fragrance is just not for me at all. It stays with you, which might be great for people who enjoy the smell, but I’m not a fan, and I found myself trying to mask it hours after my shower with a spritz of perfume.

Product # 2: evologie Intensive Blemish Serum ($35)

I actually received a sample of this blemish serum as part of a duo with a clarifying moisturizer in a GlossyBox from a couple of months ago. I wasn’t a fan of the moisturizer at all, and at the time, I was on the fence about whether or not I liked the serum enough to purchase it. After using it for a few days, I’m still not completely blown away with the results. While the size and redness of imperfections was somewhat reduced with continued use, it’s not a miracle blemish-blaster that warrants a $35 price tag.

Would I Purchase?: No. I’ve found that I achieve the same, if not better and faster results with my facial mask and exfoliating scrub than I do with this serum. I’m going to have to pass on this one.

Product # 3: Figs & Rouge Cherry Blossom Tinted Lip Balm ($9)

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Hello Mick!

First of all- the packaging of this lip balm is so bright, colorful and cute. It sort of reminds me of a prettier tube of Marvis toothpaste. Secondly, it’s made from all natural ingredients- so there’s no petroleum or parabens or other weird add-ins that can make lips feel waxy or sticky. This bright pink/reddish tinted balm that smelled faintly of cherries immediately hydrated and smoothed my lips when I applied it, and although the color lacks staying power- the moisturizing effect lasted for hours.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I don’t think this is a “gotta’ have it A.S.A.P.” kind of product, but it was definitely nice, and I wouldn’t be opposed to picking up another tube for myself or for someone else as a gift.

Product # 4: Brazilian Blowout Acai Deep Conditioning Masque ($40)

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Brazilian Blowout products, but up until now, I had yet to try any of them. I applied this color-safe and lightly citrus-scented masque all over my still damp hair after a pre-bedtime shower from root to tip, tied my hair back, and let it air-dry while I slept. When I woke up the following morning, my hair was unbelievably soft and shiny, and my usually tight curls had relaxed into gorgeous waves. I didn’t even need to rinse the product out, as it didn’t leave any sort of residue after it had dried, and my hair remained in silky, lightweight condition for days following the initial application.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This product worked wonders for me, and now I can absolutely see why people love Brazilian Blowout so much. The directions to this masque say it should be used as a weekly treatment, and I intend to purchase a full-fized bottle as soon as possible to add it to my hair care regime. I loved it!

Product # 5: Nicka K. New York ABSOLUTE! Make-up Cleaning Tissues ($6.99 for 60 Sheets)

This was a bonus sample in the July GlossyBox, and I’m never one to turn down makeup remover towelettes (I go through them like crazy.) I’m nearly done with my sample packet, and there’s not a whole lot to say about them. These water-based towelettes smell refreshing, they’re very soft, and they do a well enough job at getting all of my makeup off with only one sheet. It’s a very basic product, which isn’t a bad thing at all.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! For the price and the amount of tissues per package, these are a steal. They do what they’re supposed to, and would be convenient to carry in your purse for a quick refresher or if you need to re-do your makeup all together when you’re on the go.

Product # 6: nails, inc. Nail Polish in “Baker Street” ($9.50)

BakerStreetNailPolish1

BakerStreetNailPolish2

This bold cobalt blue nail polish was the first thing to catch my eye when I unwrapped July’s GlossyBox. I’m so used to receiving neutral colors for my nails in beauty boxes- pinks and reds, mostly- that this unconventional color was a much needed breath of fresh air. The photos above were taken after two coats, and as you can see, two was enough to give me a beautiful result that is eye-catching without looking tacky.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I love this polish (and the name is perfect, too,) and I would love to experiment more with it by creating designs or patterns with some of the other nail polish colors I have in my collection.

Overall, I was very pleased with July’s GlossyBox. The lip balm, the hair masque, and the nail polish completely made up for the couple of products I had received that I didn’t quite care for. Very well done!

xox