I think it's safe to say that we all get pretty nosey when it comes to gift giving and receiving. I actually find it very interesting and entertaining to read and watch all of the holiday gift hauls and whatnot. So, my disclaimer is that (duh I'm not trying to brag), but fulfilling the majority desire of reading these types of blog posts and sharing the very generous things I received from my loved ones for Christmas.
One of the things I really wanted this year was a new purse, and a nice one that would hold up and be able to be with me forever. I don't know the exact name of this purse, but I'm sure you could type in "black Kate Spade crossbody" into your search engine and find it. I was so surprised to see this purse because it was exactly what I wanted. I'm not one to collect designer things or what them all the time because I'm afraid of getting them stolen or ruined, but this was perfect and I will take it with me everywhere. It was so overly generous and probably the best gift I received. 
Coming in right next to the purse was this Jo Malone perfume. I had requested a Jo Malone perfume because, to be honest, bloggers made me do it. I didn't ask for any specific scent because I knew that they all smell delicious, so I let my mom and sisters figure it out. I'm not too picky with smells so, I was okay with that and they did really well! I've heard a lot about the Peony and Blush Suede scent and I think it's one of their classics. I got the 1oz bottle since I like to only use nice perfumes on occasion and it's kind of expensive. I was really excited to see this perfume and I can't wait to use it!
Next, I received a couple candles that I am also really happy to burn. I really love the Volcano candles by Capri Blue because they're fresh, fruity, and can really be burned any time of the year.
Then I got another candle from my friend Ellaby that reminds me of my yoga studio because they always have lemon-lavender cloths to put on your forehead after practice. I thought this gift was really thoughtful and nice since I love to burn candles.
I also got these Zoella Bath Fizzers which I was psyched to use. I love taking baths and using all the Lush goodies, so this was a pleasant surprise in my stocking. These cute gingerbread men smell really sweet and spicy at the same time.
I also wanted new aviators and these two are from Topshop. I love the look of aviators on, but I can never find ones big enough to fit my head! These actually do fit and if you are looking for nice sized aviators, Topshop is the way to go.
I really wanted a new palette this year and made it clear that the Anastasia Modern Renaissance palette was on the list! The sultry shades are literally so buttery and very well pigmented and blendable. I am so ready to try something new with my makeup looks and incorporate these red shades.
Lastly, I always need a new calendar and I have been seeing the Rifle Paper Company calendar everywhere and really loved the simplicity and subtle cuteness it has. I hang it with a copper clip on a Command Hook and it looks perfect above my vanity. It will be a nice touch to my dorm room next year!
I hope you all had a nice holiday and celebrated it with your friends and family. I always love gift giving more than anything and seeing people open gifts makes me really happy. Even though gifts can make holidays stressful or distracting from the real meaning of the holiday, it's always fun to see what people get.
If you celebrate Christmas, what did you get?
Xoxo, Nat
Happy holidays everyone! I hope you all had a very nice break and enjoyed the time and maybe still are enjoying your time off. I have had a really relaxing break and haven't traveled anywhere. I think there will be a trip to my Grandpa's, but that is still to be decided since I have another full week off. I decided to get back on the blog and share some things I bought yesterday at Lush's BOGO (buy one get one free) sale. I mean, you all know this was a hit for me since I am obsessed with Lush. Yesterday was the day after Christmas, or Boxing Day, as many other people call it and celebrate this very commercialized, Black Friday-like "holiday". In America, there's really no such thing as Boxing Day--just a ton of post-Christmas sales that many people go to (like me).
So, my sister, friend, and I walked into Lush, to find it absurdly filled with people and Christmas products galore. Now, I'm not one to love going into stores that are compacted with people, but Lush seems to never have enough space because it's so incredibly popular (can't blame 'em!). I tried to make my way around as I shimmied through people and displays. I knew I wanted a lot of buy one get one free stuff and I headed over to all of the labeled products. It was all surprisingly full of product and there were a lot to choose from. I was scared that a lot of the products would have been picked over, even at 3 in the afternoon.
The first thing I really wanted, from the Fall collection, was the Autumn Leaf bath bomb. I tried this out earlier this year and fell in love with the crisp and fresh scent it gave off. Had to add that to the basket!
Then I kept looking around and really wanted more bath bombs for this season that I didn't get to try out when they weren't on sale. I got Lord of Misrule, which reminds me of having a bonfire on Christmas Eve. It is very spicy and warm.
One thing I was really excited about was the Santasaurus Bubble Bar. It's so sweet and citrusy. It just makes bath time fun, even if you're not a kid! Definitely a great deal to find.
With being at Lush, there was no way I could leave without picking up a face mask (even if it's in order to reach my 5 clean containers to receive a free mask). They are simply the best for all skin types and are super fresh and paraben/chemical free. The Cupcake face mask is probably my favorite mask because it treats my oily and acne prone skin to the max! It smells really yummy, too.
Another favorite of mine that I picked up was the Yoga Bomb. I love soaking with this bomb after a very well deserved yoga class that made me sweat and wore me out. The best thing to come home to is this lavender-citrus smelling bomb.
Last, but not least, I wanted another bath bomb and Mistletoe was the perfect choice for a warm, spicy bath. It's infused with Jasmine and smells divine. Everything you could want in your bath this time of year.
I'm sure there will be more sales from Lush, but this one sure beat the others. I'm glad I got to be a part of it and find the products I never got to try. I think I will be back on schedule this week with many new posts and exciting reviews to be shared. A big Christmas post will be up on Thursday, so stay tuned!
What was your favorite Lush Christmas product? Did you go to the sale, too?
Xoxo, Nat
Finals are over for me and I feel like a huge weight has been released off my chest. I can relax, go do some yoga, and ease into my blog posts before Christmas. Which, may I remind you, is only four days away. I thought I would do a makeup look post for the holiday and I am really wanting to try this out on Christmas and you guys can, too! It's a very warm, wintery look that I think will suit pretty much anyone.
As for posts going up this week, I have a couple in mind, but I also want to take this time to relax and enjoy my break while I can. Posts will be decided eventually, so I may or may not have something up on the usual day--bear with me!
Maybelline Dream Velvet Matte Foundation in Creamy Natural- For the face, I have recently started using this and really enjoy the smooth and matte finish it gives. If you are a pretty oily or shiny skin type, this would be perfect for you. Especially during these drier and colder months, I know it can be a little hard to reach for the matte foundations, however, this one seamlessly glides and blends perfectly on the skin. I normally like to use a Beauty Blender for this type of foundation to make sure it doesn't settle in any weird places.
L'Oreal Paris Black Velvet Liner- I have really loved the look of smokey eyes and smudging out the top liner on my eyes. This liner does the job amazingly. It has a doe foot applicator and is really easy to use.
Covergirl Plumpify Mascara- To add a lot of volume to my eyes and to make them appear bigger than they are, this Plumpify mascara really does the trick. I love the ball tip on the applicator so that you can make sure to get and curl every lash.
Urban Decay Primer Potion- This is kind of a given because who doesn't love Urban Decay's primers? A true necessity when it comes to holiday makeup. You don't want any of your eye makeup falling off during a nice time with family and friends!
Maybelline 24 Hr Color Tattoo Crayon in Creamy Chocolate- Speaking of makeup staying for a long time, this 24 hr eyeshadow crayon from Maybelline is great for very long nights and events when you don't want to worry about reapplying. I especially love to smoke it out under my eyes on the water line a bit to create a sultry, golden-bronzed eye look.
Ardell "Natural" False Lashes- I'm kind of going backwards, but that's okay. These Ardell lashes really are great drugstore lashes. I have fallen in love with the beautiful effects they can create. It might not be a bad idea to add some drama to your look!
Stila Eyes are the Window Palette in Soul- Mind the broken shadow way back when I dropped the whole palette during a photoshoot, but I have really not ignored this amazing palette. The warm toned shades are so awesome for a smokey, bronzed holiday look. I find that a bronze eye and bold, red lip is the perfect combination for Christmas.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer- Usually I like to warm up my face a bit and just define my cheekbones and forehead a bit. Nothing too dramatic like a full on contour.
Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lip Color in Forever Scarlet- To finish off this Christmassy look, obviously I need some red! I discovered this super long lasting, matte liquid lipstick by Revlon and absolutely gravitate towards it whenever I do my makeup. Nothing like a good classic red during Christmas!
I hope this post inspired all of you to start to create your own holiday looks for this season no matter the holiday you celebrate. I'm excited and relieved to be on break. Hopefully I can get posts up soon this break, but until then, I wish everyone a calm and relaxed holiday and time off. We all deserve it.
What's your go-to holiday makeup look?
Xoxo, Nat
All over the beauty blogger world, Revlon has been quite the popular brand when it comes to amazing drugstore lip products. I was just going through my makeup collection and found that many of my favorite lip products to use are by Revlon. They're known for their super, long lasting formulas and I can't seem to stop buying them because they're just so great. I also noticed that their Colorstay nail polishes are just as amazing as the lip products. I might have to do a separate review on those, as well.
Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor in Forever Scarlet- I recently discovered this lip color a couple weeks ago and absolutely LOVE IT. Probably the best matte and long wearing lip product I've owned. It doesn't crack or dry out your lips and the clear lip gloss adds a touch of moisture to reduce it from crumbling or moving around. I've eaten a Chipotle burrito with this on, and lemme tell yeah, no lip gloss was to be found (or eaten for that matter). Truly recommend!
Revlon Colorstay Lipliner in Rose- I've actually had this lip liner for ages and can't seem to get rid of it! It's super long wearing and very reliable when I can't figure out which color lipstick to wear. It practically goes with every color because of how neutral it is. I'm not a huge lip liner fan anyway, but boy do I love this Revlon liner.
Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Shanghai Sizzle- Both of these Moisture Stains really do resemble lip glosses and are far from being lipsticks. However, they add just the right amount of pigment and I think they can really soften and sweeten a look up a bit. This is one of my favorite coral shades to wear in the summertime.
Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Cannes Crush- This one is less intense and gives off more of a peachy tone. This is also very nice during the spring or summer. I don't know, I think orange shades look great with tans. Don't you agree?
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Love- Bloggers made me do it. I'm a little late to the game, but I do have to say that I love this HD Matte lipcolors. They're intensely opaque and pigmented. They also give off a very sweet, vanilla scent. I'm not complaining! This first pink/coral shade is very vibrant and I think it would look amazing in the summer.
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor in Temptation- This is more of a scarlet red and is actually a very nice Christmas-ey red, in my opinion. I love how moisturizing these lip products are while still being matte. No wonder there are so many raves about them!
I've been really impressed by Revlon's lip range lately and none of their lip products cease to satisfy or amaze my expectations. I'm probably going to go out and buy even more shades (probably nudes) of these products, because why not? They're awesome!
Tell me what you think in the comments down below!
Xoxo, Nat
I don't normally do Christmas shopping of that nature at Bath and Body Works before the huge semi annual sales, but I needed some new candles and things like that because I was running a bit low. Like past seasons, Bath and Body always does a fabulous job at creating the best scents for this time of year. There are some newer fragrances and some older ones I thought I would pick up.
One of my parent's good friends actually bought these lotions as a gift and it was a very generous gift at that. They were like each 3 dollars and were a complete bargain. So, my I picked one of the lotions up for my mom and she really loves A Thousand Wishes by them. My mom loves anything with peonies and almonds in it; this is the perfect scent for her. Then I picked up this new Christmas scent, Frosted Coconut Snowball, which I completely loved when I smelled it. I'm a sucker for anything coconut scented and never thought that coconut could work during the winter, but it absolutely does! Finally, I chose a lotion for my sister and she loves the Twisted Peppermint scent. She has basically every single product from Bath and Body in this scent.
Then I picked up two room sprays because sometimes candles just don't do it all the time when trying to cover up a fowl smell or you just want to spread the nice scent all over. I got the Fresh Balsam and Winter. They both smell like I just stepped into a Winter Wonderland. I kid you not.
Onto the candles, I bought Evergreen which is your basic balsam/tree scented candle which I always love during this time of year. This candle was on sale because I think they totally changed the packaging. Next I bought Winter Mint and Spruce. It's a more fresh scent than the Evergreen candle. Lastly, I got the winter Sweater Weather candle that is another very crisp and fresh scented candle. It does have a more Fall-ey type smell, but I love it so much during the winter anyway.
If you want to see my last Bath and Body Works splurge, click here! What are you guys' favorite Bath and Body Works holiday scents?
Xoxo, Nat
One of my favorite times of the year is Christmas. Decorating for Christmas has been one of my favorite holidays to decorate for and I thought I would make another post about the sweet little Christmas touches I added to my bedroom. I did a post quite similar to this last year and you can read about my favorite Christmas decorations in my home, here. With warm, fuzzy socks on, spicy Christmas candles burning, snow falling, and Michael Buble playing, what better time to start the holiday decorating!
I actually bought this mini Christmas tree at Walmart a couple years ago and it's been great ever since! It was like $10 and I think I bought the mini ornaments from there, too. I like to put my favorite and sometimes gifted ornaments on this tree. Along with some candy canes and some fake candy canes I made at a Christmas party.
This was probably one of the best Christmas presents I have received. A fox nutcracker?! It's honestly so adorable up on the shelf. Also, I have two sets of fairy lights that I also bought from Target in the Dollar Spot section and just leave them up there all year long.
This was probably one of the best purchases I have made all season. You would never guess where I got this sparkly, glittery, amazingness of a sign from. Not Home Goods, not Walmart, not Target, not any of those places. The Dollar Tree. It was only one buck! Despite how much the glitter gets everywhere, it's the perfect touch to any bland door or wall.
I believe that I got this monogrammed stocking as a gift and my sisters and I have matching ones. I added this fox ornament from Target (why wouldn't I?) and a little candy cane to make it look more festive.
Christmas can't be Christmas without an advent calendar! This one isn't the best and to be honest it tastes like cardboard, but it's the thought that counts. Plus, I think it's cute as just a decorative piece anyway.
I have this little winter penguin and my Balsam and Cedar mini Yankee Candle on my bookshelf. I love having wintery candles all over my room and burning every time I'm in my room.
I hope you guys enjoyed this little Christmas room tour of all my little touches I've added to my space! I love the festive feel it gives off. What are some things you do when you decorate for the holidays?
Xoxo, Nat
P.S. Happy 100th post on this blog! I am completely grateful for all of your guys' support! <3
Hi everybody! Sorry I didn't post this morning, I've been a bit behind schedule due to finals and some last projects I need to be finishing up. For this post, I thought I would talk about New Year's resolutions. Not many people love them or abide by them, but for some, they can be a great way to reflect and improve upon some of the things we think could help ourselves and others. I, for one, have always struggled with keeping up on my goals for the new year and sometimes I do make mistakes here and there, but I think the best thing we can do is pick ourselves up again and set new goals--ones we can at least try to reach. It can be as simple as eating less sugar to more complex like making sure you study more in order to get the outcome you want in a certain class. One of mine might be to lay off the blogging a bit and take more breaks; good content and ideas can only come out of passion, not just for getting a post up on a certain date in my opinion.
For myself, and all of you, I have compiled only twenty goals or resolutions I think we could all aspire to do that can make better changes in our lives this coming year. Sure, it's a bit early, but it's never too early to start improving ourselves.
1) Start saying I love you more: to your friends, family, and especially to yourself.
Accepting ourselves and learning to care and forgive is one of the most important steps to creating better relationships with our peers and ourselves. The whole hustle and bustle can distract us from remembering who we are and why we're here.
2) Get off your technology and remember the more important thing in life besides how many followers you have.
This is sort of a given, but I hope everybody can realize that there is more to life than the little box in their hands all the time. Look up more and experience life.
3) Make more time for yourself and have some solitude every now and then.
I know I'm a master at solitude and finding time for myself, but not everybody else is. For my more socially enabled readers, remember that finding alone time can help destress you and bring you away from the noise. Occasionally, it's never a bad thing to want to stay in bed and watch Netflix all night.
4) Focus on studies more, but don't over do it. Go out with friends while you can.
I know school is important, and so is living. Do what you gotta do and then go out with people you enjoy being around. You deserve it; don't torture yourself.
5) Find some physical activity that you enjoy and makes you happy. Such as yoga, sometimes these things we do for our bodies can be very good. Getting in shape, not only physically, but mentally will help improve stress and raise energy levels.
6) Volunteer your time more and give back.
Doing one simple deed for someone in need can make all the better. Even donating a dollar to your local Salvation Army bell ringers or helping out at a food kitchen can make a difference. These things shouldn't be taken for granted because every amount of help counts.
7) "Talk Less, Smile More."
Props to anyone who knows where that quote is from (ahem Hamilton). I think it's important to listen to people. Sharing your opinion and thoughts on things is important, but sometimes replying to people to understand is more important than replying to respond, says my English teacher. We can only accept each other and respect one another when both voices are heard. It's something that I forget sometimes.
8) Eat better food.
I know this is something we all have on our lists to do, but sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zones and try new food. Food that's different than what we normally eat. Maybe you'll find something healthy that you never thought you would have loved and it changed your whole entire eating habit.
9) Say "thank you."
We are all old enough to know manners, but sometimes things can go unnoticed. Giving someone a simple, "thanks", might make their day a tiny bit better.
10) Learn to let go.
Let go of grudges, mistakes, embarrassing moments, bad grades, broken friendships, arguments, bad critiques, failures, and everything else. You're human and that's just a part of living. Move on.
11) Try something new for the heck of it.
I never thought I would have loved yoga if I never tried it. I've learned so many things about myself and overall well being because of it. I know how to control my body and remain positive during challenges I have faced.
12) Try out a fashion trend you never thought you could pull off.
Wearing that same sweater and jean combination isn't doing you justice? Try a look that you normally wouldn't do and see what you think. I'm still scared to even touch a choker! Maybe it will open new aesthetically pleasing doors.
13) Don't assume things about people.
I think everyone can attest to at least once judging someone based on their actions, looks, or the way they speak. It's just what we do I guess. We should never treat a person based on an assumption. You don't know their life at all. Why don't you try to get to know them? Maybe they're dealing with something you can or can't relate to.
14) Reward yourself more for your achievments and battles.
This sort of goes with the "more solitude" one, but more specifically about the way we treat ourselves after an accomplishment or milestone. It's okay to treat yourself because you deserve it.
15) Stand up for yourself when something isn't right.
I can relate to this one a lot because I'm the type of person that won't ask for a new meal because something was not cooked or brought out right. I'm just so humble and my Dad always yells at me for not speaking up. As we grow older, our dads and moms will not be there to ask the waiter for another plate, and it will be up to us to make things right. This could apply to anything else really.
I hope these help spark some inspiration as to what goals you guys would like to achieve or improve on through the next year. I know there are a lot more so I might keep adding to the list as I think of more. Have a great weekend everybody!
What do you want to improve about yourself?
Xoxo, Nat
Only 19 more days until Christmas and i can't believe it's already here. Surprisingly, I already have my shopping done, but I thought I would share with you some ideas for inexpensive stocking stuffers that will not drain your wallet. These stuffers also work well just as gifts or put together in a gift basket, for example. A lot of stores these days have awesome stocking stuffers and many have sections dedicated to them. Especially, Target. I've also seen them at places like Sephora, Walmart, Forever 21, and Nordstrom Rack.
Makeup
Elf Lip Kiss Set $5- This Elf lip set was a recent find and I thought that it was the perfect set for anybody who loves makeup, especially lip products. Elf products cease to amaze me and the quality is astounding. The pigmentation of these two lip products, the lip shine and balm, apply so smoothly and leave a great, subtle touch of pink to the lips.
Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Mascara $9.50- This mascara is one of Maybelline's classics; it's volumizing, lifting, and lengthening all in one. I wouldn't be mad if I received this in my stocking!
Mac Travel Size False Lashes Mascara $10- Mac has the best stocking stuffers in their travel sized section, including this mini False Lashes mascara. It does any amazing job at lengthening the lashes and creating the butterfly effect you oh-so desire.
Essie Luxeffects Nail Polish in Tassel Shaker $8.50- Infused with copper and bronze fringe, this nail polish is perfect for any Christmas or even New Year's party! I am obsessed with the look it gives on an accent nail.
Skincare
Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Spray $6- Sugar Crush has to my favorite scent from Soap & Glory. It's fresh, fruity, sweet, and all you could want in a body spray. The lime, lemon, and ginger compliment eachother so much and any girl would be lucky to receive this in her stocking! I'm obsessed.
Mini Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Butter $7- Found in the Irresistibubble gift set along with a shower gel, this body butter compliments the body spray and leaves your skin smoother than ever. Especially during these colder month, it's nice to have a smaller body butter during holiday travel.
Interior
Small Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar Candle $10- Getting a Christmas scented candle for someone is the best way to go if you absolutely have no idea what to get her. Who doesn't love their homes smelling like fresh pine trees?
Target Fox Ornament Less than $10- This was an ornament I received last year from a friend and I recognized it from Target. I assume that it's under $10. I think ornaments are the perfect gifts for people; there are practically millions of different kinds. There's one for everyone!
Food
Hammond Candy Cane Crunch Chocolate Bar $1.66- I also think that food, and chocolate in particular, is one of the best gifts to receive. Hammond's Chocolate's are to die for and they always have holiday themed candies out for this time of year. I might have to go back a buy a few more for myself!
Clothes
Target Dollar Spot Christmas Socks $1- Last, but never least; cheap Christmas socks. I love receiving socks for Christmas (unlike the 99% of everyone else that doesn't). I love to wear them all Christmas and feel all snuggly. You could even get cheap fuzzy socks. The perfect gift, in my opinion.
What do you love to receive in your stocking?
Xoxo, Nat
So, I don't think I have completely done a full drugstore mascara collection post and surprisingly most of the mascaras I use daily and love are from the drugstore. After that huge Amish store beauty haul, I've been able to experiment and try out more mascaras. Drugstore brands have really upped their game with mascaras and I really have been impressed with the formulas. I find myself reaching more for these than I do for my Mac or Smashbox mascaras.
Older Favorites
Covergirl Lashblast- I find this mascara to be very volumizing. I know that actress, Shay Mitchell, obsesses over this mascara and I thought to give it a chance. Personally, I have always loved Covergirl's mascaras and their new formulas have been the BOMB.
Maybelline Lash Sensational- Ugh the ever-so-amazing fan favorite. Compared to Benefit's Roller Lash, this mascara does all the curl and the lift. Butterfly lashes, please!
Maybelline The Rocket- I found this mascara to be insanely similar to the Covergirl Lashblast. It gives a ton of extra volume. It also makes my lashes almost look fake in a way. It lifts your lashes really well.
Covergirl The Super Sizer- This is a great lengthening mascara and really does the job with it's absurdly thin wand. I also found that this mascara stays put for dayzz. It never crumbles and honestly, who hasn't forgotten to take their makeup at least once in their life and found all the remains on their newly ruined pillow? This mascara won't let you down!
Newer Favorites
Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama- I really noticed that this mascara does a better job at lengthening than "pushing up". It is great at creating the fluttery eyelash look and separating lashes. I noticed a bit of clumping, but sometimes clumping is good!
Revlon Lash Potion-This mascara has given me a weird impression. I haven't ever tried Revlon mascaras and this one was good at volumizing, but it did leave a lot of clumping. I think i'll have to continue using it and give it another shot. However, I've heard that overtime as it dries, it gets better. So, hopefully it does!
Covergirl Plumpify- Honestly, I fell in love with the shape of this wand. The ball tip makes it so easy to get every single lash. I think this mascara does the perfect job at curling and opening your eyes up more.
I'm always willing to try out new mascaras and their are many older ones that I haven't even heard of! It's amazing how many drugstore mascaras there are these days. What's one of your favorites?
Xoxo, Nat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons