Just recently I was inspired to redecorate my vanity/desk space and make it actually look pretty awesome. I have loved redecorating and organizing ever since I was little. I remember always re-painting my room; it went from white, to yellow, purple, and now mint green. Now that school has officially started in my town (ughhh), I was wanting to get some pre-school cleaning and reorganizing done.
Starting out with the main piece of furniture, my desk, I think my mom bought it for me a while back at an Estate Sale. So, I'm not for sure where you can exactly find it but, there are many white desks similar to this one out there. I used to use it as an actual desk and now I just do all of my homework at school or on my bed. It works amazingly as a vanity, though.
I love my little mint green, metal basket I bought from Target a while ago. I think baskets are great to store stuff in as well as displaying cute things like perfume and brushes, too!
If you happen to get makeup or hot tools on your vanity a lot, I would recommend investing in a glass table top. The one I have is from Ikea and it was pretty inexpensive and has lasted for about a year now. I love it because it's easy to clean. However, DO NOT place hot tools on top of the glass. I had an incident last year with an older glass top where I left a curling iron on and it completely shattered.
What I personally think a vanity 100% needs is some type of mirror. It doesn't have to be so expensive either! I know how much mirrors cost nowadays. All you need is a reliable, makeup mirror. It's simple and minimal for your space! This one from Target has it's own light, too which is really good when doing night makeup.
I'm a sucker for all things hanging. I love having these cute terrarium, bubble-like things hanging from my shelf. I bought these at a boutique but, here are some inexpensive ones I found on Amazon. I fill them with special rocks and geodes as well as some air plants which you can buy from Home Depot and never water that much.
I also have this silhouette chandelier piece that I bought from an antique store and I love it so much. It adds a very classy look and the terrariums add a nice touch of modernity to it.
On my shelf I have a few knick-knacks which I kind of move around and rearrange every now and then. I have this gold terrarium which I also bought from Target. I found a similar one, here. I added some fairy lights into it and it gives a little light and looks really cute.
Then I have my Victoria's Secret dog and some magazines, more fairy lights, candle holders and a turquoise clock. I also love stacking books up on a shelf to give it more depth and dimension. Add your own personal touch to any shelf!
Being more organized with your vanity means buying some containers to make everything have it's own place. I found some similar drawer organizers to the ones I bought from Target a while ago, here. They're such a life saver! I can organize all of my makeup into sections and not have to worry about scrimmaging through my stuff in the mornings.
I hope you guys found some inspirations and helpful tips for any of you wanting to up your desk or vanity space! I am really proud of what I did and hopefully I don't keep on changing it around (not promised). What's something you absolutely have to have on your vanity?
Xoxo, Nat
Soap & Glory has now been added to many Walgreen stores recently, or at least my local one, and I have been so excited about it! The only place I know that sold Soap & Glory was at an Ulta Beauty store a couple miles away from me. I haven't ever tried Soap & Glory because it was so just hard to go out and get. Now that it's a couple minutes from my house, I can finally try out their whole collection.
What I love about Soap & Glory is that it is great quality makeup and skincare for a very affordable, drugstore price. They have a great collection of products all around and I love the convenience of it being at my local drugstore, as well. I want to thank Sarah from her blog, Temporary Secretary, for introducing me to all things Soap & Glory!
Makeup
Glow All Out Luminizing Face Powder in Shimmer Switch- Not only is this blush/highlighter's packaging extremely adorable, it gives just the right amount of sheer pigment on the cheeks. It's a blush and highlighter all in one basically! It has super long staying power and leaves a great shimmer for glowy looks. The picture doesn't do the color of the blush justice but, it does leave a little rosy tint to it on the cheeks.
Sexy Mother Pucker Matte Lip Sticks in Chocco Berry and Ember Red- I really like these lipsticks! I have been looking for some new reds and berry shades for the fall and these are great. They're very matte but, also really moisturizing. The best part is that they're only $6!
Thick & Fast Mascara- I think I go through about 20 mascaras a year and it was time to finally pick up a new one. This mascara makes my lashes look so much more fuller and bigger. It also doesn't flake which is very much appreciated.
Skincare
Irresistibubble Gift Set- When I saw this at the little Soap & Glory Kiosk I was really excited because I fell in love with the Sugar Crush sweet lime scent before and this gift set was kind of amazing for travel so I was like, "why not?!". It comes with a body butter and a shower gel; two things I need the most when I am travelling! This is also great for a gift, too!
This set was also nifty because it's super budget friendly. Only $7 for two mini products that could last you a really long time. That's one of the main reasons I love Soap & Glory is because of how great the price (and the quality) is!
Sugar Crush Body Lotion- This was the first thing I ever bought from Soap & Glory and the scent dragged me into this brand. It's so fresh and citrusy. It kind of made my mouth water a bit when I first smelled it! I would have to say that Sugar Crush is my go to summer scent of all time.
Face Soap and Clarity 3 in 1 Vitamin C Facial Wash- I was wondering if any of the face products like the cleansers were any good so I picked up this one to try out. I found that it kind of acts like an exfoliating cleanser and really smoothes out my skin. It smells really minty and fresh so it's great to use in the morning to wake up with. I only used a pea sized amount so I think this travel size bottle can get me through the rest of summer.
I hope you guys enjoyed this haul and first impressions of all things Soap & Glory! Nothing disappointed me from the things I bought so I'm obviously going to keep buying their products from my Walgreen's in the future. I love it when I can find really great products for a really awesome price and at such a convenience to where I live! How do you guys feel about Soap & Glory products?
Xoxo, Nat
I am back in civilization at last! A week in the woods isn't something every single person would like doing but, I love it and I captured some pretty candid shots as to why camping is something I think everybody should do. Camping to me is very personal. I have been camping for about 12 years now and love every minute of it. My family and I go every summer to this place in northern Michigan. Sure, there are bugs, mosquitoes, birds, sand, dirt, raccoons, storms, etc. and did I mention that I camp in a tent? Ah yes, the beauty of nature my friends.
I'd like to call myself a very well experienced camper, however, I don't think the hair dryer, curling iron, Kuerig coffee maker, or electric skillet can make me an authentic camper. We just call it "Glamping".
First of all, I think a lot of people have their own definitions of camping. Whether you pitch a tent in your backyard and have a sleepover with friends or go into the mountains and you only have a flashlight and a sleeping bag with you. My version of camping isn't the only way to camp (I don't personally count trailer "camping" to be one of them due to the lack of actually being outside since you still have like a kitchen and a TV).
Many people think camping is cheap but, actually it's not. Camping with a dog and four other people means that we need a ton of stuff like sleeping bags (expensive), air mattresses (expensive), a lot of food (expensive), and the actual tents that have to fit everybody (expensive).
Camping would only be cheap if it was like you and one other person because you wouldn't need merely as much stuff as my family does. It's not like every year we buy new stuff; it took us a while to gather everything we actually needed over the years. If you are wanting to camp, make sure you understand what a financial investment it might be.
Where I camp, we have a beautiful bay area to swim, paddle board, kayak, and watch the sunsets. One of the reasons we always come back to this same place is just because of the amazing views.
While I was there, I actually managed to do some yoga on the beach. There were flyers in the little camp store and some instructor from the area was teaching in the morning on the sand. An experience I will never forget!
Another reason, besides the gorgeous views, that I camp is that I do make experiences that I will want to keep forever. We invite friends and other family members to join us camping; we go swimming, kayaking, play on the dunes, paddle board, or just enjoy the camp fire together.
The Benefits of Camping:
- You are connected with nature and get to enjoy what it has to offer
- Live off the grid (no more Snapchat folks)
- Discover new places and meet new people (or wild animals)
- The food tastes better anyway
- The smell of fresh pine and camp fire
- Quiet time
- Watching the sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing
- Spend time with pets
- Exercise
- Rekindle relationships with family and friends
Of course I brought my puppy along! My dog loves to camp and since we live in a big city, he never really gets to experience the "Great Outdoors". A lot of people bring their pet to camp and it's really not that hard. I think the hardest thing about bringing your pet is actually finding room for them in the car among all of your gear.
A lot of places have kayak and paddle board rentals which can be really nice because buying one is like $600! Fortunately, my camp site just added these amenities and people are able to rent one for like $15 an hour. You do not have to be a pro either! I have never paddle boarded before and I learned really quick (after falling a couple times).
If you are looking at places to camp, consider what types of amenities you would want! Maybe a beach store, bike rentals, kayak rentals, or just a bathhouse is your desire. Many places have websites that list what they have.
If you guys have any questions about camping and what I do, please ask! I had a wonderful week camping and got a ton of sun. If you have been camping, please share where you camp and your thoughts on it as well!
Xoxo, Nat
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