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
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