Packing for a Weekend Trip by the Ocean

This weekend I'm in Coronado, California at one of my favorite hotels, The Hotel Del Coronado. Lots of beautiful and exciting photos will be coming up in the next few days as well as restaurant reviews and more, but today I thought I would go over a topic I think a lot of people have difficulty with-- packing for a weekend!
There are a few things to consider before you start packing:
1. What time are you due in?
2. What is the temperature (is it cold at nights? partly cloudy? expecting rain?)
3. What activities do you plan on doing?
I knew the temperature would be cooler in the evenings and very pleasant in the day. Make sure to pack accordingly. I packed plenty of layers (light sweaters, dresses, skirts, jeans, sandals) that wouldn't take up much room in my suitcase and could be switched around. If it's hot in the day and not, you can bring dresses that double as beach dresses and casual lunch dresses.
When packing the suitcase, I roll my clothes up. It keeps them from being wrinkled and conserves space. Since my flight arrived at midnight, I was sure to pack toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash) and sleeping clothes towards the top so I could grab them as soon as I arrived.

My Cath Kidston toiletry bag zips down the middle and is clear so I can grab just what I need. You can buy it here for $26.00. Running shoes were towards the bottom because I know I wouldn't need those. Later on, I packed my sleeping shorts and shirt at the very top. I was glad when I finally got to the room at 1am!

Palettes are a girls best friend when it comes to vacation. Minimal space but maximum benefits. My gold toothbrush is great because I never get it confused with others! Since it's just a weekend trip, you don't need to pack too much make-up. An eyeshadow palette or two, a few lipsticks, a few blushes, mascara, and setting powder is about all you'll need! If you know you're lazy on vacation and never wear make-up, don't bring a lot, if any. It's a waste of beautiful space! If you do love wearing make-up, some of my favorite palettes are by Le Metier, the Naked Palette, and my MAC palette I built up myself.
One thing that is helpful is making a packing list. I bought a little notepad full of checklists for any area you might forget. You can find this exact one in lots of bookstores or online here, here,* or here. You can also find lots of helpful printable PDFs online such as this one here. These are a great idea if you know you always forget something. It also pulls the packing process together and helps you visualize your entire trip.

Speaking of forgetting things, I've found that there are certain items people are always forgetting.

Here are some of the most popular ones. Or at least, the ones I always find myself or others complaining about forgetting:
1. Hairbrush
2. Chargers/ batteries
3. Gum
4. Deoderant
5. Sunscreen
6. Toothbrush &/ or toothpaste
7. Sunglasses
8. Swimming suit
9. Nail clippers or nail files
10. Underwear/ bloomers/ knickers/ your favorite term for undergarments. THIS IS THE WORST ONE TO FORGET. Ugh. Terrible.
There is also the unfortunate complication of liquids, at least if you're flying on an airplane. Here's how I packed mine. I bought clear containers that are varying in sizes for different gels and liquids. The Fekkai Glossing Creme is great after hanging out near the ocean because it takes that frizzy hair and just makes it smell good and look more tame.

You know what your best friend is while traveling? Samples.

Those little viles of perfume you get with an order? Don't toss them. Take them with you on vacation. Same with those face creams and hand lotions that come in little pouches. Use them on the go, see if you like them, and if you do, write it down and buy the product at another time!
I hope you find these tips helpful. I know there are a lot of bad packers out there. I probably spend too much time packing, but I'm working on that.

Dior Rosy Glow Awakening Blush in Petal

I've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this new blush and I was so glad I got it before my trip today. It's a gorgeous color from Dior that I'm sure everyone has heard of that is interested in make-up and that's called Dior Rosy Glow Awakening Blush in Petal. It's as gorgeous as I hoped it would be and Dior's packaging really owns up.

 This is a bad photograph but as always the blush came in this beautiful velvet dior case.

I applied it very lightly to one side of my face (the left side in the picture) (I just woke up so ignore the crazy look in my eyes and the smudged eyeliner) and foudn it gave me such a beautiful natural glow. It's so much more gorgeous in real life if you believe it! At $44.00 it's really pricey, but Dior's beauty products have, so far, blown me away with their quality as well as sturdy, beautiful packaging. One of the few high end make-up companies I will keep coming back to. You can buy it at Nordstrom's as well as many other department stores.

Get RID of that Winter Skin: Buffy

I'm not sure what my deal is but when winter comes around, I kind of give up on my skin. Or at least, I have for the past few years because I just kind of checked out.
But now that I'm back in the swing of living, I can't stand how my skin feels all the time-- it's super dry and red in some areas. Dallas isn't even that cold but I'm telling you, not moisturizing for a while takes it's toll.
I went into Lush for the first time after years and years of avoiding it (the smell kind of always gave me a headache). I just wanted to pop in, see if they had a good scrub, and pop out. I've been on the hunt for a good exfoliator. Well the slightly overly helpful woman dragged me all around the store showing me this and that and I finally emerged for air with (what I hear is pretty popular) the "Buffy."

As their website states, it contains ground rice, almonds, and beans to slough off dead skin, especially on your backside (thus, Buffy the Backside Slayer).
It's got a fair amount of cocoa butter in it, so if you have an allergic reaction that STAY CLEAR. I loved using this in my shower yesterday and I was really eager to try it. It does moisturize your skin so well, and I like the smell of it, too. This morning my skin was still pretty soft (though not as beautifully shiny) so that's a great plus! My one fear is that it won't last very long. We'll see how many uses I can get out of this. Oh, it's also kind of pricey-- $11.95 for a 3.3 oz bar. It comes in 7 oz as well.
You can buy it on Lush's website if you decide to give it a go!

Update: I tested out this product to see how long it would last. It made it about 4-5 showers and that's it! It's recommended for use on your bum to slough off dead skin cells. I love the smell and miss the smoothness it left me after a shower, but I don't want to pay that much again for something that is used up that quickly. A word of advice- keep it away from constant water drizzle because it will chip away at the soap faster. Liked the product, but still on the lookout for a longer lasting exfoliator. 

Need New Music Ideas? Take Some of Mine!

I don't think people on this blog realize how often I am shazaming. I shazam at least once a day. And if you don't know what shazam is, it's an app that is on your phone that you use when you really want to know the name of a song but can't hear it that well, or aren't familiar with it. I love music a lot, and I have a wide variety of tastes.
These are the songs I've downloaded in the past week or so that I have really been liking. My playlist is always rotating and I'm always finding new music, so if you need any inspiration for good songs, let me know. If you guys like this I can start making it a weekly thing.

Dior Crème Abricot Fortifying Cream For Nails: Nail Savior?

My nails are just a part of my body that have gotten some seriously harsh use and abuse over the course of my life. I've always had the really bad habit of picking, biting, and chipping away at my nails. A nervous habit that developed into a compulsion, it's something I've been trying to stop doing for a very long time.

After I broke the front of my tooth (probably from nail biting) I decided my enamel wasn't getting any better and I needed to start giving my nails a little more TLC and stop abusing them (and my mouth). My cuticles have been eternally overlooked. Oops... sorry, nails! I read an article on discovery health about how cutting your cuticles can be really bad for you. Nail salons do this all the time but I've read in magazines time and time again that it's really awful for your nail health. Pushing the cuticle down is what's recommended!

The other day I was walking through Sephora when I found this product by Christian Dior. I put the cream on one side of my hands haphazardly as I walked around. Later that night I noticed one hand was much healthier than the other. Like... much healthier. I've been applying it everyday and I'm just so in love.

The product is quite sticky for a while, so I wouldn't recommend using it on the go. I would push the cuticles down first, and then apply all over the nail. They'll feel much stronger and look neater by morning, and it's only gotten better for me. This is the only product I've found so far where upon looking it up on various websites, has gotten almost a full 5 stars on every website. So, obviously it's working for a lot of people! A little goes a HUGE way, another plus.

I am so impressed with the quality of this product. The smell is nice, not strong, the packaging is gorgeous and simple, and the product works. The only downside is how sticky it is. It takes about 30 minutes for the full stickiness to disappear, but after working it in well it does dissipate. Cost is $24.50 in the US. Highly recommend!

What I've been Eating a Lot of Lately: Asparagus

Well we're getting back into the delicious fruits and vegetables seasons again and this is one meal I can't stop preparing. I usually eat it with a piece of sourdough bread or maybe a grapefruit or something. Asparagus is so good right now, I urge everyone to go out and taste it while it's super in season!

How I make it:

I start by chopping up plenty of garlic and preheating the oven to around 400 degrees. The more garlic the better! I then wash and cut any veggie that sounds good along with stalks of asparagus. I like the skinnier kind because I find it gets crispy faster and has a nice crunch to it. It's also easier to eat in my opinion. I pour some olive oil on top, put salt and pepper and perhaps other spices generously over the veggies, and then finish by adding some parmesan shavings. I put it in the oven for about 10-12 minutes. It's a really easy lunch and so healthy that you can indulge in a Starbucks or brownie and not feel guilty about it!

Etruscan Inspired Make-Up

For those of you who don't know, I love Etruscan and/ or Ancient Greek jewelry. When I was in Greece in 2008, my mom and dad purchased me a gorgeous 18 karat gold Etruscan designed ring.

Etruscan jewelry is heavy on the gold and known for it's beautiful, intricate detail.
I don't know why I decided to do my make-up this way today, but there you are. I used a few eyeshadows from Le Metier de Beaute and the Naked Palette.

Unsure as  to why I look so sad in these photos, maybe because it's a monday AND it was the morning and I have a final in a few days. Sigh. Let me know if you want to know what products I used, otherwise, that's all for this post!

NYX Pretty in Pink Three Product Review

OK so everyone and their mom seems to be obsessed with Nyx products, most likely because they seem to be quite inexpensive and they are quite pigmented. I was in Ulta the other day and they had a buy one get one 50% off deal as well as a new member deal, so these three items ended up being $8.00! Not bad for three things, I think. Oh, and they are cruelty free!

It's very rainy today, thus the raincoat! The blush was recommended by Tanya Burr in her most recent youtube video, as was the lipstick.

How I feel about the items:

The quality of them isn't substantial. What I mean to say is, there is no wow factor where I think, "this could be a YSL blush or a NYX blush, I can't tell the difference." That being said, I did find most of the items to be better than expected.

The blush:

Called Rose Garden, it is a flamingo pink color in the case and have several sparkly bits to enhance shine. So if you are looking for a nice pink blush without sparkles, this is not the one for you. I didn't find the sparkles to be overwhelming and surprisingly, I don't find them reflected on my face in an obvious way similar to some sparkly products. Rather, it just gave me a nice glowy look that I really appreciated. Keep in mind I'm also wearing a highlighter on the top portion of my cheeks, which increases the glowing. 

No scent that I'm aware of which is nice. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this blush, to be honest. The case is plastic and clear on top so you can see what color you're picking up. That being sad, it's thin plastic and could probably break easily if you have kids or someone steps on it.

The lipstick:

Called Beige for some unknown reason, this is a pink lipstick that is quite rich. Made in Taiwan. One thing I noticed immediately is the smell. I can't stand the smell. Some people like fake fruit scents, but I just can't handle it. Reminds me of lower school and fruit scented markers... and gum.... and... cough drops. Ugh.  It's like cherry perfumed, and if you get nauseated easily or don't like the smell of cherry, I would warn you against getting this lipgloss. The smell does fade though, and fairly quickly, so if you want to grin and bare it, it's worth it in all other regards. There's even a little bow on top of the lid which is actually pretty cute. 

Let's talk about the applicator really fast:

Photo credit goes to Being Cruelty Free, a blog which talks in depth about products that are not harmful to animals. You can read more about it here!

I do not like this kind of applicator in all honesty, especially the bended bit because it just throws me for a loop. I'm weird and I like the kind of applicator that's a brush, not a sponge tip. Not many companies do this version, but when I find it, I'm very happy. I believe Armani does, if anyone is interested.

All these things being said, I still like the color of the lipgloss. It doesn't stay glossy for very long, but I like how it fades. It goes into a kind of dull shine that makes it look more natural and is really very pretty. 

(note I am wearing lipstick underneath but in a very similar shade)

The Lipliner:

I'm not wearing the lipliner in these photos because it's QUITE bright, but it's called Rose (#840) and is made in Germany (yay!). It's quite a rich pink, somewhere between cherry blossom to flamingo pink. It goes well with the lipgloss, but I didn't like the look of it underneath lipsticks. It's not very moisturizing and definitely left my lips cakey, but it was basically free so it wasn't a thought out purchase. I don't think I'd buy a NYX lip liner again, but it will do the job. 

Out of all three, I think the product I'd be most likely to buy again is the blush. The lipstick second, and I don't think I'd ever buy a lip liner from them again. The latter two were of fair quality and, scent aside, look really pretty on. 

If you want a better idea for what the lipliner looks like on, look at my last post, I was wearing it under a lipstick then and it made it very bright. 

Also, I've been having lots of fun with my Métier de Beauté palette and finally did a semi-different eye than usual! Goooooo meeeeee! You can't even see how cool it is in this photo. Oh well, there is no way I'm going to take more photos. You'll keep seeing the glory of these eyeshadows as time goes on. 

ALSO-- wasn't I supposed to stop buying so many "pink" products? I told myself to buy other colors but I just keep going back to pretty pink shades. Must... change... pace. 

Products I've been LOVING Lately

I know I'm goofy guys, but I was listening to 22 by Taylor Swift (I'm not even going to apologize because sometimes you just need feel good, happy music so whateverrrrr) and I I was thinking about products I've loved lately and just couldn't get enough of/ am really intrigued by so here you go! 

Shot as if I used a disposable camera at a party, thus the goofy faces & lazy shots. It felt more fun for some reason!

 Still in love with this stuff guys! It's been the only face product I've used lately and my skin feels so soft and great, morning and night. I just use a cotton ball or two and remove all dirt and make-up. I think I'll go back to using a facewash and this right afterwards but I am still so impressed and in love.

I've been loving this Fekkai glossing cream. I've had it for ages but I've only just started using it again and it smells so good and makes my hair so shiny and soft. A+!

 I got these sunglasses when I worked at Anthro for $7.00 (BE JEALOUS!) on sale and I still think they are the bees knees. Good quality, super original look. Love.

 Both of these items I've been adoring lately. The bronzer from the sleek palette is a tad dark for me so I have to use a very light hand when applying, but the highlighter is gorgeous and the stay matte powder just sets everything in place so well without looking powdery. Way to go, team. 

This Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil in Black Gold. It looks like it would just be straight up gold when you open the lid, but no, it goes on as a kind of goldish brownish black and it's wonderful for a smokey eye or just complementing other eyshadows. 

I got a sample of this in one of my Nordstrom shipments and I'm so in love with it. They are disposable blush papers that you can take with you on the go so if you see yourself looking peaky you can just swipe some on. The color is really gorgeous and I'm sad I'm almost out. You can buy a little booklet to store them in as well. Awesome. 

Links to where you can buy!

Bioderma*

Fekkai Glossing Cream

Anthro Sunglasses (Not the exact same though)

Sleek Face Contour Kit

Rimmel Stay Matte

Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil

Mai Couture Blush Papers

Le Métier de Beauté's Melange de Colour Fashion + Bonus Pictures

So, I've had this for over a week and debated writing this because it's a blog about quality and to me, that applies to every aspect of a company. Here are the things that I find important:

- Packaging 

- Customer Service (very far up there)

- Longevity of the product

- Quality of the product

- Scent (cheap? none at all? nice?)

- Color pigmentation (for make-up and clothing alike)

- Originality

- Clear look/ message/ idea

- Where it's made (I don't want to pay $400 for sunglasses made in China, sorry)

So, I'm completely split between this product. I was so excited when I received it because, duh, I'd been waiting forever and thought I would never be able to get my hands on it (the shipments were very limited and I've never experienced such a limited limited edition but there you go). 

The box was glossy, bright, weighty (I like that), and... slightly scratched. I think it's because the box was just so shiny, but any and all rubbing against surfaces could be seen. Oh, also, the lid broke off and some of the shadows were not set in their pan.... yikes, I feel like I'm betraying the company by saying this but *whining* I'm super into telling the truth and being honest so I guess that's what I have to do. Keep in mind there was a huge demand for this product and I'm sure they were making them really quickly and I'm sure most of their products do not come like this. I'm not trying to defend what I got, but there you are. OK maybe I am, I just hate saying bad things. But there's a good ending to this story! 

I know what you guys are thinking... does she do anything else other than nude/champagne/light brown eyeshadows? I asked myself the same question when I realized, yet again, I had done a freaking nude eye. Guys, I'm sorry and I'm going to do a more fun color combination next time. I don't know what my problem is, I'm just addicted. Also, I don't like doing dramatic eye makeup for the day time. Flashbacks to when I was 15 and angry at the world, you know what I'm saying? 

I contacted customer service to ask if there was another empty palette or something I could transfer these colors into or something, because I was worried about damaging the colors if I had a palette with a lid that would come off every time I opened it. Luckily, the clasp in the front keeps it shut, it just doesn't hold up the mirror on its own, it falls flat. 

I talked with a woman named Kim from PR or client services or something, and she's working with me to resolve this. They answered really quickly and gave me lots of options and made me feel really comfortable. A really great customer service experience unlike some other places I've been to *coughSprintcough*

So, while there were some downsides to this limited edition palette, the colors are just too beautiful. It has every color I think I could ever need in shimmery shades, they aren't scented, they go on so beautifully... really, they are so rich and silky and you don't need to put on multiple layers. I can forgive them their faults because the product is that good and since they are a new-ish company, I know they'll keep working on quality control and making a good, sturdy product. 

In other news, its totally full fledged spring here in Texas. This is the tree outside my window:

It's been sunny almost every day for two weeks but today and yesterday it was overcast. The trees are finally coming back to life, sprouting leaves, and it's not too hot still, which is great. Let's keep it that way, Dallas. 

I also have a social life sometimes, I want to prove that to you guys. I'm not just packing, packing, studying, and packing. Sometimes I go out and see people. OK maybe this outing was like three weeks ago whatever.

On the left is Katie-Beth (or Katharine as she is now called, but I knew here as KB from 5-12th grade so, sorry KB, that's who you are to me!) and on the right is one of my best friends, Caroline, who is just too fashionable sometimes. And I'm in the middle. 

Hope everyone is doing well and that spring is coming your way soon!