Confession: I just took down my Christmas tree. In my defense, I've been gone more than I've been home the past few months, but I also just love having Christmas lights on!

I was looking for another use for my Christmas lights when I noticed I had an empty bottle of Corona Light on my kitchen counter.

Ta-da! A Corona Light Night Light! How cute for the kitchen?! Love it.

In an effort to take my mind off of my ten-page-long to-do list, I find myself making another list: Things I Wish Existed (That Actually Might Already Exist).

With three months of solid travel and two sets of job responsibilities, my stress level is about at a code orange- or maybe code red- which is worse? So, here are some imaginary, non-unicorn things that would rock my world and make life a little more awesome in times like these. A girl can dream...

1.) ATM Machines that Dispense Rolls of Quarters
For apartment-dwellers like me, SO MUCH LAUNDRY, not enough quarters, ever. Or enough time to find a place to get quarters- where the hell does one get mass quantities of quarters?! The bank, I guess... Still, not easy or fast enough. We need drive-thru quarter machines, yesterday.

2.) Ice Cream, Beer, Sock, and Toilet Paper Delivery Service
So, maybe this is a thing. But, probably just in New York City, and only for CEOs and rich, old, Havisham-y hermits. We need to bring this stuff to the masses, like pizza and Netflix.

3.) Comfy AND Cute High Heels
Now, I'm not talkin' 1.5-inchers like the Naturalizer knock-offs we wore in high school show choir. Heck, I could run a marathon in those. I want some hot girl spikes with nurse shoe comfort! I've said it before, I'll say it again: Crocs + Steve Madden = life complete.

4.) Semi-Permanent Makeup
Wouldn't it be nice to only have to do your makeup once a week, or once a month?! This probably wouldn't be the most hygienic concept, but it would be a huge time saver. And, it might prevent the people who see you on Saturday mornings from saying "Wow, I almost didn't recognize you!" (Read: "Girl, you look rough!!")

That's really all I can think of. Because pretty much everything else that I could ever imagine is already real- LASIK eye surgery, FaceTime, fried pickles, Google, Ryan Gosling,...

...and, yes, I've taken advantage of all of these perks within the past 24 hours.

1.) You can wake up in the middle of the night, turn on all the lights, and blog (or do anything!).

2.) No one comments when you eat only a protein shake for dinner and then a huge peanut butter cookie an hour later.

3.) You're free to watch 5 episodes of Pretty Little Liars in a row on any given weeknight.

4.) It's totally fine to have only the following items in your fridge for an entire month: a banana (I think), a beer, hot sauce.

5.) All sweat pants, all the time. And, no bra, any time.

6.) You can have two half-unpacked suitcases and use that chair exclusively as a laundry pile holder.

7.) There's no reason to ever have to go to the trouble of closing the bathroom door.

8.) Closet space.

9.) No one complains about it being a crisp 68 degrees, or about all the electricity that may have been wasted to maintain that temperature.

10.) Unlimited, unapologetic singing and burping.

11.) You can get away with only getting the mail once a week.

12.) Nudity, whenever. (Just remember to shut the blinds.)

13.) You get lots of "you time," which is great because you are awesome (or "you" are an only child who likes to do whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want).

:)

At the risk of sounding like a 26-year-old narcissistic jerk, I get asked a lot what I do for my skin, so here’s the answer.  
 
Up until about a year ago (when I noticed I was getting forehead wrinkles, and my dear grandmother suggested I "use something"), I didn’t do anything all that special – just some soap and water – for real.  But more recently I’ve been conscious of my “aging” skin, and I’ve made an effort to keep it looking smooth and feeling soft.

I’m also compelled to write about this skincare routine because I’ve actually seen great results, I’m mostly head-over-heels in love with each of the products I use, and they’re all relatively inexpensive. 

Morning

In the morning I like to cleanse my skin with Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Cleanser.  Apparently this stuff has vitamin C and ginseng, that helps “wake up” your skin.  Now, I would think that’s just a load of crap, but I admit that I do feel more energized after using it.  Maybe it’s the act of splashing water on my face, or maybe it’s the citrus scent, but it does help me (and I guess my skin) feel more awake.   My skin also feels very clean and soft after using Morning Burst…which is the main goal, I suppose.

In terms of makeup, it’s no secret that I’m an addict.  However, I’ve never been big into foundation, especially not the liquid variety.  But recently I’ve been completely obsessed with BB creams.  I use them every day (right now I’m using Smashbox’s version, but I’ve also tried Garnier, L’Oreal, and Boscia).  They’re essentially tinted moisturizers that make your skin look glowing and fantastic.  Initially I was worried that these might cause breakouts, because I have somewhat oily skin, but that has not been the case so far!

Evening

Before bed I remove my makeup with the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes.  I’ve tried many brands and formulations of these kinds of wipes, and these are my favorites by far.  They remove every last bit of stubborn water-proof eye make up, and they’re gentle on sensitive skin, which is also an anti-aging plus!  These towelettes do leave a slightly oily residue (“residue” sounds gross, but that’s what it is!) behind, but that doesn’t bother me – it just feels “conditioning,” if anything.

This next step involves my absolute favorite skincare product right now.  If I could marry it, I totally would.  It’s the Lush Tea Tree Water Toner.  First I spray some of this magic potion onto a cotton round and sweep it all over my face (except for my eye area, of course) to remove any dirt, oil, or make up that the Neutrogena towelettes may have missed.  Then, I spray it directly onto my face, maybe 4 squirts.  It feels so refreshing, and it’s gentle, unlike any other toner I’ve ever used.  Apparently tea tree water has natural antibacterial properties, so I’m crediting this bad boy with my lack of breakouts or blemishes recently.

Next comes moisturizer.  I’ve been using this thick, but not greasy, Sensitive Night Cream from Burt’s Bees.  This is my #2 fave product right now.  It just plain works, and doesn’t leave me feeling slick or oily, just soft, smooth, and luxurious. 

The final piece of the puzzle is eye cream.  This is the one area where I’m still looking for a product to fall in love with.  I like my current one just fine, but it doesn’t knock my socks off.  I use Basq Cucumber Tea Eye Gel.  This stuff really helps with puffiness, and the cooling sensation is divine, but I’m not so sure about the anti-wrinkle properties of this one…I’m open to suggestions on a kick-butt eye cream, so let me know if you have one!

So, there it is! Hopefully I remain (relatively) wrinkle-free for the next 26 years! Stay tuned…

No, I’m not doing any home-wrecking or anything devious. But I SO LOVE the Private Practice star's perfume, Boyfriend.  This has been around for awhile now (maybe a year?), and I was intrigued when I read it was “the scent of your boyfriend on your skin.” Depending on your interpretation, that could potentially be weird…

But I’m no stranger to using men’s grooming products because they smell so good! In fact, in high school I bought a whole bottle of men’s cologne just so I could smell like my boyfriend. (It was cute at the time, now I’m rolling my eyes at the thought.)  And I have  been known to wear Men’s Speed Stick from time to time – like, now.  There’s just something about the way your boyfriend – or any man, for that matter – smells, that is so delicious and intoxicating. 

That being said, Kate Walsh’s Boyfriend smells nothing like any boyfriend I’ve ever had (most of them have smelled like knockoff Abercrombie & Fitch or Old Spice. But, I digress.)…But, it does smell GREAT! It’s subtly sweet and spicy, and maybe there’s something slightly masculine going on too.  It reminds me a tad of the Halle Berry perfume I also love. Super sensual and sexy smelling (sorry, Mom, but it’s true.)  I’m not a fragrance connoisseur, so I won’t identify the notes and all that jazz.  But I will say I’m in love with this perfume. 

I have gotten SO many compliments on it (from boy –and girl – friends), and let me point out that no one said “Hey, you smell like a man.” Just “You smell SO GOOD!”  Why, thank you! ;)

I purchased this .4 oz. pulse point oil roller ball from Amazon for about $30…I’ve been wearing it nearly every day for about a month, and I’d say about 1/5 of it is gone.  So, it’s definitely a good deal in my book.  Plus, it really has staying power.  When I apply it in the morning, I still smell yummy at the end of the night.

Also, Kate Walsh recently came out with another fragrance, Billionaire Boyfriend, which sounds like a pretty damn appealing concept (unless maybe it sounds like Hugh Hefner; I’m not sure). I’ll let you know if I end up smelling like Maserati leather and platinum money clips any time soon…

Though it’s not exactly new, I would argue that it’s still hot – the accent nail trend!  I’ve been wearing this look for a few months now, and it’s a sure fire way of doing two things:

1.  Adding some pizzazz to your manicure, while not having to settle for just one color at a time.

2.  Getting TONS of questions from your co-workers, family, gas station attendants, etc… “Did you forget to paint that finger?” “Why aren’t the all the same color?” Come on, people, get with the program.

Just a quick post about the amazing deals that are available at Bath & Body Works right now.  I needed some candles, so I was excited to see that the sale was going on, so I decided to stock up.

I got 2 soaps, a room spray, and a zillion yummy-smelling candles with glass holders, all for about $30, so you do the math – AMAZING deal!  

The thing I love about Bath & Body Works products is their super potent, yet not at all harsh, scents! I am in love with the candles I’ve tried so far, and you really can’t go wrong at these prices.

My apartment smells better than it ever has.  It’s wonderful to come home to a great smelling space.  

Sweet summer, tropical, baked, flowery goodness is where it’s at.  And all for just a few dollars each. 

Thanks, Bath and Body Works!!

I’ve never been much of a gold girl myself.  Much like Carrie on Sex and the City, I have been known to wear “ghetto gold for fun,” but never made it a mainstay in my jewelry collection…until now.  

Inspired by YouTube beauty and style gurus, along with my friends, and fashion magazines, I’ve grown to love bright yellow gold (“gold” really).  Jumping on the “arm candy” bandwagon, I picked up some shiny baubles recently at H & M and Francesca’s.

Gold on the wrist suits summer so well, accentuating a tan without making you look too much like a Guido wearing gold chains on a hairy, exposed chest.  Instead I feel like I should be on a yacht ordering fresh sangria.  If jewelry can evoke that feeling, I think it’s doing the trick!

The most fun part about the gold arm candy trend is the stacking and layering that has become not only acceptable, but almost expected!  I feel comfortable rocking a gold watch with multiple bracelets on top.  It’s super fun, and it gives you an extra little “jingle jangle” whenever you move. 

Happy summer!    

In another attempt at cute Spring nail art, I recently decided to depart from my usual manicure (who am I kidding; I don’t have a usual manicure!) and try something with a little more pizzaz!   

Now, this probably isn’t a look appropriate for the board room, but it’s a fun way to sport girly claws this Spring!

All you'll need is some tape, a Q-tip, 3 different shades of nail polish, and some top coat.

First, start by painting your nails with one or two coats of your color of choice, and let it dry.  (I’m loving rounded nails right now, but the shape is up to you.)


Next fold a 2-inch piece of Scotch tape just enough to cut out an inverted triangle, then cut out the triangle with some scissors, pull the tape apart, and apply to your nail.


Using a contrasting color, paint over the bow shape, and remove the tape.  Repeat on all nails.


Finally, using the flat end of a cut off Q-tip, apply a dot of polish in the middle of the bow. Finish with a top coat, and you’re done!

Little Black Bag is one of the most unique subscription services out there.  It’s similar to JewelMint (see review here), and you’re provided with a customized online showroom each month, which includes designer fashion items at up to 70% off retail prices. 

The way Little Black Bag works is that each month you choose one item (I chose the bag below), and LBB chooses 2 additional “mystery” items for you.  You can’t see what the remaining items in your “little black bag” are until you decide to purchase it.  Then, you find out with the surprise items are, and you can trade them for others if you aren’t satisfied.  It’s pretty fun to see what other LBB members want to trade, and to be able to take advantage of that.

I found out about this cool service from YouTube (thanks, AprilAthena7), and I had to give it a try.  I ended up with an awesome Nila Anthony bag, a cute leaf bangle bracelet set, and some very nice turquoise earrings.
 

LBB is $49.95 per month, plus shipping.  However,  I was able to find a discount code to make it more affordable, and it’s easy to find one if you just use Google.  Another neat thing about LBB is that you can skip a month if you don’t like what’s in your show room.  

The items I got were hugely discounted, and I saved about $100 I think, so overall I would say that Little Black Bag is a great deal, and the fashion items they have are pretty awesome. 

Two thumps up, Little Black Bag!