Weekly Favorites - January Week 2

This week has flown by, but it just means I have another excuse to share the things I've been loving this week! On Monday, I got my January Birchbox and found a CC cream that has instantly become top-shelf for me. Plus I pulled an old powder sample out of my (obviously very big) makeup bag and fell completely in love with it. Better late than never! And I've included a purchase I made today that I've been thinking about FOREVER and just finally decided to go for it. So without further ado, my January Week 2 favorites.

1  Supergoop! CC Cream Daily Correct Broad Spectrum SPF 35+ Sunscreen
I got this on Monday, and I know it sounds dramatic, but it changed my life. I never bought into the whole BB or CC cream thing before because I like a full-coverage but hey, it was free in my Birchbox so I gave it a try. And damn, it is the most gorgeous, creamy formula with a really nice buildable coverage. And the color match was perfect. I hopped right out to buy the full-size and I'll never go back. I'm thinking it will be incredibly moisturizing during the colder months, but I'm more excited to use it in summer because of its SPF, and because I don't like nearly as full a coverage in the warmer months.

2  Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream
This is an absolute winter essential for me. It's the most moisturizing, thick, nourishing hand cream I have ever used. And it's practically the only thing that will rehab my chapped winter hands. It goes on like butter, but also makes the skin on my hands look and feel fantastic. Is that weird that I care how my hands look? I dunno, but this gives my hands a gorgeous healthy glow.

3  Tarte Cosmetics Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
I got this sample in last month's Ipsy Glam Bag, and I had just purchased the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder, so it was a little like why? But when I went home for the holidays, this sample was actually perfect for travel. And now, if I'm being honest, I like this just as much if not more. It's great for setting make-up, for baking your under-eye area and concealer, and I would absolutely consider buying the full-size of this powder after my the Laura Mercier runs out.

4  NYC City Proof 24HR Waterproof Eyeliner
This eyeliner is absolutely brilliant. I love this more for tight-lining my eyes than I've loved any luxury liner, seriously. The consistency is so creamy and deeply pigmented, but you can also blend it to really smoke out the lower lash line. Because it's waterproof, it really will stay all day in the waterline! I have not tried it to truly line my eyes because I've been in a deep liquid eyeliner kick these days. But I'm sure it would be great there as well based on its smooth application. I am beyond happy with this product.
*I received this product complimentary from Influenster in exchange for my honest review.

5  The Real Techniques Bold Metals Brush Collection
I am so excited to have finally purchased these today. I've admired them online forever and ever, and I've tested them at Ulta (my god, they are so soft and the brush handles are so long and perfectly weighted for a really dreamy experience). I have contemplated buying them forever, and added them to my online shopping cart more times than I care to admit. But today I noticed they were buy one, get one free! So I was really mindful about which ones I'd actually use. If I'm honest, I don't apply gel eyeliner, so I don't need a liner brush. I also bought a set with an exclusive brush in it, that also comes with 2 of the standard brushes in the collection, so there was some additional value there. I am very excited to receive the shipment. They will look so gorgeous on display and I can't wait! I'm also hoping that if I love them as much as I predict, I will keep stocking up so I can have multiples of each like a real pro.

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You can check out last week's favorites here.
And don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin so you don't miss an update!

My Influenster #JingleVoxBox Has Arrived!

I was so excited when I checked the mail today (finally) after the holidays and saw my #JingleVoxBox from Influenster! While I haven't gotten a chance to test each of the products just yet, I was too excited not to share all the goodies in a bit of an unboxing post!

First off, is an adorable little Spiderman from Hallmark's itty bitty collection. These would make such a nice little gift for someone special, young or old. In fact a few of my male coworkers were giving it the eye today on my desk like "what's that and can I have it?"

Next are some cookies from Biscoff that I've definitely tried before and, wow, they are absolutely incredible! They are so delicious with coffee, so I'm really glad to have received a few of these treats!

Then I have a few products to create a really polished eye makeup look: A CityProof 24 HR black eyeliner from NYC New York Color, and a really gorgeous pair of True Volume lashes in the style "Chic" and an aloe formulated adhesive, both from KISS. Already, just looking at these lashes...oh my gosh they look so natural because the ends are tapered like natural eyelashes. I can't wait to try them.

And of course, for these upcoming cold winter months (like today because it was literally 17 degrees...) a moisturizing cream from Cetaphil. I've never tried any products from Cetaphil before so I'm really excited to give it a try.

And last but not least, a Pure Ice nail polish in bright blue shade called French Kiss that is, at first glance, not something I would have picked for myself...but that's the best reason to try it and step outside of my comfort zone.

I would absolutely recommend you all sign up for Influenster. It's a great place to explore new products, discover reviews, and you could even qualify to receive a free VoxBox of products to review! I just joined about a month ago, and I'm really excited to share some reviews with all of you.

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Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from for testing purposes, in exchange for my honest reviews of each product.

#Blogmas Day 21: Holiday Wish List - Kate Spade

We're getting a little too close to Christmas in terms of ordering gifts (though, to be honest I just ordered my Mom's from Nordstrom today and they guarantee it will arrive by Christmas Eve...so keep your fingers crossed!) And shopping IRL is crazy right now, especially in New York City. It's absolute madness to even get down the street here, particularly on Fifth Avenue which happens to be where I work. But while the time for shopping may have passed for most, I'm sure there are still last-minute shoppers out there, so I still wanted to share some inexpensive and lovely suggestions from Kate Spade. And the best part is that all of these little trinkets and baubles are under $50 dollars! Enjoy!

1  Two of A Kind Just Between Us Gold Faceted Flask
2  Two of a Kind Gold Dot Shaker
3  Goreski Glasses Shaker
4  Icing 3-Piece Set
5  Leather Initial Keychain
6  Telephone Dial Compact Mirror
7  Bella Pantry Recipe Book

#Blogmas Day 14: Holiday Candles from Bath & Body Works

Happy Monday, y'all! Hope you had a great weekend and are ready for more #Blogmas action here on the blog! I've said it before, but the holidays are not the holidays without a 3-wick candle from Bath & Body Works burning in the background. And one of my favorite things to do is pop into the store near Grand Central Station and just stick my face into each and every one of them until I decide which are THE BEST. It's a very scientific process, and part of my own personal catalogue of Christmas traditions. Anyone else? No? Well, that's okay... I've done the embarrassing legwork for you then! Below are my personal top 4 Holiday 3-wick candles. And, as always, pay attention to sales because you can get an amazing deal on these. In fact, as of now (for a limited time only) they are $15.00 marked down from $22.50, so get to shopping!

1  Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Basically a christmas cookie/dessert in the form of a candle. Yum!

2  Mahogany Teakwood This is a totally masculine, woodsy scent that (not gonna lie to you) kind of smells like a sexy man! I told another lady who was sniffing it, and she bought two! Heyyy girl.

3  Vanilla Bean Noel This is a classic. It's just so sweet, creamy, and totally just  warm, and I love burning it in the kitchen.

4  Frosted Cranberry This is also totally an annual classic, and really reminds me of home. It's fresh and fruity, and totally festive.

#Blogmas Day 13: Short Stack Editions

My best friend Cate shared these super cute cookbooks from Short Stack Editions with me this past week, and I was totally inspired. They include recipes centered around a specific ingredient which would be perfect for someone with a favorite food (did someone say broccoli?) or for people with a CSA box who knows without a doubt that there will be tons of surplus fruits and veggies during various parts of the season. But most importantly, the covers on these are beautifully illustrated. I would love to have each and every volume in my kitchen, but could easily pick and choose the ones that will work best with my own cooking lifestyle. These are one of my top gift ideas this season, and super affordable at $14.00 each! How about you guys? What's your favorite food to cook with? Leave a comment below!

1  Eggs  |  Volume 1

2  Buttermilk  |  Volume 4

3  Lemons  |  Volume 13

4  Prosciutto de Parma  |  Volume 14

5  Brown Sugar  |  Volume 12

6  Corn  |  Volume 10

#Blogmas Day 5: Sephora Stocking Stuffers - $15 and Under

On the Fifth Day of #Blogmas, my true love gave to meeeeee... Okay, okay, I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist! I am feeling festive after having started my own holiday shopping this week, and I'm headed out for more in a moment to do some more. Here's a fun fact about me: My absolute favorite gifts are stocking stuffers! I know most people view them as a bit of an afterthought, or even a total pain-in-the-wherever to buy. Especially if you're a mom like mine, buying gifts to stuff your own stocking...But I love getting (and giving) lots of simple, inexpensive little gifts just as much as bigger-ticket gifts. Below are a few items I spotted at Sephora, all for $15 dollars or under, that would make amazing stocking stuffers for the beauty or skincare enthusiast in your life!



1  L'Occitane Hand Cream Ornament
This would look adorable hanging from the tree on Christmas morning, or tucked inside a stocking - at a pricetag of only $12! And L'Occitane hand cream is such a rich, replenishing formula with shea butter that will leave your hands softer than gently-falling snow!

2  Bite Beauty Mix and Mingle 
I would recommend this lip duo to anyone, as a stocking stuffer or even just to buy for yourself! Bite lip products are my absolute favorite. They feel so replenishing – a complete treat for your lips! And these give you two shades to try at only $14 dollars, compared to a full-size lipstick at around $24.

3  Josie Maran BearNaked Nail Wipes 
These nail wipes smell fruity and ahhhmazing! And not only do they remove polish, but they also nourish and repair cuticles and do wonders for your nails. They're a must-have for your travel makeup bag, because they're perfect for taking off polish in a hurry if you chip or break a nail.

4  Fomula X: Studded X Mini Lip + Nail Duo
This little duo packs an edgy punch, by pairing a mini Kat Von D Studded Kiss lipstick with an identically matching Formula X nail polish, available in several cool statement colors.

5  Sephora Collection Eye Masks
There's no more refreshing beauty treat than an eye mask, and these fiber versions are super easy to use and remove, no muss no fuss! My favorites are the rose and pearl versions – both have brightening properties. But any of these is sure to be a nice and refreshing surprise.

6  Klorane Dry Hair Rescue Set
We all struggle with dryness in the winter and this little set would be a really nice, nourishing treat for someone looking to try some new hair products. I can personally attest that the dry shampoo offered in this bundle is one of the BEST I've tried, so I'd be very happy to give or receive this little gift set.

7  Tony Moly Apple Hand Cream
This cute little hand cream, in twist-off, apple-shaped packaging, is super cute and refreshing. There are additional versions in Peach and Tangerine scents as well. I always love Tony Moly's packaging, and these are too adorable to pass up!

#Blogmas Day 3: Holiday Wish List - Warby Parker

The time for new glasses is nearing, and if I'm being 100% honest, I just never quite fell IN-LOVE with my current pair from Warby Parker - Holcomb. Don't get me wrong, they are adorable, and they totally let me live out all of my 1950's fantasies. But the shape and size are just a bit too delicate for me and my personal style. It's the same reason I prefer statement necklaces over thin, gold, romantic jewelry. Like, more is more for me. It just is. So I've decided the holidays are a great time to have a little 5 pair try-on package sent my way! And this time, I'm sticking to what I know works for me: bold, conversation-starting eyewear. Below are the pairs that caught my eye today. Let me know which you guys like best!

1  Chelsea | Whistler Grey

2  Upton | Sea Smoke Tortoise

3  Coley | Crystal

4  Finch | Striped Molasses

5  Kimball | Marzipan Tortoise

No Takeout November | Skinnytaste Meal Planner

Hello, November! I can not believe how quickly time is passing these days. Sunrise/sunset... Okay, moving on. I have a friend who's doing a No Spend November and she is basically my hero. If any of you have done something like this successfully, and saved a quick and easy thousand dollars in the process, my hat's off to you! Truly, I think I would die. But the idea inspired me to take an honest look at where most of my money goes each month (cough, cough, takeout/restaurants/bars) and I've isolated something I can SAVE BIG on without going berserk.

No Takeout November, for a New Yorker, is definitely still a sacrifice in order to save big. I typically buy breakfast, lunch, and usually dinner from various restaurants ranging from Dunkin Donuts (coffee + breakfast at work), to my favorite local Mexican restaurant (a dinnertime favorite), to Domino's Pizza (yes, I am the worst New Yorker ever...my boyfriend will be the first to point this out). Hear me: It is ridiculous to eat 3 meals out every. single. day. And, trust me, it adds up fast. Also, when left to my own devices and spur-of-the-moment decisions, I am just NOT a healthy eater. So cooking healthy for myself is a secondary benefit!

My go-to website (and cookbook) for healthy, easy, delicious recipes is skinnytaste.com and so imagine my surprise when I found that she recently released a companion to her amazing cookbook that was a tool specifically for meal-planning and calorie/activity tracking. Enter The Skinnytaste Meal Planner. It seemed like perfect considering my No Takeout pledge.

Image from Kittsona

It's got a spread at the beginning of each week to plan your meals, which I'm using to establish which nights of the week will be "cooking nights." Since I am still as busy as I ever was, and life doesn't take a back seat to my No Takeout plans, I will try to keep these to 2-3 a week, maximum and try to knock out the bulk of my planning and shopping on Sundays.

Then for each day of the week, there's space to track everything you eat (amazing if you're trying to be cognizant of that) as well as a cute space for activity tracking! Sure hope I manage to do more of that as well, but I also know the importance of focusing on one goal before conquering another.

I'm very excited about this No Takeout November project, and will definitely let you all know how it goes! Wish me luck!

Meal Planning 101

A recent obsession of mine is weekly meal planning. I've known people, mostly married couples and young families, who were able to save a ton of money by planning and cooking each breakfast, lunch, and dinner for their week. But as a young professional, a New Yorker, and unfortunately a certified takeout queen, could I ever pull this off? The answer is a resounding yes!

I'm more than 3 weeks in now, and have already saved hundreds of dollars, since I was used to buying breakfast ($5+), lunch ($10+), and dinner ($15+) out every single day. Believe me when I tell you that ANYONE can do this, and the savings alone makes it worthwhile. But there are plenty of additional benefits like added nutritional value (this is amazing for dieters), less urge to snack since you know what and when your next meal is coming, and the satisfaction of both learning new recipes and taking pride in everything you put into your body. I am a meal planning believer!

I've been scouting Etsy for some cute printables that will help me in my meal planning endeavors, and I've displayed a few of my faves below. I may eventually DIY something of my own, but wanted to share for those of you who aren't graphic designers!

This week's meals included:
Sweet Cucumber, Red Onion & Dill Salad (Eat Yourself Skinny)
Clean Egg & Zucchini Muffins (Eat Yourself Skinny)
Spinach Lasagna Rolls (Skinnytaste)
Easy Crust-less Spinach & Feta Pie (Skinnytaste)
Squash-tastic Shepherd's Pie (Hungry Girl)

Customizable PDF from AtomicaPress - $6.00

Handmade Item from askingfortrouble - $8.62

Instant Download from SweetPaperTrail - $3.00

Instant Download from LauraDraytonCreative - $10.00

Instant Download from TinyStripes - $5.00

The Joy is in the Journal

You guys, I seriously love journaling. I have since I was a kid, when I would keep these elaborate notebooks filled with my pre-teen thoughts and Cosmogirl magazine cutouts. And then, of course, there was the early high school LiveJournal era. Oh, to be young again! Now I can't say that I've got tons of time to devote to channeling my innermost thoughts...but I do make time to use this nifty Q&A a Day 5-Year Journal that I picked up at Anthropologie last year. In fact, it's the last thing I do every day before I go to bed, and I highly appreciate the prompt so I never have to dig deep about what to write about!

Here are some other journals I'm loving, all of which can be found at Urban Outfitters. They would make wonderful gifts for friends, family, or yourself. Hope you like! Do you keep a journal, or have one of these? I want to hear about it!

Our Q&A a Day  |  The same journal I have, but for couples!

What Did I Eat Today?  |  Perfect for dieters, or foodies, or both!

Dream Journal  |  I am very into dreams, and drawing. Love this one!

Every Day  |  A 5-Year memory book for the freeform writing lover!

Travel Listography  |  Great for the traveler, and the lover of list-making!

Living Well One Line a Day  |  Great for tracking healthy lifestyle choices!

A Designer's (EXPENSIVE) Toolkit

I had a very expensive day today... The kind of day where you're literally just s t u n n e d.
The kind of day where I saw basically a year of scrimping and saving (and freelancing my pants off) flash before my eyes with just one swift swipe of the debit card. And I left not wanting to scare the nice gentleman helping me carry my new treasures to my car by quietly weeping...

You will know this feeling well if you've ever been a graphic designer who desperately needed to stock up on new hardware AND software all in the same hour-long trip to the technology store. I am feeling better about it now, especially since while I was going swipe happy,  I added a pair of Warby Parker glasses to my expenditure tally. You gotta be able to see straight (and look cool) to be a designer, I've learned! And I didn't end up really loving any of these ones... Once I crack open this new Macbook Pro, upload all of my new software, and try on my new glasses, I will just be a brand new lady! What do you think? Have you guys ever taken a soul-crushing trip to the Apple store? Here are a tally of today's purchases:

1  15-inch: 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro
My 3-year-old MacBook Pro has survived an exploded battery, a blown left speaker (which has left it whistling like a tea-kettle), 2 years of design school, a senior thesis project, and a job designing a magazine... It's officially time to retire him. Also, you should note, I NEVER go without AppleCare protection. It has saved me twice in the past, and I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry...

2 Adobe CS5.5 Design Premium
Who could pass up an Ohio State Employee discount on Adobe CS5.5 Design Premium when instead of costing the usual $1,899.99 smackers, I got it here for a miniscule $350 dollars??

3  Microsoft Office:Mac 2011
I once again chose to utilize my Ohio State employee discount to get this software down from $149.99 to a mere $85.00. Thanks, Wired Out!

4  A FREE HP Deskjet 3050A e-All-in-One Printer/Scanner/Copier 
I use a printer next to never, but why turn down a freebie? And who knows? Maybe I will use it more than I think I will?

5  Crosby Burgundy Fade glasses from Warby Parker
This was the biggest surprise of the day, actually. Libby, my lovely coworker, had utilized Warby Parker's amazing 5-pair "Try Before You Buy" offer, and we were so excited to get the package today! I love trying on glasses, so I snatched a few pairs to try on for myself, and kinda-sorta fell in love with this pair. They are exactly what I was looking for in a pair of big, plastic statement glasses. And I love the coloring, because it looks almost black on top when they're on, but with the red fade pattern, they go well with my hair. It was a great surprise, because I really never would have tried these on if they weren't sitting out on a table in our office. I ended up loving these way more than the ones I debated in this post...and thus, I was sold.

So I am truthfully stocked up on every piece of equipment a good designer could possibly need to do her job. I don't even know what to do next. But the answer is probably design something, so I can make back some of my squandered money!!

Buys on a Budget: Herringbone Boots

Remember a few weeks ago, when I blogged about a preppy rainy-day look that included a really great pair of two-toned Hunter Regent herringbone boots? I have had galoshes on the brain ever since! I really love the boots because they go with everything, and the herringbone pattern really spruces them up, so they aren't just your standard black wellies. They are truly what I would call the perfect pair; good for any rainy day occasion, whether you just wear them in transit and then slip on your shoes, or build the rest of your outfit around them. However, I really couldn't justify spending the full-price (nearly 200 smackers) on a pair of herringbone boots when I already have two pairs of perfectly good, albeit rather loud, galoshes sitting in my closet. So imagine my surprise when I found this pair today at Target, with a fraction of the price-tag. Needless to say, I'm now the proud owner of a new pair of herringbone rain boots, and this got me thinking...and then blogging...and now I'm pleased to bring you a new JSQ Feature: Buys on a Budget. In my travels, should I come across an equally great (and affordable) item that is nearly identical to it's designer counterpart, you will all be the first to know about it!