Monthly Favorites: April

Seriously can't believe that yet another month has flown by. Crazy.

Anyway, for this months favorites I don't have too much... They are mainly just random items that I have seemed to grow a liking too and I thought I might share them with all of you.

Miscellaneous

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: In all honesty I wasn't even sure if this book would make to be in a favorites post but when I was gathering everything to take photos I just said 'what the hell' and threw it in. After seeing the movie (looks like I did it backwards usually people read the book first) I wanted to get my hands on the book but I wanted to make sure I got the original cover instead of the motion picture cover. I finally went to a physical store and purchased this for $15 which is kind of expensive considering how small the book is, both physically and in thickness, as well as it being a paperback. I justified buying it though mainly because the money went to a bookstore which I feel are going extinct. Anyway, onto my actual thoughts on the book; it wasn't fantastic but at the end of the book I was like "hmm... That was rather good".

For the most part it's mainly personal preference when it comes to a book but I wanted to quickly mention that the movie is a lot cleaner than the novel. To my surprise they use a lot of drugs (same as in the movie but Charlie did a lot on his own) as well as sexual content. There isn't a whole ton of sexual stuff in there but there was a lot more in the book than there was in the movie. 

But all in all, I did enjoy it and if I went back to that day in Barnes and Noble and got the chance to   re-purchase it, I would. 

Kitty Ears from Claire's: Ok... This is a super random favorite and your probably wondering what the heck I am thinking. I got these ears half off at Claire's last year because I was a cat for Halloween (original, I know). They are actually really dang cute and it's a pity it's socially unacceptable to wear cat ears out in public. One day while I was cleaning my room I randomly put them on and they seemed to have found a place on my vanity countertop. Since then, I use them daily to push back my baby hairs when I apply my makeup in the morning. (I may or may not leave them on for a little while longer even after my makeup is on). 

Amethyst Bracelet: This was a late Easter gift from a lady who owns the boutique next door to where I work. I had never received an Easter gift before but honestly I fell in love with this! The color is sooooo gorgeous and it just makes me happy looking at it! Need I say more?

Smith Sunnies: Someone had left these at my dad's store about two years ago and never came back to claim them. My dad never used them so one day as I was heading out the door I happened to grab them. I have another pair of sunnies but they were rather expensive so I don't like bringing them to the beach or squishing them in my small purses.  

I ended up liking these a lot more than I thought I would and I kind of forgot about them until this month when I went to a beach party with some friends. First off I love how slim these are! They don't fit in my HOBO bag sadly but still. Second, I love the material of these. It's plastic but... Bendy? It's not bendable but it doesn't feel like hard plastic. It's very difficult to explain but hopefully that gives you an idea of what I am getting at. Because of that feeling, I don't mind throwing them around because I know the frames won't get scratched (the lens are a bit scratched but not anything too bad). Lastly I love how dark the lens are. 

Clearasil Scrub: I try a lot of scrubs. A lot. Every time I finish a tube I go out and buy a different one from a different line or brand because I heard somewhere that your skin can get immune to whatever scrub you use. I bought this sometime last month just so I could be ready when my Simple scrub ran out, but my friend had purchased the wash version of this and told me that it broke her out really badly. 

This made me so nervous because I have incredibly sensitive skin however I am so happy to announce that this didn't break me out! The opposite, in fact! My skin has never looked better! Ok. To be honest my skin isn't all that horrible to begin with but I have these year round gross bumps on my nose and skin and since using this they have loosened up and gone away! And my skin in general just looks so good (not to toot my own horn or anything). 

The cream part of this scrub is literally like a heavy duty moisturizing cream. It's almost like it's not even soap. It just feels so good on your skin (especially because I have dry skin) and afterwards my face feels so nice, fresh, clean, and moisturized. The beads are also really nice... They aren't too wimpy (like the Clean and Clear ones) but they aren't super rough (St. Ives). There is also a nice amount spread throughout. 

The scent isn't awful but it's not the best... It just smells like a moisturizer. 

Overall I love this product and it will definitely go on my re-purchase list!

Haagan-Dazs Rocky Road Ice Cream: Ok I'm literally such a loser for adding this in but I am obsessed with this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Yes that many exclamation points were necessary). CAN WE PLEASE DISCUSS THE MARSHMALLOW IN THIS?! It isn't like a regular marshmallow it's melted or something and it's seriously one of the greatest feelings in the world when your casually eating the ice cream and hit a marshmallow spot! And it all just oozes out and your sitting there squealing with joy because it tastes amazing and... *le sigh*. I've bought over 4 of these this month (and yes the banana is there to let y'all know I do eat stuff other than ice cream). 

Music Favorites

1. Surfboard by Cody Simpson 

I am not by any means a Cody Simpson fan. I rarely even listen to that genre but my friend sent me the music video and the tune ended up getting stuck in my head. I found myself searching it up on Spotify over and over again until it finally made it on my guilty pleasure playlist. It's a really catchy tune and if your looking for something easy definitely give it a try! 

2. Little Lion Man by Tonight Alive (Cover)

If you haven't listened to any of the "Pop goes Punk" albums they are seriously awesome. This cover by Tonight Alive is my favorite though and although it's kind of intense the chorus is amaaaazinggggggggg. If your curious the original is by Mumford and Sons. 

3. The Mighty Fall by Fall Out Boy ft. Big Sean

Not much to say about this song other than it's really fun to jam out to in the morning when I get ready. Big Sean (or should I say Little Sean he's so skinnyyyyy and tiny) has a very distinct voice and way he says "oh god" in the beginning and I've managed to mimic it pretty well resulting in it being sort of a little joke between my friends and I. My friends will text me "oh god" in response to something and then write " *big sean voice*. It's actually pretty funny for some dumb reason? 

That's it for this month! Sorry for lack of clothing items and beauty items but I'm in the process of trying some and I don't really know how I feel about any of them yet! 

If you have a favorites post up on your blog or want to let me know what your favorites are, definitely tell me in the comments! I would love to know! 

Monthly Favorites | March

Beauty

Victoria Secret's Hello Darling: I've actually been using this since February but forgot to include it in my monthly favorites post last month. I am so in love with this scent. I use it every day unless I'm going out at night or something. Not only is the bottle refreshing to look at, but the scent is also fresh which makes it perfect for spring. According to the bottle, it has notes of white nectar and peony. When you first spritz it, you get this amazingly fresh and light scent (peony I'm guessing) followed by this... Sort of warm sweet scent. It's really lovely. Next time you are in VS definitely head to the fragrances and get a whiff! 

Benefit Some Kind of a Gorgeous: This isn't a big favorite of mine, but I have found myself reaching for it when I go to tennis. I normally go bare face with a bit of sunscreen but lately my eyes have been looking so incredibly tired so I've been dabbing it under my eyes and in other problem areas. What I like about it is that it's so light so it doesn't feel like I'm wearing anything, and it seems to last long enough on my face. I wouldn't really recommend it as an everyday foundation/concealer (not sure what it is, actually), but it's really nice for those nights (or days) where you just took a shower, but then need to run to the grocery store or go to a late movie and you don't feel like going bare face and you are over re-applying your makeup. 

Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick #N9 (Copper Pink): I received this from Sephora as my birthday gift and although it isn't a color I would normally wear, I seriously love it. It's a prettier version of my lip color, if that makes sense... Lovely color. Nude with some warm dusty rose undertones. Very creamy, as well. 

Miscellaneous

Jewelry: These three bracelets came in a set but for some reason I always seem to grab for the silver bangles. As for rings I usually pair this heart ring with them. The ring itself isn't exactly my favorite but I like the way it fits and I love how I don't have to take it off when washing the dishes or getting my hands wet. Lastly in this jewelry category is this little box made to look like the skeleton of a sea urchin! Super cool! I don't keep much in it but it's so pretty to look at, plus it helps me keep track of my hair ties (to preserve them because I lose them all the time, I only have two out at a time). 

Pull & Bear Denim Button-Up: I waited long and hard for the right denim shirt... I wanted the right shade of blue, snap buttons, and a soft material. It took me a while to find it but I finally found this one when shopping in Jakarta. I wore it a ton last year but sort of let it rest during December and the beginning of 2014. Sometime this month I grabbed for it and apparently haven't let go since. If you don't have one of these in your wardrobe definitely add it to you wish list! They really give a cool and casual vibe to any outfit and are really comfortable! 

Music Favorites

1. Make Me Wanna Die by The Pretty Reckless

I first heard this song in a Victoria Secret advert a long time ago. I randomly thought about it earlier this month and added it to my playlist on Spotify and I listen to it non stop. It makes me feel so badass when I listen to it which I (((guess))) is a good thing? Maybe? No? Yes?

2. Holiday/Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Greenday

Yet another song on my Spotify playlist. I rediscovered the American Idiot album by Greenday and this song (well... Two songs) stood out to me in particular. Holiday is really fun and upbeat and helps me get ready for the day, whereas the lyrics to Boulevard of Broken Dreams are actually quite amazing. 

3. All Too Well by Taylor Swift

I admit I'm not the biggest T-Swizzle fan in the entire world, I mainly just listen to her top hits or whatnot, but I finally got around to playing to her entire Red album and seriously she is so incredibly talented. The lyrics to this song in particular are flawless and just her wording (especially in the middle part) makes it kind of relatable like you can feel and see what is going on. Bravo, Taylor. 

Can't believe March is gone! We are already in our fourth month into the new year... Crazy! Anyway, that's it for my monthly favorites, definitely let me know if you have tried any of these products along with what you have been loving this month! I would love to know! 

Everyday Makeup Routine

Benefit High Beam, They're Real Mascara, Hoola Bronzer | Maybelline The Rocket Mascara, Color Whisper in Orange Attitude | EcoTools Powder (?) Brush

Hi everyone! I thought I might switch it up today and do a quick beauty post concerning what I use when I get ready in the morning. 

First off... Let me explain about that really ugly concealer canister. I received that as a gift and it was a mineral concealer trio (not sure where it's from)... I had used most of it up so I knew I had to get more concealer. During the time I was on a neighboring island and I went into Sephora and ended up getting the Sephora Liquid Concealer (I don't think they sell it anymore??) and the nozzles on the concealers are really crappy and break off so you can't close it... So basically I just squeeze the product into the little concealer compartments and then I refill as needed. The poor container has been through hell... Literally. It's been thrown around, and even beaten with a hammer (I twisted it wrong and then the cap got stuck). However it's been with me for about three years now so props this little fella. The different shades really help me out actually because my skin color changes all the time depending on how much sun I get. 

This is the concealer I usually use but because I had forgotten it in my friends back last month I had rediscovered my Sonia Kashuk one (February Favorites) but for some reason for the past two weeks I have been reaching for this one instead of my Sonia one... Weird. 

Anyway, I usually start off with a freshly washed face and then I apply a bit of Cetaphil moisturizer. Afterwards I apply the concealer under my eyes, on the sides of my mouth (I have ugly veins there for some reason ew), on yet another vein by my eyebrow, and then on any blemishes I have. I then blend it out with my beauty blender except for the concealer under my eyes which I blend in with my ring finger. 

Afterwards I put on a bit of bronzer and then highlighter on my cheek bones and whatever is left on my fingers lightly goes on the bridge of my nose. 

For mascara I usually use They're Real by Benefit but it's drying up and semi finished but I love the way it separates my lashes so I still use it. Lately after I've applied that, I apply a mascara from Maybelline and I was never really that fond of layering mascaras but I have been doing it for about two weeks now and seriously the effect is amazing! 

Today I used this lovely orange color just for a little pop of color... I usually don't sport any lip color unless I actually have plans or I simply feel like putting something on. Maybe I'll do a post of my top favorite lip colors? Thoughts on this?

Definitely drop me a comment letting me know if you use any of these products and what steps or products you include in your own daily makeup routine! I am definitely interested to see what different products you all use.

February Favorites 2014

Beauty

Simple Cleansing Wipes: I've been using the Neutrogena ones for the longest time but I absolutely hate the residue it leaves behind! And I'm not sure if it's my imagination but it sort of stings my skin?? Anyway, I have heard lots of amazing things about this brand so I thought I would give their makeup wipes a try and I really like them! I won't one is better than the other but I will say that the residue it leaves behind isn't as... Hmm... Thick as the other ones, plus it doesn't sting my skin. (I wash my face in the shower and I only use makeup wipes to wipe away any extra mascara that didn't wash off in the hot water). 

Sonia Kashuk Concealer: I bought this back in July of last year at Target for around $10 and I really liked it. Since I am kind of a concealer freak I kind of forgot about it and started using a different one, especially when the colder seasons came around because this shade was a bit too dark for me. Since my birthday trip to Oahu, I came back visibly darker (Even though I'm brown and always will be brown, I prefer myself on the lighter end of the spectrum, however when I came back from Oahu I was really loving my tan!). I accidentally left my usual concealer jar in my friends purse so I decided to open this one up again and I fell in love all over again. It's super creamy, nice coverage, and matches me perfectly. It's long lasting (for me at least) and it covers blemishes and discolorations on my face left my pesky pimples up really nicely. Love it! I apply it using my EcoTools concealer brush. I don't have a Target on my island but next time I am near one I will definitely be picking up another jar! From what I remember there are only four shades to choose from which sucks but oh well, and if your wondering, I'm (currently) using the shade Wheat. 

Love&Beauty Beauty Blender Sponge: This is another item I purchased on my birthday trip. I was waiting in line at Forever21 to purchase some things and just for kicks I snatched it up. I had no idea I was going to love it this much! I can't compare it to other knock off brands and the actual Beauty Blender, but for $3.00 or whatever I paid I seriously love it. The color is super cute too. I use this to blend in my concealer. It's much faster this way and it's easier to hold than my usual sponge. 

Benefit High Beam: Nothing much to say about this other than I have been using this for a while and I still love it as much as I did the first day I got it. I never thought highlighters would actually do anything, I just thought it would be fun to put on, but seriously it makes your skin just look so... pretty in lower lighting and in regular lighting... Love it. 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer: This is a little sample size I received but I never used it. I recently just started conturing (just a bit... it's really fun to put on) and I actually really like the way it looks. It's matte which I love, but I do have to layer it at least twice to make it visible on my skin tone. After I run out of this sample size, definitely going to purchase the regular one! Oddly enough this travel/sample has lasted me a while! I apply this with my EcoTools powder (?) brush which is just barely tapered, and on top of that I pinch it sometimes to get a more define edge before blending. 

Benefit They're Real: Alas. Another Benefit sample size. On top of being a concealer freak I'm also a bit of a mascara freak. I bought this mascara on top of three others but for some reason I didn't like this much at first but I recently started using it (I think sometime towards the end of November) and I ended up really liking it... I don't know what I was thinking?!?!??! It's amazing?!?!!? Why didn't I like it before?!?!?!?!

Tarte Matte Lip Crayon in Fiery: Ok. I spent way too much money on this damn thing ($25 mother frikin dollars on a jumbo crayon for your lips) but I don't regret it at all. I was frantically looking around Sephora, trying to find one more thing to buy just because I'm weird and the Tarte packing is so beautiful so I was sucked in.This color is freaking amazing. It's looks like your standard red but when you actually look at the product and actually wear it, it's a bit darker than you expect it to be... I don't know how to explain it. It's beautiful. It also lasts a hell of a long time (wore it all day today. From 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM) and when you apply it... It smells weirdly pleasant... Sort of like menthol. I hope to pick up more from this line in the future. 

EOS Lip Balm: I'm obsessed with these spheres. The last two weeks of this month have been brutal to my lips so I've been applying this every night before I go to bed and I love it so incredibly much. It's sort of... A dry texture, if you know what I mean. I have some chapsticks from Blistex that just feels like I'm applying an oily layer to my lips, whereas EOS is more on the... I don't know... Dry side? It's so hard to explain but I like the product and how it feels on my lips. Bottom line; love it. Going to use it tonight again. Not entirely crazy about this particular scent (summer fruit) but you can barely smell it. 

Dot by Marc Jacobs: This was the birthday gift I received from my best friend and I couldn't have been happier with the scent she chose! To be entirely honest, It doesn't really smell like anything special in the bottle (it's just a nice scent), but I feel like it mixes in with your natural body chemistry, producing something really just... Pleasant. That's all I can say. It's nothing spectacular it's just something that you enjoy smelling and you want to be around.

Miscellaneous

Rings: I love rings in general but this month I found myself gravitating to these two. I don't wear them on the same hand, but on the opposite. I purchased these in a set of three rings from Pacsun for around $10. I originally got it specifically for this horseshoe ring, but sadly I lost it. I think it went down my friends sink drain but not entirely sure and to be honest I'm too lazy to dig for it. 

Grey Aero Hoodie: I am not the type of person who likes clothing that has the brand name plastered everywhere (cough, Aeropostale, cough) but I went in there because my friend fancied some jeans (WHICH LOOK AMAZING ON HER THEY FIT HER PERFECTLY AND THEY WERE ON SALE FOR $9 EACH) and while I waited for her I came across these half priced PLAIN hoodies. For some reason I really wanted to get it in large (so I did) and I practically lived in it. It's so soft and cosy and it goes past my fingers and ughhhhhh. Loveeeee. It's actually been really cold here and this keeps me nice and warm. But on the other hand it's not super thick so I can use it on regular days without overheating (like today. It was sunny but had chilly winds and I wore this with some shorts and slippers). What I really like about it is how tragically basic it is, but what I love even more are the details that make it special. The first one being the hot pink little... Plastic ends of the drawstrings (does anyone know what those are called?) and the tulip cut sides. Little details like that make me happy. 

Forever21 Tee: Another utterly basic piece. Black charcoal tee shirt, crew neck, loose, front pocket, cuffed sleeves, semi burnout, soft. I wear it all the time. What I don't like about it is that the dye is like... Running? Especially around the areas where it's sewn. Thinking about buying some dye and just fixing it. 

Paper Towns by John Green: I don't want to ramble too much but I enjoyed this book a lot more than I anticipated. Had some suspense and really opened my eyes to how people and friendship work. Definitely recommend checking it out! I mention it to everyone I meet! 

Bath & Body Works Candle in Peach Bellini: They were having a sale on the mini's (3 for $10) so I couldn't pass it up. I somehow winded up getting both a soap and candle in this scent but seriously I'm not even upset this thing smells amazing! Almost halfway done! It smells so yummy and fresh and just frikin fabulous. Go and check it out next time your near a B&BW.

Music Favorites:

1.  She Looks So Perfect by 5SOS. 

Holy frikin crap I love this song. It makes me smile and want to dance and Calum's solo makes my heart melt. The music video is fun to watch as well. Michael (my bae) makes me swoon ughhh he's so cute. 

2. Somewhere in Neverland by All Time Low

Ok I had a really hard time with this second choice. Tbh it's sort of a tie between Love Like War, Get Down on Your Knees and Tell Me You Love Me, The Irony of Choking on a Lifesaver, and this song but I decided to go with Somewhere in Neverland simply because the lyrics are so incredibly sweet. 

"Wendy we can get away

I promise if you're with me, say the word and we'll find a way

I can be your lost boy, your last chance

Your "everything better" plan

Oh, somewhere in Neverland"

3. #GETITRIGHT by Miley Cyrus

Thanks to an amazing website called Spotify, I'm easily able to listen to all these albums I'm just really lazy to Youtube or listen to the previews on iTunes. I prefer just starting from the first song and just having the album as background noise as I clean or... Use the inter webs. Anyway, Bangerz was one of those albums and seriously this song (although a bit risqué if you listen to the lyrics) is sooooooo fun to dance around to. I find myself humming it all the time. 

That's pretty much everything I have been absolutely and unconditionally loving this February. This was really fun for me to write, and hopefully this is the first of many monthly favorites posts to come!  Please let me know if you would be interested in me continuing this! 

And please be sure to type me a comment telling me something you've been loving as well! I'm curious! 

xoxo,

                                          

                   Kelly