April Favorites

I do not post as much as I should on here. It seems that time goes so quickly and you try and squeeze as much in as possible. As the weather gets nicer, I try and spend more and more time outdoors. My sister and I walked a ton last weekend and it will only continue as it gets steadily nicer. Unfortunately here in NYC, the weather enjoys changing frequently so we cannot predict how each week will be.

Now, onto my April favorites! It's been awhile since I've done a favorites. I don't change up my products much and when I find something I like, I stick with it (and buy back ups when Sephora has their annual sales).

 

Julep Heather 



 

This is what I'm currently wearing on my nails. I bought it probably a year ago and forgot how much I love it. Julep has amazing application and I somehow manage to not get it all over my right hand. I consider metallic a neutral. This is a great almost bronzy color. It's great for all year around and I will be pulling this out more.  

HBO's Game of Thrones 

 

Okay, I admit that I am not fully hooked on this yet. I'm on the 2nd season and feel like it will take me awhile to catch up. I'm enjoying it more than I thought and of course having something else to discuss with everyone (since everyone in the world seems to watch it besides me). Having HBO thanks to my parents is an amazing perk-- so many movies and new TV shows added to my Apple TV. 

 L'Apicio



 

Saiman and I found this restaurant thanks to the Bravo show "Best New Restaurant". I am so glad we ended up going. I wanted pasta, but ended up going with the chicken because everyone on the show couldn't stop raving about it in the final test. It is so worth it. Everything was perfect that evening-- we had great service, amazing food, and the company wasn't too bad either. ;) I'm trying to convince my parents to go here next time they are in town. It is pretty far downtown-- but was a nice walk from Saiman's place in the East Village. I'm sure eventually I'll be able to convince them. My dad more so than my mom...

 

 



 Sephora VIB Sale



This sale is a dangerous thing. I think we ended up spending close to $500 between my sister and I during the event. Oops? Good thing I have free Rouge Shipping. My sister and I actually attended the event as well, which is something we haven't done before. It was nice to go when the store wasn't very crowded and I was actually able to get someone to help me! I should have taken advantage and found my shade in a few foundations I want to try... but maybe for the next event.

 

 

 



 Being in a relationship...

 

Something is different this time. I'm not sure if it's because I'm working, went on a few bad dates, or what it is-- but I am absolutely loving being in a relationship. I have someone to spend my weekends with and it's awesome having "our places" (a breakfast place, diner, and Italian restaurant so far). We are super nerds and have a shared Excel to document things we want to do and things we've finished. He's coming home to Pittsburgh with me in about two weeks, so I am really hoping this trip goes well.

 

 

Apple's Health App

 

I have a love/hate relationship with this app. I love it on days where it says I walked 15 miles in Philly. But I wasn't too fond of mine when mine said that I walked about 4 miles less than my sister even though we walked the same amount that day. I'm guessing it's because she had hers in a pocket while mine was in a purse? I guess we'll never know. It's fun to track how much I walk on the weekends. I don't think it's much, but when it's over 10 miles I actually realize that's a good amount. I'm interested to see how little I walk in Pittsburgh....

 

Those are all my favorites from this month. Of course some of them are ongoing but I just really felt myself enjoying them more in April.

On Life...

As I have mentioned, I live in Manhattan. We were supposed to get a huge snow storm today, but luckily we did not get hit that bad. So instead, we got to leave work early to brave the commute home and grocery store lines. This morning we woke up to a quiet city that is slowly getting back on its feet. This morning was exactly what I needed. I cleaned out closets, took a bath, and am getting ready to have a late lunch and paint my nails. 

So, what has been going on in my life? 

FAMILY

I still live with my sister, which is amazing. We've really come to love our apartment and call it home. My dad is in town at the end of this week and we're excited to go to dinner with him and just mix things up again. My mom is busy at work (they sell industrial heaters), but planning on coming up in the next few months. Max is doing well but can't seem to get it in his head he'll be a senior in high school next year. Belle is probably the happiest puppy in the world since she LOVES the snow. This is her favorite time to be outside. She is not a fan of her booties indoors but outside, she thinks she is a beast. 

WORK

Everything at work has started to settle. We're getting ready for a new system for Retail, but luckily I think we have a few months before that. We're in the middle of market, so not exactly the best time to be out of the office. But it has been a great little break. I'm actually planning on using my vacation days this year and am excited to just have some long weekends here in the city (sometimes you need those staycations!). 

DATING

So, this has been something that has really been off the table basically since I moved to NYC. During my time at Pace, I went on one date and it wasn't very good. Now that I'm settled into an apartment, work, and life in general-- I decided it would be a good time to see what's out there. I decided Hinge would be a great way to go since I don't really go out to bars and my industry has very few straight males. I kept it pretty quiet with friends-- really only a few close friends knew I was dating. I lucked out and met an amazing guy after only about two months on the app. We immediately clicked and have been dating over a month now. Something feels different and maybe it's because I'm older or I'm pretty settled into my life, but this feels right. 

NYC

I am still in love with this city. There's just something about it that is so magical. This winter has not been as bad-- plus our heat works so much better in our new apartment. However, I cannot wait for it to be spring to be able to walk everywhere, go to Central Park, and other fun warm weather activities. Thanks to Instagram, I've found some fabulous new restaurants to try. I've got a list of places to go to and don't think I will ever get tired of the city. 

Sephora Beauty Sale Purchases

Today is the last day for the 20% off from Sephora. Most of these beauty brands never go on sale, so now seems to be the perfect time to stock up. I purchased a few items from the store, one online order, and currently have a few other products in my online basket. I'm currently debating if I should go to Sephora to just purchase them, or just place another online order....

I normally don't spend this much on beauty products, but I figure this should last me until the next sale which is normally in April.

Fresh Sugar Dream

I wrote about my love for Fresh's Sugar lip treatment in my last post. I knew I was going to get at least one during this sale and wanted to try the brown sugar body polish, so I figured I would just get the set that also included the face polish. I've used their face wash before, so I'm hoping their gentle exfoliant will be fine with my skin. All three products have rave reviews online, so I'm excited to put them to the test. 

NEST Fragrance Collection Set

I love Nest Fragrances. I have one of their candles and I am obsessed with it every time I light it to burn. I bought the roller ball of Midnight Fleur back in April and am almost halfway done with it. I decided to try a few of the others before buying a full bottle. These are adorable little bottles. They're about an inch high and seem like they have enough fragrance to see if you like how they smell and wear on you. I haven't pulled these out of the bag yet, but am excited to add them to my fragrance collection. 

 

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick- Canvas 

I have this in their iconic red, but this looks like it will be a great neutral. Fleur from Fleur DeForce raved about it so I figured why not since it was only $8. Plus, when have you ever used up a lipstick? I have more than I know what to do with, yet keep buying more. I like the formula of the icon, so I know it will apply and stay all day. 

 Marc Jacobs Honey

Ok, I don't really need another perfume... but this one smells fantastic. I love all the honey smelling Lush products, but the smell doesn't last as long as I wish. I think this will be a great daytime fragrance that isn't as heavy or floral as some of my other scents. 

Fresh- Fresh Fix

I had a sample of this face cleanser and it was great and gentle. Some of the facewashes I currently have in my shower right now (such as my Murad) are too drying for the winter, so I need something gentle that won't suck all the moisture out. This seemed like a great deal and gives me a chance to try the Advanced Therapy lip treatment. 

Sephora Favorites- Cleansing Ritual To Go

These Sephora Favorites kits are the best to try new products and make sure they work for you. I've used products from First Aid Beauty and Origins before and know they work well for my skin and have heard great things about Boscia and Dr. Dennis Gross, so for $16, I figure I should try it out. They didn't have this at my local Sephoras (that I could find), so this was ordered online. Hopefully the sizes are good!

Alterna Caviar CC Cream for Hair

I had two samples of this, but somehow lost one in the move. I love this stuff. It smells great, doesn't weigh my hair down, and provides some great benefits. My mom also purchased a full size of this during the sale. My mom and I have totally different hair types- I have thick, curly hair and she has thin, straight hair-- so I think this is the only product that works for both of us. My sample has lasted me a long time, so I have no doubt that this will as well.

Beautyblender pro

This is a repurchase-- I use it with my Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation and it makes it apply perfectly. It just makes it look a lot more natural than using a foundation brush. I like the pro because it is black and doesn't show the foundation as much. I use the Beautyblender Solid to clean it and it has lasted my sister and I awhile, so I picked one up right before the sale (it's currently sold out online, so I'm glad I grabbed it before and it wouldn't have been that much of a savings). 

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Another repurchase for me, but this time I decided to get the limited edition bottle designed by L'Wren Scott because it looks cool and I work in fashion. I use it after cleansing and it smells great. It seems to give my skin a little extra boost and makes me smile. I just spray a spritz or two before putting on moisturizer and my skin seems to like it.

Now, onto what is currently in my cart and I am debating purchasing: 

Glamglow Gift Sexy

I have bought minis of the black mask and have had samples of the other two. I absolutely love the hydrating mask and this seems like a good deal since you get that and then $40 worth of the other two masks. They last a long time and I'm sure the hydrating mask will be great for winter-- but do I really need it? 

Rouge Louboutin

DO I NEED A $50 NAIL POLISH??? Probably not. But I've spent $30 on a bottle before and have more than 6 bottles from Chanel. This bottle is amazing and the color looks perfect. I don't have an amazing red and think I need to bite the bullet and buy this while there is a slight discount on it. I don't see Mr. Louboutin putting this on sale after introducing all new colors and having positive feedback on his venture into beauty. 

Fresh- Sugar Lip Treatment in Honey

I have been debating this for awhile, but bought the tulip color over the summer. This seems like a great "your lips but better" color and has the same amazing properties as the original. This is the thing I think I will end up buying. 

What did you pick up from the Sephora 20% off promotion? Is there anything I missed?

Holy Grail

This phrase seems to be weighted heavily in the beauty community. In an industry where there is always something new to try, it's hard to find products that you love and continue to repurchase over and over again. I have sensitive skin (as I'm currently having a reaction to something and am trying to clear up my face that is peeling near my left eye), so I try to stick to pretty natural and high end products since I know they tend to use better ingredients. There are plenty of great drug store items, but some things you just need to splurge a little bit more on. Here are some of my holy grail products including some I will be picking up in the Sephora sale this upcoming week.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

I get extremely dry lips in the winter time. I am constantly putting on some sort of lip balm. My sister got me this for Christmas 2 years ago. I've probably gone through at least 4 of these since then. They are my new staple and I have the original, rose, berry, and tulip. I know I'm going to pick up a spare original and maybe the honey during the 20% off promotion at Sephora. They are super easy to apply, last a long time, and the color ones give you such great color pay off while staying moisturising. 

Diorshow Mascara

This is amazing mascara. It was the first high end one I fell in love with because it doesn't bother my eyes and gives me lasting long eyelashes. My mom usually buys this when Nordstrom does their buy 2 get one free promotion and gives me one. It isn't hard to take off with makeup remover, which is great so you aren't pulling at your eyes. 

Bioderma

Ok, I was really hoping this stuff wasn't amazing. But of course all the hype around it is worth it. It pains me a little bit to shell out $40 a bottle for makeup remover. However, I purchase the large bottle (500ml) back in May and have at least another month left in it. I was purchasing makeup wipes about every month for $10 a package, so this actually works out to be cheaper (even including my expensive cotton pads). I'm planning on traveling for Thanksgiving, a weekend in New England, and Christmas - so I need to either get their makeup wipes or just a small bottle in addition to my new large one probably next week. If only I had a friend in France that could ship me this!

Kate Somerville EradiKate

This is so much of a holy grail that my mom always has a bottle in Pittsburgh! This stuff can perform miracles on blemishes. Big blemishes suddenly go away and are less noticeable. Of course they aren't 100% gone, but it helps a lot more than other blemish treatment. The only annoyance is it is $24 and it always starts to dry up before we use all the pink treatment. I feel like I am not always getting my $24 worth, but I keep repurchasing, so I guess it doesn't bother me too much.

Chanel Gold Fiction

This one is cheating a little bit. It is no longer available and I still have the original bottle I purchased in 2009. Amazingly, this nail polish still applies amazing. It is seriously the best nail polish EVER. First off, it hasn't gotten gross in the 5 years I've had it. I've used it a lot and my sister also uses it pretty frequently and we haven't finished the bottle. I wish they still made this or I would have purchased a second bottle. It is my favorite nail polish. It applies easily and perfect in two coats. It's always my go to and is surprisingly neutral.

J. Crew Jackie Cardigan

I don't even know how many of this cardigan I have. I have a few in Pittsburgh and most here. Can we talk for a second how I almost had a panic attack in the middle of J. Crew in Rockefeller Center one night when one of the sales associates told me they quit making this. Luckily a nice manager saw my distress and got me several black to purchase and assured me that they were not discontinued. If this ever happened, I would probably buy out the stores in NYC. And then make my mom clear out every store in the Pittsburgh area. This is the perfect cardigan. It's cotton, so you can just throw it in the washing machine. It's 3/4 length sleeves so it doesn't get in the way. There is not a week where I don't wear at least one of them. My one black has lost a few buttons, so I think with the next J. Crew promotion, I might need to buy a new black... and maybe that gorgeous light pink. 

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

Apparently I've always had expensive taste. My first big girl fragrance that I liked at Sephora is this and Hermes. This still is one of my favorite scents and makes me smile whenever I wear it. I don't think it gets old and is great for year around. There isn't a time I wouldn't want to wear this. I love buying the roller balls so you can travel easily with it and can toss in your purse for whenever you need a freshening up.

Wicked

Okay, maybe for some people it's weird to have a holy grail Broadway show. But this is what brought me to New York City and so many of my friends. As weird as it seems, coming to New York to see Shoshanna Bean and Megan Hilty on the stage singing the songs I had memorized and loved was incredible. I have seen the production numerous times (including the Broadway production one night and the First National Tour the next afternoon last summer. Oops?)... I honestly don't know how many times I have seen this show. Most recently, I had the pleasure of seeing it with my mom in Pittsburgh. It was amazing to sit in the third row of the theater I grew up seeing shows in and seeing family friends in the production (interestingly, one grew up in Erie so it is his hometown too... I'm sure you can guess who I am talking about ;) ) My mom had never sat that close for this show, so never got to see the amazing details in the costumes. She is still raving about it, so clearly it was money well spent. I haven't seen the show since earlier this year, so it's pretty close to time for me to go back. Congrats on 11 years on Broadway, Wicked!

What are your holy grail items? Is there anything I am missing out on?

July Favorites

Hello, Summer? Where did you go? I cannot believe that it's August 2nd. This summer has been beyond crazy. Close to the middle of June, we found out that our apartment was raising it's rent by $150 a month. We didn't feel like it was worth that much for a walk up with empty apartments. We probably could have negotiated them down, but we decided to find a new apartment. We did it without a broker and my mom to help look and set the budget-- and we couldn't be happier. We live in a doorman building that is closer to midtown-- my walk to work is super short and Abbie is close to the express subway to school. I practically cringed the first time I saw my bank account after rent was taken out-- but that might have been because I've been shopping this month. I may or may not have spent close to $1000 on shoes in the past two weeks. Oops? Luckily, we get a free month of rent in our building, so I won't have to pay again until September-- woo! This is my first real weekend in the apartment. I went home with my mom for a long weekend and then my brother was here for SneakerCon last weekend. I'm excited to finish unpacking, do some organization, and relax since we're in market again!

Here are some of my favorites from July!

Beauty

 Beauty Blender

I had always used Dior Flash foundation, so had no use for a beauty blender. But since switching to the Chanel (and using samples of various BB since I'm a little darker than normal), I've been using this. It's a great way to put on foundation and make it look natural. I bought the beautyblender pro two set-- so my sister and I would save a little bit of money. Plus, the black doesn't show the makeup as much as the pink. I don't always wash it after every use (I try to), but I love the solid cleaner that they sell at Sephora as well. 

Chanel Le Vernis in Ballerina 

During market, we are only allowed to wear neutral colors on our nails. Even though I'm not on the sales team, I still like to stick to this rule. This is a perfect light pink nail polish. It wears well and looks perfect with 2-3 coats. It also dries pretty quickly, which is always a plus since I typically paint my nails later at night. 

FOOD

 See's Candies Scotch Kiss

These are amazing. They're sort of like Carmellos that I used to love, but are even better. I wish we had a See's Candies in NYC, but that makes them that much better when I'm home. Plus, my mom normally sends some of these in any package she sends. These are amazing. The See's in Pittsburgh frequently sells out of them. They are marshmallows covered in soft caramel and are exactly 2 perfect bites. We just finished our supply and only have some caramels left. Everything from See's is delicious!

44 & X

I had passed this restaurant in the winter and had wanted to go ever since. My dad came to town, and we ended up going to dinner here with his business partner. It was delicious-- even I had a hard time picking something to eat. Needless to say, all three plates were pretty much clean when they came to clear them up. I know I'll be back now that I'm not that far away from it. Their brunch menu looks delicious! 

RANDOM 

Having a doorman is AMAZING. I've always had to plan all packages and have ended up having a ton of stuff either sent to my parents house or were sent back to the sender. Since we have a bigger apartment, we've had to get some extra things to fill it up-- so we've gotten a package basically every other day... Plus, they make sure your guests are let up, your building safe, and are just awesome. I feel like now I have one, I can never go back to a walk up building.

Apple TV

We just got one at home about 6 months ago, so it was always awesome to use at home. Now that we have room enough for a TV, we got this awesome little device. I'm able to watch Netflix, my random free TV shows from Apple, anything from iTunes, and even Airplay from Abbie's computer. It's amazing to have a TV after not having one. I had one in my dorm my junior year, but that was it during college. It's nice to have on during the mornings or in the evenings when I am eating dinner.

I'm heading into market again, but am sure I'll find plenty of new products to use as summer winds down. I'm excited for fall, but wish summer could be forever! There are some things I have not been able to do this summer (Broadway Softball on Thursdays), but others (Shakespeare in the Park, sitting in the park reading a book, shopping, and Broadway at Bryant Park) that I was able to enjoy this summer!

May Favorites

Well, it seems like we're really into summer now. Most people in college are done with finals and those still in high school, such as my brother, are close to finishing up. We're going full force ahead at work. We started market for SS15 and since we have 3 different brands, we go from one market to the next to the next. So, weekends will be super lazy since I'm in market until the middle of July! I did a lot of shopping in May, but haven't been using any product enough to love it. But I do have some great favorites for May!

BEAUTY

 La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream

My mother swears by La Mer. If we ever have anything wrong with our skin, she asks if we put La Mer on it yet. She's been devoted for years and got my grandmother and several friends to switch from drug store to the cult favorite. Luckily for me, I get all the samples from my mom and grandma. I'm currently loving the soft cream for summer. It's a little lighter than the original formula, but still moisturizes like no other. I seriously dread the day when I have to go buy this myself. I'm almost out of my sample jar, but I came home from Memorial Day weekend with two more! :) 

La Mer Lip Balm

This is a rediscovery. During the winter, I get the driest lips in the world. My mom bought this for me since I wasn't too keen on the idea of putting plain La Mer on my lips. This stuff keeps my lips so nice and smooth. The texture is great and it has a nice mint smell. My only complaint is the container-- if it was in a container like lipstick or chapstick, I would be obsessed. Instead, I keep this at work (where it is extremely dry-- we have studio lights on our floor). Since it's gotten warmer, it makes it easier to apply. 

Aveda Beautifying

I've been having some issues with my scalp-- I had it two years ago, which is when I started not washing my hair every day. But I've been doing that and the front part of my scalp was still extremely dry and starting to flake. I tried some stuff from Sephora that were all ok, but were like $60 per bottle. My mom goes to an Aveda salon (I go to a Bumble & Bumble one) and her hair dresser recommended this. It has a bunch of uses and oils are becoming more popular. It smells great and for $23, I didn't have much to loose. Plus all the reviews are fabulous. So far, it's helping. When I use it before and after I wash my hair, I notice I'm not as itchy and I do not get the flakes of dry scalp. I also use it in the main part of my hair to help with the curls and frizz. 

Jin Soon- Nostalgia

Okay ladies-- stop your search for the perfect nude polish. This is it. My sister and I bought it for my mom for mother's day. She only likes nude polish on her toes and hasn't found one she loved-- until now. The formula is great -- applies easily and looks good with two coats. I might be purchasing another bottle for myself. My mom takes it with her when she gets pedicures because she knows she'll love the color and she can touch up at home if something gets messed up, which is such a smart idea!

OTHER

I don't have many other favorites this month, so I'm combining fashion and food into one category. 

Valentino Lolita Ballet Flats

I bought these from work in a perfect camel color in that same stamped leather. I seriously wear them all the time on weekends. They are so comfortable and look great. Not many accounts bought them, but I know if I can find them, I'll buy more colors (I know Saks on Fifth Avenue had them in navy and bright pink). I have a pair of Lavin ballet flats, but perhaps they aren't broken in (and I bought my true to size- I probably should have purchased a half size up), they aren't as comfortable as these. Plus the tiny little rock studs at the ankle- I die. 

The Cravory's Salted Caramel Cream Cookies

When I was flying back home, I saw these in the check out area by the food at LGA. I had read about The Cravory and tried their Birthday Cake one from Dylan's Candy Bar. Now, who knows how old that cookie was since it was a little bit hard and I didn't love it. But salted caramel cream called my name. Now, when eating it, I didn't really get the salted caramel. It was more of a brown sugar cookie with white chocolate chunks. It was great- super soft and delicious. Now, I think we need to order a bunch for when I go home next. I'd love to give the Birthday Cake another try and chocolate chip, cookies and cream, and their brown sugar vanilla sound delicious!

What are you loving from May? Anything exciting coming up for June? I have the May Bergdorf Goodman Glossybox at the post office and Summer Elizabeth and Clarke on it's way, so check back for reviews on those!

Spring Haul!

What is it about spring that makes people go shopping? Maybe because it's finally nice and a lot of retailers start up with their friends & family sales. I don't buy too much that isn't on sale (unless it is items that do not go on sale), so I've been shopping more than usual thanks to some fabulous sales. Here are some of my recent purchases.

CLOTHING

Oh my gosh. Saks Friends and Family-- I resisted you until the last day. And then suddenly I was walking home at 8pm with 4 full bags of stuff for myself, mom, and sister. Oops? I won't go into their stuff, but will concentrate on what I got. I went in for one top and came out with it and a pair of jeans, capris, and shorts. 

Joe's Cropped Skinny Jeans

I used to love Joe's and then I went towards Paige for my denim needs. But after having some of their new vintage styles, I remembered why I like them. They are affordable (in the designer denim area), comfortable, and they have nice medium fades. I wore these last Saturday and they were extremely comfortable. Plus, you can wear them with sneakers (as I did) or dress them up easily. They're a prefect medium fade for summer. 

Joe's Bermuda Shorts

I really like a nice bermuda- my mom has been wearing them for years. They're casual and perfect for weekends in the park. I'm 23 years old, so it's not appropriate nor would I want to be running around in short shorts. These keep you cool and appropriate at the same time. 

 rag & bone/JEAN Skinny Jeans

I've always loved Rag & Bone jeans from afar. They always seem to have a perfect fade and fit so well. I tried on a bunch of pairs when my mom was in town, but I couldn't find any I liked. I found these by themselves at Saks. They fit perfect, besides being a little bit long. They are a great dark fade, so I'll be able to wear them to work with a nice top. Now, does anyone have suggestions on where to get the perfect hem in NYC? Years ago, I used to have all my jeans hemmed at Pittsburgh Jean Company. They had a woman who worked MAGIC. It looked like they had never been hemmed. She used the original bottoms and there was no extra fabric inside. I've never found anyone as good as her and sadly, I never figured out who performed such denim magic as they closed a few years ago. In its height, I used to know all the managers and the owner and basically only bought my  jeans there for several years. Scotty (as we knew him), if you magically happen to find this-- where can I find such a magic tailor? I know Nordstrom didn't hire him or her.

Cooper & Ella Taylor Blouse

I bought this blouse in navy and was the original reason I went into Saks. They had one small left, so obviously it was meant to be. I'm not familiar with the brand and they seem pretty small based on their own website. I've only worn it once, but it was unique and a great blouse. It will be interesting to see how it holds up over time as it was just around the $100. 

And then there is my love, J. Crew.... 

J. Crew Peplum Top

I love J. Crew sale. When I went a few weeks ago, it was an additional 40% off sale. I bought a basic t-shirt for $7, which is much better quality and less of a headache than going into H&M or Forever 21. This top in particular is great. It is just enough of a peplum to give you the look, but is still super flattering. I bought it in black and cream, and if I come upon it in navy, I'll buy it in that as well. The only negative is it's handwash only. 

J. Crew Jackie Cardigan

This has been my favorite cardigan for years. I have a few in grey, purple, green, and of course black. It is machine washable, kind of fitted, and three-quarter length sleeves. I love it so much. I thought they might have discontinued it since they didn't have it on the floor, but a nice manager found some in the back in black- so I got one. It's sometimes cold in my office, so it's great to have a cardigan to throw over my shirt. 

BEAUTY

Sephora did a 15% off for their beauty insiders. I bought some stuff, but of course now there is more I currently have in my cart (beauty blenders, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Trio...). I'm slowly starting to get back to normal with my face after being Lilo, and have some new things I gradually want to try. But here are a few of my actual most recent beauty purchases: 

LUSH Honey I Washed The Kids Bar Soap

This is the bar soap version of my April Favorite, It's Raining Men. It seriously smells so good. It leaves my skin feeling nice and soft. I know some people say theirs doesn't last long, but all my Lush soaps last as long as any other bar soap I've had. Maybe it's the way they're using them? I don't put mine under direct water. The water on my body is enough to get a nice lather. 

Dior Creme de Rose Lip Balm

I'm not the biggest fan of lip balms in these containers, but I find that now that it's spring, I reach for them just as much as my stick lip balms. This has a nice light scent of roses and I'm hoping is a nice alternative to the La Mer lip balm (for $40) that I keep at my desk. 

Origins Clear Improvement Mask Pods

I used to only use Origins products. Now it's been a few years, but I was intrigued by these masks. Little mask pods for $8, so you really get to try before you buy the full size. I don't do a mask every week, so these will last me awhile. I used one and enjoyed it-- and didn't use the whole pod. You could probably easily get two uses out of each pod. 

RANDOM

Quadratini Vanilla Wafer Cookie

These little cookies are so addicting. I saw them at my local bodega and decided to get them since they are a more grown up version of those sugar cookies we ate as kids. But these are so much better. They have a great vanilla flavor and I can just pop a few in my hand as I'm running out the door. I have a massive sweet tooth, so I kind of have been buying a new bag every week.... Oops? They have a lot of different flavors, so if you don't love vanilla - there are plenty of others to try. 

 The Container Store is my new obsession. My sister and I will have been in our apartment for two years this summer and we have a lot of stuff. I want to get organized and clean it up so it's not always a mess. No matter what I need storage wise, I can find it here. I have things for nail polish, shoe boxes, regular shoes, towels, etc. I have to go slowly since each time I go, I seem to come out with $100 worth of stuff and only make a dent in cleaning and organizing. Don't get me wrong, Bergdorf Goodman shopping bags are great organizing tools, but I slowly want this place to become a home since we're going to renew our lease for another year. My sister has friends who are moving out of the neighborhood, but we couldn't imagine living anywhere else unless we were upgrading to a building in the same neighborhood with a doorman and elevator (such as my dream apartment in MiMa, a girl can dream).

Have you been Spring Shopping? Anything you've been loving that I need to check out? I'm excited to go home for Memorial Day since it's been ages since I've been to a real Nordstrom and seen my puppy!