Six Things I Love Monday: June 4th

I have had no motivation lately.  No motivation to eat, no motivation to exercise, and certainly no motivation to blog.  But, seeing as today is Monday, it’s the start of a new week and a better me.  I need to get my shit together and start living life with a purpose.  So, clearly I need to start by posting my six things I love for last week!

 

1. Bloody Marys

Yum yum!

Why? This last week, I have drank more than I care to admit, and I have been consistently waking up with excrutiating hangovers.  Luckily for me (not so much for my liver), I love tomato juice and I have taken it upon myself to learn how to make a bomb-ass Bloody Mary.  So delicious, and my throbbing head always thanks me afterward. (P.s. Don’t judge me.  You were all young once.)

 

2. Balconies

Now, if only I lived on a beach…

Why? Okay, I know this seems like a weird one.  Like, what’s so special about a balcony?  Let me tell you.  I used to live in an apartment without one, and I’m a smoker.  Also, did I mention I lived on the fifth floor?  Although my legs were super toned by the end of the year, I hated walking down and up all those stairs just to have a cigarette.  I know a lot of you are thinking, “What a good reason to quit!”  Trust me, I tried.  Cigarette-less Holly is someone no one wants to be around.  Anywho, I’ve been hanging out with a friend who has a balcony at his apartment, and I have come to realize that it’s pretty much a necessity for me the next time I move.  The convenience is amazing, and sometimes you would just rather sit outside, cigarette in hand or not.

 

3. Marshall’s

Why? I just went there today, and I am in love with how cheap it is!  My closest store is about 30 minutes from my house, but it is completely worth the drive to get such good deals.  I bought the cutest white lace dress from there today for $29.99, originally $65!  So amazing.

 

4. Maxi Dresses

Ugh. I need that middle one.

Why? In the spirit of summer, I have taken it upon myself to collect these wardrobe staples.  Solid, patterned, neon…you name it, I probably have it.  While I do love to show off my legs, sometimes you just need a good maxi dress to switch things up.

 

5. Color Club’s Age of Aquarius Polish

Why? This is easily one of my favorite summer polishes.  So bright and so fun.  I have a lot of white and black summer clothes for some reason, so it’s always nice to have that little pop of color on my nails so my overall appearance isn’t too drab.

 

6. Frame Park

Why? This is easily one of my top five favorite places in the world, which is saying something because I’ve actually been out of the country.  It’s about fifteen minutes from my house, and there’s a huge path that stretches around the entire park. I love spending an afternoon walking by the river, visiting the little shoppes down the road, and enjoying the sunshine and good company.  So peaceful and beautiful.

Holly, not Hollie

Six Things I Love Sunday: April 22

Happy Sunday everyone!  I hope you’ve all had a good weekend so far.  Here’s my six things for this Sunday.

 

1. H&M

Why? I’m kind of a late bloomer when it comes to H&M, but lately, I make a beeline towards this store every time I find myself at the mall.  The clothes are so cheap and so cute, and you’ll never find anything cookie-cutter there, which is awesome.  The only problem I have with this store is that it can be hard to find a size because everything is so picked through, but that’s not necessarily the store’s fault.  Overall, I think it’s safe to say that this is my new favorite store.

 

2. Cho by Zoya

Why? I ordered this from Birchbox and just received it in the mail on Friday, and I am in love with the color.  For me, it’s the perfect color for a neutral polish.  I was a little disappointed that I had to paint on three coats for a good color, but for spending only $1 (I used my Birchbox points!), I’m pretty pleased.

 

3. Luke Bryan

Whatta hottie.

Why? I cannot get enough of his music lately.  Aside from the fact that he is incredibly easy on the eyes, I can’t wait for summer so I can roll down the windows and blast his music for all of the world to hear.  Plus, I can’t stop listening to this song.

 

4. PINK Crop Tees

Why? Okay, okay.  I know a couple weeks back I posted about how I love everything PINK, but I swear, this isn’t a repeat!  I have three of these shirts, and I think they’re just perfect for a day at the beach.  Granted, there haven’t been many beach days in Wisconsin yet, but I’ve been wearing them around the house almost everyday in anticipation of warmer days.  Plus, I love how versatile it is.  It looks great off the shoulder or hanging low in the front or back.  Plus, if you’re like me and don’t have a super-flat stomach, it still provides enough coverage so you don’t feel like your belly is all exposed and whatnot.

 

5. Marley and Me

 

Why? I know this movie had been out for quite awhile, but I’m talking about the book, not the film.  I just got done reading it on my Nook, and I’m not going to lie, I teared up at the end.  I’m a huge dog lover, so I probably shouldn’t have read this book to begin with since I knew the ending, but it was worth it.  If you have only see the movie, I definitely recommend you read the book too.  So much better.

 

6. Tamales

Why? I’ll admit, this is a kind of random thing to post, but I went out for Mexican with my mom last night and had the most delicious tamales.  It’s basically some sort of meat (I had chicken) rolled up in cornmeal dough, then baked in a corn husk.  So tasty, and easily one of my favorite foods.

What are you loving right now?

Holly, not Hollie

April Birchbox

So instead of my usual Six Things I Love Sunday, I’m just going to show you guys what I got in my Birchbox this month.  Overall, it was kind of hard to one-up last month’s box, which was full of full-sized products instead of tiny samples, but I was happy with what I received.

From left to right: Befine Skincare Sampler, Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift, Lulu Organics Lavender and Clary Sage Hair Powder, Yes to Blueberries Brightening Facial Towelettes

Befine Skincare Sampler

The skincare sampler came with five little sample packets which were either exfoliators or moisturizers, which is actually pretty nice.  What I like about this is that it gives me a chance to try something new without buying an entire bottle.  Its full size sells for $25, so I’ll have to see how well these work before I buy.

Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift

I actually wasn’t too fond of this fragrance.  To me, it kind of smelled like cotton candy or something, just a little too sweet for my liking.  It almost reminded me of cheap perfumes for little girls.  I feel kind of bad saying that because I like Taylor Swift, but she needs to stick to singing, not to perfume-making.

Lulu Organics Lavender and Clary Sage Hair Powder

I have not tried this out yet, but already I’m a little weary.  I have some dry shampoo that I use every once in awhile, but for some reason it doesn’t blend into my hair.  It just sits on top of my head and gives my hair a weird grayish tinge, no matter how much I try to rub it in.  I’m sure at some point I’ll end up trying this, but for now I’d rather just wash my hair than risk embarrassing myself.

Yes To Blueberries Brightening Facial Towelettes

I absolutely adored these.  This 8-pack was Birchbox’s “Beauty Extra” for the month, which I thought was a great addition.  I tried one already, and it’s super soft on the face, not abrasive and drying like a lot of towelettes can be.  It doubles as a makeup remover and refresher, and I could actually notice a difference on my skin (or maybe that was wishful thinking. Who knows.).

I also got this Zoya polish from their TRUE Spring Collection, and I love love love the color they sent me!  It’s called Bevin.  I’m a pretty big Zoya fan, so I was definitely happy to see this in my box.  In the photo the color looks kind of blueish gray, but it’s actually more of a greenish gray in person.  Regardless, I don’t really have any colors similar to it, so I’m happy.

Also, I just reached 225 points on Birchbox, which means I get $20 off my next purchase!  I’m pretty excited because I’ve been on a lipstick and nail polish kick lately, so hopefully that extra $20 will satisfy my makeup craving for a little while. 🙂

What kind of makeup or nail polish are you loving right now?

Holly, not Hollie

Some More Nail Art

Bored with my marbled nails, I decided to visit my nail art board on Pinterest in hopes of some inspiration.  I came across this fabulous tutorial from Birchbox and decided to try it out.

Items needed:

• At least three colors of contrasting nail polish
• Scotch tape
• A pair of scissors

First, I painted my nails three different colors.

I used (blue) Noel by Zoya (which I also used for the marbled nails), (green) Envy by Ulta, and (silver) Agent Glam by Anise.

The tutorial made it clear that I should wait until the next day to do the actual art, which I only understood after I attempted to tape up my nails.  Let me tell you from experience, you should definitely wait until the next day.  Waiting sucks, but you don’t want to rip the paint off half of your  nails.

So, next day arrives.  Cut the tape into different shapes to form different patterns on your nails.  Be sure to press down firmly on the tape, since you don’t want the polish to seep underneath.

I made my patterns pretty simple because my nails aren’t super long, but there’s a lot of really cute ideas in the tutorial.

Next, take a contrasting color of your choosing and paint the exposed part of each nail.  Alternate colors depending on your base color.  Then, peel off the tape while the nails are still wet, let dry, and paint on a nice clear top coat.

And voila!

Beautiful, unique nails!

Holly, not Hollie

Marbled Nails

Ever since I kicked my nail biting habit, I have realized one of the most basic satisfactions of life: painting your nails.  Before about a year ago, I had never noticed just how many truly beautiful colors of polish were out there.  Although my bank account is probably a little pissed with newfound polish obsession, I’m just happy that I can now create art on my nails.

I recently saw on Pinterest that someone had essentially “marbled” their nails, and I couldn’t resist trying.  Now, this might be really common and I’m just now getting on the bandwagon, but I thought it was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.  So, without further ado, my attempt at the marbled nail.

So by now, hopefully you know to have very low expectations when it comes to my photography skills, and this picture is no exception.  It’s a little blurry and hard to see, but I layered green and blue to give my nails the marbled effect.

First, I started with Limelight by Ulta.

I got this color for Christmas, and while I was layering the blue I was thinking that layering this green with red might make a cute Christmas polish. Or it might look really gaudy.  Who knows.

These were the two colors I used.

The green (right), like I said, is Limelight by Ulta, and the blue that I used as a top coat is Noel by Zoya.

The whole process of making the marbled look is actually really simple.  All you have to do is paint your nails with your base coat (green, in my case).  After it dries, take some plastic or Saran wrap, tear it up, and scrunch it into little balls, one for each finger.  Then, paint your nails with the top coat (I found doing my nails one by one to be easiest) and while the polish is still wet, dab at the polish with the plastic wrap.  Let the polish dry, paint on a clear coat of polish, and you’re done!  Simple as that.

Let me know if you guys try it!  I’d love to see how yours turn out.

Holly, not Hollie

Six Things I Love Sunday: April 8th

Happy Easter everyone!  Today is going to be a quick post because I’ve been pretty sick over the last couple of days, so I’m not feeling up to putting a whole lot of effort into blogging today.  Hopefully you guys understand. 🙂

 

1. High-Waisted Bandage Skirts

Image Credit: Google

Why? I have been obsessed with these skirts lately.  They seem like such a going-out staple, but I cannot seem to find them anywhere!  I was shopping a few days ago and I popped into H&M and Express, and these skirts were nowhere to be found.  If anyone owns a skirt like this, please let me know where you got it.  I’m dying over here.

 

2. Think Bronze by Clinique

Image Credit: Google

Why? It has only been very recently that I’ve gotten into wearing lipstick.  I always thought I was a little too young and I didn’t want to look like an old lady.  Boy was I wrong.  This Think Bronze lipstick is like my go-to color now.  This pink/beige hue is perfect when you want a neutral that makes a statement.

 

3. African Autumn Tea

Image Credit: Google

Why? I started drinking tea consistently about six months ago, and now it has replaced my daily coffee.  I bought this tea from Starbucks, and it has become my favorite.  With cranberry and orange flavors, this tea is tart and sweet, all without one drop of caffeine.  If you are looking for some good teas, I would definitely recommend buying from Harney and Sons.

 

4. Your Daring Side by Anise

Image Credit: amandalandish.blogspot.com

Why? I am seriously in love with this color.  For some reason, I have been loving dark colors on my nails.  I know spring is supposed to be all about pastels, neons, and bright colors, but there’s just something so sexy about dark nails.

 

5. Open Stitch Sweater 

Image Credit: ae.com

Why? I just bought this sweater a couple days ago from American Eagle, and it is a dream.  It’s snug and so cute with a tank underneath, and just perfect for those days where it’s just a little too chilly to not have a sweater.  I was a little hesitant at first because I’m usually not a huge fan of the holey look, but this top really changed my outlook.  You can check it out here.

 

6. Stacked Bracelets

Image Credit: livingeasylovingfree.com

Why? I’m pretty simplistic when it comes to jewelry.  And when I say simplistic, I mean virtually nonexistent.  I have a pair of diamond studs that I wear constantly and a pink sapphire ring my boyfriend bought for me that I wear sometimes.  Other than that, I really don’t feel the need to spend a lot of money on jewelry.  After recently making some of my own jewelry, however, I am hoping to soon perfect this stacked bracelet look.  I have always loved bracelets, but so often I forget to throw on accessories before I leave the house, so I never want to waste my money on something I think I’ll just forget about.  By making my own jewelry though, I can now take advantage and rock this style without breaking my bank.

 

Alright, there you have it.  And of course it wouldn’t be a true Six Things I Love Sunday without asking you guys what you are loving right now.  So tell me!

Holly, not Hollie

Love Me Some Birchbox

The second week of every month is always my favorite week, for two reasons.

1. I get my Cosmo magazine
2. My Birchbox comes!

For those of you who don’t know what Birchbox is, I believe I mentioned it here.  Essentially, it’s a box filled with girlie things that comes once a month, kind of like your period.  Except this is something to look forward to, not dread.

This month, I was pretty pleased with what I received.

1. Annick Goutal, Petite Cherie (far left):  Described as “a blend of fresh fruity notes and musk,” I really liked this scent.  The one thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was the fact that it was super light, and even after applying it I could barely smell it, even with my nose stuck to my wrists.  Birchbox often sends me little samples of perfume (obviously in hopes that I will cough up the money for a full bottle), but I usually just end up hoarding them.  The only sample I’ve bought so far was Kate Spade’s Twirl, which I also mentioned in that link above.
2. Tarte, LipSurgence (pink tube): LOVE LOVE LOVE this!  Normally, I don’t wear lipsticks/stains/gloss, because my lips tend to get chapped very easily so I usually just stick to Chapstick.  However, this stain also has super-moisturizing qualities, which is exactly what I need.  The color ends up being a little too bright pink for me, but after a dab or two with a Kleenex it’s great.  I really needed something like this to class-up my day to day look, so the Birchbox gods must have been looking out for me.
3. Essie, Luxeffects (nail polish): I think I love sparkly nail polish a little too much, and this polish was exactly what I needed.  It’s meant to go on after you’ve pained your nails a different color, so I tried it with a peach color I just got from Julep.  It looked really great, and I’m excited to wear it more with brighter colors in spring.  The only problem I encountered with this was that it was pretty hard to get off.  I used Curex nail polish remover pads, and I went through three just to get all the glitter off.
4. Shiseido, Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers: Alright, I kind of have a bone to pick with this one.  With Birchbox, you take a survey when you first sign up, telling the company about your specific skin, hair, nail, makeup, what-have-you types.  I have dry skin, not oily skin.  Usually, Birchbox sends me moisturizers or something along that line which really helps my skin.  So, needless to say I was kind of surprised to find oil blotting papers in this month’s box.  I don’t think I’m ever going to use these, so unfortunately it was kind of a waste for them to send it to me.  Oh well.
5. Twistband, Hair Tie (yellow thing): It’s actually kind of funny that they sent me this hair tie, because about six months ago, I bought a whole pack of these.  Online, they looked like headbands, and they were super cheap so I bought them.  I ended up with teeny tiny hair ties which I don’t ever use, and now I have a yellow one to top it off!  Their claim to fame is not giving you that hideous bump in your hair after you take out a ponytail, but I have yet to experience that lack-of-bump with these hair ties, unfortunately.

Well, there ya have it!  I hope you guys found these mini-reviews helpful, and although this wasn’t the best box I’ve gotten, I hope I haven’t turned you guys off from Birchbox.  Overall, it really is a wonderful company, and they are pretty consistent in sending you things that you like.  This month was probably just a fluke.

Holly, not Hollie