Simply Beautiful

Hello, darlings! I figured it was time to make good on my promise to post again, so here I am posting the very next day. I know, I'm proud of myself too!

It feels like a good time to rave about the absolute best beauty purchases I've made lately. Usually I just wash my face with Burt's Bees orange essence facial cleanser, throw on some generic drug store concealer, and call it a day, but there are two new additions to my beauty routine that are so wonderful I feel that it's my duty to share. They'll change your life - err, well, at the very least they'll change your beauty regimen - I promise. Lucky you!

Okay, first thing's first. Has anyone else tried H&M's new lip balm? It is glorious!

I usually wear plain old chapstick, because while lip gloss is more fun, I can't help but associate slickly shimmering lips with my painful middle school years. H&M's lip balm finds a perfect marriage between balm and gloss. It adds a bit of shimmer, but not too much, and it soaks into your lips just enough that you don't feel like your hair's going to stick to your mouth all day. Plus, despite the fact that it's labelled as vanilla-flavored, it pretty much just smells like warm, faint beeswax. Mmm. Doesn't taste bad, either, which is always a plus. And my perpetually chapped lips have never felt so smooth.

Moving on:

A long time ago I wrote that I was not a huge perfume fan. It seemed to me an invasion of other people's noses, one that they may not actually enjoy. However, this was before I stumbled upon The Scent That No One Could Possibly Hate. That's right - such a thing does in fact exist. And it's called Vanille Eau de Toilette by L'Aromarine.

I stumbled upon the cute French vintage-style bottle at Anthropologie the other day, and a little voice inside encouraged me to try spritzing a bit on my wrists. I sniffed hesitantly, then enthusiastically. This was it! The cheap perfume I had been looking for since I realized Serendipitous by Serendipity 3 and Pilar & Lucy's The Exact Friction of Stars were out of my price range. It smells like vanilla - warm, sugary vanilla. It's subtle enough that you could almost convince someone you weren't even wearing perfume, just lotion maybe, but strong enough that it doesn't wear away completely within a few hours. Plus, when the initial sugary scent fades, you're left with a quintessentially vanilla smell (kind of like slightly sweeter vanilla extract) that feels a bit richer and deeper than before. Mmm. It's my new favorite, especially at under $20 a pop.

My next step is to check out the rest of L'Aromarine's scents. The packaging is just too pretty to pass up! See for yourself.

Alright, folks. Have a great 4th of July! I'm off to Montreal for the weekend!

Epic?

Hi, everyone! Long time no see. I've been wanting to post for a while, but since it's been so long since I've written, I keep feeling like I can't post just anything. It has to be epic. Unfortunately, there seems to be a shortage of epic blog fodder around here, so I keep putting it off. Anyway, today I decided I was sick of waiting for something epic, and decided to just post. It's called living on the edge.

I did something kind of exciting since I last posted. I got a tattoo:

It's nothing super special - just a tiny crescent moon on my right shoulder - but I love it. It only shows when I'm wearing tank tops, so most of the time it's just my little (badass) secret. Kind of a confidence booster in the vein of wearing cute underwear when you're the only one who knows about it. Inner smiles and all that. Anyway, I think it's classy. I'm not so sure my mother agrees.

While I had my camera out to document my tattoo, I decided to snap a photo of my new ring as well. It's from Target (also known as one of my favorite stores in the universe), and it's shaped like a snake. I like looking down and feeling like I have a little friend snuggled around my thumb. Is that creepy?

As you can see, I also walked around carrying an amethyst all day. Ahem. Kidding. Bangles were a gift from a friend traveling in India. Nail polish is by Sinful Colors and is actually black with little blue sparkles in it. I'm a fan, even if it seems to chip within a day.

Sorry for the lack of epic-ness, and the lack of posting. I hope everyone's summer is going well. Mine certainly is. I've been interning in the editorial department at Boston Magazine and spending lots of time getting lost in the woods. Good stuff. Anyway, that's about all. I'll try to post again soon. If you're frustrated by my major suckage as a blogger (I know I am), check out my tumblr. It's still going strong.

Cracks

I stayed up late tonight because I was absorbed in the movie "Cracks." I found it engrossing - though highly disturbing - but the best part was that it was visually stunning. I would watch it just for the fashion alone. I thought I'd share some of my favorite screen caps because I'm too tired to write out an ode to the costume designer, even though she/he deserves it.

Oh, to be in the '30s with hair as perfectly styled as Eva Green's!

Tumblr-ness

So, I gave in. Finally.

Check out my Tumblr, please! And if any of you have Tumblrs, let me know in the comments and I will definitely stop by.

http://www.fashionyblog.tumblr.com

It's not just about fashion - although that is a predominant theme - but all things that inspire me. So far it's been really easy to post there often, so if you're missing my frequent posting here (which, to be honest, has not been frequent in a very long time...sorry, lovelies!), do take a look.

Out of Print

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with all things literary. I've been a bookworm for as long as I can remember, and most nights I sleep in a worn out George Orwell 1984 t-shirt I stole from my brother. So naturally, I love the concept behind Out of Print Clothing. Each t-shirt is printed with a book title and "treated to feel soft and worn like a well-read book." Furthermore, for each t-shirt sold, a book is donated to a community in need.

I'll take the Catcher in the Rye one, please.

Cotton From Blue to Green

I've been lustfully eyeing this denim jacket from Gap since it hit the website:

I want it. Badly. I already have a denim jacket (which I never wear) but I don't care. Its silvery buttons and classic shape pale in comparison to the exposed golden hardware and motorcycle silhouette of this particular Gap beauty. I could wear it with sweet floral dresses and combat boots, or even just with a white tee and jeans. Either way it would be glorious.

The Problem: There goes $69.50 I can't justify.

The Solution: Gap is involved with this awesome program called Cotton from Blue to Green. The gist is that you can bring an old pair of jeans into Gap stores until March 14th. Donated jeans will be converted into UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation, which will be given to communities that need them to assist with building efforts. In exchange for your donation, Gap will give you 30% off new denim purchases.

And $48.50 for a kick-ass jacket, along with knowing I helped communities in need; now that's something I can justify. The only obstacle is figuring out how/when I can actually get to Gap. Ah, the trials and tribulations of a college student.

For more information check out the Cotton From Blue to Green website.

Florals

I've never been a girly girl.

Actually, that's a lie. When I was very young my favorite colors were pink and purple, I wore fancy dresses to the dinner table every night because my parents wouldn't allow me to wear them to school, and I wanted to be a princess when I grew up. So let's change that statement.

The last time I was a girly girl was about age 6.

Anyway, despite this fact, I always get an itch to wear florals after a few months of winter weather. Right now, I am eyeing the most sickeningly sweet floral dresses and feeling my resolve not to spend - and my wallet - dwindling. They are oh so pretty and I want them to be mine oh so badly! Also, the Liberty of London for Target bicycle? Floral high-tops? I've been good!

Here's my little ode to the coming of Spring, aka my greedy little wish list. Click for a bigger version!

Gorgeous, no? And reasonably priced as well!

Clockwise from the top left:

1. Floral corset dress. $59.50. Victoria's Secret Pink. This is kind of my dream summer outfit, not gonna lie.

2. Floral maxi dress. $39.99. I Heart Ronson at JC Penney. The smocking and zipper detail at the top really make the dress special.

3. Floral printed high top. $28.00. Urban Outfitters. Cute and comfy!

4. Floral Bicycle by Liberty of London x Target. $199.00. Available March 14th at Target. I don't ride bikes, but I totally would if I owned this baby, if only because I would look amazing on it.

What do you think?