Review: Birchbox April 2015

This month I selected the pre-curated box from Birchbox. I already liked some of the brands in the California box, so I decided to choose that one.

I absolutely love the brand 12 Benefits and their Instant Healthy Hair Treatment is something I wanted to try. Its a healthy sample! (reg $21)

When I opened the box I immediately smelled something that smelled like soap. It was the perfume called “Clean” and it was disgusting. I threw it out. (reg $69)

I love Cynthia Rowley, so I was thrilled to receive a sample of her illuminator. (reg $28)

Laqa & Co. is a company I’ve encountered before, but never tried. In the box was their Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in Honeypot and its gorgeous. Perfect for an easy, breezy type of day. (reg $20)

I’ve never heard of Not Soap, Radio. I got their Body Wash in Bathing with Sharks and am excited to try it this summer on vacation! (The nod to sharks just makes me want to save it for my beach vacay!) (reg $16)

Always a Bridesmaid…

Over the weekend I was excited to be a bridesmaid a bridesmaid for the third time. I thought this was a perfect time to show some of the bridesmaid’s dresses that I’ve worn, and talk a little bit about where I found things for the most recent wedding.

In 2012 I was a bridesmaid in my friend Katie’s wedding. She had a gorgeous ceremony at a local church here in NJ and then the reception at a nearby hotel ballroom. My dress was from David’s Bridal, and was floor length. Unfortunately I have no full length photos!

In October 2013 I was a bridesmaid in my friend Alyssa’s wedding. It had the most incredible country vibe – and I love that she wore boots to the reception (and that all of us could wear boots as well!) Her wedding was on a golf course up near Vernon, NJ. The dress was super comfortable, and was originally long. We had them cut to better fit the feel of her wedding – and it was perfect for the weather.

This past weekend I was a bridesmaid in my cousin Michael’s wedding. They had a ceremony in an adorable local church, and the reception at a really enchanting mansion in Bensalem, PA. I forget to get a picture of the back of my hair, but my girl at Blo Out in Hamilton, NJ did such a great job – I loved it! Our dresses were from Bill Levkoff and we picked them up at the Bridal Suite in Hamilton, NJ. [Note – beware of ordering from there!]

I love seeing these photos in progression! I also want to share my accessories for the most recent wedding. The necklace I wore was our bridesmaid’s gift which she picked up from Etsy. It is super cute and I’ve already worn it again! My earrings were simple pearls from Charming Charlie, and I wore bracelets from Bourbon and Bowties that I picked up at a local boutique. (I’m a HUGE Bourbon and Bowties fan!) I found a matching wrap at Nordstrom Rack ($12!) and it was perfect since the day was freezing. I did my own makeup for the day and even got a spray tan. My purse (below) was PERFECT! I picked it up from a seller on bitdazzle, but click here for her etsy store. Her work is fantastic and the purse was reasonable at $38. So many compliments on it – even the photographer loved it! It fit my iPhone 6+ without a problem. I’ve posted some pics below – the purse I purchased had a light pink ribbon. My shoes were Bandolino from Macys – just a dusty rose heel. Nothing fancy.

Where are some go-to places to pick up items for bridesmaids? I was running all around like crazy trying to find things to match.

Follow me on Instagram! @gvgp1989

IMATS and VIB ROUGE SALE HAUL

I’m so excited to share my IMATS and Sephora VIB Rouge sale haul (and a few products from CVS too)!

Brands:

Becca, Marc Jacobs, Bite Beauty, Nest, Milani, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Model in a Bottle, Esquido Mink Lashes, Z Palette, Tarte, Stila Cosmetics, LA Girl, Buxom, Benefit, Makeup Forever, Josie Maran, Smashbox, Korres

IMATS NYC 2015

Last weekend I decided to head out to IMATS, the International Makeup Artists Trade Show. It is held in various locations throughout the year, and I was able to attend the show in NYC. I wanted to write about my impressions, advice and what I would do differently next time.

I bought my ticket months in advance, and planned everything out – which vendors I wanted to hit, which products I wanted – a day or so before. I packed light, and unfortunately this time I went alone. I had a notebook with the items and the original prices so I could compare, and also kept in mind that anything I could find at Sephora I could pick up with the VIB Rouge sale that started the next day. I took a mid-morning train, attempting to beat the hundreds of people in line at Pier 94. I walked right in, and initially it didn’t seem that bad. However, once I started to head over to the brands I wanted, the lines were LONG. Some were shut down, some were an hour or longer. To avoid this, I walked around to understand the layout, and then headed over to the less crowded lines. I set a low budget for myself, and didn’t overspend because I missed some of the brands I wanted due to the lines. If I stood in the line for Sigma or NYX I would have been there all day and only left with those products. The line for Lime Crime was bad too – and Anastasia was shut down. I wanted to pick up some Ben Nye – but I can find it way cheaper on line, and I’m not in need of any at the moment.

I REALLY wanted to hit Lady Moss, but I couldn’t get a good view of the booth, and didn’t want to wait in line to see what they had.

I was able to get to the following tables:

-Tarte (all mascaras, blushes and lipsticks were $10!- I did snag a pic of their price list!)

-Zpalette

-Model in a Bottle

-Stila

-Esquido Lashes

-One table that sold LA Girl Cosmetics (I can’t remember the name of the stand!)

I made it a bunch of others, but they either didn’t have a decent discount, or were sold out of what I wanted (ahem, MUFE…)

I advise planning ahead and take a friend. If I wasn’t alone I could have waited in the longer lines. I also only stayed a few hours, but should have stayed much longer. Knowing the products you want ahead of time helps too – so you budget for what you want, and bring extra for the fun things you find on the way. Oh and DRESS COMFORTABLE! You are waiting in lines and wearing heels and fancy clothes doesn’t make that any easier. I forgot to take pics during the day – but I did snag a selfie!

My next post will be a haul!! Were any of you at IMATS NYC???

Living Healthy

Over the past few years I knew that I needed to start living a more healthy life. I wasn’t happy with myself, and needed to figure out a way to start myself on a better path. When I left college I was 10-15 pounds heavier than I ever had been in my entire life. And I had lost weight since my junior year when I was even a little healthier. The truth is that I just didn’t know what to do. Now I see what I was doing wrong, but back then I couldn’t figure it out. I over ate, ate things that made my body run poorly and hated to work out.

Ok, so who really likes to work out? I don’t mind it now, but when I was heavier I would joke that the only way I would run was if someone was chasing me. And even then, I’d say there was a marginal chance that would happen. When I turned 25 last fall I made a promise to myself to make this my best year yet. And so far, so good. Shortly after my birthday I joined a kickboxing gym, and fell in love. It is the hardest thing I’ve done in my life, but I have never felt so good and empowered. I’m so thankful I decided to give it a try because I was terrified I couldn’t keep up when I joined the class. Now I feel like I can take on the world.

Unfortunately with the ups, comes the downs. Last summer I was sick constantly and my stomach hurt terribly. After a few months and some tests I found out that I have gastroparesis. Basically I can’t digest properly and have to take medicine multiple times a day to regulate it. I also need to follow a FODMAP diet (I can do a post on my daily eating soon) and I live as gluten free as possible. No, I don’t have celiac, but I feel so great eating gluten free. And it bothers me deeply when someone dismisses a gluten intolerance. I wish those people could live my life for a bit, and see how hard it can be to eat foods with gluten, and feel like crap. I’ve seen how foods go through my body – and I can feel the aftermath often for a day or two. I’m all for eating clean, but I always indulge! And just to mention it – I’ve been out of college since 2011 and have lost 60 pounds. I’m living proof that hard work and dedication pays off!

Thankfully I have a great support system, and everyone takes care to make sure there is something I can eat when we go out. I hate making a big deal about it, but it adds unnecessary pressure to situations. I’d love to connect with others who know what its like to live this way – because while hard, its been the best life style change I’ve made, and I’d like to hear how others have done it as well. I’m going to post more about my diet, work outs and health in the future. But wanted to get the ball rolling!

The healthiest I’ve ever been!

Favorites: March 2015

Every month I short list products that I’ve either discovered that month, or decided that I value but haven’t discussed on my blog. A few of these are older discoveries, but I hope that some of you will check them out and give them a shot! I only have one beauty favorite this month, but I’m hoping to have many more in April!

I commute into NYC from NJ daily, so I found that I need to have durable headphones. I discovered Yurbuds last year when I was getting more into working out, and fell in love. They have a line designed to fit in women’s ears, and I find the sound quality impeccable. When I put the iPhone earbuds back in my ears I can’t believe how different the quality really is. I tried to just use my Yurbuds at the gym, but now I use them everywhere! The only downside for me is that they were designed not to tangle, but they tangle SO BAD. Its frustrating, but I wouldn’t trade them in for anything. I even have a pair of the FRENDS headphones (the white and gold ones to match my iPhone) but they are static-y and not nearly as great as Yurbuds. Mine are in the pink color, but they have other options!

I’ve been trying to increase my water intake, and bringing a bottle of Poland Spring to work just wasn’t cutting it. Since I am a huge fan of Lily Pulitzer I noticed that the brand makes a tumbler with a straw, perfect to keep on a desk. I picked up one on Amazon (it was a little more money because I wanted an older pattern) but it is really helping me take in more fluids and try to hit my goals. Plus it is adorable!

Since I was little I’ve been a planner nerd. Seriously – it was bad. I loved decorating my planners in elementary, high school, college and even into grad school. So it is no surprise that I’m still, indeed, in love with planning. My daily planners graduated from the Moleskine (which I still use at work as my planner) to the Erin Condren, and now to my absolute favorite of them all: the Louis Vuitton PM Agenda. I can do a separate post on EC vs. LV, but for now, I’ll just say that I adore both, but didn’t realize how much I prioritize portability. I purchased a pre-loved one on Poshmark, and saved substantially. It even came with some old inserts that included the stickers, maps and address books! (All inserts need to be purchased separately from the planner when bought new). Mine is a dark purple/red vernis and I use the 2015 filofax inserts. I also bought a fisher space pen to fit in the itty bitty pen loop. So much love for the LV PM Agenda.

* Picture from Poshmark

I typically shy away from any type of shampoo that is drugstore brand, because I’m afraid it will be bad for my hair. But I found OGX’s Moroccan Argan Creme Shampoo and can’t believe how soft and shiny my hair is. Major win.

Last this month, I rediscovered a lip gloss that I purchased a month or two ago, but put in my drawer and didn’t give it a fair shot. Jesse’s Girl Liquid Glass Lip Gloss in Lip Lock is the perfect frosty pink, and I’m totally digging it for spring. I’ve heard fantastic things about their eye liner and hope to pick it up soon. In the meantime, some RiteAids carry the brand, but typically just the eye shadows and lip glass.

Let me know if any of you have tried these products, and what products I should try next!

Review: Birchbox March 2015

So this month Birchbox first upset me, then totally surprised me. I had logged in and selected my item for March box in plenty of time, only to receive a notice that something was wrong with my payment info. I can’t figure out why that would be, because nothing changed from the month before. So I fixed it, and was disappointed when the item I pre-selected wasn’t in my box. (VERY disappointed because it was a product I was itching to try, but I digress…) However, I wound up with seven items in my box instead of five, and it was quite the pleasant surprise!

Harvey Prince Singular Scentsations Imperial Gardenia: $29

I haven’t even smelled this yet because I couldn’t believe I received ANOTHER Harvey Prince sample. Since I first joined BB I now have something like 8 or 9 different ones. Enough is enough…. (I also don’t like anything floral)

Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator: $34

I’m really into face products lately, and this is supposed to mimic microdermabrasion. Can’t wait to give this a shot!

Temple Spa Peace Be Still Calming Body Balm: $29

I think I’ll be swapping this one. The scent is super strong, and I so badly want to like it, but I just can’t. The aromatherapy scent just isn’t for me.

Jelly Pong Pong GLOW GETTER Highlighter: $14

I’ve heard great things about this brand – can’t wait to try it out! It looks like a tiny bottle of nail polish and is a gorgeous color.

Davines Ol/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion: $41

This is a FULL SIZE product. I love hair oils, and hope this is really nourishing.

Somehow I wound up with both the shampoo and matching conditioner! It is so rare to receive both, let alone THREE products from the same line. I received shampoo from the same brand last month though, so I’m hoping I don’t get a three-pete. But for now, I’m excited to actually try the line!

Winter/Spring Date Ideas

When I started this blog, I wanted it to capture my journey in 2015, and not be just another “beauty” blog. So I thought a fun post would be to describe fun date ideas that my boyfriend and I have done, as we prepare for the fun outdoor activities we can do this spring!

Since we began dating, one of the first things we tried together was wine tasting. We’ve been probably to about 15 different wineries since – and have many more scheduled! It makes for a fun day in the winter because some have cozy fireplaces and usually its a slow time. But since it has been warmer, we’ve been able to drive around and try a few different ones in one day, and walk around the grounds. It is a perfect year-round idea!

We try to find local activities because we love trying new things. I had always wanted to go to the Philadelphia Flower Show, because I hear it was gorgeous and that it was a total blast. Before we went I had friends that had gone, and posted their photos on Facebook. When I saw that you could feed butterflies, I made sure that was the first stop on our list. Look at the cute pictures!

For Valentine’s Day I gave my boyfriend several Groupon/Living Social cards with dates picked out for us to do as the weather was warmer. Because I’m into art, and used to work in a ceramics studio I thought a fun date would be to paint pottery. We went to our local Color Me Mine, and I painted a flower dish and he painted the stem of a wine glass (they attach the glass for you!). He was SO into it, and it was perfect for a recent rainy/snowy day. It was so exciting to go pick up our treasures, and we can’t wait to go again!

This past weekend we so desperately wanted to be outside, and tried to take a walk along the river last night. It was such a beautiful night, but still a little cold. It was perfect though because it was a fun, relaxing date and sent us in search of hot chocolate!

Review: Sample Society March 2015

I decided to keep trying Sample Society, at least for another month, because I was so excited that Benefit’s Roller Lash Mascara was going to be included. I’m familiar with all of the brands this month, so I’d say that from the start, this box is a win.

Juicy Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer: $45

I’ve been on the fence about Juice products. I’m so excited to try them, but usually I can’t get past the smell. I now have several tubes and jars from the line, so perhaps I’ll give it a shot, and work past the smell. Anyone out there a Juice Beauty fan? Let me know what products you like!

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara: $24

I was SO excited to get this because of all the hype surrounding this product. I should admit I haven’t used it yet, since I have so many tubes that I’m trying to work through and finish up. Can’t wait to try it!

Oscar Blandi Pronto Texture & Volume Spray: $24

I do like their dry shampoo, so I was thrilled to give this a try. I’m interested to see how it compares to the Oribe version.

Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm: $12

I’m not a huge lip balm gal, but the write up in the pamphlet in the book makes me want to give this a shot. Especially if it isn’t greasy. I’m weird and LOVE sticky glosses, but I can’t stand greasy balms.

Cargo Essential Lip Gloss: $16

Mine is in the color Madrid, which is a dark plum color. Since we’re going into spring I would have preferred a lighter pink or coral, but I do enjoy a vampy lip.

Verdict: This box (as I mentioned above) is a win for me. Brands I have heard of, coupled with products I actually wanted to try. Way to go Sample Society.

What’s on my iPhone? March Edition

Back in November I purchased the iPhone 6 Plus. I’m more in love with this phone than I ever thought I could be. The screen is so large (some say too much so) but it is so great for all of my apps, that it has become weird for me to look at other screens.

Since I’m obsessed with my phone, I thought it would be fun to feature two apps each month that I absolutely adore – both old and new – and welcome all types of new suggestions!

This month the two apps I have been into are MyFitnessPal and the Serial podcast.

This year, more than ever I want to not only look good but look healthy in a swimsuit. I’ve struggled with weight issues my whole life, and finally being in control and getting fit is at the top of my priority list. I love that MyFitnessPal lets me track my calories, tracks my exercise AND operates as a pedometer. Now, I’m not too sure how accurate the pedometer really is, but I love seeing how many steps I take each day. It motivates (and reminds) me to get moving, and holds me responsible for what I eat each day. I LOVE it. I’ve heard friends say that it becomes a bit too obsessive sometimes, and I completely agree. But considering I have to track my food now due to some health problems, I need to be careful and meticulous about tracking what I’m eating.

Serial is a podcast that is completely new to me. A friend recommended it knowing I have a long commute, and it is riveting. I never thought I would enjoy listening to a story so much – in this case a crime drama type story- but it makes my walks through the city that much more focused. I’d never tried a podcast before, but I’m excited to keep this going!

What are some of your favorite apps?

GabGoesGlam

Beauty. Lifestyle. Fashion.