Wishing For Spring: My nature-inspired favorites from ShopLately (+ GIVEAWAY!)

Affiliate Links Press Sample

I don't know about you, but I'm more than ready for winter to be over. While I wouldn't exactly describe myself as a full-on outdoorsy type, there is something to be said for being able to walk around outside, sniff the flowers, not get frostbite in your toes. Maybe I've been watching too many nature documentaries lately. In any case, I was browsing around ShopLately and started to notice tons of accessories that reminded me of springtime. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. But I'll be sharing a few of my favorites today either way.

New to ShopLately? Here's what you need to know:

• ShopLately is an online marketplace featuring a variety of designers and merchants. Think Etsy or eBay, except fashion and beauty-focused, plus much easier to navigate. Hooray! You'll find a mixture of handmade, indie goodies and mass-produced brands in the marketplace.
• See tons of stuff you want to buy on the site? ShopLately has something called the Insider Program, which only costs $9 per year (with a 30 day free trial) and gets you FREE SHIPPING on all items. Think Amazon Prime for awesome accessories but way, way cheaper! (ShopLately items are only available to be shipped within the US at this time, just FYI.)
• New customers can get $10 credit towards their first purchase of $15+ by signing up via Facebook through my referral link.

I picked up items from multiple ShopLately merchants this time, all based around one theme: Nature in springtime. Oh, to be free from dirty ice and frozen fingers.

Quick & Easy Red Carpet Lips: Drugstore Edition

Sponsored

Watching award shows always inspires me to up my glamor game a bit. It's not like I have many occasions to walk the red carpet myself, but when I see someone wearing a bold lip or really stunning eye makeup I find myself saying "I want to look like that!"

Thankfully, one really need a red carpet event as an excuse to glam up. Sometimes I like to go with a bold lip for a regular night on the town, or even just for a night of staying in and watching TV if I'm feeling sassy. Today I thought I'd share my quick and easy method for achieving a crisp, bold red lip, AKA the red carpet classic. No special brushes are required—I just used a few random bits of makeup from my collection and Q-tips Precision Tips (MSRP $3.29 for 170), which are easy to find at drugstores and the like.

Indie | Fyrinnae Lip Lustre in Meloncholy: A Review

Bought It

I recently ordered a few Fyrinnae eyeshadows I'd had my eye on for a while, and somehow a mini of one of their Lip Lustres ended up in my cart too—very mysterious. Or maybe not that mysterious, since I had never tried any of their lip products before and Meloncholy was calling to me. Melon-calling to me. (Insert drum rimshot SFX.) Was it worth the impulse buy? Read on to find out!

Review | Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster (plus comparison to OST C20)

Affiliate Links Bought It

I recently cracked open my second bottle of Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster, so I thought it was about time I shared my thoughts. Major spoiler: I like it (as you may have guessed from the fact that I already repurchased it), but I still think the OST/C20 Vitamin C serum is better at providing quick-n-dirty results. There are several ways in which Paula's Choice C15 is superior though, so in addition to reviewing C15 in this post I'll also be doing a bit of comparison between the two so folks who haven't tried either can make an informed decision about which one to get.

A wee review of a wee product: Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick Duo in Tangerine/Lingonberry

Affiliate Links Bought It

Last week I got myself a very small haul from Sephora in early celebration of my birthday. (What's smaller than a haul? A lug?) Amongst the goodies was one of Bite Beauty's Luminous Crème Lipstick Duos, which I've already grown quite fond of, so I thought I'd take a moment to share the loveliness of it with you here today.

Weekly Poll | Combing Attractions

Happy Wednesday, everybody! Is it freezing where you are? The internet tells me that the low temperature for tomorrow in NYC is 4°F/-16°C. Oh joy of joys.

Woman illustration via

Speaking of the cold, today's question has to do with nature's hat: Your hair!

What's your favorite hair product at the moment and why? It can be a styling product, shampoo, treatment, whatever. List a couple if you can't decide on just one!

I think mine is the Ryo Anti-Hair Loss Treatment that popped up in a couple of Memeboxes. Supposed hair loss benefits aside, it seems to be making my scalp less gross and flaky, and when I use it in conjunction with a regular conditioner it makes my hair SUPER shiny. Like so shiny that Stan even said "Hey, your hair is shiny!" (This is a guy who didn't notice when I chopped eight inches off my hair, so yeah. Impressive.) If I have to choose a second product, I'd probably go with Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle spray (which I first sampled through Birchbox). Everybody seems to love this stuff, and with good reason—it smells delicious and works really well as a detangling spray.

So, how about you? Got any hair-raising favorites to share?

Weekly Poll | Still Life with Fruit.

Happy Wednesday, everybody!

This week's question is about fruit. Mmm, fruit. Stan's father signed us up for the Harry & David Fruit of the Month Club as a holiday gift, and it's been a real treat because we don't buy a lot of fresh fruit for ourselves around this time of year. Last month we got a massive pile-o-pears, and yesterday a ton of tangelos. Aww yess. Anyway, here's my question:

What's your favorite kind of fruit? Feel free to choose two or three if you can't decide on one.

Simple as! I think mine must be grapefruit, though I certainly don't consume it all the time out of respect for my stomach lining. I also grew quite fond of feijoas when I was staying in New Zealand, but I haven't had one in several years. I don't think they grow anywhere in North America? (If I'm wrong and you have a feijoa tree, please invite me over for a fruit party.) Lastly, avocados. Didja know those were technically fruits and not vegetables? Either way, I want to eat them. A LOT.

Review | Paula's Choice Lip & Body Treatment Balm

Affiliate Links Bought It

Hands up if your lips get really dry and chapped in the winter! I feel like I have to go out of my way to keep from kisser from getting parched around this time of year. Curse you, cold wind and aggressively hot radiators. I recently picked up Paula's Choice Lip & Body Treatment Balm in the hopes that it would perk up my withered pout, and it actually exceeded my expectations! Whoa! It's definitely worth checking out if you're in need of an intensive balm for winter. But for now... more information!

Project Low-Buy 2015: Introduction

Yep, it's that time again: Time for a little bit of sexy budgeting action. Last year I did a no-buy/spending ban that ended up turning into what could more appropriately be called a "low-buy"—I think I ended up spending about $50 on non-essential items over the course of two months, which isn't totally nuts. One of my New Year's goals/resolutions was to save more in 2015, so it seems logical for me to do an exercise in extreme budgeting again this year. Except I'm kicking it up a notch this time and low-buyin' for three months instead of two. THREE!!! Will I make it this time? Check out the rules I've set up for myself below and make your wagers in the comments.

Piggy bank art via