November Favorites

Yes, I'm still alive! I know it's only been a week but dear gawwwd it's felt like ages since I've checked up on everyone's blogs (and my own!) and this is one of the things in my life that keeps me sane, so you can only imagine how crazed I am! This past week was out of control and it is great to take this time to catch my breath and blog a bit!

Now that December is here, I thought I'd share some monthly favorites!

1. "Dirty" Chai Tea Latte - Take a chai tea latte, add vanilla & a shot of espresso (or two), and you just made one dirty but delicious drink! It's the perfect blend, trust me on this one, I'm an sbux whore after all (or just a whore dating a barista, whichever....)
**Perhaps I should do a new 'bux drink every month seeing as how I did a drink last month!**

2. New Ink - Obviously a favorite considering I got them in the beginning of this month. I am so in love with my new roman numerals and feather. Plus, they gave me another reason to buy new tops for work to cover them, even though I don't really have to, considering my tats are not naked women or swear words.

3. Dermalogica's Daily Mircofoliant - My skin was all sorts of "blah" this month -- sometimes dry, sometimes oily, sometimes downright miserable. This kept my skin from going full-blown hideous on me, thank the good skincare lords.

4. Florence + The Machine's Ceremonials - SUCH a fantastic album, it was on my iPod non-stop....and a group of students may or may not (read may) have caught me belting out to it on the way to school one morning. "So you like to sing in the car Miss Smith? That's hot." -- Good thing I have no shame.

5. Colorful Beanie - A favorite towards the end of the month, yes, but damnit I love this hat already, I wore it as often as I could! I was tempted to say "yes, of course!" to those few who have asked me if I made it myself, but let's be real, SS has no real talents like that. Only $5 from F21, though, so at least I have the talent of noticing a good bargain! (sorry for the blurry photo of it)

6. Covergirl Eyebrow Pencil in Soft Brown - My eyebrows are practically invisible against my face, thanks natural blonde hair. This one matches perfectly to my new darker hue, to the point where people who know about my blonde brows will say, "Genius idea to color your brows to match." Yeah, I would never actually color my brows, that seems too dangerous to me (says the girl who has gone to get her lashes tinted......but hey, those bad boys are invisible, too!)

There you have it, my favorite products/items/whatevers for the eleventh month of the year. Let's hope the last month of 2011 is a fantastically beautiful one! Here's to 20-ish days until Santa comes......SANTA?! I KNOW HIM!!! (couldn't resist!)

Until next time, I look forward to reading about your favorites for this month!.........

Fav-tober Time!

NOVEMBER BEMBER WEMBER!
Is it me or did that just make me sound like I was talking in a baby voice? Maybe? Sorry, not my intention, not trying to pull a Khloe Kardashian Odom moment here!

Hi friends! Happy first day of November, or as I like to see it, "54 days until Christmas" or even "54 days to figure out what the hell to buy everyone without going broke!" (My pal, The Procrastinator titled her blog posts for her favorites as this, futher proving we are long-lost friends -- also proving I wrote this as a draft....blast, I've been caught. This is me.............not caring, though. At least I came back to update it with something fun at the end!....maybe?)

Anywhoooo, I am very lazy this week (hello, wrote this as a draft, after all!) and have created a somewhat lackluster list of what I lusted after (see what I did there?!) this month.
On the whole lazy kick, too, I totes stole these photos from Google....I mean, I just wasn't into taking creative photos for four favorites......my bad, bloggers, my bad. At least I put them into a nice collage for you?!

OCTOBER FAVORITES

1. Fit Me! Blush in Deep Rose- Great buildable color, goes well with my new hair hue! NARS Orgasm took a backseat this month.
2. Salted Carmel White Mocha Latte - I don't even need to explain why this is a favorite....just read the freaking name. (It's orginally just mocha, but I despise that bitter flavor, so I opt in for the sweeter white mocha instead!) I get it without the whip, though, seeing as how I cannot stomach whipped cream from Starbucks. SSB is the one who told me to swap out the mocha for the white mocha....he just gets me, that boy.
3. Toasted & Hustle from NAKED - I wore these colors for most of the month, easy to swipe on, good colors for late fall.
4. Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster - Lifesaver, period. End of story. Damn you colder temps! I recommend this for anyone having less-than-wonderful dry skin issues. (Totes stole the bottle from my sis after using the sample packet...whatevs.)

BONUS! (not photographed)
5. My New "Vanity" - I got a bigger desk to act as a vanity and it has so much more space for all things girly. I love it. I actually will be doing a post on said vanity and random organization tips, so look for that this week!

I'll leave you with a photo of my new 'do that I just got done today! -- this is my (or my stylist's) third attempt at a new color ...I went about 5 or 6 weeks since the last one (and I really did love the last color choice) but decided I wanted to do more brown than red this time around....more "espresso" than "red velvet" (I don't know, what other food is red?!)........aaaand this is the result!

 {old hair photo is my previous color faded about six weeks, my bad!}
{sorry for the bad photos, using the ol' iPhone....}

Happy November everyone. I look forward to the next four and a half fantabulous weeks, so bring it on eleventh month of the year!

Until next time, farewell lovahs.......



Five Favorites + Month Nine = Still Five Favorites

Clearly, math is my strong subject, as an English teacher and all........

First of all, let me take this time to thank Antiqued Gold (one of mah main bloggin' bitches, yo) for awarding me the Liebster Blog Award! She may reconsider being blogger buds now that I just tried--and failed!--at speaking all ghetto fab in the last sentence, though! hah Go check out her blog, it's quite awesome.

ALSO: I added a new "page" to the top - there under "Stalk S.S" (clever, slightly creepy?!) you'll find my Twitter, Pinterest page, and Bloglovin' site (that I haven't used since the day I signed up for it)...awesome. Feel free to follow any or all for full SS updates!

Now....onto the REAL post...

Yay - October is HERE! September was all well & good but it came with enough bumps in the road to rock my happy boat (what? you don't have one of those, too?!), so I'm welcoming October with open arms!

Out with September, in with Favorites!

1. Aldo Boots - I randomly pulled these out during a mild September day and wore them almost religiously afterwards. With skinny jeans or my favorite pair of shorts on warmer days, this pair of fancy footwear never dissapointed! Love the built-in wedge effect, too.

2. Ulta Toast Lip Balm - Bought this in the middle of the month and had to wear it everyday - no exceptions! It's the perfect amount of tint without looking too harsh or done up, which is great for daytime or a full day of teaching. Easy application, soft and simple - perfect in every way!

3. Hair Color - Obviously I made my first leap into this during August, but I really became enraptured in my new hair color during the first fall-ish month and ended the month with an even warmer hue. I took this month to learn what I liked, loved, and absolutely loathed. This new tone is here to stay -- for now ;)

4. Rimmel Face Powder - Sometimes when my bronzer turned too dark or my face just didn't look put together, this powder came to the rescue. I went through the summer using Bare Minerals for this task, but screw that -- this powder does the job 10x better and is only $4 -- and usually is buy one, get one for that same $4 price....I mean, no brainer here, beauty ladies! Why I ever left it for BM is beyond me, but I'll never make that mistake again!

BONUS. Solo Dance Parties - Yep, not fashion or beauty related, deal with it. Like I mentioned before, September did not pass without stressful situations, so solo dance parties were needed to release my stress and anxiety. If you have never done this, you should probably stop reading right now and dance for a solid 5-10 minutes before finishing this post. Really, you'll thank me. I thank Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" and Cobra Starship's "You Make Me Feel..." for keeping my dance parties energetic.

....Now that we have the "favorites" out of the way, let's just note one very important thing....

SSB & I are still costume-less! We have taken the comments and emails into consideration and have narrowed it down to, oh wait, NOTHING....we're planners, clearly. Hopefully it all comes together soon enough because let's just note another important thing.....

Halloween Countdown = 30 days!
Halloween Party = 27 days!
....so many options, so little time!

We went for 2.5 hours the other night to the Halloween store....and all we left with was this:

{let's just say he didn't like my "Kung Fu Panda" idea of him

being a ninja/kung fu artist and me being a panda....so I just 

bought it because, let's face it, it's a panda hat/scarf, so badass!}

.....and it wouldn't be a true fall day unless I wrote this in a coffee shop (ok, or just Starbucks) with a hot coffee (ok, or a Salted Carmel White Mocha Latte that's just "warm" now), listening to Florence + The Machine, and rocking a scarf and boots but still being chilly because of the fall air, which describes my current state exactly. Oh yes, my loves, fall is here.



Until next time, farewell to all and I look forward to reading your favorites......

August Favorites!

In the beginning of August, there is so much summer left to be had.
Come the middle of August, I still get pissed off by back-to-school commercials slighting what amount of summer is left.
By the last week of August, I am full-speed-ahead into fall and, instead, pissed off it took so long to get here even though it isn't, by calendar status, actually here yet.


It's an odd transition, and perhaps you're all the same, too, but with the end of August comes not only the new feeling of fall, but favorites of this summer month, as well!

1. Waterproof Bronzer - With sweat, the pool, the ocean, or any "wet" activity (that sounded dirty, I assure you I mean well without being a skank!) comes the need for a makeup to stand the test of whatever you throw it's way. My Tarte bronzer blended wonderfully and stayed put when I needed it most, which was during those hot, hot days where sweat comes off of you like rain. Yeah, I said it, you've been there, too!

2. Revlon's Coralberry Lipstick - Mary (Little Ramblings), if you're reading, THANK YOU! You posted about how you just bought this shade and I was at Target the same day buying pre-vacation snacks when I just had to see if it was there. This shade is fan-freaking-tastic and I have used it just about everyday I'm not slaving away as a nanny. SUCH a pretty color that is super fun but still natural. Check it out if you don't have it already. Trust me, you need this color!

3. Neutrogena Body Wash - Nothing makes me feel quite as clean or relaxed as Neutrogena's Grapefruit Body Wash. I don't really have issue with my skin, but if I'm giving my face medicinal loving, then my skin from the neck down should receive the same treatment, am I right? Turning to this scrub is perfect for when I need to feel refreshed after a day of nannying and doing little boys' laundry, which always faintly smells of dirt and piss.....yeah, I never said my summer job was glamorous! This wash brings me out of nanny mode and back into "me" mode...girly and clean.

4. Kiehl's Toner - I haven’t done a review on this (and now there may be no need) but here’s a speedy SS one for you….this shit is awesome, buy it, end of story. I have used it on cotton pads, toilet paper, my hands and dabbed it on my face (courtesy of a tip I got from my blogging buddy, the Procrastinator!) and no matter how I put it on, it works and feels great! Brings my skin to a nice balance, which is exactly what I needed this month! If you don't believe in needing a toner (much like I did), I assure you this toner will change your mind of that. Again, another must-buy for you!

5. Essie's Borrowed and Blue - I chip my nails like nobody's business. One tiny little crack in my polish and I go at it (and the rest of the untouched fingers) like a jackhammer....it's quite unlady like, I know. I love B&B so much that I actually fix the little cracks and chips before I let myself ruin the manicure entirely. That should prove to you my dedication to this cute little color! Going to need a bit of a darker shade for fall, so enter my "ring finger" color, OPI's Ski Teal We Drop :)

Soooo very much looking forward to what's in store for my favorites in the first fall month! Look out for plenty of season-changing posts, from fashion to makeup and everything in between. Teacher rants coming up again in due time, too!


Until next time, hope your August is wonderful and here's to an even better September..... 

July Favorites

The month of July went by faster than Lindsay Lohan's house arrest....and that is just terrible! I usually love July and it all it has to offer and now I'm staring August in the face and although that's all well and good (hello beach vacation oh so soon!), I'm still bummed July felt like a blink of an eye.

Nevertheless, let's buck up our pretty faces and discuss all things favorited (not a word, but whatevs) in the steamy month of July!

1. Hauls - Can you favorite hauls? I think I can, especially since I'm still on my spending freeze until vacation and it is ALL due to those nasty but wonderful shopping trips to Ulta, F21, and the like. Blast those beauty buys and fashion finds...I look cute, at least, even if my wallet is crying. We're not talking right now. It's fine...it'll come crawling back, they always do!

2. Homemade Daisy Dukes - If there was ever an item of clothing that I love as much as my adored baby blanket (don't judge) it is definitely my pair of homemade cut-offs from years ago. I think my mom was going to give the jeans away (they were my sister's) and instead, I took them and cut them and folded up the ends to make cute little cuffs, did some hand sewing (not my finest hour of craftsmanship) and voila, my favorite shorts were made! They fit loose which is why I love them. Who knew you could wear short shorts AND eat your cake, too? I'm practically a miracle worker! July saw these bad boys.....a lot. Perhaps too much...

3. Vegetable Juice - Gotta work on the insides to make the outsides look good, no? I started eating tomatoes like it was my job this month and then that transferred over to my new love for vegetable juice. A full serving of veggies in every eight ounces, so I've been downing this all month, whether it's by can or just buying the big bottle....and I have noticed a difference in my skin and health since drinking that in place of juice or coffee....ok, so I still drink the coffee. A lot.

4. Physcians Formula Mosaic Bronzer - I will never stop searching for bronzers no matter how many times I buy them. I bought this one and forgot about it, but after buying my waterproof one from Tarte (which I do like, not to worry!), I came across this one and fell in love. I must have been too pale for it when I first bought it but now it works perfectly with my somewhat tanner skin. The mosaic colors blend nicely so my face isn't one big brown circle, and it doesn't have the shimmery effects of a disco ball, either.....yessss! I use it as a softer base and then use the Tarte in areas where "sun naturally hits." I hate when people say that, sounds so pretentious for whatever reason. Says the girl who just used the word pretentious.....

5. Bare Eyelids - I prefer going nude....on my eyelids, that is. I am either too lazy or too sweaty to wear shadow so I just do a nice color on the waterline....it's like the inverted shadow look! It gives my skin a more sunkissed look, too, because the eyelids just become a nice bronze color like the rest of me instead of having some other color stealing the focus from my tan. I still rock the occasional gold lid or even smoky brown, but for the most part in July, this chick was nude.....on my eyelids, that is!

6. Dry Shampoo - Heaven in a bottle, am I right? This month I got really lazy with my hair and this shit helped, as it always does. This should probably be a favorite every month, for real. I go between TRESemme and Umberto's.....I am currently looking for Bastitse's XXL Volume one, so if you know where it is, help a sista out!

7. Netflix - I already discussed this in a previous post but after buying it in July, it's become my serious amigo and I have no idea why I waited so long to be without this media BFF. If you don't have it, get it, really. Stream it to the laptop and you're set! Such a serious favorite (or obsession) of mine this month!

So I know there were very few items of beauty in that favorite list, but hey, I'm nothing if not honest....I haven't used very many beauty products this month because it's sweaty, I work as a nanny, and it's sweaty....and really hot.

Here's to August...may it slow down just a bit more than July's speed-demon actions and let us revel in it's summer joy!

Travel post coming soon....a sort of "what's in my (many) travel bags?!" Look out for that!

I leave you with a photo from yesterday.....I took the kiddos I nanny to the nearest amusement park and this photo pretty much sums up my life.

Just barely too tall to ride on a Kiddieland ride. No, I am not sad that I cannot ride, but rather, sad that I pretty much just miss the cut-off....and I'm 23. #nannyfail (Yes, I did just hashtag in a blog post....whatevs.)

Thank you to my boyfriend for coming along with us, he made the whole trip much easier because the boys loved him being there! We actually had a decent bit of fun...as much fun as you can have with an 8 year old and a 5 year old at an amusement park!

Until next time, as always....farewell love bugs.

Little Late - June Favorites

I have returned, alive, from the mini-vacation my family took to visit our extended family down South. After receiving far too many mosquito bites, random cuts and bruises (WHERE did those come from?!) and a twinge of sunburn, I'm glad to be back home, with my laptop and my own bed and bathroom, that's for sure!

Considering we were on a boat everyday, I kept the makeup very very minimal. That being said, I'm thrilled to discuss beauty-related things now that I'm off the boat and my feet are on dry land. SOOOOO, without further a-do, I present you with my.......

Orgasm Blush - I have had this for awhile and have sadly hit pan pretty hardcore on it, but I kept it stashed away for a couple months until June rolled around....and now I'm obsessed all over again. I don't care about the cost, I'm buying it again as soon as I run out!

Waterline Liner - I always look at different makeup looks to see what I want to try on myself. The one thing I always loved on other's eyes but steered away from was eyeliner on the waterline...or that part right below your eyeball before your lashes, for you confused readers! I decided to give this look a try on a whim in mid-June and love the look! I still need to adjust to it but it makes the blue in my eyes really stand out and gives them a bit of an edgy touch that isn't too hooker/emo/biker, which were all looks I was afraid this look would give me. A sigh of relief I still look like myself with liner on my waterline!

Stila Gloss in Majesty - I bought a pack of 8 Stila glosses from Urban Outfitters awhile ago...honestly, I don't even remember when. I loved all the colors except for one, so I gave it to my sister. It just looked too dark from the tube and I was instantly uninterested....until I saw it in her bag and tried it and LOVED it. The berry color comes out like a light stain for the lips, just enough color without looking too bare or too dramatic. I stole it back...after all, it's not like she paid for it, I did ;)

Mojitos - Pretty sure this is my summer drink staple. I just cannot get enough of this refreshingly wonderful drink! I drank far too many of them over the month of June and July should be no different. It's a nice change from my usually mundane vodka soda, and summer deserves to have a little difference!

Loose Tanks - When it's hot hot HOT out and there's little I want sticking to my body (sweat, gross, yuck), these bad boys tend to be my go-to and they definitely were through the month of June. I love a good loose tank in a pretty print. The two I have from Target get the most compliments (imagine that!), so I need to go back and see if they have more because you can't go wrong with a good tank for summer.

I was pretty boring for June. All the working (teaching and nannying) really did me in so I'm super pumped to start my 3-day weeks soon enough. Much more time for laying by the pool....and more blogging, of course! 

Hope you all had a wonderful June and your July is shaping up to be just as great! I'm off to get some beauty rest after dropping some serious cash on my new Victoria's Secret card on these two bad boys....

Can't go wrong with a blue suit, right? For a gal who loves this color in just about any shade, it's odd I don't have a single blue bathing suit. I had to change that ;)

I typically hate pink on me, but this neon shade just screamed summer to me, and it also screamed at me to buy it....how rude, but I obliged, so I'm hoping it looks good! 

If you're not new to this blog, I hope you like the face-lift I gave to SS...this soft pink and black reminded me of an old-school-summer-vacation, so I went with it....I don't even like pink (as I already mentioned) so I'm not entirely sure how/why I decided to make the change. Whatevs.

Until next time, as always, farewell my lovahs!

Mayo Favoritas ("You Know I Don't Speak Spanish....")

Silly me, I was checking up on blogs and saw a decent amount of "May Favorites" and was thinking, "What the heck are these girls doing - jumping the gun a bit here aren't we?!" Then, the idiot blonde in me got smart....I cannot believe it's JUNE! Insanity. I feel like it was just yesterday I was writing up all my April Favorites and looking forward to all that May had to offer. Overall, a very enjoyable month and I cannot wait to see what June has in store!

Now, though, let's break down the MAY favorites. I'm not going all archetype on your asses this time with five favs (for the fifth month) in five different categories....I'm just too damned sunburned and lazy from a great Memorial Day weekend....don't judge ;)

Naked Eye Palette - Is it any wonder this became a May favorite? I love half baked and smog, but I need to actually use more of the colors in the palette....which reminds me! I have yet to use my Coastal Scent palettes and there's TWO of them...perhaps you'll be seeing them in my June favorites...if I ever can pull my grubby hands away from Naked!

Daisy by Marc Jacobs - Such a wonderful scent for spring and summer, end of story. I'd bathe in it if the idea wasn't so oddly disgusting :) It actually reminds me to spritz it on every morning because it just smells that good that I don't want to forget to wear it! 

Rimmel Blush in Winter Glow - Odd blush name for a May favorite, but the first two colors in this "blendable" blush are perfect complements to a bronzed face. The last one is a little too pinky/red for me, so I just use the first two and I'm good to go! I don't recommend using all three together, though. It creates a bit of a clown look....so not cute!

Umberto Dry Shampoo - It's $8 and it is probably the best one I've ever used....honestly, I've used a lot of dry shampoo in the past couple of years, too! Go and buy it nowww!

Physicians Formula Glam Eyes Mascara for Brown Eyes - Yeah, I know, I have blue eyes but this mascara was too cool to pass up. It's black on one side and brown/bronze on the other for highlight. I don't always use the highlight side but I've learned that I love fatties....when it come to mascara wands, relax. Seriously, though, this brush is so FAT and it coats every last little lash so perfectly. Love it so much, and the bronze highlight is perfect for adding that little something extra.


How that ended up being five favorites is impressive, definitely did not try to do that! I'm so very much looking forward to finding out what's my favorite in June, but right now, I'm more interested in knowing what YOUR May favorites are....now that I know you are not bonkers for posting them already ;)

Until next time, farewell!

April Showers Bring....April Favorites!

I truly cannot believe how fast April came and went. I really had to look twice at my phone yesterday when I saw it said "May 1" at the top....insanity! I think with all the craziness at work, Easter being this month, and all the birthday madness, I didn't have time to stop and relax. I look forward to doing so in May (fingers crossed!)

We all know what the first few days of any month means, though, don't we? It's time for a "FAVORITES!" post. Like last month, I'll choose four things (April is the fourth month, after all!) in the categories of Fashion, Beauty, and Miscellaneous. Let me know what your favorites were for this month, too, because I love love love reading "favorites" posts!

FOURTH MONTH FASHIONS
Sperry Bahama Top-Siders

I saw these randomly while scrolling through Delia*s website and had to have them back in February. My look is not all that conducive to the prep top-sider look, but these had just the right element I was looking for; they're unexpected, and I never wear them without someone telling me how great they are (aside from my sisters...we all have very different tastes!) They were my "go-to" shoes for April, and believe me, even with the animal print, they go with so much! They always added just the right amount of "oomph" whether I was running errands, going out for casual drinks, and they're even comfortable enough for an entire (and I mean entire!) day of shopping! They sold-out on their website fairly quickly, too, so I feel lucky to have them. Pony-haired animal print? It's pretty mah-jor, if I do say so myself!

Wingtip Oxfords
My second go-to shoe when I wasn't wearing heels! It rained a lot this month (and I mean a lot!) so I tried to wear a shoe that would stand up against the weather without being frumpy. I love the look of oxfords and these were so simple but yet they have a great androgynous feel. In case you didn't read the former post, I just bought a second pair of them, too, and they have great cut-out details so I'm excited to wear them in May!

Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch

I am a huge fan of the menswear watch. I have such small wrists and hands but I still love the look of a strong, chunky watch; dainty ones just make me look, well, daintier! I had a fantastic two-tone (silver on the outside links, gold on the middle link) boyfriend watch from Urban Outfitters and it lasted me all through college. It sadly did not stand the test of "wear and tear" when I jumped into a pool with it during vacation and swam around not realizing it was still on my wrist (very sad face). It was four years old at the time and I had put it through a lot while I was in college, so it was time for a new watch (time, watch, get it?!) I have about three from Target that I bought on whims while shopping for cotton balls (are you all guilty of this too?) because they all had an element of my old UO watch that I missed so dearly. When I saw this while shopping at Nordstrom, I bought it on the spot (goodbye $30 Target watches). It's so simple and it goes with everything! I was going to get the rose gold one they had but the silver just seemed to fit my style better. I wore it constantly in April, my wrist felt naked without it.

Leather Jackets

I absolutely love leather jackets no matter what season, but this month, they were certainly a staple. I have a blush colored motorcycle one (F21), a slightly cropped one with quilted detail near the zipper (Urban Outfitters), and a plain black one that's pictured to the right (I detached the fur collar). I was so easily able to grab any of these three and have them instantly complete my look. Definitely a major go-to this month!

BEAUTY BESTS

Too Faced Natural Palette
I know I received this at the tail-end of April (birthday gift), but I loved it as soon as I swiped it on my eyes! It is so perfect for my skin coloring and I love each and every last color in the palette. I know there are only nine colors in the palette, but they are perfection for creating an "everyday" eye look; and believe me, I need an everyday go-to eye look when it's 6am and I'm trying to get makeup on my face before I bust out of the door for work! I think I'll use my new UD Naked Palette for weekend and night-out looks. The Coastal Scent palettes (also other birthday gifts) have yet to be used, so that really shows how much I loved this palette!

Mario Badescu Whitening Mask
I have only used this mask a couple times and while the smell leaves much to be desire, I really like the outcome so far and look forward to using it even more in the month of May (I was using it about once a week instead of 2-3). I usually put it on once I've washed and exfoliated so it's the icing on my beauty cake regime. I love masks most always simply because they just add that "glamor" element to the usual hum-drum routine; odd how putting white junk on my face can feel glamorous?

NYX Eyeliners
I bought a couple of these in the middle of April and they have been my go-to liners ever since. I have them in Bronze Glitter and Teal (yes, teal) and I love how they both add a great pop of color to my usually simple face. I just started using NYX this month, so I have a feeling their products will keep popping up throughout May in reviews and hauls (come to think of it, I have yet to do a review on this blog - yikes! I'll get on that!) I wear the teal when I'm going out for a little dose of something extra, and the bronze pencil is simple enough for work but still funky enough to prove I'm just not another boring teacher ;) hah

NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic
Is it any wonder I would add another NYX product? I use this blush under a sweep of my NARS Orgasm and it gives my cheeks the perfect flush. It adds a bit of highlight to the tops of my cheekbones, too, so I love that added element. I'm not a huge cream blush fan but this one is just the right consistency to tie in perfectly with the rest of my beauty regime. A keeper for sure; not to mention the name of the blush is great for the 70s look for spring & summer!

RAINY RANDOMS (Because April was certainly rainy!!)

The Time Quartet by Madeleine L'Engle
Yes, this book series is definitely in the kids section of your local library or Barnes & Noble, but I have loved A Wrinkle in Time  ever since I read it in the fourth grade and I've been meaning to read the rest of the "Time" series ever since. If you are a Harry Potter fan, this book series is something to check out. I was obsessed with it the entire month! It's four books and they were all written before 1980, the first one was actually written in the 60s and it shows how fantastic the imagination can be; I love books like that.

My Birthday!
Is that selfish of me to say? The day of my actual birthday was just perfect. I had a really good time shopping with my friend, dinner was great with my family, and everything just worked out. It seems so rare that everything runs smoothly for me, let alone on my own birthday! It was the one day where I took it all for myself and I'm glad I did. I'm so enraptured by kiddos at work and family members and friends that I have difficulty giving myself some "me" time and I was able to do so on my birthday. Definitely a solid reason for an April favorite, no?

THE Royal Wedding

I know I already posted photos and gave you my thoughts on this all, but seriously, I looked forward to this wedding the entire month of April (yep, one of those girls!) and I was so happy to have the chance to watch the wedding in its entirety (yep, one of those teachers who had it on in their room the entire day - thanks E! for the rerun!) It was so beautiful and they both looked so happy. It was such a great source of happiness for so many people; it was nice that something kind of brought a big part of the world together, even if it was just to see royalty getting married!

Blogging!
As you may (or may not) already know, I started Superficial Sanctuary this past month. My first month of being a so-called "beauty" blogger was a great outlet for me; something different that I wouldn't normally do! It has been so fun being able to converse with you all and it's fantastic that I already have as many followers as I do. I look forward to another great month of blogging. If you have any suggestions for me on what I should do different/what you already like, let me know! Your feedback and comments is what makes blogging as fun as it is!

That's that - April's a wrap!

March Favorites

Yes, it's almost the second week of April (woot, woot!), but I figured I'd still throw in a March Favorites, because who doesn't love to hear about other people's obsessions, so they, too, can go on and obsess about it. It's a vicious but fantastic cycle that I thoroughly enjoy each month!

Considering it's the third month of the year, I chose three items for three different categories (nothing like a good archetype!) The categories chosen are simply Fashion, Beauty, and Miscellaneous.

FASHION FAVES:

1. My new Tribal Print Scarf from Forever21. I bought this scarf online, and it was actually the first time I ever ordered anything through F21's online store. I am big on knowing how it looks beforehand, but with scarves, anything and everything goes. This print is awesome for spring and summer (yes, I still rock them as wraps or in my hair throughout the hot months!) and on top of it being a great price ($6.50), it also supported the disaster in Japan. I bought it the day F21 was donating all of their proceeds to the relief efforts in Japan. Win-win....congrats to F21 for raising over $2mil for the cause.

2. Bamboo Heels from Forever 21. I bought these at the tail-end of March and I am already obsessed. They were extremely affordable and after a night out, on my feet for most of it, they held up really well...I can't always say that about F21's shoes, but these are by another brand (Bamboo) so that could justify the reason as to their sturdiness. They are perfect for summer, because I love black heels, but the cork heel and platform gives them a nice summery edge. Order your own pair!

3.If you are reading this and do not follow the site, whowhatwear.com, QUICK....follow them & get their email updates NOW. Did you do it? Awesome. I found this site through them and although they rarely send me shoe ideas that I enjoy (they must think I'm a lady of the night who wears fishnets and hot pink patent heels....yikes!), I fell in love with these wedges and had to have them. I love a solid wedge, and the price of their shoes are extremely reasonable. Note: Do not join JustFab if you are forgetful; they'll charge your card every month if you do not tell them to "skip" the month in the first five days (i.e. March 1-5). It's a killer, I've forgotten twice (whoops!) The plus side was you can go back and redeem the "credit" to buy a pair, but if you didn't have the money in your account, it'd definitely be an overdrawal...that's never classy, my loves. This specific pair was a product of my forgetfulness, so I suppose I'll be thankful.

BEAUTY BUZZ:
1. Urban Decay Makeup Setting Spray - I have an older sister who is a manager at a beauty store and salon. How she never told me the wondrous world of makeup setting spray is beyond me. I sometimes forget to spray it after my makeup, but even on those days when I still sprayed it before my makeup application, I definitely notice a different in the way my makeup lasts. I have makeup on by 6am and it rarely comes off before 10pm (on these days it's typically only foundation, powder, and blush), so a makeup setting spray is a lifesaver. After all, I don't want to be the teacher with melting makeup. Not that I wear enough for that, but the analogy fit. Let's roll with it. The one I have is specified for "Oil-Control" which I like because I have combo skin on some days and need the extra help!

2. Vitamin E Night Cream from The Body Shop - I never stepped foot into a Body Shop until my friend needed to buy some Tea Tree Oil for her face that she clearly didn't need. However, I'm glad she wasted her money (she later stopped using it; I love Tea Tree, don't interpret this otherwise), because I found a fantastic night cream that I cannot go to bed without! It's so gentle on my skin and it gives me a great glow in the morning, making me think I can just go to work without makeup...but, darlings, I'd never do such a thing. I use the Vitamin E Eye Cream, too, and my boyfriend thinks I'm crazy for using anti-aging items now, but it's better to be safe than sorry. I'll slather them on until they run out...and then I'll run out to buy more!

3. SJP NYC Fragrance - I have a confession to make: I rarely wear perfume. I am so forgetful half the time and leave the house without it on, but I've had this fragrance just sitting in my room and realized, "Hey, you smell fantastic for spring!" It supposed to be the carrie-bradshaw-in-a-perfume type smell, so if smelling like her makes me smell better, I'm fine with that. I did remember to spritz it on today, for the record.


MISCELLANEOUS MARCHNESS:
1. Water for Elephants (the book) - It started slow, I won't lie, but by the end, I became so excited to see the movie. The fact they picked the absolutely delicious RPatz for the gig (sorry, werewolf lovers!) makes the movie that much better! I hope the movie does the book justice, though. As an English teacher, I love reading, so I will always be a book-better-than-movie type, but I allow RPatz to prove me wrong. Bring it on, vamp. (Note to Twi-hards: RPatz plays someone named "Jacob" in the movie....ridic!)

2. Felt-Tip Pens - I have a serious obsession with these pens as I use them for everything at work! Just the other day, I had to be out for appoitnments, and I came back to find the sub had taken the pink pen from my collection! The kiddos know never to touch my desk and, really, I find it hard to believe my classes would be so bold as to take something from me. I don't even love the pink pen, but it was clearly the principle of the matter. I went out that very same day and bought a new set of 13....to replace the ONE stolen, of course (hey, I never said I was level-headed). I now have a variety of colors and I am sure they are all still there at the end of each day. If you were a teacher, you'd think this was entirely normal.

NOTE: I am a new teacher. I know I look young but I just graduated not even a year ago (Go PSU!) My new perspective on teaching and how it affects my life will surely seep into this blog in the future, as it already has in this post!

3. Satin Eye Mask - I will forever be afraid of the dark (hey, we all have our faults). This eye mask is perfect to block out the Bravo Houswives on my TV but still gives me the comfort of knowing there's light in my room if I take the eye mask off. I can sleep with noise but the light has been an issue as of late (old age? kidding...) This satin fabric lets my skin breathe, too, so I don't feel like I'm trapped. I may very well be addicted to it like I am to a baby blanket (did I just type that?) and I have a feeling from here on out, I'll be frantically trying to find it in my mass of sheets and pillows just so I can snooze. It's from Target for $4.99...can't beat it. (I suppose this could fall under beauty, but whatever...this is my blog, isn't it?)

So there you have it, my faves for March. Go out and buy the ones that interest you. What were YOUR March faves? Let me know so I can get in on the addiction, too!