July Favorites 2015

Hey Guys,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable month of July. My month was packed with Cherry Festival, extra shifts at work, my birthday, wine tasting, and even some relaxing at the beach. Time sure does fly when you're having fun. I can't believe the month is already over.

Here's a few of my favorite things from July.

- It Cosmetics CC Cream: I've been using the CC cream for a while now as my regular foundation and absolutely love it. I originally bought the light color but it turned out to be a little dark on me so I bought the fair. Now that I have a bit of a tan from the summer sun however I've been mixing the two together to create my perfect color. I usually use my fingers to apply the cream which glides on smoothly and never leaves any streaks or weird spots. The CC cream provides even coverage and doesn't show pores like the bareMinerals liquid foundation did for me. It's also one of the best smelling makeup products I've ever used.

- Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Tone: Earlier this year I was looking to boost my skin care regimen and decided to pick up the Mario Badescu Glycolic Adic Toner. I don't use this product every night because it can be a little harsh, but every other night works well for my skin. My face always feels so much more clean after using this toner, especially in the summer months when I've been sweating in my makeup all day.

- Mask of Magnaminty from Lush: My parents and I stopped at Lush in Grand Rapids a few months ago and I've been using this mask regularly ever since. The minty smell of the product makes me feel fresh and reinvigorated. The mask is pretty gentle and feels great on my face. It's not as messy as I thought it would be either. I like putting on the mask 10-15 minutes before I take a shower so then I can just wash it off when I'm in there.

- J Crew Tank: Another item I previously mentioned purchasing in Grand Rapids was an slightly off white tank from J Crew. I have been loving this tank top and have worn it a lot this month. The top itself is incredibly comfortable while the detailed front and silk back makes it look dressier than it feels. Pairing this tank with jeans makes me feel more put together than a regular t-shirt.

- Planner and Planner Stickers: This planner is my life now. I've had it for three months and have noticed a significant increase in my productivity over that time. It's nice having a way to organize blog post schedules and filming ideas. Of course there are days I don't follow what I have written or just completely forget to schedule anything, but I'm getting better. I also love the fact that my planner serves as both a functional and creative outlet. That's definitely my favorite combination. Now I just need to stop buying stickers because this planner was supposed to help me save money not spend it all.

- The Newsroom: I picked up the first season of The Newsroom at the start of this month. I'd heard great things about the show and had been meaning to watch it for years. My dad and I watched the first episode together and neither of us could wait to watch episode two. Unfortunately my dad stopped watching after the third episode because he was angry with the show's political stance, so I continued on alone. I'm now in the middle of season two and wishing the show lasted longer than three seasons. I love the people, subject matter, and just everything about The Newsroom.

- Audiobooks/Overdrive: Audiobooks are the best aren't they? I mean really you can listen to them anywhere or while doing almost anything. Whether it's baking, cleaning, or riding a bike an audiobook is the perfect companion to any task. I feel like I've spent most of the month listening to one book or another. Overdrive is an app that allows you to check out audiobooks and ebooks through your local library. Since I'm broke borrowing books fits into my budget much better than buying them. You can even listen to the books right in your web browser now, no downloading necessary.

- Middlesex: This is definitely my favorite book I finished in July and has joined the ranks as one of my favorite books of all time. I didn't know much about this story before starting other than the fact that the main character was a hermaphrodite. No expectations is the best way to approach a novel; I was completely blown away. All those emotions I kept waiting to feel for The Virgin Suicides came to me when reading Middlesex. Eugenides writing in this book was brilliant. The way he created this story reminded me of an intricately woven sweater or a perfectly folded origami creation.

- Jen Campbell: Jen Campbell is an author, bookseller, and Youtuber who makes videos talking about all the bookish things. She's great. I love the type of videos she creates and trust her book recommendations completely. Jen also seems like a wonderful person. If only I lived in England and could be friends with all the nice British booktubers (they seem like a cool crowd). Anyway, if you haven't heard of Jen, you should most definitely check out her videos.

Alright, that's it.

-S

What are your favorites from the month of July?

February Favorites

Boy am I glad February is over. It was a long month here in Michigan with extreme colds and buckets of snow. My dad read somewhere that this was the 3rd coldest February in Traverse City in the last 100 years (yikes). I spent most of the month inside trying to stay warm and enjoying the little things that helped make life better.

Book Club - The Traverse Area District Library has some really cool monthly book clubs and I was finally able to attend one of the meetings at the end of February. Books and Brewskis meets at a local microbrew pub called The Filling Station where you can sip on craft beer while talking about the latest piece of literature. For February we read "The Kept" by James Scott, which wasn't bad but definitely wasn't a favorite. The book itself was pretty depressing and just wasn't what I felt like reading last month. Luckily the book club meeting was a blast, with nice people and great discussion questions. I was really impressed by how comfortable the atmosphere was and the number of interesting books they have lined up for the future. Now I can't wait to meet again!

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón - I love Zafón's writing style and the way he can keep you guessing. Just when you think you have the story figured out, you realize maybe you aren't so sure. What's better than literature, mixed with a love story, history, mystery, and a psychological twist? The answer is nothing. I had previously read Zafón's "The Shadow of the Wind" and am currently reading "The Prisoner of Heaven." All three books are a part of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series and I really like the way each story line intersects with the other.

Boyhood - OMG guys! This is one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time. When I started watching Boyhood just before midnight one night I figured I'd fall asleep or decide to finish it in the morning. Instead I got totally hooked and ended up staying up until 3 am to watch the whole thing. The acting was phenomenal. I really felt like I was watching this growth of a family with all their hardships and triumphs. The whole movie felt so natural and real, almost like you're watching a reality TV show (only better). Boyhood really leaves you thinking about your own family and your own relationships. I think every person is able to relate to at least one aspect of the movie.

Source

Goodbye by Who Is Fancy - I've been obsessed with this song.

Cat Shirt from LOFT - Who doesn't want a shirt with a bunch of cat doodles on it? I wear this shirt all the time and it never fails to make me happy. I can't get enough.

Just Taylor Swift living in my dream world, like always. (Source)

Emu Oil - My scalp was having issues last month and emu oil came to the rescue. I've tried everything for these scaly dry patches I have on my scalp, but there's not a whole lot that really helps. Mostly I just have to be patient and try to keep my hands from picking at it (gross I know). I already have a bald spot on the right side of my head from an old patch that I didn't care for properly. Years ago my dermatologist prescribed a steroid based gel for the area but the spot came back shortly there after. I just wasn't comfortable with the idea of using the gel for a longer period of time, so I started searching for more natural treatments. Now I try to alternate between emu oil, coconut oil, and trying to increase my protein intake.

Bare Minerals Eyebrow pencil - This is the second bareMinerals eyebrow pencil I've purchased and I just love how well the product works. I'm amazed at how filled in eyebrows can really help complete a look. Now I can hardly go out without using this first, even if I'm wearing no other makeup. I have always had dark, full eyebrows (even before they were cool) and I think I've managed to maintain them pretty well. I actually use the lighter color available and try to keep things to a minimum. The only issue is that my eyebrows don't exactly match and most of what I fill in is on my right side. A little goes a long way, but I do think this pencil could last longer than it does. My first one only lasted about 4 months, so if anyone has a recommendation for a better or longer lasting pencil feel free to share!

Like I said, as much as I hate wishing away time, I'm glad to have February over with. So far March has brought a little warmer weather and lots of sun (can't beat that). Hopefully we will have an early spring and I can share some more outsides adventures. I've been loving all the spring related blog posts going around, but sandals and fresh flowers are a long way off in my world.

Happy March everyone!

-S

My First Video

Hey guys, I finally decided to stop putting it off and made a video. There's lots of rambling and I definitely don't have the best editing skills, but it was pretty fun to make. The video is mostly about my search for a new foundation. It's not a review of the product, which will probably come later. Hope you guys enjoy!

Like I said in the video, I have no idea if I'll make any more but if you liked this format and want to see more let me know. I'd love your feedback.

-S