Current Events & May Amazon Purchases

Hi!

This post is overdue, however I still wanted to share! May was a crazy month, it went from chilly and rainy to warm and sunny. I also had a crazy month at work, although it calmed down a bit from March and April. It seems like WFH has either been crazy or completely relaxed for some. I have been saving a ton of money while living at my parents house, and now I am officially moving out of my NYC apartment for the time being.

It is impossible to miss what is going on in our country right now regarding Black Lives and LGBTQ+ rights. If you have been saving money in quarantine, I highly suggest donating to causes such as For the Gworls, The Nina Pop and Tony McDade Mental Health Recovery Fund, or visiting this article from The Strategist which lays out a ton of funds to donate too. If you can’t donate, look into educating yourself with a book/documentary/article, becoming and ally, or attending a protest.

That being said, back to working from home. I purchased a few items from Amazon that I wanted to share that are making work from home a little easier:

Jumpsuit / Mug Warmer / Phone Stand

A cozy jumpsuit that really is a pair of joggers with a tank top attached will make you feel put together in an outfit, even though you just changed out of your pajamas.

The mug warmer is actually what I got my mom for Mother’s Day, we make hot coffee & hot lemon water a lot here, so this was a great gift since our drinks are always getting cold!

THIS phone stand has been so great for me, as I felt like my thumb was hurting from holding my phone and scrolling so much in quarantine. I also feel like having it upright and in front of me keeps me from compulsively checking my phone. I got it in the gold color, but honestly it kind of has a rose gold tint. There is a rose gold option & silver option as well!

Happy Shopping!! xx

My new favorite at-home coffee hack

Keurig / Mug / Salt Box / Vital Proteins (I add this to my coffee every morning)

“Coffee is the lifeblood that fuels the dreams of champions.” (Kicking and Screaming, 2005).

Now on week 6 of working from home, I have been making a lot of coffee at home! I’m sure many people have been doing the same, since many businesses are closed. This has certainly been saving me a ton of money, and I’ve actually been enjoying my morning routine of hot lemon water, coffee and breakfast!

Recently, I’ve also had to re-heat my Keurig coffee since it cools off really quickly. I’ve been thinking about investing in a mug warmer, but for now I’ve just been re-heating it in the microwave. If you’ve done this before, you’ve probably tasted the unpleasant, bitter taste that this brings on.

My new favorite hack to fix this is to add a pinch of salt! It helps to offset the bitter taste and just helps make the re-heated coffee more enjoyable.

Enjoy! xx

 

Loungewear for every budget!

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably been living in loungewear as of late. Joggers are the new jeans, sweatshirts and long sleeved tees have replaced my sweaters. Funny enough, I actually left NYC to go on vacation to Florida right as soon as they were starting to shut the city down and telling companies to work from home.

I was planning on coming back to NYC in a week for a doctor’s appointment, but I actually ended up changing it to a practice in Florida instead. I didn’t have to leave after a week which is great, however that meant when my parents rental was inevitably over, we would head back to cold and rainy Rhode Island.

I didn’t really pack many clothes for a cool climate, because I didn’t think I was going to need them! So I took this as a chance to order some new clothes to just hang out in, as well as look at all my options out there (I love a good sale!)

Below I’ve rounded up some of the best I’ve seen out there in the last few weeks.

Old Navy Picks:

Hoodie / Joggers / 3-pack of socks / Sneakers

J.Crew Factory Picks:

Scrunchie / Tank Top / Joggers / Slippers

GAP Picks:

Sweatshirt / Bralette / Shorts 

Lululemon Picks:

Scuba Hoodie / Trapeze Tank / Align Crop

Happy Shopping! xx

Sephora Beauty Insider Sale Picks

What’s better than a sale on your go-to products? Sephora sale’s are far and few, but coveted by makeup and skin care lovers alike. While I haven’t been wearing much makeup in quarantine, I have been meaning to try some new skincare products, as well as stock up on some favorites for when I go outside again some day! haha.

I recently tried a few new products from Sephora, some cult favorites, that I would highly recommend. I also am very particular about what I buy skincare/ makeup wise and am a creature of habit, so I have certain products I buy again and again.

Here are some old favorites, new favorites, and cult classics:

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Wow, I heard about this many times. I wanted to try it for some time, and then I finally bit the bullet in February and bought it. I can’t tell you how many compliments I got wearing this mascara at work! People I barely talk too were saying my lashes looked great, and I was shocked.

I usually wear the Glossier Lash Slick, and I guess it’s a little more subtle. If you’re going for a bolder look, this Too Faced mascara will do the the trick!

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

I have always been a drugstore makeup girl, other than a few mascara’s and eyeshadows here and there. But in terms of concealers and BB creams, I have always purchased brands like Neutrogena, CoverGirl, Maybelline, etc.

I’ve been taking accutane for the past couple of months, so I decided to try this highly recommended concealer. So far I love it! It works really well and it doesn’t get dry and flakey, all without being greasy looking. Now I am one of the people highly recommending this cult favorite concealer!

Burberry My Burberry Black Perfume

One of my all time favorites that I have been using for years now. I started off with the My Burberry original scent and since have moved on to the My Burberry Black scent. The Blush scent is also great, along with the original!

I always try out a rollerball version if I’m not 100% committed to a scent yet. I also like to mix it up, and this is a more cost effective way to do so!

Sunday Riley C.E.O Brightening Serum

This is a product is one I’ll be trying for the first time, as it comes highly recommended from Beauty Insiders, as well as other skincare fanatics. Vitamin C Serum is said to help brighten dull skin, as well as lighten hyperpigmentation and acne scarring. I’ve also heard great reviews of the Drunk Elephant C Serum, as well as the Summer Fridays CC Me Serum!

Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops

Many bloggers I follow rave about these drops! I did a test of one on my hand at Sephora and it worked really well! After digging into some of the reviews on Sephora’s website, most users with sensitive skin said it didn’t trigger any skin issues for them. A win-win!

St. Tropez Express Bronzing Mousse

By far my favorite way to self tan. St. Tropez works so well, and I love the Express version, just because I like to shower before I go to bed. My two secrets to getting a great tan with St. Tropez is to use the tanning mitt (absolute game changer) and this video on how to apply their products!

There are so many great products available, and depending on the amount you spend per year determines what percentage of discount that you get!

My favorite recent Amazon purchases

Amazon has taken over in terms of online shopping, but I don’t have to tell you that. Along with Amazon brands, bigger and more-well known brands are also selling items on the site. Everything from Levi’s denim to Aquaphor to Gatorade is being sold by the brand’s on Amazon, and most of them offering Prime 2-day shipping!

While I love that brands I know are available on Prime, it’s also fun to explore brands you didn’t know before or even Amazon-specific brands. There’s so many products that I never would have heard of, or would have taken a long time to get if it weren’t for Amazon Prime. I also think Prime is perfect when you are in a pinch and need something last minute (aka me, all the time).

Linked below are some of my recent favorites:

Satin pillowcases

These satin pillowcases look expensive (even thought they aren’t) are good for skin, and help prevent hair breakage!

Mini Humidifier

I ordered this mini (pink!!) humidifier to put on my bedside table since I’ve been getting so dry lately. I love it so far, it doesn’t take up a lot of room and it works well.

Small Storage Bins

These storage bins would be perfect for on top of a dresser or in a bathroom cabinet. I decided on pink, because I wanted to add some color to my white walls/dressers.

Levi’s Denim Shorts

Before my trip to New Orleans, I needed a pair of jean shorts in a time crunch. This is when I turned to Amazon and found that Levi’s sells shorts on Prime, so I got this adorable pair!

Animal Print Skirt

One of my absolute favorite items, I got this skirt late last summer and couldn’t wear it enough.

Foldable Cube Storage Bins

These cube storage bins have saved the organization of my room and closet, were cost effective, and look expensive.

Aquaphor 3-Pack

My most recent discovery is that Aquaphor is amazing for your lips and other dry areas! I have used it in the past, and always keep a tube in my bag, but I’ve been using it more lately since I have been extra dry.

Formal Dress

In another pinch for time (seems like a theme in my life), I ordered this dress in green for my work holiday party back in December. It was at a nightclub, so I figured I would go a bit dressy and wear this with the same heels I bought for last year’s party. Inexpensive, but looked chic and I got a lot of compliments on it!

Pearl Headbands

ALLLLLL the rage, especially in NYC. I see people wearing these headbands every day, and I’m still not sick of them. This pack of 6 is great because of the many color options, I’ve worn every single color and love them all!

Pompom Bedskirt

ADORABLE and really adds something to a bed. I have a simple metal bed frame, and the box spring from Casper, so my bed needed a little extra something to make it look put together. I found this perfect and wallet-friendly pompom bedskirt that I have told everyone I know about. My mom even bought 2 for our house in Martha’s Vineyard because they are so cute.

Milk Frother

My manager at work laughed at me when I bought a milk frother on Amazon Prime day last year, and he said I would never use it. I literally use it ALL THE TIME. It also came with a stainless steel cup. Maybe I was just trying to prove him wrong, but I honestly love it! It also helps me feel good about not spending my money on coffee on the weekends, because I can make a nice cup with my Keurig. It’s even really helpful for when I mix Vital Proteins Collagen into any drinks!

Sectioned Laundry Basket

Another item that I can’t stop talking about. I’m really into separating out my laundry, and this is the best basket! It also has handles and pocket on the side to hold essentials (perfect for my laundry card and detergent!)

Weighted Blanket

I got this weighted blanket last year in January and it has become a staple in my bedding. I keep it at the end of my bed and I use it pretty much every night while I’m watching Netflix, it’s SO relaxing.