thrift haul // books

Lately, I've been doing pretty good with the whole "for the LOVE OF GOD stop buying BOOKS" thing. Honestly, being a member of huge library system really helps. Instead of spending a dollar or two on books, I can just open up the library system's app and see if they have a copy.

That said, clearly, my willpower was on vacation today when I went thrifting. But that's okay, we all make mistakes. I hadn't intended to even look at the books, but my best friend and thrifting partner wasn't with me so I mosied on over and picked up Burnt Toast by Teri Hatcher first, because I've been watching Desperate Housewives lately. I've really been getting into sci-fi lately, so I snagged At Winter's End, which has many pages and very tiny font. I love a good thriller, so The Missing Girl was a random selection and The Plague Dogs, which sounds depressing, has been on my to-read list for a while now. I feel the need to explain Dark Places by Gillian Flynn a little. I absolutely did not like Gone Girl and I was not afraid to tell it. I thought it was written well but it was highly infuriating. However, I try not to let one book ruin my opinion of an author, so I picked this one up.

I'm only 24 books into my 50 of the reading challenge, so I really need to start chugging away on some of these.

These are all non-affiliate links from Thriftbooks, but if you'd like a discount just click here* and we both get one!



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true food kitchen // mosaic district

Earlier this month, Jess and I had a girls' night and decided to try out True Food Kitchen in the Mosaic District. Since she's dairy free and I eat vegan, it was a great spot for both of us. It was a chilly night, but they had a great looking patio and the interior and atmosphere were great, though a tad crowded. True Food has a great philosophy about food and a rotating seasonal menu that we're going to be sure to check out.

I ordered the Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl and Jess had the Butternut Squash Pizza. Everything tasted fresh and both dishes were delicious. My bowl was filling and had a great mix of veggies. I'm not a huge avocado fan (gasp) but it went really well with everything else. It was a really pleasant meal and I'll definitely be returning!

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link love

I love American Eagle's entire Tennessee Volunteers line*.

Show your support for wildlife folks in Texas working diligently to help save bats from White-nose Syndrome.

I'd like to try this fall brussels sprouts quinoa salad.

Here's an interesting article about banana flavoring.

Guys!! There's a vegan loaf recipe generator.

I just discovered Blackbird Cosmetics and I really want to try the Dog Days and Atlas eyeshadows.

Ahh! Cookbook Village!! What! I'm eyeing this Hot and Spicy and Meatless cookbook.



Linda Xu
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jason // sea fresh strengthening toothpaste

I started using more natural toothpastes a few years ago and except for the occasional sample I somehow still receive, I've stuck with them. A while back I picked up Jason's Power Smile Gel Toothpaste and liked it, so when I started running low I went back to Marshall's and found this little tube of Sea Fresh Strengthening Toothpaste.

The great thing about Jason toothpastes? They promise no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, no preservatives, no artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners, no saccharin, no propylene glycol, no gluten. Holy moly. Not only do they not have all of those nasties, they're cruelty free and vegan!

Now onto the actual review:

I've been enjoying this toothpaste. Not like brouhaha partying enjoy, but I like the consistency and taste. It's got a tiny smidge of stickiness, but I think it helps it feels like it's working, and as a paste compared to a gel it foams and cleans a little better.

A problem I've had with more natural toothpastes in the past is that I don't feel my mouth is fresh enough. This one though? Minty fresh!

I think I'm going to keep this as my go to toothpaste. You can try it yourself on Amazon, iHerb*, and VeganEssentials.



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mini e.l.f. haul

Last week I took advantage of e.l.f.'s one day offering of free shipping and picked up the Moisturizing Foundation Stick in Ivory and the All Over Cover Stick in Apricot Beige. I've been growing more bored with my cream foundations, so I thought I'd try something new.

This was my first time trying a stick foundation and I have to say I expected it to be a lot drier. This foundation spread well, is buildable, and clearly has moisturizing tendencies. The cover stick was creamy and I think it'll work well on my undereyes.

Have you tried anything from e.l.f. lately? If not, join the Beauty Squad and use this  $5 coupon*!

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tennessee // plants & homecooked meals

This past weekend, N and I took a little trip out to Tennessee to visit my mother. We were caught up in traffic all day Wednesday and ended up on a dirt road with no cell phone service. That was...uh...fun? But we finally made it out, only about four hours after our original arrival time.

It was a really laid back girls' weekend. All of us slept in Thursday, hung around the house talking for a bit and drinking coffee (I actually ate every leftover in my mother's fridge, but that's besides the point), then we went out and picked up some plants at Lowe's. You can't beat $1 succulents! We stopped by the store for things for dinner, then headed home.

Dinner that night was great. Mumma made my favorite dish - potzuquash! A mixture of squash, zucchini, and potatoes sliced and cooked with a little oil and spices. N and I prepared a fresh salad and even had some Tofurky chick'n to top it.

We settled in to watch some tv and catch up before we headed back the next morning. Mountain views and time with your mom always make things better. ♥


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vegan food review // Tofurky slow roasted chick'n strips

I decided to pick up these new Tofurky Slow Roasted Chick'n strips to add to a salad we had planned for dinner at my mom's. I wasn't disappointed!

They were super easy to prepare. You just take the wrapped product out of the box, poke a few holes in the plastic packaging, and pop it into the microwave for 60 seconds. The strips aren't packed in a ton of liquid so they don't come out mushy and can even be shredded for things like tacos. You could alternatively cook these in a pan on the stove, which I might opt to do next time.

Texture is usually what stops my buying meat alternatives, but I had no qualms about this! So how was the texture? I didn't feel like I was eating chicken, but it was firm and not rubbery at all. They held up well in salad dressing and had a smoky, full flavor, but were true to the "lightly seasoned" claim. The pieces could easily be broken into smaller pieces, which was nice for a salad. My only complaint is that I put too many pieces on my plate and it became overwhelming after a bit, but I believe that's just my palate. I'd love to try a vegan buffalo chick'n dip with these!

These strips come in four flavors: lightly seasoned, Tandoori, BBQ, and Thai basil.You can find them online at VeganEssentials, but I found them in store for less than four dollars.

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maple holistics // tea tree shampoo

**I was compensated for this post by receiving a free product to review from Maple Holistics. This review is my own honest opinion.

Recently I was contacted by Maple Holistics to see if I was interested in trying their Tea Tree Shampoo. Not only is Maple Holistics cruelty free, this product is vegan, paraben free, GMO free, and gluten free. The ingredients list for the Tea Tree Shampoo was short and to the point. I've been wanting to try a tea tree line as I have eczema and an itchy scalp, so I jumped at the chance.

The Tea Tree Shampoo combines jojoba, tea tree, rosemary, and lavender to combat dandruff, regulate oil secretions, and clear away blemishes on the scalp. You simply wet your hair with warm water, apply the shampoo and let it sit for a few minutes after massaging it into your scalp, then rinse with cool water.

I don't wash my hair every day, so I've used this shampoo twice since receiving it. I'm impressed already - I've noticed my scalp being significantly less itchy and my eczema spots are less red and noticeable! My hair felt softer and smoother after one shampoo, unlike many shampoos that leave my hair with that straw like feeling. I've definitely found my scalp to be responding well to this and I believe I may have found a new go to shampoo.

Try it for yourself here or try a sample of their other products here!

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link love

I'm going to implement some of Jess' money saving tactics.

I'd like to give Book Crossing a try.

AIR PLANTS!

Check out all of these original 101 Dalmatians posters.

Here are five brutal truths about dating a Taurus.

I'm still so, so proud of all the rats that are trained and in training to detect landmines and tuberculosis. You go, little guys.

I love all the mirrors in this post.

This attic apartment is absolutely gorgeous.

Pizza Hut's vegan options have me drooling.

A to Z Candles has their Halloween Collection out already! All the heart eyes.


Luisa Rusche
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summer 2017

Summer is winding down and coming to an end, finally. I worked a lot, but did manage to get out a do some really fun stuff!

In June, I spent a week out in Tennessee and it was great. Saw some baseball, got sunburnt, laid around the house. Back home, N and I sat on a lot of patios and complained about the heat, saw some great local sights, stopped by the farmer's market and the soap box derby, and caused general mayhem. In late July, N and I took a trip out to Tennessee, Mumma made us some amazing vegan spaghetti sauce, we did a lot of outdoor sitting and talking, and I found my favorite seasonal beer, RJ Rockers' Son of a Peach, and tried Shiner's Strawberry Blonde. I'm now in love with both. Jess and I saw Jurassic Park, one of my favorites, at Byrd Theatre, which was my first time going and it was awesome. A few weeks later, N and I shot down to the beach one weekend spontaneously and that was a lot of fun, then stopped at a friend's on the way back for some night swimming, squealing over hound puppies, and hanging out.

I'm normally a homebody, especially during summer, so I'm really glad I could get out more than usual.

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empties #14

Since it's been summer, I haven't been using many products up. I hardly wear makeup unless it's planned, so my makeup has just been sitting there. Sorry, pretty things.

Dove Advanced Care Deodorant  // I didn't care for this. It didn't work for me.

Theraneem Naturals Skin Lotion in Neem Therape* // cruelty free & vegan // This lotion helped with my eczema and was pretty rich. I'm going to add a full size to my next iHerb order.

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera* // cruelty free & vegan // It's aloe vera. I don't know why I even had this bottle, but I'd buy this brand again if I needed it.

Alba Botanica Body in the Buff Firming Scrub in Espresso* // cruelty free & vegan // This scrub was great and the coffee was a great plus. It wasn't oily like some sugar scrubs, and it rinsed out of the tub fairly well. My skin felt a lot softer after using it.

Simple Pleasures Hand Soap in Summer Peach // I didn't think I'd ever finish this. This was a $1 purchase at Joann Fabrics when I thought I was out, but I'll be replacing this with something cruelty free.

Good Things Fresh Start Creamy Cleanser // cruelty free & vegan // I grabbed this on a whim at Marshall's one day because the ingredients looked decent. It was an alright cleanser. I'm beginning to think that cream cleansers aren't my thing, though, but if I found this at a cheap enough price I'd pick it up as a backup.

e.l.f. Volumizing Mascara* // cruelty free & vegan // This is the cheapest mascara e.l.f. offers. I pick them up religiously to use as a base coat for my other mascaras. It's a decent product, doesn't get all over my eyelids and doesn't flake.

Madre Labs Rose Petal Witch Hazel // cruelty free & vegan // I used this as a toner and really liked it. Sadly, it's been discontinued.

e.l.f. Pressed Powder in Buff* (similar) // cruelty free & vegan // I didn't like this and it broke all to pieces, as e.l.f. powders seem to do when I have them. I wouldn't repurchase.

Avalon Organics Bath & Shower Gel* in Grapefruit and Geranium // cruelty free & vegan // This bottle lasted forever and I really liked it. I got a few compliments on the smell, too! They've since changed their packaging and this scent has been discontinued, but I'd try some of their others.

Vegan True Melatonin* // vegan // This is my go to melatonin. Definitely already in my iHerb cart.

Not Pictured:

Gilette Fusion Hydra Gel Shaving Gel // I'm still using up shaving cream from my years of couponing. I won't buy it again, but it's been nice having a supply of shave gel.

Up & Up Biotin plus Keratin // I suppose these worked, but I picked up a different brand.

Dial NutriSkin Lotion // A decent lotion from the coupon stash, I won't pick it up again.

Jergens Ultra Healing Hand Moisturizer // Meh. I still have like six of these that I'm using up. I'll be glad when they're gone.

And there's another month of digging through my trash. Hurrah!

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link love

This is a neat little "primal astrology" page that connects your signs. I'm a kangaroo.

As a small town umpire, I love reading about MLB umpires. Check out this article about Joe West, who just called his 5,000th game.

Seven signs of dehydration and five tips to prevent it.

Here's a nifty guide to identifying clothing by union label.

What Hogwarts teaches about running a business.

NEVER put your dog on a retractable leash and ALWAYS leash them in areas that require it. If you need more convincing, read this story.

Basic as a stereotype.

I'm so ready for fall and this baked potato soup or this creamy potato and white bean soup is perfect for cozying up with a book.

I really love the Pearl the Spider collection from The Oblong Box Shop.

Nurturing creativity in solitude.

This pin showcasing rescue dogs busting out of shelters brings happy tears.


Kalegin Michail
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library haul

I recently got a card (again) for a huge library system in the city I work in. It's a little easier to access than my county library and I was eligible for a card since I have one in a surrounding county. Well, I checked out their online catalog and holy cow. SO MANY TITLES. I'm ecstatic! I put a ton of hold and on my to hold later list, but this is my first haul. I've already finished one of these.

Alllll of the graphic novels. They have such a selection and I'm trying a ton of new ones. I've already finished Rat Queens, which was amazing, and I'm going to start on The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen next. Y: The Last Man has been on my list for quite some time, and it comes highly praised, even by Stephen King. While I was browsing graphic novels, I stumbled upon The Hospital Suite and added it. Last but certainly not least, A BOOK ON BIGFOOT.

I have so many books I already own and need to read that I tried to stick with graphic novels as they're quick to get through when I want to read but don't have time to sit down for hours like I'd like. Luckily I have a few people to pass my books onto when I'm finished, so hopefully that motivates me to knock out my TBR list.

As usual, all links are Thriftbooks and not affiliate, but use this link* for 15% off and I get a discount, too!

What you reading?

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summer wishlist

I loathe summer, so I try to pretend it doesn't exist. I don't get excited about warm weather (Ice Queens, unite!) and I don't start covering everything with pineapples. I sit inside in the air conditioning and stare at my beloved sweaters, longing for the day when I can wear them again.

But anyway, that doesn't mean I can't have a summer wishlist!

Bee-Q-Box's F*ckboy Repellent Primer & Setting Spray // Uh, yes. Enough said.

Korres Vanilla Guava Showergel* // I just found out that Korres is cruelty free (where have I been??) and I'm lusting after the vanilla guava shower gel, which is vegan friendly.

Killstar Full Moon Cold Brew Cup // I have to have a drink with my constantly, it's some kind of sickness. Well, I need more drink containers like I need a hole in the head, but I love this one from Killstar.

ban.do Whatcha Thinkin' Bout? Journal* // Normally I just use small wire bound notebooks for my purse, but I'd like to get a nice journal to jot things down in.

OCC's Black Dahlia Lip Tar* // I swatched Urban Decay's Blackmail lipstick and fell in love, but sadly it's not vegan. No worries! I found Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics' Black Dahlia Lip Tar which is a close dupe and I think that's going to be on my next order.

I'm trying pretty hard to minimize the items I bring home, not to mention I'm trying to save money, but it never hurts to treat yoself every once in a while. ♥ ♥



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link love

Check out this banging mint leopard french manicure from Jacquie!

I love this tote.

I love, love, love falafel.

What is this??? Vegan mac & cheese pizza with potato chip topping. Jaw drop.

Here's a recipe for two ingredient quinoa bread!

Downsizing? Here's five dilemmas and how to deal with them.

I'd like to try my hand at making veggie egg rolls.

There's a coffee shop coming to RVA that is similar to a cat cafe...except with lizards!

This is a great post on being mindful of consumerism when you're a blogger over at From Roses.

THE THONG SONG IS BACK. I REPEAT: THONG SONG IS BACK.

A mom wouldn't let her son accept a perfect attendance award, and she had a great reason why.

Check out Starbucks' new certified vegan lentils and vegetable protein bowl!


Morgan Sessions
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book talk

Well, I bought my first Agatha Christie novel, Sleeping Murder, which is coincidentally her last. I picked it up at the thrift store for a mere buck. Along with that, I grabbed Stephen King's The Green Mile and Hitchcock's Stories to be Read with the Door Locked. And in my ever growing pile of nutrition reads, I've added What to Eat by Marion Nestle, which is from 2006 but still looks really interesting.

Did I need more books? Absolutely not. But I finally finished Haunted by Palahniuk (which I'm not so sure I liked), so I treated myself to a few cheap thrift store goodies. I finished up a couple smaller eBooks, too, which can be found on my Goodreads page.

I've been toying with the idea of rereading the Harry Potter series again for the 19th (probably no exaggeration) time, but I haven't decided if I want to do that or knock out some more of my TBR pile. I really need to downsize this massive collection of books I have if I want to move at any point in the next year.

I've started linking all of the books to Thriftbooks because they cater to secondhand books. None of the above are affiliate links, but if you'd like 15% off your purchase, use this link* and I'll get a discount, too. :)

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recent book finds

On the way out to Tennessee, I realized I'd forgotten to bring my book to read. A bookworm's worst nightmare! Luckily for me, my favorite secondhand bookstore was having a half off sale so I ran down and snagged a few books. For ten dollars, I got all of these! Candles Burning was completed by Tabitha King after Michael McDowell passed away and I was excited to spot it, as it will be my first T. King novel. As a Yankees fan, I quickly grabbed Pinstripe Empire and added it to my pile, and ever the horror fan, I picked up Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural, along with The Sentinel, which has been on my TBR for a while now. Ghost Hunters seems like it'll be a nice read and I'm always interested in the paranormal.

If you're interested in any of the above titles, get them secondhand via Thriftbooks with this link* and we'll both get 15% off!

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vacation time

Hello from the mountains! I'm out in Tennessee happily enjoying a long vacation. My bosses were generous enough to give me a week and a half off to come out. I've been living it up - visited with my mom, sourced new inventory, bought some new books and clothing, and drank too much beer (oops). I've got a nice week coming up of nothing but baseball, relaxation, and reading.

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birthday savings 2017

Last month I turned 27. Ugh. However, I'm in quite a few rewards programs and on what feels like hundreds of email lists. Check out some of the great birthday "gifts" I got, including this delicious cupcake that Jess gave me!

• I used a $10 off a $10 purchase coupon at Kohl's. I actually ended up using this to buy a birthday gift because I didn't need anything.
• On Sephora's website, I redeemed my free Tarte set, along with using some of my points for a redemption and purchasing a $3 item to have it shipped.
• When I met up with Jess, we had dinner at Not Your Average Joe's and I redeemed a $15 (!!) off coupon they sent me via email. My delicious pasta dish was less than $2! We split the final bill and ended up only paying $9 and something before tip.
• Tropical Smoothie Cafe sent me a FREE 24oz smoothie coupon and N and I redeemed it and had it split into two cups so we both had some.
• Starbucks sent me a free drink, but I didn't go by there before it expired. Booooo.
• Au Bon Pain sent me a very generous free sandwich or salad coupon.
• I was sent a free drink coupon from Dunkin' Donuts.

There are loads more awesome birthday perks from stores all over the place, so be sure to seek them out! I personally only redeem offers from places I frequent, and I was so grateful to have such a great birthday.

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empties #13 & some decluttering

It's been a while since I've rounded up all of my empties, but here's another go with some mini reviews. I've included some decluttered items that I'm just not going to end up finishing. I never realized just how many non cruelty free and non vegan products I had until I started using them up and replacing them with kinder products.



Suave Invisible Solid Deodorant in Powder // I don't know where these things keep coming from, but I'm still going through them. Haha.

Yes to Tomatoes Acne Control Gel Cleanser // cruelty free & vegan // This worked really well when I first got it, my face cleared up, and then I just used it occasionally as a cleanser. I'd get this again to control redness and blemishes, if I needed it. I believe this has been discontinued, but they have tons of good looking cleansers in the Tomatoes line.

Biore Baking Soda Acne Scrub // This was an alright cleanser sample, but Biore isn't cruelty free.

KenetMD Shampoo & Conditioner // These were hotel bottles from when I met my mom halfway for a girl's night. The conditioner was pretty nice, but the shampoo made my hair a little dry. I can't find any cruelty free status for them, though.

Carmex Pomegranate Lip Balm // I've had this tube for forever and finally finished it. Carmex isn't vegan or cruelty free, unfortunately.

Victoria's Secret Pink Body Mist // This little bottle is sooo old. VS isn't cruelty free, so even though the scent was nice, I won't repurchase.

Secret Body Spray in Citrus Breeze // I got this little bottle in my stocking for Christmas, and I liked it, but it's not cruelty free.

Dial NutriSkin Replenishing Lotion // Finally finished up the last of these that I got free forever ago with coupons. I won't get this again.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter* // cruelty free // I liked this lotion, but sometimes it was just too thick, and I can't verify if it's vegan or not.

Ulta Mattifying Balm* // cruelty free & vegan // When I first bought this I wasn't sure how to use it, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. I really like this stuff! It could also double as a primer and worked nicely at mattifying. I'm definitely getting this again!

Mary Kay Foundation Primer Sunscreen // This was a decent primer. However, MK isn't cruelty free.

Estee Lauder Foundation Sample in Pure Beige 2C // EL isn't cruelty free and this sample that I got from a friend wasn't a good color match, so I'm glad to be rid of it.



NatureMade Magnesium Supplements // These may not be vegan and I now have a different actually vegan supplement now.

Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash // I got this little sample and got quite a few uses out of it, but unfortunately, Dove isn't cruelty free.

Up & Up Biotin Supplements // Another supplement that I'm not sure is vegan, but I believe it is? I need to do some more research on these supplements.

Bynature Textured Waves Sea Salt Spray in Coconut // This spray isn't bad! I like it. It has an odd smell, but it works well. I just need to contact the company for CF status.

Aveeno Gentle Scent Lotion in Nourishing Coconut // Another little sample I used up to get it out of here. A decent lotion, but Aveeno tests on animals. :(

Charcoal Sculpting Mask // This mask came in a cup that you added water to, and it made SO MUCH MASK. I spread it on way too thickly and still could've had four more masks out of the cup, but had no way to preserve the rest of the mix. I wouldn't buy this again.

The Beer Soap Co. Blue Ribbon Bar Soap // cruelty free & vegan // Beer soap? Yup! My boss gave me this bar that's made with PBR. It's a pretty nice soap and I might order a couple different things, like the American Hops or the Karma Deodorant.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Facial Moisturizer // cruelty free // I've been looking for a new moisturizer, so when I got this sample I was thinking it might work, but it burned when I put it on. Sad face.



L'Oreal Voluminous Primer in White Primer & Original Mascara in Blackest Black // I did not like either of these products. I got them in an Influenster VoxBox. The formula got better as it dried out a bit, but it was globby and cakey and just bad. Do not recommend.



Glade candles & Dollar General Candle // More things I decluttered that were sitting around the house for forever. I wouldn't get any of these again.

Now on to my decluttering items:



Here's some items that I just didn't like enough to finish. I hate throwing out product, but I know I won't finish these and they're just taking up space in my super small bathroom. I won't be getting any of these again.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Polish in Hot Black to Go // I've had this for years and it made my nails look funny and it's separated, so it goes.

Estee Lauder Mirror // I don't generally use compacts while out and about, so I'm tossing this.

Covergirl Makeup Remover // Hate, hate, hate, double hate, loathe entirely. This was greasy as all get out, required a lot to remove simple mascara, and gave me blurry eye if it got into my eyes.

Julep Polish in Helen 2339 // cruelty free & vegan // This separated and I couldn't get it to mix again.

Milani Color Statement Polish in Cupcake Icing // cruelty free // I liked this polish! It just separated on me.

Revlon Colorstay Eye Shadow Mini Palette in Nude Elements // These shadows didn't transfer color well and the colors were wonky. The darkest color was more of a purple than a neutral color.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Polish in Gone Grey // Another that separated.

That was quite the group of products. What have you used up lately?

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thrift haul: books

I continually moan and groan about how large my To Be Read pile has gotten, but I repeatedly scope the books out every time I got to a thrift store. I've gotten better about only picking up books I really want or I've been looking for, though. I snagged these two books for $1.49 each!

A couple years ago I gave my mom a copy of The China Study* and I've been wanting to read it ever since. Now I can! And of course, as a Yankees and memoir fan, I had to pick up Bat Boy*.

These haven't been started yet as I'm still working my way through Haunted* (that's a slow go) and I started Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry, too.

I linked all of these to Amazon, but if you don't mind secondhand books and want a discount, check them out on Thriftbooks* and get 15% off!


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mini Sephora haul

This is a super small Sephora haul because I'm still trying to use up the massive amount of beauty products I have, but I couldn't pass up the birthday gift and a points redemption! I chose the Tarte set, which includes the Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint* in Birthday Suit and the Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush* in Paaarty. I'm not a huge blush fan, but my face does look better with it so I thought I'd start somewhere.

Since I'd racked up some points, I redeemed some for the drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1* dry shampoo. I don't wash my hair every day and it normally handles that well, but I've wanted to start using a dry shampoo for a little boost, so I snagged this one.

This will probably be the last of the beauty supplies I buy for a while, but at least it was a fun, frugal haul. ♥

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thrifting tips

I'm a big fan of thrifting. Not only for the savings but for the opportunity to find some great quality items that are sometimes unique. If you've ever wanted to start thrifting or just get a bit more efficient at it, here are some tips that I utilize whenever I go.

Keep a running list and know what you like.

I typically keep a mental list of things I'd like to look for at the thrift shop. I've been hunting for a denim jacket for forever, but I've yet to find one I like, so that stays on the list. It's a lot easier to go in with a plan than to wander around looking at every piece in the store (unless that's what you want to do). I know that I tend to go for oddball patterns, stripes, and sweaters, so I visually scan and find most things that way. I do have days where I just go through the racks, but on quicker visits I've gotten it down to an art.

Learn your fabrics.

If you're looking for clothing, learn to identify fabrics just by sight. When I was sourcing for vintage a lot, I'd learned what polyester and linen looked like just by walking by and seeing them. Granted, there are exceptions as rayon can look really similar to cotton, but with a general knowledge of knits and such, you can easily find things you're looking for.

Have a buddy.

I'm fortunate that my two best friends are thrifters, too! Jess and I meet up for thrifting trips and always find some amazing stuff. It really helps to have someone with you for when you pick up that odd piece and want an opinion on it, or you need someone to talk you out of an absurd wall hanging.

Don't always go by the tag size.

Clothing sizes vary wildly and so do folks' laundry habits, so don't always go by what the tag says. Don't be afraid to try things on or hold them up to your body. Look through all of the size racks and remember, especially if you're looking for vintage, that a size 14 could really mean a modern size 4.

Follow thrift store etiquette.

Don't take things from others' carts, replace items where you got them or on the fitting room return rack, don't bombard the workers that bring new carts of merchandise out, don't eat in the store and then touch merchandise with your greasy hands, and be polite.

If you have any more tips, leave them in the comments! :)

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currently: reading

I've been really slowly making my way through a couple books here lately. I finished A Head Full of Ghosts* by Paul Tremblay earlier in the year, which was a great read if you're into horror and thrillers. I'm currently working on a couple books, The Stand* by Stephen King and Haunted* by Chuck Palahnuik, which are both at slow spots, but I'm still chugging along.

Did you know that the cover for Haunted glows in the dark? I didn't until I woke up at 3am one morning to a glowing face in bed next to me. It was terrifying and I didn't realize what is was until my sleepy brain had cleared. Just a heads up.

My TBR stash is growing and I need to get it under control. I have an entire two bins of books to read and send to new homes. There are quite a few little informative ebooks I've gotten into that need to be finished, and I really need to clean up my 'currently reading' list on Goodreads. I'm very behind on my 2017 reading challenge.

Speaking of Goodreads, are we friends on there yet? :)



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link love

Candle from Toadily Candles in Cantaloupe

I recently stumbled upon Flatter Me Belts and I really want to try one.

Do you like bats? I love them! Bat World in Texas has LIVE Bat Cams! Check out these furry flying mammals!

This is a pretty good article on finding clothing at thrift shops.

Vegan chickpea tuna melt? Yes, please.

Here's an interesting article about when unprocessed becomes a moot point in food. It delves into "unprocessed healthwashing", which is something everyone should learn about.

This muscle shirt is how I'm justifying not exercising.

Bob's Burgers is one of my favorite shows ever and they're releasing a soundtrack! PULLING DOWN THE PANTS OF THE NIGHT!

The bees need our help - here's an easy way to make a bee waterer!

Totally drooling over this ziti.

Here are 14 signs you have an unhealthy attachment to your dog. I don't think it's unhealthy.

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empties #12

I haven't used up a ton of stuff lately, so I waited a bit to make another empties post. I've been slowly working on older products, so a lot of these won't be purchased again.



V05 Tea Therapy Conditioner in Healthful Green Tea // I got maybe four uses out of this whole bottle because the formula for this conditioner was so watery. Would not recommend.

Chapstick in Aloha Coconut // This is the second lip balm I've ever finished in my life. It felt like it just sat on my lips, though, and it's not cruelty free.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Sample // EL isn't cruelty free and this shade didn't work on my face, but I got it from a friend so I used it up. Would not repurchase.

B&BW Body Cream in Sweet Pea // It wasn't half bad and it was creamy, but B&BW isn't cruelty free.

Dial NutriSkin Lotion // Meh. It was alright, but not cruelty free.

Eucerin Intensive Repair Hand Creme // This was a bit greasy and not cruelty free. Pass.

Pantene Volume Shampoo // This stripped my hair of oils and didn't provide any volume. I won't be getting a full size.

Neutrogena Conditioner // This was a hotel bottle and a decent conditioner, but Neutrogena isn't cruelty free.

Knock off Beauty Blender // I snagged a cheap little blender at Marshall's and I really wanted to get on this trend, but I prefer brushes. I haven't reached for this in months and I'm tired of it taking up space, so I'm tossing it. For what it was it was a decent blender, it's just not for me!

Montagne Jeunesse Fruit Smooth Mask in Raspberry & Mango* // cruelty free & vegan // I love these masks! I picked up a couple on clearance at And That! and I've been going through them slowly. Highly recommend and I'll be picking up more!

Juice Organics Pompeptide Facial Moisturizer // cruelty free & vegan // My all time favorite moisturizer and guess what? It's been discontinued. I'm so sad. I have one more bottle of this and then I'll have to find a new one.

Toadiliy Mini Basil, Sage & Mint Bath Bomb // cruelty free & vegan // I picked this up in a haul from Toadily Candles, and I liked it! I'd get more.

Not Pictured:
Pure Silk Shave Cream // It's shave cream. I'm still working through my coupon stockpile, but I wouldn't repurchase.

Noxzema Triple Blade Disposable Razors // No, no, no. Terrible, horrible razors. I bought them on a whim when I wasn't going home and these things were terrible.

Colgate Totale Advanced Pro Shield Mouthwash in Spearmint Surge // Finally, the last of my non-cruelty free mouthwash has been used up. I'm just glad to see it go.



I've really been trying to clear out my candle stock. The candle on the left is a Febreze candle leftover from Thanksgiving, and the one on the right is a candle I picked up specifically to reuse the jar for makeup brushes. I don't think I'd buy either again, but I got some neat glasses out of it.

That's it for another month!

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super easy pico de gallo recipe

I'll start this post by saying that I don't even like pico de gallo because I can't stand onions, so the raving review I got for this recipe was from a friend. I threw this together without a recipe, but I'll tell you how I made it! An alteration to traditional pico was the addition of garlic - we're garlic fiends around here, so it goes in everything.

Super Easy Pico de Gallo
Yields approximately two cups

12-15 cherry tomatoes, diced
small onion, diced
half a jalapeno, seeds removed and diced
2 cloves of garlic, finely diced
juice of one small lime
half a handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Mix it all together and let it sit for at least an hour so the flavors can marinate. You're done!

I'd never made this before and this is one of those recipes that can be tweaked and ingredients can be added or taken away to your taste. It was easy to make and prep time was only about ten minutes. Try it sometime!


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things that have made me happy lately

As I've mentioned before, I'm generally a pessimist. However, I've been trying to have a better outlook on life and it's been working for me! Here's a neat little list of things that have made me happy lately.

• Meeting up with friends. A little bit ago in January I met up with Jess and we did some thrifting and had an amazing dinner at Not Your Average Joe's. That's the delicious veggie spaghetti squash bolognese I had above!
• Vegan breakfast. My coworker and I stopped at Kickshaw's for breakfast a bit ago and I had potato hash, sour cream, cheddar Daiya, egg, and portobello bacon. All vegan and all delicious!
• Preparing listings for eBay. Most folks loathe the whole photo/listing process, but for some reason I find it therapeutic. Who knows why. I love laying out pieces for photos so they can find new homes!
• New beginnings. I won't go into detail, but things have really been looking up for me around here. Smitten kitten.

Hope all is well! ♥

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2017 goals

I'm not generally a New Year resolution type of gal and this post is pretty late, but Jess and I were talking and I thought I'd put together some goals for the year. It never hurts to work toward something, right?

• Try new things. I can get pretty deep into my routines, so I'm hoping to branch out and try doing things I've never done before.
• Build on my reselling business. I had a fairly successful year on eBay and Etsy as a hobby, but I hope to build on that and turn it into a full-time second income. I've started sourcing and have been pretty fruitful thus far! Cataloging and organizing inventory is next.
• Develop a yoga routine. One of the biggest things I miss doing is going to yoga. I didn't have a lot of time to go in 2016, but I definitely want to get back into the habit of going. While this may contradict my "get out of my routine" goal, I think this is a healthy thing to work toward.
• Use my planner. I finally found a weekly planner that I love and I really want to start using it on a regular basis. I need everything all in one place, and it's a pain to input everything into Google Calendar, as the only device I use is my phone, so I don't need the syncing. I'm highly visual, so hopefully keeping it all in one place will help me be more organized.
• Work on my anxiety. I've developed some pretty severe anxiety over the last few years and I've not been making the best choices that have helped me deal with it. I hope to establish some new habits and help manage my anxious thoughts.

What are you planning for the fresh year?

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