lucky bandit | RVA based lifestyle blog

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

empties #18

It's been a while since my last empties post, but here we go! I've changed it up a bit and I'm now only marking when something is not cruelty free, but as usual, I'm human so always double check!
Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub* in Passion Fruit & Guava // I love Tree Hut's sugar scrubs. I'm a big fan of scrubs that you can feel working, which is probably terrible for my skin, but these fit the bill! I'm currently using Tropical Mango and I have Coconut Lime in my stash for later.

The Body Shop Hand Cleanse Gel in Satsuma // This was a nice smelling little hand sanitizer that I picked up at Marshall's. I'd get it again if I saw it.

Nspa Body Mist in Mango // cruelty free status unknown // This smelled amazing. I kept it in my car for a quick freshening up. This stuff didn't freeze or bloat the bottle in extreme temperatures, which is hard to find (and probably not good) in a body mist.

Deep Steep Body Wash in Strawberry // I love Deep Steep products! This body wash lathered well and smelled delicious. I'd definitely get it again. I think the strawberry is a summer scent, but there's a bunch of scents on their website.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Deep Dive Cleansing Gel // I've raved about this cleanser before. It's one of my favorites.

Kiss My Face Shave Cream in Green Tea & Bamboo // I don't like shave creams that don't lather. This was more of a lotion and it was just kind of goopy. It did help with moisture, but I won't be grabbing this again.
Cruelty free status unknown.
Apothia Body Wash in Wave // cruelty free status unknown // This little guy was a snag from a stay at a lovely hotel after a wedding. I'd love to have a bottle, but a 10oz bottle is $30. Maybe if I found it on sale...

Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation Matte Poreless in 110 // NOT cruelty free // I don't even remember when I bought this, but I do remember it was for a Halloween costume. It's definitely past it's prime and I won't get it again.

Pacifica Body Butter in Indian Coconut Nectar // These are my favorite little lotions. I always have one in my desk and they work really well and smell amazing. Definitely would get more of these.

Chapstick 100% Natural Lip Butter in Sweet Papaya // NOT cruelty free // I received a few of these in a promo box (maybe a VoxBox?) and they worked okay. I wouldn't pay for one.

ProTerra Body Wash // Cruelty free status unknown // Nothing special.

Paul Mitchell The Detangler Conditioner & Awapuhl Shampoo // They were nice little samples. I'd try the full size versions.

Beekman 1802 Conditioner // cruelty free status unknown //Another hotel bottle. This is a goat's milk conditioner and it was nice.
Templespa Repose Aromatherapy Night Cream // cruelty free status unknown // This was a little hotel sample. It was cloying and just not pleasant. And a full size is $60 for less than 2 ounces. No thanks.

Milani Prime Protect SPF Face Primer // This was a nice sized primer sample I got with a Milani order. I'd try the full size!

Olay Regenerist Whip Moisturizer // NOT cruelty free // This was okay. I didn't see anything special about it. I wouldn't get a full size.

There's another bout of my trash! Hooray! Until next time!

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Tuesday, December 18, 2018

link love

The unicorn trend isn't really my thing but I absolutely love this adorable unicorn print.

Loving this Bob Seger shirt.

If you've ever wanted to make your own nail polish, check out this book by Tiffany of Comet Vomit, the best handmade nail polish I've ever tried!

The insect apocalypse is here.

I love, love, love this article about what dogs can teach us about consent. To quote: "Just because we can force someone into compliance, doesn’t make it right."

We threw a housewarming/Christmas party and I totally utilized Jess' guide to entertaining on a budget.

Herschel has a new line of MLB products!!!




unsplash-logoTom Coomer
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Wednesday, November 14, 2018

link love

I love this ode to tomatoes come the end of the summer season over on Portland Sampler.

A huge pumpkin fan I am not, but this vegan pumpkin bread looks so good.

Holy moly...PBTeen has an entire line of Harry Potter home goods.

It's a sad day in the holiday food world. Dorcas Reilly, the woman who created green bean casserole, has died at 92.

Floridians voted to end live dog racing by 2020! Victory! You can sponsor a hound here.

I read The Rule of One by the Saunders sisters and it was so awesome. Check it out.

I love these baseball scoring pencils.

Check out this amazing Hickory Horned Devil Caterpillar!


unsplash-logoDaniel Frank
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Tuesday, October 02, 2018

link love

A few months ago I ordered the Beautifully Bare Blending Brush* by e.l.f. from Ulta and I am loving it!

This is a crazy story about something called lime disease, which can happen to anyone.

Holy cow, look at these awesome dragon stamps.

A two-woman team just recently shattered the record (held by men for over 100 years) for fastest speed on a bicycle.

Oh. My. Gosh. Y'all. How awesome is this vintage Looney Tunes Christmas themed nightgown???

A buffalo keychain!!

One of my favorite baseball lifestyle apparel brands, Routine, just got exclusive naming rights for a new stadium in Wisconsin.




unsplash-logoPrateek Pisat
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Thursday, September 27, 2018

museum day 2018

Last Saturday, September 22, was Museum Day! Luckily I don't live far from some pretty amazing museums down in Richmond, so we chose tickets for the Virginia History and Culture Museum, which saved us $10 each. Before that, though, we stopped by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. I'd never been to either place, so it was a fun day. I didn't take many photos, but here are some highlights.
The ancient art was amazing. This is a floor mosaic of the four seasons from a house near Antioch. The tiles were tiny and I can't imagine painstakingly setting each one. It was gorgeous.
After lunch in the lovely cafe, the gift shop was the next stop, of course. There were numerous shelves filled with local Virginia artists' work, and these soft sculptures by Vicki Bruner which were fascinating. I really like her style and hopefully I can snag a piece soon. I did end up walking out with a pretty funny mug, though. We headed over for some history afterward.
I don't have very many photos from the history museum because I was too busy absorbing everything. There were tons of things to see! Since it's all Virginia related, it's interesting to see where things happened throughout history in relation to the locations I frequent today.

Museum days are pretty awesome. See what's near you!

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Wednesday, August 08, 2018

link love


Check out the Honduran White Bat...how adorable are they??

I absolutely love this look by Jessie over at Mini Penny.

Allllll the heart eyes for this celestial tea steeper.

Here's 24 ridiculously easy vegan recipes anyone can master.

Oh my gosh, I already love Amy's Spaghetti Italiano dish, but they have a new vegan spinach ravioli bowl and I can't wait to get my hands on one.

I love this post titled 'Things All Bloggers do in Summer' over on The Emerald Dove.

This story about a scientist repeatedly catching an old, fiesty female cardinal every year for eight years made my day.


unsplash-logoCristina Gottardi
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Wednesday, July 25, 2018

local haunts // boutique 31

Last week I was out in beautiful ole Tennessee to house sit for my mom and I stopped into one of my favorite boutiques, Boutique31. It's a small little shop that carries adorable clothing in standard and plus sizes. Kaitlyn, the owner, is the sweetest gal and she always has adorable pieces. Here's what I picked up!
I'm a sucker for cute leggings because they're soooo comfy. These leggings were posted on Facebook and I was hoping to snag a pair. They were only $5! Since these aren't quite as loud as some other pairs I have (coughcoughDOGPRINTcoughcough), so I'm excited to pair them with a black tunic and boots out somewhere casually.
How pretty is this necklace?! I love the green, the black, and the tassle. Definitely a good score for my jewelry collection.

And coming soon is a second location for Boutique31 in Knoxville!! I'm so excited to visit and happy that they're doing so well.

Be sure to check them out:
Website // Facebook // Instagram

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Thursday, July 19, 2018

latest thrift finds // tn

While out in Tennessee, I stopped by a local Goodwill. I'm pretty far from a major city so thrifting can be hit or miss out here, but I did find some neat things! The black checked shirt dress is from Old Navy and will work nicely with a pair of red flats. That little sweater is going to be adorable with dark wash jeans and boots this holiday season, and the full skirt is vintage with such a great print. I can't wait to wear it to the office with black pumps and a blush top. And if you ask Jess, I'm obsessed with tiny things, hence the little nesting baskets. They'll go nicely with my tiny lazy susan.

Have you found anything interesting while thrifting lately? Drop your links in the comments! ♥

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Sunday, July 15, 2018

empties #17

The never ending pile of empties has produced another post. I've now replaced the majority of my products with cruelty free and vegan items, so from now on I will be posting when something is not cruelty free and vegan (I'm still trying to use up old products to reduce waste). ♥ And, as always, please do your own research! I'm human.
Pacifica Kale Detox Face Wash* // This is one of my favorite cleansers! It's a light, green smelling cleanser that's great for every day use. You can see the full review here.

The Honest Company Honest Healing Balm // I found this in a box while I was decluttering. I don't remember using it when I first got it years ago, but it's since separated so it doesn't work properly.

tarte Rainforest of the Sea 4-in-1 Setting Spray Marine Boosting Mist* // I've finally finished up this little sample bottle. I liked it, but I'm not sure I'd buy a full size.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Facial Oil // I didn't like this but that's because I'm not a big facial oil fan.

H20+ Oasis Ultra Hydrating Cream* // This was a little sample I got in an Ulta order and LET ME TELL YOU this moisturizer worked SO WELL and made my skin look SO GOOD. I'm just so sad that a full size of 1.7 fl. oz. is $42 or I'd already have some.

tarte Pack Your Bags Undereye Patches* // I really enjoyed these patches. They were really refreshing!

Clinique Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator // not cruelty free & vegan // Meh. Strong chemical smell and I didn't see how it really did anything for my skin. I'm glad this was just a free sample from an Ulta order.

Nip + Fab Bee Sting Fix Toner Pads // not vegan // I picked these up at Marshall's. I liked them, but missed the bee venom ingredient, so I'll be looking for a vegan offering from Nip + Fab.

Juice Organics Pompeptide Moisturizer // This is my all time favorite moisturizer. Sadly it's been discontinued and this was the last tube I had. Crying.
Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo // I loved this shampoo for my eczema. See the full review here.

Pür Disappearing Ink 4-in-1 Pen in Light // This was way too orange for me from the beginning. When I first bought it I wasn't as adept at blending as I am now, but it's since oxidized and I can't use it. I'd consider purchasing it in a lighter shade, but it's a little pricey.

e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation* in Porcelain (now named Natural) // I thought this was my go-to foundation color until I accidentally bought a lighter shade and had compliments that it worked better. So I say goodbye to Porcelain (Natural) and I've since moved to the Light Ivory shade. Definitely will keep buying!

Drybar Triple Sec Dry Shampoo* // I cashed out some Sephora points for this last year when I ordered my birthday gift. I really enjoyed this! The full size is a little pricier than I'd like to pay for a dry shampoo, but I'd consider it since it worked so well.

Auromere Herbal Toothpaste in Fresh Mint // I've used this toothpaste brand before and I really like it. I've tried the licorice flavor, too, but the fresh mint is much better. Definitely will pick up another tube when I see it.

There's another month!

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Friday, June 01, 2018

pacifica // crystal punk holographic mineral lip gloss

I found one! It's Pacifica's Crystal Punk Holographic Mineral Lip Gloss*. The one I ordered is called Cosmos and it's a sheer silver/blue top coat like gloss. Cosmos isn't the only color available, there's also the pinkish Spaced Out and a peachy Halo. Of course it's Pacifica brand, so it's cruelty free and 100% vegan. The great thing about this gloss is that is has a couple oils as ingredients; safflower, rose seed, and jojoba!

I'm excited to work this into my regular makeup routine!

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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

link love

I'm in love with this tee.

A recent discovery of Sam Barsky's Artistic Sweaters over on The Only Living Girl in New York has warmed my soul.

Here's a really interesting post about dandelions.

This bracelet!!

I'm going to try Tuttorosso's recipe for easy blender salsa.

This post over at Portland Sampler about their newly adopted dog makes my heart sing.

Holy cow, guys...check out these cantaloupe margaritas.

Here's a list (with videos!) of some of the longest hit home runs in baseball.

unsplash-logoVeri Ivanova
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Thursday, April 26, 2018

pacifica haul


During the 21 Days of Beauty at Ulta, I stocked up on some new Pacifica products when there was a gift with purchase.

I'd really wanted their banana lip balm but it was sold out online, so I picked up a tube of Lips Like Sugar* in Candied Lemon, which is a sugar lip scrub in tube form. The Indian Coconut Nectar Hair and Body Mist* is something new I wanted to try since I love that scent. Along with those I picked up two masks: the Energized Glow Turmeric Spice* and the Stress Rehab Coconut and Caffeine*. They were buy one get one half off, so I got them fairly cheap.

The free gift with purchase was a a sample sizing of the Crystal Melon Makeup Remover Wipes* and a mini body butter in the Hawaiian Ruby Guava* scent. I love the mini body butters for my desk drawer at work.

My favorite thing about Pacifica is how the whole brand is cruelty free and every single item is vegan. It's so easy to shop with them!

What did you score during Ulta's big sale? Drop links in the comments! ♥

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Friday, April 13, 2018

link love

Check out this sweet little needle felted swan over at Imaginary Wardrobe.

Legging Army* has come out with so many awesome prints lately. Of course I snagged a baseball printed pair, but I really like the jellyfish pair and there's even some with ducks.

I've been sleeping a little better lately, but I think I want to try this oil from Essence of Vali.

Here's an interesting article about what food geniuses eat for lunch.

Check out this amazing Harry Potter snitch lamp thrift find!!

I love Jess' five easy ways to live luxuriously without breaking the bank.

I've been showing my houseplants a little more attention lately and I love these plant pokes and plant animals.

Here's a recipe for vegan grilled cheese and vegan queso.

unsplash-logoAnnie Spratt
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Sunday, April 08, 2018

empties #16

Another month of digging through my little bin of empties. I like keeping these posts as a catalog of things I've tried. As always, be sure to double check cruelty free and vegan statuses! I do my best but I'm only human. ♥
e.l.f. Acne Fighting Foundation* in Porcelain // cruelty free & vegan // I've purchased this a few times. I've found no evidence that it fights acne, but I don't have a lot to begin with. It's oxidised pretty quickly on me each time, so I won't be repurchasing.

Pacifica Kale Detox Face Wash* // cruelty free & vegan // I love this face wash. See the full review here.

Sephora Outrageous Volume Mascara travel size // I think I picked this up to get my birthday gift because it was cheap. The brush was weird and product got everywhere. I won't get this again.

Milani Ultra Fine Liquid Eyeliner // cruelty free // I've had this little tube since I started my CF journey forever ago. I'm decluttering this as liquid liner just isn't for me, thus I can't really even mini-review it.

Jason Sea Fresh Toothpaste // cruelty free & vegan // I really liked this. Here's the full review.

e.l.f. Eye Enhancing Mascara // cruelty free & vegan // I picked this up at Marshall's, so it's older packaging and they've since changed the brush. It was a nice, cheap little mascara that I'd buy again.

Montagne Jeunesse Strawberry Souffle Face Mask // cruelty free & vegan // This was a really creamy mask that I enjoyed. I think the travel sizes work better for me as I always have leftover product when I use the full size.

Albolene Eye Makeup Remover sample // cruelty free & vegan // From the research I did, this appears CF and vegan, however I haven't had a chance to contact the company yet. This was a nice little sample, but I wouldn't buy the full size.

Marc Jacobs Mod Noir sample // Not my style.
e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation* in Porcelain // cruelty free & vegan // This is my go-to foundation. It matches my skin nicely (I think? I still can't match foundation) and sits well on my face all day while not being heavy. I've already picked up another bottle.

got2b POWDERful Volumizing Style Powder // I've had this for what seems like forever. It's a little messy to apply (it is a loose powder after all) but it did work. However, got2b isn't cruelty free so I'm looking for an alternative.

The Body Shop Shower Gel in Smoky Poppy // cruelty free & vegan // I really like scents like this (Smoky Poppy, Peppered Citrus, etc) and this was a nice shower gel. This scent has been discontinued but I'd pick up more shower gel from The Body Shop.

Victoria's Secret Anti-Bacterial Gel in Amber Romance // No, no, no. This was a hand me down from a friend who wouldn't use it. I find most of VS's scents cloying and heavy, and this was no exception.

Pacifica Power of Love Natural Lipstick in Sweet One // I love Pacifica products and the formula for this lipstick is nice and creamy, but the dusty rose color ages me so I'm decluttering it.
Lush Tea Tree Water // cruelty free & vegan // I LOVED this. I used this as a toner and it worked really well with my skin and was easy to use in this spray bottle. Definitely ordering again.

L'Oreal Ever Pure Volume Shampoo // vegan // I received this in a VoxBox. L'Oreal touts their Ever Pure line as being vegan, and it is, ingredients wise. However, L'Oreal isn't cruelty free and I won't be buying a replacement.

Good Things Manuka Honey Body Scrub // cruelty free // I liked this scrub but it wasn't quite harsh enough for my exfoliation tastes. I also completely missed the giant HONEY on the front, so it's not vegan either. I'd pick up a different variety in their scrub line, though.

Pacifica Purify Facial Cleansing Wipes* // cruelty free & vegan // Can you tell I like Pacifica? These smelled amazing and worked well enough that I'd buy them again. They're really handy for traveling.
All of these items are decluttering items.

OPI Nail Lacquer in You Don't Know Jacques // I've always loved this color, but found a cruelty free and vegan dupe for it at a much smaller price point.

e.l.f. Maximum Coverage Concealer in Porcelain // cruelty free & vegan // I tried to make this concealer work. The product itself is nice and applies well, it just settled into the fine lines under my eyes really badly.

e.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick in Coral Cutie // cruelty free & vegan // Coral lipstick washes me out. Badly. Sad to see this go, but I can't pull it off.

e.l.f. Exact Lash Mascara // cruelty free & vegan // This sounds like a good idea. A tiny little brush where you can put mascara on individual lashes. It's really not a good idea. You can't really get enough mascara on the stiff brush to transfer it to your lashes. A swing and a miss.

e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner // cruelty free & vegan // Like I said above, liquid eyeliner isn't my thing. More power to you if it's yours, though!

e.l.f. Eyeshadow Palette // This was a complete eye palette for all parts of your eye. The shadows didn't have amazing color pay off and the fallout, oh my goodness. I'm far better off using my Shiro loose eyeshadows with fallout than these that take ten years to build color. Sorry, e.l.f., this didn't work for me.

(Backdrop is an adorable head wrap my mom gave me from Old Navy.)

And there's another post of mini reviews. What have you used up lately? Send me some links in the comments!

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Saturday, March 31, 2018

book haul // i actually bought new books


This is a pretty groundbreaking post in the book talk category - all of these books were bought brand new. Very rarely do I ever buy new books, but in my defense, I didn't pay retail for any of these. I've been reading like crazy this year so my interest in books has been renewed.

I picked up If the Allies had Fallen on a whim while browsing Barnes & Noble. They usually have a great selection of WWII books in their bargain section. That same trip I picked up Matt Bellassai's Everything is Awful, which I'd been pining over since I started listening to his podcast. I scored it for half off since it had just left the new release table.

Leah Remini's Troublemaker was an order from Books-a-Million with a gift card from Christmas. I've always been morbidly interested in Scientology and I've wanted to get my hands on this for a long time since I'm a big fan of Remini. How Not to Kill Your Houseplants was an Amazon purchase since the reviews were good and I've recently really gotten into houseplants.

Lastly, K picked me up Gizelle's Bucket List by Lauren Fern Watt from the airport one night when I was on my way to get him. (What's better than a man that buys you books?? Nothing.) It's almost guaranteed to make me cry, but it looks really good!

And there we go! I'm super excited to get started on all of these. If you haven't already, add me as a friend on Goodreads! I love seeing what other folks are reading.


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Wednesday, March 28, 2018

depotting & decluttering

I recently decided to try to broaden my horizons and start using eyeshadow that isn't brown, taupe, or gold. I know, how daring. I just get stuck in a rut because I believe that's what looks best on my eyes. (shrug) However, as I was testing some other shadows that I've had for absolute years, I realized that a lot of them were past their prime or just flat out weren't good shadows. I recently purchased Tarte's Tarteist PRO Custom Magnetic Palette* (I couldn't resist that leopard print) and I was excited to try it out, so I got to depotting!
Here's the pile of eyeshadows that I depotted and decluttered. Depotting is the act of removing the shadow in it's metal tray from the clunky plastic packaging. If your shadow has a plastic tray, you can get little adhesive pieces of metal that stick to the backs so they'll stay put in your palette. Here's a good tutorial on depotting if you're new. This was my first time! If the shadow was crap or I couldn't get it out, to the recycling it went.
How nice is that leopard print??? I love it. And here are the shadows in their new home. I broke a few and threw out a lot, but these are the ones that made the cut. The three at the top are on top of a bit of scrap brown paper bag because their glue was super tacky and I didn't want it damaging the palette.

I didn't label any of these because none of them are cruelty free, so I won't be repurchasing. I just didn't want to waste what could be used.

I have SO much more room in my makeup organizers now! Sadly I can't replenish them because we're saving money right now, but soon enough! I'll be using these and my other shadows up in the meantime.



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Friday, February 09, 2018

link love


In Africa, geneticists are hunting poachers using rhino DNA.

Derby, the bat dog for the Yankees Double-A affiliate, has passed away from cancer. His son, Rookie, is carrying on the tradition like his father and grandfather, Chase.

Here's an interesting article about C. diff and a sugar found in ice cream.

I'm completely obsessed with living spaces in Brooklyn. Here's a little 400sq.ft. apartment, a gorgeously arranged studio, and this artisanal bodega.

Two of my very best friends, both named Jess, have each started their own podcasts: Millenial Mixology and I Can't Believe You've Never Seen. Check them out!

CC Sabathia has gone vegan.

Look at this adorable tutorial for heart shaped pom pom bookmarks!


unsplash-logoAnt Rozetsky
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Wednesday, February 07, 2018

pacifica // kale detox face wash

I've tried a lot of face washes and cleansers and  I can say that I love Pacifica's Kale Detox. I've gotten two travel sizes in sets from my mom, which is where this one came from, and I've got a full size waiting in the wings (also from my mom...she keeps me stocked with Pacifica products).

Kale Detox is a smooth gel face wash that is a cheery green but has some great cleansing power. It smells very earthy and, well, kale like. I'm one of those people that scrubs their eye makeup off with cleanser, which this does nicely, without drying out my skin or irritating around my eyes.

At ten dollars for five ounces, the price isn't bad at all. I've found this in person at Target and Ulta, so it's pretty readily available, along with being available at several online retailers.

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Monday, January 15, 2018

2018 reading challenge

I love to read. However, with my end-of-year schedule, I practically had to pencil in times to sit down and enjoy a book. With 2018 just starting, I decided that I really wanted to buckle down and knock out a reading challenge fully.

This past year was a much better year for reading than 2016, but I'd still like to read even more in the new year. There's been so many new books that have come out that I've been dying to read, but I keep getting stuck in the mindset that I need to go through the actual physical books I have cluttering my bedroom. Instead, I'm going to read the books I want to read instead of the ones I feel the obligation to read. I think that's why I've had so many lulls.

I use Goodreads to keep track of books I've read, want to read, and am currently reading. It's such an invaluable resource if you're a bookworm! You can even participate in an annual reading challenge. For 2018, I've challenged myself to read 55 books. Fingers crossed.



All Bong
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Wednesday, January 10, 2018

link love

I want to try these mini portobello mushroom pizzas that Jess made!

Here's a tiny survival guide that can be printed and carried in your pocket.

This really simple recipe for garlic pizza crust looks good.

This is heart warming. Here's a great list of 25 amazing things we did for animals in 2017.

The Flora of Virginia app looks so pretty!

Aldi now has a brand new line, Earth Grown, that's suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

This is a great article over on Gen Pink about which fitness trends to embrace and which to leave behind.



unsplash-logoJonathan Knepper
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Monday, January 08, 2018

pacifica // rollerball fragrance trio

My mom is an amazing deal finder and an amazing stocking stuffer. I opened this trio of Pacifica rollerball fragrances* and was ecstatic! The Indian Coconut Nectar scent is one of my favorites. Tahitian Gardenia and Sugared Amber Dreams are both going to be perfect for the office.

I especially love Pacifica because their entire line is cruelty free and vegan, so there's no label reading to be had! Pacifica is also sold at a wide variety of stores including Target, so it's easily found and has a great price point.

Definitely check them out!

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Saturday, January 06, 2018

beauty products i want to try in 2018

2018 beauty to try


In 2017 I was insanely busy. I worked a lot, I hardly wore makeup, and my poor skin suffered. This year, though, I significantly scaled back my work hours and wear makeup to the office, so I put together a list of things I'd like to try this year. I didn't keep up to date on all the new releases for last year, so most of these have been around for a while.

Eye of Horus Bio Lash Lift Mascara // This is way more pricey than my typical under $5 mascara, but I want to start trying some new brands.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream* // Everyone rants about how great this stuff is and I'd really like to try it for my eczema.

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Oil-Free Mattifying Gel* // I love anything that creates a matte look.

The Ordinary Foundation // My friend Jess recommended this one to me and The Ordinary is all over the FB groups I've joined. Once I use up the unholy amount of foundation I already have, I'm definitely ordering this!

Sigma Beauty E25 Blending Brush* // This is the year I master my hooded eyes!

Wet N Wild Megalast Liquid Catsuit Matte Lipstick in Behind the Bleachers // Again with the matte, and since NYX can't verify the vegan status of their Lingerie lip line, I'm going with Wet n Wild.

Derma E Scar Gel* // I've heard good things about this and I have the remnants of a scar above my eyebrown and another on my knee that I'd like to see if this works on.

Mr. Dandy's Hair Candy // I don't ever do anything with my hair. I wash and condition it once a week, so maybe this will be the year I style my hair, too.

Pacifica Hawaiian Banana Lip Balm* // Give me all the banana things.

Urban Decay Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow* in Spacetime // Liquid eyeshadow has just started appealing to me, so why not start out with a shiny space themed shadow??

What are you wanting to try this year? ♥

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Tuesday, December 26, 2017

empties #15

This is a big one, guys. I feel like I've been hoarding this trash way too long. Since I've been working so much, I've been lacking the natural light to take photos but my lighting kit finally came in so I was able to knock this one out.

As always, I can make mistakes on my cruelty free and vegan labels, so always check for yourself! ♥
Village Naturals Mineral Bath Soak // I don't take baths often at all, so I just used this in the bottom of the shower. Obviously not what it's meant for, so it didn't work super well. I have another of these, both coming from a subscription box, but I wouldn't purchase this on my own.

Crest Toothpaste Sample // I don't know where this came from but I went ahead and used it up. I like my natural toothpastes more.

L.A. Colors Eye Makeup Remover Pads // cruelty free & vegan // These were decent little pads I picked up in a gift set. They were really best for light eye makeup days.

Lush Superbalm Scalp Treatment // cruelty free & vegan // This worked really well on my eczema on my scalp. Like, gone overnight well, BUT it made my hair so greasy. I had to wash my hair multiple times after using it. I actually ended up using the rest of this on some spots on my skin away from my scalp.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Conditioner // Another sub-box sample. The bottle made this hard to use up completely. I felt it was just a run of the mill conditioner.

Avalon Organics CoQ10 Facial Cleansing Milk // cruelty free & vegan // This was a decent cleanser. It was great for eye makeup residue. However, I've decided that creamy cleansers and milks just aren't for me.

e.l.f. Nail Polish* // cruelty free & vegan // This is a blue polish that I got in a gift set. I never even opened it as blue isn't my color for nail polish. It's separated and can't be saved, so it's going.

100% Pure Kelp & Mint Volumizing Shampoo Sample* // cruelty free & vegan // I received a few of these in an order. I like it and I think I'd order a full size.

e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator in Clear* // cruelty free & vegan // I'll never buy one of these again. It's hard to use, gets all over your face, and doesn't do an amazing exfoliating job.

Pacifica Pore Refine Deep Detox Mask* // cruelty free & vegan // I love this product. It goes on clear and rinses off well and I feel like it really helps my skin. It cuts redness really quickly and my pores always look better the next day.

Jason Powersmile Gel Toothpaste in Powerful Peppermint* // cruelty free & vegan // This was my first Jason product and I really liked it. I'd definitely buy it again.

Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion // Standard unscented lotion from a sub-box. I wouldn't buy it.

Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Lotion in Eucalyptus Spearmint // Do they even make these anymore? The lotion isn't bad, but the scent was cloying and very artificial.

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron Cleansing Shampoo in Honey & Coriander // I think I finished up this sample at my mom's house? I don't remember putting it in my bag, either, and I didn't acquire it. I didn't see how it was an amazing shampoo.

Pacifica Dreamy Youth Day & Night Face Cream* // cruelty free & vegan // I liked this moisturizer a lot. I'd buy a full size.

Frizz Ease Moisturizing Conditioner // Another sub-box sample. This did cut the frizz a little, but Frizz Ease isn't cruelty free.


Wet n Wild Makeup Remover Towelettes* // cruelty free & vegan // These worked pretty well. I'd pick them up again.

Wet n Wild Mattifying Powder* // cruelty free & vegan // Am I the only one that has the worst luck with keeping powders solid? Ugh. This was a decent powder and I'd buy it again.

L'Oreal Ever Pure Conditioner in Lotus // vegan // I'll note that the Ever Pure line is vegan and is even stated on the bottle, but L'Oreal isn't cruelty free. I got this and the shampoo in a VoxBox and it's really a shame that they still test on animals because this was a decent conditioner.

Colgate Radiant Optic White Sample // Where do these samples come from?? I don't buy them?? I'll stick to my natural toothpastes.

Kleancolor Nail Polish // cruelty free & vegan // Again, blue isn't my color for polish. I've had this forever and it needs to go.

Rimmel 60 Second Nail Polish in Silver // Apparently silver isn't my color for polish either, as I never used this and it separated.

Curel Hydra-therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer // Okay. In-shower lotions are the bane of my existence. I hate, hate, hate them. I only used this one because I'd been putting it off after getting it in a sub-box and I was tired of looking at it. I refuse to purchase an in shower lotion.
Soapbox Coconut Oil Conditioner* // cruelty free & vegan // I finally used this up. It's been sitting in my shower so long that they've changed packaging. I loved this conditioner. It helped with frizz and I felt it really nourished my hair.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Facial Oil* // cruelty free & vegan // So oils are not for me and my face. I don't like the way they feel.

Charcoalogy Facial Clay Cleanser // I thought this was a different brand when I bought it. I can't seem to find a definitive answer on if the brand is cruelty free or not.

Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant  // I didn't think I'd ever use this up. Not a fan.

Suave Deoderant in Powder // Still have a ton of these. They're good deoderants.

Natrol Melatonin 3mg // This worked alright. It's not vegan and I need to order some more that is.


Green Tea Candle // I think this one was from Target? A decent little candle.

Bath & Body Works Mini Candle in Twisted Peppermint // I got this in my stocking and I loved it.

Yankee Candle in Guava Coconut Fusion* // This smelled really good.

DW Home Candle in Peppered Citrus // I stared at this scent every time I went in Marshall's and finally bought it. I loved it.

That wraps up another month of my trash. As you can tell, I'm still working my way through a lot of non-cruelty free items, but I'm replacing them with products that aren't tested on animals.

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Saturday, December 09, 2017

odd little book haul


One evening I was wandering through Dollar General pickup up bleach and sandwich bags and light bulbs when I noticed a book with a cute little pupper on the cover. Upon closer inspection, it was this book that's been on my Amazon Wishlist for forever. Then, on the same shelf six inches away, I found Mariano Rivera's book! Ahh!! As a huge Yankees and Rivera fan, I immediately grabbed this one. It's currently selling on Amazon for $20. Both books were $3 each, a pretty good deal.

You never know where you'll find books!

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