fashion friday: life is

I was provided the "Life is Tough" shirt from Cents of Style in exchange for this post. Affiliate links are included.

When Cents of Style contacted me to write a post about life, I wasn't super sure about it. I am generally a pessimist, but thought "hey, I can do this, I have a pretty decent life!" So I chose the "Life is tough, but so are you" tee.

Everyone's had some tough spots in life, and I'm no different. Sometimes a little reminder can make all the difference - that you're tough, too!



This shirt, though? So soft and the fit is fantastic. The best part? They're only $15.95 and they ship free with code LIFEIS1! ♥




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tarte rainforest of the sea samples review

Back in April, I sent out an order to Sephora for a couple items. The Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Make A Splash Skin Savers collection was one of them. Honestly, I just ordered this because it was cruelty free and vegan and I needed something to get my birthday gift and samples, but I had no idea I'd end up loving the products inside!



The kit came with the Deep Dive Cleansing Gel, Marine Boosting 4-in-1 Mist, and the Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer. It took me a while to finish them, but I don't like to review something until I've used most of it. One use isn't going to tell me a lot, is it?

I'm still perplexed by the name. Rainforest of the Sea? What? But the packaging and color scheme of this collection is on point. It's relaxing, but eye catching.



Now, onto the products!

The Deep Dive Cleansing Gel was nice. My skin felt fresh when I'd finished using it, but not dried out. It wasn't sticky, felt smooth on my face, and generated a little lather.

Now the Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer? It's got a long name but this stuff is fantastic. A lot of moisturizers I've tried felt like they were just sitting on my skin until they dried, but Drink of H2O soaked in well and my skin felt hydrated. There also weren't any shiny after effects!

The Marine Boosting 4-in-1 Mist was a new product type for me. It's supposed to be a moisturizer/primer/setting mist all in one. I was really unsure of how to use this, but I settled with spritzing it on after my toner and before my makeup. It worked well as a primer, and my skin didn't feel dried out. I don't think it'd keep anything in place if I was sweating, but for an average day I was happy with it.



All three of these items are cruelty free and listed as vegan friendly on Tarte's website. Win!

Overall? I'd definitely buy each of these individually in full sizes. They're all pretty solid products. I'm definitely interested in trying out other items from the Rainforest of the Sea collection.

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new friends - frogs & toads

My workplace is truly amazing. Sure, it's retail, but we have some great products and regulars that come in. But this post isn't about that - it's about critters! My bosses have a fascinating menagerie. There are toads and a giant bullfrog and recently some babies came in. Frog and toad babies! Even if you're not a fan of the scaly and slimy, you'll have to admit these guys are adorable.



Growing up I preferred the furry pets - dogs, cats, hamsters. I didn't like bugs and I didn't like anything that hopped or slithered. I had respect for them, but I didn't want them to touch me. (And sometimes I still won't touch some of the creatures that I encounter...I'm looking at you, millipedes.)



These guys are so tiny - a couple are smaller than a dime. Check out those little speckles. They hop around and when they eat their tiny pink tongues are so fast you have to really focus to see them.



Look at this little guy! He's the prettiest green and when the light is right, his skin is translucent and you can see all his insides. It's really fascinating. He was active that day, so he was a bit tuckered out in this photo.

I'm excited to watch these guys grow up!

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what a great day

Last night, we redecorated the display windows at the store. We had a great time and it looks super spooky for Halloween. We're talking fake blood and a giant spider and some glass eyeballs in a vintage bed pan along with a generous helping of dry straw. Insert gleeful Halloween dance here.

Sounds great, huh? Well, it was until I woke up this morning with hay fever and a stye the size of Texas on my eye. I can't blame the stye on the straw, though. That's from not being more careful when I remove my eye makeup. Sigh. Honestly, I can't really even blame the straw for being sick because we should've been wearing masks since we weren't working outside with ventilation. It's my own fault, but I had never reacted to it before so I wasn't careful.

So I've been laid up in bed all day having a pity party like I always do when I'm sick and snuggling with my puppies and basically being a snotty, whiny mess. The hay fever makes me sneeze and that makes me cry out in pain because I have to squeeze my eye shut on the stye and I'm just not pleasant to be around right now.

The moral of this story? Always wear a mask if you're not accustomed to working with common allergens. Even if you've never been allergic to them before! Trust me on this one.

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DIY three ingredient scalp scrub

We all know we're supposed to exfoliate to encourage blood flow and to remove dead skin cells and product buildup. I exfoliate a couple times a week, especially my face. What's one thing I always forget needs exfoliating, too? My scalp! Here's an easy DIY scalp scrub that only has three ingredients!



You'll only need three things: coconut oil, coarse salt, and a lemon. Easy peasy.

I mixed about a half cup of coconut oil, 3-4 tablespoons of coarse salt, and the juice of one lemon together in a bowl with a lid. I crushed the salt a bit beforehand to make it easier to manage. Once it's all mixed together, here's a tip: I'd advise to do this in the shower or outside. It gets messy, especially if you have long hair. There was salt all over the place!

Dampen your hair, and just rub it into your scalp as you would a body scrub on your skin. Your scalp can be sensitive, so don't be too rough. I massaged it in for a few minutes, let it sit, then rinsed it out. You'll probably feel the coconut oil still in your hair, so if you want to let it moisturize for a while, leave it and shampoo later. Another plus to this scrub? It can be used as a body scrub! If you mix up a big batch you can do all of your exfoliating in one go.

The recipe can easily be altered to fit your needs. Swap out salt for sugar, or add tea tree oil, essential oils, or swap out coconut oil for something else. Just don't eat it!

♥

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review: lush sex bomb bath bomb

I picked up the Sex Bomb bath bomb from Lush a while ago, but I've finally found time to use it!



This was my first bath bomb from Lush. I had tried other bombs from other places and I was not impressed. I dropped this baby into the tub and it instantly started foaming. Check out that gorgeous magenta!

It was really relaxing and my skin felt moisturized and smooth both during and after the bath. I can't smell, so I can't attest to if the bomb retained any scent, but it fizzed slowly and hung around for a while.

I'd heard complaints of the decorative flower not dissolving, but the one in my bomb was nowhere to be found afterwards, so I had no cleanup as there wasn't any residue left after I drained the water. That was a big plus as other bombs have dyed my tub red!

I'd definitely get another Sex Bomb!

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link love

(This is one of my boss' beetles...yeah, I have the coolest job.)

Go, little Fury! She's the first of her puppy kind to start being trained for a canine anti-poaching unit. She's adorable and saving the animals. (And the baby elephant gif at the bottom is too cute.)

In the reading world, I'm a huge horror genre fan (Yes, Stephen King!) and here's a list of 10 books that will haunt your dreams.

Not all anger needs management. It just needs to be recognized as constructive or destructive.

I am one of those terrible people that reads the synopsis of a movie without ever seeing it. I'm obsessed with doing it. And I just found The Movie Spoiler.

This is a really interesting article about consuming protein and age.

I have a STRONG aversion to the words "retard" and "retarded". Here's an article on why you should stop using them.

This bag in taupe is amazing.

I'd like to try this stew recipe this fall.

I'm totally gearing up for Halloween and this ring is perfect.

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my latest beauty favorites

Swissco Ultimate Vent Brush in Large // Hairbrushes have never been a thing of importance to me. They keep my long ass hair from becoming a matted mess, but beyond that? Nah. Growing up I used paddle brushes and there was that one time my cousin got a round brush so tangled in my hair it had to be cut out, but other than that I never put any thought into how I brushed my hair. UNTIL NOW! Swissco's Ultimate Vent Brush is AMAZING! I no longer look at hairbrushes the same.



Pacifica's Indian Coconut Nectar Roll On Perfume  // So good. I feel like I'm on a tropical island when I use this. It comes in a glass vial, so I'm a little hesitant to carry it in my purse, but I love it.





Hurraw Lip Balm in Grapefruit // I don't like eating grapefruit, but I love them in everything else. Luckily I can get Hurraw at my local Wegman's, and this stuff is awesome. It covers well without being heavy or sticky.



The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion // I have dark spots from acne and this lotion really helps lighten them and even out my complexion. I use it at night after I cleanse and before I moisturize. I can see a difference in a few days and that's awesome compared to the many other dark spot correcting products I've used.

I'd love to know your favorites - leave your links in the comments! ♥

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local haunts: Hyperion Espresso // fxbg

I love coffee. Plain and simple. I'm also a huge advocate of supporting local coffee shops. One of my favorites? Hyperion Espresso in Downtown Fredericksburg. They brew a fantastic dark roast, and they have almost any flavor syrup you could want.

During the summer, I typically stick with their smoothies or Italian sodas. Mango smoothie, peach Italian soda. ♥ You can't go wrong with the black tea, either. I recently tried their seasonal pomegranate black tea. Yum.



I don't normally have a lot of time to hang out there, but they have loads of space for working on your laptop and hanging out with friends. When you buy a drink, just grab the wifi password from the register. The building that houses Hyperion is pretty gorgeous on the inside, too, so there's none of that stale decor you'll find at other coffee shops.

The baristas have always been friendly, so if you're not sure what to order off their extensive menu, just ask!

So if you're in the area, stop by! You won't be disappointed.


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empties #5

Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser // I got a Clarisonic Mia for Christmas that I love. This is the cleanser that came with it. My skin felt clean after using it, but it was pretty drying and not cruelty free, so I won't be getting it again.

ban Shower Fresh deodorant // This worked pretty well when I first got it a while back with a coupon. Towards the end of the tube it stopped working as well. I don't know if it was my skin that adapted or the product, but either way ban isn't cruelty free, so I won't be repurchasing.

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Restoring Conditioner // This was another freebie from couponing. This conditioner works great, but L'Oreal isn't cruelty free, sadly.

Pacifica Glow Baby Youthful Face Scrub // cruelty free and vegan // I got this in a little trial four pack of Pacifica's facial products (Thanks, Mumma!). I've mentioned before that I like pretty strong facial scrubs - I like to feel them working. This scrub does just that. I'd definitely purchase this again.

Vegan True Melatonin 3mg // cruelty free and vegan // Vegan True's melatonin worked pretty well. I didn't wake up groggy but it helped me sleep. This is on my iHerb to order list. (And if you use the code TNZ430 you'll get $5 off your order and I'll get $5!)

Julep Glycolic Hand Scrub // cruelty free // I really liked this little sample of hand scrub. One use and I really could tell a difference! And there's still time to get the Summer Brights 6-Piece Beauty Gift!



These next products are all products I won't be repurchasing, as they aren't cruelty free, sadly.

Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Shampoo // Another couponing purchase from forever ago. I don't know what exactly this shampoo was supposed to do, but it didn't do it.

Almay Oil Free Eye Makeup Removed Pads // I got these free with coupons and this is the last of the batch. They worked well on eye makeup, but left a weird residue that I always felt I needed to wash off.

Rodan + Fields Micro-Dermabrasion Paste // cruelty free // I like tough exfoliators. This felt like I was rubbing glass on my face.

White Barn Eucalyptus Mint mini candle // This smelled nice and for such a small candle it burned for a long time. I got this as a stocking stuffer and really liked it.

Tresemme Platinum Strength Conditioner // Another cheap coupon find. I enjoyed this conditioner, but Tresemme isn't cruelty free.

What products have you used lately?

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link love

Here's six reasons why you think your foundation sucks.

Check out this crazy underwater river in Mexico.

The sad, sexist ballad of salad.

I work in a candy store and get asked "Do you have Kinder Eggs?" all the time. They're illegal here. The very bottom of this article gives a simple reason to why we can't carry them.

There's now a color thesaurus!

I am one of those chronically late people.

Tucker is a super chewer - I mean, Hardcore Chewer Kongs last twenty minutes in our house. But West Paw has the Tux Toy and it's lasted since April. A GOD SEND in the dog toy world.

Ladies, stop calling yourselves 'girls'. We are WOMEN, not children.

An otter tape dispenser! So cute.

23 things all binge readers can identify with.

Here are 30 must read articles if you're thinking of going minimalist.

These booties are so cute.

Fall is coming! I love a good blanket scarf.

This comic from Awkward Yeti defines me as a shopper.



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downtown shenanigans & an outfit

Thursday, I met up with Jess in Downtown Frederickburg and we had a delicious lunch and strolled around despite the depressing heat. Our first stop was Hyperion, where I tried their seasonal pomegranate iced black tea. So tasty. If you're in the area, definitely stop in for a drink.

I don't eat out a lot downtown even though I work down there. I normally grab takeout or delivery from certain places that are super close. It was nice to be able to sit down and eat somewhere new! We had an amazing lunch at Vivify. Of course I had falafel.

And as typical bloggers do, we found a nice wall and snapped some outfit photos. This was more of a "I know it's going to be hot so try to find something cute but cool" outfit, but I think it worked out pretty well, haha.

skirt: similar // shoes: similar // tank: exact // bag: similar // sunglasses: similar

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an all black everything wishlist

I've always worn way too much black and grey. So why not an all black post to celebrate the upcoming season change?

Voluspa Apricot & Aprilia Candle // I've wanted a Voluspa candle since I worked at Francesca's waaaay back in the day.

American Needle Yankees Hat // It's time for another Yankees hat.

Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint // Mascara has always been my favorite beauty product. I've been eyeing this one for a while!

Kendra Scott Elton Bracelet in Black Druzy // Since getting my hands on a piece of Kendra, I love them! I think the Elton in all black would work nicely for fall.

Sbicca Chord Fold Over Bootie // I've gotten pretty obsessed with booties, but I don't have a black pair. These vegan suede foldovers are perfect.

LunatiCK Cosmetics High Definition Microfinish Pressed Powder // I still haven't picked up their pallette yet, but I'm working on it. I've been through a couple pressed powders that I wasn't happy with, so why not pick up one that looks cool and has great reviews?

How are you gearing up for fall?


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link love

I'm a summer hater, and this article about how weather affects mood was interesting and spot on for my feelings of warm weather and sunshine.

We cracked up at this video of a guy who'd apparently been bitten by a bug.

This moose is gorgeous! I love nature photography.

Check out Omo the rare white giraffe over on the Animal Hearted blog (which is where my dog sweatshirt came from!).

This felt flower wreath is stunning.

As a diehard Yankees fan, I'd totally wear these Keds to a game.

I think I've followed this patch's advice my whole life.

food

Drooling over this shaved asparagus coleslaw.

You had me at white garlic jalapeno sauce in this pasta recipe from Vegan Richa.

One pot pasta with a creamy mushroom sauce. I need this nooooow.

Total heart eyes emoji over this pasta salad.




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TaDah Foods falafel wrap review

On my grocery run to Target, I spotted a new line of products when I was checking out the meatless section. Then I saw the word falafel and knew I had to try out TaDah Foods' wraps. I picked up the Lemony Roasted Garlic Hummus option. Those are all of my favorite things!





The wrap was really good. In a quick minute and forty five seconds, it's ready to eat! I prefer quickly heated items when I take lunch to work. The best part? They're 100% all natural, vegan, and the tortilla is non-gmo. At $3.99 each, they're a bit pricey, but it was more than enough for my meal and I actually couldn't finish it all in one sitting. There was only one true con for me and that was the sodium count - it was a bit higher than I like, but it didn't reflect a lot in the taste.

If you're looking for a quick lunch option, definitely check these out!

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link love

Here is an exclusive first look at images of The Dark Tower movie. I am too excited about this being made.

Buzzfeed has a list of 17 genius websites for when you have nothing to do.

Get a free gift when you sign up with Julep today!

These comics about Dumbledore are hilarious.

A kebab shop owner in New Zealand simply ignored a would-be robber.

I really love this top from Free People.

I'm not a huge planner gal, but I would really love this bat clip and Tardis band.


food

This recipe for hot curry fries looks soooo good.

I love soup and I'm so sad it's summer because this black bean and lentil soup looks amazing.

While I don't have a huge sweet tooth, I think I could manage these chai tea cupcakes. :P

Lemon, garlic, beans, pesto? This recipe looks delicious.

I don't eat a lot of ice cream, but mango cardamom ice cream??? Yum.




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a #bloggerscene rooftop party at the embassy row hotel

Wednesday night, Jess from Writing in Red Lipstick and I hopped the metro and made our way to the Embassy Row Hotel in Washington D.C. for a rooftop cocktail party for area bloggers.

It was a great time! We started off the night with drinks and the PeachE Punch was A+. While I'm not a big mingler, there were some great ladies there that I was happy to have met! There was a great panel of bloggers for a Q&A, the view was gorgeous, and the atmosphere was perfect.



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empties #4

I can't believe I've hung onto my little "empties" series this long, but it's fun! Here are the empties for July.



Simple Pleasures Body Scrub // I hated this scrub. I swear my creamy body wash has more exfoliating power than this stuff did. This was a Target One Spot quick grab ages ago. I'm glad to see it go.

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm // Pretty sure I got this as a sample in an order from Sephora. It smelled funny, and I didn't see how it was a great cleanser. Plus the full size version of a whopping 1.7 ounces is $110. No, thanks.

e.l.f. Baked Eyeshadow in Bark // cruelty free and vegan // See how this is still basically full? It just wouldn't work. No color payoff, no matter what I tried. Wet, dry, nada. I'm tossing it. Unless someone has tips on how to use this?

Ladyburg Mango Lip Scrub // vegan // This lip scrub is locally made and it smelled and tasted delicious. It worked pretty well! I kept it in the shower so that cut it's life a bit, but I was able to finish all but a smidge. I'm not sure if their ingredients are cruelty free, but I'm going to find out because I'd love to have another jar of this.

Julep Invisible Dry Shampoo // cruelty free & vegan // I didn't finish this one, either. This has been the first and only dry shampoo I've tried that I got in my first Julep beauty box. I don't think I blame this product completely, I just don't think my hair takes to dry shampoo well. I wouldn't repurchase, but if you're a dry shampoo user, I'd give it a shot.

e.l.f. 3-in-1 Mascara in Very Black // cruelty free & vegan // I reviewed this before on a previous empties post (see the brush there, too). It's growing on me. It's an inexpensive ($3) mascara that I use as a base coat/primer for my more expensive mascara. I've decided to keep purchasing this one.

Sephora Full Action Mascara // This was a gift from a friend. I really liked the brush and formula of this mascara, but sadly, Sephora's in house line isn't cruelty free. Come on, Sephora, get on it!

L'Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Restoring Conditioner // Another couponing snag from probably two years ago that I've just gotten around to using up. This conditioner works pretty well, but L'Oreal sucks and still tests on animals.

As you can tell, I'm still going through a lot of product that I won't buy again. Sometimes I'm hesitant to include those items, but I figure someone might learn something they didn't know and avoid that brand. :)

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link love

Here's a dog that swam out to sea to rescue his blind friend.

My mom sent me this little post about ways to tie a blanket scarf. Can you tell I'm pining for fall?

I'd really like to try this vegan vanilla clove lip balm from Meow Meow Tweet.

This story from retail is hilarious.

As a future dietician, this article where Americans and nutritionists disagree was pretty interesting.

I think I'd like to give this homemade ginger ale recipe a shot.

Don't feed bread to the ducks.

How adorable is this knitted snail tea cozy?

Have you tried out Mintvine? I've gotten enough for a payout in just a few weeks!


Leave your links in the comments! ♥



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on blogging & being a "blogger"

I consider myself a blogger. I don't make a living doing this, and I have a full time job that sometimes prevents me from writing blog posts. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love blogging and everything that entails. I love having something to blog about. My life isn't the most interesting, but maybe someone out there wants to read about it. Haha!

My main reason for blogging is my mother - she lives six hours from me, and though we talk on the phone every day, there's things I forget about or are best told with written words and pictures. Even a post with a recipe gives her insight into how I spend my time.

Other reasons I blog? It passes time. I enjoy getting feedback on posts. I can document my life, things I love, photos, and more to look back on at a later time. It makes me stop and think about things I do on a regular basis. I put more thought into the things I buy, because if something isn't good enough to recommend to someone, why would I spend money on it? Although I will say that I don't buy things for the sole purpose of writing a blog post about them. A large portion of my life goes un-blogged.

I've had this little piece of blog heaven since 2008 (or at least my domain that long), and before that I dabbled in Xanga and Livejournal. No worries, they've long been deleted. I've been around in the blogging world for a while. Since I was so rooted in hobby blogging and other things, my blog never really grew. Here I am eight years later with less than 250 followers. Still. And some days that bothers me and some days I couldn't care less. I was reading blogs when the big dog blogs were just wee little online spaces. And what's happened? Now they've morphed away from blogs and more toward online magazines. Now, though, I really enjoy reading blogs about "real" people and how they spend their time.

Other times, blogging can be a burden. If too much time goes by without a post, I get antsy and try to hurriedly make something happen. It's hard to blog on your "own time" when others are churning out blog posts five times a week. It gets stressful, even without a huge following. I sometimes find it hard to distinguish between whether I'm writing for the enjoyment of blogging or whether I'm trying to just please people.

Well after that verbal flood, I have to say that overall, blogging has been good to me. Sure, there are negatives, but I thoroughly enjoy the world of blogs.

Any recommendations? ♥

hatteras island trip 2016

A couple weeks ago my mom and stepdad headed down to Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks for a week and invited us to stay for a couple days.



They have a fabulous RV so we stayed with them at a really nice campground. THERE WERE DOGS EVERYWHERE. I petted a Newfoundland, a giant Schnauzer, a Westie, a Walker Hound, and so many more!

We had a lot of fun! I hadn't done any kind of tanning since a friend's wedding in 2013, so I lathered up the first day on the beach...and still got burnt the hell up. Thank goodness I have decent skin and it either peeled or soaked in fairly quickly.

Though we weren't there long, it was a relaxing time. I didn't have to wear makeup or brush my hair or anything. I can say I successfully did not care what I looked like on this trip. We ended our beach venture with a sunset walk on the beach and gathered seashells. ♥ ♥



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empties #3

These posts are a great source of joy for me and I can't explain why. More empties this month. :)



Simple Soothing Facial Toner // I've had this toner for forever and I've been using it every day! Sadly, Simple tests on animals so I will not be repurchasing.

Matrix Total Results Repair Shampoo // This was a hotel bottle that I took with me when we went on a trip. It was pretty good shampoo but Matrix isn't cruelty free.

Estee Lauder Pleasures Sample // I don't remember requesting this sample, but somehow I got it. It smelled alright, but I'm not a big perfume gal so that combined with Estee Lauder not being cruelty free, I won't be getting this again.

up & up Apricot Facial Scrub // When I exfoliate my face I like to have a product that I can feel working - this did that. Unfortunately, like I've said before, up & up isn't cruelty free.

L'Oreal Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight Shampoo, Pre-Conditioner, and Conditioner Samples // They worked. But 1) not cruelty free, and 2) I have enough to do in the shower, I don't need to "pre-condition", too.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eyelid Primer // cruelty free // I received this in a Sephora order, and there was quite a bit of product in this little sample. I got a use out of it, and initially the product is very wet. It takes a smidge longer to dry than the primer I use now. However, it gets nice and tacky and provides a nice setting for eyeshadow. I'd try out the full size if Too Faced removed the animal products.



The Honest Company Face & Body Lotion // cruelty free & vegan // I liked this lotion at first. Then about ten minutes after I applied it to my hands, they felt dry. If I was given a tube of this I'd use it, but I don't think I'd spend money on it.

Dr. Bronner's Pure Castille Soap in Peppermint // cruelty free & vegan // I grabbed a sample size of this at Target one day and I enjoyed it. I used it as a body wash (though it has tons of uses) and I definitely want to try out a full size.

That wraps up another empties post. Yee! What have you used up lately?

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birthday trip to tennessee

I turned 26 at the end of April. No, I don't want to talk about it. I've had about six mid-mid life crises. But I did have a great trip out to Tennessee to see my mom!



We packed up and went out Tuesday evening and had a great time. We jammed to Amazon Prime Music all the way out. It was a gorgeous day to travel.

We didn't get out til later that evening, but Mumma had made some delicious spaghetti (as always) and then, after six hours of travel, we went to bed. She even had the birthday flag out for me!



Wednesday we woke up, got ready, and headed to Knoxville! All of my photos from Knoxville and Market Square were on Snapchat and apparently I didn't save any of them. That's how much fun I was having! We had lunch at Yassin's Falafel House, which I loved, but they aren't huge falafel fans. There was a dog store in Market Square so of course I had to go in. And come out with mixable dog ice cream and a new hardcore chewer toy.

Thursday we took it easy and took naps on the couch or out on the hammock. The weather was gorgeous!

Friday we went out to The Island in Pigeon Forge. I'd never been, and it was a nice little shopping experience - definitely check it out. And there's a Margaritaville! I'm not a Buffett fan in the slightest, but we had great margaritas (definitely try the Last Mango in Paris) and they had veggie burgers!






We strolled around the shops and I checked out two candy stores since I like to see what other places do compared to the shop I work in, picked up some taffy, and stopped at the Ole Smoky Moonshine distillery and did a small wine tasting at Bootleggers. We picked up a bottle of blueberry and peach to bring home.



It was a pretty fantastic trip and I had a very happy birthday. ♥

empties #2

The second round of empties! There weren't quite as many this month, but I manage to finish up a few things I've been trying to get out of my way.



Maybelline  Great Lash Mascara in Blackest Black // I think almost everyone has had a tube of this at some point. It does the job, but isn't cruelty free so I won't be repurchasing.

up & up Wet Cleansing Towelettes // This is the last of the clearance stash of these guys. Like I said before, I won't be repurchasing these because they're not cruelty free.

Mary Kay Time Wise Matte-Wear Liquid Foundation in Beige 3 // When I was in a wedding two years ago, we had a Mary Kay lady do our makeup. She did a phenomenal job, so a few months later I picked up the foundation at a MK party I was invited to. This is that foundation. Now, though, it's too dark for me and it's time has come. Mary Kay sells in China so they're not cruelty free, so unfortunately I won't be repurchasing.

Herbal Essences Body Wash in Body Burst // This was a sample I got in the mail ages ago and I've just finished it. While it was a decent body wash, Herbal Essences isn't cruelty free, so I won't be getting a full size!

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in Ivory // I LOVE the way this foundation blends when you first put it on. However, I've had it a while and it's started to cake as the day goes by so I think it's past it's prime. Another brand that isn't cruelty free, so I'll have to stick with my e.l.f. foundation.

Funky Fingers polish in Confetti // It's gotten gloopy. I wasn't a fan of how hard it was to apply. I won't be repurchasing.

Edge Extra Moisturizing Shave Gel // It's shave gel. It did it's job. I didn't see how it was "extra moisturizing", but it was okay. I'm eager to switch to a natural shaving cream once I go through my coupon stockpile, so I won't be getting this again.

Andalou Naturals Leave-In Conditioner // cruelty free & vegan // I absolutely love this conditioner. It smoothes frizz and leaves your hair feeling better overall. It has argan oil and the first ingredient isn't water like most conditioners. This is the second bottle I've been through and I am definitely going to purchase this again.

Send me your recs and links to what you've finished this month! ♥

thrifted books & my reading list

When I took a trip up to see Jess, we stopped by McKay Used Books and I grabbed some titles. Here they are!



I've been really slacking on my reading lately, and with so many books on my reading list, I've only managed to skim Destiny Turns the Wheel. I hadn't seen Blaze in stores before, so I snagged that and The Talisman. I've read Black House and was a little lost, so I'm excited to read this one and be filled in.

Currently I'm reading The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling (which you can get free on iBooks!) and I hope to read The Wide Window #3 by Lemony Snicket soon. I think my "to read" list changes every time I make write one of these posts, so who knows what book I'll really be reading next,

Add me as a friend on Goodreads! I love seeing what everyone is reading.

ulta birthday haul!

For my birthday I received all kinds of glorious things (including a pair of Ray-Bans!) and an Ulta giftcard. Well, while out in Tennessee my mom wanted to go by Ulta, so I picked up some things I'd been wanting for a while.

Pacifica Cactus Water Micellar Cleansing Tonic // I've been wanting to try a micellar cleanser for forever and though the Garnier version is super popular on the beauty blogs, it's not cruelty free. However, Pacifica's is both cruelty free AND vegan! I kept looking at this every time I'd go in Ulta but never made the leap - until now!

The Body Shop Blemish Fade Night Lotion // This was, admittedly, an impluse buy. I have trouble with dark spots from blemishes on my face, I've heard good things about The Body Shop's Tea Tree line, so I'm hoping this works as promised.

Nip + Fab Viper Venom Micro Blur Fix // I've already opened this and used it and I love it so far. I can see a difference already in oil control and it's tacky enough to use as a primer to keep foundation in place.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Whiskey // My current eyeliner is on it's last leg so I decided to splurge a bit and grab this pencil from Urban Decay. I was swatching all over the place trying to find a dark brown color that I liked and I settled on Whiskey.

Real Techniques Brushes - Lash/Brow Groomer and Expert Face Brush // The lash brush purchase stemmed from my horrid application of mascara that morning and resulting in appearing to only have five extra large eyelashes on my right eye. It was great. Since the Real Technique brushes were buy one, get one 50% off, I picked up the Expert Face Brush since I've been looking to try out different kinds to apply foundation. I've tried it and so far it is fabulous.

What's the last thing you got at Ulta? ♥