empties #11

After the TWO empties posts in December, my little empties basket is pretty bare. But here they are!





Clinque Rinse-off Foaming Cleanser // Another nail polish remover-esque cleanser. This one was much more bearable than the previous two, but I wouldn't buy this again.

Aveeno Skin Relief Gentle Scent Body Wash in Nourishing Coconut // This was a mild body wash that was fairly decent, but Aveeno isn't cruelty free, unfortunately, so I won't be getting a full size.

Aquafina Flavorsplash Hydrating Lip Balm in Color Me Kiwi // My first ever finished lip balm! I've had this little tube for forever. It wasn't as hydrating as the name leads you to believe, but it was decent. I'm not even sure if these are made anymore, but I'll stick with my Hurraw balms.

Up & Up Nighttime Sleep Aid // I have a tendency to not be able to fall asleep, so I use over the counter sleep aids sometimes. This is a fairly decent one, but I have more vegan melatonin on the way that I'll probably stick to.

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Polish* // cruelty free // I really liked this little tube of body polish! It was creamy but exfoliating. Unfortunately, I missed a honey ingredient, but I'll definitely be trying others!



Eucrein Skin Calming Daily Moisturizing Creme // This was a cheap coupon purchase forever ago and I'm slowly working my way through tons of lotion. After a few uses this made by skin itch, so it was destined for the empties bin.

The Honest Company Face + Body Lotion // cruelty free & vegan // Meh. This was a run-of-the-mill lotion, nothing spectacular.

The Body Shop Poppy Seed Scrub in Smoked Poppy // cruelty free & vegan // I enjoyed using this scrub and it lasted a long while. I can't seem to find this anywhere, so I think it's been discontinued, unfortunately. I'd definitely buy it again if I saw it!



Soapbox Bar Soap in Lavender // cruelty free & vegan // I'm not usually a bar soap fan, but this stuff is fantastic. I recommend Soapbox to everyone who wants a cruelty free and vegan option that's pretty easily found. I picked this up at Marshall's for only $1.99, so I plan to pick them up every time I see them! This bar is great for evening showers because the lavender is noticeable. It lathers well and doesn't leave my skin dry.

That wraps up another month!

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Toadily Candles & Soaps haul

While out visiting my mother for our Christmas, we stopped in downtown Morristown and I picked up a few things at Toadily Candles & Soap, an adorable little shop with a penny tiled entryway and a giant toad in store!





All of their candles were half off, so I snagged a Toadily Cantaloupe jarred candle. It smells amazing!





I couldn't decide on a full-size bath bomb, so I picked up a couple small samples to try, in Basil, Sage, and Mint and Just Peachy, along with an aromatherapy shower tab in Wake Up and Start the Day.



While at the register I spied their Pure Vegan lip balm and since I'm a total sucker for lip balm, I brought home one of those, too!

If you're in the area or just love bath products, Toadily is cruelty free and lots of products are vegan. Check them out!

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Pacifica cruelty free & vegan stocking stuffers

My mom is brilliant at paying attentions to things I talk, blog, and text about and in turn saving those little tidbits throughout the year. She picked up these two stocking stuffers for me from Pacifica and they're perfect!





I haven't yet tried the body butters Pacifica offers, but the Indian Coconut Nectar is my favorite scent they offer. Of course I can always use makeup wipes, and being cruelty free and vegan don't hurt! I've tried their Super Detox wipes and they worked well, so I'm looking forward to these.

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a belated merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! It's 34 degrees and a chance of snow today, so I thought it would be the perfect time to write a little post about the wonderful Christmas I had. The holidays this year were a blur, but a good one! I spent Christmas morning with my father's side of the family and it was great. I received a lot of amazing, thoughtful gifts. Later in the week, I went out to Tennessee with my brother and his girlfriend to celebrate Christmas with our mom and stepdad and that was just as good! It was a really nice week full of family and food.

How was your holiday? ♥

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vegan food review: Gardein meatless pepperoni pizza pockets

In one of the cruelty free beauty groups I'm in on Facebook, someone mentioned that Gardein has some pocket type meals. Then I noticed that there were meatless pepperoni pizza pockets and I immediately started looking for them.



I found them! They're certified vegan, quick to heat up, and delicious! Typically I'm not a big faux meat fan, but the texture of the pepperoni wasn't bad at all, nor did the pockets have that gummy textured cheese.



I keep them in the freezer at work for quick lunches as they only take less than two minutes to heat. They have great flavor and are pretty filling. The sodium is a tad high, but not terrible, and they don't have much sugar. I'd highly recommend these.

If you've been looking for a tasty vegan pocket meal, go find these!

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empties #10

Another month of digging through my trash! Here's what I used up this month. As always, I'm still working through old products that aren't cruelty free or vegan from my couponing days, and I'm human so sometimes I miss an ingredient.



Petalfresh Pomegranate Rejuvenating Facial Wipes // cruelty free and vegan // I like to pick these wipes up at Ross or Marshall's to get the bulk of my makeup off before I cleanse. They weren't excellent for eye makeup, but they did the job. I'd get them again.

Jojoba Farms Jojoba Treatment Conditioner // cruelty free // I really liked this conditioner. It lasted me a while and was really rich, but didn't weigh my hair down. If I saw this again I'd pick it up, pending the verification of a few ingredients.

Dove Men +Care Fortifying Shampoo & Conditioner 2 in 1 // Sigh. This was a freebie with a men's body wash I got for a super low price forever ago with coupons. My father and brother both have super short hair, so they don't use shampoo, so I just used this up so it didn't go to waste. I treated it as just a shampoo, and it was fine. I wouldn't get it again.

Neutrogena Body Lotion & Shampoo // These were hotel bottles. You know that feeling when you use a bar soap that makes your skin feel tight and dry? That's what this shampoo made my hair feel like. The body lotion was your average run-of-the-mill lotion. I wouldn't buy either of these.

Not Pictured:
Dial 7 Day Moisturizing Lotion // I didn't see how it did any better than any other lotion. I wouldn't get this again.

Crest Pro Health Complete Mouthwash in Clean Mint // It's mouthwash. Sometimes it would leave a purple residue in my mouth. Gross. I won't get it again.



L. A. Colors Nail Polish Remover Pads // cruelty free and vegan // I think in my last empties post with these in it I said I wouldn't buy anymore after this tub was used up, but I did anyway. Oops. They're fairly decent and convenient, and only $1! They do leave a bit of a residue, so I use them before I shower.

Gucci Bamboo Eau De Parfum Sample // Meh. I wouldn't buy this in full size.

Estee Lauder Foundation Sample in Beige 2C // I received, from a friend, three Estee Lauder foundation samples since she didn't like them, so I've been slowing using them up. This isn't the ideal color for me, so I use it sparingly and blend it a lot. The coverage is decent, but I wouldn't buy a whole bottle, especially since EL isn't cruelty free.

B&BW PocketBac in Snow Kissed Berry // This smelled great, but B&BW isn't cruelty free, so I won't be purchasing again.

Estee Lauder Makeup Brush // I'm not sure what kind of brush this is, but I used it for powder. The bristles had started to get manky, so I'm setting it free. I've replaced it with an EcoTools brush, so I won't be getting another.



Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara // cruelty free and vegan // I absolutely love this mascara. The brush is fantastic, the formula is perfect. I just really, really, really hope that Too Faced remains cruelty free after being bought by Estee Lauder.



Covergirl The Super Sizer Fibers Mascara // I received this in an Influenster VoxBox. The brush looks weird, but it works pretty well. The formula starts off REALLY wet, but works a lot better once it dries out a bit. I wouldn't purchase this, though.

That's it for this month! What have you tried lately?

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mini haul from tn

While out in Tennessee, we may have done a lot of shopping, but most of it was for gift giving. However, I did pick up some clothes I'd had on my "to find" list and a few odds and ends.

Did you know if you sign up for the Eddie Bauer Adventure Rewards they send you a $10 certificate every so often that you can use on anything? We stopped by the outlets and everything in the store was half off, so I scored two Stasher Totes for only $2 and some change. I love little collapsible bags I can put in my purse, so I'm glad we stopped there.

We stopped by Ulta and while I had a few gifts in mind, I picked up Tree Hut's Passion Fruit and Guava Shea Sugar Scrub. I'm a sucker for anything passion fruit and I've really gotten into scrubs lately. My e.l.f. powder is panned so I thought I'd try the Essence All About Matt! Fixing Compact Powder for a change. I've already cracked it open and I like it so far.

The In Vitamin Activated Charcoal Tooth Powder is something I've wanted to try but didn't want to order, so I snatched it up at a hefty discount at TJ Maxx. I'm going to give it a shot.

I'm excited to try all of these!


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the mountains called and i answered

I just got back from a fabulous weekend in Tennessee visiting my mom. We had a little pre-holiday visit and did so much Christmas shopping! It was nice to get away for a couple days and seeing your mom always helps. :)

Since she lives six hours away, it can really take it's toll on both her and I when we don't see each other often. Between work, dogs, and general responsibilities, I don't see her nearly as often as I'd like. We're really close, so this weekend was just about us hanging out and catching up.

And that's exactly what we did! We ate tons of food, did bunches of shopping, and talked about all kinds of stuff. It was so nice. I had such a great weekend that I hard took any pictures, but I did capture this Smoky Mountain sunrise once morning. ♥

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empties #9

This month I had a lot of empties, so there's going to be two posts! I'm still rolling through my non-CF and vegan items, but the pile is getting smaller and smaller as I replace them with cruelty free and vegan options.





Botanical Choice Nose Pore Strips // These didn't do a whole lot of anything. I wouldn't get them again.

Clinque Liquid Facial Soap Mild // This was a decent cleanser, but it smelled terrible and chemical-y. Not only is Clinique expensive, but not cruelty free. No dice.

Clarisonic Deep Pore Detoxifying Clay Mask // My mom gave me this little sample and while it was a decent mask, Clarisonic isn't cruelty free. It took me a while to use this up, so a full size would probably dry out on me. I wouldn't buy a full size.

Generic Nail Block // A dollar store purchase. It did the job, and I have another in my nail box now.

e.l.f. BB Cream in Fair // cruelty free & vegan // This has a lot of product left in it, but the nozzle broke and I didn't want to take the time to get it all out since this was nearing the end of it's shelf life. Sometimes this can make my face greasy, but once I use up the other bottle of this that I have, I'll probably get another.

Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub // I found another bottle of this stupid stuff in my stash. I don't like it. It's hard to wash off and doesn't have much exfoiliating power. I used it as a hand scrub and I'm glad it's gone. I definitely won't be getting any more.

B&BW Endless Weekend Body Lotion // I found this little bottle when I cleaned out a purse. It was a decent lotion and smelled nice. B&BW isn't cruelty free, so I say so long.

e.l.f. Daily Brush Cleaner // cruelty free & vegan // This wasn't much more effective than my vinegar and warm water DIY brush cleaner. I had to use a lot of this to clean my brushes. I don't think I'll pick it up again.



Sally Hansen Insta Dry Polish in Mint Sprint // I liked this color, but as you can see it spoiled on me.

Clinque Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam // First off, this smelled like nail polish remover. Ew. It foamed well and the consistency was nice, but as above, Clinique isn't cruelty free and I didn't like the smell.

Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Creme // A decent little sample, but nothing special.

Colgate MaxFresh Toothpaste // After grabbing this in a super pinch, I wish I hadn't. Coming from natural toothpastes to this was terrible. Waaaaay too much fake mint taste. I'll stick with my natural pastes.

Alba Botanica Even Advanced Sea Moss Moisturizer // cruelty free & vegan // I loved this! It was light but moisturizing, and I think it evened my complexion a bit. I'll definitely be repurchasing.

A lot of "no's" as I slowly weed out the bad products, but I'm happy to have more items out of my life. ♥

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happy mail

My mom and I swap packages a couple times a year and it's always fun to get something in the mail, especially when you aren't expecting it. This is the happy mail I came home to Friday!



A few of my favorite things! Books, accessories, beauty products, and candy corn!

I haven't gotten on the Kay Scarpetta boat yet, but I've read a few excerpts and it seems pretty interesting, so I'm excited to start Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell (use my link and get 15% off!).

There's this great little boutique in Tennessee that we love visiting, and my mom picked me up an adorable knit beanie there! It'll get a lot of use this winter. How cute is the little Vols decal? I've wanted one ever since the boutique posted them on their Instagram. I'm so excited to put this baby on my car!

The candy corn? I'm a nut for those things.



Along with the hotel sticky notes (love free stationary!), my mom and stepdad just got back from a trip to Lake Tahoe, and she picked me up some beauty products! A total surprise, but boy am I looking forward to trying them! Both products are Lather & Fizz's Tahoe Blue line, after the blue of the lake.

I'll be seeing her soon, but I'm preparing my package to take to her. ♥


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empties #8

Another round of empties! I've been really striving to use up products since we've been going to look at houses and I don't want to pack all of this stuff!



OKAY Deep Moisturizing Coconut Oil Leave In Conditioner // I didn't see how this really made my hair any softer or more moisturized AND I missed the ingredient honey shoved down in the corner. I won't pick this up again.

Kleancolor Nail Lacquer in 247 Peacock-A-Boo // cruelty free & vegan // This was a party favor at a baby shower I attended. I never got around to using it because blue isn't a go-to color for me. I might pick this brand up again if I saw it somewhere, but I really need to work through my current stash of polishes first.

Covergirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm in 230 Coral // This was a decent little balm that packed a lot of color behind it, but Covergirl isn't cruelty free and sadly this died a slow, melting death in my car. I won't be replacing it.

Burt's Bees Coconut & Pear Lip Balm // cruelty free // This smelled really good and Burt's Bees has great balms, but they're not vegan. This also died a slow, melting death in my car, so I can't even finish it. I won't be buying another.

Colgate Total in Clean Mint // It's toothpaste. It's not cruelty free. Sorry, Colgate.

The Merry Hempsters Vegan Hemp Balm in Spearmint // cruelty free & vegan //I was very sad when this became a casualty of the summer heat in my car. (Do you see a trend? I left a whole cup of lip care in my cup holder.) This was a great lip balm I ordered from iHerb (use the code TNZ430 and get $5 off!). I'll be adding this to my next order.

e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation in Porcelain // cruelty free & vegan // This is a cheap foundation that I routinely pick up. I'll be replacing this once I go through a couple other bottles in my stash.

tarte Deep Dive Cleansing Gel // cruelty free & vegan // Full review here. I'd definitely buy this in a full size.

Beautique Long Wear Automatic Eye Liner in French Roast // I had this eyeliner for a while and I loved it. It was a cheap Sally Beauty pick up that I snagged at a discount with my Beauty Club card. I used it until the little pieces kept falling out and I finally got around to sticking it in my empties bin. Sadly, they're not vegan in the slightest, so I won't be getting any more.



Stila HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara // I received this in a palette for Christmas. This was a great mascara. I dare say I'd even compare it to Better Than Sex, volumizing wise. However, I will not be purchasing a full size because Stila tests on animals, so I can't recommend it. Sorry, Stila, Too Faced still gets my mascara money.



Classic Flannel Candle // I picked this candle up at Walmart last fall. It was a nice scent, but I don't shop at Walmart anymore, so I won't be getting it again.

That wraps up this month's empties! Have you found any new favorites? Link your empties in the comments!

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thrifted: book haul & reading update

I have a problem. I can't stop thrifting books. My TBR pile is overflowing, I have books stashed everywhere, and still I buy cheap books.

Anywho, here's what I picked up in my latest thrift store visit. Let's start with the bad: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. Sigh. I know. I bought it because it had such a cult following, and even though reviews are terrible, I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment. Prey by Michael Crichton is one I've been meaning to read after reading Jurassic Park. I've become quite the little Crichton fan, but I'm still slowly working my way through The Lost World, so I'm not sure when I'll start this. Laughter in the Dark by Nabokov was one I hemmed and hawed over in the aisle. I'm still not sure about it.

Ghost Story by Peter Straub comes highly recommended by Stephen King. We all know I'm a massive Stephen King fan, so I immediately snatched this one off the shelf. He could probably recommend reading boot tracks in dirt and I'd do it.

What am I currently reading? The Lost World by Michael Crichton, which is dragging on and on, The Stand by Stephen King, and The Passage by Justin Cronin. I've not had much time to sit and read, but I get a few pages done here and there.

Are we friends on Goodreads yet?

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winter wishlist

Winter is well on its way here in Virginia - last night it dipped below freezing. I love winter and I can't wait, so I thought I'd put together a little winter wishlist!

Matt & Nat Schlepp Vegan Leather Tote // I've been on the prowl for a dark red vegan leather bag and I think I found it.

Lush Butterbear Bath Bomb & Salt and Peppermint Salt Scrub // Oh man. I looked at these on the Lush site and vanilla and peppermint and ah!

Frostbeard Book Lovers Soy Candle - Reading at the Cafe // Coffee and chocolate, oh my! A Frostbeard candle has been on my 'want' list for quite a while, and I love how cozy candles are in the winter.

San Diego Hat Company Knit Infinity Scarf // I've really started to love knit scarves, so I'd love to pick up a couple of these.

Himilayan Salt Lamp // Does everyone but me have one of these? I've heard they're great for energy and clearing toxins.

Breville BTM800XL Tea Maker // This may be a weird thing to have on a wishlist, but warm tea is one of my favorites, especially in winter. Since the sister store to where I work is a loose leaf tea and spice shop, I have access to hundreds of types of tea! My boss has a Breville and it's great - it steeps and uses correct temps and everything!

Is there anything on your winter wishlist? ♥

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life lately

Happy Election Day, America! I voted, did you?



In other news, my boss got some new geckos and they're really sweet. Look at this little guy! They're so soft. This one hung out on my shoulder for a bit while I stocked at work.



I've gotten more into baths lately, so I've been using up some bath bombs. Here's one from Ladyburg. So if you have any recs, send them my way!



I've been getting lots of wear out of my new leggings! Here's the print Royal Ruby. They just released faux fur lined and fleece lined prints, so I can't wait to get some shopping done!



The past week has been pretty weird, as I've had a bout with a nasty sinus/allergy headache, then what appeared to be a virus that kept me out of work yesterday. Sigh. I didn't even get any blogging done yesterday while I was home in bed.

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empties #7

Wow! Seven whole months of keeping up with my empties. I might've finally stuck with a series here on lb. Haha! I've really been thinning out my products, so I haven't been going through as many, coupled with the fact that I haven't been wearing as much makeup during the hot end of summer days. But here's what I've finished up!

Auromere Ayurvedic Herbal Toothpaste in Licorice // cruelty free & vegan // I'm gonna be honest here - I didn't know this was licorice flavored when I picked it up. However, I liked this toothpaste. I'd been wanting to get away from the fake, minty, flouride-filled toothpastes, so I snagged this at TJMaxx on a visit to my mom's. The licorice flavor wasn't bad and I'll definitely purchase this brand again. (If you use my link, use the code TNZ430 and get $5 off!)

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Conditioner // I'm still using up these little travel sizes I got for free with coupons forever ago. This is a good conditioner, but L'Oreal isn't cruelty free, so I won't be repurchasing.

Poor Farm Soap Co. Lip Balm // I got this a few years ago at a local festival. It was a decent balm, but it died a summery death melting in the car, then when it solidified again it was grainy, so I'm tossing it. It's not vegan and I can't verify if it's cruelty free or if I'll even see the booth again, so I doubt I'll repurchase.

Tarte Drink of H20 Hydrating Boost Moisturizer // cruelty free & vegan // Here's my full review post of this here. I'd repurchase this.

L.A. Colors Nail Polish Remover Pads in Peach // cruelty free & vegan // I've had these things for YEARS and they stayed moist that whole time and still worked! I have another container of them somewhere in Strawberry, but after that container is used up I probably won't buy these again. They worked well, but left a residue on my hands and feet, so I felt I had to wash after using it.

Juice Organics Brightening Conditioner // cruelty free & vegan // I've never seen a conditioner be both thick and light, but this one was both. It was really creamy and thick, but didn't weigh my hair down. My hair felt healthier and more vibrant after using it. I'd definitely repurchase this one!

Palmer's Eventone Dark Spot Correcting Cleanser // cruelty free // Sadly, I missed a milk ingredient in this bottle after I'd opened it. For shame. It didn't work anyway, so I'm not missing out on a miracle product. My skin felt so soft and silky after using it, but I won't be repurchasing.

Not pictured:

Suave Creamy Cocoa Butter & Shea Body Wash // This was a buy one, get one free coupon deal that I finally used up. Suave body washes lather so well but sadly, they're not cruelty free. I have another bottle of this waiting to be used, but I won't be repurchasing.

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Facial Cleanser // This was a hand me down from a friend who didn't want it anymore. It was a decent cleanser, but not a life changer, nor is it cruelty free.

Edge Sensitive Skin Shave Gel // Another freebie from my coupon stockpile. It's shave gel. It works. I won't be buying again after I use up my stash.

Colgate Total Mouthwash in Wintermint Rush // It's mouthwash from my coupon stockpile. I'm not a huge mouthwash fan, but picked it up because it was free a while back. I'd like to try Tom's once I get through the other bottles in my stockpile.



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link love

Here are five things you should never assume about someone with an eating disorder.

So, caftans may not be the "it" thing for people in their twenties, but I can totally see myself shuffling around the house in my slippers wearing this one.

This is a really great "beginner's guide" to preparing tofu - check it out over on Mo'adore!

I just started my minimizing journey in early September, so this article about why you shouldn't feel like a minimalist imposter is great.

I'm in love with this coffin makeup brush holder!!!

Seven species of bees have been added to the endangered species list. 

Here's a great list of 2016's Best Vegan Lifestyle blogs.

I LOVE bats, and three endangered species were just found in Turkey! Yay!

Roasted garlic cream over potatoes? I'm practically drooling.

I just found this shirt with a print about rescue dogs and I love it.

A friend of mine is a marine biologist in the Maldives, and he posts articles on Facebook like 8 plastics to quit right now and they're really helpful!




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cruelty free dupe: pacifica vs. opi

Now, most dupe posts are for the cost side of things. I'm all for a cheap dupe when it comes to beauty. However, this post is for a different reason - animal testing!

OPI is not cruelty free, as they sell in China. Years ago a friend bought me a bottle of my favorite color: You Don't Know Jacques. I love the brown/grey because it can be worn with anything! However, my bottle is almost to the point of being gunky. Of course I love the color, but I won't buy another bottle since they test on animals.

I went on the hunt for a similar color, but was having trouble finding it. I don't like to buy polish online since I can't see the color in person, so I took off to Ulta. My local store carries quite the selection of Pacifica polishes, so I thought my efforts may be fruitful.

Success! I found Pacifica's Beach Wood to be a wonderful color match AND 100% vegan and cruelty free! Not only that, but Pacifica's brand is a whole dollar cheaper, with no nasty chemicals, animal products, or hurt bunnies. ♥

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a lazy day downtown

Yesterday, after I ran some errands on my day off, I decided to head downtown. I work down there, but very rarely get to actually stroll around. I stopped and had lunch at the Virginia Deli, which is one of my favorite spots. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the streets weren't really busy, so I sat outside and enjoyed the day.





Earlier that morning, my grandpa changed the oil in my car for me, so I stopped by Sugar Shack and picked up a couple sprinkle donuts for him and my grandma. My grandma grew up downtown, so as I was telling her where Sugar Shack was, she told me their building is right across from what used to be the service station my great grandpa ran! I love learning family history.





I've been watching my spending lately, so I didn't pick up a lot of things in my shopping, but I did stop by Ladyburg for a bath bomb, The Grove of Brite Blessings for a few stones, and then I stopped by Ulta (but that was an awesome point redemption deal and I ended up only paying $1.26 for the polish!).



Overall? A very unproductive, relaxing day. ♥


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a rainy saturday & leggings

Today was a pretty rainy Saturday. If you don't know by now, this does not upset me. I love rain. It made for a pretty slow work day, though.

Life has been busy lately. I've been working and helping prepare for the holidays at the store and we redid the Halloween windows.

I did become an affiliate for an interesting company, Legging Army. I started off with two pairs, Cheetalicious and Paisley Days. I have to say, I love these things. They're so soft! I pretty much never have to wear real pants again.




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link love

Stephen King weighed in on the recent clown scares in North & South Carolina.

Bats cock their heads like puppies when targeting prey!

I follow The Secret Life of Dog Catchers on Facebook, and here's a neat article about Malachi the Wolfdog.

A vegan breakfast sandwich? Yes, please.

I love these heels!

I bought these sandals on clearance at Target the other day, then I found an almost identical pair at Anthropologie for $68! Sometimes it pays (saves?) to be a Target lover.

This recipe for vegan mushroom alfredo from Gourmandelle looks delicious.

Another recipe, this one from Vegan Richa. A gluten free and vegan almond poppy seed cake.

Make sure you get your Always Sunny Beauty Gift when you sign up for a Julep Beauty Box with the code "SUMMERBEAUTY"!

Nail biting may be a sign of something other than anxiety.


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book review: the butterfly garden by dot hutchison

From Goodreads: "Near an isolated mansion lies a beautiful garden.

In this garden grow luscious flowers, shady trees…and a collection of precious “butterflies”—young women who have been kidnapped and intricately tattooed to resemble their namesakes. Overseeing it all is the Gardener, a brutal, twisted man obsessed with capturing and preserving his lovely specimens.

When the garden is discovered, a survivor is brought in for questioning. FBI agents Victor Hanoverian and Brandon Eddison are tasked with piecing together one of the most stomach-churning cases of their careers. But the girl, known only as Maya, proves to be a puzzle herself.

As her story twists and turns, slowly shedding light on life in the Butterfly Garden, Maya reveals old grudges, new saviors, and horrific tales of a man who’d go to any length to hold beauty captive. But the more she shares, the more the agents have to wonder what she’s still hiding..."

---

First off, whoa. This book was amazingly written. It's told in two perspectives - Maya's first person perspective in the Garden, and from a narrator's point of view. I will say there are triggers in this book, there's speak of suicide, rape, sexual assault, murder, and violence.

The characters are likeable and their stories come together in an intricate but tragic way. It's hard to talk about the plot without spoilers, so I'll keep it neat. The Butterfly Garden builds are you read, the stories told becoming more horrific as time goes on. It's written in such a way that you almost feel like you're in the garden with the victims.

I consumed this book in a little over three days, reading when I could. It's a thriller that sucks you in. At parts, admittedly, I wished the story would move just a tiny bit faster, but the details prove beneficial once you get to the plot twist and ending.

If you're even remotely a fan of thrillers, definitely snag this one. And from what I hear, the rights to the movie version are being discussed!

Get your own copy: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Goodreads

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empties #6

Nail Polish Remover // This was a spur of the moment purchase at Five Below quite a while ago. I don't think I'd buy it again.

Suave Invisible Solid Deodorant // This was my purse deodorant, so it took a while to use up. This did a really good job for me, but sadly it's not cruelty free.

Bath & Body Works Rainforest Leaves Shampoo // I found this in a bin after having it for years. It was a hotel snag. It worked pretty well, but B&BW isn't cruelty free.

Deep Steep Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub in Pineapple Coconut // cruelty free & vegan // I LOVE Deep Steep! This scrub was great and my skin felt moisturized afterward. If you use my link to order, use the code TNZ430 for $5 off!



Juice Organics Pompeptide Facial Moisturizer // cruelty free & vegan // I love this moisturizer. This is my third tube and I have one waiting to be used. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it anywhere and I think it's been discontinued, which is so sad. I'll definitely keep searching, though.

Forever Red Shower Gel // When Bath & Body Works first released the Forever Red line in 2012ish, I fell in love with the smell (at that time I had a smidgen left). I bought this and used it for special occasions. I finally finished it. Phew. Sadly, though, as above, B&BW isn't cruelty free.

Oxy Face Wash // Boooo. I didn't like this facewash and couldn't bring myself to finish it. It bleached my towels even after a thorough rinse, and I just couldn't stand to use it anymore. Definitely won't be buying again.

Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub // Simple fooled me a while back and I thought they were cruelty free. Nope. This scrub was weird, too. Not a lot of exfoliating to be had, and it was hard to wash off. I ended up using it as a hand scrub. I will not be repurchasing.



Lancome La Vie est Belle sample// I'd totally buy it again if Lancome was cruelty free. :(

e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer // cruelty free & vegan // For the price, it's a decent primer. I like the way it applies. I'd buy this again. If you use my link, use the code TNZ430 for $5 off!

What have you tried lately?

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