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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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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