I can't believe I'm already doing favorites for April and that I graduate from college on Saturday. It is just unreal how time moves so quickly and yet, moves so slooooow. Okay, let's just jump into these favorites. Shall we? *holds out hand*
Beauty and Body Care
For the past month, or so, I've been victim of the lazy girl makeup removal mentality. You know when you're just exhausted and the last thing you want to do is go through your nightly ritual of makeup removal, exfoliation cleansing, toner and so on? Meet the Simple Cleansing Facial wipes. I've been a cleansing cloth user since high school and these might be my holy grail face clothes. They are super gentle, and still manage to take off all of my waterproof mascara!! Plus, they don't leave a residue at all on my skin. Paired with my moisturizer...Ooooof, perfect!
I love blush. Love it. I use it everyday without fail. I don't like to leave the house without it. This palette is the ELF blush and bronzer compact. It was $1. Expectations weren't all THAT high, but oh how wrong I was!! The color is super pigmented in both the blush and the bronzer. I like the bronzer a lot because it doesn't have sparkles in it. (Nothing is more awful than having your skin sparkle with bronzer especially if your skin isn't exactly perfect.) The blush, however, does have sparkle but it is fairly subtle. This color is almost an exact dupe of Mary Kay's "Shy Blush" which I have used for years but a fraction of the price. Plus, super big mirror, which, say it with me now, perfect for a handbag product!! Obviously I love this product.
I'm having a love affair with Lush. See? Just add this next product to the list; it is "Popcorn" Lip Scrub. According to the label, "A sweet and salty lip scrub that smells like popcorn. Scrumptious!!" I like using this when I'm getting ready before applying my lip product and before bed before adding my Nivea Lip Butter. It is an exfoliant for the lips. It doesn't necessarily taste like popcorn but it does taste sweet. You scrub it on and then, my favorite part, lick it off. I know sounds weird, but it is perfectly normal and awesome.
Bath and Body Works does it again. This True Blue Spa, heck the entire True Blue collection, does wonders. This is the newest member of the product line (came out early April): Raspberry Mojito Cream Gel with jojoba oil. You will smell like a delicious raspberry mojito (erm, without the alcohol)! I was a bit hesitant about the cream gel bit. It has the texture of a body wash (per water) but smooths into the skin like lotion. I've been applying it after I get out of the shower in the more to add a bit of moisture back into my skin. It isn't sticky, which I was worried about it being. And as you can see, I'm almost out. Shoot, guess I'll have to go shopping for more...
And I know this has nothing to do with Beauty or Body but, um this candle? Amazing. It smells like a Lemon Tart. I refuse to burn it because I love it so much. I occasionally get a whiff of it in my room. It is just the bees-knees of candles. I discuss it more here: I (heart) Spring.
Music Favorites
I have been a massive fan of George Watsky since I was a sophomore in college (2 years ago...) when he performed at the NACA conference. He did spoken word... My favorite: here.
So when I found out he was coming out with an album I was obviously STOKED. Cardboard Castles is a work of genius. It is humorous. It is sad. It is insightful. And all around awesome. Please go listen to it. Here are the videos of some of my favorites.
Book and Movies (and Drink) Favorites
I'm combining a couple categories here, peeps. I've been obsessed with Hubert's Lemonade both the Original and Raspberry lemonade. It is a perfect drink for spring and summer. Can't go wrong with some genuine lemonade, ay? Plus, how cute is this bottle!! ;)
Confess: I didn't read any new books this month. I know, I know. I've been lucky to read the books that I've been required to read for finishing up school and I'm pretty sure you don't want me to tell you my favorite book this month is my Technical and Grant Writing book. Not too exciting at all. I can only tell you that Harry Potter is my favorite book so many times, but um, that is my favorite this month. Technically, I did read the 7th book this month (for my thesis) so, it could fulfill both requirements. Yep. That's my book favorite this month.
Movies...oh sweet, sweet movies. I went to "42" in theaters this month. Very good. Highly recommend. It is the story of Jackie Robinson. I recently, like, hmm, Sunday, went to the chick-flick "The Big Wedding." I thought it handle the multiple story lines well. The content is very adult but damn, it was funny. Very real-life, if you ask me. It is about a family, and this family faces real "problems" in real ways. It is not a tricky plot, at all. But, hey, I liked it.
And my final favorite...COLLEGE GRADUATION! It is here. It is finally here. I never thought this day would come!
What are your favorites this month?? I'd love to hear!
(I'm writing this outside on my deck drinking green tea lemonade. Ahhh spring is here!)
I tried something new this week.
Yesterday, I took a picture on the hour ever hour. I've been loving reading other blogger's Photo an Hour Challenge so I just HAD to participate. There was nothing particularly exciting about yesterday, but it truly was a great day. Here, take a look for yourself:
"The question, Haley, that some might consider asking is, "Can others, doing what they're now doing, no matter what their motivation, no matter what our relationship, and no matter what they decided, keep me from being all I want to be?" And the answer is always, "Not in a million years." Whooohooo! -The Universe
8:00am: I'm obsessed with making smoothies lately! I use frozen fruit (strawberries), a banana, orange juice and oats (sometimes I add yogurt) blend it up in my magic bullet and BAM breakfast!
9:00am: Tuesday and Thursday mornings this semester I've had Graphic Design class. It has been one of my favorite class which makes the 8:00am start time not too horrific. We usually have a break and walk to the Student Center to get bagels and coffee. This morning I went with the tea. (I know, shocking!)
10:00am: Finishing up my final project for class. Obviously working hard... *wink wink*
11:00am: Meagan and I decided to mount our final projects so we went up to the studio. If you look close, you can see her working on the right hand side.
12:00pm: Lunch time! In the Den aka cafeteria, they had fortune cookies. My fortune: "Try deviating from routine this weekend." So, I get my Starbucks on Sunday instead of Saturday?
1:00pm: I caught up on my Bloglovin reading, Facebook creeping and Twitter following..and my, unhealthy, obsession with Candy Crush!
Pants & Jacket: Old Navy; Shirt: Forever 21; Shoes: TOMS
2:00pm: Target run. Obviously no day is complete without one. Plus, they put out the summer/outdoor items now and it smells like summer in there! Love it!!
3:00pm: After shopping we got an afternoon pick-me-up from Starbucks.
4:00pm: I was stuck at a red light. :)
5:00pm: Ummm, no one asked me about the new color choices for the Peanut M&Ms.
6:00pm: Yes, that is a McWrap. And yes, it was McAwesome! (See what I did there? Ay? Ay?)
7:00pm: I made a batch of Iced Passion Tea for the weekend.
7:00pm: I record Ellen everyday (and sometimes I even get to watch it)! Justin Timberlake was her guest so I spent an hour swooning over JT.
8:00pm: I have the greatest Mother in the entire world, for more reasons that just this, but, um, she brought me home a Thor sticker. Yep, it is going on my planner.
9:00pm: We made trail mix. How delicious does this look??
10:00pm: One last social media check before bed.
I had such a blast doing this so maybe, just maybe, I will do one once a month. Hope you enjoyed it!
I have been on the hunt/prowl for a "big girl" bag that is functional, yet gorgeous. I don't want to be victim to the borrowed-my-mom's-briefcase type situation on my first day out in the real world, which isn't even my biggest issue. My biggest issue: budget. Where can I find the perfect "big girl" bag still on my college girl budget?
I found this AMAZING "big girl" bag from Zara. It is beautiful! There are three main zipper compartments, and the middle zipper pocket is padded which makes it perfect for a laptop. The two compartments between the zipper bits have magnetic pop shut.
There is an organizational compartment to keep a phone, wallet, and a zipper pocket to keep things extra safe. Two sturdy handles with a detachable long strap which allow for toting or shoulder-holding. As far as looks go, it's got that black textured polyurethane and the lining is maroon polyester. This bag has everything that I am looking for. *checks price* *face palm*
As an avid Target shopper, and all-around Target fan, I was more than excited to look through their selection of "big girl" bags. Sunday afternoon, shopping with my mom (whom I had told about my lovely want/need for this Zara bag) when, tucked away on the bottom shelf...there it was...the Zar...ahem, Large Structured Tote Handbag-Black. If I were to ever find a dupe on a designer bag, I'm unbelievably overjoyed that it was this one!!
Large zipper pockets, one for a laptop...check! Magnetic compartments...half check (no magnet; shouldn't be too much of a problem once I start putting items in)! Organizational compartment...check! Zip pocket for extra safety...check! Two sturdy handles with detachable strap...check!!
The Target bag even mirrors the textured outer layer but instead of the Zara hatching pattern it is more of a dotted texture. Only detectable under super-de-duper close examination. The Target bag has more triangular hinges and it is more of a silver colored hardware versus the Zara gold. But, those are small prices to pay when you, in fact, aren't really paying! This bag is $60 less than the Zara bag.
Oofta! Crisis solved! Big it on, real world! Now, only if my final papers would write themselves...
Yours in all her "big girl" bag, real-world ready ways xx
Oh and if you like some of the other Zara handbags, keep looking on Target, specifically the brand Merona...you might find yourself a dupe of another. Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All the items mentioned above were purchased with my own money, or as a graduation gift from my loving parents. :) You're pretty.
The Digital Issue of May's A-Town Magazine is now available! I've written about my festival fashion tips, plus the Hemline's (aka me) must-have essentials for any festival.
Here's my bit of the issue:
Hope you all enjoyed it! Don't forget to pick up your issue when the hit stands on April 27th!
