lush mini haul + review

the other week when i was in atlanta, i stopped by lush in lenox square and picked up some goodies! i don't get to go to lush as often as i'd like (uh, why don't we have one in birmingham yet?!) so i always stop by one when i can.

i got three products i've never used before. i tried to break out of my butterball/sex bomb/honey i washed the kids routine. i love those products, buuuut it was time for something new. i got 2 bath bombs, phoneix rising & fizzbanger. i also picked up the cupcake facial mask.

of course, everything smells amazing. so far, i've used the cupcake facial mask. it smells vaguely chocolately and rich, but more herby and fragrant with sandalwood than you'd expect. it feels so refreshing to put on if you use it right when you take it out of the fridge. i let mine on for 15 minutes, and the entire time, all i could think about was how i was going to get the chunky brown stuff off my face. the mask is thick, very much like the consistency of cake batter!

i was pleasantly surprised that with some warm water, the mask came off super easily - no mess! it made my skin feel really soft, refreshed and clean. the next day, i noticed some redness i had had subsided, and my skin felt great. this is the first facial mask from lush i've used, and i think i'm in love. i'm going to use it again tonight.

i can't wait to use my bath bombs to relax after i'm done traveling this month!

sending postcards from a plane crash

i've recently re-discovered my love for fall out boy, ok? don't say you don't secretly listen to them too. & sending postcards from a plane crash is probably my absolute favorite song of theirs.

wow, where to begin? this post is probably better organized in bullet points, but hey, let's switch it up a bit. corey & i celebrated valentine's day the weekend before the date, and i cooked my very first steak! i know its hard to screw up a tenderloin, but i was nervous. i made a red wine reduction with mushrooms and mashed potatoes as a side, of course. i'm pretty damn proud of myself!

since around the holidays of 2012, i've really stepped up things in the health department. college got the best of me, guys, it really did. and while i enjoyed every second of late night pizza and hoping my metabolism would return to its preteen meredith level of endurance, i knew i had to make a change for the better. with graduation looming, i figured it was better to get fit now rather than later. i'm happy to say it's been a wonderful, empowering success. i've lost weight, i have more energy, i feel happier and at peace. truly, one of the best decisions i've ever made. and these cheesecake cupcakes i've made a few times now definitely helped (no, really, they're not that terrible for you!).

i've missed baking and cooking not-so-great for you things... let's be honest, usually because they're prettier. protein powder doesn't have the same finesse as a red velvet cupcake in a floral wrapper, you know? i'm still cooking, just different things now. maybe i'll start posting recipes again.

along with my lifestyle changes, i've tried a few new things, one being juicing. i'm still not sure if its for me. i tried a cucumber, celery, lime and grapefruit concoction and was definitely not sold on the idea. i think i'm ok with getting in fruits & vegetables in solid form. i am not a big vegetable fan, so i figured this would be a good way to eat more, but i just didn't like it that much. is the taste supposed to grow on you?

i've been relatively busy this semester, but corey and i managed to get away to fairhope to spend time with my parents this past weekend. we went out saturday night to meet up with some friends and caught up on movies on our 'to watch' list. we're planning to head back down in march for the arts & crafts festival - corey and i also signed up to run in the spring fever chase! honestly, i'm not a big runner... but i just figured why not?

i'm ready to graduate. i'm ready to move on with life. i love you college, and it's been an incredible 4 years, but i'm ready to let go (watch me totally regret saying this a year from now). i've got spring break coming up... and i am SO ready.

laissez les bons temps rouler

♥ the semester has gotten off to a great start, & i'm both happy and sad to say its my last. i have a lot of great plans for spring that i hope come to fruition, and i'm really thrilled about all of the positive changes in my life recently. i feel pretty awesome.

♥ i traveled to fairhope this weekend! as you can see from the photos of tulips, azaleas & mobile bay, fairhope is as beautiful as ever. it's rough growing up somewhere so lovely - you have THAT to compare your future homes to forever, haha. i still can't get over how gorgeous it is.

♥ my reason for traveling to fairhope aside from visiting my parents was to attend the order of osiris mardi gras ball with my friend nick. if you don't know anything about mardi gras culture, i'm sure it looks pretty strange from the outside. mardi gras has been a part of my entire life, so the parades, krewes, secret societies and moonpies are a pretty standard part of early spring each year. for those in the united states who might be familiar, here's a fact: mardi gras was not first celebrated in new orleans, louisiana. in fact, it originated in good old mobile, right across the bay. mobile is truly home to the original mardi gras celebration, thank you very much! we had a great meal in mobile and then made our way to the ball for cocktails & dancing. it was a great night & i'd definitely like to attend another ball next year!

♥ soooo i'm really into blazers now, boyfriend blazers specifically, and i want one in every color! i snagged this black one from urban outfitter's on sale, and i'm really eager to pick up a teal, white and pink one for spring. they're very comfortable & versatile. lets hope i don't try to wear one every day and become "blazer girl" (which might happen).

♥ i picked up two new juicy charms at the outlets while i was at my parent's place. i got both for $20 - how could i say no?! the key is really beautiful & very lightweight, so it's certainly a charm i'll get a lot of wear out of. so many of them are way too heavy. the pave hummingbird was also too beautiful to pass up!

naps, naps & more naps

captain jack sparrow, view from green mountain in huntsville, nothing but noodles!, pinkberry in birmingham, nails of the weekend, the stadium at night viewed from my friend's new apartment, neutrogena naturals purifying facial cleanser (a supposed dupe for philosophy's purity), starbucks x 1000 to keep me awake at work, dinner at california pizza kitchen, my new headboard (!!!!) and sephora buys.

class class, work work, study study. that's all i do these days. i spent the past two weekends with my boyfriend; the weekend of the 13th, i drove to huntsville and was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful it was. i had never been before, and i wasn't sure what i was expecting, but the mountains were breathtaking and the view from the area around my boyfriend's family's place was gorgeous. oh, and they have a nothing but noodles there - another first, which was delicious. on my list of places to try again.

on monday, i drove to birmingham with michelle with the intention of picking up a new id mini wallet thing for my keys, since the one i have currently is pretty dirty. but no such luck, so i grabbed a new urban decay primer potion (i've been out for months and i have no idea how i've gone without it) and a new philosophy bubble bath, cabana girl, which smells just like a cocktail. SO GOOD. i also stopped by the apple store to see if i could get my phone fixed... the top button has been broken for a few months now. if i had known it was as simple as walking in, having my phone under warranty and simply getting a brand new one, i would have done it a long time ago. warranties are awesome.

when i got home my headboard had been delivered! i'd been patiently waiting and was so excited to receive it. i meant to get one when i first moved into my apartment, but i never got around to it. it completes my bed, and practically my entire room. it's plushy, comfy and gorgeous!

i'm honestly ready for summer to be over... i want football, a regular class schedule and my senior year to finally be here. i've become so pro at napping it's ridiculous!

may favorites

♥ ok, so foursquare just might be soooo 2009, but i recently started using my account again and i'm kind of addicted. i refuse to be the foursquare user who checks into their own home and labels it "DA CRiB!" - because foursquare is already waaaaay too TMI as it is. but the badges make me feel special. do any of you still use foursquare?

♥ aviator sunnies! i've worn my marc by marc jacobs oversized sunglasses for over two years, but i decided i wanted to try something different and picked up a pair of cheap aviators. i really like the shape & they feel so much better than oversized glasses. my mbmj glasses hurt my face because they're so big. haha.

♥ cheap face masks from ulta, specifially the freeman brand. i picked up the strawberry chocolate and mint & lemon scents and i've thoroughly enjoyed both. they smell great and are a wonderful way to unwind at night. kaolin clay, one of the main ingredients in these masks, has always helped my skin with blemishes in the past.

♥ i go through phases where i drink tons of lemonade, then none at all. this month was a lemonade month. i might even fancy myself a lemonade connoisseur. simply lemonade (+ raspberry is good too!) is my favorite, followed by minute maid's pink lemonade. 


♥ water marbling is super easy and looks great with pretty minimal effort. i tried it for the first time a few days ago, thinking i'd test the technique on one finger just to see how it looked. i ended up loving it and did it to all my nails! don't be intimidated by it at all - it's a super easy way to have a unique manicure without crazy tools and precision. i'm interested to try an entire rainbow of colors next time! here is a helpful youtube video that shows you how.

♥ of course, no summer is complete without fruity drinks and friends to share them with. although i'm going to be busy this summer, i'm looking forward to getting away for a few weekends to escape to the gulf, fish river or a few other stops... fruity drinks included.

spring awakening

blood orange cocktail at hot & hot fish club, going to the fair, hiking to the falls at chewacla state park, tiger blood sno cone (in auburn, boo) & recent ulta buys. finals, studying & enjoy the last few days of my spring semester have taken over my life. see you in may!

hello april

♥ last weekend i drove to auburn to spend some time with the boyfriend & we saw the hunger games. i meant to read the books for the longest time but i never got around to it - i did know the basic premise though. i enjoyed it, but i guess it was a little more brutal than i expected? a game where children kill each other... yeah, i am not entirely sure what i was expecting it to be like, but i was surprised. it was very well done & i'm still interested in giving the books a shot.

♥ on tuesday, i went shopping for patio furniture for the balcony at my apartment. my roommates & i have lived here for almost a year, & our balcony was totally empty! i picked up 3 chairs & a cute little table. i'm looking to get some decorative pillows too.

♥ i'm definitely no gardener, but i purchased a chocolate mint, strawberry plant & begonias for the balcony. the chocolate mint will make a great garnish for desserts, & the strawberries are more of an experiment, so we'll see if i'm totally lacking in the green thumb department. any tips?!

♥ everybody loves funfetti, right? right. making cupcakes mid week was awesome... & my roommates ate them all. goodbye temptation.

♥ i finally got the naked palette!! this has been on my wishlist forever, & i went back & forth between whether or not it was a worthy purchase. i have a lot of neutral shadows, but i'm really not crazy about any of them, & i've hit pan on most. i went to ulta intending to buy a single shadow, but i got sucked in... & i definitely don't regret it. i cannot wait to experiment with this palette! even shades i wouldn't normally purchase, like gunmetal, look like they'd be a lot of fun to play around with. i also got a cute cupcake bath fizz, just because.

♥ i've got a lot of studying to do this week because i have a huge exam coming up, but other than that, you'll find me poolside or binging on mad men.

pre spring break haul + life lately

opi's lincoln park after dark + nicole by opi's rainbow in the skylie (best combo ever), surprise roses from corey, fiji water is love & deliciousness from gigi's cupcakes.

anyway, it's starting to look & feel like spring around here! save for a few days of rain the last week of february, it's been beautiful outside. luckily, i think i'm over my month-long february sickness... yeah, literally, the entire month. it was awful. last week was midterms & i got to the point where i was delirious from studying, so i did the cinnamon challenge. it was both not as bad as i anticipated & dreadfully awful at the same time. do i recommend trying it? yes, everyone should know what it feels like to see a plume of cinnamon erupt from your nose. it builds character.

i went shopping on tuesday for a few spring items & i'm pretty satisfied with the trip. forever21 was no good & i only got 1 top & a necklace, but i ended up with 3 casual dresses from other shops + a belt, & a floral sweatshirt from urban outfitters. i have one more day of class & then i'm on spring break! AH! i'm so excited to spend a week at the beach, i really need it & i hope the weather is good!

it won't be long

nothin' but good things. lunch with anna & michelle, way too much netflix, passion tea lemonade, & adorable toiletries from forever 21. tomorrow i'm driving up to tuscaloosa, finally. i'm truly enjoying my winter break, but being at my parent's house can get a tad boring, so i resort to shopping and baking a lot. i also took a 5 hour nap today, but i had to be up early to go with my brother to get his wisdom teeth out, so it's excused, right? right. i can take 5 hour naps on winter break.

2011 was an interesting year for me. plenty of ups & downs, including some of the most horrific moments of my life thanks to april 27th. i am so fortunate to be alive & surrounded by amazing people on a daily basis. i am proud of some of the choices i made this year. i am also happy about my growing interest in food, baking & wine; it's a real passion of mine that has grown immensely in 2011, & it's brought me (& my friends who hardly cook) great deliciousness & happiness. this year, i learned who my true friends are. i also learned that my choices matter. & most importantly of all, i've been reminded that my family is what matters the most. 2011 was a year of growth, difficulty & amazing moments. i'm truly one of those people that's pretty damn happy no matter what happens. there are parts of 2011 i wish hadn't occurred, of course. if i could take back april 27th, i would. but i am so fortunate to have the life i do, & i cannot wait for a new year to spend with the people i love. i'm also pretty excited for the national championship, duh!

this is the song in my head at the moment. maybe because i'm excited for the weekend? i hope everyone has a splendid new year's, & best wishes for 2012!

happy holidays!

i love christmas. i do the same thing every year, but i look forward to it so much. on christmas eve, i whipped up a quick batch of my go to red velvet cupcakes to take to my grandmother's. christmas morning, i opened gifts with my family, then we went to my grandmother's for lunch. mimosas, beef tenderloin & the most AMAZING mashed potatoes ever = the meal i look forward to all year, every year. i got lots of presents that i'd been wanting, including some things from my holiday wishlist! i am so in love with the coach poppy scent, i'll probably go through half the bottle before the new semester starts. my other obsession is the steve madden annie booties - i can't wait to wear these on new year's eve!

this week i'll be spending time with friends, working out, watching netflix, baking & doing a little shopping with mom. during the upcoming weekend i'll be back in tuscaloosa to ring in the new year with my boyfriend & spend some time with him! hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

it comes naturally

"your love" on repeat, my fortune when i got chinese last week, china glaze's "meteor shower", geekin' in a homemade facial mask with honey, nutmeg + cinnamon, my peppermint meringues, new velour hoodie from juicy couture after a day of shopping with michelle, making my favorite orange chicken stir fry for dinner tuesday night, homemade caesar salad + pinot noir wednesday night. i can't wait for christmas!

"dead week" in photos

relaxing on my comfy bed doing homework. playing words with friends. endless trips to redbox. studystudystudy. starbucks runs. new favorite boots steve madden boots that i wear constantly. having a girly drink at the end of a long day of studying. cinnamon roll study breaks. and sleep. hello dead week.