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.

a lush life

if you know me, it's no secret that i love lush. my mother was kind enough to pick me up some goodies in chicago this past week while she was there on business, & i absolutely have to share. since there's no lush in alabama, i usually order from online or pick up items in new orleans. by the way, lush, there's a macy's in birmingham that could really use you...

i got 3 bath bombs & soap! sex bomb, my FAVORITE! + twilight, which i've used before, & geo phyzz, which is new! i wanted to try out rockstar soap because it smells heavenly. their soaps are to die for. i've got such a long list of lush products i love that i'll likely order more in the next few months.



what lush products have you tried, & which are your favorites?