Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide

Here is a round up of things you can gift directly online, get delivered in the next couple of days, or pick up at your local Target. I tried to compile a list that'd have some options for all of your loved ones (and in various price ranges), so if you're really in a bind, I hope you find some help here!

The Complete Harry Potter Series with Newly Illustrated Covers ($55 on Walmart's website (with delivery before Christmas) or $70 in store at Target): I don't feel like I even need to write an explanation for this purchase, but I will say that the newly illustrated covers are so cool and the set would look gorgeous on any bibliophile's bookshelf.

Guitar wall mounts ($10): Turn any guitar into an instant work of art. These would make great stocking stuffers, especially for someone who's just moved and is trying to decorate a new space.

Paper Source Personalized Notepad Kit ($40): This set allows the gift-receiver to get online and design a custom set of notepads in minutes.

Corksicle Copper Canteen ($33): The largest size of this canteen can fit an entire bottle of wine. Sooooooo I can really just stop typing there, right? It also keeps hot beverages hot for 12 hours, and cold ones cold for 24 hours. I was recently gifted the S'well version of this canteen, and it's incredible. But this one can be delivered with free two-day Amazon Prime shipping. (There are many more colors available if your gift-ee is a guy and/or doesn't want a sparkly metallic water bottle to lug around.)

NARS Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Palette ($69): This has everything a girl needs: a bronzer, under eye brightener, contour powder and four beautiful blushes. And it's a $165 value(!).

Cards Against Humanity ($25, with $10 expansion packs): If you want to know who the most f*cked up person in your friend group or family is, buy this game. My favorite card is "A Sad Fat Dragon with No Friends." I belly laugh every.time.

iPhone Keychain Charger ($20): I talked about a tassel version here, but this one has a larger hook that you could clip directly onto a handbag or suitcase handle, which I love. This version comes in a few different colors, so it could be gifted without leaning either too feminine or masculine.

Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection ($90): With everything moving away from physical copies and into the cloud, gifting the Star Wars nerd in your life the entire digital collection would be a pretty awesome and thoughtful gift. Plus, there's no need to worry about shipping or delivery, since you can buy this straight from the comfort of your couch (pants optional).

Black & White Truffle Oils ($35): I love drizzling white truffle oil over fried eggs or tossing piping hot french fries with a little. It never hurts to top with some freshly grated parmesan, too.

Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac (about $200, but some colors are heavily discounted right now): I have a couple of Rebecca Minkoff bags, the Mini Mac being one of them, and they are just so incredibly beautiful, well made and durable. This black one with rose gold detailing is killing me.

Face of the Day: Twenty-Eighth Birthday Brunch

For my birthday brunch, I wanted radiant, flawless skin with a dramatic winged liner and bold lips. I planned on doing a deep, dark blackberry lip, but I saw NARS' Lana sitting on my desk and went orange, instead. For those of you that know me, you know just how me a winged liner and bold lip is, so I thought it would be perfect for a birthday celebration!

Face

L'Oreal Magic Lumi primer

L'Oreal True Match Foundation in N2 + Cover FX Custom Cover Drops in N20

Urban Decay Naked Weightless Concealer in Light Neutral (under eyes)

NYX Conceal Correct Contour Palette in Light (on blemishes/imperfections)

NYX Contour Kit

Hourglass Ambient Palette

Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips in Warm Nude

Eyes

NYX Tinted Brow Mascara in Brunette

Makeup Geek eyeshadows in Peach Smoothie, Creme Brûlée, Cocoa Bear, & Bitten (crease & outer corner)

Wet N Wild single eyeshadow in Brûlée (lid and brow bone)

Kat Von D Metal Crush Eyeshadow in Thunderstruck (inner corner)

Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

KISS false eyelash trios in Extra Short & Short

Lips

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Lana

Top

Target ($23)

28 Things I've Learned in 28 Years

There was  a time in my life (particularly from the ages of eighteen to twenty-one) where I used to think it was impossible that any of my stupid life choices had taught me anything. But as I compiled this list, I became fully cognizant of the fact that just because you made some not-so-wise choices in your past (even one day in your past), it doesn't mean you didn't learn anything.

Here are twenty-eight things I've learned in my twenty-eight years on earth, many of which I very much wish I could've told the high school version of myself and my best friends, too. Maybe you'll read something that resonates or you'll think of something I could still really stand to learn. Either way, I hope this will be a fun, enlightening, empowering way to celebrate my birthday this year.

1. Love yourself.

2. Empower the other women in your life. I am sick of women putting other women down. We can all be fun, smart, beautiful and successful. There is room enough for all of us at the top, and acting any differently only adds unnecessary negativity into our lives. It is more than okay to be a girls' girl.

3. Eat the f*cking donut. I guess this is connected to Numbers 1 and 18, but seriously, just f*cking eat it.

4. Call your mother (or step-mother or any other applicable mother figure). Just do it. She wants to talk to you, and trust me, you NEED to talk to her.

5. Let it go. Move. On. Take a deep breath and take a step forward and away from whatever it is that's holding you back.

6. Exercise. Not necessarily to lose weight or tone up, but because it'll help you deal with any negativity and stress in your life.

7. And in the same vein, rid yourself of negative people. My brain (and heart, for that matter) only has the capacity to hold the lyrics to every single Backstreet Boys and N*Sync song, which means there is absolutely no room to waste my thoughts on negative people.

8. Drink water.

9. Stop doing things simply because other people want you to. Unless, of course, it's your boss, then please, for the love of God, do what she asked you to do.

10. It's not fun or funny to pretend to be stupid. You worked your ass off to get where you are, so act like it. Being a ditz was only cool circa 1995: the "Clueless" era.

11. Be kind...

12. But do NOT, under any circumstances, be a pushover. 

13. Never compare your relationship to others' and never compare others' relationship to your own.

14. It's okay to cry.

15. And it's also okay to have an off day. I feel like I was never told this as a child, and I still have days, where when I'm not running down the road, hugging and kissing strangers and babies alike, that I feel like some sort of asshole. That's not the case at all though. You don't have to be sunshine and rainbows every day to be a normal, functioning part of society. If you need to sneak out of work at 4:30 and get in pajamas and take a nap, maybe that's just what you need. And that's okay.

16. Try something, anything, new, be it food or adventure or anything else. I didn't eat a Brussels sprout until nine months ago. Like, WHAT? That's ridiculous.

17. Wear red lipstick (or a smokey eye or an agressive amount of blush or bold brow fillers) because it's YOUR face. And if people don't like it, please point them in the direction of Numbers 2, 5, 7 & 9 above (and tell them I sent you).

18. Stop shaming your body. How can you be kind to others when you can't even be kind to yourself? This is something I struggle with every minute of every day, but I'm trying. 

19. Accept help.

20. Always allow yourself the opportunity to be a better version of yourself.

21. Appreciate the friends you have but be open to making new, amazing friends, too. I made a friend over the past few months that's been such an incredible, loving, positive and empowering force in my life that I almost can't imagine a time when we weren't friends. Just because you're not a student anymore, and friends aren't a dime a dozen, it doesn't mean that good friends aren't destined to come in your life and stay there forever.

23. Have patience...

24. But not too much patience.

25. Don't go to bed mad at your significant other. A friend of mine's father always says, "do you want to be right or do you want to be in love?" Apologize (yes, even if you don't mean it), kiss goodnight and wake up in the morning with a fresh perspective. Sometimes my "fresh perspective" tells me that I was right, and so I wake up and keep arguing with P when we're drinking coffee, but oh well...

26. Stop saying "sorry" (and "no problem," for that matter).

27. Learn something, anything, from a past relationship, be it romantic or platonic. People come and go from our lives for a reason, and there's always something you can learn from the idiot you dated when you were seventeen. Always.

28. Drink champagne. On any day and for any reason or for absolutely no reason at all. 

A Lazy Girl's Guide to Makeup Removal

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the best at taking off my makeup. I try (or pretend to try) during the week, but when I go out on the weekends and come home late (and maybe under the influence of alcohol) the last thing I want to do is pull out a 384-step makeup removal system and go to town. Instead, I rely on one-step makeup removers to do the job most nights. Here are three of my favorite easy options, and the best part is that they're all extremely affordable and readily available.

1. Trader Joe's Micellar Cleansing Wipes ($4/20 at Trader Joe's): These are my go-to pre-moistened face wipes. They take all your makeup off with a single wipe, don't irritate your face or eyes, and don't leave a sticky residue. I have extremely sensitive eyes, so if they don't bother me, 'm sure you'll be fine. These are a good option to leave in your nightstand drawer and use when you're already laying in bed and dozing off.

2. Simple Micellar Cleansing Water ($6 at Target) + Koh Gen Do Cotton Pads ($12/60 at Sephora): This cleansing water is so gentle that you could probably squirt it directly into your eyes, and it wouldn't hurt (I mean, please don't do that, but you know). I love to use this to get off stubborn eyeliner and mascara, specifically. It does such an incredible job at removal, your makeup actually just disappears right off your face; I can't sing its praises enough. I prefer to use it with the Koh Gen Do cotton pads because they're extremely soft and well made, and you don't get lint all over the place with them, either.

3. Garnier Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil ($6 at Target): How this works: you put a few drops in your hands, and start rubbing it on your dry, makeup-covered face. The makeup literally begins to melt off, and when you add water to rinse the oil off, it turns into a milky cleanser. This is the ultimate one-stop cleansing method, because not only does it remove your makeup, but it cleanses and moisturizes too.

What are your favorite lazy girl ways to remove your makeup? I'd love to get some new products to add to my skincare regimen. 

November Favorites

November went by very fast and very slowly simultaneously. I threw a party, celebrated friends' birthdays and popped over to L.A. for the Thanksgiving holiday. But I also spent days napping on the couch with the kittens or lazily reading books and listening to James Taylor on vinyl. Through all the craziness of this past month (and through the days where I didn't even get out of my leggings the whole entire day), these are the few products that really stand out.

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips (in Warm Nude) ($14): The shades in the top left corner make the perfect face highlight when blended together (I always pop some on the tip of my nose) and the palette as a whole is great for a one-stop eye look.

Jessica Jones: In an age where it's imperative to capture your audience right out of the gate, Jessica Jones succeeds so, so well. It's a Marvel show on Netflix following Jessica Jones, a sort of anti-hero hero, as she battles her demons, both in real life and internally. The acting is incredible, which isn't always the case with Netflix Originals, and the dialogue is equal parts terrifying and hilarious. Even if you're not a fan of the super hero craze, I highly recommend giving this show a go.

Cuyana Tote ($150): I have this tote in both blush and stone, and it's just the all around perfect bag. If you're traveling, you can load it to the brim without worrying the straps will snap, or you can throw in just the bare necessities for on-the-go. The leather is extremely soft and luxurious, and it's the only bag I consistently get complimented on in public. (One time a lady asked me under the bathroom stall at the movies where I got my purse. I had to spell the "Cuyana" name out to her. It was awkward, but I hope she bought one!)

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara ($32): The spindly brush on this mascara makes it incredibly easy to get length and volume, and the formula lasts all day with no flaking or smudging. 

The Happy Planner ($25): One-size-fits-all doesn't work in practically any form or fashion, and planners are no exception to that rule. The Happy Planner has removable pages and kits you can add in. I've customized mine by changing the cover, inserting to-do lists and meal planners, and removing the months that have already passed. It's sold at Hobby Lobby & Michaels, and there are a ton of customizable options available on Etsy, too.

NYX Contour Kit ($25): This is only $25 and has everything you need to correct, highlight, bronze and contour. The powders blend seamlessly and last all day, and the shades are guaranteed to work for a pretty large variety of skin tones.

Belkin Tassel Charger Keyring ($25): This is a chic key ring that has an iPhone 5 charger tucked inside of it. I can't think of anything better for traveling, ever. 

Through the Lens: Eating my Way through L.A.

Bottega Louie, you're my favorite. (P.S. I swear my face and arms are the same color in real life.)

This Thanksgiving, I was able to ditch the Texas heat (yes, it was still hot as hell here last week) and head out to Los Angeles to visit my littlest brother. We had brunches upon brunches, binge watched Netflix (Jessica Jones, whoa) and spent time catching up. I hope y'all had a great holiday and that returning to work hasn't been too impossible to swallow!

Bottomless mimosas for our Thanksgiving feast at Artisan House.

Breakfast macaroni & cheese at Blu Jam Cafe.

Beers & truffle burgers at Umami Downtown. 

I sincerely hope you have the pleasure of eating truffle ketchup one day, because, man, it'll change you.

Beignets with raspberry sauce at Bottega Louie.

And, as a bonus, here's a non-food related photo of the gorgeous tree at The Grove. Because, swoon.

(Now that I wrote that it's "non-food related," I realize there's a huge Jamba Juice cup smack dab in the middle of this.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope y'all are able to enjoy a stress-free weekend with good wine and good company.

I'll be back next week with new posts!

High & Low: Fall's Most Coveted Black Shoes

High: Stuart Weitzman The Lowland Boot: $875 | Low: Dolce Vita Neeley Slouch Boot: $260 (with code "20BOOTUP")

High: Loeffler Randall Ambra Lace Up Flats: $295 | Low: TopShop KINGDOM Ghillie Pointed Shoes: $95

High: Tory Burch Maya Peep Toe Mules: $350 | Low: ShoeMint Miller Peep Toe Mules: $60

High: Chloé Scalloped Leather Ballet Flats: $475 | Low: LC Lauren Conrad Scalloped Ballet Flats: $30

Not only are the bargain shoes on this list dead ringers for their pricier counterparts, but with the exception of the Lauren Conrad scalloped ballet flats, all of the less expensive options are also real leather. I've already purchased the Dolce Vita & TopShop pairs and can't wait to add the last two to my collection for fall, too!

Two-Minute Affordable Eye Look

Today's look is a two-minute, three product, nine dollar makeup look that you can recreate without even using makeup brushes. All the products I used are from Elf, a brand you can find at your local Target or Walgreens. The Elf baked shadows can be used wet (for a smokier look) or dry (like I used them here), and the smudge pot can be used alone or as an eyeshadow base (they last forever and never crease on me).

I love this super versatile look because it's work appropriate and party appropriate. It's got just the right amount of shimmer and depth without being totally overboard for 9 a.m. This makes my blue-green eyes really pop, but I think it would complement practically any eye color and skin color. In fact, if you've got a rich, deep skin tone, I imagine this would be especially great for an easy every day eye look.

Products Used:

Elf Baked Eyeshadow in  Toasted ($3) | Elf Baked Eyeshadow in Burnt Plum ($3) | Elf Smudge Pot in Ain't That Sweet ($3)

How To:

1. Apply Toasted all over your lid and slightly up into your crease (I used my pointer finger for this). 

You want the most product on your lid and for the color to fade as you get closer to the crease area.

2. Apply Burnt Plum in the outer third of your eye (I used my pinky). 

Use short swiping motions to make sure this color blends nicely in with the Toasted color.

3. Apply Ain't That Sweet in your inner corner.

4. Using your pinky, rub a little bit of Burnt Plum along the lower lash line.

5. Add mascara (and liner, if you like) and you're ready to run out the door to work, a holiday party or happy hour.

Link Line Up

Photo Sources: 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10

1. Isn't this outfit just perfection?

2. If you've ever wondered what Shia LaBeouf thinks of his own films, you can find out here. Hint: Transformers 3 isn't exaaaaaaactly a favorite of his.

3. Bring it on, Martha Stewart.

4. Uncropped Instagram photos show what life is really like outside of the social media phenomenon.

5. Movie posters made infinitely better with their Amazon reviews included.

6. Houston, you certainly are a strange, strange, land. (Numbers 6 & 7 crack me up so much.)

7. Even though we have two Apple TVs and a Google Chromecast in our wee little apartment, I foresee us buying the new Apple TV in the very near future because its new features are just so great. 

8. All I have to say is: sparkles. 

9. Brown butter garlic knots. Hallelujah. 

10. In case you've never met a cat before, I highly recommend reading this cat-petting guide before you do so.

Through the Lens (A Round Up of Some of the Random Photos on My iPhone)

The Cullen Hall of Gems & Minerals at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

I just so happen to think that the Starbucks holiday cup design is one of their best ever.

Just shut up and buy these, will you? 

Hot cocoa + re-reading the Harry Potter series with the newly illustrated covers

Do you ever just get that feeling that you're being watched? (To be fair, I was eating mac & cheese.)

Bonus photo from the boyfriend's phone:

Drinking martinis & stalking Instagram. (When P showed me this picture, the first words out of my mouth were, "contour on fleek!" I know. I hate myself.)

Sephora VIB Sale: Haul & Recommendations

If you're a Sephora VIB Rouge member, hopefully you took advantage of the 20% off sale that ran from November 6-9. If you're just a VIB member, you can participate in the general VIB sale which starts today and will run until November 16. The code for the upcoming sale is VIB20.

Things I ordered during the 2015 Rouge sale:
NARS Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Palette ($69)
Beauty Blender kit (two Beauty Blenders, one Micro.Mini & the Rea.activate rehydrator) ($40)
Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation ($62)
Koh Gen Do Pure Cotton facial pads ($12)
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($19)
Kat Von D Metal Crush Eyeshadow in Thunderstruck ($21)
Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara ($32)
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Dry Shampoo ($28)
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Parfum ($100 for 3.4 ounces)

Things I have already tested & recommend + mini reviews:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz ($21): There is no better pencil for filling in your brows. You can make tiny, hair like strokes and can also vary your look from natural to bold depending on how much pressure you apply.
Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Parfum ($25-$100): The best way I can describe this perfume is intoxicating. According to Sephora, the notes are violet, sandalwood, and vanilla & the style is sensual, mysterious and warm. Just a tip for the sale: if there's a perfume you're obsessed with, order a backup now to take advantage of the 20% off sale.

Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayons ($24): Bite lipsticks are made with food-grade ingredients, so they taste like dessert. The Leche crayon is my favorite nude of all time.

NARS radiant Creamy Concealer ($29): This has a cult following, and for good reason. It has great coverage but doesn't feel too heavy or cakey and resists creasing, as well. Plus, the shade range is bananas.

Jack Black Lip Balm ($7.50): This is the best lip balm I've ever used & they have value kits out now that I'd highly recommend.

Beauty Blender ($20-$40): There's nothing better for achieving a flawless makeup application. If you want to look airbrushed, you need one of these. And a savvy shopping tip: if you need a Beauty Blender during the sale, spring for a kit containing multiple sponges to get the best bang for your buck.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper ($19): The best black eyeliner ever. You can achieve a flawless wing in seconds, and it'll last through any late nights or sob-fests, too.

Tarte Maracuja Oil ($15-75): I recently pulled this out again after a glowing review from Kristina at Pretty Shiny Sparkly (Kristina is a Houston blogger, too!). If you apply a couple drops of this oil before bed, within a few days of repeated use, your skin will arguably be in the best shape it's ever been in.

If you have any holy grail products I should take a look at during the Sephora sale, please leave me a comment!

Three Memorable Vacations

I got this idea from Emily Schuman's post over on Cupcakes & Cashmere. I'm constantly traveling, which I attribute to the sense of wanderlust I was born with thanks to my parents moving us overseas when I was three. It's practically impossible for me to remember every single vacation I've taken, let alone write an entertaining synopsis about each of them. So for now, I thought I'd shine a spotlight on a couple of my favorite trips from the past few years.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam [August 2013]

Duration: Three nights
Reason: Bar trip
What made it so special/memorable: My parents were beyond amazing during mine and the boyfriend's month-long bar trip (we traveled through Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia & Vietnam), but our trip to Vietnam was in a word, spectacular. We rode motorcycles through the city at night, toured the war grounds & crawled through hidey-holes, and ate dinners at abandoned opium refineries.
Vacation in one word: Spectacular (see, I told you!)
Best meal: Garlic chicken & rice at the Hoa Tuc opium refinery
Go-to drink: Gin--mostly because it's generally unsafe to drink liquor in Vietnam unless you bring it yourself, so we bought the biggest bottle of Bombay Sapphire I've ever seen while running through Duty-Free at the airport.
Best thing I packed: My sock bun maker (none of my styling tools worked overseas + humidity is real)
Best thing I brought back: A hand-sewn piece of art depicting Ho Chi Minh City life
Scent associated with the trip: Diesel fuel (this sounds creepy, but every person in Vietnam that is over the age of 13 seems to have a motorcycle, and you cannot escape the noise or smell)

Aspen, Colorado [September 2014]

Duration: Three nights
Reason: Labor Day Weekend
What made it so special/memorable: This was my first time in Aspen (I've been three times in a calendar year, now) and nothing can prepare you for the first time you get to see the landscape. I had never even been up in the mountains before, so on this trip, I spent most of my time staring up at the sky with my mouth gaping open in awe. We explored the town, went to a music festival and hiked Maroon Bells.
Vacation in one word: Breathtaking
Best meal: Aspen Cruds (bourbon, milk & ice cream blended into a shake) & parmesan fries
Go-to drink: The cheapest sparkling wine in Aspen (which was like $18 but still)
Best thing I packed: Target combat boots
Best thing I brought back: An abstract painting found in a thrift store. I sort of got into an argument with one of my friends about who should get to buy it. (She saw it first, but didn't scoop it up. I ultimately won, and it's hanging on our living room wall right now. Sorry, Amy.)
Scent associated with the trip: Firewood

New Orleans, Louisiana [January 2015]

Duration: Two nights
Reason: Spontaneous getaway
What made it so special/memorable: I had been to New Orleans a month prior for my birthday, and long story short, it turned out to be a disaster. I spent weeks reeling from the letdown that was that attempted trip, and the boyfriend had been working extreme hours. So on a dreary Thursday in January, when his schedule miraculously cleared for the weekend, we decided to book a last-minute hotel in New Orleans. We looked at it as a do-over for me and an escape for him.
Vacation in one word: Gratefulness
Best meal: Crawfish étouffée at Jacques-imo's. We waited outside the restaurant for almost three hours, drinking wine and playing Heads Up on our iPhones.
Go-to drink: Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager (it was the first weekend of the year that it was available)
Best thing I packed: My cream peacoat
Best thing I brought back: Café Du Monde coffee & chicory
Scent associated with the trip: Galatoire's espresso

I plan to do a few more of these posts over the coming months because I have so many other great trips I want/need to talk to y'all about (Isla Mujeres, Mexico, Santa Fe, Thailand, New York, Indonesia, Harry Potter World, San Fransisco, etc.).

The Decision to Go Cruelty-Free

Why don't we just jump back into blogging with a super serious post? Take things slow, you know? Ease into it?

A couple of months ago, I made the decision (for myself & my boyfriend--luckily he has completely approved) to go cruelty-free with any makeup, skin care, body care & hair care products we purchase from here on out.

This all started when I was reading the back of the shampoo bottles in our shower and realized less than half of them were labeled as "cruelty-free" or had a "no animal testing" disclaimer. I started thinking about all the money I spend on make up and skin care (#hoarder) which got me wondering: exactly how much of my money is supporting brands that are rubbing concealer in bunnies' eyes? By the time I got out of the shower, I had made my mind up (I don't know if I've ever made a decision in nine minutes before...).

I'm not going to be preachy about this because the only thing I hate more than soggy french fries when you get to-go food is people pushing their views in other people's faces. The only real effect this will have on the blog and its content is that I'll only be featuring cruelty-free brands. Practically every beauty good I own is from Ulta, Sephora or Target/the drugstore, so rest assured, if you see something you like, it'll be readily available.

I read somewhere that going cruelty-free is the lazy person's way of making a difference, and I almost spit my coffee out I laughed so hard. Literally all I have to do with this decision is not give money to brands that test on animals. Simple as that. And while the ultimate goal is to live a life where everything we're consuming has animals' best interests in mind, this was just the easiest place for me (and the boyfriend) to start.

New Beginnings

Let's try this again, shall we?

everyday sparkle

I got this idea after reading Cup of Jo's "Beauty Uniform" series. A few weeks back, she featured the incredible, effortlessly beautiful Anne Serrano-McClain who is the founder of MCMC, a fragrance company she started in Brooklyn. Anne talked about her favorite hair, make up, skincare and fragrance products, and then went on to describe the jewelry she never takes off. Since I don't have a beauty uniform (my makeup and skin care change daily), I thought we could talk about the sparkly little joys in life. Here are the six pieces that go everywhere with me...

Minoux Tiny Bar Necklace ($49): There is no necklace quite like this. I've seen imitations, but if you're looking for a strong yet dainty bar necklace, this is the only one you should spend your money on. I wear this in the shower and to bed every night, and it's easily held its shape and maintained its shine.

Nadine Jewelry Smooth Stacking Rings (starting at $17): I have both a rose gold and a yellow gold midi ring stacked on my ring finger, and a silver ring slipped onto my thumb. I purchased these rings with my Tiny Bar Necklace in June of 2014, and I've never taken them off. Like the Tiny Bar Necklace, they've maintained their integrity through countless showers and hand washings.

David Yurman 11 mm Onyx & Diamond Albion Ring ($900): My parents bought this for me as a college graduation present, and I remember to slip it on every single morning. While I absolutely adore this, if you're in the market for a Yurman ring, I suggest getting the smaller 7mm Albion ring as this is extremely unforgiving if/when your fingers swell.

Michael Kors MK5410 Bel Air Chronograph Blue Dial Watch (on sale!): This was an impulse buy one afternoon while I was studying for the Bar exam, but I don't regret it at all. It made me feel better then (retail therapy, ftw) and its still an every day staple almost two years later, even if its poor little face is beat to hell.


I'm always in the market for dainty pieces to layer together, so please leave links to your favorite sellers or jewelers in the comments!

a week in the life of my iphone

@toneitup's nonsensical but hilarious Instagram post.

Where are your legs, Kirby?

A terrifying Easter bunny picture I found in my baby book.

Weekend plans.

"Working" from bed.

Running into one of my favorite YouTubers, DannaAnn, at Ulta. (Super cool bang middle part, Court.)

links i love

Kanye, you forgot to Kanye!

The 150 best bars in America. Anvil in Houston made the list, as did one of my all-time favorite bars, The Carousel Bar in New Orleans.

Tumblr users explain nature. I had huge tears rolling down my face at 10.

I think it's safe to say that the boyfriend and I have come to terms with the fact that we will annoy the shit out of each other on and off for the rest of our lives. And that's okay.

The sleepyti.me bedtime calculator.

@unforettable.

A singer using the Speech Jammer app during a performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." (Insert crying laughing emoji here.)

Fettuccine with brown butter asparagus and parmesan fonduta.

A big-screen portrayal of the Notorious RBG is in the works.

Why yes, I would love for someone to buy my groceries for me and then drop them off on my doorstep.

swoon.

awkward & awesome thursday

[lips: Maybelline ColorSensational Rebel Bloom Lipstick in Coral Burst (740)]

AWKWARD

...my bangs. No one recognizes me now which is suuuuuuper awkward.

...The Rock's dialogue in Furious 7. "Don't make me break your finger six different ways and stick it where the sun don't shine!" Please, Dwayne Johnson, leave my fingers alone.

...the guy in my leasing office asking me if I want to go do CrossFit with him. "Oh, no thanks, I just am going to go run on the treadmill super slowly... Byeeeee..."

...I ate an apple yesterday without rinsing it first. #goodbyecruelworld #ripcourteney

...when your Amazon Prime order arrives in 100 separate extra large boxes. "What's in the boxxxxxxx?"

AWESOME

...my bangs. My ponytails are awesome as f*ck now. (Please see above photo feat. said ponytail)

...the guy that was in our theater seeing Furious 7 last night who screamed at the top of his lungs, "YES! GOD DAMN! YES!" during a particularly awesome scene.

...clients canceling meetings at the last minute (why, yes, instead I would like to slack off this afternoon, thank you for asking).

...new iPhone emojis! Although, there's still no middle finger emoji. Come on, man!

...my little brothers are coming in town for the weekend! 

"Confidence comes from amazing outfits and perfect make up." -Laverne Cox's Sheena in The Mindy Project

Can we just spend a few minutes (like maybe 30? I'm not known for my brevity...) talking about all the amazing things that are happening in the entertainment world right now? 

Better Call Saul

This is a geeky lawyer's dream (are there any lawyers who aren't geeky...?). That's really all there is to say about it. Well, that, and it's a lot less oh-good-God-I'm-depressed than Breaking Bad.

Insurgent

So, this was definitely better than the book (whaaaaat), but it was still horribly cheesy. Also, Theo James is not shirtless nearly enough. I'll give it a C, but let it be known that the film would be a solid B+ if there was more of that man meat running around. ALSO, MILES TELLER. A friend of mine told me he's an asshole in real life, but GUYS, I refuse to believe it because he's my favorite human ever (sorry, real life boyfriend).

The Mindy Project

GAHHHH the finale was perfection. And can we talk about the penultimate episode that featured Laverne Cox? Seriously, I haven't laughed that hard in a very, very long time. My favorite moment (which just so happens to describe exactly how I feel about babies) was when Sheena said:

"So Tamara tells me you're pregnant. You need to be careful. Babies are shady. They steal your youth and beauty and keep it for their own damn selves." 

I re-watched that episode while typing this post, and I have huge tears in my eyes. COMEDIC PERFECTION. If this show isn't renewed for another season I'm going to start a petition (can someone tell me where to send in said petition...?). 

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

My friend Kassie suggested this book for our book club, and when she first told us the title, I rolled my eyes. Here I am, a month later, trying to pry my foot out of my mouth. This is the best book I've read in the past few years. I thought about including a brief synopsis here, but trust me, it's better if you have no clue what the plot is, and you just dive right in. 

Does anyone have any book recommendations? Preferably ones written by female authors? I just finished The Girl on the Train, too, and whoo! What. a. ride. (a ride... on a train... BADUM-CHH)

A REMAKE OF SHE'S ALL THAT IS IN THE WORKS?

I hope Freddie Prinz Jr. plays the sexy dad. Me-ow.

(Also, rest in peace, Paul Walker. Anyone want to go see Furious 7 with me...?)

ALSO also, I made my real life boyfriend (see above reference to said human) watch She's All That for the first time a few months ago, and he was utterly flabbergasted. NOTHING is better than the hacky sack scene. NOTHING, YOU HEAR ME?!

The Jinx

I just started this last night, yes I know, I'm way behind. All I have to say is this: that f*cking guy has black eyes. His irises are black. Also, this reminded me: HBO Now just launched! Should I sign up? Entertainment nerds, give me advice!

Saved By The Bell...

...in its entirety is on Netflix. You're welcome.

Please tell me all the fun things you've been watching/reading lately because I'm a glutton, and I want to consume all the entertainment humanly (or inhumanly) possible.