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.

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. 

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.)

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.)

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.

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.