Winter Favorites 2021

Merry Christmas Eve! I feel like the day before Christmas is the perfect time to explore all of great things that I’ve discovered this Winter (also can we please just appreciate that this winter I’ve actually been able to wear sweaters in Texas and not roast alive). I feel like this holiday season has been a change up from ones in the past; it’s my first in a place that’s just mine and my significant other’s, no roommates or parents really making me compromise on my taste in decorations (so as you can guess, the majority of them are black and white). I still feel like I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone this season and tried a lot of different things that I haven’t in the past. So here’s just a few things that I’ve fallen in love with this winter.

Starbucks Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte

It wouldn’t be a winter favorites without talking about a Starbuck’s holiday drink. Can we just appreciate this year that I don’t have to sub out the milk for once in this seasonal drink?!?! I am obsessed with this latte, and I love it hot AND iced (which is saying something since I’m an iced coffee all year long kind of girl). The sprinkles are just adorable in it, and it makes up for the fact that my eggnog latte didn’t make a comeback this year. I am not ashamed to say that if you look in my order history, it’s basically just this drink for the past few months.

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Target’s Opalhouse Eggnog Latte Candle

So Target has been knocking it out of the park lately with all of their season scents (which are literally half the price of Bath and Body Works, so I haven’t been in once this season which is very impressive if I do say so my self). This one was a bit of a compromise in our house; personally I love the Tree Farm candle while my boyfriend is more of the Orchard Cider/ Sugared Cinnamon taste, so this was the the middle between us. It does smell really festive but it’s super light and not overwhelming at all.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Reading used to be a big pastime of mine when I was younger, but honestly reading for pleasure kinda just flew out the window with university. The last few months, I’ve been trying to get back into it, and after seeing this series all over Tiktok, I decided to give it a try. Needless to say, I read the entire series in a week, and am now on a first name basis with several employees of my local bookstore. I don’t want to spoil the books for anyone who hasn’t read her yet, but let’s just oh my.

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Olaplex Bonding Oil

Now due to the fact that I’ve been bleaching my hair for a solid four years, it’s safe to say that my hair is pretty dry most of the year, but winter just makes the issue ten times worst. Enter the bonding oil; now I’m not saying that this is the best hair oil on Earth, however it will be the only one I purchase from now on. I absolutely love how it leaves my end smooth and soft, but doesn’t weigh my hair down.

Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick

Again with the Tiktok trends, though I will say that my friend who works for Clinique has sworn by this lipstick for as long as I’ve known her so I had to give it a try. I now see why this is a must in so many Hollywood makeup artists kits and why it’s been around for over twenty years. It gives you just a beautiful amount of color on the lips with some hydration (are you noticing a trend here). I love it so much in fact, it’s actually the lipstick I’m wearing in my senior photos.

YSL Black Opium Extreme

I have long held that my standard fragrance is some sort of fresh floral, but this season it was time to find something a little darker and spicier to match the shorter days. Despite my love affair with coffee, the original Black Opium is not my cup of…well coffee. However the vanilla in this fragrance (which is a bourbon vanilla fyi) just balances out the coffee accord so much better in my opinion, and it has jasmine which is just one of my favorite flowers instead of the simple “white flowers” that the original features. I’m not the only one who likes it, as the first night I wore it my boyfriend declared that it’s his new favorite of my perfumes.

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So those are all of my winter favorites! I always love this time leading up to the new year since it’s a good time to experiment. I hope you enjoyed this week’s post, and check in next week to see what’s new. All of my socials are linked if you want to give them a follow, until next time!

Holiday Gift Ideas 2021

Even though we are only in our first week of November, it seems like already the holidays are upon us. A quick stroll through the aisles of Target will tell you that as the lights, wreathes, and ornaments have been up since mid-October. As probably many a basic girl will say, there’s just something about Christmas time that is absolutely magical. However, one of the biggest struggles I have during this season (besides dealing with unagreeable family members) is figuring out what to get everyone in my life. There’s just so many options out there nowadays, that it can be difficult to decide what to pick. So here are a few options for those in your life (with a few of my own longings thrown in) that might be a bit more challenging.

For the Book Nerd: Minalima’s Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

This illustrated edition is a great option for any Potterheads you many have in your life as well as those who love special edition books in general. If you didn’t know, Minalima are the duo behind all of the amazing graphic design you see in the Harry Potter films. Like I’m talking every book cover, sign or poster in the movies, they’re the ones who did it. I got the Sorcerer’s Stone edition last year for Christmas, so when I found out that they were releasing book two this Christmas, no joke, I may have let out a scream. Needless to say, this book already has a reserved place on my bookshelf, and will be what I read to my future children at bedtime.

For the Hair Obsessed: Dyson Airwrap

If any of you have ever gotten to play with any Dyson product, you know they are next level and the hair tools are no exception. The airwrap is the one to go for if you’re ready for the commitment (not gonna lie, they are quite the investment piece), but with all the attachments, you’d never need another hair tool again in your life. Also, this Christmas they’ve released a limited edition blue and copper one that’s just *chef’s kiss*.

For the Skin Guru: Limited Edition Skin Sets

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We all know that person in our life who could go on for hours and hours about skincare. Their routine has about fifteen steps, and you can bet that they’d never dare go outside without sunscreen (I have a friend who’s so obsessed with SPF she keeps a bottle in her work bag for second application before she goes home for the day). Helping them restock their skincare cabinets is basically their love language, and one of the best things about the holiday season is the variety of sets out there. Whether it be time tested staples (like Fresh’s shower gel and lotion duo) or limited editions of your year-round favorites (Tula’s So Polished is available this season in scents like gingerbread, sugar plum or delicious peppermint chocolate).

For the Conscious Makeup Lover: Tarte Holiday or Urban Decay Cyber Collection

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Let me tell you, every year it seems like more and more brands are stepping up their game when it comes to their holiday collections, but personally I feel like Tarte and Urban are the creme de la creme. Tarte of course has always been vegan and cruelty free, but now that Urban Decay’s started creating more and more vegan products, I feel like that these are great options for the clean beauty lovers. The newest holiday collection features both the Cyber palette (think duo chrome and pastels) as wells as the new Naked 3 mini in a set with the perversion eyeliner along with an all nighter spray duo. Tarte every year releases a flood of great value sets like their shape tape sets and palette vaults, along with a few limited edition items (this year there’s a coffee themed palette and I feel like it’s calling my name.)

So while this list is definitely not entirely finished (as in there are probably hundreds more options to offer up), there is always the hope that perhaps this list has given you some ideas about what to get your loved ones this season (or maybe a few ideas about what to ask for yourself). I think the most important thing to remember is that it’s the thought that goes into the gift that matters, not the amount of money you spend. Make sure to subscribe if you want get notified when I post, and my socials are linked if you want to stay up to date on my day to day life. Till next time!

Fall Favorites 2021

As a professed basic white girl, I can honestly say that there is no time of year I love more than fall. I honestly enjoy pumpkin spice flavored anything, football games, and being able to walk outside my house without completely roasting. There’s just something about this time of year, no matter how briefly it is that I enjoy. My love of fall-themed products is no different. Every year it seems that the market is filled with more and more limited editions of a wide range of products from food to home and beauty, and while some have managed to wrangle their way into becoming permanent editions, others are here for but a brief second before being gone forever. So here are just a few of my favorite products this fall season.

1. Trader Joe’s Maple Cookies

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So these are a delicacy that technically can be found all year long (and that I do enjoy them ALL year round), but there’s just something about enjoying maple cookies while having a pumpkin spice hot chocolate and being cuddled on the couch in front of spooky movies that is just a complete vibe and I am here for it.

2. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Oatmilk&Almondmilk Creamer

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Just to establish again that I am a basic b-word, once the middle of August hits I am basically exclusively drinking pumpkin flavored coffee beverages. However, a recent issue that I have discovered is that dairy and I no longer are on the best terms, which is why stumbling across this in the grocery store is one of the best finds of the year. It’s amazing, and if you didn’t know that it was nondairy, you wouldn’t be able to taste the difference.

3. Purlisse Pumpkin+Ginger Detoxifying Charcoal Mask

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Living in the South, as much as I wish the first day of Fall meant crisp leaves and chilly mornings, unfortunately we are still the lower 90s most days which means I am a sweaty mess and clogged pores under my mask (like the pandemic kind) most days. This mask cleans all of that gunk out and it smells amazing. Pumpkin enzymes are amazing for resurfacing the skin (getting rid of all of those dead skin cells, ew), while ginger is proven to detoxify and improve skin texture. It doesn’t hurt at all that this mask smells exactly like a yummy pumpkin snack!

4. KVD Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Vampira

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On principal alone, 90% of the year I am a nude lipstick queen and I don’t stray from that path. When the air starts to crisp up, there’s just something about a dark red/maroonish lip that does something to me. Now KVD has always had one of my favorite liquid lipstick formulas that I’ve finally been able to go back to since a certain problematic is no longer a part of the company (but that’s a whole other topic), so the color Ludwig is my go-to nude for most of the year. Vampira just fits this time of year perfectly: 1) the name is *chef’s kiss*, and 2) the color almost perfectly matches my school’s color which is great for football season. There’s something to be said about a color the can go from fun days to spooky nights.

5. Target’s Opalhouse Harvest Brunch candle

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Like most who proudly call themselves basic, fall use to mean flocking to Bath and Body Works and spending $100+ only to walk out the door with like five candles. But with age comes wisdom and the realization that Target has candles that smell just as good that cost literally half the price. Among your typical pumpkin and maple scents, there was just something about it that set it apart for me. Like there’s definitely still pumpkin in it, but also I smell fruity pebbles? I’m not sure, all I know is that this candle smells good.

Thank you so much for checking in to this week’s blog post, and I hope you enjoyed! If you want to try anything, I linked everything that I could. If you want to give my a follow to keep up with my day to day, all of my socials are linked in the menu. Until next Friday, I hope you have a great week.

Life Update!

So it’s been a while……to put it mildly. To say my life has been a mess of organized mass chaos lately is putting it mildly. To break it down, there’s been vacation time, job promotion (whoop whoop), and my boyfriend and I moving into our own place (so finally no other roommates), as well as my final semester of school starting. So like I said, mass chaos. But, in good news, I’m back and I have many, many new ideas of things to explore.

Like many a basic white girl, to say I’m obsessed with fall is putting it mildly. Do I already have my halloween decorations up in September? Yes (but only on the inside, the boyfriend is making me hold off on the lights and cobwebs on the outside till October 1st). Do I have a stockpile of the Pillsbury spooky cookies? Yes (in my defense, those things are a hot commodity in my town , so if I want to enjoy any for the next month, I need to grab them while I see them). Am I unable to go about my day without a pumpkin spice beverage? Unfortunately, also yes (on a side note: has anyone else tried Starbuck’s new oat milk PSL creamer? It gives me life). With a new season, comes new launches, and already the sneak peeks are giving me life. To highlight just a few of the things I’m excited about:

1. Chloe is coming out with a perfume that is 100% natural origin fragrance.
2. Urban Decay’s new light/metallic, 100% vegan Cyber palette
3. The possible return of Colourpop’s Hocus Pocus collection (yes, you heard that right)
4. Drunk Elephant coming to Ulta

Honestly, I could go on and on about all of the exciting things that I’m looking forward to, but that list would probably be 20 pages long and no one has time to read that. So just make sure you stick around, I promise I won’t disappear again. My socials are linked in the icons if you want to give them a follow, and I’ll see you next Friday!

Current Loves From Ulta’s Conscious Beauty Collection

As people grow more and more aware of the ingredients on their skin, there has been growing push for transparency from brands as well as for cleaner ingredients to be used. Both Ulta and Sephora have begun having collections of brands that they have deemed “clean” according to the standards they have set. This week I want to focus on Ulta Beauty’s “Conscious Beauty Collection”; this collection has five pillars that each brand needs to meet at least two of, they are: clean ingredients, cruelty free, vegan, sustainable packaging, and positive impact.

1. Tula Balancing Act Toning Pads

As the Texas summer starts to heat up, my skin turns into a grease pit, so I need something to balance that out. I absolutely adore these pads as much as I do all of Tula’s other products I’ve tried. Tula has made a name for themselves with their clean, probiotics based formulas (if you haven’t checked out my post devoted to them, you can click here), but their new toning pads take it to the next level. Instead of glycolic acid like the first one they launched, these use lactic acid as well as witch hazel and niacinaminde to help with oil control. What makes them even better is that they are made of bamboo and biodegradable (hello sustainability), and when you’re done, instead of throwing away the plastic container, you can buy a refill pod to just pop in.

2. Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Cream

My one complaint about Tarte’s Amazonian clay foundation was that while the coverage was amazing, it was so thick that I felt like my skin was being suffocated. This Amazonian clay BB cream though is just enough coverage to hide any discoloration you might be suffering from, but light enough to feel like there’s nothing there. I also love that the formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and has SPF.

3. Drybar Liquid Glass Miracle Smoothing Sealant

Calling all my damaged hair babes that need help containing the frizz, this spray-in treatment is going to be your new best friend. Visiting Drybar is one of my favorite things to do when I visit Austin, and finding out that they’re cruelty-free with clean ingredients and sustainable packaging made me just love them that much more. I absolutely adore the Liquid Glass shampoo and conditioner, but what makes this spray so much better is that it lasts through three washes and gives you heat protection up to 450 degrees F! The entire Smooth Glass line features the iconic Drybar blanc scent with vegan keratin helping to seal, reinforce and smooth the hair cuticle.

4. Peach and Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum

Korean skincare is widely regarded as some of the finest skincare that you can buy on the market (and for good reason), and Peach and Lily’s glass skin serum is a great showcase. One of my all time favorite serums (I’m on my third bottle), this little white bottle is my secret for smooth, glow skin. With key active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peach extract, and peptides, this serum is going to give you hydration, even skin tone, lighten dark spots, and reduce pore size. You can also feel good about using it since Peach and Lily is vegan, gluten free, and cruelty free; it’s also free from any parabens, sulfates, silicons, along with 1,550 other toxic things.

5. St Tropez Self Tanner

As most likely proven about two posts ago, I love a good self tanner, the only bad thing is that they do somewhat have a reputation for not always being the cleanest product to use. So finding out that there’s a self tanner brand being highlighted by Conscious beauty is absolutely amazing. The great thing about the St Tropez line are there are options for everyone, from good ol’ 8 hour tans with guider colors to water-based mousses and sprays to 2 hour express sprays. There’s a fit out there for literally everyone, and one again, no need to feel guilty with clean ingredients, sustainable packaging, and cruelty-free!

6. Pacifica Plantmagic Nail Polish

So fun fact, I am actually allergic to formaldehyde, and about ten years ago when I found out, there were a lot of nail polish brands that unfortunately still used it. Even though as a industry we’ve moved away from using such toxic ingredients, I still never use a nail polish unless it actually says it’s formaldehyde free (you can never be too cautious when there’s a possible hospital visit on the line). I’ve used Pacifica’s skincare in the past, so their new plant based polish really caught my eye. It’s free from 16 of the most harsh chemicals usually found in nail polish (with 80% of the ingredients bio-sourced), 100% vegan and cruelty free, and the polish has lasted just as long on my toes as the other ones I’ve tried. A great thing about Pacifica is their social impact: 10% of all profits go towards cleaning up the Pacific Ocean.

7. Kopari Coconut Deodorant

I love natural deodorant, unfortunately natural deodorant doesn’t always love me. The amount of times that I’ve broken out in a rash from trying a new deodorant is honestly sad. Another problem with natural deodorants is that they always smell, well, natural. I don’t know about anyone else but the whole smelling like lavender and sage doesn’t always work the best with the situation going on under my arms. Enter Kopari: for the people who love natural deodorant but want still smell good. It’s coconut oil based (so great for sensitive skin), and all of their stuff smells nice and fresh and beachy. I actually usually buy the beach scent from them, but they do have a new scent called coastal that honestly also seems like it smells amazing. Kopari is vegan, cruelty-free, with sustainable packaging and clean ingredients.

Thank you so much for tuning in this week, and I hope you enjoyed this post. My socials are all linked if you want to give them a follow, as well as you can follow this blog so you get a notification every time I post (which is every Friday). Till next time!

Austin Birthday Adventure

This is a very different post from the content I’ve posted previously, but I feel like the point of this blog is opening up and sharing parts of my life, and well, birthdays are a big part of life. So my birthday was on Sunday, and since I was lucky enough to have that day off, my boyfriend and I decided to make the short little drive into Austin to celebrate with his family and one of my best friends. We had some amazing food, and I just want to share all the fun bits (aka all of the delicious food) from that trip.

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Gordough’s Public House

2700 S Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78704

So let’s start with Saturday nights dinner, if greasy food is your jam, then you’re going to love Gourdough’s. To make it simple, everything here comes with donuts. I’m talking chicken sandwiches made with donuts, salads with donut croutons, donut desserts. Everything. Is. Donuts. If you were coming here for just good ol’ donuts, I’d definitely hit up their food truck, however, as a meal, I’m probably not going to go back. I’ll tell you what made the dinner worth it: the coffee cocktails. They’re incredible, and they don’t just have one or two, there’s like ten. I had the Salted Karma (chef’s kiss) that I will definitely be back for. Maybe check them out just for them!

Half Step

75 1/2 Rainey St Austin, TX 78701

When people think Austin, 6th Street is what automatically comes to mind. However, if you want to get away from the tourist scene, then head to Rainy Street. It’s cocktail bars inside renovated old houses, chill yet still fun. Perfect for if you’re not a twenty one year old hoping to get blackout. We just popped into Half Step for a quick nightcap, and I had the Grapefruit Collins, which was basic, but still good (honestly, if you like mules, you’ll like it).

Kerbey Lane Cafe

3704 Kerbey Ln Austin, TX 78731

A throwback to my in-laws college years, this wasn’t the first time I had been there, but honestly I see now why it was one of their favorites. I got the baked potato omelet (ten out of ten recommend) with a vanilla oat milk latte and a mimosa (I mean, it’s Sunday brunch), and honestly I can’t wait to go back to have it again. Oh, and when I say they have the fluffiest biscuits, I mean they’re better than Cracker Barrel’s.

Loro

2115 S Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78704

This was a very special treat for my birthday dinner, and I’ve honestly been looking forward to trying this place ever since I first heard about it. Loro is a collaboration with Franklin Barbecue (aka THE place to go for Barbecue in Austin), so imagine Asian cuisine meets Texas smoked meats. I had the Malaysian Curry Chicken Rice bowl with a Mango Sake Slushie, and they were absolutely amazing. The interior is super modern minimalist, and you go up to the counter to order so it’s the perfect balance between casual and higher end dining.

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope you get a chance to try out all of these fun eats. All of my socials are linked if you want to give me a follow, and tune back in next week to see what’s new!

May 2021 Favorites

Way back in OG Youtube days, monthly favorites videos were some of my favorite things to watch. I just loved watching what other people were loving, and it honestly gave me so many of my favorite products in my teen years. Unlike those early youtubers though, I wouldn’t expect a new favorites post from me every single month. I just feel like it takes at least two months for me to decide if I like something, and even longer for it to become a “favorite”. So these posts will probably pop up more as we change seasons, but you know, still going to call this a monthly favorites. Let’s get right into it!

1. Sweet by Ellis Brooklyn

So in my last fragrance post, I talked about Ellis Brooklyn’s Bee perfume, and this past month I’ve been loving “Sweet”. So normally my fragrance tastes are far from anything that can be deemed smelling like candy (which one of my friends claims it kinda smells like Swedish fish), but I think this is more of a grown up kind of sweet. With notes of pear, bergamot, violet, as well as white amber and cashmere, it’s just subtle and light enough to get noticed and perfect for the summer season.

2. Megababe Beachy Pits Deodorant

If like me, you loving using natural deodorant but the “natural” scents don’t always work for you (lavender smell does not work in my underarm region), then this is the deodorant for you. It’s baking soda and aluminum free, using sage and green tea to prevent odor causing bacteria from forming.It’s a light scent, but perfect for summer.

3. Megababe Space Bar Charcoal Bar

So here in Texas, it gets HOT in summer, which means that I sweat A LOT, so sometimes you need something a little extra down there. Enter this soap bar, it has glycolic acid, tea tree oil and charcoal. As a bit of a warning though, don’t leave this bar in the shower because it will dissolve fast.

4. Lancome L’absolu Mademoiselle Shine Lipstick in “Mademoiselle Plays”

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With the vaccine rollout and mask mandates being lifted, it’s finally time to showoff lipstick again and I have been absolutely loving this one. The formula is amazing, giving you hydration and pigmentation (think lipstick/lip balm hybrid), and it smells divine! I love this shade just because it’s the perfect peachy nude for summer with little flecks of gold inside.

5. Nisolo Huarache Sandals in Almond

What my boyfriend has deemed my “farmer’s market mom shoes”, these are honestly my favorite splurge purchase I’ve recently made. They’re honestly super comfortable (like enough I wear them to work pretty often), but cute enough that I also wear them everywhere else in my life (aka brunch, because that’s all I have going for me currently as a social life). A great thing I love about this brand that makes the price tag worth it is that they’re extremely socially conscious, with the shoes being handmade in Peru where they pay higher than an actual living wage (100% Living Wage) and have also worked towards reducing their impact on the world (0% Net Carbon).

I’m so sorry about missing the post last week, life just got absolutely insane and to be honest, I just didn’t have time to finish working on it. However, I promise I’ll do better in the future, so make sure to check back every Friday for a new post. My socials are linked if you want to give me a follow. Have an amazing week!