BBW Semi Annual Sale Haul

Well hello there everyone! Long time no talk. Sorry about that, that's definitely my fault. I've been spending my days working long hours (and baking in the sun on my days off) which hasn't left me too much time to blog. One of the reasons I've been so busy is because it is officially the Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale. As an employee, it is simultaneously my favorite time of year and the bane of my existence (there's nothing like spending 2 hours putting together a table of handsoap!).

Lucky for me, I got to pick up some of my favorite products for super cheap! And lucky for you, I'm going to give you the inside scoop on what I got. 

For those of you who don't know, Semi-Annual Sale happens every year in January and June and if there's ever a time to shop at BBW those are the times to do it. Not only are there crazy discounts (75% off anyone?) but they also bring back discontinued products that aren't available during the regular year. I didn't stock up on too many of those, but I did find quite a few things to add to my growing collection.

(Note: I am not getting compensated for this post and I only used my employee discount on one product which is marked below. All opinions are my own!)

Forever Midnight Fragrance Mist // Forever Midnight Body Cream

How excited was I to see that the full size fragrance mist and the body cream in Forever Midnight were only $8?! So excited! The Forever Collection are the most expensive products in the store (and they are slightly higher quality) but for me it's hard to justify a full priced purchase. The Forever Midnight is definitely a stronger fragrance and I know a lot of people feel it's more night time appropriate because it's more of a traditional perfume. It's vanilla orchid, plum nectar, and carmel liquor which I absolutely love and it wears really nicely on my skin. If you like Twilight Woods try this!

Oahu Coconut Shower Gel // Cashmere Glow Shower Gel

Our shower gels are my latest obsession, and when they're knocked down to the same price as what I normally buy for drug store body washes, how can I say no? (Answer: I can't). So I picked up the Oahu Coconut Shower Gel which is coconut scented but also has bergamot and lily notes in it, so it's a bit floral. I also grabbed the Cashmere Glow Shower Gel which I'll probably save for winter time since it's a bit warmer of a scent made up of peaches and vanilla.

Ever since I've been pairing the shower gels with the loofah my life has changed. The lather is phenomenal, which unleashes the fragrance and it fills my whole bathroom which is awesome! Not to mention the loofah lathers so much better than a wash cloth so I get to 3 times as much use out of the bottle (a broke girl's dream!).

Endless Weekend Body Scrub // Apricot and White Tea Face Scrub

These two products I'm a little less familiar with. The company came out with the Endless Weekend Body Scrub while I was away at school, but I got to try a few other of the pink sand scrubs when I worked over spring break. I've played around with this product a little bit in the store and I did use it earlier this week in the shower and let me tell you, I'm obsessed. The pink sand in the scrub is a great exfoliant because unlike sugar, it doesn't dissolve when it hits the water. For someone with really dry legs (me) it's just what the doctor ordered. This product is currently full price so I was able to apply my employee discount to it, but I totally would have bought it anyway.

The Apricot and White Tea Face scrub is something that I've only used once BUT it comes highly recommended from my coworkers who practically forced it into my bag when they heard I'd never used it. I'm planning on using it twice  a week as a gentle exfoliant and hopefully it will help keep my skin soft and clear. Unfortunately you can't get it online, but if you can find it in your local store I think it's worth giving it a try!

Do you have any Bath and Body Works favorites? Did you stock up during this month's sale? Let me know in the comments!

DIY: Glitter Wine Bottle

Hello friends! It was an exciting week for me as one of my besties turned 21 on Tuesday! And what do you give the ultimate girly girl for her 21st? A bling-ed out wine bottle of course! I had so much fun making this and now I'm constantly looking for things I can add glitter to because I have sooooooo much extra glitter. It was easy to make and my friend absolutely loved it, so it was time well spent!

I'm very proud of the finished product, but it obviously didn't start out looking like that! I have the project supplies are listed and pictured below. I overestimated how much glitter/mod podge I needed so I could have downsized and saved some money, but all the supplies came it at about $20 (excluding the wine)

Supplies

An item to decorate (I chose a wine bottle)

Glitter

Mod Podge Glossy Finish

Sponge Applicator

Gems (optional)

Tacky Glue (optional/not shown)

My sister got some action shots of me applying the glitter, so hopefully this gives you a good visual of what I was doing. It was a pretty simply method if I'm being honest. I worked in sections and applied a medium layer of mod podge and then just sprinkled the glitter over it using my fingers. 

I didn't want to gloop on the mod podge but I wanted enough so that the glitter would actually stick. I think after a section or two you get a feel for what is the ideal amount. I also think it would have been easier if I had gone for a smaller sponged applicator. I thought it would be more convenient to have  large one to cover more surface area at once, but it didn't quite fit in the jar of mod podge so it kind of created a big gluey mess.

After I sprinkled the glitter on the bottle, I shook it and blew on it so that all the extra glitter would flake off. I worked over newspaper but I still made quite the mess! Although I will say that the shape of the bottle made it pretty easy to work with since I had something to hold onto that wasn't being coated.

After you finish covering all the areas with glitter, you can use the mod podge to seal the glitter so it doesn't flake off. It is very important that you choose the mod podge with the glossy finish for this because it will preserve the shininess of the glitter. I just used the sponge to kind of blot/stipple it on top of the glitter (I figured this was more gentle than stroking it on) and it dried clear and kept the glitter in place!

It's also important to note that mod podge is not just regular glue. I don't believe using craft glue (especially as the sealing layer) would have the same effect.

The picture above is what the bottle looked like after I sealed in all of the glitter.

Now comes some more optional decorating! If I had been doing something for my home (like a vase or a make-up brush holder) I might not have gone for the gems, but 21st birthdays call for tackiness. 

I went for clear tacky glue because I didn't want any residue when it dried. It worked out really well and all of the gems stayed on during transport. I would say be a little more generous with the glue than you think you do (especially if it's going to dry clear anyway) because the glitter is a textured surface and it really needs to seep into all the nooks and crannies. 

What do you think of the project? What should I add glitter to next? Let me know in the comments!

Top 5 Tuesday: Summer Nail Polishes

I can't lie to you, if I was a rich woman (and hopefully someday I will be!)  a bi-weekly mani/pedi would definitely be a must in my life. But for right now, a trip to the nail salon is a pretty infrequent occurrence in the life of Elise and I am left to fend for myself when it comes to nail polish. Doing nails on a budget doesn't mean you can't have awesome colors! So for this Top 5 Tuesday I thought I'd share my favorite nail polish colors for summer from the drug store.

Colors listed from left to right! But other than that they're in no particular order.

1) Funky Fingers- Mrs. Mint

 I purchased this color from Five Below which is essentially a "dollar store" where everything is under $5. I love this color though! I don't really go for blue/green toned polishes very often, so it says a lot that I reach for this one. It's got good color pay off and who doesn't love mint for spring and summer?

2) Sinful Colors- 24/7

I got this color from Target for $1.99. This line is kind of hit or miss for me. This particular polish dries with a matte finish which isn't my favorite, but others in the line dry glossy. I just do two coats and add a top coat over it and it comes out fine. It's not the best quality (but hey, you get what you pay for!) but the color is pretty unique. I don't think the camera actually does it justice, but it is literally the most neon of pinks I have ever seen. And if you can tell from the swatches I chose, I love me some pink nail polish. 

3) Spoiled by Wet n Wild- Uh, As If!

I found this color at CVS Pharmacy and this was also $1.99. I was insanely impressed with this color, especially for the price. First off, let's just point out that the name is a Clueless reference (for those of you who didn't know I was Cher Horowitz in a previous life) so it automatically gets points in my book. Next, the brush is super wide so it's really easy to get a nice smooth coat without much effort. And to top it all off the color payoff is great for such a cheap polish. You don't even need two coats if you don't want which is crazy! 

4) Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear- Coral Reef

I think Sally Hansen polishes are pretty easy to get your hands on, but I got mine at CVS for $3.19. This is one of my go to colors for spring and summer. I did a whole blog post on it previously, but coral is something I can't get enough of! The formula is good and it dries with a really nice finish and it was definitely a good find.

5) Sally Hansen Hard as Nails- No Hard Feelings

Again, I got this one from CVS and I'm having trouble finding the price online for some reason, but it's still listed on the Sally Hansen website so I know they still make it! But anyways, this color is beautiful and I love that you really only need one coat, even though I usually deepen it up with a second one. My one complaint is that the brush is too thin, but I'll get over it because it's a perfect purple!

Okay so holding this pose so you can actually see all the nails is super hard! And now the swatches are from right to left.

And I added a top coat for this photo, but I don't know if the camera even really picks up the difference

And now it's time for me to rave about my favorite base coat/top coat combo. My boyfriend's sister used these on me and my $2 nail polish lasted just about a week with no chips. After that, I immediately went and tracked down my own set. The polishes came together and I got them for about $8 at CVS. I've never been crazy into top coats and base coats but I really like this set and I think it makes my nails look professionally done.

So let me know you're favorite nail polishes! I'm going to London in September and I can't wait to get my hands on some Barry M and Tanya Burr colors. Any suggestions from my European readers?

Summer Skin Care Must Haves

Hello friends! I'm happy to report that it has been consistently sunny and warm in CT! Unfortunately, I got a little too adventurous with my sunbathing and I'm slightly lobster-like at the moment. As I was rummaging around my bathroom in desperate search of some much needed aloe vera, I thought I would pull out some of my favorite products for when my skin needs a little extra love in the summer time!

When I'm a little low on cash, Pond's is my savior. The Classic Cold Cream is perfect for removing make-up and it comes off so easily! I just put a little bit on my eye area with my fingers, rub it in, and then wipe it off with a tissue. My favorite part is that it doesn't irritate your eyes so you can actually open your eyes without fear of it stinging.

The Dry Skin Cream is a great moisturizer which is super important for me since I have dry skin, which gets even worse in the summer from all the sun exposure. A little bit of this stuff goes a long way and I also find that it's really gentle. I've never had a problem with it breaking me out and I've been using it on and off for about 2 years now.

This Lush combo also works great for me, but much to my dismay the products are much more expensive than the Pond's products from the drug store. I use the Ultrabland as a cleanser, but it also completely removes all of my make-up. It's an oil based cleanser so it's almost the consistency of a lip balm type deal. I usually just apply it to my face before I hop into the shower and it just chills there until I wash it off with a wash cloth. It is perfect for me because it doesn't give me that tight and dry feeling that a lot of cleansers (especially those with salicylic acid) do.

The Eau Roma Toner Water is literally going to last me a life time. I just mist it right on my face before I moisturize. I actually thought the sales girl was just getting the best of me when I bought it, but it's actually my favorite part of the trio. It has a cooling effect that is perfect for dry skin (and it's just fun in general).

When I bought Skin Drink, I had asked the sales associate to show me something that would really help with my skin because it was getting so dry it was actually flaking a little which is not cute. So she showed me the skin drink and I liked it a lot! Not super keen on the scent (it has sesame oil in it) but it did help and the smell didn't linger more than a minute or two. This product in particular is pricey though considering the amount of product you're getting (that's why it does help to use it with the toner), so it might be awhile before I can replace mine.

The main reason I wanted to include my foundation in this post is because for me it's really important that I wear sunscreen on the daily. I've never been super picky about foundations, but I do always look for ones that have SPF and the Revlon Photoready has SPF 20. I'm not someone who avoids foundation in the summer and I tend to go for lighter coverage year round (I mean I've never really found something from the drug store that wasn't light coverage...) but I think the Photoready is light enough for summer. 

The Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder doesn't have SPF in it, but it leaves me with a good finish when paired with the foundation. I've never really worn powder before though, so I don't really have too much to compare it to. I think when I finish this one I'm going to try out the Rimmel Stay Matte because I've heard great things about that one!

What are your go-to summer skin care products? Anything you think I need to try? Let me know in the comments!

Friday's Fashion Finds: Utility Jackets

Hello friends! I'm super excited for this post because it's the first one that involves photos from my new camera! I decided to treat myself to a Nikon D3200 for a grad gift. Although I will admit that I may have shed a tear (and my debit card might have too) while actually making the purchase, I think it was definitely worth it. So today I had a mini self-timer photo shoot in my drive way (where I may have received some questioning looks from some of my neighbors), so please bear with me and my super awkward posing for now!

And now we're on to what you actually came here to read about: the fashion! So I don't know if it's because I spent all spring on a college campus, but I feel like everywhere I look I've been seeing girls in utility jackets. I loved the look so much that I made it a point to pick one up for myself! I've always loved the layered look, so it's no surprise that a jacket has become a favorite piece in my current wardrobe. I nabbed this one from Old Navy a few weeks ago and the two of us have been practically inseparable ever since! 

Probably my favorite thing about this jacket (besides the fact that I got it on sale-- your girl is broke!)  is that it has a tie that runs throughout the waistline so you can cinch it in a little bit which makes the cut super flattering! Is there really anything worse than super boxy jacket? I don't think so.

Since the jacket has a military feel to it, I wanted to keep it paired with some feminine pieces since that's more my style. I already had this lace v-neck in my closet from years ago, so it was a perfect match! Especially since I love coral and army green together, such a great color combo for spring time.

And then I threw on these sandals from Target that I have been living in ever since the temperature came into the 50s. They had them in so many colors you would not believe the will power it took for me to only walk away with one of them.

Jacket- Old Navy

Shirt- Forever21 (old)

Jeans- Old Navy

Shoes- Target

Necklace- Burlington Coat Factory

Other Utility Jackets

Macy's / JC Penny / Forever21

Do you have any favorite spring trends? For you fashion bloggers out there, any posing tips for me? Can't wait to hear from you guys! 

DIY: Crayon Art

Hello friends! I know that this DIY isn't exactly new or anything, but I made these almost 2 years ago and their still one of my favorite things that hangs in my room. As a person of the internet I've seen a lot of crayon art, but I've actually never seen anything quite like these ones. I'm pretty proud of them so I thought I'd let you guys in on the secrets of how they came to be!

Supplies:

Canvas (size of your choice)

Crayons (I used a 64 pack for each)

Hot Glue Gun

Duct Tape

Exacto Knife

Hair Dryer

Sharpie/Pen

First you need to choose your design, preferably something you can figure out how to draw or trace. I actually free handed the mockingjay so I didn't need to trace it.

To make the duct tape stencil, take strips of duct tape and make a square large enough to draw your design. You should do this on a surface that you don't care about and not on the canvas itself because the Exacto Knife will ruin it. Make sure to overlap the strips so they stick together and you'll be able to peel them up in one sheet. This will actually be pretty easy if you start peeling with the first piece you laid.

Next you need to draw your design onto the duct tape. Like I said, I was able to freehand the mockingjay but I did trace a plate to get the perfect circle of the ring. I started with pen and then once I got it looking how I wanted I went over the final lines in Sharpie so they'd be easier to see. Then I went over the Sharpie lines with an Exacto Knife which made it really easy to peel away the parts that I didn't need.

I hot glued my crayons to the canvas before I moved the stencil over but I guess the order doesn't really matter as long as you leave enough room for the crayons at the top. I went with the classic rainbow but my friend who I did it with used all green and hers also looked really nice so I think that's a great way to customize!

Once all your crayons are glued to the canvas and the stencil is on you can start with the blow dryer. Be careful with where you do this. We laid down newspaper to protect the table but some actually got on the walls a little (not terrible to get off if you wait till it dries but I wouldn't want to mess with white walls).

Once the wax is dry you can peel up the stencil and reveal the awesomeness underneath! A little bit of the color got behind the stencil but I think it actually looks cool like that.

Have you been doing any DIYs lately? Let me know if you try this or if you've done another project that you're proud of because I'd love to see it!

My Favorite Kardashians

Hello friends. I hope you've all been enjoying your weekend! As I've previously mentioned, I'm rounding out my first week of summer vacation and it's left me with a lot of time to relax and to reflect on some really important things in my life...like my favorite Kardashians! It took a lot of careful consideration, but I've finally made my decisions. I know we never thought this day would come, but here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for--my definitive rankings of the Kardashian clan. 

1) Khloe

(Source)

I don't think I'm the only one who finds Khloe to be the most down to earth and relatable Kardashian and that's why she's coming in at #1. Throughout the show, we've seen Khloe struggle with body image, infertility, and her heart wrenching divorce with Lamar. Because of these things, she's always just seemed to be the realest of the bunch. Not to mention, she's usually the voice of reason who calls the rest of the family out when they get a little crazy.

2) Lord Disick

(Source)

Okay, so we can't forget that Scott had some serious low points on the show. Now that he's gotten the help and support he needs to manage his problem with alcohol, he's a much more likable guy. In fact, now that he's healthy, he's pretty hilarious (and beautiful). Not only is he always dressed to impress, but this guy has perfected the "scruffy look" and arguably grows the best facial hair on the West Coast.

3) The Children (specifically Penelope)

(Source)

Say what you want about the Kardashians, but they produce some pretty adorable children. Penelope is currently the front runner in my book (just look at those big eyes and chubby cheeks!) but North and Mason are also very cute. Regardless of the fact that I love all toddlers (famous or not), I can't help but think the reason these kiddos rank so high is because it's a lot easier to like a Kardashian when they can't speak in full sentences...

4) Kourtney

(Source)

Okay, at first I was going to say that Kourtney also seems to be a "normal" member of the family. But then I remembered her latest health kick where she intentionally gets oil enemas and I had to rethink that statement. But despite some of her interesting habits, she does seem pretty normal. I'm glad she and Scott have been doing well lately because I think they have the cutest family!

5) Brandon & Leah

(Source)

Brandon and Leah aren't necessarily on the show a lot, but they have been increasing their appearances lately and I can't say that I mind. They're a beautiful couple who seem to be genuinely in love. And if you need more convincing, you should check out their music video for Showstopper because it's super cute and the song is pretty catchy.

6) Rob

 (Source)

Mostly when I think of Rob Kardashian, I think of how much I want his family to stop giving him crappy advice about his weight loss and his mental health. Based on recent episodes of the show, he seems super down on himself and is in need of professional support which I'm not sure that he's getting.  But hopefully he starts to make some strides in the right direction and then he can feel positively about his life again! 

7) Kendall

(Source)

Overall I typically like Kendall. She seems to be aware of how many opportunities and resources she has, and seems very appreciative of them instead of entitled. But other than that she seems to fly under the radar (possibly a good thing in this family?) so I don't have too much to say about her. Although I am pretty disappointed she never dished on her relationship with Harry Styles. She would have won serious points with me if she had at least admitted they were dating!

8) Kim

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Oh Kim, where do I even start? Sometimes she's cool, but other times she's just too much. Although I guess if I had paparazzi in my face 24/7 who knows how I'd come out looking. But I have to give her credit because without Kim, there would be no show! And then where would I find inspiration for my blog?!

9) Bruce

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Most of the time, when Bruce is on the show, I kind of just feel bad from him. They definitely play it out like Kris dominates his every move (which is probably true?). But Bruce also shows up for some great father/daughter moments with all of his children which may or may not warm my heart. However, I do feel bad that as an Olympic Gold Medalist this gig is now his claim to fame.

10) Kris

(Source)

Here's everyone's (least)favorite mom-ager. The matriarch of the Kardashians gets a lot of flack and I hate to say it, but most of the time it's well deserved. I don't doubt that Kris loves her kids, but I also don't doubt that she equally loves the fame that comes with her kids. She tried to change her last name back to Kardashian when she was still happily married to Bruce Jenner (rude!). And her latest stint of thinking she could just walk onto the cast of Chicago on Broadway had me thinking she needed to seriously check her ego.

11) Kylie

(Source)

Ugh, sorry Kylie, but I have to put you at the bottom of the list. I have to admit this is mostly because of a clear violation of Instagram privileges (specifically an overuse of the pouty lip). But, lately she's also come off kind of whiney and spoiled on the show. Granted, she's 16 so hopefully she'll grow out of it soon, but in the meantime she could benefit from thinking a little bit more before she acts. But I have to admit, at 16 I was probably no walk in the park either.

Do you have a favorite Kardashian? Do you disagree with the ranks? Let me know in the comments!

Fashion Tips from Baby Elise

Well everyone, I'm officially a college graduate! And now that I'm done with school I'll be having much more time on my hands. So I promise that I'll get back onto a schedule of more than one post per week. And to kick things off with a bang and celebrate the end of an era, I thought we'd take a trip down memory lane and get some fashion tips from baby Elise. So here are the fashion rules I live by (even 20 years later).

1) Always match your shoes to your bag.

You don't always have to be as matchy matchy as mini-me was, but it's nice to have cohesion within an outfit. I like my accessories to finish a look, so I want them to be contributing to a similar theme. If I have one really loud accessory, I usually keep the others neutral. Or if everything is neutral I usually try to keep them in the same color family (browns and tans vs. blacks and grays).

2) Florals are always in.

You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers. And now that it's May it is definitely floral season! If you've been following this blog for a while then you know that my style is definitely on the more feminine side, so working in romantic floral patterns is one of my favorite ways to make an outfit. I've heard it's going to be a hot summer, so I'll be stocking up on flowy floral dresses to stay cool and look cute this summer.

3) Don't sacrifice practicality for style.

I'm better about this now, but in high school I would rather freeze to death than wear a winter coat on a regular basis because it wasn't "in". Then I went to college and all of a sudden the trends seemed to be based around what was practical (who knew that wearing a parka down to your knees would ever be considered chic?) At least here in the US it'll be a while before you have to bundle up again, but keep in mind that you should never sacrifice comfort for fashion and even practical pieces can still be cute!  So keep that in mind the next time 6 inch heels are calling your name. 

4) No matter what the outfit is, you just need to commit.

Stepping out of your comfort zone? Good for you! I know it can be nerve racking to walk around all day in something you haven't tried before, but a little confidence can go along way. You'll never look ridiculous if you hold your head up high and walk around like you and your outfit own the place.  So when trying something new, be sure to fully commit and I promise you that the feedback will be positive!

I'd love to hear your favorite holy grail fashion tips and if you do a similar post I'd love it if you left me the link in the comments so that I could check it out :)