Moving Day

Tomorrow kicks off the big move to the new apartment. Needless to say, I'm more than excited and hope that Brutus adjusts to his new home (his own room, actually). The thing is that I haven't even started packing because I've been too busy shopping. My Friday night will consist of cardboard boxes, packaging tape and a few glasses of wine. It actually doesn't sound so bad :)
I'll be back on Tuesday with the full report - and pictures, of course.

Save Face ... and pennies.

During my facial over the weekend, I expressed my concern to the sweet esthetician on how much I would love to make this a monthly routine; but sometimes budgets just won't allow it. To my surprise, instead of coaxing me into a million reasons on why spa facials should fit into my budget, she explained that I probably have the ingredients at home to make my own masks or scrubs.
Her suggestions were:
olive oil on a cotton round, and pat around the eyes - for those fine lines and wrinkles that are sadly starting to appear.
a cup of sugar, mixed with lemon juice - a more natural exfoliate.

I've heard of homemade masks and scrubs before, but wasn't sure if they were sufficient. I had to take the professionals word for it, and did some research on other ingredients that I could potentially use. I'm interested in trying this Oatmeal and Yogurt face mask, that seems extremely simple and is suitable for all skin types.
It makes me feel better knowing that you're able to use natural ingredients and save your pretty pennies.

Perfect Pout

Trout Pout

Here it is - the first color after my four week hiatus of nail polish. I was patiently waiting to try the new spring colors; you would think I would have went with something more daring, like a lime green or a cool teal color, but I stuck with a favorite of mine, and picked a bright coral. It's making my day just a little brighter :)

Week Four

Well, we've come to the end of Butter London's Horsepower trial. Overall, my nails did increase in length; more than they normally would on their own. They have not gotten much stronger, but to be fair, that wasn't the Horsepower's claim to fame. Here are the end results:

left hand

right hand

What I Love About Sunday

this little gem that I received as a treat after my facial; for the stubborn blemishes that just won't go away

adorable sketches that I plan on framing by Camilyn Beth, whose blog I absolutely love

a tired Brutus after a brief visit with my grandparents

my favorite snack for movie night

Friday Favorite

A few things that are making my Friday a little extra special (besides that the weekend is here)..

Recent Bob Marley album purchase .. imagining I'm on the beach instead of sitting in an office ;)

this teal ring

delicious iced almond latte from Spot Coffee

...and... we found an apartment! No visual for this favorite yet, but there will be as soon as we move in. I'm so excited - the long search has finally ended, and now I can put my creative skills to work (thank the lord!).

Lighten Up

I must admit, these past couple of weeks I have been overwhelmed with the stress of searching for an apartment. When Brutus came along, the need for our own place multiplied by his 85 pounds. Finding a decent, reasonably priced apartment in Buffalo should not be that hard - but when you add an 85 pound bulldog to the mix - it just became almost impossible.
For my 'type a' personality - this process was done completely backwards; my overly organized self would have liked to have a fully furnished/decorated apartment first, then we could search for a new pup. And as I stated in a recent post, I have a need to decorate and have things organized, and this can be overwhelming for others who aren't the same way (i.e. boyfriend).
After a stressful week of looking at apartments that were either too small, had pet weight limit restrictions, smelled, and were out of our price range, someone said something to me that told myself to knock it off and lighten up: "You're in your twenties and getting your first apartment - relax, this should be fun". They were right. Everything will happen the way it is supposed to happen. I need to put my OCD, interior decorating self on hold until we actually have an apartment to organize and decorate.
I still couldn't leave you without showing you a few inspiration boards I found ;)

would love a pop of color in the bathroom

this kitchen looks like a dream

loving the use of vintage mirrors in a hallway

need: curtains.

Week Three

Left

Right

 Here are the results of week three. I decided to show the progress of my left hand, because as strange as it is, it's doing better than the right. What gives? I swear to you that both started at the same length.

What I Love About Sunday

As always, the weekends go by so fast. However, the nice weather we've been having has giving me the chance to spend some time outside and soak up the sun - which I, and Brutus, love.

Spa certificate I intend on using this week

Lazy moments with Brutus after a long walk

Mango Peach Salsa candle

Friday Favorite

Of all the products that I love trying and the clothes and colors I've become obsessed with, right now my favorite thing is our new dog, Brutus. We adopted Brutus from a local SPCA. At first, I was totally against adopting; who knows what they've already learned, where they have been, if they're aggressive or why they are there. But when I walked into the room where Brutus was and watched him sit calmly as all of the other dogs were barking and jumping, I knew he couldn't be that bad. We picked up Brutus yesterday; we're all still new to each other and learning each others habits, but I know we did the right thing in adopting him. He's a big teddy bear that loves to cuddle, and I'm looking forward to the walks, tricks and lazy days that we get to spend with him.

Decor Daydreams

While wishing this work week would move more quickly, I've been daydreaming of home decor. Before officially choosing the college I attended, I was extremely close to choosing an interior design program at a different school. The passion for decorating a room has never went away; sometimes I find an end table, curtains and decorative pillows more tempting than a new pair of shoes. Here are just a few of the things I'm loving right now:

colorful piece of art

 

fun zig zag pattern chair

classic empire headboard

old havana style plates

charcoal sofa

stemless wine glass

swirl pattern lamp

Week Two

Week two's progress. I'm noticing some growth, but not much. Perhaps this will be the week that the polish's nutrients and silica set in? Fingers crossed.  ;)

What I Love About Sunday



Coral Calvin Klein Wallet

White dress pants with black leather detail

Sleeveless Top

Teal and Nude flats

Tropical Crepes for Breakfast

Go Nude

With everything getting a splash of color for the spring, there are some things that will be left untouched. Nude lips are in this spring, and Sephora has the step by step tutorial to perfect the look. What I am guilty of (and rarely ever do) is not exfoliating my lips. Just like your face, your lips should be exfoliated and conditioned; I have a slight lip balm obsession, so the conditioning part is covered. Next, prime your lips with concealer. This will ensure your lipstick stays longer, and will remove any natural red or pink tint you may have. Line your lips with a nude lip liner, and blend inward. Apply a matte nude lipstick of your choice, making sure your lines are precise and you're getting full coverage. The last step - which is for extra coverage - is to dust a transluscent powder over the top of your lips.

This is a perfect lip to go with the bright yellows, mint greens and corals that I hope to soon be wearing.

nude lipstick

nude liner

Week One

Sunday marked the end of week one for my trial with Butter London's Horsepower. I'm seeing some results, but nothing spectacular just yet (I'm a very impatient person). The urge to paint my nails with bright corals and peach polishes that have come out for spring have come on strong, but I still feel the need to give this nail fertilizer its fair shot.