Hello February

Although February is arguably the gloomiest month of the year weather-wise (especially in New England), the roses, candy hearts, and other pops of red and pink that start to appear in shop displays never fail to lift my spirits. In honor of the first day of the month, I wanted to share a casual outfit that's slightly Valentine's Day inspired.

Creating Your Dream Dorm

I have lived on-campus throughout my college career, with my first two years in your typical freshman dorms, and this year in an apartment-style residence. Along the way I have picked up some budget-friendly tips and tricks to make my room functional, yet still as cozy as possible. I've learned from experience that the last thing I want to do at the end of a long day of class and practice is to go home to a messy, chaotic bedroom. While I used to be all about the brights (bright walls, bright bedspread, bright pillows, etc), having a clean room with a neutral color palette has made a huge difference in helping me unwind and relax. I also find that when my room is more muted and decluttered, I am motivated to buckle down and get my work done. Here are my top tricks and tips for creating the dorm room (or bedroom) of your dreams.

Winter Nails

I wanted to put together a quick post to round up all of my favorite winter nail polish shades. These 5 colors have been my go-tos for the past couple of months, and I think all of them would flatter any skin tone.

Clockwise, from top left:

1. OPI Jade is the New Black: An OPI classic. This rich, jewel-toned green is a nice change from your conventional reds and pinks, yet still neutral enough to wear on an everyday basis. It's quite Christmas-y, but I love it and wear it throughout the entire fall and winter.

2. Essie Bahama Mama: A beautiful dark berry shade. Because it's not overly purple or overly pink, it looks super sophisticated on the nails. Bravo, Essie.

3. OPI You Don't Know Jacques!: I'll admit, this color looks like poop in the bottle. But when I saw it on my friend's nails I knew I had to have it. It's much more than just brown; it has a taupe-y gray undertone that makes it super wearable, and it goes with any outfit.

4. Essie Coconut Cove: Whenever I'm feeling the "Winter White" vibes, I reach for this guy. It has a bit of creaminess that makes it look luxurious in comparison to some white polishes I've tried that looked like I straight up dumped white out on my nails. Although I'm paler than ever, this white is still light enough to make me look like I at least have a little bit of color. And everyone knows that "no white after Labor Day" isn't actually a thing anymore.

5. OPI Got the Blues for Red: The only dark red you'll ever need in your collection. I think this vampy wine shade is much more subtle, sophisticated, and flattering than a bright cherry red. I've been wearing it year after year and it still hasn't worn off on me.

I apologize for the lack of brand variety in this post, but I think you just can't beat the formula and color selection of OPI and Essie, especially when they are constantly releasing fun new collections. I'm already eyeing the peachy pinks in the Essie Spring 2017 campaign...

xoxo Lizzie 

Skincare Simplified

While I love the idea of pampering myself with a 10-step skincare routine, it just isn't practical, especially in college. Hectic schedules with late nights and early mornings make it easy to lazily rely on makeup wipes to get the job done. However, after a bit of trial and error, I have finally balanced and simplified my skincare routine to the point where is it both manageable (i.e. not too many steps) and beneficial for my sensitive, combination skin.

Isn't this how everyone washes their face?? (image via Twitter)

Signature Scents

I don't think anyone on the internet is particularly great at describing scents, but that doesn't stop me from watching candle hauls and perfume collection videos. Today, I'm sharing my absolute staple perfumes, and I'll try my best to do their aromas justice.

New Revlon ColorStay Crème Eyeshadow Review

*Click here for a tutorial using this product!*

I love a well-made cream eyeshadow. They are great for low-maintenance makeup days when you just want to apply a quick wash of color to the lid, no brushes needed. I first saw these new shadows from Revlon featured on Tati's channel, and she totally convinced me that I needed them. I ran over to the nearest CVS shortly after and purchased 2 shades, as Revlon was BOGO 75% off at the time (CVS always has promotions on its cosmetics brands, so be on the lookout). Needless to say, I was so impressed!

New Year, New Planner!

Okay, I get way too excited over paper goods like planners and stationary. Honestly I could shop in Paper Source or Papyrus for hours on end. However, there are definitely some positives that come out of this obsession with overpriced notebooks. Having a nice, high quality planner makes me look forward to using it, which in turn makes my life more organized. For 2017 I'm using the Erin Condren Life Planner- so aesthetically pleasing and so functional...it's a win-win!

So beautiful *sheds single tear*