Tag: october

October Lifestyle Favorites

Happy Thursday! October is over, and it’s time for me to share with you what I loved all month long. I feel like I’ve been saying this all year, but I can’t believe how quickly 2016 is flying by. We only have a couple of months left! Nonetheless, I’m excited to share my October favorites with you. I definitely discovered some new and awesome things!

October Lifestyle Favorites

SKINCARE

Yes to Cucumbers Face Wipes [BUY]

My first favorite this month is an old favorite! I decided to purchase a pack of the Yes to Cucumbers Face Wipes for the first time in a very long time. I’m so glad I did! These wipes are amazing. Not only do they remove all my makeup, but they are gentle on my skin and smell very refreshing as well. If you are looking for a great makeup remover wipe option, I highly recommend these. While they are a bit more expensive than I would like to spend, they are worth the money.

ORAL CARE

Preserve Toothbrush [BUY]

A bit of a random favorite is my new toothbrush! I found the Preserve Toothbrush at Trader Joe’s and purchased it because it is made of recycled products in the USA and is cruelty free. I had no idea how much I would love the toothbrush itself! The head of the brush is at an angle, so it makes it really easy to brush all of my back teeth. Plus, the brush head is on the small side, so I can fit the brush way in the back, too. I’m so glad I found this!

FOOD

Peanut Butter and Co Pumpkin Spice

Peanut Butter & Co Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter [BUY]

I absolutely love peanut butter, and was beyond excited to see my favorite brand Peanut Butter & Co. release a pumpkin spice flavor! I know it sounds weird, but this peanut butter is amazing. I spread it on bagels and use it to make mug cakes, too. I also have to admit I got a back-up jar for when this one runs out!

TV SHOW

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

I started watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend with my sister-in-law, and I quickly fell in love. If you haven’t heard of this show, all you need to know is it is a musical comedy about a woman who leaves her plush life in NYC to move near her ex-boyfriend from high school. This show is absolutely hilarious, and I can’t wait to continue watching it. I am only a few episodes in, though, so please don’t spoil me!

MUSIC

Joanne by Lady Gaga [BUY]

I’ve been a huge Lady Gaga fan since her Just Dance days, and I’m always blown away when she releases a new album. I purchased Joanne on release day because it was only $3.99 on Amazon, and I’ve been listening to it on repeat. I can’t even pick a favorite song on the album because they are all so good!

STICKERS

Blobby Stickers

Blobby Stickers from Oh, Hello Stationery Co. [BUY]

My last favorite in October are stickers from Oh, Hello Stationery Co. This shop released a bunch of adorable designs in the Blobby line. Blobby is a little creature who is living life just like the rest of us. I love to use Blobby stickers to mark anything in my planner. If a Blobby is appropriate for the occasion, I will use one! I highly recommend picking some of these stickers up for your planner or journal.

That wraps up my October favorites! I hope you enjoyed learning what I’ve been loving lately. As always, please share your current favorites with me in the comments. You can also use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media so I can see your photos. I hope you all had a wonderful October, and here’s to a great November!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My Recent Manicures | October 2016

Happy Wednesday! Today I wanted to share with you some of the nail polishes I’ve worn lately. I’ll be completely honest when I say that I haven’t worn nail polish much at all for the past two or so years. I would swatch polish for this blog, but not wear it in real life. I just got out of the habit of painting my nails! I really wanted to start wearing nail polish again, so that’s why I spent the time going through and decluttering my collection (you can learn more about that HERE). It is now so much easier for me to find a nail polish in my stash, and I’ve been having so much fun painting my nails! Let me show you the recent manicures I’ve worn so far this October.

Milani – Rapid Orchid First up is Milani Cosmetics High Speed Fast Dry Nail Polish in the shade Rapid Orchid. I was in the mood for a dark purple nail polish, and this was what I found in my collection. I really enjoyed this line from Milani, and it turns out that it is vegan while the new Milani polishes currently in stores are not. I also find it interesting that when I was decluttering my collection, my older Milanis held up a lot better than the newer ones. Unfortunately you cannot purchase this exact polish any longer, but Zoya Casey appears to be a similar option. I wore Rapid Orchid for about a week, and even reapplied it when I found a few chips. I love this deep purple shade!

LVX – Dahlia My love for dark nail polish continued with LVX in Dahlia. This is a deep red-toned polish with a jelly formula. I did need three coats because this polish is a bit sheer, but I don’t mind that at all. I don’t own many polishes from LVX because it is a more expensive brand at $18 per bottle. However, I absolutely love this brand and its high quality shades. Dahlia is beyond stunning, and I highly recommend picking it up on the LVX website HERE.

Zoya – TaylorLast but not least is Zoya in the shade Taylor. I had every intention to put on another dark nail polish today, but when I took a look inside my stash I changed my mind and went for a lighter shade. Taylor is still perfect for fall because it is a warm-toned polish in a cozy beige shade. The formula is really nice, and I layered on three coats for a perfect finish. I haven’t been wearing top coat lately, so that’s why I’m being a bit more particular with the finish of each polish. Taylor is really close to my skin tone, so I find it looks really sophisticated on my nails.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my recent manicures! I think this type of post is a fun way for me to share about my nail polish adventures, because I can tell you how I decided on wearing each polish, give you an update on the formula, etc. I hope to put one of these together once per month, or maybe once every other month, depending on how often I paint my nails. Please let me know in the comments if you enjoyed seeing my recent manicures, and also share what’s been on your nails so far this month!

The products in this post were originally provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

October 2014 Favorites!

Happy Tuesday! November is now in full swing, so it’s time for me to show you the products that I loved all October long. I didn’t test out too many new things this month, but I did find some great products to share with you. Let’s jump right into my October favorites!

NAIL POLISH

NYC New York Color – Black Elixir NYC New York Color – Black Elixir [REVIEW]

I’m really impressed with this black creme polish from NYC New York Color! At $1.99, it’s an awesome staple to have in my nail polish collection. I plan on using it for nail art looks in the future for sure! Make sure to run to your nearest drugstore to pick it up since it is part of the limited edition Midnight Beauty collection and won’t be on the shelves perpetually.

MAKEUP BRUSH

Real Techniques – Setting BrushReal Techniques Setting Brush [BUY]

I got a set of Real Techniques brushes for my birthday, and I am particularly loving the Setting Brush. It is absolutely perfect to apply highlighter to the tops of my cheekbones, but can be used to set concealer as well. It’s light and fluffy, and easy to use. Plus, I appreciate how affordable Real Techniques is!

HAIR

Macadamia Healing Oil SprayMacadamia Healing Oil Spray [BUY]

I’ve loved Macadamia products for a while now, and was super excited when I got this deluxe sample in a Birchbox. This spray is perfect for adding shine and reducing frizz without making my hair greasy. If oil weighs your hair down too much, definitely test out this spray. It also smells amazing!

FRAGRANCE

Taylor Swift Enchanted WonderstruckTaylor Swift Enchanted Wonderstruck [BUY]

I think I’ve featured this perfume in a favorites post before, but I’ve rediscovered my love for Taylor Swift’s Enchanted Wonderstruck this month! The scent is rich and perfect for the colder months. I’ve used about half of my bottle now!

SONG

Classic by MKTO [BUY]

I am a sucker for catchy pop tunes, and this one is no exception! I love the fun beat and lyrics, and have had it playing on repeat this month. I definitely want to check out more songs from MKTO. Let me know if you love this artist and what songs you recommend!

EXPERIENCE

Meeting Grace Helbig One of the most exciting parts of my month was meeting Grace Helbig at her NYC book signing! She just released her first book called Grace’s Guide (buy it HERE), and I made sure to head on over to Housing Works Bookstore Cafe to meet her. She signed my book and took selfies. It was awesome! Make sure you check out her YouTube Channel HERE if you haven’t subscribed yet (she’s at nearly 2 million!).

That’s all I have to share with you this month! I hope you enjoyed hearing about the things that made my October a memorable one. Please let me know your favorites in the comments, or use the hashtag #PolishlandFaves on social media so I can find your posts. Here’s to a great November!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

October 2013 Favorites!

Happy Tuesday! I am so excited to bring you my first ever Monthly Favorites post. One of my favorite bloggers, Love for Lacquer, inspired me to start sharing my favorite products with you every month. It’s a great way to share some of the items I use on a daily basis that might not make it onto the blog for a full review, or simply highlight my current obsessions. Let me share my favorites for the month of October!

NAIL POLISH

IMG_3434 IMG_3437I received Julep Char in my October PopSugar MustHave Box [review HERE] and I am blown away by its beauty! The dark blue color is stunning, and the formula is flawless. I wore it for nearly a week in October, which is a long time for me. I highly recommend it!

HAIR

IMG_3303

I’m also obsessed with The Wet Brush that I got in my October PopSugar Box! It is a miracle for my fine, tangly hair. I even tried switching back to a regular brush after using this, and I could definitely tell the difference. It might sound weird to have a holy grail hair brush, but this is definitely mine!

BLUSH

IMG_3450 IMG_3451A splurge product that I’ve been loving is Benefit Hervana, a gorgeous boxed blush that looks really natural. Plus, it has an amazing smell! If I’m reaching for a blush, it’s been Hervana. I definitely want to try out more Benefit blushes, too!

EYESHADOW

IMG_3453 IMG_3454You’ve heard me say a million times that I rarely wear eyeshadow. Well, I recently picked up the Physician’s Formula Canyon Classics palette and I can’t get enough! The shadows are great quality for an affordable price, plus they are really natural looking. The colors are swatched above in a clockwise rotation beginning with the top left corner. I’ve never actually worn the grey shade, but the rest are amazing!

MASCARA

IMG_3459 IMG_3461I love my drugstore mascaras, but the Manna Kadar Extreme Curl Mascara has been my go to this month! I got it in my October Wantable Box [review HERE] and I can’t get enough of it! The formula is just perfect for my lashes, and I’ve worn it nearly every day in October.

FOOD

IMG_3462I’ve been on a huge peanut butter kick this month! In fact, I devoured over half of this jar in October! You can grab 365 Organic Crunchy Peanut Butter at your local Whole Foods. It’s affordable, and tastes amazing! Plus, if you’re a vegetarian like me, this is a great way to get some protein.

SONG

Maybe it’s the native New Englander in me, but Ylvis’ new song Massachusetts is amazing! The tune is catchy, the lyrics are hilarious, and I just can’t get enough. I’ve had it on repeat since it came out!

EXPERIENCE

IMG_3440One of the most exciting moments of the month was getting to meet one of my favorite YouTubers, Meghan of Strawburry17. She and fellow YouTuber Arden Rose had a meet-up at the Nintendo World store here in NYC, and I just had to go! It was so great getting to talk with them, and both were so nice. If you haven’t checked out their YouTube channels, be sure to do so. I know you’ll love their videos!

And that concludes my October Favorites! Before I go, I wanted to share a new social media site that I joined! It’s called Luvocracy, and is a Pinterest-inspired website that you can shop from! I’ve curated my October Favorites into a collection, making it easy for you to purchase anything you see above. Plus, you’ll get a $10 credit when you sign up! Visit my profile HERE.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Keep a lookout for one of these at the end of every month, and make sure to let me know what your favorites were this October!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Subscription Sunday | October PopSugar MustHave Box

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have a somewhat sad post – it’s my last PopSugar MustHave Box. While PopSugar is definitely my favorite subscription service, it’s also the most expensive. I was willing to make room in my tight budget for $35 per month, but I got an email from the company saying they are raising its prices to $39.95 come November 4, and I just wasn’t willing to pay that much. Thankfully, the October box is a great way to honor my love for PopSugar. Let me show you the amazing products!

IMG_3301First up are three Must Have Beauty products! The first item is a nail polish duo from Julep that contained the Freedom Polymer Top Coat and Char, a beautiful blue polish. I personally think the Freedom Top Coat is horrible, but I’m so happy to have Char. The retail value for this duo is $32!

Next, I got two items from NYX Cosmetics. The first is the Smokey Fumé Palette complete with six eyeshadows, and the next is the Liquid Eyeliner in Black. These products retail for $7 and $6 respectively. I’ve been wanting to try out some NYX products, so I’m really glad to have these!

IMG_3303

The next Must Have Beauty product is The Wet Brush, which retails for $14. This is one of those products that seem really gimmicky, but it actually works! I am so impressed with this brush, and my hair is loving it. I highly recommend this product!

IMG_3306Now onto Must Have Fashion! First is the Gorjana Charity Bali Bead Bracelet. Not only do I love the hot pink color, but 100% of the proceeds for this $45 bracelet is donated to Breast Cancer research. Super cute, and a great cause! As a special extra this month, PopSugar threw in a $20 promo code to Stitch Fix, a website I’ll have to check out. Plus, I also got some cute bobby pins from Jane Tran that retail for $12.

IMG_3308My favorite item in my October Box is The Can’t Cook Book by Jessica Seinfeld. I feel like this book was made just for me! I struggle with cooking, and this book is so well-written and includes amazing graphics and directions. Plus, there are a lot of vegetarian recipes that fit my lifestyle. I can’t wait to try it out! This book retails for $27.99.

IMG_3309Last but not least is a Must Have Food item from The Crispery. This Halloween Crispycake is a huge treat! If you love marshmallows, this is for you. It retails for $3.95!

All in all, I’m glad my last PopSugar MustHave Box was a great one! The total retail value was $167.94, and I’m loving the items. If you have room for PopSugar in your budget, I highly recommend this box. It’s a great variety, and is so exciting to get in the mail. Plus, if you sign up before November 4th, you can lock in the $35 price by signing up for a 3-month subscription. You will pay in advance, but use code MUSTHAVE10 to get $10 off your purchase HERE. Let me know what you think of PopSugar MustHave in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. Box purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

My October Julep Maven Box!

Happy October! Today I will be reviewing my Julep Maven Box, and I am excited to tell you about the three new polishes I got. Let me begin by telling you about the special box that was offered in October. On the 20th of each month, Julep releases the five boxes that will be available to choose from. When September 20th rolled around, I was quite disappointed. The October Julep boxes were to feature crackle nail polishes, along with a line of gorgeous cream finishes in fall shades. While I do enjoy crackle nail polish, I couldn’t believe that was the product Julep was featuring. Crackle is no longer on trend, and Julep usually keeps up with the times. I, along with many other Mavens, took to the Julep Facebook page to let the company know how much I love their products, but how disappointed I was with the October offerings. Guess what? Julep listened! They created a special box called Maven’s Choice, which included three cream polishes and excluded the crackles. I could not have been more pleased. Julep really listens to its customers! Let me show you what I got in my Maven’s Choice box.

 

At first I was surprised to see how small the Julep box was this month, but don’t judge a book by its cover! Not only did I get three beautiful polishes this month, but Julep threw in some extras! The polishes (from top to bottom) are Lisa, Eloise, and Keira. The little pots you see are glitter pots in the colors orange and black to keep it Halloween themed! Finally, Mavens got some candy corn as an added Halloween treat. For some reason my box was missing the paperwork that usually comes with each Julep Maven box to highlight that month’s colors and trends. I guess that was the trick to my treat! I couldn’t wait to try out these gorgeous polishes!

 

 

First up is Keira, a beautiful deep burgundy polish. I am not usually a big fan of dark colors, but Keira is really nice. I used two coats of this polish, and as usual the Julep formula was amazing. I did experience some trouble with linen marks on my nails hours after applying the polish, but I am going to attribute this to high humidity. To be safe, give yourself a little extra drying time if you use Keira. This polish is quite pigmented, and leaned towards brown on the nail. This color is perfect for fall, and is work appropriate. Also, did you notice how short my nails are?! I needed to try something new!

 

 

Next up is Eloise, what Julep calls a “smokey indigo blue.” Let me begin by saying that I took these photos on day three of my manicure. As you can see, there is very little wear! I used two coats of Eloise without topcoat. I absolutely love this polish! I was most excited for this one to come, and it does not disappoint. The blue shade is really unique from anything else I own, and I love that it is deep, but not dark. Eloise is one of my favorite blue polishes, and I plan on wearing it quite often!

 

 

The last polish in my October box is Lisa, a grey that leans towards brown. I was least excited to try out Lisa, and to be honest I am not a huge fan of the color on me. The polish, however, is really nice. You can get away with one coat of Lisa for full coverage, though I still applied two in the photos above. The formula was amazing, and dried almost instantaneously! This is a great neutral shade if you are looking to stay away from beiges and tans. It is definitely work appropriate, and good for those of you who don’t like bold colors.

All in all, I loved my Maven’s Choice box! Julep always manages to impress me every month, and their customer service is right on. If you are looking to try out Julep polishes, I definitely suggest the Maven program. Not only do you get great discounts on their polishes every month, but you get your first box for one penny! Just click HERE and enter code COLOR2012 at checkout! Here is some more info about the Maven program if you’ve never heard of it before:

  • Julep is a monthly subscription program for $19.99 each month
  • You begin with a style quiz so Julep knows what polishes you may like, but you have the option to choose any box you want each month
  • Don’t have the cash? Don’t like your box? You have the option to skip your box each month and you will not be charged!
  • Mavens get access to special discounts on Julep products, and added freebies throughout the year
  • You have the chance to win the Golden Box each month — the complete Julep collection for that month!
  • You can cancel at any time if you decide you don’t like Julep
  • Your first box is a penny… who can pass that up?!

I hope if you join Julep you love it just as much as I do!