the little things

- waking up in the morning & opening the windows
- couch potato-ing it with an episode of Friends/Boy Meets World/Modern Family/New Girl
- getting lost in a good book
- discovering cool songs/artists
- tea and deep conversations
- ice cream cake
- random thoughts about life and realizing how blessed I am
- putting music I enjoy on blast while driving/showering/getting ready (and play sing-along)
- feeling nostalgic by an old photo and then spending hours flipping through old photo albums
- freshly painted nails
- looking/reading blogs
- when I fill my gas tank to a little past full
- receiving random text messages from people I haven't talked to in decades
- changing into comfortable clothes after coming home from a long day at work
- when people leave me little/random notes at work
- playing piano
- playing dress-up when I'm supposed to be cleaning my room
- the evening breeze
- when people randomly share bible verses with me
- receiving postcards and packages from friends around the world
- etc.

Black & White

For those who know me, I collect perfume for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, despite the fact that I rarely ever actually wear the scents - I mostly collect them for the sophisticated packaging. Recently, the Elizabeth and James chic duo has caught my eye.

Sexiness in a Sample

After recently viewing Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's interview on Ellen, and Estée from essiebutton's excitement over Fleurdeforce's Elizabeth and James 'intoxicating scent', I was so curious to the point that I was ready to drive myself to Sephora just to get a whiff at the hype. Luckily, I found a sample of the perfume duo that came with my recent Sephora splurge.

I have to admit, as excited as I was, I was very skeptical and hesitant to expose myself to the scent, as I tend to find celebrity involved scents to lack classiness and smell rather cheap. Much to my surprise, both scents were delightfully pleasant. Mary-Kate and Ashley wanted their signature fragrance for their line to embody their partnership and the brand, and they did just that. Though both scents are as different as night and day, the timeless sophistication makes them undeniably connected.

Nirvana White was my first whiff, and the scent is definitely intoxicatingly gorgeous, definitely made for the spring/winter season. It has a very soft, subtle yet distinct floral scent that neither smells too elderly nor too girly. The beautiful blend of peony and lilly of the valley notes almost reminds me of one of my cult favorites, Chloé.

Nirvana Black is a different story. It has a very feminine and woody scent, which reminds me of a vintage, sexy film noir, and very Audrey Hepburn. It is definitely too sophisticated for me, but I can see myself dabbling with this scent when I'm older and going to a fancy night out.

Both liquid goodness' are housed in the chic-est of packaging would make a beautiful addition to my collection. Dressed in an edgy texture of the simplest of colors, the gold detailing on the sides definitely make a statement. Which one do you prefer? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Earl Grey Cupcakes

I'm actually not too fond of earl grey tea, unless it's in the form of macarons or milkshakes. But when it comes to desserts, it’s always “red velvet this, red velvet that”. But hey, there are other flavors too! Following this foolproof recipe, Katherine, Kim, and I made Earl Grey Cupcakes. Pretty unconventional, huh? It’s not too sweet, yet bursting with flavor, and tastes like royalty. 

For the cupcake:

3/4 cup granulated sugar

4 Earl Grey tea bags*

1 3/4 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

2/3 cup milk

*Instead of letting the earl grey tea bags seep, we decided to add it into the mix for an extra burst of flavor and some texture.  

For the frosting:

1 package cream cheese

Confectionary sugar*

1 tablespoon of Vanilla extract

*Confectionary sugar added until satisfaction

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Pucker Up

A nude eye with bold lips is one of my favorite daytime looks because it naturally enhances the two features that demand the most attention. And mostly because it’s the easiest, quickest looks to wear for someone who is a victim of the snooze

(left to right)

button (Anyone else?). Because I am pretty pale, a pop of lip color is often enough to make me instantly put together, with or without makeup. As I have mentioned, collecting lip products has become an uncontrollable guilty pleasure. Here are some of my current favorite fool-proof lipsticks to use on a daily basis to go with a basic nude eye. (Fool-proof meaning I can apply it half-asleep).

As you guys can see, I have a thing for natural, rosy-pink colors. I just realized that they all pretty much look the same but I double pinky swear that they are all different!

1. YSL Volupté Sheer Candy - If I had to pick two, they would be No2 Dewy Papaya and No7 Sweet Fig. These glide on super easy, leaving behind a fruity mango scent and a sexy tint. No2 Dewy Papaya gives a peachy hue, perfect for summer and No7 Sweet Fig’s sheer red gives the perfect sexy red tint during the winter season.
2. Dior Addict ‘Lip Glow’ - This is my favorite lip balm/stick to grab when I don’t have a mirror but in need of an instant pop of color. I love that it has some SPF and brings out my natural lip color to transform my entire look.
3. NARS ‘Dolce Vita’ - I can’t say this enough – this is the definition of love at first sight swipe. This is seriously so natural, pretty, and truly moisturizing! Doesn’t dry out my lips at all. If I am only allowed one lipstick for rest of my life, it would most definitely be this one.
4. Revlon SuperLustrous – I have a lot of lipsticks in this line, but my current favorites are 683 Demure and 423 Pink Velvet. Demure is one of my favorite MLBB’s and Pink Velvet is my go to when I am feeling bold.
5. Jack Black ‘Natural Mint’ - Even though this is found in the men’s section at Nordstrom (I’m not a man, I promise!), this is my absolute must-have. I put this on every night and wake up with super soft lips. Also, I find it reassuring to know that I can kiss people without having my lips peeling everywhere.
6. EOS Lipbalm – I have a problem with collecting these babies and never using them up. My current favorite is Raspberry Pomegranate. I like to use this throughout the day, and the scent helps mask my hungry cravings.

If I had the magical ability to wake up without the urge to snooze, I would definitely play with the smokey eyes with a soft, subtle lip look more often, as eyeshadow is so much fun to play with.

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Enlightenment

Whenever I lose the nasal congestion game, I always re-discover my appreciation of being blessed with life. Not to be overly dramatic, but losing my sense of smell, along with the other four senses, is a very serious condition – I could’ve easily stepped in horse poop and not even know it because for all I know, I smell as heavenly as Chloé or Philosophy’s Amazing Grace (my current favorite daily scents).

Photo Courtesy of Pinterest

As I am gradually overcoming my allergies, I reorganized my room and found some fancy Diptyque candles I received from my aunt Last Christmas. I’m not a candle person, but candles are definitely one of my favorite accents for room decor. They are so simple, yet exquisite enough to make my nightstand and bathroom look and smell extra luxurious – not that I could smell very well.

I also love that their candles can double as a lovely makeup holder or a cute flower vase, (or even a shot glass?) once they finish burning. I don’t prefer to light candles, as I have always felt the burnt tip and half-used look takes away the classy look. However, I am feeling inspired to finish burning my candles so I can reuse the candle containers for redecorating, and take cool pictures like the one on the left, this, this, andthis. Pinterest obsessed much? Guilty. I definitely smell a future post on organizing make-up and trinklets when I empty my Diptyques!

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