As the months go on I find myself growing a bit bored of routine. I love change and I think it's important to constantly evolve and learn and grow. Leaving my comfort zone is something I try to do every single day.

So March has sprung it's lovely head around the corner for us. I know back in New York they are having fantastic weather which makes me happy to know that even though I suffered four long winters (last years was better... still not great) people are enjoying city-life outdoors.


All I can say is that February was a trying month and I am ready to put it behind me. However, 2017 has definitely been an interesting year and I feel like I'm learning more each and everyday.

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS LIPSTICKS

CHRISTMAS MAKEUP LOOK

SEPHORA GIFT GUIDE

OCTOBER EMPTIES //

Clinique Bonus Bag

A FULL WEEK! This may not seem like a big deal to most bloggers but I am happy I stayed consistent even when things got busy. So I saved my favorite post for the 7th day *heehee* There is so much inspiration out there for great fall makeup looks! Just going on Pinterest is like being a kid in a candy store. All the burgundy shades, magical berry lips, and heart stopping highlights... I'm getting goose bumps just thinking about it. I have my own little routine that I wear everyday with a few changes here and there. While I don't wear a berry lip to work I do like to wear the NYX Liquid lip in the shade 07/Sandstorm. So follow along for my little makeup tricks and treats!

Welp. Bye August of 2016 it was nice knowin' ya! We are finally finally FINALLY in the month of September woo woo woo woo. I spent an incredible holiday weekend up in Lake Arrowhead and it was literally the perfect transition weekend into Fall. The air was chilled and when the fog rolls up the side of the mountain and spills onto the streets and houses around the lake it feels like you could be living in a cloud. I was able to wear my new bomber jacket (which shall be put in my favorites below!) and actually not feel crazy for bundling up.
We also went to the resort for a cheeky little massage and gaaahhh it was pure heaven! I think I will need to do a good post for Lake Arrowhead the next time I'm up there...
Without further ado here are my August loves

Clothing// 

Makeup //

Accessories// 

Misc. //

JU got to be LYing to me that this month is already over. (badpunbadpunsbadpuns) It went lightening fast and honestly the biggest "accomplishment" I made was finishing the Harry Potter series which you, my friend, can read about here. Today I got an email from Bath and Body Works -- we're in a pretty personal relationship, nothin special -- and lo and behold THEY ARE ADVERTISING FALL CANDLES. Okaaayyyyy I mean cool. yeah. I'm cool with it.
To think that for the past four summers I was preparing to go back to school around this time. Saying goodbyes, planning my return trip (war flashbacks to packing/traveling with said luggage), and getting back into the school mentality.
But NOW I'm approaching that endless void of "you can do what you want now" and... well... HALP.
And now for the moment you've all been sitting on the edge of your seats for -- I know the anxiety is a lot for me too-- what did I like/love for the summertime month of July:

Makeup

Another day, another British Youtuber's product to review. I was excited to see that Tanya Burr had released a new range of beauty items in June, along with her adorable cookbook "Tanya Bakes." As I had never purchased her other beauty products I wanted to try a singular item in the hopes that I would be urged to buy more! Waste not, want not my friends.
After looking over the other items (although the Martha Moo Luxe Lip Gloss was a high contender) I decided to go with the Enchanted Dream Eye Palette. And just like the Zoella Beauty products I reviewed a few weeks ago the shipping took ages! I was pleasantly surprised when the package arrived in the mail yesterday and was eager to try it and review.

The aesthetic of the packaging is very, very cute. Not being a huge fan of purple, it seems to be a perfect color scheme with the pigment of the eye shadows. The heart mirror is such an adorable touch to the palette and actually has a good quality for a lower cost product.
I absolutely love the names of the pigments as well: Moonlit walk, Cocoa Plum, Berry Soufflé, and Magic Carpet.
Now on to the actual usage of the eye shadows. I am not going to lie, when I first swatched them I was a little nervous about the transparency. The top two shades do have a lot of shimmer to them while the bottom two are more matte based. For the price, however, I do have to say I loved the way the end result turned out. These are exactly the colors I would wear on a daily basis to work, going out, etc.
I will report back on the staying power as well but for now I would definitely recommend these palettes to my friends and family! And like the packaging on the back says, stay forever enchanting my friends :) xoxo Sam

Well my lovelies it is already that time again. On the 25th I kept seeing ads saying "Halfway to Christmas" and it was just mind blowing! But also really exciting as I hope to amp up my holiday blogging game this year. I really love doing the favorites because I can go back and look at what inspired me that month. What was I listening to, watching, reading, etc. Honestly, even if you don't want a blog to be read, I would recommend it to everyone. It's like a yearbook of your life (if you stay consistent), much like going back and reading your old journals.
The posts I was making 6 months ago or four years ago are so completely different from what I am doing now. It's so much fun to read back on old posts and laugh/cringe/tear up from the memories I wrote down. So this is my message for the month of July: MAKE A BLOG, even if it's just on a blank white screen, no pictures, no flare. Take some time to make memories and write them down. Who knows if the internet will still be what is it today in 50 years but being able to go back and read about who I was at this time of my life would be so fascinating years down the road.
Okay... Rant over.

Makeup




Clothing



Misc.
Music: This month was sadly really uninspiring in terms of music. If anyone has some cool tunes they've heard recently I would love to find some new jams!
Books: My reading corner is still consisting of Harry Potter but I finished the 4th AND 5th book this June so two more and I will have read the whole series, consecutively, in a pretty short amount of time (considering everything that was going on in the months of April and May).
Also I couldn't write a Favorites review without mentioning the book "Milk and Honey" by Rupi Kaur. Incredible poems that every twenty-something should read. I have definitely gone back a few times to re-read the poems that spoke to me.
T.V.: Orange is the New Black came back this month and I swear I did a really great job at not binging through them... until one day when I watched 5 in a row. That last episode had me crying for, no joke, the entire hour and 10 minutes.
AND OF COURSE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT GAME OF THRONES. It was a killer season that I think tops any television ever created all the way from start to finish. Just incredible television.
Movies: I was very excited for Neon Demon after watching the stunning teaser trailers but man... it was rough. Not even the gorgeous graphics and imagery could make up for the numb and snore-worthy plot and acting.
Finding Dory was trè adorable as I expected it would be. Baby Dory made me want to scream from cuteness.

That is it for my June Favorites! As always let me know in the comments what you were loving this month or tag your blog posts and I will definitely check them out! Much love xoxo Sam

It was the fastest month of my life you guys. Like how is it already April 4th?!?! Not that I'm complaining because it feels great to officially be in the decline of the semester. And March really was a great month in terms of travel and friends... not so much in how much I had to work. But I digress...
This past Thursday I headed down to Baltimore to present my senior thesis at the Eastern Communications Association Undergraduate Scholars Conference (now that is a mouthful). It was really fun and I loved exploring Baltimore with some of the classmates from my school. The city is super quaint (compared to New York) and reminded me a lot of Boston. And listening to other undergraduates from across the country share their research was very uplifting for me. I think I struggle in school sometimes because some people just don't value the education they are receiving. It makes me really sad to hear of people who don't study, don't read, or don't even try. I know I'm very close to finishing my own path of education but I think learning is life long. And to be around so many other people my age who have the same passion is really refreshing.
But now I am officially back on my typical school routine which is nice and I have a lot of fun things planned this month so it makes it go so much faster!
Now to get into the things I was loving in March!

Makeup

I absolutely can not believe November is already over. Compared to October, which dragged...and dragged...and dragged... But finally the time has come to finish 2015 off with a bang! School is going to be quite insane in these next few weeks but I am ready to finish up and head back home to spend the holidays with all my most nearest and dearest.
Speaking of home Thanksgiving break was exactly what the doctor ordered. As soon as that plane landed in LAX I hung my head out the car window like a dog, just taking in the warmer air. Even though it was around 1am there (4am in New York) my best friend and I laughed and sang and danced the entire car ride home. Each day was jam packed with friends and family and laughs and most importantly enough love to give me just enough motivation to take on these final weeks of school. My favorite night of being home was staying in our cabin, fresh snow on the ground, playing monopoly, charades, and heads up with my two sisters, mom, and stepdad. God, I would love to go back to the way I felt in that moment anytime I'm feeling down.
But alas I'm back to school, ending my internship, and also trying to scramble to get ready for the holidays. Here are just a few things that I was loving in November!

Movies:
Room

I know it may not be the place but before I move on to the unimportant material things I wanted to stop and recognize the atrocities that occurred in Paris last night. What world are we living in today that humans can act this way towards other humans? But we are stronger than them, as long as we band together. This fight can't be won if we are fighting in solitude. It has become more than personal and it's time for us all to stand up together. Now to show my mega nerd side and quote Harry Potter "The pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, reminds us, that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one."

Now moving on to the Ipsy Glam Bag I received this month. Once again I was waiting in anticipation for my bag to arrive in that adorable pink packaging! My roommate messaged me I had a package and I immediately asked "IS IT PINK?!" Here are the items in my Glam Bag for the month of November

'Me' Peptide Infused Lacquer by DERMELECT