December Birchbox unboxing:

December Birchbox:

Tocca Crema da Mano Cleopatra, Full size $10

Real Chemistry Luminous 3-minute Peel, Full size $48

Coola Tinted Matte SPF 30 for Face, Full size $36

English Laundry Signature for Her, Full size $70

Lord & Berry Pailettes Glitter Eye Pencil in Black, Full size $18

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Review:

I’m going to be honest, I’m a little disappointed in my Birchbox this month. The two face products and hand lotion, I’m sure, would be great for someone else but I have plenty so they’re really un-needed products for me. I don’t use pencil eye liner so this little baby one (you can barely hold) probably wont get used. The fragrance, I do like. I love keeping little ones like this in my bag at all times and it has a nice clean smell, so this product will get used. Over all, not a big fan of this box. Better luck next month!

xoxo,

Daryen

blanket scarf tie up~

1. start with your scarf in its “blanket” form, completely unfolded.

2. fold your scarf in half like a triangle

3. gather up the amount you want in the front with the pieces that will wrap around your neck draped off the ends

4. next, bring the scarf up to your neck like you’re a cowboy putting on a bandana 😉

pulling those long pieces back behind you

5. criss-cross those pieces over each other

6. bring those same pieces to the front after you criss-cross them

7. and the final touch, you can let those long pieces hang down beside your large triangle in the front or tuck them behind it. I prefer to tuck them. VOILA! 🙂 Hope this was helpful!

xoxo,

-Daryen

outfit of the day, 12.8.14

Womens Pleated Midi Skirt | Black H&M button up blouse (last season) similar here | Gray furry vest (gift) similar here and here | Natasha Mid Heel Pump | Pink Target flared pea coat (sold out) similar here and here | Chunky-knit infinity scarf |

November Birchbox unboxing:

November Birchbox:

Catherine Malandrino Fragrance, Full size $110

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Creamy Lip Stain Heartthrob, Full size $20

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner, Full size $45

Mirenesse iCurl Secret Weapon 24hr Mascara, Full size $35.96

Whish (BB exclusive) Shave Crave Shaving Cream in Acai Grapfruit, Full size $20

Bonus: Blood Orange Caramel, Full size $20

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 How Birchbox works:

Sign up for Birchbox here, and you will receive one Birchbox a month with 4 to 5 sample products inside. After you sample the products, and love them, you can buy the full size products right off the Birchbox website. I don’t know about you, but beauty products delivered right to my front door for only 10 bucks a month is pretty ideal.

Review:

This is my first Birchbox, and I am very pleased with the products. I’m a sucker for trying new mascaras, I have to have a little perfume in my purse at all times, the lip stain is a beautiful dark pink/light red that will get a lot of use, and I’m prone to razor burn that I’m sure the cream will help. So, all my beauty product loving ladies out there, sign up!

xoxo,

-Daryen

Outfit of the day, 12.3.14

Women’s Doubleweave Blazer in navy | Sky blue A-line dress from Old Navy (sold out) similar here, here and here | Mootsie Tootsie brown wedge boots (sold out) similar here | Longchamp Le Pliage tote | Clinique lipstick in “Think Bronze” |

There’s nothing like a blazer to really bring an outfit together. I can have on the most slouchy dress, but when I put a blazer over it, I somehow feel chic, stylish, professional, and put together. Navy is my favorite color in clothing, paired with the striped detailing shown when rolling the sleeves, makes this a staple and favorite piece in my closet.

I wish I could link you the exact dress I have on here, sadly I bought it at Old Navy a few months ago and it’s no where to be found online (i searched forever). It’s a cotton, flared dress that I’m sure can be easily copied to accomplish this look. I linked some similar colors and cuts to the dress above, and I’m loving the Jcrew one!

xoxo
-Daryen

Let’s talk skin

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I don’t know if it’s the natural stress of the holidays, the fact that my days are feeling shorter, or just my stubborn skin, but I’m not enjoying these breakouts… not one bit! If you’re going through what I’m going through, I wanted to share my daily face cleansing routine and what I do for the pesky “I’m going to set up camp on your face and die here” breakouts.

My first step is washing my face with Neutrogena’s Deep Clean Cream Cleanser in shower. It’s a smooth cream with a cooling after feel that I love! Next, when I get out of the shower, I wash my face again with Clinique’s sensitive skin bar soap. I have really sensitive skin and this cleans without being too harsh. After that, I apply rubbing alcohol all over my face to help dry out any breakouts I may have. Most people use a brand of astringent, but I prefer rubbing alcohol due to my serious oily skin issues. And last, I apply Clinique’s Dramatically Different lotion all over my face right before bed. This stuff really does make your skin “dramatically different”. My face feels softer and my makeup goes on so much better now that I’ve been using it for awhile.

If you have any of those bad breakouts I mentioned, I found applying Neosporin directly to the breakout, and leaving it over night, really helps reduce the size and redness. And whenever you want to relax, feel your face tighten, reduce your pores, or just play with clay, I suggest using Freeman’s clay masks. They have the best selection and the best price tag! You can find the green one I have on in the picture above here 🙂

-Daryen 🙂

adding a touch of Christmas!

I have Christmas lights in my room all year. It adds a fairy-like, whimsical, princess look that makes it hard for me to leave my bedroom. But it also adds a touch of Christmas to my room when the holidays roll around, like now!

These are white lights on white string. I got them at Target for pretty cheap. It’s actually a pretty decent length, most of it is just tucked behind my dresser. I lined out my dresser with the lights and tapped them down with clear tape on any spot I needed to. Simple and easy and it lights my dresser up like a vanity while also adding a warm feel to my bedroom. Give adding different kinds of lights to your room a go and see if you don’t become addicted to it like me!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

-Daryen

(ps- the round rose ball lights you see in the reflection of my mirror are also from target)

outfit of the day, 11.29.14

Weekend outfit: Red plaid shirt, dark wash skinny jeans, and brown ankle boots all from Old Navy. White Columbia vest, Academy sports. Yesterday was Black Friday and I was very disappointed in the sales. Ulta had nothing special going. Yankee …

Outfit of the day, 11.20.14

Work outfit: white sweater, moms from the 90’s. Long burnt orange maxi skirt, Lizard Thicket. Multi colored scarf, Kohls (gift for Christmas from an old boss). Brown ankle boots, Old Navy. This is a very simple fall outfit. Long skirt, …

November 2014 favorites!

Products I’m loving this month: Bath and Body Works body cream in the scent ‘Plum Moscato and Almond Harvest’– the best smelling lotion I’ve ever bought from B&BW. I hate that it’s seasonal because I use this stuff like crazy. …