My Mani ~ Easter-y Chocolate Speckled Eggs

Hi lovelies!  I wanted to do my nails something kind of Easter-y this weekend, and just started playing around and came up with this!  The chocolate-brown hue of this Illamasqua polish was the perfect canvas for some fun pastel speckles.  {Click to keep reading!}

Some of My Favorite Things

Happy Friday, lovelies!  I've been running errands and hanging out with my bf's mom the last couple days, and just enjoying relaxing.  I suppose there are bright sides to being laid off work; you have more time to do things and relax!  Anyhow, I wanted to share some of my recent favorite things with you!  {Click to keep reading!}

April Julep Maven Window Is Open!

Hi lovelies!  Ahhh yesterday was March 20, meaning the Julep Maven monthly window opens, where you can view the month's collection, see what's in your profile box and switch profiles or skip the month and not be charged.  (Brilliant, really, isn't it?)  Otherwise, you'll pay $19.99 for about $40+ worth of product!

This month's theme is 'Turn on the Brights' and the full sized beauty product we're receiving is this rad nail and cuticle serum pen, along with the polish colors (this totally depends on your profile).  There's also a Dry Clean dry shampoo, available as an add on or in the Modern Beauty box.  Here's the hard part: what do I order?  I'm a boho glam, so my colors this month are Kaylen and Lena (see all the colors, above).  I really love the colors, and think I'll be sticking with them.

What profile are you?  Which box are you getting?

Don't forget, sign up here and get your first box for FREE with code FREEBOX!

xx
Lia

How to Reduce Under Eye Puffiness ~ Masqueology Eye Gel Review

Hi lovelies! I usually struggle with under-eye issues (puffiness, bags, etc.) and have tried so many different products, but to no avail.  While concealer helps with the bags, there's not really much I can do with the puffiness usually.  I've tried the roller-balls, and while they feel amazing I wasn't able to see any difference.  I received these eye-patches in a Birchbox, and I didn't think much of them at first.  I decided to try them out the other day, and really found them to work amazingly!

So when you open up the foil pouch, these slimy, mesh covered in gel thingies are stuck to a thin piece of plastic.  Then you peel them off and wriggle with the sliminess and think of how weird they feel, but you decide to just do it and stick it on under your eye.  It took a little fidgeting around to get them in place and to stay in place, but then I just laid down and relaxed, leaving these on for about 20 minutes.  The slimy goopy feel of them turned into cooling and soothing and it felt amazing.  After peeling them off, you don't wash anything off - you instead pat any remaining gel into your under-eye area.

I was most shocked at how the puffiness was gone!  I mean, it disappeared!  Now the bags/discoloration kinda stuff was still there.  But that's manageable (I do love my MUFE Hi-Definition Concealer!).  I seriously had no puffiness for two days and have never seen my eyes like that before.  If you have troublesome puffy-eyes like I do, I highly recommend you try the Masqueology Revitalizing Eye Gel Mask.  It's one of the few (if not the only) products advertising to reduce puffiness that actually does!  I can't attest to the brightening/revitalizing because I think that the lack of puff actually brightened and revitalized.  I think that with regular uses, there could be more of a difference.  The only issue is with the price.  Now at $24 for three sets, they are costly.  But if you make those last a month (do it every 10 days!) then it's not so bad.  It's a way of treating / pampering yourself!

xx
Lia

Wedding DIY ~ Rhinestone Shoe Clips

Hi lovelies!  With wedding season approaching, I am sharing wedding-appropriate DIYs for the bride that wants to save a bit and not go into debt over her big day!  There certainly are times to splurge, but there are many, many more areas in wedding preparations where you can save big time.  I don't know about you, but I'd rather save wherever possible!  Today we are talking wedding shoes.  While I don't really have any 'bride' shoes in my closet, I decided to demonstrate on a pair of lavender platform sandals (which I personally would absolutely wear if I got married again (went traditional first time, I'd definitely go unconventional round two!)

I was inspired by these peep toe shoes I spied in a wedding magazine, and realized that why splurge on a pair of shoes you'll only wear once?  {Click below for the how-to}

Today's Steals & Deals ~ Hanky Panky 3 pair for $23!

Hi lovelies!  I was watching The Today Show, and the Deals and Steals segment came on, which I half-paid attention to.  Until they mentioned Hanky Panky thongs.... a pack of 3 pair for only $23!  (a $65 value!)  Hurry to www.hankypanky.com/steals and enter your email and the code TODAY23, then you can choose which color trio you want!  Shipping is an additional $6, but you're still getting 3 pair for less than $30!  

Go now, before they sell out!  (I got the second set on the second row!)

xx

Lia

Review ~ My March Birchbox Unwrapped

Hi lovelies!  I just received my March Birchbox the other day and I couldn't wait to share it with you!  I was pretty stoked with everything I received, and plan on buying some full sizes of these samples.  If you're not familiar with Birchbox, $10 a month gets you a box with hand-picked (high-end) beauty and lifestyle samples, delivered!  I've been a subscriber for two years now, and LOVE it! {More after the jump}