2016 Favorites: January & February

I've been toying with the idea of doing a favorite-style blog series for a while now and have decided to commit to doing a bi-monthly post. Most of January was spent on the West Coast with only a suitcase and a backpack of personal belongings, so some of these favorites traveled with me there or were discovered on my trip. Let's get started.

Beauty Favorite

stila Huger Than Huge Extreme Lash Duo Set, 0.2 fl. oz.

My friend Katya, whom I spent half of my trip in California with, was batting her beautiful, full lashes and I just HAD to find out what she was wearing! She told me she had gotten the Stila Huge Mascara in an Ipsy glam bag and loved it. Once I got home, I caved and bought one for myself (which is fine considering I've had my Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara for way past its expiration date). I am loving the volume in this formula. It's very build-able and actually rivals the Better Than Sex mascara. I'm still deciding which one is better, but it's definitely in my top two!

Home Favorite

H2oVibe Rain Showerhead Jet with Wireless Bluetooth Speaker - Polished Chrome

A good shower head can completely change your entire bathroom. Most people who know me know that I am much more of a bath person. I don't love showers the way I love baths. Baths are just so relaxing. But, I never knew how amazing showers could feel with a great rain shower head. This soaks whole body with so many streams of water. It feels incredible. Not only that, but this shower head has a water-proof Bluetooth speaker so you can listen to music, podcasts, or audio books while you shower! And you can hear everything perfectly, unlike if you had a speaker outside your shower. You would have to blast it to hear anything. The sound is so clear. It makes showering that much more enjoyable, especially since I get to utilize my Audible and Spotify accounts. It's the future, baby!

Music Favorite

The Pinkprint [Deluxe Edition][Explicit]

When I told my friend Nicholas that I was listening to this album on repeat, I don't think he believed me. The thing is, I don't listen to rap. Or hip-hop. I don't have an issue with it, but it's just never something I was drawn to, kind of like jazz. I first got interested in Nicki Minaj when I saw a documentary on her on cable (MTV maybe?) and I thought she was just so rad. She's a feminist, body positive, and super talented. She just seems like an awesome lady. When I listened to her music, I was blown away by her flow. She's so fast! She stands up for herself and I really enjoy the accents she uses and her intonation. Bravo, Nicki. Thanks for introducing me to rap.

Favorite Book

The Goldfinch: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)

When I was choosing a book to bring with me on my three week trip, I decided that a big book would be better than bringing a bunch of small books. I'm really glad that I decided on this one (at close to 800 pages). I really loved the narration in this book, the story it told, and the characters Tartt created. It was in no way predictable and there were so many parts that I could absolutely relate to, despite different circumstances. I like epic books that take you on a long road, and that is what this book did. It was beautiful and refreshing. I plan on reading Donna Tartt's The Secret History sooner than later.

Fashion Favorites

Dr. Martens Women's Vegan 1460 Boot

I bought these boots two years ago and they have been the best all-weather boots I have ever had. They work great in Buffalo winters with frigid temperatures and icy surfaces--just add some thick socks and you're good to go. They were great in winter L.A. weather (60's and 70's Fahrenheit) because my feet didn't heat up too much and they looked cool with leggings, skinny jeans, or tights. And they held up against the Portland rain, keeping my feet dry. These couldn't be more versatile! My cousin, Lauren, her friend, Melissa, and I were all wearing these shoes and someone even pointed it out to us while we were having brunch. I think they look super cool (even though my sister calls them 'murder boots'), very 90's grunge.

Calvin Klein Jeans Women's Legging, Dark Rinse, 26

Amvets, which is my local thrift store donating profits to the American Veterans, does annual 50% sales and so on February 13th (aka Galentine's Day) I went hunting for treasures. I knew I wanted black jeans. I didn't have any that fit me at the moment, so I pulled a bunch to try on and I ended up with these awesome Calvin Klein jean leggings! They are the perfect amount of denim and stretch. These are so flattering, just awesome to wear with a blouse or a t-shirt. And they're super comfortable. They look exactly like jeans, too! I have been wearing mine (which I got for $4!) nonstop. Depending on your size, they are not outrageous online. The above link has a number of sizes. Who knew Calvin Klein jeans would actually be so good?