Category Archives: beauty

All Thumbs Thursday: Birchbox by Color Club in Tweet Me

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Birchbox by Color Club: Tweet Me

Birchbox by Color Club in Tweet Me

This arrived in my October Birchbox. Initially I was really excited to get a nail polish, and then I was like “…lime green? Really?” My preference veer towards subtle glitters or neutrals, and I don’t wear a lot of crazy colors, but I thought I would give it a try.

Color: a bright lime green creme

Consistency: a little on the goopy-thick side, but nothing unmanageable. Two coats covered it, but I added a third just to keep it smooth. There’s no visible brushstrokes, but it got a little clumpy on the nail.

Staying Power: Yikes! The ends were chipping by the end of the day. Like…majorly chipping. This picture was taken the day after I painted my nails, and you can already see how much it scraped off on the edges.

Color and Dupes: I already have a bright lime green in my collection- Did It On ‘Em from the Nicki Minaj collection. I haven’t compared them to see how they look, but the shade and quality seem pretty close.

Restock: Will I buy it again when I run out? Nope. Probably not.

Overall: This probably won’t be on my usual rotation- it’ll probably be used mostly as a pedicure color in the summertime. But a free polish is a free polish, right?

September 2012 Birchbox: The September Issue

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Somehow my September Birchbox got misplaced. BUT IT’S OKAY, I FOUND IT.

On the other hand…it was an underwhelming box this time around, so I didn’t quite miss it. My October box should be here today or tomorrow, so I hope it’s about 20% cooler this time around!

For a quick recap, my box had:

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint ($38 for full size)

This bottle is so tiny I haven’t gotten a chance to use it! I’ll probably save it for a weekend trip or something, since it’ll probably only last 2-3 uses.

La Fresh Eco Beauty Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover ($9.99 for a pack of 20)

This’ll be great to stash in my purse or take on a trip, since it’s just a little packet of nail polish remover wipes. And it’s cheap enough that if I like it, I won’t mind splurging a little to get a pack of 20 wipes!

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enyzmatic Face Rejuvenator ($34 full size)

I think I’m most excited about this one. I’m always looking for new face washes- I have pretty clear skin, but I’m always on the hunt for a face wash that’ll keep my skin super clear and won’t dry it out.

kate spade new york Twirl ($80 for 3.4 oz)

Man, I’m just racking up the perfume samples, aren’t I? It’s fun, though. I like having a lot of scents to choose from. I’m a big fan of the Kate Spade style and the scent is nice- floral without making me feel like an elderly woman’s pocketbook (I’m looking at you, Viva La Juicy.)

Birchbox and Color Club Custom Collection in Tweet Me ($8 full size)

On one hand, I’m excited to add a new nail polish to my collection. On the other hand…lime green? Really? Not too excited. Especially since I already have Did It On ‘Em in my Nicki Minaj mini set, and it’s practically the same color. Oh, well. New polish is new polish.

Mighty Leaf Tea Pouches ($9.95 for three packs)

I’m a tea fanatic, especially when it’s cold out, so I was pretty excited about this month’s freebie (even more especially when a friend told me that Mighty Leaf is really good). I got three flavors, Green Tea Tropical, Vanilla Bean, and Chamomile Citrus. I’ll probably bring them to work with me- I keep several mugs and an electric kettle in my library to make tea for myself in the afternoons.

So that’s my super belated review of my September Birchbox! I’m super excited about my October one to arrive today or tomorrow.

But it needs to be about 20% cooler.

The Panem Bobbysoxer

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9/21/12

I don’t…I don’t even know what this outfit is. I didn’t have to teach today- I just had to shelve books and do Narnia rehearsal- so I just wanted to be comfortable. And….I was. Which balanced out the fact that I was wearing a miniskirt, cropped leggings, and saddle shoes. I look about ten.

I also put my hair in a sideways inside-out french braid. The Katniss braid. And so…I stuck my Mockingjay pin in my hair. So yeah. I’m the 1950s version of Katniss. I guess. I don’t know.

In any case, after work I made my dad’s birthday cake- milk chocolate chocolate chip cake with a whipped cream/cream cheese frosting. So. Good. OMG.

Top: Old Navy
Skirt: Forever 21 via eBay
Leggings: Forever 21
Socks: We Love Colors via eBay
Shoes: Keds via eBay
Pin: Walmart

Nail Polish: Sinful Colors All About You
Perfume of the Day: Harajuku Lovers G

Bright Colors!

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9/7/12

I usually don’t wear a wide variety of colors- I usually stick to browns, blues, reds, and yellows- but Iately I’ve been trying to branch out. This purple knit dress is super comfy, but shows off way too much boob when I wear it alone! So in the summer I’ll wear it on its own, but for school it’ll have to be a jumper, or at least have to be worn with a very concealing cardigan.

These are pretty much my favorite flats. They get a combination of praise and funny looks every time I wear them out, but still. I love them, and I’ve been trying to find outfits that match them. Not always successful, but you know.

I wanted to do something cuter with my hair, but I ended up just going for a wavy ponytail. And I tried something new with it. I was disheartened by how thin and flat it looked around the elastic, so I teased it. AND VOILA. SO much better. Maybe that’s why I look so sassy in this picture.

I wore this for another day without my high school students, but I ended up subbing for the 8th grade Bible class in the morning. I have to say that few things make me happier than getting ready to sub for a class and watching the students cheer and hug me when they realize I’m their sub for the day.

I chose to wear purple mostly because it was Wear Purple Day. I’m not really one for big political statements, but I do believe that nobody should be bullied, especially to the point of taking their own life, and most especially not because of their sexual orientation. My work environment is not exactly friendly to such ideals, but I wore purple anyway, as a quiet stand of support. And least one student realized it, and told me very emphatically that she was glad I was wearing it. So if I can be a support for my students, that’s all that matters.

Dress: Forever 21 via eBay
Tee: Target
Shoes: Jeremy Scott for Adidas via Ross
Necklace: Betsey Johnson via eBay

Nail Polish: Nicole by OPI Rainbow in the S-Kylie layered over OPI Burlesque Ali’s Big Break
Perfume of the Day: Harajuku Lovers Super G

Fancy Pajamas!

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9/6/12

This dress makes me feel like I’m wearing pajamas! I mean, fancy pajamas, but pajamas none the less. It’s so comfy I might die. I ended up wearing a cami under it because it was just a tad too low to wear as a teacher, but still. So comfy. It was one of my purchases in the Last Hurrah Sale on Modcloth, so I only paid $14.99 as opposed to $49.99. It’s more than worth it. It’s incredibly comfy, it’s great for the unpredictability of Nashville weather (pouring rain yesterday, 90 degrees and perfect today, what gives?), and I can layer it easily in the winter.

My hair was another day of “I just don’t curr.” Originally I had it in a pretty half-up fishtail, all fancy-like and Pinterest-y, but my hair was so unruly and frizzy that dutch braids it was!

I had another day of doing absolutely nothing at work. Seriously. With the high school students gone and not having aftercare, I went in and worked on show things for two hours, then went home and watched the X-Files. It was amazing. I felt like I was getting away with something.

Of course, now I remember I need to get my lesson plans together for next week. COME ON, CAITLIN. GET IT TOGETHER.

Also, these shoes are finally broken in. Awesome. Only took a year.

Dress: Carnival You Could Want dress via Modcloth
Shoes: Diba Style via Shoe Carnival
Cami: Macy’s

Nail Polish: OPI Burlesque Ali’s Big Break
Perfume of the Day: Harajuku Lovers Li’l Angel

Tuesday’s Ten: OPI Mini Goodness!

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I used to never worry about painting my nails. I did it periodically in middle school, mostly just super crazy colors, but when I got into high school I started cheerleading, and we couldn’t have our nails painted. So I just stopped thinking about it and left my nails bare. And I chewed on them. I didn’t bite them, I just chewed on them. Ew, Caitlin. Bad.

I got my first (and only!) professional manicure in 2009, when I played Miriam Goldman in Beau Jest and my director asked me to get a manicure. I loved it. It was just a basic French mani, but it was the prettiest my nails ever looked. I started covering them with a clear nail care polish and stopped nibbling at them quite so much, and again, that was it.

And then I recently discovered OPI.

OH MY LORD WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!

I am a woman obsessed. It’s insane. I went from never painting my nails to changing the color at least twice a week. It’s amazing. And now there’s an app. Did you know there’s an OPI app? Because there is, and it’s amazing.

I’m mostly trying to collect a ton of colors, rather than a lot of full-size bottles, so thank my lucky stars there’s lots of mini sets available! I’ve been ordering them on eBay, and I’m already poking around Pinterest for ideas on storing them…

#1: Alice in Wonderland

I’m not even a fan of Tim Burton’s Alice (I thought it was boring and uninspired, but that’s another story) but I love the polishes, especially Thanks So Muchness! However, this set is super impossible to find, and when you can find it, it’s super expensive. Sad day.

#2: Glee

Okay, if you’re surprised by this one, clearly you don’t know me well. Come on! It’s nail polish! And Glee! Nail polish about Glee!

Also not surprising, this one is currently being shipped to me. Hurray!

#3: Burlesque

I actually saw this movie (it was on TV and I was bored and…well, I’m sure you’ve watched plenty of trashy movie selections in your day too). I’m happy to report that the nail polish is a million times better than the movie.

I’m actually wearing the color on the far left right now- Rising Star. It’s a super pretty pumpkin-y gold shade. I’m really excited about trying Ali’s Big Break (the one on the far right) next.

#4: Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirate themed nail polishes in quirky pastels? I’m all over that! The one from this collection I want the most, however, is Mermaid’s Tears- a pretty pale aqua. I might have to buy the full size bottle…

#5: Muppets

Two things I love: Muppets and glitter polish. Again, though, I really want a color not included with the minis- Fresh Frog of Bel-Air, a green and silver glitter.

#6: Nicki Minaj

I’m a little skurred to put the lime green Did It On Em on my nails (will it look pretty or like a nail fungus? Maybe a pretty nail fungus?) but I’m really excited about Fly and Pink Friday.

#7: The Amazing Spiderman

Okay, I would have gotten this just because it’s Spiderman (confession: I love Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker a MILLION TRILLION times more than Tobey Maguire’s) but gaaaaah, Just Spotted the Lizard is gorgeous.

#8: Betsey Johnson

IT’S BETSEY JOHNSON.

AND ALSO SCENTED.

I’M DEAD.

#9: Katy Perry

I have a confession to make.

I love Katy Perry.

I adore her. She is my favorite musical guilty pleasure. Her SNL episode has been watched in this house multiple times. I own all her albums (even her gospel one, which is terrible).

And I not only have her OPI colors…I bought them all full size.

NO REGRETS JUST KATY PERRY.

#10: NYC Ballet

Even before I got into OPI I kind of wanted these. I’m a sucker for ballerina-y things, and these soft shades are so feminine and pretty. And the Pirouette My Whistle one sparkles. SPARKLES.

So have any OPI mini sets caught your eye?

This is Me Being Sassy

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8/23
I was in a hurry and my sister was taking my picture, so here, enjoy some of my big sister sass.

I hate my hair like this. I have a weird aversion to having my hair just straight and down, so I end up sticking in side clips. And I look like a dork! I need to come up with a better option. I used to wear headbands all the time, but they tend to make me look about fourteen.

This was my Easter dress from 2011, and it’s a miracle that the cheap boning hasn’t busted out of the top yet. I would just take it out, but I don’t want to mess with it unless I have to. But really, the boning in the princess seams curves in such a weird way that it makes my already impressive rack look at least a cup size bigger. DO NOT NEED.

I went with the sensible flat sandals today for two reasons- one, because I learned the hard way that one should not wear heels whilst teaching a class about movement. And two, because I wanted to show off my nail polish. I have an audition tonight, so I took off the dark raspberry nail polish on my fingers (OPI Katy Perry The One That Got Away) and replaced it with a different Katy Perry nail polish, Teenage Dream. But on my toes I layered the pink glitter over the raspberry, and gah it looks pretty!

I need to do a post about my new love of nail polish- of OPI polishes, specifically. They’re amazing.

Also, my sandals fasten with velcro. They’re size 4 1/2 in children’s. And they have iCarly on them.

Dress: Target
Top: Target
Belt: Forever 21
Sandals: iCarly from Payless

Nail Polish: OPI Katy Perry Teenage Dream/One That Got Away
Perfume of the Day: Harajuku Lovers Baby

Awkward Ballerina

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8/22/12

Really, that’s the best description I have for this. Between the bun, the black top, and blush pink circle skirt, I feel like a ballerina. But awkward.

 

I love these shoes, but I discovered the hard way that they’re not conducive to excessive movement. I have to take very small steps, since there’s no strap to keep them on, and that makes it difficult to teach a lesson to my theatre arts students on movement! I was ten minutes into the lesson before I kicked them off. A glamorous grown up I am not.

 

This is actually the first time I’ve worn this skirt, mostly because I don’t know what to pair it with. It came in blush, black, and navy, and I bought the blush on a whim because I own too much black and navy. But now I don’t know how to style it! Any thoughts?

Also, my bun was all over the place. Lately I’ve been using that little mesh donut-y thing (let’s be honest, the sock bun with the actual sock is too advanced for my minimal hair-doing skills), but today I just sort of…slapped it up with bobby pins. And I didn’t realize until I got home that a big ol’ chunk of hair had fallen out in the back. Oh well.

I’ll just tell people I saw it on Pinterest.

Tee: Target
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: Seychelles Sense of Humor pump via Ross
Necklace: Claire’s

 

Nail Polish: OPI Katy Perry One That Got Away
Perfume of the Day: Harajuku Lovers Music

August Birchbox: Back to School

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This was a really interesting box! And as a brand-spankin’ new teacher, I was pretty excited that it was back-to-school themed.

Also, I need to learn how to take better pictures.

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream ($16, full size)

I almost didn’t see this tube in the box originally, just because it was so tiny! It’s just very fancy skin cream. And it smells like Vick’s VapoRub. It’s a thick, slippery sort of gel and sits on your skin for a while. I think it’ll be good for the winter when my skin’s all dried out- maybe a nice layer of it at nighttime would be good. But as for a lotion on a hot summer day- no bueno.

Miss Jessie’s Original Stretch Silkening Creme ($22, full size)

I have a love-hate relationship with this cream. It’s a really good-sized sample (plenty of uses out of it!), the texture is lovely, and it smells absolutely beautiful, but it just doesn’t do much for my curls. In fact, it takes my curls out completely. My hair has a natural loose curl to it, and the cream makes it so loose that it vanishes. It’s like my hair gets stoned, so it goes all limp and floppy and stuff. I like the product itself and how silky it makes my hair, but honestly, I’ll probably save it for the days that I straighten my hair.

Schick Hydro Silk Razor ($10)

This was the surprise product! Honestly, this razor saved my box from being pretty unhappy. (Also: I originally typed “shaved” instead of “saved.) I usually buy the mega-size packs of el cheapo razors from Target, since I shave pretty frequently, but I’m sort of in love with this razor. I tested it without using any shave gel, since I usually use it only about twice a year- it’s such a hassle! But even with just using water it was a really clean shave and felt super smooth- still felt smooth the next day, actually, which never happens to me. I have the hairy sexiness of a small sasquatch. I’ve tried razors with built-in conditioner bars before, but this is the first one that I’ve tried and really loved. Plus, the handle was easy for my toddler-sized hands to grip. I’ll probably keep an el cheapo razor in the shower for touch ups and daily shaving, but when I want to shave my legs I’ll keep this little beauty around.

Viva la Juicy La Fleur ($70, full size)

I’ve tried the normal Viva La Juicy before, and the best way I can describe it is, well…the bottom of an elderly lady’s purse. It smells like generic perfume and peppermints. Probably lint covered. Gross. The La Fleur is at least much better than that. It has a lighter, more floral-and berry scent, but still with the unsettling undertone of lint-covered peppermints. When it settles, it smells a little more like oranges, which then brings to mind the scent of bathroom air freshener. So…not so much a fan of this one. I mean, it’s not bad, and I’ll probably keep it in my desk at work, but when I want to pick a perfume, I’ll reach for my Harajuku collection.

Pixi Beauty Lip and Line in Pretty Peony ($18, full size)

This right here was my favorite item in the box. I’ve been wanting to try the Pixi line of products for ages, but it was too expensive to just pick up on a whim like my OPI polishes or Revlon lip butters (I try to keep my shopping splurges under $10). I think I’ve found a new favorite lip product, though. The wand has a liner in one side and a lipstick on the other, both in the same shades. Since they’re the same color, it doesn’t give that unsettlingly awkward look of “oh, it looks like I used a sharpie on my face” if the lipstick wears off. The liner spread really easily and the lipstick has a great crayon-like texture. It stayed on pretty well, too. The peony shade is a nice browny-pink that looks really nice with my skin tone, but if they have the same lip wand in red, I shall purchase it posthaste.

All in all, I think the two boxes I’ve received so far are a pretty good sampling- some things I love, some things I don’t love so much, and a lot of fun trying out new products. Plus, I’ve learned about some products that I really really like! The Schick razor is going onto my shopping list right now…

Sign up for Birchbox here!

Outfit of the Day: Wherein I Am Lazy

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8/8/12 Outfit: I am Lazy

I started off this school year thinking I was going to dress myself like a grown up. I was so excited! My chance to be an adult! New grown up clothes and heels and fancy makeup!

 

What do I wear after a week of school? A three-year-old dress and hot pink flats. Oh, well. I didn’t really feel like trying hard to day. I at least put my hair up in a fancy bun in an attempt to look older. I don’t think it worked. Bubblegum pink isn’t exactly a grown-up color. And wearing flats when you’re 4’11 3/4″ only makes you look shorter.

 

But oh well!

 

Dress: American Eagle
Tee: Old Navy
Belt: Forever 21
Shoes: Skechers, thrifted

 

Nail Polish: OPI Katy Perry Last Friday Night
Perfume of the Day: Vera Wang Glam Princess