August 2014 Favorites

August has been so crazy busy that I have barely worn any makeup. Seriously, hardly any at all. I've resorted to using concealer as a make-shift foundation and running bronzer all over to warm up my face but that's about it. Nothing exciting there but I do have some really great non-beauty favorites for the month of August that I just had to discuss.

Music

I feel like music has been such a huge part of my summer (did you see last month's What My Ears Have Been Loving post?) but with things calming down in the new releases department I've resorted to some old favorites tucked away in my Spotify playlists.

The Wombats - I don't even remember when I started listening to The Wombats but I can't get enough. Even new songs I've never heard before send me back to the land of nostalgia. I particularly love "Let's Dance to Joy Division", "1996", and "Anti-D". Go listen. You won't regret it.






Hoodie Allen - I have a thing for white-boy rappers. That might be a guilty pleasure but it's not a secret. I was in the pool one day when I started humming the chorus to "No Interruptions", I couldn't remember the last time I had even heard that song but I just had to play it and I didn't stop there. My personal favorites are Fame is for Assholes and Eighteen Cool. It just so happens that Hoodie released a new track, "Movie",  just in time for the end of August so I ended up getting my mix of throwback and new releases after all. PS: the new track is quickly becoming one of my favorites all on its own.

TV

I waited all month to watch the VMAs so of course the whole show made it on the list as my tv favorite. I've also watched it about a billion times since then (aka like 3 times) but if you want a look at my thoughts from the live show then check out this post.

Book - The Last Lecture

Since we're moving I've had to go through all of my books, my collection is a lot bigger than I even realized by the way, but that led to me picking out a few old favorites that I wanted to reread before I packed them all away. The Last Lecture was at the top of that list. I first read this book during the last few weeks, days really, of my junior year in high school after my AP English class finished reading The Great Gatsby early. It changed my life.

I know a lot of people say that about a lot of different books but this one really hit the nail on the head. Reading it again brings back all of those great memories but it also brings up a whole new level of awesomeness. I am forever grateful that Randy Pausch, the author of the book, decided to take his last lecture at Carnegie-Mellon and the advice he wished to preserve for his children (the book follows him as he is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer) and share it with the rest of the world. If you haven't read it or have never heard of Randy's story then google it, read it, live it. It's amazing and that's all I'm going to say.

Movie - If I Stay

This movie made it into my August favorites at the last minute...literally. I watched it on the last day of the month.
While visiting my friends at the university my sister called me up and asked if I wanted to go see a movie with her...and her boyfriend...and his mom. Uhhhh, what movie? If I Stay. Yes! I'm on my way!

I love my sister's boyfriend, he's great. I was a little worried about meeting his mom though. I mean I'm bad enough meeting my own boyfriends' mother let alone my sister's boyfriend's mother. Turns out she was totally precious and absolutely adorable. We even walked around the fair a little after the movie was over but back to the point.
This movie is precious. I had heard it was like The Fault in Our Stars Part Deux but I was attached to Augustus and Hazel Grace before seeing that, I barely even knew what this movie was about. However, I was totally on board for one reason and one reason only. Jamie Blackley. He is a cutie and get this, he's British! I was hooked.
The movie centers around Mia, played by Chloe Grace Moretz, and the incredibly difficult choice she has to make following an immense tragedy. The relationship between her and Blackley's character, Adam, is played out in a series of highs and lows that play just like long buried memories. By the time the movie wraps up, which is totally doesn't just so you know, you've personally went through the stages of grief and still don't know which way you want Mia to choose.
Oh, just to prove how hooked I am on this movie...I saw the movie on Saturday, bought the book on Sunday, and finished it on Monday. I still want more Adam and Mia.

YouTube - Velvetgh0st

Gabby aka Velvetgh0st is officially my favorite YouTuber...there, I said it. It might be the super bright colors of her channel, her lah-vely British accent, or the fact that she loves a good home haul but I can't get enough of Gabby. I'm currently obsessed with her moving in vlogs simply because they have me itching to break out on my own too. I love how she's not afraid to discuss her anxieties about vlogging and such but has kicked absolute ass on her journey moving out to Brighton. I'm proud and excited and obsessed all at the same tie. Check out her YouTube channels to see what all the fuss is about.

Food - Bolthouse Farms Vanilla Chai Tea
As I mentioned in my July Favorites, I've been making an effort to eat much healthier and exercise a whole lot more. I've gotten to the point that eating healthier isn't even a forced thing it's just what I prefer which means that I'm just not into eating certain things that my body doesn't deem super healthy for me. Sometimes that means meat. Since starting this healthy living journey I've practically become a vegetarian aside from the occasional chicken breast or bacon slice. Because of that and the fact that my exercise routine requires me to eat a lot more protein I've been looking for it in different types of food which brings me to my love for Bolthouse Farms Vanilla Chai Tea. As if vanilla, chai, and tea didn't have me hooked from the get-go the 9 grams of protein per serving certainly did. I love pouring a glass of this over ice in the morning like a good-for-you iced coffee...plus, it tastes a bit like eggnogg so I'm definitely keeping this up through the pumpkin-spice-everything season.

Because I would LOVE to hear Adam Levine's MJ impression

App
It's a good thing I don't have any beauty favorites this month because this post is already a mile and a half long and I'm not even done yet.

I have two favorite apps this month, one is on my iPad the other on my phone.
I have become addicted to reading from the PopSugar App every morning. It's gotten to the point that I pick up my iPad first thing in the morning. That's how I found out Carrie Underwood is pregnant y'all, it's kind of a big deal. I love reading all the fluffy celeb gossip and flipping through the slideshows of pictures.

My favorite app for my iPhone this month has got to be the MyFitnessPal App. This little thing is an absolute life-saver and has played a very important role in my new found healthy lifestyle but I plan on making a more in-depth post about all that very soon. I will say that I love that I can put it any food I eat and have it tell me the calories for it, I haven't found a food yet that hasn't been in the database. It also takes the calories I've burned from exercise and just walking around (with the help of my Pacer app) and factors that in too.











My last favorite for the month is the most random but probably my favorite favorite so far. It's the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale! Oh gosh, I just love that sale. So much so that I wait for it all year and this year was no different. I plan on posting a bit more in detail about the sale very soon so keep a look out to see all the great goodies I managed to wrangle.

Leave me a comment below letting me know some of your favorites for the month of August! Don't worry, I'll have plenty of beauty favorites for September I'm sure.

until next time,

xo

Top 5 Back to School Essentials

This will be the first time in almost 20 years (holy crap!) that I will not actually be going back to school.

I can't decide if that's something to celebrate or wallow over but I have decided that it does make me somewhat of an expert at the whole back-to-school business seeing as I have been doing it for two decades (still not okay with how that sounds). So I've compiled a short & sweet list of my tried and true back to school essentials for y'all.

1.) Five Star Flex Hybrid NoteBinder

Paper is like a number one essential when you're heading back to school. You obviously need paper for your assignments but there's also endless amounts of paper being given to you through the day. I picked up this Five Star Hybrid of a notebook and a binder at the beginning of the first semester of my Junior year of college because it was literally the last notebook Wal-mart had...I was a little late to the school supplies game that year. It comes in some really great colors. Mine was actually Teal but this Pink one is really great and would look great with a monogram!

I loved the fact that it was part binder so I could add more loose leaf paper and even rearrange papers too. However, it's flexible and thin like a notebook and even comes with pocket dividers for all those papers that have yet to be hole punched. Something I didn't enjoy, however, was definitely the price. At $9.99 it seemed a bit extreme for a notebook at the time but I'll let you in on a secret that makes it totally worth it...this notebook lasted through 4 semesters and possibly could have gone longer but you know graduation got in the way. :)

2.) Fun and Comfortable Pens & Mechanical Pencils

You're going to be writing a lot in school...it's just a given. So you're going to need comfortable things to write with but it's always good to keep things fun and interesting too. I really like the Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens to color code my notes, you can pick up a 10 pack in assorted colors from Amazon. While the colors are really great to keep your own notes interesting and easy to read some teachers and professors actually prefer that you only use blue or black ink on assignments so these BIC Ballpoint Pens from Target are perfect because they even come with a bonus red pen for those fun moments when you get to grade each others papers. 

Target also has BIC Mechanical Pencils in an 8ct. pack for .99 cents which you can't go wrong with.

3.) Sticky Notes & Index Cards

Target has some really great supplies but I especially love really bright and colorful sticky notes to keep me on track. I also really like the sticky notes that are like a small notebook. I may or may not have plastered my dorm room in them during a harsh Constitutional Law study session. You'll always need index cards, they're an absolute must for any study session. 

4.) Planner/Agenda

There is no way that I could have made it through school without a planner by my side. I have loved the agendas from Lilly Pulitzer for years now (I'm on my third one!). The Lilly Pulitzer Agendas range in price from $17 for the small all the way up to $34 for the jumbo version. I've had the large one for the past two years and think it's the perfect size for me. I love the fun prints and just think it's great to be able to bring a little Lilly with me everywhere I'm going around school. 

For something that is similar in price but a bit more grown-up check out the Kate Spade Agendas, my favorite is the Medium in Gold Dots

If those are a little bit out of your price range, they definitely were for me before I started making my own money, Walmart has some really great, cheap planners that certainly get the job done.

5.) A Great Bag to Put It All In

We've gathered quiet the load of supplies thus far so of course you're going to need a really great bag to carry it all around. Personally I've noticed that I go through stages with my school bag. I was just too cool for a backpack in high school so I always carried tote backs to, well, tote my books around. You don't get a locker in college and sometimes you just don't want to make the trek back to your dorm room to grab a book in between classes so a back pack was definitely the way to go. Once my course load got lighter closer to graduation, I started carrying more purse like bags to class that could work when I brought it in to my internship too. 

I've listed some really great backpacks and bags below and even gave save & splurge options!

Backpack

Save: This Neff Scholar Tie Dye backpack is too cool and is definitely on trend with the pastel colors. You can opt to keep it class with this JanSport Coral Backpack that brings a pop of color to your school day.

Splurge: I was never one for Vera Bradley in school but this Vera Bradley Lighten Up Backpack in Ziggy Zags is cute without being that signature floral.

Bag

Save: You can definitely save a big buck and keep it Monogrammed Magnolia style with this Longchamp Inspired Monogrammed Tote on Etsy.

Splurge: What's more classic than a really great canvas tote? You can get the Vineyard Vines Stars Classic Tote  and pull a move along the lines of The College Prepster.

I absolutely love the School Satchel from TopShop and think it is the perfect option to keep things stylish and functional but also add in a pop of professionalism too.

I hope you've enjoyed my Top 5 Back-to-School Essentials! Leave a comment below telling me you're favorite thing about getting ready to go back to school.

until next time,

xo

Merisa

Beach Bag Essentials

In honor of all you beach babes heading out on vacay this month I've put together a little list of my favorite beach bag essentials. Just so you know, all of these products work just as well just chilling by the pool as that's what I'll be using them for! (I don't do oceans, just watch Shark Week to understand why.)

I love bright, colorful beach bags and while I usually like using waterproof ones I've decided to pack all of my goodies into my Lilly Pulitzer for Estee Lauder bag that I got earlier this summer but you can use whatever bag you choose.

So let's work clockwise from the top, shall we? 

One of my number one Beach Bag essentials is a great pair of sunglasses. I am obsessed with the tortoise shell print this summer so these (fake) Ray Bans are perfect for me but Forever 21 has some really great, super cheap and super chic shades like these Tortoise Frame Square Sunglasses that run a cool $5.80.

Next up, I have one of my everyday essentials which is the Pinch Provisions Minimergency Kit in Pink Candy Striper. I wrote about this little sucker in my May Favorites and it has come in handy so many times since then and you never know what kind of mini-emergency you could find your self in at the beach. 

You can't expect to spend a day in the sun without some SPF and I love the quick ease of a spray on sunscreen so I love to throw Neutrogena's Wet Skin Sunscreen Spray with SPF 30 in my bag. I love that I don't have to worry about my sunscreen melting and spilling all over my beach bag, it's also super great to be able to spray this over your body even if you've hopped in the ocean for a bit first.

Next up, I have my Goody Tanglefix which I believe to be a fairly decent dupe for the Tangle Teezer. I always pack this with me because it is great with wet hair and we all love great beach waves but not that seaweed tendrils knotted mess that can happen when caught in the waves. This will definitely prevent that. 

You can't go to the beach without a towel so that is a must, I also like to take a beach blanket with me just because nothing is more annoying than hot sand all over your wet skin when you're trying to dry off. 

This next item is probably no surprise to most of you Magnolias because we all know I love a great body moisturizer and am obsessed with anything coconut. That's why one of my top beach bag essentials is my Coconut Lime Breeze Body Cream from Bath & Body Works. This is my favorite classic scent from B&BW and I just think it screams beach getaway so it is absolutely perfect to moisturize my body after a day in the sun and surf. 

I've also thrown in a fun Coconut Passion Body Spray from Victoria's Secret to compliment the body cream but also because you never know when you might have to spray away that sweaty, ocean mist beach scent.

I've also thrown in my Secret Scent Expressions Deodorant in Pasion de Tango for obvious reasons. You can read more about my odd love of this stuff in my June Favorites. 

No Beach Day is complete for me without some beach reads so of course you've gotta pack the bible according to Elle Woods, aka Cosmo. Side Note: How hot is Megan Fox's hair in this month's issue? As if I didn't envy her enough already. Ugh!

I can't imagine laying out in the sun all day without my little monogrammed Lilly Pulitzer Lulu clad iPad Mini. Aside from a host of games, Pinterest, and Tumblr my main love affair with my iPad is because of my collection of ebooks. My top beach read at the moment is the fabulously hilarious book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by the fabulously hilarious Mindy Kaling.  

I hate having little bits and bobs just floating in the bottom of my bag so I love grabbing a cute little makeup bag (the Ipsy Glam Bags are perfect for this!) and throwing all my little stuff inside.

What's a Beach Day without some Beach Spray? I love this Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray from the June 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag and my June Favorites!

I don't go anywhere without some hand sanitizer so it should be no surprise that I've included some in my beach bag essentials. I've also thrown some simple hair ties and some money in for safe measure but also because I don't like leaving my wallet alone on the beach so hiding away some money for emergencies is no big deal.
Last but not least, you've gotta have some lip balm with some SPF and a good concealer just in case.

I hope you've enjoyed this look into my summer essentials, leave a comment below letting me know what you've packed in your beach bag!

until next time, darlings.
xo
Merisa

May Favorites 2014

Hey guys!

So I know I'm a little late to the game on this one (mostly because I attempted to do a video instead of a post but that was a major failure, don't ask) but I really wanted to go through my monthly favorites for the month of May really quick because honestly, I miss blogging and I miss monthly favorites so let's get to it.

Beauty Favorites

Golden Magnolia Sun Body Cream

What is my number one rule, children? That's right!

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! 

So it should really come as no surprise that one of my favorites this month would be a body cream. Between swimming, tanning, and just being outdoors in general my body gets super dehydrated going into summer so I recently stocked up on some essentials at Bath & Body Works. I picked up the "Golden Magnolia Sun" Triple Moisture Body Cream because it just seemed fitting considered the title of this blog. The scent is so fresh and can only be described as "pretty" even the description on the back sounds pretty. 

"Golden Magnolia Sun is a luminous blend of pink magnolia, golden apricot, and sun-kissed peony, blooming with a touch of sensual vanilla and cassis nectar. 

I don't know what half that stuff should smell like but together it is heavenly. 

L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Mousse

My name is Merisa and I am officially a self-tan junkie. 

May marked my first month tanning bed free.! Yay! I finally understand that tanning beds only cause harm, thank you, thank you. *bows graciously accepting imaginary applause*

Anyway, I needed to find a way to get that golden glow that I was missing so much. That's when I started trying out a ton of self-tanning products from high end to drugstore brands. I picked up the L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Mousse because it actually came with a sample of L'Oreal's new sunscreen that I really wanted to try (I'm picky about sunscreens). I wasn't expecting a whole lot because I was so set on trying the St. Tropez Mousse but I tried it out anyway.

Let me just say that I was hooked after the first swipe of my tanning mitt. 

I LOVE this stuff. It delivers wonderful color immediately while only taking a few hours to build up to an even better warm toned glow. Application is super easy and one pump of product goes a long way with no streaking at all.

I'm planning on doing a whole self-tanning post later on this month so keep an eye out for that for more info on this product and more.

Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub 

I received this product in May's Ipsy Glam Bag (which I will be posting about very soon, I promise!) and I was immediately shocked by how much product came in the sample. At 1oz. of product it holds 75% more than the microdermabrasion scrubs I received with Birchbox (if you don't know how I feel about that then check out this post). I have become so obsessed with microdermabrasion scrubs lately that it's practically the only scrub that I let touch my face. Oddly enough, I really like the scent of this product (usually these types of products are more chemically smelling but this one has a lemony scent) and love the thick and creamy texture. I little product goes a long way so I expect this sample to last a long time. Overall, a huge thumbs up to Ipsy yet again!

LUSH Popcorn Lip Scrub

Keeping with the theme of scrubs, I picked up this lip scrub during a shopping trip in late April and feel in love! This product quickly became a staple in my nightly routine as it is super easy to just dip your finger in the sweetly smelling pot, dash a bit of scrub across your lips, and enjoy! After rubbing the scrub between my lips it almost seems like a reward to take it off. Seeing as it is made with fresh, edible, vegan ingredients the scrub is completely fine to just lick off you lips (my favorite part) and I love the sweet and salty, kettle corn combination. I already can't wait to try the other LUSH lip scrubs. 

Essie Nail Polish

I know it's technically still spring but for me as soon as the temp gets above 75 I'm ready for summer which means I'm in need for a summer nail polish. That's when I hit up my handy dandy box of polish (which is a lot bigger than I ever care to admit to) and found this polish which I've had for ages. I don't know if it's my awesome tan (thanks, L'Oreal) or what but Essie's Mod Square definitely hit the mark and is my new go-to polish for summer. 

These next two products go hand in hand...

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Concealer

Real Techniques  Expert Face Brush

You've probably heard me gush about the Instant Age Rewind before just as I've heard countless beauty bloggers go on and on about it but let me just say that it is totally worth the hype! I have the neutralizer shade which I'm not too big on really and would probably pick a different shad next time but I have yet to find a concealer that covers my monster under eye circles as well as this sucker does. It has a super lightweight, creamy texture that doesn't crease but with high impact coverage that can even tackle blemishes and redness too. I really enjoy taking the Expert Face Brush and blending it in after I've used the brush to apply my foundation because I'm not too big on the shade but the formula is out of this world and I pray Maybelline never changes it.

Everything Else

Pinch Provisions Minimergency Kit

Let me just say that every girl needs one of these bad boys in her bag at all times!

I had a lot of events in May and I cannot tell you how many times this little emergency kit came in handy. It has everything a girl could need in a cute little case. From breather freshener, hairspray, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, deodorant, aspirin, a sewing kit, the list goes on. My favorite might just be the unbelievably good tasting/smelling mini lip balm. In my personal opinion this product is worth the $16 price tag from Sephora just because it is so hassle free. They come in a variety of colors and there are even kits for brides and bridesmaids, perfect for wedding season.

Lilly Pulitzer Ear Buds

I've had these for quiet awhile as I picked them up during either the End of Summer or Winter sale on Lilly's website, I can't remember which but they have come in super handy during the month of May. I would just throw the buds in their handy little pouch then in my bag they went with me to the library, my Editing & Design class, and even the pool most recently. I love how I don't have to worry about my headphones getting tangled or broken because of the soft case and I especially enjoy the print on the ear buds. Definitely something to keep an eye out for during Lilly's upcoming End of Summer Sale.

Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Home State Print

There I was just minding my own business, scrolling through Instagram when I notice an anon-account I follow posted a picture of these Lilly Pulitzer Inspired Home State Prints (I believe they were Alabama and South Carolina) and I just had to have one. I commented on the picture asking if they could possibly do a print of Kentucky and got an immediate response saying yes so I hopped over to Etsy, messaged the shop setting up a custom order, greeted again by an immediate response, and had my print customized and ordered within a day. The print is from LWCDesigns on Etsy and I have to say that not only was I super impressed by how quickly they operated (I received my order days before another order I placed with a different shop a week earlier) but also the value of the print compared with the price. At only $6 ($9.50 with shipping) I was totally impressed with the overall experience. The print came framed and everything!

I highly suggest you head over to LWCDesigns right now to check out some of their other amazing products and check them out on Instagram as well!

Books

You might recognize these books from my What We Love Wednesday Haul post back in December and I hate to say it but I'm just now getting around to reading them and by reading them I mean blazing through them. Seriously, I believe I finished the first three books in a week. 

I'm not going to give too much away but I am completely and utterly obsessed with The Mortal Instruments Series, so much so that I actually can't bring myself to finish reading the fourth book in my box set until I have the last two books (the last of which was just published a week ago) ordered and on their way. I've spent my days on a float in the pool with these books glued to my hand, I just can't put them down. 

Music

"First things first, I'm the realest!"

If you haven't heard of Iggy Azalea than you must be living under a rock because she is everywhere at the moment. I've had a strange fascination with Iggy ever since she came out with "'Work" last year and I am so excited that she has found success with "Fancy" which you can see the video for in my last What We Love Wednesday post. She recently released her album, The New Classic, and it has been at the top of my Spotify playlists all month. She also became the first artist since The Beatles to remain at the No. 1 & 2 spot with their first Billboard Hot 100 entries with "Fancy" and Ariana Grande's "Problem" which she features on.

Also, she teams up with Rita Ora for her next single "Black Widow" which is probably my favorite song off the record, go check it out!

TV

So MTV might not be the same music television we grew up with but that's not stopping them from delivering on some great tv still. I'm sort of obsessed with their new show "Faking It" which is a kind of crazy show of two high school best friends who fake being lesbians to get in the "in-crowd" but the writing is fantastic and I love the quick wittiness of the characters, especially Gregg Sulkin's British-but-trying-to-be-American accent. 

Magical Moment

My magical moment of the month is a no-brainer...I graduated from college this May!!!

It's been quiet a journey but it was well worth it in the end and I can't wait to see what this next month has in store for me as an official college graduate! That's fun to say!

I hope you enjoyed this look into my monthly favorites!

Comment below with some of you favorites from May and be sure to let me know what your Magical Moment was!

until next time, darlings.

xo

Merisa 

What We Love Wednesday Haul

Just a quick disclaimer, this post has morphed into something much bigger than I intended. What started off as the usual What We Love Wednesday post turned into something crazy when I realized a.) I have way too many favorites at the moment and b.) my Lilly Pulitzer stuff came in today! 

Uh, hello! Of course I had to include Lilly in this post, because I love her! haha!

So, that's when I realized I was just going to call this a What We Love Wednesday Haul since it included so much stuff I've either picked up recently or received for Christmas. 

So here we go:

Makeup Favorites

For some reason the picture below is showing up really red on my screen even though it wasn't like that on my camera or when editing it so I'm sorry if that's the case for you too.

I'm also sorry for jamming everything in one picture, I was trying to hurry. Wow, this is becoming more of a disclaimer post. I'll stop now. 

Most of these products pictured below were new to be in December and they all became quick favorites.

• Let's start with the pink bottle (great packaging) of L'Oreal Paris Color Vibrancy Dual Protect Spray. I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, I bought this because it was pink and sparkly. I know, I know, typical white girl. But, seriously, this product makes you reach for it on the shelves if just to shake up the bottle and see the sparkle. Now, when I say sparkle I don't mean there's glitter or anything it's like the product has an iridescent shine to it that's really eye catching. I really like that this product is a 2-in-1 with color and heat protection, but it also seems to really nourish my hair and almost works as an added conditioner which is always a plus in my book.
• I picked up this next product last week when I spotted it in Walmart and I haven't looked back! It is amazing! I first heard of this type of brush in a few beauty guru YouTube videos when they mentioned the Tangle Teezer. I googled the product and then soon realized that it had yet to be released in the US and was a product mainly found in the UK. I was absolutely delighted to find this Goody dupe in the haircare aisle (for about half the price) and couldn't wait to take it home and try it out. Well, it's awesome and has totally replaced my glitter brush because I can use it on both wet and dry hair, which is what makes it so awesome!
• I have never been a huge Twisted Peppermint fan but for some reason that all changed this year when I got a whole bag of Twisted Peppermint goodies from Bath & Body Works for Christmas. This hand cream is amazing and I am so glad B&BW are finally making separate hand and body lotions. It's also the perfect size to throw in your bag, which is what I do because what's my motto? Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
• Going back to the little problem I mentioned in My Night Time Routine post about my eyes, I have been on the hunt for a really great, full coverage under eye concealer and I believe I have found it in Hard Candy's Lite Bright Whipped Brightening Concealer. I picked up the medium shade and I'm so glad I didn't go any lighter because as far as medium shades go this one is pretty light but it truly is a full coverage concealer and is perfect for brightening up your under eye area without drying you out.
• I have found my perfect setting powder and it is Rimmel's Stay Matte Powder in Silky Beige! I love this stuff! It truly is stay matte and I will probably never use another powder, ever...well, until something better comes along, I suppose.
• It's no secret that I love my girl, Britney Spears, but what I love more is her perfumes! ahh! I just love them all, especially Fantasy and I absolutely love that I got this little travel spray in a gift set for Christmas (Thanks, Best Friend Beth!). I love that it's a travel bottle but not a roller ball, because I'd much rather just spritz this stuff all over than roll it on.
• These next two products are my absolute favorite lip colors from the past month and I am rotating between the two. The first is Rimmel's Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in 103 (I hate that they don't have actual names). This is my favorite pink shade at the moment because it is just a few shades darker than my natural lip color, I don't know why that appeals to me so much but it does. I don't know if it's just me but when I put this on I taste/smell cucumbers. I don't know if there's cucumber in the product or if I'm just going crazy but I don't hate it, something I do hate is that this lipstick is a little on the drier side but if I put a good balm underneath or lip gloss overtop I don't seem to have too much trouble. The next color is Covergirl's LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Jam Twist 255. I was really stepping outside of my comfort zone with this color as it looked super dark in the store but after getting it home I loved it so much I wanted to go even darker. I love glossy lip crayons and I love the bright berry color of this balm, it's super smooth and super easy to apply too!

Random Favorites

Now, time for my random favorites, as if I didn't have enough already! haha

I am obsessed with these Blow Pop Minis, in fact I'm snacking on them right now as I type this! :)

They're like little tiny blow pop hard candies and I can't get enough of them.

You might recognize the candle from My Night Time Routine post earlier this week. I love this Champagne Toast candle from Bath & Body Works, the scent is not too overwhelming and the yellow wax actually adds to the glamorous glow when the candle is lit. 

I have been obsessed with list making and note taking lately and my sister gave me this adorable little metal notepad the other day and I've already jam packed the first few pages with my chicken scratch. It also helps keep my adorable chevron iPad stylus/pen handy in my bag!

Another random favorite is this awesome box set that I got for Christmas, it features the first four books of Cassandra Clare's Immortal Instruments Series. I've made it through a few chapters of the first book, City of Bones, and I honestly can't put it down. I'm definitely taking these suckers with me to school next week just in case I actually find a moment to finish them because they are too good to just sit in my room at home unloved.

Now for the real fun!

My Lilly Haul

If you happened to read my January 2014 Shopping Guide then you will have known that this past Monday & Tuesday marked the Lilly Pulitzer New Year Cheer Sale on lillypulitzer.com

Well, I went a little crazy and by crazy I mean I woke up at 8 am to be the first to shop the sale, and it paid off!

I scored this adorable tote in I've Got Butterflies for less than $30 and I must say it was well worth it. This bag actually seems much sturdier and durable than my other Lilly bags that cost much more. 

None of my beloved Lulu items were on sale but I just couldn't help myself, I picked up the iPhone case to match my iPad mini case (which I got from my roomie for Christmas! Thanks, Little Beth!) and my agenda!

I also couldn't resist the little ear buds in Lucky Charm.

When I spotted the Lilly Christmas Stockings on sale I just couldn't pass it up! I was a little worried because I wasn't allowed to pick which print but I'm beyond satisfied with this 'Tiger Lilly' print. :) Cute, right?

I can't wait to get this monogrammed! In the meantime, Audrey will keep her company. 

I hope y'all have enjoyed this peek at my favorite products and my favorite steals from the Lilly sale.

till next time, darlings.

xo

Merisa

January 2014 Shopping Guide

Let me just say that 2014 already has the makings of an incredible year! 

This New Year's has seriously changed my outlook on life and I am so grateful for that, it just seems like everyone around me is being extra optimistic and particularly inspiring. 

Part of that different outlook is actually sticking to my New Year's Resolutions for once and a part of that was saving money, well that's incredibly hard when there are so many ah-may-zing sales going on. 

I seriously grieved over a baseball cap on J.Crew's site earlier today simply because I needed it but didn't want it. 

Then I realized that thinking is so not me! So, while I did talk myself out of the $50 hat I talked myself into taking a step back and thinking about how I can re-vamp my wardrobe in the most sensible manner. 

That's when I compiled this lovely shopping guide for all of the upcoming, beyond amazing sales going on from my favorite brands!

J.Crew

Since I've already mentioned my affinity for J.Crew's chic baseball hats (yes, they're actually chic) we might as well start with them and the deal they have going on right now where you can get 40% off their sale items with the code: shophappy. 

The aforementioned baseball hat was actually in navy but I found this option in burgundy and I have to say I might just like it more, the $19.99 price tag doesn't hurt.  

How fabulous is this bronze glitter belt?! Answer: pretty darn fabulous, especially with it being less than $25.

I love, love, love this mini-bows sweatshirt and can only imagine how comfy and soft it is, plus with the 40% off sale prices it's less than $50!

Anthropologie

I am obsessed with all things Anthropologie! Like, seriously, I just want my entire house to look (and smell) like an Anthropologie store! Right now they're having a Winter Tag Sale on all of their sale items with 25% off sale clothing, shoes, and accessories, and 50% off all home accessories with the code: warmup

This Bowtie Shimmer Clutch is just amazing and is totally why I love Anthropologie, they cater to every girl whether she's boho chic or a glitzy glamazon. At less than twenty bucks pre-25% off it's a steal!

How cute are these little monogrammed key chains? I have been loving tassels this year and I think the monogrammed detailing on these would be perfect for any Monogrammed Magnolia!

The Daria Shearling Slides look beyond amazingly comfortable and bring a little style and class to our most laidback moments (they even come in a red option that is super fun!). These are a little pricey but they are also quality material and sure to last a heck of a lot longer than those slippers your Nanna got you for Christmas.

In case you haven't caught on yet, I'm a sucker for anything British. From boys to Big Ben my heart belongs across the pond so I could not pass up this artsy London Landmark Ring Dish, and with the discount added it's under $5! I might just have to break down and pick this on up.

Marley Lilly

Attention all Monogrammed Magnolias: Marley Lilly, aka the Mecca of Monograms, is having a 

FLASH SALE! 

Click Here to enter to win a $100 Gift Card to be used during the sale!

Marley Lilly has become pretty famous for their Flash Sales, so much so that people are now twitter begging for them. Well, I'm grateful for that because they've decided to have a 3-day long Flash Sale this weekend from January 4th to January 6th. It's hard telling what exactly will be on the sale but I thought I would throw out some of my favorite picks from the site just in case.

I got the Monogrammed Taylor Necklace this summer and it has barely left my neck since, I love this necklace and combined with the Taylor Ring it has become a signature piece of jewelry for me!

I'm pretty certain that the Penny Cross Body bag was my first purchase from Marley Lilly about a year ago and I have to say that it's one of my bags of all time and I highly recommend it! 

Lilly Pulitzer

I have been stalking the Lilly Pulitzer twitter feed for days now desperately seeking any news about the New Year Cheer sale and I was finally rewarded just as I began to think all hope was lost when I saw this:

I may have actually screamed! Ahhhhh!

The New Year Cheer sale is beyond amazing and probably the BEST sale Lilly Pulitzer has to offer for the entire year! Last year I set an ungodly early alarm for the sale (this is serious business) and was actually able to nab a few items before the servers freaked out. This year I'm hoping to do the same so I signed up for the email from the twitter link and am keeping my fingers crossed for some epic info in tomorrow's inbox!

While nobody really knows what will be in the sale I couldn't resist showcasing my favorite Lilly pieces, and which ones I'm hoping to nab this year!

(you might notice a recurring theme)

I want this Coastal Tote so bad I get actual anxiety just thinking about it selling out! Plus, it's in my favorite print from this season, Lulu!

I told you Lulu was my favorite print!

The Call Me Wallet has everything I could ever want from an iPhone wallet and has been completely redesigned from the last one (which was a complete bust). 

And of course my Lulu collection wouldn't be complete without a phone case!

This, my darlings, is the holy grail of iPad cases and for those of you who don't know that is Lilly herself (my her colorful little soul rest in peace) gracing the front of her very own product. Uh, props to the Lilly designers because for girls like me that is complete and utter genius! Of course I want to pay homage to one of my idols and inspirations by carrying her around with me everyday, I'm totally for it!

I hope this little guide has helped you prepare yourself for the long shopping struggle ahead and if you're trying to save like me I hope it's helped you narrow down your splurge choices.

until next time, darlings.

xo

Merisa

Happy Birthday, Lilly!

Monogrammed Magnolias hold a special place in our hearts for the beloved Queen of Pink & Green and would like to wish the very special and very inspiring, Lilly Pulitzer, a very Happy Birthday!

While Lilly may no longer be with us, she surrounds us with her beauty, spirit, and inspiration everyday. Whether it is in the smile Danielle gets every time she pulls on her Lilly-print pullover or just the sparkle added to my life by a Lilly wristlet, it truly is the Lilly things in life that bring us joy! :)

-Danielle-

As any Lilly lover would know, "It all started with a juice stand..." and few things in life are more inspiring to young girls than the idea that women before them made something of nothing. Lilly Pulitzer brought style, spontaneity, and a world of color to women everywhere when she started creating signature dresses for the likes of fashion icons such as Jackie Kennedy! 

-Merisa-

When toting our Lilly bags around campus, we continue on the style and grace of a woman that became an icon herself. Cheers, Lilly! We thank you!

xo

aFm