Category: Wearable

New Glasses!

I’ve been rocking the same pair of blue-gray plastic glasses (that Libby helped me pick out) for the last three years. They’re starting to show a little wear and tear and I’ve been in the mood for something new. I had literally just started shopping around for a new pair of specs when Firmoo reached out to me and asked if I wanted to order a pair to try out. Consider me floored! This is my first time working with a company like this– Now I’ve really hit the big time!! I was a little wary at first but a couple other bloggers I know of have collaborated with Firmoo in the past and it seemed like it would be fun… Time for a large photo of me in my new glasses!

Firmoo Glasses

Here’s the thing…! The site is super affordable (we’re talking like 40 bucks), which I was really excited about, since it opens the door to get a more “trendy” pair that otherwise I/you may have been too nervous to commit multiple hundreds of dollars to. I’ve wanted to try one of these “vintage” horn-rimmed glasses ever since being inspired by the character Kristen Kringle on Gotham. All the horn-rims I have tried on at optometrists have left me a bit “meh” especially when considering the price tag and the year(s) of commitment.

This is my first pair of wire glasses since fourth grade. FOURTH. GRADE. I’ve been rocking the thick plastic since middle school, and doing it with aplomb. I more or less consider it “my look” and it’s what lets people know that I have rock/emo roots and I am not to be messed with!! (Or… something like that). So, I was intrigued by wire glasses. Would they be lighter? Would they be flimsy? These are much sturdier than I expected and nicely constructed. There is Korean writing on the inside of one of the arms. I keep joking about “my funny new glasses from China,” which is accurate but the quality is quite nice. I was very pleasantly surprised with how they look especially since I was unable to try them on before buying. The website has tips like measuring the width of your current pair and basing your selection off of that.

Firmoo Glasses

My one problem has to be with the focus. The prescription is very clear, since I typed it in off of the paper I got from the optometrist, but I think I measured my pupilary distance (from pupil to pupil) incorrectly. I mean… it’s hard to be precise when it’s just you and your best friend holding up a ruler to the bridge of your nose in the bathroom. I can’t wear these at work because the computer screen is too close and it’s hard to focus my eyes. But for going out (and importantly, I have no problem driving with them), these are fine “hanging out” glasses which is really cool to me. I’ve never had a “just ’cause” pair for fashion reasons until now and it’s fun changing up my look!

Firmoo Glasses

So, in summary, if you are looking for a pair of “occasional” glasses I think it’s worth your time to check out Firmoo. I’m not going to transition to these for my main pair (i.e., can’t wear them all day at work) but I have been consistently been wearing them when hanging out with friends and love peeking in the mirror to see them since I’d been rocking my old style for so long. If you want to check them out, new customers get 15% off.

Disclosure: For the first time ever, I got free product for writing a blog post!
Photo Credit: Angela Cerda Photography 

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Treat Yo Self

September is here, and that means it’s my birthday month! I couldn’t come up with much for my birthday list because I’ve been getting in the habit of getting myself small treats here and there.

Mast Bros Chocolate

First up, I have to sing the praises of Mast Brothers chocolate. This chocolate is so dark and potent that a small piece, smaller than a square inch, satisfies my chocolate craving (okay, maybe two pieces). I keep a bar of this in my drawer at work and it helps me get through the afternoon stretch! After becoming so accustomed to Mast Brothers, eating Hershey’s milk chocolate seems like a waste. As a result, I eat less sweets of a better quality. A win-win in my book! You’ve got to get a bar and you’ll see what I mean.

Julep Maven

Second, after I got my new job back in March, I signed up for Julep Maven, a monthly nail polish (and other beauty items) subscription box. I thought getting nail polish month after month would get boring, but each month has new and exciting colors, and I can also swap items out for other things like lotion, lipstick, or restock on base coat (their base coat is seriously amazing) or topcoat. I’ve been pleased with the durability of the polish too, since I was disappointed with the other trendy brand, Essie.

Julep Maven

My first box, last April

My July box got lost in the mail, so customer service credited my account. To make up for the lost box I added on three colors of nail polish. Since I selected three add-ons, they gifted me with two more! So, I got eight colors this month–definitely an early “me-gift” for my birthday! Usually subscribers receive two colors plus another beauty item, or three colors. I look forward to selecting my box each month and have been having so much fun doing my nails before work each week. Something I never dreamed would become part of my routine but I really enjoy it!

If you want to subscribe, click my referral link & use code FREEBOX for your first month free.

Dollar Shave Club

Lastly, I didn’t want Doug to feel left out, and we are constantly out of razors around here (therefore either not shaving or using seriously unhygienic borderline rusty old blades, don’t tell anyone). So I signed him us up for Dollar Shave Club. Each month for $6 they will send us four fresh 4-blade razors. Win! We can select more or less as needed.

I forgot to add on an extra handle so this month Doug gets to be the first to try out the system, but next month I’ll get another handle. Ever since Julep Maven I have been getting on the subscription box train. So convenient and DSC is super affordable, too. Much cheaper than the Schick Quattro’s Doug had been picking up–super expensive even at Costco! If you want to give it a try (you can cancel anytime), use my referral link, and thank me later ;)

Note: The Julep and Dollar Shave Club links earn me a credit to apply to my own subscription. However, I’m only sharing because I’m a true convert, not because I was asked or paid to. 

My Makeup Routine

My Makeup Bag

Since I’m scurrying around like a crazy person today trying to tie up loose ends for Stephanie’s bachelorette party tonight, I thought I’d write a post ahead of time that also seemed wedding-relevant.

Here’s a DIY detail I did for my own wedding… my own makeup. And I didn’t buy anything special, or anything expensive. I literally did the same makeup I do day in and day out, except perhaps a little embellished, and I added lipstick. Especially for an informal outdoor wedding, why try to do something out of the ordinary?

I’ll do my own makeup for Stephanie’s wedding this Friday, and there is no shame in my game! Nobody knows my skin like I do.

[wedding photo]

As a blogger and therefore a member of the community who chooses to share the most minute details of our lives, I present to you the contents of my makeup bag:

Inside my makeup bag

And my routine:

  • I start my routine by applying the (very expensive and prestigious) Clean and Clear morning burst moisturizer. I give it a minute or so to soak in… once my face feels a little dryer I apply my Bobbi Brown bb cream. The whole point of bb cream is that you’re supposedly able to skip moisturizer, but my experience didn’t work out that way. If I skipped moisturizer the bb cream seemed to cling to my pores and result in a weird texture.
  • After my bb cream sets (it goes on like a mix between foundation and sunscreen, which it is) and feels powdery, I add blush (MAC, pinch of peach) and bronzer. The bronzer helps me not look like the walking dead.
  • I always fill in my eyebrows with that little maybelline powder up there, using the white brush. You wouldn’t think it, but it makes a huge difference in looking polished. As for my eyes, I normally use the powder above (Mica Bella, kind of like Bare Minerals) which is a light yellow-silver that instantly brightens without looking overdone. Sometimes for the evening I use brown (MAC’s corduroy) or purple (Kohl’s Glamourazzi).
  • I don’t usually use lipstick but when I do, the above Rimmel products make it happen. I create an outline on the edge of my lips, then fill it in with the pencil. After that I apply the lipstick lightly.
  • The nail polish is just included for good measure. Essie’s braziliant is my all-time favorite for its punchy coral-orange with a pearlized sheen.

What about you? Did you do your own makeup or hire a pro? Do you buy new makeup products all the time or stick to tried-and-true favorites?