Last weekend I put on my big girl pants & knocked out my taxes. Technically they’re not that difficult, but it’s a task crossed off my to-do list so I’m celebrating the victory. 🎉 This past weekend was a different story. I found myself in a deflating situation Friday morning & spiraled so quickly, I could barely move by the afternoon. That might sound dramatic, but I feel like I’ve been moving against the tide for months so that was my body giving in to mental and physical exhaustion. I had to be gracious, allowing myself to do whatever the heck I felt like doing, including RELAX. I read books, took naps, cheered on Team USA in the winter olympics, & started season one of Downton Abbey. I also managed to continue & finish my 7-day cardio challenge which made me feel so proud. 🔥 Life is not smooth sailing, but what defines you is how you handle the waves that come along. So cheesy, I know, but it’s true. My days look much different in 2022, & I’m in career limbo at the moment, but I’m taking it one step at a time. If you’re doing your best to survive, I’m right there with you. You are NOT alone! ♥️
I’ve never done a drink review, but Starbucks refreshers are my summer drink of choice so it felt right to try the NEW Kiwi Starfruit Refresherand share my thoughts. I don’t eat a lot of kiwi, and I’ve never eaten starfruit so I had no idea what to expect. I saw some early comments that were mostly negative, but I tried to keep an open mind. The liquid part tastes like watermelon, not the fruit but an artificial flavor. Many people are comparing it to a watermelon jolly rancher, and that’s pretty darn accurate. I’m not a huge fan of candy, but the jolly rancher flavor doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. The chunks of kiwi are like a mild pineapple in texture and flavor. This is not my new favorite refresher, but it’s not half bad.
When I tried the refresher on its own, one of my first thoughts was “I bet this would be even better with lemonade.” I was right! The lemonade adds a tartness that balances out the watermelon candy taste of the original. I also tried the star drink which has coconut milk in it. I wasn’t sure I would like this version, and upon first sip, I thought it was too milky and mild. After a good mix and several more sips, I was a fan. If you like strawberry milk, this might be a drink for you. It’s what I imagine a tropical milkshake to taste like but with a semi-tropical fruit that has a mild pineapple flavor. Kiwi milk, what a pleasant surprise!
This is a very important update so listen up: I rarely go to Starbucks anymore. G A S P ! ! The reason comes in individual serving size packets and pairs nicely with almond milk & ice. Have you guessed? I still drink Starbucks coffee but in the comfort of my own home thanks to Via Instant. I know that most people know about this product, but it has been unbelievably easy to enjoy frappuccinos on days when I can’t make it to my neighborhood Starbucks. In fact, I have become so obsessed that even when I’m presented with the option to go to an actual Starbucks, I choose my “homemade” frappuccino. How crazy is that??! My favorite flavor at the moment is Sweetened Iced Coffee.
– B E D R O O M –
My room is small so the arrangement requires a lot of creativity. I recently had an epiphany at work regarding how I could make it feel more spacious and homey. I am happy to report that my idea worked, and I vlogged the whole process. The three-day project was exhausting but worth the effort because I feel like I have officially settled in.
I’ve been trying really hard to post consistently on both my blogs. The balance was off earlier this year because I got a paying job helping a photographer maintain her blog. I have since settled in, and I think everything is back to normal. Here are my recent blog posts:
I love blogging & vlogging, but it does require money which I don’t have a lot of at the moment due to my status as a sales associate. I’m not exactly breaking the bank with my checks! I recently discovered a brand new website that makes it fun & easy for subscribers to support their favorite bloggers, business, vloggers, etc. Here is my Ko-fi ( pronounced like “coffee” ) link ➡️ https://ko-fi.com/A3023728
– R E A D I N G –
Good news: I took part in BookTube-A-Thon 2017, my very first time doing so. Even though my camera broke on day 6 and I couldn’t continue vlogging, I did continue to participate by reading & interacting on social media. I had so much fun and can’t wait for next year! Bad news: I am in a terrible reading slump A G A I N ! ! I was in one before BTAT, and here I am right back at square one. I have the desire, but every time I attempt to read, I have to force myself to keep going. Reading is the ultimate getaway for me, and I hate being in this mood. I need to pull up my big girl pants and just do it. I’m in the middle of 6 books ( yes, SIX ), and I need to finish all of them because I have exciting books to read in October & November. I also need to make serious progress on my Goodreads reading challenge because I have only completed 26 of my 50-book challenge. Not bad but still not great. Cheer me on!!
– R E T A I L –
I still hate retail. That’s pretty much it. 😂
– V A C A T I O N –
I am counting down the seconds, minutes, hours, days, & months until my autumn vacation. I know I echo the rest of my family when I say we desperately NEED this trip.
⏰ Current Countdown: 1 month, 12 days ⏰
– W E A T H E R –
If you’re a loyal follower of my blog, you know my visceral hatred for the summer months. I love cold foods & swimming, but this season is the absolute worst. I do nothing but sweat and feel gross and uncomfortable. I would much rather be cold & snuggle up in blankets while wearing a sweater. Whether you like it or not, autumn is upon us. Even though it’s my favorite season, I am hesitant to get excited. California disappointed me last year by remaining unbearably hot until the end of the year. Please please please don’t let me down this year!! 🍂 😭 🎃
– Y O U T U B E –
Lots of exciting news! Since my Charmed Aroma review video, I’ve been contacted by two more companies for reviews. I also have a major project in the works, something I’ve been planning for several months. I am slowly compiling products for a Bookish Gift Guide, a list of gift ideas for the bibliophiles in your life. I’ve already purchased two Jane Austen pillows and five candles inspired by A Game of Thrones, Edgar Allen Poe, Harry Potter, Romeo and Juliet, & The Princess Bride respectively. Before this video comes out later next year, there will be 1-2 review videos for various book-inspired candles; I plan to make this an ongoing series on my channel so suggestions are welcome. Last but not least, I mentioned earlier that my camera broke; thankfully I was able to replace it. The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II has amazing quality, and I feel refreshed and excited for all the new content coming soon to my channel. Things are happening, and I’m going with flow. 🎉
| • I hope all of you have had a great summer. 🌞 I will be back soon with another post. 😘 • |
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• A1: California did not get the memo that fall has begun. Although it is finally starting to cool down, there is a chance of eighty degree temperatures this week. NO NO NO NO NO!!!!! I will cheat on the west coast and move to the east coast if the sun rears its ugly head. Clouds and chill all day everyday for this girl!
• A2: Black. I am not picky about brands although me and Essie have a love/hate relationship. I currently have Sinful Colors Professional in “Black on Black”, and it is a repurchase.
• A3: When the air starts to get chilly, I immediately reach for my Milani “Exotic Berries” quad. These colors not only blend well with each other but also with other eyeshadows. I am not sure about other eye colors, but this quad does wonders for green eyes.
• A4: My USC sweatshirt from Forever 21. I wore this hoodie so much in college, students made jokes when I showed up wearing something else. Very funny! No, I did not attend USC. Growing up, I was influenced by family friends. FIGHT ON TROJANS!!
• A5: Mossimo Supply Co Khloe Fold Over Boots. This pair of shoes goes with every color of the rainbow and makes me look cool and heroic like Katniss. ;)
• A6: Tall, decaf, sugar free Salted Caramel Mocha Frappucino/Latte with soy milk and no whipped cream. I’m actually drinking a frap right now. Salty & sweet. :)
The Official Recipe: Mocha sauce and toffee nut syrup are combined with coffee and milk, then topped with sweetened whipped cream, caramel drizzle and a blend of turbaned sugar and sea salt.
• A9: Cranberry Woods – “Fresh, tart cranberries, blackcurrant and warm cinnamon bark combine in a delightful fragrance inspired by the magic of the woods during harvest time.”
• A10: “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. First of all this song screams fall/Halloween. Second, I don’t know of any other songs that are specifically about fall. Third, after Halloween I listen to nothing but Christmas music.
Fun Fact: My dance class did a tribute dance to “Thriller” the year that MJ passed away. We wore old clothes and messy makeup. It was a fun way to deal with sad circumstances.
• A13: I am not really a fan of Halloween, but if I were to pick Halloween movies to watch, I can handle “Hocus Pocus”, “The Addams Family”, “Addams Family Values”, and “Halloween” (Original and New version). However, my favorite fall movie is “An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving.” It is based on a short story by Louisa May Alcott, author of “Little Women.”
• A15: Me and my dad are both November babies so my family always comes up with fun stuff to celebrate both birthdays. Another great memory is my time as a dancer in the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Auditions usually took place in September, and rehearsals lasted until the shows at the end of November.
These are my must-haves for Summer 2015. Watch the Youtube version here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYeTuY_DPJs – or continue reading. Click the names of each product to get more information. :)
*** I apologize in advance for the weird spacing! I’m having technical problems with my blog but doing my best to fix them.
My sunglasses look exactly like these except for the Ray Ban logo; they don’t have any logo on the temples.. I bought them at Nordstrom Rack and took them home in a Lacoste case, but I vaguely remember that the Lacoste cases were all they had left. Therefore, my sunglasses could very well not be Lacoste.
I use this as a moisturizer before applying makeup during the Spring and Summer seasons to give my skin extra color. I use “Medium to Tan” to expedite the tanning process.
I own way more lip balm than I need, but these two are my favorites. EOS is great for day-to-day use, and Rose Salve is great for extremely chapped lips.
If you like time period shows, nursing, midwifery, heartwarming stories, or all of the above, this show is for you. Me and my mom, a former nurse, are madly in love!
Best concert of my life so far! If you are into metal, show support for the four bands by visiting their respective websites and giving their music a chance.
Thanks to encouragement from my mom, I gave denim vests a chance and have no regrets. This is a great layering piece for warm weather, and I will venture to say that it will be equally adorable in colder months with long-sleeve tops.
When I turned 21, I started to get light acne. If you have this same struggle, I highly recommend this product. It does dry out your skin, but the effects are not drastic. A little extra moisturizer is all you will need. However, keep in mind that my results may vary from your own.
I am not a fan of berry scents; they tend to be too strong for my taste. This lotion is a bit strong and headache-provoking, but the scent lightens when it comes in contact with my skin. I have been wearing it ALL month. I am glad I gave it a chance!
Just in case you did not understand the title: I need coffee!!!!!!!!!! There is some repairs going on in my family’s house. One of the bathrooms being worked on is in my bedroom therefore I had to get up early in order to accommodate the workers. WHY WHY WHY??? This is so cruel. Waking up at 9am is not okay with me. I feel like a zombie. As you can tell, I am having a dramatic morning, which is why I am blogging. Drama is so much more amusing. Well, from your point of view. I am not so amused at the moment. I could be encouraged with, oh I don’t know, maybe some COFFEE. A muffin would also be lovely. The funny thing is I drink decaf coffee so my need is not so much for caffeine as it is for taste. The taste of (flavored) coffee energizes me. Sorry! I am not a purist. If anyone is curious, my current staple drinks at Starbucks are hazelnut frappuccinos (Tall, decaf, sugar free, soy) and iced caramel macchiatos (Tall, decaf, iced, soy).
Have a great day readers. Drink some coffee in honor of me! Please & thank you.
– Lauren Michele :)
11:35 am Update: I got my tall, decaf, sugar free, iced, soy caramel macchiato and a blueberry muffin. Yay!!
I hope your noses are in tip-top shape because tonight’s post is all about CANDLES!! Today was the sacred day that die-hard Bath & Body Works shoppers crave the other 364 days of the year, leap years excluded. Today was “$8 Candle Day.” I cannot tell a lie. This whole “I need a gazillion candles in my life” craze is new to me, but I caught on quickly. First of all, the store was absolute chaos. California women do not mess around when it comes to sales, even if they are holding one or more babies. I was poked, prodded, stared down, and 100% overwhelmed. Even the employees were getting trapped by the sea of shoppers. Despite my “fear”, I was more worried about the candles. People were moving about as if the store was full of cotton instead of fragile candles. Take a chill pill!! If you can’t already tell from my dramatic narrative, I am NOT a crowd person. Fun fact about me: I will not go to a store to wrestle over an item in person. However, I am a master online shopper; I will bid to the death. Perhaps I will share some of my wisdom with you another time. Back to the topic at hand. I made it out of the store alive with four candles. At $8 apiece with the inclusion of a $10 off coupon, I paid a little more than twenty-three dollars total. That is the amount I would have paid for ONE candle on a normal shopping day, and I walked out with FOUR candles. Hallelujah, praise Jesus. I love saving $$$!!! I will end this post with a description of each candle, including Marshmallow Fireside which was purchased last month. FYI: These descriptions come on the bottom of each candle; I cannot take credit for the text in quotation marks.
Cranberry Woods – “Fresh tart cranberries, blackcurrant, and warm cinnamon bark combine in a delightful fragrance inspired by the magic of the woods during harvest time.” I chose this candle over “Frosted Cranberry” because the scent was more delicate. Despite the absence of citrus, the scent has a citrus quality that cuts the harshness of the cranberry. This scent is ideal for any Thanksgiving table.
Gourmet Espresso – “The fragrance of rich espresso delightfully brewed with artisan coffee beans is the perfect complement for your homemade holiday treats.” Coffee lovers need this candle in their life. I am not a coffee aficionado nor do I drink pure coffee, but this scent is absolute heaven. This candle was made to be lit in your kitchen every morning.
Holly Jolly Christmas – “Have a holly jolly Christmas with this festive blend of bright mandarin, red pomegranate, and fresh balsam.” Christmas-themed scents tend to be too spicy for my taste. If you are like me, this is the candle for you. The notes of fruit add just enough pop to the fresh balsam without being overpowering. A “Fresh Balsam” candle is also available, but I chose this candle instead because the scent offers more than one note of Christmas.
Marshmallow Fireside – “A sweet toasty end to a long cold day – toasted marshmallows and sumptuous vanilla cream blend with the comforting aroma of rich smoldering woods.” I am not a huge fan of sweet scents because they can be very nauseating. While this scent is very sweet, in small doses it is a pleasant pick-me-up. You know that scent from bonfires that makes your eyes and nose burn? Hints of that toastiness are present and break up the sweetness a little bit. This scent is 100% dependent on the first impression. You either like it or you don’t; there is no compromise.
Mint Mocha Bark – “Wrap this delectable medley of creamy smooth mocha, vanilla, and icy mint in a bow and give it to your nearest and dearest.” Plain and simple: if you want to have the scent of a Starbucks peppermint mocha frappuccino within reach at all times, this is the candle for you.
Now go forth, shop, & fill the air with fragrance. Stay merry readers!
– Lauren Michele :)
“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
If you do not recognize the red cup, you have obviously never set foot in a building designated by a green sign with a white mermaid. When Starbucks starts serving their beverages in red cups, Christmas has officially arrived. The red cup brings with it 3 holidays flavors: caramel brulee, gingerbread, and peppermint.
My December 4th Favorite:
What is your favorite Starbucks’ holiday beverage? My favorite fall (Thanksgiving) beverage is a salted caramel mocha frappuccino, and my favorite winter (Christmas) beverage is a peppermint mocha frappuccino. I recently tried a gingerbread frappuccino and was impressed. It did not dethrone my reigning Christmas favorite, but it was good enough to make it into my holiday beverage rotation. My next taste-test endeavor is a caramel brulee frappuccino; let me know if you have an opinion regarding this beverage. By now, you may be questioning my motives for drinking frappuccinos during one of the coldest times of the year. Truth be told, I like hot beverages but have more of a soft spot for cold beverages. I do suffer because of my choice, but what a delicious way to suffer! Now it is your turn; what is your favorite Starbucks’ holiday beverage?
Lauren Michele ❤️ 