Mushu Inspired Disney Bound in Fabletics (Copy)
July 2020 Favorites, Finds + Reviews
Between trying out a ton of new brands + products and being introduced to some AMAZING businesses + makers I wanted to round up my favorites from each month! I’ll be sharing the good, bad + ugly & hope this inspires (or warns you) about products to try!
Not Your Mothers Hair Care Products
Overall I really, really love NYM Conditioner! It’s given life to my hair I haven’t had in YEARS. My little curls are coming back and after all the crap I’ve done to my hair I’m both shocked and so, so happy. As for the dry shampoos + texturing sprays I don’t mind the dry shampoo (original w/o fragrance) - it doesn’t irritate my scalp + isn’t terribly white. The texturing spray (Beachy) has a bit of a strange coconut scent and seems to work alright. I’ve never really used texturizing spray because I don’t need it, but Cody has found it comes in handy for his hair when he doesn’t want to use pomade! Overall I’m happy to have tried more NYM and definitely will continue using + trying for the time being!
Mega Babe Thigh Rescue
Alright alright this is the REAL DEAL. I’ve used deodorant, lotion, you name it over the years to help with chaffing (also lovingly referred to as chub rub in our home) and while those kind of work, none were without harsh chemicals. Mega Babe is cruelty free + clean + woman owned (by the one and only Katie Sturino) If you’re looking for something to take on the rest of summer + get back into shorts and skirts, give this a try! You can buy at Ulta, Target, Goop, Antrho and of course, online!
Sodastream
Not gunna lie, when Cody first brought up getting this I was not on board. It felt and sounded like just another one-use appliance type thing that would make our kitchen counters even busier - vom. However, after some research + doing the math on what we were already spending on soda water + pop, it made sense to do the damn thing, especially with our love for craft cocktails growing. After about a month of having (and using it) I absolutely love it and has already made a difference. Skipping the soda aisle at the store is nice + lets me have a little when I want it without needing to buy a whole case or overpriced bottle. We’ve lowered our one-use plastics and are even starting to learn how to make syrups. If you love soda or use it often, this is worth it.
KitchenAide Pasta Roller
Last holidays, one of my clients hosted a holiday party where we actually cooked our dinner from scratch vis a vis a cooking class. Our main dish - pasta - was made by hand + kitchenaid attachment and since then I was hooked. Well, this month we finally found one at decent price on sale and did the damn thing. If you have the kitchenaid and enjoy pasta/cooking this is totally worth it. The fresh pasta - especially with the many shortages - is just that much better. Interested but don’t want to pay full price? Be sure to watch the Q4 sales, especially around Thanksgiving time! This is the other time I’ve seen them going on sale consistently!
Mickey Ears (A Little Magic Mouse Tree House) If you follow along on Instagram then you know how much I ADORE my ears from this sweet shop! I personally have the Stitch + Little Mermaid Ears and have my eye on many of the new releases. They’re beautiful, sturdy and made with so much care, love + Disney magic you can feel it! Be sure to check these out whether you’re getting back to the park or enjoying the magic from home!
Kopari Deodorant For about a year, I’ve been trying different natural deodorants in hopes of finding one that I loved … and didn’t make me have an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, Kopari did still give me a reaction so I can’t say it’s the one. Overall, it was a really lovely coconut scent and did a great job in the first three days (I broke out horribly day 4 + 5, and Cody made me quit Day 6) I’m not sure why I break out so bad with awful rashes from every. single. natural deodorant I try, but alas I do. If you are looking to try though I would still get a mini and see how it goes!
BoxLunch Despite admiring BoxLunch for ages since I came to love Disney hardcore this year, I only just purchased somethings from BoxLunch! So far, I’ve adored everything + have gotten it very quickly plus some great perks + giving back per their lovely meal-providing initiatives. If you’ve got a fandom you love, check out their options! I actually JUST ordered their Brave Loungefly backpack per recommendation of my dear IG friend + fellow Brave lover, Lauren (@disneymagicgalore).
Curology Ok so after using for about two months I can finally really have an opinion one way or another on it! Overall, I think it’s a brilliant idea to pop online, take a quiz + chat with a specialist to get your skin help via mail on a recurring basis. However, a brilliant friend let me know you can actually DIY your script from the Ordinary so moving forward I’ll be trying that! Additionally, this definitely didn’t totally work for me, but, I know with my particular skin maybe it can’t without more help from a facialist or aesthetician. Worth a try, better (and cooler) than Proactive but not the be all end all.
I usually opt for OI products, but, when unable to find them and in a pinch I gave these a go and so far am quite happy! They have very similar values and again, are organic, made without fragrance, polyester, dioxins + pesticides. Additionally, they offer subscription services which allow you to save money + get your products as you need them! On top of tampons, they offer other mensuration products and bladder products as well!
As always, I hope you enjoyed this months favorites + reviews! Have something in mind you want me to try before you shell out the money? Let me know in the comments!
Harry Potter Inspired Candy & Bar Trolley
Whether it’s from being safe at home for a bit too long, our plans to visit the Wizarding World being canceled or some new & budding projects calling for some Harry Potter fun, we wanted to celebrate Harry’s birthday this year with a bang! The best way to start? Making our own version of the Hogwarts Express Trolley! Fit with all the candy you could think of - Wizard inspired takes on Muggle candy - and plenty of Muggle booze (giggle water?) I’d say we did a pretty good job! Overall, creating this Trolley cart was super fun and really doable predominantly with things you already have! Below I’m sharing some behind the scenes of setting it up, tips on sourcing materials for it (and direct links to purchase some of the same items we did online) and of course links to our HP inspired cocktails!
The Cart + Containers
For the cart we actually just repurposed our current bar cart! While we grabbed ours at a local vintage market, you can purchase a cart basically anywhere and at a ton of different price points! I’ve included a few below that I think are a great mix of price and style (and would look good all the time) candy trolley or otherwise!
As for the candy containers, we only had to purchase a few larger candy dishes to pull this off! If I could do it again, I would purchase glass apothecary jars (as linked below) because you really can use them for so many things and they’re absolutely beautiful! As for the jars we repurposed, some were old candles others were old jam jars. We’re really big on saving + repurposing anything we can these days and it certainly paid off on this project!
The Candy + Booze
Now of course - the important part(s)! As for the candy we mostly got Muggle candy as Wizards candy wasn’t really available at most of our local stores (and buying from the park was super expensive). Thankfully we were able to find candies we love - lemon drops (Dubledore’s favorite), Red Hots, Green Rock Candy (Acid Pops), Butterscotch Candies, Bertie Bot’s Every Flavor Beans, Gummi Worms, Licorice (Wands) and a mix of Whoppers + Bridge Mix (Dragons Eggs) to complete our cart! All of these and more are available online and can be customized to whatever you wish! Getting creative here is the fun part!
As for the booze, we actually on displayed those which we used in the HP Inspired Cocktails (we have loads more - we love trying out cocktails from around the world + different time periods) You can find the HP Inspired Cocktails here - including Butterbeer, Amortentia (Love Potion), Chocolate Frog and Pumpkin Pasty.
The Baked Goods
Lastly we of course have to mention the plethora of baked goods we added on! All from our local bakery - Sweet Dee’s - as part of their yearly celebration of the Boy Who Lived! We purchased a mixed box and couldn’t be happier. Don’t live in Arizona? No worries! Many if not all of these are easily made at home with your own magic! I’ve linked pins below to amazing recipes that will surely bring you those delicious & festive tastes and treats at home!
June 2020 Products: Favorites & Reviews
Between trying out a ton of new brands + products and being introduced to some AMAZING businesses + makers I wanted to round up my favorites from each month! I’ll be sharing the good, bad + ugly & hope this inspires (or warns you) about products to try!
Janet + Jo Nail Polish: If you’ve seen my Instagram, you know how in love I am with these amazing polishes! Not only is Janet + Jo clean polish, it works freakin wonders. I usually would never spend much on polish but in learning what awful ingredients are inside PLUS the staying power of these polishes I’m not sure I’ll ever buy anything else! These get a 10+/10 in my book + are a wonderful way to support Black Businesses! (My current favorite shade is Work Wife!)
Pholk Beauty: I’ve been trying out lots of skin care options recently and Pholk is one of them! I tried out a few of their acne specific products and am happy with them! I currently use the Daily Detox Face Wash, Moringa Pore Teatox Mask and Honeysuckle Aloe Face Mist! The wash is so lush and really makes my skin feel clean - no residue or stripping oils, just clean! The mask is probably my favorite and I love that you mix it yourself so shelf life is longer! Lastly, the aloe mist has been a life saver in the sun + my sensitive skin! The only thing that took me off guard about the products was the more natural/earthy smells! They smell real - as natural + clean beauty products should, just something I’m still getting used to after using chemically/heavily fragranced products for years! 8/10!
Barefoot Blanket: Alright so if you’ve heard of this then you know these are highly coveted, highly raved about blankets. I think every blogger EVER has shared about these at one point or another so when I saw some on major sale at Nordy I bought one. If you don’t know about these, these “softest ever” blankets run for at least $100 (closer to $150 or even $200). I was excited to get mine after being recommended it SO MANY times by blogger friends? The truth & my opinion? They’re not worth the hype. I’ve bough softer blankets from Target for $25 so I just wasn’t impressed. Mine IS really cute and goes with our decor but I really couldn’t recomend purchasing for full price. If you really want it to say you have it - that’s your business. Be sure to at least get it on sale at Nordy or Nordstrom Rack. 3/10.
BooHoo: June was the first month I bought boohoo directly from them. I’ve thrifted NWT before but haven’t ordered from them directly so I did this time! I bought a mix of staples and fun things - a few skorts, a blazer and colette pants. Overall, I am actually selling quite a few of the pieces on Poshmark. The sizing wasn’t on point (despite measuring against charts) and the overall quality was even worse than I expected. I’m definitely at a point in my style/fashion journey where I value quality + sustainability way more than a cheap item. I can’t really recommend shopping here for more reasons than one but if you see something thrifting thats decent it may be worth giving the piece a new home! 5/10.
Aerie Swim: While this isn’t the first time I’ve bought Aerie Swim I did get a few new styles! I LOVE Aerie and think their (mostly) inclusive sizing is nice for a brand of their size/quality. I’ve bought a total of two one pieces and about 3 bikini sets from them and have loved them all! If you’re looking to try quality swim at an affordable price with options for just about every body this is a great place to start! I’ve linked some of my favorites below - many of which I own (though maybe in a different pattern/color) 9/10!
Kissing Day & My Favorite Lip Products
You know I love a good “holiday” to celebrate even the smallest of things! With today being National Kissing Day I thought it was the perfect time to share my favorite lip care favorites! While I’m always looking to try new products, some of these are fun + some are staples (hello Aquaphor!) If you’re looking to keep your lips soft + healthy be sure to check some of these out! Everything is linked down below where you can shop the link directly!
Neutral Summer Home Decor Updates
With the summer - and my seasonal needs to change things up - come some sweet new corners of our home I’ve been designing + putting together for months I’m SO excited to share. With a mix of practical + beautiful, these sweet decor highlights are all shopable through the links below each post!
Memorial Day (+ Weekend) 2020 Sales + Coupon Codes
Abercrombie - 40%-60% Off Entire Store // Additional 15% Off Select Styles
While Abercrombie doesn’t offer inclusive sizing (still!) there are some good pieces here if you are straight sized or middie!
American Eagle - 25% - 60% Off Everything // 30% - 50% Off Aerie Collection // Take an Extra 20% Off Summer Faves
Probably one of my favorite & go-to stores given how inclusive sizing is and gosh darn how CUTE AE (and especially Aerie has gotten!) Be sure to check out swim if you’re in the market for something new. I’ve never been happier or more confident in the quality their swim has!
Ann Taylor - 60% Off Your Purchase (5/21 - 5/24) Code: SUMMER
Anthropologie - Extra 50% Off Sale
Bauble Bar - Sale up to 70% Off
An AWESOME place if you love statement or just cool jewelry!
Bed Bath & Beyond - Up to 40% Off Outdoor Sale
Boohoo - 60% Off Everything
Chic Soul - Select Styles up to 75% Off (5/22 + 5/23) // Weekender Sale (5/24 + 5/25)
Forever 21 - 25% Off $75+ (5/22 - 5/27) Code: PICK20
Francesca’s - 40% Off Select Items
Free People - Select Sandals $50
Another store I wish had inclusive sizing (sigh) but if you’re straight sized you can have a boho field day here!
Loft - 50% Off Your Purchase + Loyalty Members Get 60% Off (ends 5/23) Code: FRIEND
Missguided - 50% Off Everything + Extra 20% Off Code: MEM20
Nordstrom - Clearance Sale Up to 60% Off
Nordstrom Rack - Levi’s Up to 65% Off, Dresses up to 70% Off
Old Navy - Tees, Shorts, Tanks, & Swim all 50% Off
Overstock - Memorial Day Blowout - 70% off thousands of items
TopShop - Sale Up to 50% Off
Ulta - New Daily Beauty Steals 50% Off
The ONLY beauty store I will support that’s big brand has some fun deals that differ every day! If you love Ulta, be sure to sign up for the emails to get easy info on what’s on sale which days!
Urban Outfitters - Take an extra 30% Off Sale Styles
Wayfair - Up to 70% Off Memorial Day Clearance
Mother's Day Weekend Sales
If you’re like me, I’m looking to make the most out of the sales this weekend to round out my closet for the spring & summer (fingers crossed some of it can be worn out of my living room!) I’ve rounded up each retailers deals below & some of my fave’s I’ll be getting!
Abercrombie - Up to 70% Off Clearance
American Eagle - Take $50 Off $100+, $35 Off $80+ Or $25 OFF $60+ (CODE: SOMUCHMORE) // 20-50% Off AE // 25-50% Off Tailgate // Up to 50% Off Aerie //
Anthropologie - Extra 25% Off Sale
BooHoo - 60% Off Everything
Forever 21 - 30% Pop Up Sale // Up to 50% Off Sale
Francesca’s - Entire site $25 and under
Free People - Sale Up to 50% Off
H&M - Up to 50% off of-the-season styles starting at $7.99
LOFT - Up to 60% off full-price styles (Use code: MORE)
Missguided - 50% off everything + 10% off spring outfits (Use code: 10SPRING)
Modcloth - Extra 30% off sale items
Nordstrom - Clearance sale - up to 60% off // Nordstrom Rack - up to 70% off
Old Navy - Everything on sale $25 and under
Ulta - New sale items and flash deals daily
Wayfair - Up to 70% off bed and bath sale // Up to 65% off the big outdoor sale