OPI Bubble Bath nail lacquer: Review + photos

Steering away from my usual love for bright nail polish, I've been keeping an eye on nudes.

I already have some nudes, but they tend to be a bit more beige and brown than what I've been wanting.

Here comes OPI's Bubble Bath. I've seen this swatched quite a few times with high reviews on Makeupalley.com, but I didn't go out and buy it right away.

Now that I'm noticing a ton of my stuff is bright pink and coral (clothes, accessories, etc.), I'm trying to tone it down to show that I am, indeed, an adult!

So OPI's Bubble Bath does the job and is what I'm loving right now. It brightens up my hands without going the light pink route. It's not too obvious to anyone but me, and that's OK. It also looks quite pretty on my toes!

It has more pink than other nudes, but it stays modest. It's one to sport to work, for sure.

It is a little streaky for the first couple coats, but the third coat came out really smooth for me. I also wait about 10 minutes after each coat so I don't end up with air bubbles. With the third coat, it came out opaque.

The base coat I love right now is Revlon Colorstay Longwear Enamel Base Coat and my top coat must-have is Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat. I'm linking to Makeupalley.com because I live by the reviews on there!

Seche Vite is a must for me because it really makes my nail colors LAST. They turn out glossy and hard as a rock. I started using cheaper ones again for a while, thinking it wouldn't be a big deal, but I realized the $10 is so worth it.

As for the OPI this time around, I got Bubble Bath and Mod About You (light pink) since ULTA has their 2 for $15 OPI sale lately. Plus I used the $3.50 off $10 coupon I love dearly, so I ended up with two OPI polishes for just over $12.

Love. It.

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Tory Burch Robinson Mini Satchel: Review + photos!

Ahh, yes. This is the bag I've been carrying around EVERYWHERE for the last month and what I'm loving right now.

It's my new black Tory Burch Robinson Mini Satchel.

I've been wanting a satchel again after sporting shoulder bags for the last couple years. I even considered the Louis Vuitton Speedy 30! But I knew I had to stay a bit more conservative in terms of price.

In came Tory Burch. While searching online, I spotted the Robinson Mini Satchel first on nordstrom.com. And I thought about it for a few weeks so I wouldn't make any rash decisions. Aren't I good?

Anyway, I eventually purchased it at Nordstrom and had to get another store to ship it to my apartment since my store didn't have it in black. I figured I haven't carried a black bag in a while, and "classic" is what I was looking for.

The Saffiano leather on this has been fantastic! I love that it feels so durable (though I still treat it like a baby) and pulls my look together.

It's also roomy for a mini. It holds everything I need, including a small cosmetic bag, iPhone, wallet, iPhone wristlet, and little odds and ends.

It also comes with a detachable shoulder strap that I've used just a handful of times. It's helpful to keep around in case you have your hands full when shopping, running errands, etc. Plus the bottom is very durable with four legs to keep it from directly touching surfaces.

Since I love it so much, I purchased the matching continental wallet within the last week, which I'm hoping will last me for quite a while.

And clearly, I love black leather since these go perfectly with my furniture in the photos!

I've read some reviews regarding the "cheap" or "dull" feel of Saffiano leather, but I disagree! I find it classy, clean, and sturdy. Not cheap. But that's just my opinion. So if you've also read those reviews, I hope you still check these items out in person because I find it to be a personal preference.

Overall, I am very content and now a big Tory Burch fan.

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Revlon Lip Butters Juicy Papaya + Wild Watermelon: Review + Photos

I got them!

After reviewing the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters line last week, I picked up 2 out of the 4 newest additions over the weekend: Juicy Papaya and Wild Watermelon.

I got Wild Watermelon first at Target and really liked it. It really does give my lips that "I just ate a cherry popsicle" look that many vloggers have raved about.

Since I'm not really used to having bold lips, I dab it on and go - just like with Sweet Tart.

Then after reading some rave reviews about Juicy Papaya, I got it yesterday at Target. I think we have a WINNER!

Juicy Papaya definitely lives up to the "juicy" name. I use my go-to Carmex Moisture Plus clear lip balm underneath and the Lip Butter goes on REAL smooth. It then has an extremely juicy look. I also don't have to just dab it on. I can swipe and reapply all I want.

No lip gloss necessary, for sure... even more than the other Lip Butters, in my opinion.

If you want an idea of what it looks like on me, check out the photo in my Target Sunglasses post from yesterday.

The orange in the tube can look intimidating for someone who doesn't typically wear oranges, but it's so sheer and natural. Get this if you were considering it!

I may need another tube just as a back-up.

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$16.99 Target sunglasses: Review + photos

What am I loving right now? These hot sunglasses from Target!

Yep, Target. Bargain! They are so simple, yet feel really sleek, sexy and cool. They are super glossy, and the lenses are really dark (which I love).

When something feels/looks amazing on AND they're inexpensive... don't they feel even better?

Unlike the typical cheap wayfarers I see at Target, these have a slightly different detail on the ends. I adore them. And they're a bit heavier, more durable, than other sunglasses in the store.

I usually try on a dozen sunglasses at Target every now and then because it's fun. They're cute when you walk by them, but then they typically don't live up to your (already slightly low) expectations.

But today, jackpot!

I loved these as soon as I put them on. I purchased Ray-Ban wayfarers before at Nordstrom and sadly returned them because of the way they're designed. They slightly tilt into your cheeks, and that doesn't work for my face. When I smile, the whole pair moves up! Awkward.

So anyway, these Target shades were PERFECT. They didn't hit my cheeks like Ray-Ban wayfarers do, AND they passed my "sit on top of my head" test. If they fit well on the top of my head like a headband, they're considered treasure... because my head... is .. shaped weird?

But even after all of this, I hesitated and figured I'll hold off and find a more expensive pair down the road that I know will last me forever. I usually wear my Ray-Ban aviators or Marc Jacobs sunnies. And I figured I'm fine for now. You know... save $$$ whenever I can.

But then, like a weirdo, I went back to the store a couple hours later. Luckily, Target is really close to my apartment.

I'm so happy I did. Love, love, love. For $16.99, they can't be beat. Bargain! I have another pair of Target shades from a year or so ago, and those actually feel like cheap plastic. But these don't! Can't wait to put them on again in the morning on the way to work.

Highly recommend. (Oh, and in the photo, I'm wearing my new Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya! Review soon!)

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Peonies: Where to buy these stunning gems

Happy Friday! I just got done with my workweek and am now relaxing at home.

As I type this, I'm sitting right in front of beautiful pink peonies. They are definitely what I'm loving right now.

For years, I saw them all the time online, especially on Pinterest. But I never really knew where to get them.

They're not often found in grocery stores, at least not in the Phoenix area.

But thankfully, I was on Google to see where I could buy them - and I stumbled upon social media posts about how people love the peonies they purchased at Trader Joe's! Yesss.

So after work the other day, I called the nearest Trader Joe's to see if they carried any. Though, of course, not before going online to figure out how to pronounce the name. Pee-OWN-ees or Pee-UH-nees? I ended up going with the latter.

"Yes! $6.99!" ...Hurrah!

There were just a few options to choose from in store, and I went with bright pink. Naturally.

After the first day, they bloomed and have left my dining/living room area smelling fantastic. And they're just so fluffy, bright and beautiful. I definitely want my wedding bouquet (whenever that happens) to be full of peonies!

I don't often have flowers in my apartment. I don't even have a real plant! But I think I'll now be a regular customer when it comes to peonies at Trader Joe's. At least for now, while they're in season.

Plus I love Trader Joe's products anyway, so I enjoyed purchasing some great groceries. My boyfriend is now also a fan of the flowers and some pita chips I purchased there. So he has already suggested we go back ;)

Success all around. More to come!

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Revlon Lip Butter review: It still wins

I love getting around... when it comes to lip products, that is.

From Revlon to MAC to Lancome, I'll try all kinds of lip products. And this only started in the last year! Before then, I wasn't too concerned about my lips. I had my set products (MAC's Angel was a big hit for me) and didn't do much exploring.

Then I started noticing my lips looking washed out in photos when I consistently went with just a clear lip balm - and I could be doing a lot better than that!

So to change things up and feel girly without doing much else, I've been accumulating an assortment of lip products.

With the rest of my face, I stay pretty consistent. I use the same foundation, blush, and eyeshadows each day. Then the fun begins with the lips!

Which lip product I'm loving right now

The thing is, even after purchasing various brands and different lines, I still reach for Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters the most.

This product first came out in 2011 and was all the rage. There were tons of blogs, vlogs, and swatches for them. "It's a lip balm! It's a lipstick! It's something in between!"

So yes, it took me a long time to finally buy one. In order to catch up several months ago, I bought 6.

I'm totally late to the party, but I'm still hanging around. Love the formula, love the colors, love the price tag (about $6 at Target).

I currently have (from left to right in the photo) Sweet Tart, Cupcake, Gumdrop, Lollipop, Pink Truffle, and Creme Brulee.

My favorite right now is Sweet Tart. It's a bright bubblegum pink that I learned could look clownish if over-applied. I use it to dab my lips and I'm good to go. It gives my lips a nice flush.

They're easy to apply, moisturizing, and brighten up my face. I still wear my clear lip balm (Carmex Moisture Plus) underneath, but I think they're still hassle-free. They also have the newer shades (Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya, Sorbet, and Pink Lemonade) I haven't considered yet. Not sure if I'm interested in them.

What's your go-to lip product? Have you tried the newest shades? Let me know what I should try next!

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Back to Day 1: Shampoo, conditioner for ombre hair

After initially starting a blog with the same title in 2008, I decided to give it another go 5 years later.

The reasons for discontinuing the original blog was graduating from college and getting my first real job, which sent me to another state.

But lately I've just wanted a new place to jot down my thoughts that aren't necessarily associated with my work... and won't clog my friends' newsfeeds on Facebook.

So I'll try to update this regularly with whatever I'm loving "right now" hence the title.

To start off (again), I want to talk about my "holy grail" shampoo and conditioner, especially now that I have ombre hair. I know the ombre rage started years ago, but I finally tried it out (after months of considering it).

One of my biggest concerns was how my typically healthy hair would turn out after bleaching. "What if it starts falling out after finally growing out?" But once I found my new shampoo/conditioner obsession, I knew I'd be in the clear. More on that shortly.

I finally ombre'd myself

So for my birthday in early April, I went to my usual salon and asked for a very natural-looking ombre.

When I say natural, I mean just a few shades lighter than my dark Asian black hair, just on the bottom half... sort of a caramel tone. Like I've been out in the sun a lot (which I don't do anymore). The image to the right is the end result (though not in natural sunlight so not as obvious). And I'm loving it!

I'm writing about it right now because I'm falling more and more in love with the look (and the products I'm using) each day. That's how it should be, right? The color really brightens up my look for spring/summer, and I personally wanted a change without going too far.

My favorite celebrity who consistently rocks this look is Victoria's Secret Angel Lily Aldridge. So stunning. Hers is more blonde and obvious than mine, but she was my inspiration for this look.

Which hair products I'm loving right now

Now this is where my favorite shampoo/conditioner duo comes into play. I've been a huge fan of Bed Head Urban Antidotes Level 1 shampoo/conditioner (green bottles) for a few years now thanks to my hairstylist. It's the perfect amount of oomph my hair needs without weighing it down.

I stopped using it for a bit, thinking I can save money by using something cheaper at the drugstore but then realized how much better my hair feels when I use the Level 1 Urban Antidotes products.

THEN... I discovered the Level 2 (blue bottles) which give colored hair more love. Holy Grail! My hair feels the softest, healthiest when I use these bottles. Guaranteed. Now I break up the routine maybe once every 5 to 7 days by using the green bottles but then go back to using the blue ones. And they both smell DIVINE.

There's a 3rd level (red bottles) that are for the extremely damaged hair, for anyone who would need that extra help.

For a great deal, I purchased them at Nordstrom Rack. The 25.36 oz bottles are typically around $25 each (pricey!), but at Nordstrom Rack, I got them as a package deal Shampoo + Conditioner for $25! Amazing deal!

I can't recommend these bottles enough. I don't do much else with my hair - blow, curl and go.

More to come this week!

For more beauty and lifestyle posts, please subscribe or "follow by email" on the top right hand corner of the page. I'm also on Instagram @erisaxo.