Date Night Inspo: A Valentine's Day Makeup Tutorial & Collab!

Whether you're celebrating with your gal pals, or having a romantic evening with your significant other, if you're looking for some inspiration for your next night out, you've come to the right place! I've teamed up with some fabulous other bloggers to each bring you our take on a Valentine's Day makeup look. This year I'm pretty sure my husband and I will celebrate as per the usual by getting some kind of fancy dinner followed by binge watching Madmen at home in our sweats. Our romance has always been of the low-key, laid back variety, and I think that's what I wanted to pay homage to in this look. I reached for some of my favorite, long-wearing and effortless products to create a look that strikes the perfect balance between everyday casual and special occasion glam.

Galentine's Day Gifts to Give

Oh Valentine's Day. As someone that is currently happily married but that has also gone through more than one January breakup, I understand the love-hate relationship people have with you. Romance is great, but when you're recently heartbroken or hanging out with your substitute boyfriends Ben & Jerry for the umpteenth time, its probably the last thing you want to have on your mind. And this is why I'm all for celebrating Galentine's Day - because there is so much more love to celebrate in life than just the romantic kind. Of course I believe Valentine's Day can also be a representation of that. But why not take the opportunity, regardless of whether or not we're in a relationship, to celebrate our best gal pals?

If you're in need of some inspiration on how to spoil the special ladies in your life, look no further. I've curated a list of some of my favorite extra-girly gift ideas for showing appreciation to all kinds of wonderful women - from your kid's teacher, to your mom, to your hairdresser, your bestie, or your coworker. (There is also no shame in passing this post on to a S.O. should he or she need some pointers and/or not-so-subtle hints of things you might appreciate yourself. Just sayin'.)

It's Back! DavidsTea 24 Days of Tea for Holiday 2017

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..."

I know. It's not even Halloween yet. But before you seriously side eye me for bringing up the holidays, I promise I have a good excuse. Today the DavidsTea 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar is back in stores, and if this year is like every other one before it, it'll be sold out well before anyone has even thought about putting up a Christmas Tree.

If you're feeling a bit out of the loop, Canadian tea retailer DavidsTea curates a stunningly packaged Advent calendar every year containing 24 different loose leaf teas to sample in the days leading up to Christmas. If you've ever enjoyed one of those chocolate Advent Calendars as a kid, this basically takes things to a whole new level of indulgence. As a die hard tea lover there is nothing better than getting up each day and seeing what new flavor awaits me.

Thanks to the fact that I probably spend way too much money on tea every year, I received an email from the brand that allowed me to pick my calendar up a few days before the official launch. So let's take a closer look at exactly what the deal is with this year's collection and how it compares to the 2016 version.

Holiday 2016: DavidsTea 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar

If there is one thing outside of the beauty realm that I am head over heels obsessed with, it's tea. Ask anyone from my office, but there isn't a day (maybe even not an hour) when you'll find me without a cup at my desk. I've got an entire cabinet in my kitchen devoted just to the goods, as well as most of the cabinet in my cubicle.

What can I say, it's basically my lifeblood.

From a spicy chai, to an earthy oolong, to a fruity herbal, I'm definitely not picky when it comes to flavors, and am on a bit of a personal quest to try as many different teas as I can. But (much like my obsession with makeup) being a tea enthusiast can get a little pricey, which usually means being extra selective about which ones I want to buy. Fortunately, DavidsTea rolled in to my local mall a couple of years ago, and they have THE BEST tea sampler sets. They're constantly releasing new seasonal collections, and have a ton of different ways for you to sample multiple flavors without breaking the bank.

Perhaps the ultimate of all of these sets is the 24 Days of Tea advent calendar. I honestly can't think of a better way to ring in the holidays than by getting to try a different tea every day (you know, without spending hundreds of dollars). Last year was the first time I picked one of these bad boys up, and I enjoyed it so much that I couldn't help but put the beauty on pause for a day so I could share the 2016 version with you guys. Come take a look!

Winter Essentials: My Favorite Lip Balms

Has anyone else noticed that Mother Nature seems to be awfully confused about what season it is? One day its -8º out and the next its 60. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for an early spring, but these constant changes in temperature seriously wreak havoc on my body. My allergies are going nuts, as is my skin (which can't decide if it wants to be bone dry or oil slick). Truth be told, if there is one word that I can use to describe my usual state of existence between January and April living here in New England, it's uncomfortable.

So what's a girl to do? Do you just need to suffer through three months of static shocks, frizzy hair, and dry hands without reprieve? The answer is no. Or at least, not entirely. Maybe you can't avoid the pain of your face being slapped by a wind chill of -25º while you're walking in to work, but you can certainly do something to protect and treat the bits of you that are exposed to the elements.

Perhaps the most crucial of all my cold weather essentials is lip balm. Chapped lips can range from annoying to downright painful, which means I am all about taking the necessary steps to prevent them. And as your resident beauty enthusiast, it also means that I am forever on the hunt for that life changing, Holy Grail, ultimate savior from angry lips. Which, of course, brings us to today's post. I'm sharing 5 tried and true balms for surviving winter chap-free.

Valentine's Pinspiration

When it comes to finding any source of inspiration, be it for a new craft project, an outfit idea, or what I'm going to make for dinner tonight, my favorite place to turn is undoubtedly Pinterest. For those of you who have yet to dip your toes into the waters of said site, it's truly one of the most remarkable search engines out there. You can find links to posts and pictures for just about anything your heart desires, and then save and organize everything in an incredibly easy way. For me the real kicker is that Pinterest is an incredibly visual site. Cause let's be serious, who doesn't love pretty pictures and graphics?

With Valentine's Day being right around the corner, I decided to create a new Pinboard to help you all get a little inspired for the holiday. Whether you're feeling uber romantic or are planning on celebrating your singledom with your gal pals, there's a little something fun for everyone to check out. Wondering how to master chocolate covered strawberries? Need some great date night ideas? Want to get crafty and make your own Valentine's cards? There's a pin out there to help you out, and I'm going to put them all in one place for you!

Get Your Chocolate Fix (Minus the Calories)

Valentine's Day is around the corner, and regardless of how you might be feeling about the holiday, I think there is one thing many of us can agree on - a love for all things chocolate is always worth celebrating. If you #treatyoself to a giant box of chocolates and don't feel like sharing with anyone, I will not judge! You indulge. You deserve it. But if you're craving a bit of cocoa infused goodness and don't want to totally infringe on your New Year's healthy eating resolutions, I've got a solution for you! Why not opt for one of these glorious, chocolate scented beauty products instead? Not only are they crazy decadent, but they'll definitely last longer than a candy bar!

New in: Drugstore Beauty for Winter & Spring 2016

Guys, the temptation to haul drugstore beauty right now is real. Have you seen how many amazing new launches hit the shelves for the new year? From on-trend makeup to rival hyped high-end brands, to all-natural skincare goodies to make any green beauty lover swoon, there's something for pretty much everyone to get excited about. I'm not gonna lie, I've already picked up a few things that I just couldn't resist trying out for myself, but there so much more out there I'm dying to get my hands on. Here's just a few of the latest products to appear in the drugstore this season that I think are worth checking out!

Holiday Makeup Tutorial

Is anyone else as jazzed about Christmas as I am? Aside from the cookies, presents, and general feelings of warmth and goodness, the holidays are also a time for super festive makeup looks. Today I've rummaged through my collection to put together a classic combination for your next holiday party - gold eyes, winged liner, and sassy red lip. This look is surprisingly easy to re-create, so come see how to do it yourself!

Lips & Nails to Match Your Valentine's Day Mood

Whether you're going out for a night on the town with your girlfriends this Valentine's Day or heading to a fancy restaurant with your hubby for dinner, I've got four amazing nail polish and lipstick pairings to suit your mood.

Say I Love You to You With a Rose Scented Retreat

Valentine's Day.

It can be a touchy subject.

For those happily involved in relationships it may be something you're eagerly anticipating as a time to celebrate each other. But for the lonely-hearted, the recently single, the long distance lovers, or anyone without someone to snuggle with that night, the thought of said holiday might be hitting a sore spot. I've been there, and I know how much it sucks. And while it's tempting to mope around or wear black or post depressing statuses on Facebook, you deserve better than that. Valentine's Day should be a celebration of love, and not just towards a significant other. One of the people you should first and foremost be loving and taking care of is yourself, so I say, regardless of your relationship status, make some time next Saturday to show yourself some love and appreciation!

Here's my guide for an hour of rose inspired, ultra pampering me-time. Whatever you do in your day to day life, I'm sure you work hard and you've earned it! I personally am a fan of the sweet and floral scent of roses, but you can easily take these product ideas and trade in something suits your nose better.

Bed Time Bliss: My Winter 2015 Night Time Skincare Routine

Winter evenings render me basically useless, especially in comparison to evenings at any other time of the year. By the time I get home from work it's dark, it's cold, and I usually only have enough energy left for couch related activities. Then again, there's something to be said for the quiet coziness of a winter night. I make a lot more time for restfulness and pampering and general me-time. Whether it be snuggling up on the couch with the boyfriend for a West Wing marathon, drinking a cup of tea while I peruse my favorite blogs, or escaping into the pages of a good book while I soak away in the tub, I'm always able to find some way to enjoy staying cooped up indoors.

One of the things I also make a little more time for in the winter is my bedtime skincare routine. The cold, dry air wreaks havoc on my face, so I like to prep it as best I can for sleepy time restoration. It also is pretty darn relaxing to take 20 minutes at the end of the day to cover your face in lovely smelling lotions and potions. In honor of my favorite bedtime ritual, here's a closer look at all of the products I've been loving lately for my night time skincare.

St. Patrick's Day Smokey Green Eye

Top o' the morning to yea!

It's Monday (boo) but it also happens to be the day when everyone is Irish (yay!). In celebration of today's festivities, I decided to get my green on and showcase a super intense, emerald smokey eye.

Winter 2014 Drugstore Beauty Haul

Despite my uber strict budget, I'm surprisingly not so well-versed in the latest and greatest of the drugstore beauty world. With saavy shopping, gift cards, and of course, the occasional splurge, I've somehow managed to make the majority of my beauty purchases from prestige brands. While high-end beauty certainly has its perks, that's not to say that there aren't some true gems on the shelves at CVS. Realizing that it has been a long time since I'd gone treasure hunting, I clipped some coupons from the Sunday paper a few weekends ago and went shopping. I was really happy with my purchases, and thanks to the sales and my coupons, I was able to get all of these products (a $40 something value) for less than $25.

(I believe they call that winning.)