June 2015 Favorites

It's been another whirlwind of a month! I feel like June was especially crazy, as work had been particularly stressful and my time and energy for blogging was much less than usual. Fortunately I had a wonderfully relaxing week of vacation that got me back up on my feet and feeling recharged. I've got at least 12 posts in the drafting stages (including a delicious recipe for blueberry lemon cheesecake bars), so get ready for July to be full of amazing things!

Anyway, back to the real reason you're here. I've got a lovely little collection of makeup, skincare and other goodies that I've been using non stop this month to share with you.

June 2015 Birchbox

It's Birchbox time yet again! I have to say, it always bums me out a little bit that I tend to receive my boxes towards the middle of the month, because I hate to be rushed in trying everything, but I also like to actually get my reviews out before the end of the month. What a conundrum, I know. Still, I suppose good things are worth waiting for, as was this month's box. Shall we take a peek inside?

L'Oreal La Palette Nude 2 Review & Purple Smokey Eye Tutorial

I'm pretty sure the last thing I could possibly need in my makeup collection right now is another eyeshadow palette, but seeing as they're also one of my favorite things to play with and review, I find myself in possession of yet another. These new palettes from L'Oreal have had a huge launch over here in the US, after having a similar launch about a year ago over in the UK, and I wanted to know what the fuss was all about. Unlike our cousins overseas, two different versions of the La Palette Nude were released here in the states, the first being your classic gold and brown toned neutrals, and the second being filled with more taupes and pinky nudes. It seems like everyone and their mom has been reviewing the first palette, which is understandable given how versatile the shades are (and the fact that it's another Urban Decay Naked Palette dupe). I, however, decided to spice things up a bit and skip right on over to the La Palette Nude 2.

June 2015 Wantable Accessories

There's nothing like a couple of new accessories to spruce up any wardrobe. Clothing you've worn a million times can all of a sudden look fabulous when paired with a funky necklace or chic pair of earrings. Naturally, this means I'm always stoked to see what kinds of surprises await me in my Wantable Accessories box. Who knows what kind of inspiration I'll find next? My June box arrived a while ago, and I'm definitely excited to share my thoughts on it with you!

Beach Day (Minus the Getaway)

Summer is FINALLY, officially here! The hot, sunny days. The warm, breezy nights. I absolutely adore this time of year, and fully intend on savoring every moment from now until the leaves start turning. I wish that I could constantly be adventuring in the outdoors or lounging on the beach, but my 8-5 job makes that pretty difficult. Fortunately, whenever I'm feeling the pangs of being landlocked, I can turn to my beauty stash for a little mental escape. A sunkissed glow, tousled waves, and sweetly perfumed skin are easily recreated at home with these beautiful, beach inspired products.

New in at the Drugstore (Summer 2015)

I can never stay away from the beauty aisles of the drugstore for too long. With amazing deals and lots of coupons it's hard to resist new beauty at a fraction of the price! This time around I picked up a small assortment of things to try, most of which are relatively new to the shelves. I've got two recent styling products from my favorite drugstore haircare brand, Not Your Mother's, one of the uber hyped La Palette Nudes from L'Oreal, a multi hued-blush from Physician's Formula, and a gorgeously mattifying foundation from Maybelline.

June 2015 Julep Maven Box

Hello there, friends! I think I've been a bit distracted from blogging lately thanks to my buddy Netflix. Pretty Little Liars is totally my guilty pleasure show, and I basically just spent the past week binge watching the 5th season so that I could catch up and start watching the new one that just began airing. Maybe that's not the most responsible move, but unless you've seen the show, do not judge. That 5th season was FLIPPIN CRAZY. I don't want to ruin anyone's day by hinting at any spoilers, but man. SO MANY PLOT TWISTS.

Anyway.

Back to the real reason you're here - my June Julep Maven box! This month Julep decided to change things up a little bit for their Mavens, and give them more flexibility and product choices than ever. While there were still your usual Limited Edition polishes to choose from for that month's theme, you could also add basically any Julep staple product to your order. This gave me the opportunity to finally try a bunch of products that I've had my eye on since I became a subscriber.

Little Blushing Birdie Turns Two!

There's cause to celebrate today, and I am well prepared with this delicious looking chocolate cupcake. Two years ago I sat down at my computer and created Little Blushing Birdie. 214 posts and 24 months in I am SO glad that I took that plunge. Starting a blog was a bit of an overwhelming undertaking, but its also been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.

Butter London Patent Shine 10x Review

As a nail polish connoisseur, I definitely perk up a bit the moment I hear about a new launch. Whether it's a revolutionary new formula, a trendy finish, or a gorgeous seasonal range of colors, I'm always curious to see if that product is worth the hype. This time around I've got my eyes on the new Butter London Patent Shine 10x Nail Laquers, an ultra luxe formula that promises 10 different manicure-envy inducing benefits. I picked up three lovely neutral shades to try, and have made my way through several manicures of each. Was the formula is amazing as it sounded? Were they worth dropping a ton of cash on? Let's chat and I'll give you the full scoop.

Spring 2015 Lush Haul

You know what is the best cure-all for a bad day? Taking a trip to LUSH. A magical land of bath bombs and bubble bars, the LUSH shop is a cheery, heavenly-scented place to visit, and always seems to brighten my mood. Amidst the insanity that has been my life as per late, I was totally in need of of retreating to said happy place, and (to the surprise of no one) also decided to splurge on a few new pampering products.

May 2015 Flashback

So, it may be about a week overdue, but I'm FINALLY wrapping up the last of my May posts! Hallelujah! Life was a little crazy for me on the home front last month, so I had a little less to share than usual, but what did make it up you definitely don't want to miss!

May 2015 Favorites

Hello there, friends! I feel like I owe you all a bit of an apology. I've barely had time or energy to post, or engage with my social media, or respond to comments and it's totally bumming me out. Work has basically been sucking all of the life out of me, and by the time I get home I only seem to have the capacity to lay in bed and watch Pretty Little Liars reruns. I am so. SO tired. So tired I almost left the house today without realizing I hadn't put pants on. When you start forgetting how to dress yourself you know you're more than overdue for a break! Anyway, I know that I've been posting late or infrequently, but I hope you'll all understand and bear with me until my life returns to some level of normalcy. Anyway, on to the favorites! Even though I was a little sparse with my posts in May, I had no shortage of new beauty products to play with. It's always so hard to narrow my list down to just a few standouts! Fortunately I was able to get my act together and pick a few of my favorite products from the past month to share with you.

May 2015 Empties

So, my empties collection is less than impressive this month. I feel like I'm getting close to the end of so many products, but I'm not quite there yet. Perhaps June will be a little bit more substantial. Anyway, I do have a few things (mainly samples) I've finished up that I can dish on. Shall we take a look?

May 2015 Glambag

I know I'm a little late in the game with writing up reviews of all my May subscriptions, but it has been the craziest of months. Between working late and post-work commitments my free hours to blog have been sparse. I'm not entirely sure June will be much better, but here's to hoping!

The last subscription related post to cross off my list is my Ipsy Glambag. This month's theme was Jetsetter - offering a selection of products that are perfect for making you look great on-the-go, and that are also totally travel friendly. I think Ipsy actually did a pretty great job of selecting products that fit with the theme (which isn't always necessarily the case).