Weekly Giveaway Roundup

Naturally Curly is giving away $5000 in products designed specifically designed for curly, wavy and natural hair types.  Enter here. (Your entry will also earn me an extra entry, so that's pretty nice of you.)

September Loves

I know I'm pretty late posting this, but when am I ever on time for anything?

Beauty Loves:

Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara
This gives me tons of volume and length.

Aquaphor Lip Repair + Protect
This comes as another recommendation from Liz, who I realize is pretty much my life's Yoda.

Bath & Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in Moonlight Path
Fragrance often goes forgotten on my blog, but it's about time I mention this one.  Proper perfumes can be a bit heavy for me during the summer, and I've been turning to Moonlight Path pretty much every day since receiving it in an Influenster Spring Beauty voxbox.

Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum
My ex-roommate and close friend Ashlee forgot her bottle of this in my guest room during her visit this past May, and my hair's been loving it all summer.  In addition to its strengthening properties, it's also great in terms of managing frizz.

Rando Loves:

Red Baron Four Cheese Super Slices
I know it's disgusting, but I've been pretty much living off of these.  The best frozen pizza in the world, it's better than a whole lot of "real" pizza.

Good Time by Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen
This song is just freaking fun.  Don't judge if you see me rocking out to this in my car.

Awkward
This show is completely hilar.  I love that MTV has every episode online.  Put on your jammies and watch it all weekend.

RachhLoves
My favorite YouTuber this month is RachhLoves, who I can't believe I'd never heard of until recently.

Personal tidbit:
Last month, I mentioned that this semester I'd be writing for my college newspaper.  Well, this week I made the front page (below the fold, but still the front page).  I've included the PDF, in case anyone cares to read my article "Murdered by Makeup?" (continued on Page 2) which is about cruelty-free beauty and includes my interview with the lovely (and vegan) Tashina Combs of Logical Harmony:

Open publication - Free publishing

What do you think of my September loves?  What products did you love in September?

XOXO, T

August Loves

I guess I haven't done a monthly loves post in quite some time, so these are kind of like my entire summer's worth of loves (in no particular order):

Beauty Loves

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in basically every color (Honey pictured)

I'm sure we've all seen countless raves of these, so I'm not going to spend much time on them except to say that they're fantastic and I'm basically obsessed.  Let me know if you'd like me to swatch and/or review these.

e.l.f. Essential Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear Mascara

This is great for taming my crazy eyebrows just a bit when I want to appear slightly more polished, which is the only use I'm interested in.  (Why would I ever wear clear mascara?)

Almay One Coat Get Up & Grow Mascara

If you're an o.g. Kathryn Rose follower, you might remember me being really into this mascara forever ago and then kind of forgetting about it.  So it's a rediscovered love for me, and you really can't beat it in terms of cruelty-free, clump-free volume for the price.

Wet n Wild Color Icon eyeshadow in Silent Treatment
The quality of these shadows is incredible, and this particular trio can be adapted for either daytime or nighttime.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny
This cult bronzer is every bit as good as everyone says it is.

Boots No7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion

Liz was right (per usual) about this being a dupe for Benefit High Beam, and I'm certain this pearlescent liquid highlight would be beautiful on any skintone.

Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Shampoo and Intensive Moisture Mask

Since switching to this sulfate-free line, my hair is noticeably softer and shinier with less breakage.

There's no non-awkward way to arrange these eight objects.

Fashion Loves

Jorts
I'm sure any Floridian will tell you that denim cutoffs are an absolute summer staple.  (Is this true all over the south?)  I've been especially into these white ones from American Eagle.

January Jones Versace
Who doesn't love a pair of huge sunnies?  This Betty Draper inspired retro gorgeous pair has scarcely left my face since receiving them for my birthday (May).

Random Loves

Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Skins: Favorite ever; I'm rewatching because I've seriously watched everything on Netflix.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: Can't believe I waited so long to read this; it's perfection.

Personal Update

I completed my "general" A.A. degree this summer but missed the deadline to transfer to UCF for this fall, so I'm currently taking a couple Journalism classes at SSC, just to keep my brain from falling out my ears during an unintentional semester off.  So I'll be working on the school newspaper which is kind of exciting, as I've never really been an extra-curricular kind of person.  I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but this journalism thing just might end up making sense for me.  (Watch out, Anna Wintour.)

What do you think of my August loves?  What were some of your favies this month/summer?

XOXO, T

Adjectives Market: Vintage, Antiques & More

Adjectives Market is a rad new store in my area that sells handmade accessories and art in addition to antiques.  It's located in Altamonte on 436 in the building that used to be Skip's Western Outfitters (RIP).  Adjectives is comprised of fifty individual booths filled with goodies from various vendors.  Adjectives is wholly well-merchandised and organized.  The staff is very friendly and accommodating.  I'll definitely be returning when I have more time for carefully examining every little treasure and, hopefully, more money for such necessities as the antique wrought iron bed frame and the charming yellow desk I fell in love with.

Carefully Wrapped Goodies

I ended up purchasing a set of two embellished bobby pins, for $6, as well as a ceramic ring holder, also $6.  How do you like the items I picked up?  Cute, right?

XOXO, T

P.S. Check out Adjectives' website and Facebook.

Skin Care Sunday #1: Schick Hydro Silk Review and Free Sample Offer

I know my Skin Care Sundays have traditionally been about facial skin care, but doesn't shaving fall under the skin care category as well?
About a month ago, I posted about this offer to receive a free Schick Hydro Silk Razor.  My free razor arrived shortly after, and I've been using/loving it ever since.

I'm always a bit wary to try any razor with tons of blades and/or some kind of moisture strip/bar thingy (Schick Intuition, anyone?), but thankfully the Hydro Silk cartridge remains compact enough that it's perfectly armpit and, um, bikini area friendly, unlike the ginormous Intuition which stood no chance of maneuvering around these smaller, more sensitive areas.

Schick was also nice enough to attach a few coupons to the back: 55¢ off any Skintimate Shave Gel and $4.00 off any Schick Hydro Silk Refill because yes, this is an actual permanent razor handle and not a crappy disposable.

Five epic curve-sensing blades and hydrating water-activated moisturizing serum awesomeness

I'm not sure if Schick is still giving out free razors, but you should definitely go see if this offer is still available because, come on, free stuff rules and so does this razor.

XOXO, T