Butter London - Mollycoddled

      Wow, it's been a long time since I've done a nail polish post. I am happy to share with you this new nail color that I like wearing for the spring and summer seasons. It is also the first Butter London nail polish I have ever owned! I had heard so many positive things about this color that I knew that this would be the color I would pick up if I ever decided to pick up a Butter London polish. Butter London describes this shade as an "opaque lavender orchid cream," and I must say that that is a pretty accurate description. Great formula, easily application and good wear time. The color, which is a pale pink purple, is soft yet chic. Big thumbs up. What other nail polish shades do you guys love from Butter London? Would love to know! :)

Instagram Recap #6 (September 2015)

      During the month of September, I was definitely eating way more ice cream than I should. There are these new Thai-style ice cream rolls that are all the rage right now and of course I had to try them and at different places too! I'm not very good about posting Instagram pictures immediately, which is the whole point of it, but I like to quickly snap pictures and then enjoy the moment instead of busy posting up a picture to share. Hence, most of my pictures aren't actually "insta" but more like "latergrams." Enjoy every moment, especially when it's a great one. :)

First Korean Beauty Sample Sale by Peach and Lily, Egg Shop, Matcha Latte and Smoked Salmon Sandwich from Chalait

Black Sesame Thai-style Ice Cream Rolls at Juicy Spot, Cafe Bene's Bingsu Dessert, Stained Glass House (Brooklyn Bridge)

Nature Box's Mini Belgian Waffles, Airplane View, Rock N'Roll McDonald's in Chicago

Shiso Pretty by Ice & Vice, Wedding Ready Nails (Gold and Pink)

October 2015 Birchbox

      Another Birchbox post since my last one was super late and I didn't want this one to be delayed either. Here's a quick look at what I got this month. The sample choices this month were all mascaras and I decided to go with the new Benefit Roller Lash. I don't really use mascara anymore but having a nice sample size mascara in my possession will be good for those sudden moments if I decide that I want to put some on. I rarely went through a full size mascara back in the day anyway. If you've been following me for awhile, you would be able to guess that the product I am most interested in trying is the Macadamia dry shampoo. I am all about dry shampoo since my fine, second day hair pretty much always needs a pick-me-up, so I am always interested in trying new dry shampoos. Overall, I am pretty content with this month's products.

Macadamia - Style Extend Dry Shampoo

Benefit - Roller Lash

N4 - Restore & Repair Oil

Biorepublic - Cucumber Breeze Soothing Fiber Mask

Too Cool for School - Dinoplatz Pearl Bay Invasion (#2 Baby pink clam) - shimmering base or highlighter

September 2015 Birchbox - You're Beautiful

      This Birchbox post is extremely delayed but it still warrants a post on my blog. Birchbox has really changed their boxes so that each month there is a different box design. Previously, it was the same plain, brown box holding the goodies, but now each one is colorful and lively. This month I received a nice variety of products, ranging from eye products (skin and makeup) to haircare, as well as perfume. Awesome!
      Emblazoned on this month's box are the words, "Psst...You're Beautiful." This is a nice reminder to anyone opening the box that, "Yes, we are beautiful." Beauty isn't just about the physical, it's also about the inside. A person with a beautiful, kind soul is just as beautiful as the person who has a great physique. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and many times people don't even realize it. What people need sometimes is a little more confidence. A person exuding confidence, ready to take on the world one step at a time with a smile on their face will have beautiful written all over them. We must always remember to love ourselves. ❤️

Instagram Recap #5 (August 2015)

      Can you believe summer is gone and we're already halfway through September? August had been a good month and I wish it hadn't passed by so quickly. I was able to go on new adventures and try a lot of new things (new foods!). There was the summer Restaurant Week here in New York City where I got to enjoy some lovely food at Blue Fin and Le Philosophe (French cuisine). I went to Chicago during this month and it was amazing. I had not been on a vacation in 5 years so this was definitely a highlight for me! Hope you guys had a relaxing summer. I have been kind of busy and stressed lately so until the next post. :)

August 2015 Birchbox - Soak It Up!

      This August Birchbox is still going with the summer theme which I am all for. Love love love summer. Sadly, it is the shortest season here in New York. I received an after sun lotion, pore cleanser, sun cream, dry shampoo, bronzer/blush, and a bonus Kerastase shampoo sample. I am always looking to try new dry shampoos so I'm excited to try this R+Co one. I have been hearing good things about the Coola brand, so I am also definitely interested in trying more of their products. How has your summer been? Are you making the most of the last few weeks of it? I sure hope you have!

Instagram Recap #4 (July 2015)

      July is officially over and we're almost half-way through August already. Further reminder that summer (my favorite weather!) is unfortunately coming to an end. Summer is definitely too short of a season here in NYC. I'm glad I managed to squeeze in a beach day in July but I definitely need a few more before it is no longer beach friendly weather. Not ready (never ready) to say goodbye to my shorts and dresses. :/

Exploring the New Whitney Museum

      I explored the new Whitney Museum with some friends awhile ago and while art exhibits or art museums aren't usually my preferred activities, I don't mind seeing new, interesting things once in awhile (even if I don't exactly understand them). The Whitney Museum houses modern, 20th and 21st century American art, including abstract pieces. I thought I'd share some pictures I took, although they aren't the best quality since my phone camera doesn't take the best photos in low light settings. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

July 2015 Birchbox

      This month's box is about going bold and Birchbox definitely made that clear with the bright, colorful box design. Summer is definitely the season to bring out the bright lip colors and just have fun! The sample choice for July was one of three Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick and I got it in 13 bella. This is the only product I tested out so far and let me first say that the color is definitely very intense and not for the faint of heart. Unfortunately, this product was a no-go for me. It accentuated lip lines and didn't dry fully to a matte finish. It reminds me very much of the L'oreal Pro-last Lipcolor. Perhaps I will do a review on both of these later on.

Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner

Havvn Night Cream

Key West Aloe Save a Tan

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Stila Look at Me Liquid Lipstick in 13 bella

Instagram Recap #3

Happy July!

      Can you believe June went by so fast and it's already July? I definitely can't. It's like summer is already almost over and I have yet to fully enjoy the summer weather. The weather in NY has not been the greatest this summer. Where is the sun?? However, with summer being here now, I have been having way too much ice cream, almost every week! Ice cream is love. Again, as always I have been trying out new foods and even got to attend a cupcake baking class with a friend. To gaining new experiences!

June

June 2015 Birchbox

Next Stop: Adventure

      Summer is definitely a time for adventure, whether it be going on vacation to someplace you've never visited before or just trying out new experiences. Like the Birchbox card says, "Say Yes!" "Adventure is a state of mind. It's about exploring the unknown, dreaming beyond the horizon, and letting go of the word no." I told myself the beginning of this year that I would be open to trying new things and having new experiences. How you want to live your life is in your hands. Say yes to adventure this summer and the rest of the year.

Essie - California Coral

      Essie's California Coral is one of my favorite shades for the summer. It is the perfect coral red that is nice and bright. It screams summer, sun and fun! As always with Essie polishes, great application, full opacity with 2 coats and no streakiness. This is definitely a polish that should be part of everyone's nail polish collection if you don't already have something similar or am on the look out for a nice coral red. Flattering color for most skin tones. What are your favorite polishes for the summer?

Instagram Recap #2

      May was a busy month for me but it was a good month, mainly because I finally graduated from college! I had finals and had some review classes to attend to so I was quite preoccupied, but I still found time to hang out with my friends and try new foods and places.

May

May 2015 Birchbox

Finally back with a Birchbox post (although I am late on this as it is June already)!

      First off, how cute is the box? Birchbox has been coming out with all these cute designs on the boxes recently. I was definitely pleased with May's Birchbox as I got some goodies that I am excited to try out. For my sample pick, I chose the Macadamia Nourishing Moisture Oil Treatment. I had heard many good things about this before so I knew I wanted to choose this one when I saw the choices available. The second item I am most interested in is the Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream since I have never tried anything from Benefit's skin care line. I think I will be using the Jurlique Advanced Serum mostly along the neck and decolletage area as my decolletage area has experienced way too much sun and need some repair there.

Instagram Recap #1

It's been awhile again!

      My last post was a quick update on my MIA status and in that post I changed it up by including Instagram pictures I had posted over the span of two months. I think I will continue to do these quick cumulative recaps since I like the idea of sharing photos that I have taken in my day- to- day life. I enjoy looking at other people's photos and maybe you guys will enjoy looking at mine too."A picture is worth a thousand words."

April

It's Been Awhile - Quick Update

Hello everyone! Long time no post!

      I know it has been a long time since I've last posted. Thank you to my readers, old and new, for sticking with my blog and to anyone who drops by. I thought I would do a quick, update post and say hello. I am in my last year of college so my main priority is to focus on that and to juggle all the tests and assignments I have. I am also working on the side so that really doesn't leave me much time to blog or much time to myself in general. I haven't decided to stop blogging, but it probably will be awhile until I can really find time to put up an actual post. For this post, I thought I would do something a little different and post up some Instagram pictures from the past two months, for those who don't follow me on that, so you can catch a glimpse of what has been going on with me. I don't have many pictures but I will say that the majority of them consist of food. Yes, I love food, if that isn't apparent enough. :) You can check out more pictures on my Instagram here or just find me @beautopiaxoxo. I hope you all are doing well and thanks for reading!

February

 

March