amarisafloria

I can't believe how quickly 2013 has zoomed by. "The older you get, the faster time passes" really does prove true, which means that every day should be cherished! I'll probably be the first to admit that I have wasted many days in 2013 doing absolutely nothing, but knowing that (surprisingly) encourages me to plan ahead and push myself to get out of my little bubble. I think it's very important to challenge yourself and do things out of your comfort zone.

Instead of dwelling on the things I didn't do this past year, I thought I would share a look at the things I've done and the places I've been:


It's crazy to think by this time next year, I'll be graduating from college. I was pretty indifferent about 2013 at the end of 2012, but I'm very excited for 2014! I know a lot of people don't like change, so I guess I'm a little strange for wanting (and even craving) change. But I don't mind being strange :)

Happy Friday! I hope all of you (yes, all three or four of you who actually read my blog) had a lovely Christmas week and were able to be at home with family and friends. Thankfully, I am not working this winter and am able to spend my entire break at home. It's so nice to not worry about writing papers and studying for midterms!

I've been saving my trash in a bag for quite some time, so I think it's time for an "empties" post. As you may already know, talking about trash is becoming quite popular around the Internet. Basically, I've kept all my finished products to photograph and tell you whether or not I've enjoyed using them :)


LOTIONS
Bath and Body Works' Forever Sunshine and Secret Wonderland (Currently $4!)
I will always love using Bath and Body Works' body lotions on my legs. (You'll probably hear me mention that a million more times on my blog.) Their scents linger for a long time and their lotions are surprisingly very moisturizing! I like them a lot more than the Victoria Secret body lotions and have already stocked up on three lifetimes' worth (you can view the damage done in this post from July).

Hand Food Hand Cream ($12)
I did like this, but I probably won't repurchase this again because the L'Occitane hand cream is more moisturizing for me.

MAKEUP REMOVER & WIPES
Yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair Brightening Facial Towelettes ($6)
It smells like a combination of grapefruit and baby wipes, which is a little strange  ... but it did work very nicely at exfoliating. I will probably not be repurchasing this because the smell weirds me out, but it wasn't a bad cleanser.

Olay Fresh Effects (S'Wipe Out!) Refreshing Makeup Removal Cloths ($5)
I will never buy these or anything that has "Fresh Effects" in the title ever again. It smells like hair dye and it burned my eyes really badly, even when it didn't come into contact with them. I think it's just the scent that irritated them, but I would stay away from these if you have sensitive eyes or skin.

Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes ($6)
I wanted to try this because everyone on YouTube has been talking about them, but there's nothing spectacular about these. I must give it credit and tell you that it does remove makeup very nicely, but I did not particularly like this scent. (I'm just really picky with how things smell, as you may have already noticed ...)

up & up Eye Makeup Remover ($4)
Another round of a Target brand eye makeup remover finished! I have gone through a good five bottles of these and love how easily my eye makeup comes off. I could not ask for a better money saving remover :)

FACE
Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Medium ($10)
This was the very first powder I've ever used (I always thought that using powder meant that you had to wear foundation ... don't ask me why I thought that) and I had a good experience with it! It lasted me a good half year, so I may repurchase it after I finish my Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder sample (which is awesome, by the way, but I hate using loose powder.) OR if you have any good pressed powder recommendations, let me know!

The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner ($8)
The only toner I've ever tried and will probably only try. It gets the job done and smells as normal as toner can smell. I use this after I remove my makeup, but I still like to wash my face afterward. I've already bought two more during their Cyber Monday sale, hehe.

LIPS
Blistex Lip Medex (2/$3)
This stuff is magic and my lips would probably scare away all of humankind if I didn't use it everyday.

HAIR
Batiste Travel Size Dry Shampoo in Cherry ($4)
I bought this thinking it'd be a good size to try, but it didn't last me very long. However, I do like the scent and have purchased the full size version in Blush, which I mentioned in this post. If you're looking to try a Batiste dry shampoo, I would just go for the full size!

EYES
Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara in Very Black ($9)
This is definitely going on my list of favorite mascaras. It's very hard for me to find a mascara light enough to keep my eyelashes curled. Mascaras are usually too heavy and cause my lashes to fall almost immediately after application, but THIS STUFF. Cover Girl, bless your souls for creating such a great mascara.

YAY, I can finally throw all my trash away! Sorry if this was a bit long, but I hope this was informative and helpful. Was your opinion of something I mentioned the total opposite of mine? It's always interesting how the same thing can be so different depending on who you are!

Before you read this review, please understand that there will be spoilers if you have not read Divergent or Insurgent, the first two books in this trilogy. I know I should have reviewed them first, but it would turn out really terrible since I read both a year ago and have no recollection of what I was thinking or feeling. To simply put it, READ DIVERGENT. The movie is coming out early 2014 anyway so do yourself a favor and just read it!

You have been warned!

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered — fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature — and of herself — while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

I didn't have a hard time getting through this book, especially because I was eager to read about how it all ends.

Roth wrote Allegiant with two different narrators; one being Tris, the main narrator in the first two books, and the other being Tobias. Although I did not particularly enjoy the switching of perspectives for each chapter, I thought it was necessary for the storyline to progress and, eventually, bring closure. Surprisingly, I ended up liking Tobias' point-of-view a lot.

One of the parts I really enjoyed was when we were given a look outside the city. (In the first two books, we are not given any details on what goes on outside their main living area.) Tris and her group of friends finally travel outside of their city, where most of Allegiant takes place. Sadly, they rarely leave the inside of a building (my attempt at being discreet) so we don't get to be around the outside people much.

However, the character development of those we already know was noteworthy and remarkable—my opinions of certain characters, one in particular, changed dramatically as the story continued. I was able to sympathize for him (hint hint) near the end of the book and couldn't believe my change of heart. I think it's crucial for a book to have characters who make you feel strong emotions, and Veronica Roth did that very well.

Contrary to what a lot of people have been saying about the ending, I thought it was done well and I respect how Veronica Roth ended the trilogy. Although I am not happy with what happened, I think it was the right thing to do. Overall, I did enjoy Allegiant and thought it was a good last book.

Let me know if you want to read a discussion post about what I thought throughout the entire book. I wanted to keep the spoilers to a minimum, but I would love to talk about what happened!

This week is the last week of my semester, so finals will be taking over my life. Luckily, I have created a small Christmas playlist that will keep me sane while I study my butt off. Join me in singing along to these songs:

• Wrapped in Red (Kelly Clarkson)
• Baby, It's Cold Outside (Lady Antebellum)
• The Christmas Song (Colbie Caillat & Justin Young) — I can't find this one on YouTube, but it's up on Spotify!
• Do You Want To Build A Snowman? (Frozen)
• It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (Michael Buble)
• Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Julia Sheer)
• Winter Song (Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson)
• Merry Christmas Darling (Glee Cast)
• Santa Baby (Taylor Swift)

I am especially loving "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" and all the other songs from Frozen, a new Disney movie. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm very excited after hearing a lot of good things about it. I hope you guys are staying warm and drinking lots of hot chocolate in this chilly weather.

Which version of The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) is your favorite? I'm on a hunt to find the best one!

If you're on the fence about purchasing a lipstick from Urban Decay, hop it and run yourself right to Sephora because you need this in your stash.


Urban Decay first came out with their Revolution lipstick line back in July and I've been eager to review it. Although I wanted to purchase all 22 tubes, it comes at $22 (plus tax) a pop so I had to control myself or I'd end up being in debt. I chose Venom, a dark plum with a hint of shimmer. It wasn't as creamy as I thought it would be, but I think that's a good thing because it doesn't smear all over the tube like Revlon lip butters do. The wear time on Venom is great — even when it comes off, a nice stain remains :) Both the packaging and formulation deserve a full five stars.


If you are looking for a quality lipstick to give your best girlfriends for Christmas, any of the Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks will not disappoint you.

Happy December! (Can you believe 2014 will be here in less than 30 days?!) I love the holiday season—Christmas music, candles and warm tea/hot chocolate complete me. Luckily, those are all perfect to accompany a good book :)


As you can tell, I really wanted to go with the winter romance theme. Since it doesn't snow or get too crazy cold in California, I might as well read about it and live vicariously through all the characters!

Let it Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson
I'll be honest—John Green caught my attention and made me want to read this book. I'm really excited for this one because a review on Goodreads labeled it as having the "feel of an ABC Family made-for-TV holiday special" ... YES PLEASE.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Priscilla, also known as The Readables on YouTube, gave this an awesome review so I'm reading it. I don't have any expectations of this book because I don't know what it's about (and I'm going to keep it that way until I read it because I don't want to be affected by anyone's opinion!)

Icing on the Lake by Catherine Clark
Although I read this around four years ago, I wanted to read it again because I remember enjoying it. Brain, don't fail me now.

Love on the Lifts by Rachel Hawthorne
Another book I've read before, but I have no recollection since I zoomed through this on an airplane ride to England. It'll probably be just like I'm reading another new book :p

Although I only read three out of the four books I chose last month, I will definitely be able to finish four this month since I'll be out of school on December 13th. It also happens to be the same day as Taylor Swift's 24th birthday, which means we'll both be celebrating (but for different reasons, haha.)

Hi guys, I hope you're getting your reading on this Thanksgiving weekend :)

I was thinking about putting all of November's "Unplug and Read" books all in one post, but I decided against it because I thought that each book deserved its own review. (In case you missed what I planned to read this month, journey over to this post!) I wasn't able to read The Uglies because of time constraints, but I bought it so I can come back to it in the future.

I wanted to include this in my October Love List back at the beginning of this month, but I thought it deserved its own post!

Even though I own real shampoo, I would consider throwing it away if Batiste mailed me a lifetime supply of this stuff. (Just kidding, sort of.) Since I've decided to keep my red hair, I wash it every three days to maintain its color. And yes, a bun or beanie is definitely necessary on that third day to hide all signs of oily hair!

One of the places that Joe and I were able to visit last weekend was the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (I have been wanting to visit the Urban Lights ever since watching No Strings Attached!)

We mainly walked around the Ahmanson Building, which reminded me a lot of the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I had anticipated. I'm more of a "let's touch this!" person, so not being able to touch ANYTHING (except the Urban Lights, haha) was kind of sad.

I just searched "museums that allow you to touch" on Google and there's a Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. I guess you know where I'm going next!

Have you ever been to a museum where you could touch something? (I really want to know.)

PS — If you haven't seen part one yet, click here to read it!

As you may have observed from my previous post, I took a quick trip to the Disneyland area with my boyfriend to relax and watch the new "World of Color — Winter Dreams" show. Throughout our whole trip, we ate a LOT of food.

A good 50% of our time was spent consuming these delicious meals :p


Even though we arrived a little after dinner time on Thursday, we went out to eat at Boiling Point with Lisa, one of my very best friends. I got the Thai Flavor Hot Soup (above) and both the food and soup was incredibly delicious. Just looking at it right now makes me wish I could have it again right now. If you are ever around the Los Angeles area, give it a try.

Not only does Lisa pick the best places to eat, but she makes some pretty darn good food. Just imagine this: you're sleeping as much you can before the alarm rings at nine. You wake up and get ready. You're hungry, but you anticipate a McDonalds meal at most for breakfast. But WAIT. Your best friend tells you she made you and your boyfriend some breakfast. And not just cereal and fruit. This is five-star stuff, guys. See for yourself!


I am really blessed by the best and am still jumping for joy that I was so lucky to even eat these meals.


On the same day of the eggs-in-a-basket breakfast, Joe and I had lunch at Wine Country Trattoria in California Adventure. The shrimp in my pasta was the best shrimp I ever had — it was a little crunchy and cooked to perfection. We also did a little wine tasting because we're classy like that. (Ha ha ha.)


For dinner, we ate garlic fries, cinnamon beignets, and a DELICIOUS banana split from Ghirardelli — complete with little pineapples. It always works out perfectly because my boyfriend likes chocolate and I like vanilla. And then we destroy the middle strawberry section together. Quite the dinner, huh?

On Saturday, we had dessert at Milk! We had to have it for ourselves after hearing so many good things about it. I got a thai tea ice cream sandwich while he got a "grasshopper," which is just mint chocolate chip. We thought the macaron part was a little stale, but it's probably because we visited later in the day. I love that you can see the people making the macaron part in the back of the store!




On our last night, we had AYCE (all you can eat) Korean BBQ at Cham Sut Gol in Garden Grove. We had 4-5 plates of bulgogi and a lot of other meat ... I definitely had at least two food babies after that meal! I hope these pictures make you hungry :)

Since I am at Disneyland/California Adventure for the weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to share a list of things I recommend doing if you have the chance to visit. If not, you can watch this California Screamin' roller coaster POV or this World of Color show that someone kindly recorded! (I may or may not watch those when I am not at Disneyland.)

1. Ride the Disneyland Monorail and sit in the front seat.
2. Take a picture in front of the castle (you knew this would be here.)
3. Visit Cars Land and ride the (semi) new Radiator Springs Racers.
4. Eat at the Blue Bayou — it's inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride!
5. Watch Beauty and the Beast or Tangled at the Royal Theater in Fantasyland.
6. Get a root beer float or some soft serve ice cream at Paradise Pier Ice Cream Co.
7. Ride California Screamin' in the dark.
8. Watch the World of Color show (and make sure you pick up tickets at Grizzly River Rapids early!)
9. Grab some beignets at Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney. You will thank me.
10. Start your own pin collection!

In regards to number ten, Joe and I have each decided to purchase a pin for every visit we make. The theme to my pin collection is, of course, Ariel :)

You probably don't see many blog posts around here about problems, but I thought it would be interesting and humbling to type up some habits that I need to (and should) break. Although there are SO many more things I can list, here are a handful that I shouldn't do but keep doing just because I may or may not be able to stop:

1. Peel/cut my cuticles
I know, I know, this is gross but unfortunately true. I just can't help it. Yes, something is wrong with me. And yes, my fingers feel like they are on fire sometimes.

2. Keep tissues in random pockets and then do laundry
I just did the laundry last Friday and found bits of tissue stuck to every single item. It's funny because I checked every single pocket except one and it happened to be that one with the tissue. I guess I should start throwing my tissues away.

3. Snooze the alarm and/or not even waking up to it
Since I have a roommate who doesn't start class until 1:30 pm, I try to turn off my alarm almost immediately after it goes off so it doesn't wake her up. However, I'm someone who turns off her alarms while still sleeping (yes I have super powers) so that's a problem. I also set a bunch of alarms (7, 7:15, 7:30, 7:45, 8) ... as you can tell, it doesn't work out very well. Solution = get more sleep.

4. Buy alcohol when I don't even like it
I'll probably be the first person to admit that alcohol doesn't taste good. It might be because I have a huge sweet tooth and alcohol is just sour and bitter to me, but I haven't found anything that I fully enjoy. The sad thing is that I'll always try something new whenever I go out to happy hour with my fellow newspaper friends, but I never choose the right drinks ...

5. Tell people I'll email them but never do it
I have a friend from preschool that I still talk to (hi Mel!) and I told her that I would email her at the beginning of the school semester. I eventually got to it, but it was about three months late. Oops. I should probably stop pretending to make time for it and just do it.

As you can tell, I have many problems. Maybe I'll make one of these a resolution and start working on it now :p

With fall ending and winter beginning, now's the time to purchase the boots you've been looking at. I'm someone who always looks for a good deal on boots, so I've picked out six different types of boots that cost less than $50.

EDGY • Double Buckle Back Combat Boots ($35)
Although I live in my combat boots all-year round, I think fall is the best season to wear these. They are actually very versatile and can add personality to any outfit.

COMFY • Wedge Ankle Boot ($35)
I own these ankle boots, so I can vouch for the reviews that state its comfortability. The material may seem cheap, but I can literally last a full day in these without keeling over.

WATER-PROOF • Quilted Rain Boot ($45)
With winter comes rain, so why not look cute while splashing in puddles?

BASIC • Tall Boots ($50)
Target has been an amazing place to buy cute and affordable shoes, so go with this pair if you have to choose one. Wear 'em with knee-high socks, leggings and an oversized sweater — now you have your everyday "go-to" outfit :)

GIRLY • Faux Suede Booties ($35)
If you're someone who dresses on the brighter side, try these! The small heel provides more balance than a tall heel will, plus you get some added height and femininity.

TWO-TONE • Biker Boots ($50)
There's something interesting about wearing shoes with two different colors, but these go together very nicely. It might be because these are named biker boots, but I can imagine a cropped leather jacket with these shoes!

I am definitely eyeing those tall brown boots ... my last pair got DESTROYED (the whole rubber bottom peeled off) after I wore it every day for five straight months. Does this happen to you? I think once I get attached to a pair of shoes, I wear it non-stop until I can't wear it anymore :p

There's nothing like a little themed reading to spice things up a bit! I've decided to choose a theme each month and stick to it so you can be informed of what might be next or maybe even read with me.

The theme I have chosen for this month is dystopian (naturally), so I'll be reading and reviewing these four books. Let me know if you have any suggestions for future themes :)


The Maze Runner by James Dashner
One of my housemates recommended this book to me, so I'm giving it a go! There is a movie coming out in 2014 and I watched a random trailer — it looked awesome, so I'm hoping the book will be too.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Although I started off having mixed feelings about this book, I picked it up a second time and finished it in three or four days. I loved Delirium, but I'll let you know why when I review it in a couple of weeks.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
I have been waiting for the release since last November, and I was so excited (and a little sad) to be finishing the last book of an amazing trilogy. I am now done isolating myself with my cup of lemon citron tea and am ready to persuade you to read this!

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
I have no idea what prompted me to buy this book three months ago, but it happened so I'm reading it *shrugs shoulders*

I can't believe November is here and that there's only a month and two weeks left in my school's semester. I'm super excited for Winter Break because I'll be able to go home and spend time with my family. Do you guys have any plans for the holidays yet?

I wanted to start this "Love List" series to just talk about a couple of items that I love each month. I'm a little afraid that these posts will turn into long essays, so I've divided them up by categories so you can pick and choose what you'd like to read. Also, I've limited myself to three items or less per category so it won't take you 500 hours to load this page :)


BEAUTY
Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge Liquid Lip Color in 10 Raspberry ($24)
Although it comes with a hefty price tag, the quality is definitely there. I love the doe foot applicator and that it only comes off with oil. (So if you're eating pizza, I suggest not wearing this. Actually, just don't wear lipstick when you eat pizza ...) As for my personal preference, I don't like wearing the gloss because I feel ratchet with it on.

L'Oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Eyeliner in Carbon Black ($9)
I used to only use MAC's Blacktrack eyeliner, but I love the intensity of this liquid liner. Out of all the liners I've tried, this one is most black and long-lasting. I've slept with it on overnight and it was still good the next morning :)

Maybelline Color Tattoo in 70 Barely Branded ($7)
When I want to wear gold eyeshadow, I always put this on to make the color stand out. I like to apply it with e.l.f.'s Studio concealer brush — it works really well with any kind of cream product. It's starting to dry out, which makes me kind of sad because I bought it not too long ago.

FRAGRANCE
Dot by Marc Jacobs ($22)
I bought the rollerball version but if I finish and still want to continue using it, I'm definitely going to buy the full-sized one. Recognizing scents is not my forte, but Sephora's website describes it to have notes of red berries, dragonfruit and honeysuckle. If you're able to, get yourself to a beauty store and smell Dot!

ETC
Bath and Body Works' Heirloom Pear candle ($12.50)
I went into Bath and Body Works to look at their candles, and I instantly loved this one. It smells like any artificial pear scent would, but it burns neatly and evenly. (Don't you hate it when it ends up being a dent?) B&BW always have coupons, so make sure you search the web before you buy one!

MUSIC
I have been loving Hunter Hayes, especially this performance of "I Want Crazy" that he did with Danielle Bradbery, The Voice's Season 4 winner. It also doesn't hurt that he's a very cute boy :)

I am also obsessed with Elli Ingram's cover of "Poetic Justice". I have heard the original by Kendrick Lamar countless times because my youngest brother always bumps it in the car whenever I'm home, so it's cool to hear a female make an awesome remix.

TELEVISION
Season five of The Vampire Diaries. It's a little weird that I watch it now because I told "high school" me that I would never watch anything involving vampires. But I'm glad I started because it's a great show. I'm a little sad that Klaus isn't a recurring character anymore, but I'm still excited to see how certain events will play out. (Tweet me if you watch!)

Welcome to the redesign of Afloria! If you haven't already noticed, I finally have my own domain name, thanks to Ellie and Artifact Girl :)

Other than that I haven't made many drastic changes, but I feel much more excited and eager to get these posts rolling. For the month of November, I'm planning to post at least every Monday and Friday! (The only exception was today because of technical difficulties.) So keep your eyes peeled for those :) I know you're thinking, "Is she for real? She tried that last time and failed miserably so I'm leaving bye." Hold up, hold up. Yes, I am a very inconsistent blogger. But I spent this "hiatus" planning the entire month so I am PREPARED!

Okay, enough of that. Onward to sweaters!

Fall is my favorite season because I LOVE SWEATERS. Specifically the type of sweaters that cover my butt and crotch so I don't have to wear jeans. (Nobody really likes wearing jeans. Really.) Because I'm trying to stay away from buying more black clothing, I picked up that first navy sweater and let me tell you, it looks really nice against my red hair. I'm going to have to try more navy-colored items.

My go-to fall outfit will always be a sweater, black leggings and combat boots. If you see me on the streets, I'll be wearing this combination 99% of the time. And if I'm feeling it, I'll also throw in a necklace.

In an attempt to read more, I've started Unplug and Read—you can read my introduction here. I'll hopefully have more than one book to talk about this month, but we'll take things day by day.



what the fault in our stars is about
thoughts

One of my favorite things to do is get caught up in a good book, but sometimes I spend my extra time browsing the web and doing mindless things. Because of that, my books are sadly neglected. In an effort to read more, I've decided to start Unplug and Read to move myself away from words on a screen and towards words on pages.

The first book that I'm planning to talk about is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, so keep your eyes peeled for that :)

For my 21st birthday, I was extremely lucky to spend a week in the Disneyland area with my boyfriend. We didn't plan for it to fall on the week of my birthday, but I'm not complaining :) We did a TON of eating! It was nice to just enjoy the atmosphere in the happiest place on earth.

On my actual birthday, Lisa (one of my closest friends) took us to Bottega Louie in downtown LA. They have such a large variety of delicious macarons!

After hearing all the hype about the Cotton Candy Frappuccino at Starbucks, I decided to try it. If the Nivea lip butter in Raspberry Rose Kiss was blended into a drink, it would be this drink. Kind of strange to taste something so similar, so I don't think I'll be getting it again. It didn't taste bad, but the association with my lip butter makes me want to stay away.

I've been doing a LOT of eating out, so here are some highlights from the past couple of weeks :p


Not only do we eat out a lot, but my friends and I have also been playing a LOT of The Settlers of Catan. Not just whenever they come over (which is almost everyday), but also online. Before I learned how to play this board game, I was very confused by the concept. After learning, I was HOOKED. It is a great game of strategy, trading/getting resources, and luck.


We actually didn't know where to place some of the game pieces until we played it online, so the numbers and ports are placed in the wrong spots in this picture!

My last picture is the happiest one. On my mom's birthday, I was able to go back home for the day and surprise her with some flowers (for the first time!) I am lucky enough to have a job this summer, so I didn't hesitate to spend a little extra money on her :) My boyfriend and I also treated her to some all-you-can-eat hot pot, which was delicious!

one • NARS' And God Created The Woman Set
It might be just the way that it's packaged, but this looks amazing. I know that it's extremely tiny in reality, but I think these are the perfect six eyeshadows that can be used everyday. It also comes with a primer (which is awesome, by the way) and a brush!

two • Mini Cloud Cork-Board Set from Urban Outfitters
I think it's finally time for me to add some wall decorations in my room. I'm leaning toward these mini clouds, but I might also want to have a cork-board and chevron it. What do you think I should do?

three • MAC's 217 Blending Brush
My only blending brush is the travel size of Sigma's E25 and I always misplace it, so a regular sized one would be lovely.

four • Lynne Sandals from Shoemint
I can't justify spending $80 on a pair of sandals, but a girl can dream right? If I could, I would wear these all summer ... my feet definitely need to breathe in this warm weather.

five • Longchamp's Le Pliage bag in Burgundy
I think the burgundy color is limited edition, so hopefully they re-release it sometime soon! I'm going to SoCal for a week at the end of July and I have been wanting a durable travel bag, so this would be perfect.

six • Jewelry Tree with Bird from Target
I never wear any of my jewelry because it's always hidden in the abyss of my drawers. Maybe once I get a display, I'll reach for it more often.

I don't think my life is all that interesting, but there are some lovely things that happen sometimes ... so here are those things! I'll also be including random lists every time, so there's somethin' for ya :)


My boyfriend (Joseph) and I had a free morning on Tuesday to spend together so we decided to get brunch at a cafe. We shared an incredibly yummy breakfast croissant (complete with egg, ham, gouda and hollandaise) and a nutella + strawberry + toasted almonds crepe. We also got coffee; him a mocha and I a vanilla latte (shown above). I really love the atmosphere of this cafe. Well actually, in all cafes! It makes me wish I spent more time studying at a local Starbucks when I was in high school.


I love moisturizing my legs in the morning and after showers, so I knew I had to take advantage of Bath and Body Works' semi-annual sale. Did I get enough lotion to last me three lifetimes? Yes. But I'm really good at finishing them, so I think you'd be happy to know that they won't just be sitting in my room and collecting dust. I also bought a wallflower pack in Pineapple Mango and hand soap in Caribbean Escape. But to top it off, I had a $10 off $30 coupon, so all my lotions were less than $2! Yay for deals on deals :)

I also helped Joe clean and move out of his apartment on Friday, which was crazy because it was around 90 degrees. We were all sweating puddles, haha. It took over 10 hours (yikes) but everything is done now!

CURRENTLY ...

• Reading: What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
• Watching: I am all caught up with The Vampire Diaries, so I haven't found a new TV show yet :(
• Craving: A strawberry snow bubble with tapioca from Tapioca Express!

3 THINGS ABOUT ME

• I am currently obsessed with the iPhone app "Dots."
• Whenever I order a Strawberries and Creme frappuccino from Starbucks, I always eat all the whipped cream first.
• I'm left-handed!

3 DESSERTS TO BAKE

• Blueberry Crisp from How Sweet It Is
• Cranberry Lemon Cookies from What Megan's Making
• French Macarons from Entertaining With Beth

I can't even begin to tell you how difficult it is to purchase the perfect white tee. I have settled for so many that shrink after washing, are unflattering and produce holes in awkward places. But since I have returned to my retail job, I can now justify investing in something that can be worn over a hundred ways.


Before I start looking for my perfect white tee, I thought I would share a couple of things to think about before buying one.

CUT • Crew neck or v-neck? Cropped, waist-length, or long? I haven't decided on crew neck or v-neck, but I definitely want something between waist-length and long so I can tuck it in.

FABRIC • According to the Internet, polyester and acrylic can make you sweat but cotton and wool will shrink in the wash. I don't think any of these factors will be a huge deal for me; I just don't want a tee that will make me itchy.

FIT • A tighter fit is less forgiving and something I personally avoid because I hate the feeling of being restricted. However, a looser fit may swallow you up. Whatever you choose, make sure you keep in mind the items you want to pair it with — in the fashion world, a tight top goes best with loose bottoms and vice versa.

PRICE • How much are you willing to spend? A good white tee might cost a little more depending on the type of fabric and quality.

SHEERNESS • I don't like sheer tops (and most of the white tees that I come across are sheer), which is why I have a hard time finding something I like. Sheer tops have been on trend for quite a while now, so you can find a lot of different styles anywhere.

Now that you can picture exactly what you're looking for, it's time to start searching! This American Eagle one flares out at the end so it won't be tight around your bottom, this J. Crew one looks super comfy and this Brandy Melville one looks like it would be perfect to tuck into high-waisted pants :)

I'm going to be honest: I'm someone who easily gives up on projects. Not a desirable characteristic, unfortunately. I'm sure you can tell by the number of times I've changed my blog. I'm always excited to start something new but once a tiny detail goes unplanned, I trash the entire idea.

I'm not promising you that I'll stick with this blog for my entire life, but I am telling you that I have many hopes for Afloria. I am content with this name and the many plans I have for this blog.

So welcome. Take it as you will :)