I got my June Birchbox this week and was very happy with the samples that I got. I am now part of their beta program that gives you one or two full size samples in your box (for an extra $20). My favorite sample is this the Tocca Bianca perfume. I have already purchased a travel size of this perfume. It’s a great summer scent that is light and fresh with a hint of citrus. But it’s also feminine with undertones of musk and floral hints. The next sample I love is the Supergoop every day sunscreen with SPF 50. I’m extremely fair-skinned and I always forget to put on sunscreen before I leave the house. This sample is the perfect purse size and I going to carry it with me throughout the summer. However, it will probably last name one or two applications.

The Two full-size products that I got in my June Birchbox are a Mirenesse mattifty lip rouge in Sydney, and a Mally Beauty liquid face defender blush. The Mirenesse lip rouge is a lip stain that has a modern matte finish. It’s a great bright bold pinkish-red stain that lasts a very long time. The Mally Beauty liquid blush is a light and natural looking product that is great for an every day look. I only use a little bit because it covers a large area. The lifestyle accessory extra that I got in my Birchbox this month is a Pura Vida lace headband. It’s an adorable headband, but personally I prefer wider style headbands because I think they stay on better. The next sample I got is a Marcelle waterproof eyeliner in Blue Lagoon. It’s a verry bold and energetic blue that would even be great for a pool party because it’s waterproof. I don’t normally go for eyeshadows or eyeliner that are so bright, but colored eyeliner has been a trend lately so I’m happy to try something new. That’s one of the best things about Birhbox, you can get samples of products that you wouldn’t normally buy but they push you out of your comfort zone and you end up liking something you wouldn’t have even tried. I also got Temple Spa shampoo and conditioner samples that honestly I have yet to try. The ingredients in the conditioner are intriguing: they include avocado oil, rosemary, lavender, and peppermint.

My June Birchbox I think was supposed to have an adventure theme because the top of the box says, “say yes to adventure.” However, the only “adventure” was the fact that they’re offering a prize this month. So I went to Birchbox.com and put in my code, and sadly only got a 10% off my next order coupon code. I guess it was a little disappointing just because when they said “prize” I expected a mini sample of eye shadow or a mini perfume. But maybe picking out something for everyone is a little too difficult so I’ll accept it.

Wow another great year for the Jazz Age Lawn Party in the books! Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra present the Jazz Age Lawn Party every year on two summer weekends. (Yes, there is still time to go there is an August weekend also!) The Jazz Age Lawn Party is exactly what it sounds like, it’s a 1920s twenties themed party that is on Governors Island in an open lawn. Everyone is dressed up to the T and looks fabulous. It’s basically a huge picnic where you can bring your own blankets, food, and beverages if you would like. However there is no alcohol allowed, but it’s a 1920s party, just bootleg it man! You don’t have to bring your own alcohol though because St. Germain helps produce the event and provides specialty cocktails that are delicious. However, they’re standard NYC prices: $10-$14 a drink.

The lawn party is pretty large and it includes a huge dance floor with a stage for the orchestra, a second smaller dance floor, several vendors that sell 1920s theme clothing and accessories, and even space for a Ford model T and some other vintage cars. The lawn party is on Governors Island, which is a beautiful green space with old mansions that really makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time. However there’s only one way to get to Governors Island: the ferry. The event opens at 11 AM, but I would recommend getting the 10 AM ferry because the line gets long quick! But that is pretty hard on a Saturday I have to admit. One of my friends missed the 10 AM ferry two years in a row. I have to say you have to be very dedicated to do this event right.

Because its a picnic / lawn party, there are no chairs there are no benches there is no place to sit provided by the event. You have to bring your own blankets, chairs, and whatever else you would like to basically camp out with. I brought two blankets, a low folding chair so I could be at the same I level with everyone who is sitting on a blanket, small mini folding table, and I even got a mini crocheted tablecloth to make it more 20s. I used a grocery cart to carry everything with me, because it is a little bit of a walk from the ferry to the actual event location. I was also lucky enough to have my boyfriend drive me down to the ferry pickup location and then drove me back home when I wanted to leave (It took a while for him to agree do it, but I was very happy that he did, and I love him!). Because you’re not allowed to bring alcohol the line for drinks is always really really long. So don’t pick your picnic spot near the bar.

I would also recommend bringing some snacks and lots of water. There are food trucks and food vendors at the event, however in my experience food trucks can easily underestimate how many people will come and can sometimes run out of food (Just to clarify this is never happened at Jazz Age, but it has happened in other events that I’ve gone to). They were also charging four dollars ($4!) for bottled water. My friends and I collectively brought couscous, a tart, two types of brie (a kind of soft cheese), three types of crackers, chips and salsa, cupcakes, and 12 bottles of water. There was probably more food and drinks but I can’t remember anymore, there was just so much stuff!

For all you OCD / germaphobic people, I do have to warn you: the bathrooms are all porta-potties. But it comes with any outdoor event, so you shouldn’t be surprised.

Also, very important, don’t forget your sunscreen! I got really burned because the forecast was for rain, but it turned out to be a beautiful and extremely sunny day. I was thankfully wearing Supergoop’s CC cream on my face, so I didn’t get there.

After signing the “Ban the Bead” petition to ban the use of plastic beads in scrubs, I decided to go buy a natural scrub from Lush. A very nice salesperson got a bunch of different scrubs for me to try. A lot of them were pretty abrasive so I suggest you go into the store and try them out before you buy. I personally liked Rub Rub Rub the best because it was the most gentle.

After exfoliating I tried some creams, and fell in love with the Dream Cream. It’s a lotion that moisturizes like a body butter. Its great for irritated skin because it has Oat Milk in it. The salesperson said I should also try the Dream Shower Wash so I decided to get a sample. She says these two products together create extremely soft skin.

I also bought the Enchanted Eye Cream because it was highly recommended to me by a friend. The salesperson at Lush said that a lot of people go to Sephora and buy an eye cream with acid in it and you shouldn’t do that because that area has the thinnest skin and is really sensitive. She also said that I could add extra liquorish root to this eye cream and it will have more lightening power.

A spring photoshoot with my boyfriend.

Today I opened my May Birchbox which I got in the mail a couple of days ago, but I’ve been unpacking from Vegas and haven’t had the time to open the box. Don’t worry, there will be a post about Vegas! Just in a few days because there’s so much to say!

To be perfectly honest, I was not that impressed with my Birchbox this month. The English Laundry Notting Hill Femme perfume is way to strong for me…and honestly made me a little sick to my stomach when I first put it on. I have actually purchased the Prescriptives False Eyelashes Plush Mascara before many years ago, and I didn’t love the formula then. Unless they have changed something about this Mascara, I will probably throw it out. The Cargo Eye Shadow in Yukon was broken when I received it and scattered all over the floor when I opened it. The Naobay oxygenating cream moisturizer doesn’t seem to be anything special to me, just a regular moisturizer.

However, I’m still looking forward to trying the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water, the Laura Mercier Rouge Nouveau weightless lip colour, and the Macadamia Professional Nourishing Moisture oil treatment. The Laura Mercier lipstick looks like an amazing color!

*Two of the products in my upgraded Birchbox were full size products: the Cargo eye shadow in Yukon and the Laura Mercier Rouge Nouveau weightless lip colour.

After getting a coupon from my FabFitFun box, I went a ahead and purchased a set of hand weights and an eco friendly yoga mat. I am very happy with the hand weights. They are the perfect walking weight size (2.75 lb each), and they come in pretty awesome colors. The eco friendly yoga mat is a little slippery and it has some marks on it already just from my foot sliding on the mat.

After having a shitty morning, I got to work mad late. Then when I walk in, my boss is running around like chicken with his head cut off. He’s stressed out and panicking about something. He’s normally in a great mood, but not today and I could tell that is not going to be good. I got stuck on a really frustrating project that basically took me all day, and ended up getting pretty upset before talking a walk around the block to cool off.

Anyway, after not getting home till around 8:30 pm, I really needed to unwind. I opened this bottle of wine that I got as a house warming gift (4-5 years ago), and it was wonderful. I’m not a big drinker so I was unable to finish the whole bottle by myself. But I will be enjoying it later tonight as well.

I went into Aldo hoping to find a pair of shoes that were on sale for vegas. Nothing on sale fit right or looked that great. I decided to get to ask a sales rep for help, and god were they helpful! Bring up pair, after pair, after pair, as I decided what I wanted. She was so helpful, I now regret not taking a selfie with her to post here!

I decided on these cut out heels with a gold accented stem heel. They’re not that high and they dont have a platform, so they felt comfortable in the store. I also bought the back stickers and the non slip pads that Aldo offers.