recent skincare favorites

Although I'll never admit to having this whole skincare thing figured out, I do love sharing personal favorite products that work wonders for my combination, breakout-prone and all-around unpredictable skin.

Eau Roma Water by Lush | I purchased this toner on a whim one day when I was shopping in Lush and realized that there is something oh-so-cool and spa-like about spray-on facial toners (am I the only one?!). Let me tell you how happy I am about this impulse buy... I absolutely love spritzing this on in the morning, evening and anytime in between. The rose and lavender provide calmness to the skin, along with a lovely, light scent and a hint of moisture. I've turned into a loyal buyer for life.

Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer | To those with oily skin, do not be turned off by this "rich" moisturizer. I find the formula to be super lightweight but incredibly hydrating in a barely there way. I also love that it doesn't contain harsh chemicals, perfumes or dyes.

Tea Tree Oil by The Body Shop | I must admit, I was a skeptic about this product at first. However, over the past few months, I've noticed the cleansing tea tree oil has helped fade my acne scars and quickly heal any breakouts. Bonus: this teeny bottle has lasted me around 6 months with everyday use. #worthit.

Catastrophe Cosmetic fresh face mask by Lush | This mask was a recommendation from a reader [thanks Nicole!] and needless to say, I already purchased my second pot of it. The blueberry and chamomile in this product calms redness, moisturizes, is super gentle, and smells divine. Check, check, check check.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I'm still loyal to the Camomile Cleansing Oil from The Body Shop as well!

What are your recent skincare favorites? Please share!

playing tourist in my own city: hotel monaco

There are few things I love more than exploring old and new places in the city that I call home, Pittsburgh, Pa. I like to think of it as playing tourist in my own city. A few weeks ago, some co-workers and I headed downtown for a networking event at the newly-opened Hotel Monaco. I was in awe of the super-chic, colorful and quirky decor, as proven by my three Instagram posts that night. [Isn't there an unsaid rule against that or something?] This is not your cookie-cutter, run-of-the-mill hotel; it had a very uniquely grand feel.

The colorful floral chandelier was so perfectly perched above the hotel lobby. Is this fixture to die for or what? I pretty much need one for my apartment, even though something tells me it wouldn't quite fit. Also, take a peek at the tufted yellow couch in the background. Swoon.

I had to take a photo of this book, because obviously. As you can tell, no detail was overlooked in the lounge areas. Beautiful artwork on the walls, gorgeous patterned rugs, and coffee table styling. This was a form of heaven for me.

We decided to ride the elevator to the top floor, in search of the penthouse suite. The geometric carpet mixed with floral wallpaper in the hotel halls were perfect. The added pop of color on the doors had me sold! Even the bathrooms were gorgeous, and I don't think I've ever called a bathroom pretty before.

Much to our surprise, we actually did get a peek at the penthouse suite [we think]. Because this was the week of the hotel's soft opening, some items weren't fully complete yet - like the knobs on the double doors of a room at the end of the hallway. Naturally we looked through the hole and snuck a few pictures, and I dreamed of one day staying there.

There were countless other areas that I wanted to photograph, but I didn't want to look like too much of an overly-excited tourist. If you decide to go, I promise you won't be disappointed. Needless to say, I will be paying Hotel Monaco another visit in the near future. I am dying to go to brunch or happy hour at the hotel's restaurant, The Commoner, so be sure to keep a look out for that post in the future!

Do any of my Pittsburgh readers have favorite places they've visited recently? Please let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,
G

anatomy of a valentine's day bar

Recently, I've become more than obsessed with bar cart styling. In an effort to replicate the perfect bar carts I've seen on Pinterest and on my favorite blogs, I went on a mission to purchase and style my own little bar.

bar | KALLAX shelving unit from IKEA | I wasn't able to find an actual bar cart that was in my price range, so I decided on this little shelving unit from IKEA. It was a very reasonable price and can be repurposed if I ever get tired of the "bar" set up (which isn't likely, but just in case!).

bottles | What's a bar without your favorite libations? Whether you're celebrating v-day with a significant other or friends, be sure to add your favorite beverage to your at-home stash. I'm usually a white wine drinker, but those bottles are in the fridge. The Absolut vodka bottle on the left is a special edition Andy Warhol one, which I will probably never end up drinking because it's so pretty!

mason shaker | My mason shaker was a birthday gift from my lovely best friend a few years back. It makes the perfect bar accessory for when you want to mix up a great cocktail, and will be sure to impress your guests! The Mason Shaker company also has a cocktail mixing book, shake, that I often peruse every time I pass by it at Anthropologie. If you're not quite ready to commit to buying the book, I recommend following The Mason Shaker on Instagram for a peek at their uncommon cocktail recipes.

glasses | At the moment I am showcasing a few [rather large] wine glasses, but I can't wait to add some stemless wine glasses and whiskey glasses to my collection.

mixers | Admittedly, I am not a pop [soda] person. But, these carbonated blood orange flavored waters from San Pellegrino are as close as I'll get, and they are delicious. For reasons unknown to me, I just love the foil top and colorful packaging.

decor | Add a fun stack of books, a framed picture, and something unexpected. I took a page out of Carly Heitlinger of The College Prepster's book by showcasing a pair of fun heels. I'm sure the bottom two shelves will change often, as I rearrange books and decorative items in my apartment regularly!

colorful cocktail napkins | Uber feminine and chic, these cocktail napkins are the perfect addition to help clean up spills or hold apps.

straws | Who doesn't love a colorful paper straw?! The red stripes and pink hearts keep with my Valentine's Day theme, but these always remind me of summer days and sugary cocktails with friends. The pink heart straws are a great deal in the Dollar Spot at Target!

tray | This little number was a hand-me-down within my family, which makes it very special to me. I love the vintage feel and the intricate handles it has, making it perfect for corralling bottles in one place.

No matter your Valentine's Day plans, the one you spend it with will surely be impressed if you add some love-themed accents to your at home bar set up.

I can't even wait to style my new bar according to each holiday and occasion. I am picturing a margarita bar on Cinco De Mayo, a coffee bar for a brunch party, and something extra festive for Christmas. Eek! The possibilities are endless.

cheers!

G

baublebar acrylic block monogram necklace

We all know that I have a slight huge obsession with BaubleBar. Recently, I purchased an item from them that I want to yell about from the rooftops - the acrylic block monogram necklace. It is the most perfect, dainty piece of monogrammed jewelry that I own.

What I ordered

• Acrylic block monogram necklace
• Gold fill, 16" chain
• Mini monogram size
• Tiger's eye acrylic color

I wanted this to be an everyday necklace, which is why I choose to order it in the tiger's eye color - a pearlized tan. Oh my word. I am in love with it! I pair it with button downs, cotton tees, sweaters, and dress it up or down. I also think the clear crystal or tortoise shell color would be lovely. It's no secret that I love a stunning statement necklace, but sometimes outfits call for something more subtle - and this piece is the perfect fit. It's so teeny tiny but sturdy, even with its dainty look.

BaubleBar, let me list the reasons why I love thee...

• Free ground shipping on any order
• Fast turnaround [I ordered this custom necklace on a Wednesday and received it the following Monday]
• Uniquely gorgeous items
• Free gifts! When I purchased this item, I received a beautyblender with my order [$20 value]. It was such a pleasant surprise!

xoxo,

G

what's in my bag[s]

Because who doesn't love a good peep through someone else's handbag?!

Tory Burch Robinson Middy Satchel [similar]| My heart flutters just thinking about any Tory Burch item, so it's no surprise that I am obsessed with my TB satchel. It's my go-to handbag for many many reasons. For starters, it is basically a Mary Poppins bag because it fits just about everything except for a laptop, without feeling too large to carry [I've toted iPads, planners, and makeup bags in this petite-looking bag]. In addition, the cognac color goes with navy, grey, black, brown... basically any color I wear on a day-to-day basis. The bag also comes with a removable shoulder strap, in addition to the shorter arm straps, which is perfect for when I want to carry my bag hands-free. The quality of this bag is outstanding, and I know I will love it for years and years to come. I could name a million more reasons why I love this structured & polished bag, but I'll spare you. [wink!]

Kimchi Blue wallet from Urban Outfitters [old] | This wallet is an oldie but a goodie. I'm probably due for a new one, but I just love the subtle grey color, laser cut detail, and tiffany-blue lining on the inside.

Ray Ban Tortoise Wayfarers | These shades are perfect for summer or winter, and add just the right amount of chic mystery to outfits. I may be biased due to my love for anything tortoise.

Vaseline | Let's be real... who doesn't slather this stuff on all winter?! Although, I recently read an article about how harmful it can be and my world came crashing down! I'm not sure I believe all the hoopla, because clearly I'm still using it on the daily.

Vera Bradley mini pouch [old] | This colorful mini pouch was a gift from my boyfriend's mom a few years back. I love the pop of color it adds to my handbag items and it fits all my gift cards perfectly.

Revlon lipstick in Sassy Mauve | The perfect wintery, subtle mauve color for when you need a pop of color in your life or on your lips.

Benefit Dr. Feelgood balm | I don't know about you guys, but when I leave work at the end of the day I don't always look as fresh as I did when I came in. If I'm on my way to dinner or drinks with friends, I make sure to pat on a little bit of this stuff. Why, you ask? It is a facial balm that helps to control oil and smooth out imperfections for when you need to freshen up in a pinch.

Orbit Sweet Mint gum | The best. I hate mint flavored gum that is so minty it makes your nose and tongue hurt, hence why I always choose this mild sweet mint flavor.

Vera Bradley makeup bag | Vera Bradley introduced a new line of leather and faux leather goods, and I am all for the subtle and sophisticated patterns and shapes. This tiny makeup bag is perfect for organizing those little must-have emergency items in your handbag, such as a mini hairbrush, chapstick, gum, pens, and other bits. I'm a big supporter of bags within bags [#baglady], so that the smaller items aren't rattling around.

J.Crew mittens [old] | For those I-have-no-idea-what-the-weather-is-going-to-be-like-because-I-live-in-western-PA days. I don't mind that these mittens aren't tech-friendly, because they provide warmth and style to any ensemble. I love the marled look because it adds a bit of texture to an otherwise monochromatic winter outfit.

What are your must-have handbag items?

xoxo,
G

my [last] january ipsy review

bag | Once again, I am feeling "meh" about the bag. It isn't as awful as last month's, but surely didn't blow my socks off. One side is white, one side is a royal blue, which are two colors I like, however the size and the fabric make this something that I won't use often.

Liquid eyeliner by Coastal Scents | Aside from the fact that I can't do a winged liner look to save my life, this product seems it be a good one. It has a sturdy felt tip brush and is jet black [two things I would probably look for if I could maneuver liquid liner]. Plus, the full size is very affordable at a mere $2.95!

Take it off! exfoliating honey peel off mask by Hey Honey | Is it just me, or is there something weirdly satisfying about a peel off mask? I'm not exactly sure where the "exfoliating" part of this product comes in, due to it's gooey texture, but I know that it removed the grime from my skin. This may be TMI, but I could actually see the dirt on the mask pieces I pulled off.

Be Good. Good Day. Day Moisturizer. by La Fresh Eco-Beauty | First of all, the name of this product is questionable. "Be good. Good day. Day Moisturizer." They could have stopped at day moisturizer and gotten the point across. Anyway, I digress. I'm starting to love this day time moisturizer. It is definitely not heavy enough to use at night, but it sits well under makeup during the day due to its lightweight formula and fresh cucumber scent.

Natural mineral coconut eye shadow by Pacifica in Ethereal | I need another nude eye shadow like I need another pair of shoes [I don't], but this product is lovely! The formula is very buttery and smooth, and it doesn't hurt that it's 100% vegan. This brand is available at Target, and I've also heard wonderful things about their blood orange lotion.

Velvet rose lipgloss by Velvet 59 in noisette | I was pleasantly surprised when I tried this gloss and loved it, seeing as I'm not a huge lip gloss gal. Lately I am super into rosy mauve colors, and this product has just the right amount of tint to it. Did I mention that I adore the chic clear packaging, silver handle, and faint rose scent? I've been layering this gloss over Revlon's Sassy Mauve, and it works like a dream.

I'm sure you've noticed a trend of me not being super excited with my Ipsy bags the past few months, which is why I have decided to cancel my subscription and receive the Sample Society box by Allure [only $15 a month!]. For only $10 a month, I still think Ipsy is a good deal for beauty lovers, but, I felt like a lot of the products weren't useful to me. I think Ipsy tries to avoid this by making subscribers take a beauty quiz, allowing you to choose the items and brands that you use most, but I still wasn't receiving the type of items I requested.

After spending far too much time researching past Sample Society boxes with my best friend via phone, I concluded that the $5 extra a month is worth it to receive samples of higher end brands that I might not normally buy. According to the site, the Allure beauty editor's choose their favorite beauty products for the month, and each subscriber gets the same box [although the colors of items may differ]. Keep a look out for my February Sample Society review next month! I can't wait to share it with you.

xoxo,
G

yes way rosé

Weekends are the perfect time to try something new with old friends. I knew I was going to meet a few friends for drinks on Friday night with no real destination in mind. After a recommendation from my best friend, I suggested Casbah, simply because I heard they have wine flights.

Casbah is a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar located on S. Highland Ave, right in between Shadyside and East Liberty in Pittsburgh. A couple friends and I sat in the downstairs dining room, complete with a view of the wine cellar. We decided to only order a few flights of wine and one appetizer after realizing that the menu was prettyyy pricey. My friend and I split the bruschetta - a lovely combination of butternut squash ricotta, pomegranate, currents, and hazelnuts on grilled sourdough. It certainly wasn't your typical bruschetta but I thought the flavor combination was delicious. [Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of it!]

Okay, now on to the important part - the wine.

After feeling slightly disappointed that they were out of the "Bouquet of Rosé" flight [as advertised on their website], I chose to order the "Sparkler" flight - a medley of brut champagne, rosé and prosecco [$12]. This combo did not disappoint and also made me feel super fancy [insert girl-with-hand-out emoji here]. I liked the rosé so much that I decided to order the full glass once we were done with our flights.

If you're going out for a special occasion, or you're just in the mood to feel fancy, I would recommend going to Casbah to try a wine flight or two. I think next time I'll try lunch... That menu's prices seem a bit more reasonable.

Oh, did I mention that Yes Way Rosé liked my Insta from Friday night?! Day. Made.

Cheers,
G