little luxuries under $20

We all know by now that "#treatyourself" is a phrase that just rolls off the tongue for me. However, I believe that treating yourself should should not mean going broke. To me, treating yourself doesn't mean buying a $300 purse if you really can't afford it. Treating yourself can be easy, affordable, and gratifying. I've compiled a list of items that I don't buy too frequently, but I know these little luxuries make me feel pretty darn great when I do purchase them.

Harney & Sons Winter White Earl Grey Tea | $7.99 | This tea literally might have pieces of heaven in it. The flavor is unlike any earl grey tea I've had before. It has an almost Fruit Loop-like scent to it. Plus, the vintage-looking tin packaging can totally be re-purposed once you've used all the tea bags (which might be pretty quickly, they are that good). I use my tin as a pencil holder!

Anthropologie mugs | $10-20 | You know what's better than luxury tea? A beautiful mug to drink it out of. If you want to take things to the next level, I encourage drinking luxury tea (or coffee) out of a beautiful mug, in bed. Glorious.

MAC lipstick | $16 | There is just something about buying a good lipstick. MAC's lipsticks are truly a beauty staple and they feel so luxurious. I love the sleek packaging and variety of colors. The shade I'm eyeing up right now is called "syrup," a your-lips-but-better mauve color.

Klorane dry shampoo | $19.79 | I received this dry shampoo in a Birchbox a long time ago, but to this day I still think it is the best dry shampoo out there. It actually gets rid of oily roots rather than just making them look less oily, which leaves you time to do things you want to do -- like brunch on a Saturday morning (sans oily hair).

What do you do to treat yourself? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,
G

Click here to read my "3 little luxuries under $3" post!

anatomy of a bedside table

I'm going to go so far as to say that styling my new apartment is almost as important as styling my outfits each day. I find that a cozy, styled home is a happy home, but it's the tiniest details that really count. With that, I give you the anatomy of a bedside table.

lamp | I think this item needs little explanation. For those times when you can't put down your favorite book (or catalogue) or when you just want to find your chapstick in the middle of the night. Plus, I believe you can never have too much light in a room.

hand cream | Is it just me, or is it a great feeling to slather on the hand cream right before bedtime? Dream Cream is from Lush, and it is super moisturizing and natural smelling. Did you think I could go one blog post without mentioning Lush?!

techy stuff | I love a quick bout on Pinterest before bedtime, hence why my iPad has a prime spot on my bedside table.

most used scents | Some may prefer to have their perfumes on display on a dresser or in their bathroom, but I prefer to have them right next to my bed. The bottles provide a nice visual appeal and the scent seems to linger around my bed after I do a few sprays. Maybe it's weird, but I love when my comforter smells like my signature scent!

trinket tray | One of the most underrated home accessories of all time, the catch-all trinket tray. I love having one of these at my bedside for bobby pins, earrings, and small perfume bottles. I also don't mind the pop of color this one gives.

candles | I am a total candle lover. I find that they provide a sense of relaxation and warmth in any home. I like to light my bedside candle on a lazy Saturday morning or a half hour before I fall asleep.

light reading | At any given moment, you will find a small stack of catalogues on my bedside table. When I'm sick of the internet and need some fashion inspo, I turn to some favorites - J.Crew, Land's End, Anthropologie. The list goes on and on.

any other goodies that make you smile | I decided to accessorize a bit further with the metal "G" from Restoration Hardware, which is so heavy it doubles as a paper weight. I also added a macaron trinket case, a gift from my friend Courtney (below the word "used" in the photo).

I think bedside styling is pretty important for everyday convenience and visual appeal. So choose the items that you use regularly, or that just make you happy.

xoxo,
G

december ipsy review

Hi all! I hope you all had a wonderful and restful holiday. It's that time again... December Ipsy glam bag review!

bag | When I signed up for Ipsy, I thought I would love getting a small little makeup bag every month. Now, I am 4 months in and haven't really loved any of the actual bags! The only word to describe this bag is chintzy. Into the trash it will go soon! Sorry Ipsy.

Beauty Without Cruelty alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) facial cleanser | At first I thought this product would be a mediocre, run of the mill facial cleanser. I was wrong. Beauty Without Cruelty is a very misleading brand name -- because this facial cleanser did a cruel little number on my face. I'm not exactly sure if it was the AHAs in this wash that made my skin red, tight, and broken out for a solid 4 days, but I know it was not pleasant. This product will be going in the trash soon. I would not recommend it to anyone! (I swear, some of the products were actually good this month.)

Crown shadow/crease duet brush | This brush is just okay. It does the job, but I wasn't blown away by it. It is weird that it's double-ended, which doesn't allow you to stand it upright in a brush holder.

NYX Butter lip balm in red velvet | I've been wanting to try any NYX product, so I was pleased to see this in my Ipsy bag. It truly has a buttery formula, and the color tint is beautiful and easy to apply. It's lighter than a lipstick but still provides noticeable color. Did I mention that it smells like strawberry candy? I am a huge fan of it and will likely try other colors.

Pixi Fairy Dust in brightening bare | I've seen the Pixi line in Target before, but never tried any of their products. This loose powder eye shadow is a pretty nude color with a light shimmer. Would I repurchase it for $10? Probably not. But, it's a nice neutral shadow that can be used for a low-key look.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara | This product made this month's bag worth it! I've heard great things about Tarte mascaras... and let me tell you, the hype is real. I love the length this gives to my lashes. I would definitely consider purchasing a full-sized version of this product. My one qualm is that the mascara adds so much length to the lashes that they touch my eyelids and therefore the product sometimes transfers onto my lids. Because of this, I think I would probably purchase the waterproof version called Lights, Camera, Splashes. Side note: How cute are the names of their mascaras?!

Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Volumizing mascara | I know what you're thinking. Each bag usually only contains five items, why six this month?! Well, Ipsy forgot to send the Pixi Fairy Dust in my bag, so I emailed IpsyCare to make them aware. This was the second time in 4 months that they had forgotten to put an item in my bag. So, they sent me an extra item to make up for it. It was a nice gesture... But the mascara was dried out. I gave it a try anyway, and found that the brush/formula provides more volume than length. If volume is your thing, this product might be the one for you.

Overall, I only really liked the NYX balm and the Tarte mascara from December. I'm going to see how January's bag pans out, then re-evaluate my Ipsy subscription.

Do you have any other subscription services that you love? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
G

g's gift guide

To be completely honest, blog posts may be few and far-between during the holiday season. I truly think that this is a time to gather with friends and family, eat delicious food until you feel absolutely stuffed, and relish in relaxation - which is what I will be doing. I hope you plan on doing just that, too!

In light of this, I want to make your life a bit easier before the holidays by providing a list of inexpensive gifts for that person you just quite haven't checked off your list yet.

[image from baublebar.com]

BaubleBar solo pendant necklace | This dainty little number is understated, chic, and a great price point. BaubleBar has been doing the 12 days of Christmas - with jewelry at $10, $15, and $20. Purchase in the next few hours to get it by Christmas eve!

[image from anthropologie.com]

Anthropologie Initial Mug | I love the gold detailing of this mug - it makes it look much more expensive than it really is!

[image from traderjoes.com]

Trader Joe's goodies | The oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, corn and chile salsa, bruschetta... and so much more are some of the amazing items you'll find at TJ's. Buy a friend, family member, or foodie some goodies, and I promise you'll get a lot for your money.

Spa-in-a-jar | Throw some lotion, a small candle, cozy socks, a bath bomb, and chapstick into a mason jar, and tie it with some burlap. Most women love beauty items, and this make-it-yourself gift set can be super inexpensive. I borrowed this idea from one of my favorite vloggers - Ingrid Nilsen. Check out her DIY gifts video!

[image from Lush.com]

Lush goodies | If you don't want to go all-out with the spa in a jar, you can easily grab one luxurious item from Lush. No matter your price point, Lush is sure to have something for everyone - even men. I particularly love the bath bombs and lip scrubs - both under $10.

[image from target.com]

Pajamas | I think these ones from Target are adorably classic, and perfect for snuggling up with a mug of cocoa.

Wine | Who doesn't love a nice bottle of vino? For around $10, you can get a pretty nice bottle of wine for someone who entertains, or simply enjoys a beverage with dinner.

And remember, gift buying isn't last minute until it hits December 24!

happy shopping!
G

confessions of a lushie: part III

Surprise, surprise... I'm reviewing two more Lush products, perfect for holiday gift-giving!

Sparkler bath bomb | This rose-jam scented bath bomb is a nice little treat at the end of a busy week, with a smell that is so comforting and relaxing. In an effort to preserve this goody for more than one use, I broke the "stick" in half. The bomb has a sparkly center, which adds a bit of glimmer to your bath (that also sticks to your tub once the water is drained - which I personally don't mind). I felt quite relaxed, moisturized, and sweet smelling after soaking in the tub with this bomb. Even if you don't take baths often, I would recommend buying this product simply for the scent. I honestly steal a whiff of it a couple times a week.

Right now it's sold out online, but you may be able to find it at your local Lush store. It's also included in this luxurious gift set! I think Lush's bath bombs make the perfect holiday gift for a friend, for under $10.

BB Seawood fresh face mask | Once you get past the odd texture of this mask, you might just love it. This product was recommended to me after I found out the Catastrophe Cosmetic mask was sold out. The scent of the BB Seaweed mask reminds me of the beach - fresh and slightly salty. With calming and exfoliating properties, my skin feels smooth and refreshed after one use. The only downside is that the seaweed is slightly weird - there are substantial pieces that are sometimes difficult to wash off once the mask dries. But, I can get past the seaweed because this product truly lives up to its claims.

xoxo,
G

hats off to Old Navy!

Just popping in to share one of favorite deals of the season. I stopped into Old Navy one night looking for a flannel, and ended up leaving with a cute little hat that cost less than lunch (only $5)! This hat is quite flattering and a style that is really popular lately. I'm happy I didn't have to spend a fortune to try out this trend.

Unfortunately, I can't find the exact hat on the ON website (I think I just got lucky finding it in the store's sale section). But, I did find a similar one from Target - complete with a bow!

[ jacket | J.Crew, similar
sweater | Joe Fresh for JCPenney, last year
leggings | J.Crew pixie pants in navy
boots | Steve Madden ]

In my eyes, this outfit is a perfect fall and winter go-to. Comfortable, cozy, and classic - three of my favorite things.

[ earrings | Kate Spade ]

I love a good pop of tortoise shell, and these Kate Spade earrings certainly fit the bill. They go with just about everything! Don't be afraid to mix tortoise with black or navy blue.

I'm not normally a hat person, but this floppy felt hat looks so chic and classic, I couldn't help but pick it up. I also cannot wait to re-create this look from Glitter & Gingham one weekend!

xoxo,
G

keep calm

"Give me all the chamomile!" is almost a daily thought for me lately. I have found two great products that I love, both of which include chamomile, a magic ingredient.

The silky cleansing oil from The Body Shop was a gift from my equally-makeup-obsessed best friend. I was so excited to try this, but I didn't know what to expect - putting oil directly on your face sounded like a breakout waiting to happen. Fast forward a few weeks, and it has seriously worked wonders for my complexion. The combination of oil and chamomile makes skin silky smooth and calms redness. I actually look forward to removing my makeup with this every night, followed by my regular face cleanser or a face mask. I would definitely consider this a must-have beauty product. I only wish it came in perfume form! The smell is so light and comforting.

My second favorite chamomile product is the chamomile vanilla tea by Bigelow. I've been a huge tea person lately. This tea is slightly sweet and very soothing. In addition, drinking chamomile tea has immense health benefits. It can help relax muscles, improve skin tone, and even help fight off colds - just to name a few. Did I mention it tastes delicious too?

With the holidays in full force, I think we all need a few fool-proof ways to stay calm.

xoxo,
G