Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm so so thankful for so much in my life these days, with the most important obviously being my family, my boyfriend, and my wonderful friends.

Hope you guys have a great day and get to eat lots of tasty food!

Skincare Product Rave

Bath and Body Works recently had a sale on their entire website for 20% off, so I decided to spring for the Pat Wexler MD MMPI Skin Regenerating Serum. When the line first debuted several years ago, I was pretty skeptical about it. I had read about Pat Wexler rather often in magazines, and knew that she was a very successful dermatologist, but I still figured, "A skincare line at BBW? eh" Also, given that it was a skincare line sold at BBW, the price point was steeper than I was willing to pay.

However, I've recently been encountering several rave reviews for this serum, so when the coupon rolled around, I figured I would give it a shot.

I got the 1 oz jar, which normally retails for $55:

The product itself is hot pink! It makes me happy every time I open it!

In the past, I've tried various serums and potions that claimed to smooth, brighten, tighten my skin, etc. and none of them worked.

This serum, on the other hand, is amazing! It's fragrance free so it doesn't bother me at all. Texture-wise, it's really interesting. It feels very silicone-y and in that sense, it reminds me a bit of Estee Lauder's Idealist skin refinisher and Biotherm Source Therapie. However, with both the EL and the Biotherm, I felt that the effects were extremely temporary. They made my skin feel smoother and more refined when I applied the product, but when I washed it off at the end of the day, my skin still had the same blotches and bumps.

Not so with the Pat Wexler serum! Upon initial application, it is honestly a bit weird because it feels so silicone-y and even left my skin feeling slightly sticky. However, I followed up with a moisturizer (as recommended), and that got rid of the stickiness. I use it 2x a day - in the morning, I just use the serum + my trusty Aveeno SPF 70 sunblock, and at night, I use the serum with Korres sugar crystal cream.

I've been using it for about 2 weeks now, and I can't say enough good things about it. It has really evened out my skintone (which can be a bit blotchy at times). Also, I've had these tiny bumps on the right side of my face for the past few years that NO exfoliator or cleanser could get rid of, and within 2 weeks of using this serum, they're almost nonexistent. This serum is seriously amazing and it's the first really effective skincare product I've encountered in a LONG time.

The BBW website is currently having a great deal on a giant sized jar (3.4 oz) for only $65. I'm beginning to wish I'd gotten that one instead!

I'm so impressed with this product that I'm beginning to look into the rest of Pat Wexler's line. Have any of you guys had any experiences with it? Any recommendations?

(first image is from the BBW website)

Starbucks red cups are back!

As I said in my last post, I love everything about the holidays, so I was very excited to find out that Starbucks' red cups and holiday drinks are back!

I look forward to this every year, and I always get one before starting my holiday shopping expeditions. I hate drinking my calories, but I make an exception for Starbucks lattes! My favs are the gingerbread latte and the peppermint mocha latte (skinny, of course). They are such a delightful, creamy way to get the day started (or at any other time of day, really!) that it's practically impossible to resist them.

What are your favorite holiday drinks from Starbucks?

Festive Fingertips

Anyone will tell you that I'm absolutely obsessed with the holidays and with sparkly things. So when I saw this nail polish in my friend's Sephora FF haul, I just KNEW that I had to have it. Something about gold is just so festive and fun for the holidays, and this particular gold is so glitter-packed and sparkly that it seems perfect for holiday and NYE parties - a fun alternative to the more traditional red, which is what I normally have on my tips all throughout December.

I know it's a bit early to start getting ready for the holidays, but it's never too early in my book! I normally start getting ready in October. hehe Also, the sparkliness is a great pick-me-up for me as I go through the dreariness of preparing for finals. :)

Without flash:

With flash:

With just two coats and flash:

As you can see, it's absolutely opaque. I love that, as most glittery polishes tend to be rather thinly pigmented. The shade is called "Looks Like Rain, Dear," and it retails for $9.

What are you currently wearing on your nails?

Some of my favorite things...

Blooms: Roses, all colors!

Food: steak and cake (and it even rhymes!)

Drink: water and coffee for everyday, champagne for special occasions

Thing to Wear: jeans and high heels (although not necessarily together) ... also love juicy tracksuits for lounging around the house

Destination: Madrid - I'm seriously craving some churros con chocolate right now. mmmmm....

Season: fall

Musician: Lady Gaga

Book: anything and everything Harry Potter! also love Ayn Rand and Le Petit Prince

Color: red and pink

Scent: in love with lavender. As far as perfumes go, I'm currently being rather fickle and alternating between Viktor and Rolf's Flowerbomb, Hanae Mori Butterfly, and Creed Spring Flower.

Extravagance: I try to incorporate a little bit of extravagance into my everyday life. I consider it to be good motivation for me to continue working hard, so I generally don't feel guilty about splurging on myself and my loved ones.

Quote: "Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe." - Gail Devers

"You can sleep when you're dead"