April Favorites

I’m not sure how many of you out there are enjoying this monthly tradition I began in December, but I’m still sticking with it anyway!  Give me some feedback as to what you think about my monthly favorites posts!  This month, I’ll keep it short and sweet.  (So sorry I’m posting it so late!)

 Talenti Gelato in Sea Salted Caramel

Talenti Sea Salt Caramel gelato

Umm.  Nom.  Seriously.  That’s all I feel that I need to say about this delicious dessert.  I already raved about it in one of my previous WIAW’s as well!  Just go buy some and try it, and you’ll understand.

Ulta brand Professional Cuticle Pusher

In March, I got my nails painted with the awesome Shellac that is the current trend in nails.  It’s amazing because it doesn’t chip, but then your nails grow and you have this section of unpainted nail right there by your cuticle.  If you choose to not go back to the salon to get them redone, you have to struggle to take off the polish yourself.  I’ve found that this cuticle pusher helps with that, so you aren’t stuck peeling a layer of your nail off with the polish.  It’s also great because when you do your nails yourself, you can actually push your cuticle down without it hurting!  Pushing your cuticle down before polishing also makes for a better at-home manicure.  (P.S.-It works sooooo much better than those little wooden sticks)  Get one here.

Sally Hansen Strength polish and Ulta brand cuticle pusher

Sally Hansen Nail Nutrition- Strength with Green tea and Bamboo

Speaking of nails, this nail nutrition polish is great to use after having shellac on your nails for a while.  It also helps with nail splitting, which happens to me often.  I will say that I have always had pretty thick nails that don’t break easily, so I don’t know how it would work in making nails stronger in that manner, but for nails that split, this is recommended!

Vans Atwood Low Sneaker, in Black/White

Vans Atwood Low Sneaker, in Black/White

I found these gems at DSW.  They are oh so comfy, no breaking in required.  And I’ve received a lot of compliments from them when I’ve worn them (which has been a lot this month)!  You can get a pair here!  I did get my true size.

Hello Kitty Pencils

There’s a pink one as well, I was just too lazy to find it in my purse to photograph. :p

Ok.  I know this is just a silly thing to put on my list, but I really do like using pencils, I don’t know why.  I found these in the dollar section at Target, and they are kinda nostalgic.  Back to the time when I actually used the pencils like these, before mechanical pencils were all the rage (remember that?).  And I like Hello Kitty, so win-win!

Hyperbole and a Half, the book

Hyperbole and a Half, the book

I have always loved her site, but when I saw that the book had been released, and was an extra 20% off at Target, I had to pick it up.  Allie Brosh is hilarious, and if you’ve never heard of her, or her site, check it out here.  The book contains both new content, and content from the website, but I can never get enough.  ALL THE THINGS!!!

Joffrey Dying (Game of Thrones, duh!)

If you watch this show, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  I don’t even need to explain why this was one of my favorite things in April.  If you don’t watch the show, shame on you.

Transport Tote

My transport tote hanging out at the NC Farmer’s Market

This was my present for getting a full time job, and I love it so!  I have always wanted it, and now I finally have it!!!  If you would like one too, you can get one here.  I promise you won’t regret it.

 

Bam.  Lynda’s faves for the month of April.  What are you guys thinking?!  I’d love to know!  Do you have any of these items?  What’s your take on my monthly favorites post?  Let me know in the comments below!

Bows and Arrows,

Lynda

 

March Favorites

It’s that time again!  The end of the month!  So I’ve rounded up my 10 favorites from these last [insert adjective here] 31 days.

1.  Pedometer App by Runtastic

Pedometer App for iPhone

I downloaded the free version of this app on my iPhone in the first week of March, and I’ve been using it every time I take my fur baby on a walk.  I really use it because I like knowing how far I walk her each day.  The free version allows you to save 3 different days of statistics and asks you questions once you’re finished like what the weather was like, where you walked/ran (such as a trail, along a road, etc.), how you felt afterwards, what the temperature was, etc..  I didn’t feel the need to purchase the full app because I don’t really need to save this information for anything.  On the main screen, it tracks distance, steps, how long you walked/ran, and speed, and you can have it running in the background while still listening to music, or making a call.  I’m sure this app does other things, but I’ve just been using it to track distance.

2.  Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock by Northcube AB

Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock app for iPhone

I’ve been using this app every night since I’ve downloaded it (I have the full version) in the middle of March.  With this app, you place your phone on the corner of your bed, above your head, and it tracks your sleep movements and cycles to wake you up at just the right time within a 30-minute timeframe so when you wake up, you feel most energized.  This app also records statistics from night to night and shows a variety of graphs that compare each night’s sleep.  I really like to see how my sleep is affected by factors such as the amount of time I spend in bed, how early I have to be up, whether or not I’ve had caffeine that day, my stress levels (which, who am I kidding, they are always high), etc..  Someone I work with at the coffee shop also uses it, and we like to compare our maps the next day, especially when we haven’t slept as much as we would have liked the night before.

3.  Ipsy Cosmetic bags

Various Ipsy bags from 2013

Currently, I am not subscribed to Ipsy because I am a poor. Ok, that sounds bad.  I’m not “a poor,” I’m just not making enough to currently afford subscription boxes (which is very unfortunate, because I loved getting surprises in the mail each month).  Ipsy sends deluxe, and sometimes full-sized cosmetics in a small cosmetic bag, which changes every month.  I now have a small collection of these cosmetic bags, which really came in handy when I went on my vacation to Florida.  I also have some floating around the house storing my Sharpie pens, and other various items.  I even keep one in my [overly organized] purse to store all my small items that would otherwise end up forgotten about at the bottom.

4.  House of Harlow sunglasses

House of Harlow Aviators

I recently rediscovered these for my Florida trip.  I received these in a Pop Sugar Must Have box last year.  I had them hiding in my closet because this eternal winter we had for the last few months didn’t warrant sunglasses.  But I wore the heck out of them in Florida, and during the last few days of March, they were actually worthy of hanging around in my purse, because it was sunny enough to wear them!

5.  Tokyo-Milk Dark hand-crème in Tainted Love

I got this from a cute little boutique on my trip to Florida, however, I have seen it at Sephora.  Let me just say, I put this stuff on my hands, and everyone flocks to me to tell me that something I’m wearing smells amazing.  That would be this stuff right here!  Not even exaggerating.  You can get some here.

Tokyo-Milk Shea Butter Handcreme in Tainted Love

6.  Madewell zip pochette in calf hair

Madewell zip pochette in calf hair, Spring 2014

Yet again, something I used while in Florida.  Go figure.  But really though, this makes a great wallet inside of my bigger purses, but also a nice clutch since it has a pocket and card slots inside.  You can get one for yourself here!  And if you don’t like that one, there is this one as well.

7.  Julep Sea Salt texture spray

Julep Sea Salt Texture Spray

I have now noticed this monthly trend my favorites being things I used while in Florida, that I received from subscription boxes.  I got this hair product in a Julep Maven subscription box sometime last year, and it is the best sea salt spray I have used.  It actually enhances my wavy hair and doesn’t make it frizz out.  And I also don’t have to use half of the bottle to make it work!

8.  Madewell denim vest

Madewell denim vest, Spring 2013

Let me just say, I call myself an expert when it comes to choosing outfits that are fitting for theme parks.  Just sayin’.  You can disagree.  But I really think I do a good job of being comfortable, while also being stylish, and making sure I have everything I need without having to carry around a purse or backpack.  Really though, when you go into a theme park with a bag, it slows you down for many reasons, two being that it has to be checked, and you can’t get on many of the rides with them.  When I went to the two theme parks in Florida, I wore my denim vest both times.  It’s not too hot, and it has inside pockets, where I can store all of my crap wonderful things.  This way, it isn’t going to be jacked off my person while I’m staring at Hogwarts in awe wondering if my letter was accidentally mailed to the wrong address, and my precious Instagram machine (because what would I do without my iPhone, I don’t know, die probably) also isn’t going to fly out of my pocket when the Dragon Challenge flips me upside down.  I do wear this even when I’m not at theme parks too!  It’s a really easy layering piece.

9.  Betty Crocker Parlor Perfect confetti sprinkles

I am not ashamed to say that I went through an entire bottle of these in a week.  I’m also not ashamed to say, yes, I am that girl that gets THIS excited about sprinkles.  They are like crack for frozen yogurt.  It’s like my brain said, “Lynda, you’re eating deliciously healthy frozen yogurt with live and active cultures, why not add something to it so you’re amazing dessert is not-so-healthy anymore!”  And then I said, “Ok, but only if I find the CRUNCHY sprinkles and not those disgusting WAXY ones.”  And alas, Harris Teeter had the crunchy sprinkles.  These babies.

All I gotsta say is “NOM.”

10.  Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt Kind Healthy Grains Bars

Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt Kind Bar

And to round off my March favorites list: these maple pumpkin seeds Kind bars.  Please note that these are the square ones, not the rectangular ones.  I have only ever been able to find them in a box, not individually.  During the months of October and November, they have a spot on the shelf in Kroger, but they are never ever there.  Ever.  But in the middle of March, you can find an entire FIVE boxes on the shelf.  They are really that popular.

 

Bam.  So there you go.  The things I liked during the month of madness and green beer.  So long March, hello April!

Bows and Arrows,

Lynda