Twenty Something Plus

May 3, 2016

Anniversary Dinner at Ballo Italian Restaurant

When invited to dine at Ballo Italian Restaurant, the timing couldn’t have been any more perfect. The manfriend and my anniversary was coming up, so we figured why not make it an early dinner and spend the night at Mohegan Sun.

One of our favorite things to do together is to eat. And Ballo saw to it that we did!

I wanted to try a spring dish so I ordered the Scallops and Shrimp, while the manfriend went a little more classic with the Chicken Parmigiana.

Literally everything from the bread to dessert was an exquisitely delicious treat. I won’t pretend to be a food critic, but as far as Italian food goes, I really liked everything. Especially their special Sunday pasta sauce and the hazelnut gelato toped with expresso! The manfriend even said it was one of his best dining out experiences. He’s a pretty picky eater, so that is really saying something! We wouldn’t have spent our eighth anniversary anywhere else.

The atmosphere and ambience is perfect for an intimate date night, although not necessarily the best for showing off one’s amateur photography skills…

If you go, I recommend visiting on a Sunday and asking about their special Sunday pasta sauce!

Thank you so much to Ballo Italian Restaurant for the invitation for us to sample your amazing dishes! All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.

April 26, 2016

Running with The Racktrap

Feeling inspired by everyone that ran in the Boston Marathon, I’ve decided to take my own training a little more seriously.

Not for anything specific, I don’t foresee even a 10K in my future. Maybe a 5K, I’ve done a few fun ones before, but even that isn’t really my speed. Although, a friend reminded me that there is an annual 5K that’s coming up pretty soon in my hometown. There’s still plenty of time for me to get into shape before race day, so it is an option worth taking into consideration. I don’t know, though. I really just want to continue my quest to be a little more healthy than I have been lately.

Can’t lie, having cute workout clothes has been helpful for motivating me to get up and run, and having The Racktrap to hold my cash, debit card and license in is also a huge help. You can’t always trust your pockets to hold everything in place, but The Racktrap does. I really like the sweatproof one, because I am usually a sweaty mess after any about of physical exertion.

It’s great for keeping all your small essentials with you, right in your bra. After a run, I can very easily go to Target to pick up a Starbucks smoothie.

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April 25, 2016

Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Even Better Clinical

Facial discoloration is something that I’ve gotten really good at hiding. I have tried products that seemed to work, only to still have darks spot after using them.

At a photo shoot, while I was getting my makeup done the makeup artist asked if I had any issues with my face. I shared about my acne scars, which she assured me weren’t nearly as big a concern as I was feeling they were. But she said that if I was looking for a treatment, I should give Clinique’s Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector a try.

You have to apply the serum twice a day to see results. It’s prescription strength and after 12 weeks you should see up to 58% improvement.

This stuff is not cheap. I got the smallest size (4 week supply) and it set me back about $50. I didn’t want to invest in a 12 week supply ($144.50) if I didn’t notice a difference after four weeks, which the product assures you should start to notice improvement around them.

I only just starting using it and will be sharing about my experience over time. So, make sure to check back in for my first update!

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April 22, 2016

New Naturals

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

Birchbox Limited Edition Box New Naturals

I have been saying for a while now, that I want to start using more products that are good for me. Aside from Beautycounter, I didn’t know of a lot of brands or products. After looking into it, I wasn’t sure where to start.

And then, just like in answer to my beauty prayers, Birchbox announced their Limited Edition New Naturals box!

I ordered it along with the Limited Edition Beauty in Bloom box. I honestly couldn’t tell you which one I’m loving more!

After trying most of the products in the box, I’m already planning to get my hands on more products from Au Naturale, rms beauty and W3LL PEOPLE.

Definitely worth the $59 for $215 worth of products!

April 21, 2016

Vodka Drinks

I’m almost always up for a fun time spent with good friends. Especially when there are drinks involved!

We’ve (Jessica of The Confetti Bar, Alonda of @abstyled, and yours truly) partnered with First Avenue Vodka, to make three different vodka drinks, using their debut sugar-free vodka collection. Original flavored vodka for a classic mojito, Elderflower flavored vodka for a spiked lavender lemonade, and Whipped flavored vodka for a fun creamsicle inspired treat!

Thanks to Small Kitchen Big Taste we were able to use fresh fruits and veggies, everything from kumquats (which we had never tried before), to cucumbers.

To see the official Pink Couch Lounge photos that were styled by @abstyled and snapped by The Confetti Bar, along with the drink recipes, head over to The Confetti Bar’s blog.

April 19, 2016

Tender Romance

Fragrance samples are far from hard to come by, but that’s not so much the case when it comes to finding scents that you’ll actually wear.

Personally, I prefer light airy smells. Faint florals or hints of citrus. Even better when the notes gently elicit the happiest of feelings.

When I found out about the Ralph Lauren box free through Influester, I wasn’t exactly sure that I wanted it. I mean, another perfume sample? Doubt aside, my curiosity got the best of me. And thankfully so!

Ralph Lauren’s Tender Romance perfume is the ideal fragrance for spring. It reminds me of when things start to bloom and merely walking outside inspires hope and romance.

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April 18, 2016

Beauty in Bloom

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

It’s been a very long time since the last time I purchased a Limited Edition Birchbox. But the Beauty in Bloom box has a couple of products I had been dying to try and a really cute tray to put it all in!

Honestly, I wanted the tray for blog photos.

The products that I had to have?

The Smith & Cult The Shining Lip Lacquer (in High-Speed Sonnet) and stila HUGE extreme lash mascara. The rest was all a super sweet bonus!

There wasn’t a single thing that didn’t like or won’t use.

There’s always the option to buy the full size of the products individually. But, why? When for $64 you get $188 worth of products! Which is basically buy two get a bunch of other stuff free!

April 15, 2016

How to Get the Perfect Pout for Spring

It is finally looking like New England is done with snow.

Which means it’s time to revive my lips for spring.

Literally.

When it comes to getting the perfect pout for spring, there are really only three lip products that I need. Lip scrub, lip liner, and lip cream.

Starting with Beauty for Real’s Lip Revival Lip Scrub, gently rub to remove any dead excess skin and reveal smooth kissable lips. Rinse and pat dry.

Now you’re ready to get really ready!

Line your lips with the D-Fine Lip Pencil, it’s great for all lip colors. Which brings us to lip cream.

I have been looking for a pretty pink that feels springy without making me look ridiculous. The Beauty for Real Lip Cream in Flash is the only non-sheer pink I haven’t felt like I had to combine with another color in order to wear it out of the house.

Plus, it really leaves my lips nice and soft.

The perfect pout!

April 13, 2016

#MAKEYourself

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.

MAKE Beauty is one of my top ten makeup brands. They make my absolute favorite lip gloss, plus they are all about collaboration. They select makeup artists and expert artisans to help inspire their color palettes. If you don’t already, you really should be doing your homework on the brands you use.

If you don't already, you really should be doing your homework on the brands you use. Click To Tweet

When I like a brand as much as I do MAKE Beauty, even if I’ve tried a product or two before, I usually want to try their entire line. Financially that isn’t a possibility, so I literally pounced on the opportunity to sample their Matte Finish Eyeshadow in Alabaster and Silk Cream Lipstick in Taffy.

Lighter shades aren’t typically my thing, but I am totally digging these for spring. The samples may look tiny, but they pack a lot of punch!

The full size versions cost $25 each. They also have a $10 sample kit that includes two eyeshadows and a lip color, and a percentage of their sales is donated to their non-profit partner, We See Beauty Foundation.

If you’re interested in giving MAKE Beauty a try, use the code MAKEYOURSELF for 20% off sitewide! (This code is only valid until this Friday.)

April 7, 2016

How to Look 10 Years Younger (Tips from The Age Fix)

It’s no secret that I like to tweak my skincare a ton, trying new products to find the ones that work best for me and my skin. While I tend to gravitate towards whatever is new or trending, sometimes it’s nice to get advice from a professional.

Dr. Anthony Youn is a top plastic surgeon, but his book The Age Fix is all about how to keep your skin healthy and looking young without surgery.

He shares everything from DIY face mask recipes, to quick makeup fixes. My personal favorite part is the section on what to eat for your best skin. I haven’t been able to fully commit to giving the suggested meal plan a try.

It is on my to do list, though.

For now, I’ve been making a serious effort to drink more water (adding lemon slices has been a huge help, in addition to opting for seltzer water instead of soda every once in a while).

Also, fruit. Apples, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, blueberries. I really like fruit, so making sure to start my day with at least one of something was a pretty easy transition.

Since I’m also trying to use healthier beauty products, I figured baby steps are probably in my best interest.