Bisou Bisou Themed Boudior

One of my goals for this year was to do something, ANYTHING, with Victoria Gloria Photography.

Boudoir is not what I had in mind.
But when the stars align…

VGP Boudoir Raffle

You say yes.

And take off your clothes.

Boudoir

I don’t want to pretend that I am the most body confident person, but I’ve learned to fake it.

It helps when the theme is very Bisou Bisou.

Think all things, French, boho, and romance.

Thank you SO much Victoria, Allie, Madeline, Laura, and Elizabeth! You all helped to make me feel drop dead sexy.

VGP Boudoir

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VGP Boudoir

And of course no boudoir session would be complete without a little confetti!
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Fun fact: I am almost always cold, in case you didn’t notice the ever so slight goosebumps or the not so stealthy covering of the nips…

French Boho Romance by Oh My Gemini

Bisou

xx Bet

 

 

 

Photos by Victoria Gloria | Set by  Oh My Gemini | Style by Little Red’s Well | Makeup by Laura from Larissa Lake Makeup Artist | Hair by Elizabeth Allen

For a little BTS action, follow the hashtag #vgpboudoir on Instagram!

Loving the Bisou Bisou banner? The Bannerie.

 

Hartford Has It + So Do I

Being back in Connecticut, although not my ultimate goal, has presented some pretty great opportunities for me. And not just getting to go to ULTA!

For starters, having grown up, and attended college here, I get to see family and friends from school more often.

After going away and exploring Vermont, I now have a whole new appreciation for the cities in CT.

Yes, even in the freezing rain.

And in heels.

I guess the Vermonter in me is now used to it…

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Growning up, Hartford was always just kind of there…
But walking around downtown, I got see what it has to offer. Hartford has it!

Certainly worth checking out.

Seriously.

And as for my outfit, yeah, it’s pretty casual…I’m all about jeans and a t-shirt.

You will probably be seeing this coat A LOT. I love everything about it. It’s warm and cozy, really bright so it stands out, and is just beyond chic!

My clutch was a find on Poshmark, and one side says ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA.

Yes.

Yes, Hartford is.

xx Bet

 

 

 

Photos by TWJemison | Go follow him on Instagram!

 

J. Crew coat | H&M shirt | Dittos Brand jeans | Steve Madden booties | Zara clutch | Old Navy umbrella

My January Birchbox

I was not the least bit surprised by the contents of my Birchbox this month.

Why not?
Because I selected the Relax & Recharge box.

Tea, a deep conditioning mask, eye cream? This was truly the perfect box to start off the year.

January Birchbox

This weekend I’m planning a little at home spa session, and the samples I got are perfect for just that!

When Travelmate Sheet MaskWhen Travelmate Sheet Mask | $28

Teapigs Tea Temples

Teapigs Tea Temples | $10

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask | $26

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream | $38

Perlier Intensive Nurturing Body Balm

Perlier Intensive Nurturing Body Balm | $28.45*

Manna Kadar Lip Locked

Manna Kadar Lip Locked in All of Me**| $24

I’m still waiting on my Birchbox Plus add-ons, so stay tuned!

xx Bet

 

 

 

*When I saw the price my first thought was, um random much? But, hey at least it’s under $30!
**Not in love with the color, but intrigued enough to want to try the same product in a different shade. Perhaps Siren or maybe Pino Noir?

 

The ULTAmate Experience

I recently went to ULTA.

Nbd.

Except…

MAJOR BIG DEAL!

Up until then, I had never actually shopped at ULTA.

ULTA

I didn’t buy much, just hair dye.

Garnier Olia

But the fact that there was a salon in the back, pretty much had me sold.

And the men’s selection impressed the manfriend.

Being able to shop somewhere that was basically Sephora meets CVS, was pretty brilliant. So, obviously, I signed up for their ULTAmate Rewards program.

ULTAmate Rewards

The point system seems pretty straight forward, one point for every dollar, and qualifying for Platinum status is much cheaper than Sephora’s VIB Rouge. A whole $600 cheaper!

That’s not say that I will be completely abandoning Sephora, but I like to have options.

Are you Team ULTA or Team Sephora?

xx Bet

Home. Again…

Home, sweet, home.

O.K. So, I am now officially part of the Boomerang Generation.

Being back in my old bedroom comes with a set of decorating challenges that I did not see coming…

Home Again

For instance, the bed in my apartment was a different size than the room in my bedroom at my parents’ place.

New sheets had to happen.

I hate the dark burnt orange shag carpet.

An area rug is a must.

Downsizing from an apartment to a bedroom, seriously limits my options of where to put stuff.

Think inside the box…

A mirror for selfies, that doubles as storage.

Blogging in bed can be fun, but when you’re in it most of the day, a desk reminds you that it’s 2015 and this is your year!

Bedroom Update

Want? Target.

xx Bet

My Last 5 Birchbox Boxes

When Birchbox introduced the option to select a curated feature box, I was both intrigued yet hesitant. I liked getting my five little surprises in the mail, but the power to choose?

Given that the first feature box was a collaboration with The Everygirl, I wanted to at least try this newness…

August | The EverygirlIMG_9427

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Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub

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Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect

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Not Soap, Radio Body Wash

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Benefit They’re Real! Push-Up Liner

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Harvey Prince Hello 

September | FashionistaIMG_9711

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Macadamia Professional Flawless Cleansing Conditioner 

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Naobay Body Radiance Lotion

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Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Supreme Mascara

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dr. brandt Exclusive Clean Up Nice Kit

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Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner

October | LaggiesIMG_0614

Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator, Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle, TOCCA Crema da Mano Luxe, ModelCo Power Lash Long Wear Black Mascara, SAGE + fasten Onward Eau de Parfum

November | Buzz Feed LifeIMG_0007

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Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips, amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo, Greenleaf Candle, Mirenesse iCurl Secret Weapon 24 Hour Mascara, Dr. Jart+ Pore Minimalist Mask

DecemberIMG_4918Camille Beckman Body Butter, BORGHESE Splendore Brightening Makeup, Beauty Protector Protect & Oil, Mirenesse Mattifinity Lip Rouge, Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask

I could have sworn for December I had selected the featured box. After getting over my initial disappointment, I found that I actually liked the products I ended up getting even better.

Of course when the time can to renew my subscription, I had to! I mean, I have already purchased two full sized products from the lot, and they are currently in heavy rotation.

My January box should be arriving soon and come with a little something plus…

xx Bet

First Purchase of 2015

My first purchase of 2015 was such a bargain…

New York Color in Mahogany

For 99 cents, I was able to pick up a lipstick darker than what I typically wear and discover I that absolutely love how it looks!

New York Color in Mahogany

For such a low price, the quality was far better that I expected. While I like the color of lipstick better than lipgloss, I prefer the moisture that lipgloss provides and New York Color Ultra Moist Lip Wear does both.
First Purchase of 2015

Now, I’m no MUA, but I do enjoy playing with makeup and trying to teach myself a thing or two.
Here are the other products that I used for this look…

The Nudes, Brow Drama, and Tinted Moisturizer

Maybelline The Nudes, Maybelline Brow Drama, Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.

2015 seems to already be opening up a whole new set of doors, so excited to try new makeup products and share my finds with you!

xx Bet

 

 

10 Favorite Outfits from 2014

This year I want to make an effort to do more outfit posts.
Not only outfits, but more.

I shared a ton of outfits on Instagram, I just didn’t share nearly as many on here.
So to start the year, I want to share my 10 favorite outfits from Insta!

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As you can probably tell, even though I like to switch up my look, my style always tends to be a little on the dramatic side.

Is there anything you’d like to see styled on Twenty Something Plus? If I have it or something similar, I’m up for the challenge, just let me know!

xx Bet

Happy New Year!

2014 has been pretty good to me.

I won a few contests, started blogging, got to attend a ton of fun events, quit my job

The list goes on.

IMG_5554Moët  + NYE DetailsHappy New Year

Aside from crossing off some more things off of my 30 before 30 list and making my life + blog better, I don’t really have any specific goals or resolutions.

None of that new year, new me stuff here. But I am still working on things…

A lot can happen in a year, can’t wait to see what 2015 has in store!

Countdown Nails

Have a happy New Year!

xx Bet

Long Lasting Makeup

With all of the holiday parties, gatherings and events going on this time of year, the struggle to save face is real.

By that I mean that it’s hard enough to get makeup to last throughout the day, and then the night? Forget it!

IMG_0772Well, I found five long lasting makeup products that help my face last! 
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While any waterproof mascara is technically longer lasting, I hate clumps. AND since I don’t really have any lashes to begin with the Revlon Lash Potion is the best mascara for me to wear daily, on long days I opt for water proof.

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If you had told me that there was an eye shadow primer could guarantee that your shadow would last until you washed it off, as much as I would have wanted to, I would not have believed you. BUT I SWEAR THIS DOES! I can wear the sparkliest of all shadows and at the end of the day it’s still all there.

All of it.

And just as bold as when I first applied it.

The only setback it that it makes washing off your makeup really hard to do. It comes off just fine, but I want to leave it. Forever. 

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Lip primer is something that I found very unnecessary. I have big lips so no need to plump, so why bother?

Then I tried the Julep lip primer after getting it for free in my monthly Julep Maven box. I’ve been missing out!

Those fine lines? Gone. Made for a dreamy application of my lipstick.

I will say that I still had to reapply a few times, but not nearly as often as I would without it.

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Blush is one of those things that disappears first, and you don’t really even notice. I tried Paula Dorf’s Cheek Color in Passion and I kid you not, I noticed.

Not that it had faded, but my rosy cheeks were very much still there! I didn’t even use a primer or anything the first time I wore it.
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And just in case, spray your face with Urban Decay’s Makeup Setting Spray and you’re set!

Literally.

I apologize in advance for the pain that this post will cause you when you go to wash your face before bed.

Sorry…

xx Bet

 

 

 

+ Paula Dorf is offering 20% off of any Cheek Color purchase. Just use code CHEEK!

 

 

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