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Beauty Organization Solutions + Favorites

January 19, 2022

Continuing my home features with a roundup of some of my organization and storage favorites! As a beauty blogger I go through a lot of product testing and keeping everything organized is quite the challenge! I keep the vast majority of products in a beauty closet in Ikea Alex drawers and shelves with clear storage bins. I also have storage in my bathroom.

There are staples and things I use frequently that I like to have quick and easy access to. Being able to see things displayed also helps me find things faster when I’m pulling things for a makeup look, tutorial or comparisons (versus having things stored in a drawer). If you’re looking for some ideas on how to display or store your products, I’m rounding up storage solutions I love.

Rotating Beauty Tower

I ordered one of the Rotating Makeup Organizers on Amazon. There are tons of options from a wide range of brands and I picked up this one. It comes flat packed and is super easy to assemble. Quality is decent for the price, but it’s not the most sturdy or thick compared to the pricey acrylic organizers. This one has adjustable insert shelves for each side and also comes with small locking rings to hold the shelves in place. It holds a lot of product although I wouldn’t put super heavy things on the shelves. I like it! It’s functional, very affordable and lightweight.

Spinning Acrylic Lipstick Tower

I have a ton of lipsticks stored in these 24-Lipstick Acrylic Organizers in drawers but I found Impressions Vanity Lipstick and Powder Spinner with Drawers more functional. Sold out at Impressions Vanity but still available at Wayfair ($89.99). It’s more expensive than what you’ll find at Amazon but the quality is really good and I think all their acrylic organizers are well made and worth it. This one has holders on the side for pencils or brushes. It also has horizontal slots for compacts (which I use for more lipsticks) and also drawers.

Ikea Godmorgon Box

I purchased the Ikea Godmorgon Box with Compartments a few years ago and love it. Mine is the clear version which is no longer available but they still carry it in a clear smoked color. I love the quality – it has held up a lot better than I anticipated! I like that the compartments are removable. I like their other products in the Godmorgon lineup too.

Snapware Snap and Stack

My little Olive and June box for storing hand and nail essentials has been a tried and true for a long time but I’ve found I needed something bigger. I saw this Snapware box on @overglowedit’s highlights and ordered it immediately! The box comes in a few size options. Mine is the 2 tier Snapware Snap and Stack Portable Organizer (14.1 x 10.5 inches size) and I absolutely love it. I put in a few iDesign Shallow Organizers inside to separate products (I also use these in my bathroom drawers and Ikea drawers).

I keep my hand and nail essentials and tools here like my clippers, cuticle pusher, cuticle trimmers, nail oils, favorite base and top coats etc. All of my nail polishes are stored in my beauty closet but I keep the basics in these snap boxes for easy access since I switch my polish a lot with testing etc.

Plastic Hinged Lid Containers

I ordered a few mDesign Plastic Storage Boxes (they come in a few size options and in different colors). I like storing my lash curlers, perfume samples, beauty sponges and small things inside to keep them dust-free. These come in a set of 2 and I like that they’re stackable too. I ordered some of the larger ones for Andrew’s grooming products to store under his bathroom sink.

Acrylic Tiered Stand

This riser display stand is another Amazon find I’ve featured before. I like this functional tiered stand which helps me see product like perfume (or foundations) easier on my shelf. I have the smaller version.

Marble Acrylic Storage

Still loving this Marble + Acrylic Storage Unit from CB2! Including it in the roundup in case you missed it! Several of you have messaged me you purchased this too and love it! I’m thrilled!

Jewelry Storage

Last mention is a couple of jewelry storage solutions I have. I get so many questions about these brass T-Bar stands. These are from Kendra Scott in the Large and Small size. They’re perfect for hanging necklaces so they don’t get tangled. Also available in silver and rose gold colors. I’m really happy with the quality.

I’ve received a few questions about how I travel with jewelry and store it at home. I bought the Mejuri Travel Case about a year ago and had my initials embossed on the surface. It’s a delicate kind of leather they describe as grained but it has a smooth touch/feel to me. I’ve only traveled with it once and it worked well for my earrings and rings but necklaces became a tangled mess. It’s still functional and I like the quality. Since the leather is on the softer side I do see it getting scratched if it’s thrown into a luggage bag or suitcase.

I also ordered the Jewelry Box to organize my jewelry and just received it in the mail. I’m still in the process of organizing my earrings and other pieces of jewelry. I think it’s a beautiful case! You can also have this monogrammed/embossed with up to 3 letters. I have the larger size (also available in black leather).

One last note is that I still really love the heavy duty acrylic organizers I’ve purchased in the past from Muji, Original Beauty Box and Glamboxes. It seems like several of the acrylic storage makers and brands are no longer around though. I had a feature of some units in our Home Loft Tour from several years ago when we lived in San Diego in case you’re curious.

one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten

So many of you seem to love these organization posts. I plan on doing more in the future! What are your favorite ways to organize your beauty products?

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Home / Interiors

Home Decor Refresh Haul

December 28, 2021

I’m back with a home decor refresh haul! I’ve added some small decorative pieces to the home with some new trays, storage units and more over the past few months. So many of you liked my 10 Things I’m Loving for the Home and Decorative Tray Roundup I thought I’d do an updated roundup!

Marble Oval Tray

I picked up this Marble Desk Accessory Oval Tray from Pottery Barn and love it. It’s a solid piece of marble, quite sturdy and small enough to display a few beauty favorites. It fits my Byredo 1.7 oz bottles perfectly!

Also shown above: Round Mirror / Knot Bracelet / Sunglasses / Vase

Agate Catchall

Another Pottery Barn find, I thought this Agate Catchall looked pretty! There is quite a bit of variation in the stone. The one I received in the mail has slightly different veining and colors than the stock photo, but I think I still like it. It’s on the larger/wider side with a curved base.

Also shown above: Dior Pouch (discontinued) / Sunglasses / Enamel Bracelet / Knot Bracelet / Glass Photophore / Chanel Gold Case

Coffee Table Add-Ons

For the coffee table I ordered the Architectural Digest A Century of Style book. I’m still in the process of browsing it but I love these kinds of books! I ordered mine from Pottery Barn but you can find this one easily at other stores too.

I did a CB2 haul for some small accent pieces. This Curve Ball Match Striker makes a pretty decorative piece. I neglected to read the reviews and am a little sad to report I couldn’t get this to light matches with the glass etching. Also it doesn’t come with matches. Still I think it’s pretty!

The Diptyque Feu de Bois and Mizensir Bois Ardent candles are two of the best fire wood kinds of scents I’ve tried. They add a nice cozy feel to the home. (Use code SABRINA15 for 15% off your first order at Mizensir, US only.)

Our Coffee Table is from West Elm which we’ve had for around 3 years. I love the look but we’re looking for a new one to replace it. The glass and mirror surface is so high maintenance and the brass finish did not hold up well.

Also shown above: Small Ivory Leather Tray CB2 (sold out) / Glass Match Cloche / Wick Trimmer / USB Lighter / Vase / Sofa

Large Cement Box

I had my eye on the CB2 Chelsea Cement Box and noticed they added a large size so I happily ordered it. I think it’s beautiful! They also have these boxes in Quartz which I think are stunning too. I’ve put the box on my shelf for now. Our shelf is the West Elm Zane Bookshelf.

Marble Jewelry Tower

If you follow along on my Instagram you’ve already seen this Marble Jewelry Tower (in this Reel Here)! I’ve decided to use it for beauty storage for the things I reach for the most. I think it’s beautiful (also marked down on sale now through 12/30). I still think the best functional beauty storage units were from Original Beauty Box however they’re no longer in business.

This Marble Acrylic Storage from CB2 is pretty heavy because of the stone. The drawers are on the small/shorter side since it’s designed for jewelry so it won’t hold a lot of my foundation or skincare bottles inside.

I measured the height of each drawer since it’s not listed online:

Drawer 1 and 2 are both 5 cm tall
Drawer 3 is 6.7 cm
Drawer 4 is 8.5 cm tall

For reference a Westman Atelier Foundation Stick and Armani Luminous Silk Foundation are both 9.5ish cm and a Chanel Les Beiges Highlighter is 9 cm tall. These are too tall to fit in the bottom drawer standing upright.

Marble + Brass

I recently added another Marble and Brass Tray to our home from Williams-Sonoma. This is very similar to the one I have from West Elm (shown below), but with different handles and slightly different dimensions.

This Marble and Brass 3-Tier Stand is a pretty addition to our kitchen. It’s constantly on backorder but if you have your eye on it I recommend buying it. It was on a 3-month backorder when I ordered it and it ended up arriving a little sooner than they promised.

Brass Vanity Mirror

This little Brass Vanity Mirror from West Elm looked really cute online and I like it! It’s on the small side but I love that it has two sides, one magnified, one regular. It’s pretty sturdy too!

Tiered Stand

I ordered a few Acrylic tiered stands on Amazon to display perfumes. I picked the smaller size and really like it. It’s functional and helps me see product easier. You can use this for anything really, doesn’t have to be for perfume! See it IN ACTION HERE.

Gold Jewelry T-Bar Stands in the Large and Small are from Kendra Scott.

Muji Acrylic

Last but not least, I picked up this Muji Acrylic Storage Sunglasses Case. I love the quality of their acrylic pieces. If you have a store near you it’s probably easier to find product. Online the inventory is hit or miss so I often have to keep rechecking to see if they’ve restocked items.

I think this is a cute case! I can also use it for mini bottles of perfume, nail polish, etc.

A lot of you asked about this Mini Bottle Stand from a while ago. It’s back in stock if you’re looking for it! It’s on the small size but super cute.

That wraps up my home décor haul! Hope you found this helpful!

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Home / Interiors

10 Things I’m Loving for the Home

June 18, 2020

So many of you liked the my last home decor post I decided to do another one! I’m rounding up 10 things I’m loving for the home including a few favorite home accents, my favorite hand washes and a few countertop organizers to help keep things more tidy.

We’ve been loving nice hydrating hand washes for the home as we’ve been washing our hands more frequently! Molton Brown sent over a cute care package with their Delicious Rhubarb and Roses Liquid Hand Wash (1) and Hand Lotion (2) and I love how fresh and floral it smells! You can also find these in a Duo Set (nice for gifting) and also Travel Sized Minis (love that these come with pumps too).

Another long-time favorite is the Aesop Resurrection Hand Wash (3) for a nice cleansing gel that won’t strip the skin. It’s invigorating and is easy to rinse. We love the rinse-free version too, but my favorite is the one you can wash off.

For the bathroom I’ve been trying to find some countertop solutions for my hair dryer/brush. I decided to try the Haircare Holder (4) from West Elm which is made by Yamazaki Home. It’s small and compact so it won’t take up a lot of counter space. It’s made with a powder-coated steel. (Also available in black). It works for the hair dryers I alternate between which include the Dyson Supersonic (reviewed here) and the Harry Josh Ultra Light (review here). The stand itself fairly small and compact so if you own a larger hair dryer it probably won’t work for your needs. So far it’s held up really nicely over the past few months since I bought it.

Also below shown with the Harry Josh Ultralight dryer in the larger opening. You can also put curling irons or flat irons inside. There is an attachment that comes with this for you to hang on the cabinet door/under the sink if you want to store it a different way.

I’ve also been loving these Wood Handled Bathroom Caddies (5 and 6). You may have seen these several times on the blog or on my Instagram as I use them to store sheet masks. I ordered these from West Elm in the Small (base is 5″ wide, 3.25″ tall, 5″ deep) and the Large (base is 10.25″ wide, 3.25″ tall, 5″ deep). These are the same material and brand as the Hair Dryer holder – made a powder coated steel. They are on the small side so they won’t hold larger items but to keep smaller things in place they’re perfect!

Below the small vs large:

As a huge Diptyque fan I’m obsessed with their Photophores in all the sizes! I have both small and large sizes (7 and 8). The ones I own have an opening at the top so you can burn the candle inside it. However sometimes the flames get too high/strong so I mainly use the glass ones for decorative purposes these days. The Large Glass twist version is an older style which you might still be able to find in boutiques, but for now they the Full Twist with a black stripe. The Coast Glass is still available in the small and large options. They come out with sets and new variations during the holiday season so if you don’t see one you 100% love, I would recommend waiting until later in the year for the limited-edition launches.

Below small coast vs. full sized twist:

I’ve been looking for some candle covers to keep some opened ones dust-free. I ordered a few Glass Cloches (9) from Crate and Barrel which is on the small side. It will fit a standard size Diptyque candle inside but for anything larger it’s a snug fit. Target has a similar style that’s slightly larger but I have not seen/tried it. I do like the look and feel of the ones I ordered though!

Last but not least are the Mini Countertop Trash Cans (10) from simplehuman. These are small at 1.5 liters but perfect for things like counter tops, small spaces or even an at-home coffee bar area for sugar packets/stirrers etc. I ordered mine from simplehuman online but you can find these at a number of places like Target, Amazon, etc.

Below is the small white one we have in our kitchen next to our coffee machines.

What are you loving for the home these days? Any organization favorites or boxes you love? I would love to hear how you store your hair appliances whether it’s in the drawer, on counter or some other storage solution! I’m always looking for ideas and inspiration.

Molton Brown hand wash + lotion provided for review. Other items purchased.

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Beauty Favorites Home / Interiors

Best Decorative Trays for Your Vanity + Beauty Products

May 21, 2020

Today I’m rounding up all of the best decorative trays for your vanity! I’m always on the hunt for better ways to organize, display and store my beauty products. I love trays of all shapes and sizes because it helps me keep things in place and makes things look less cluttered! So many of you have asked questions about where I get all of my trays so today’s post is a comprehensive roundup.

Many of you have also asked for an updated makeup storage/organization post. You want to know how I store everything from the best acrylic organizers, boxes, shelving, drawers etc. I haven’t done one since we were in San Diego in my Home Loft Tour (3 years ago!). We’ve done a lot of moving around over the last few years since we’ve moved to Florida. I feel we have been in a long transition phase as we took our time to explore the different areas of Tampa Bay. We’ve finally found an area we truly love that feels like home to us now. I will be putting together my full beauty organization setup in a separate post. Today’s roundup focuses on all my vanity trays.

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Restoration Hardware Bath Tray

Measures 12″W x 7½”D x 1¼”H

I’ve loved and used my Restoration Hardware trays for years! It’s held up really well over many years and moves and it’s such a classic piece. The one you see in most of my photos is their White Italian Carrara Marble Bath Tray and it’s a single solid piece of marble with the center interior carved out. It looks like the rectangular ones I own have been discontinued from their website although some of their other Bath Accessories are still available. I’m trying to find a high quality dupe but haven’t found one yet.

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Crate and Barrel French Kitchen Marble Rectangle Tray

Measures 14″W x 8.5″D x 1″H

I ordered this Crate and Barrel French Kitchen Marble Tray because of the rave reviews and the $39.95 price seemed like a steal! I think for the price it’s a great buy. However it is not a single piece of solid marble. The base and four sides are bonded together with some kind of smooth white grout or epoxy which is visible where the pieces are connected. The cut isn’t 100% exact so some of the corners have more white grout/glue showing in between the corner lines than others. It’s not a deal breaker and overall it’s well made. Also this is not totally noticeable once you have product (or food) set on it.

Side by side of the Crate and Barrel (larger on the left) tray next to the Restoration Hardware Tray (smaller on the right). If you look closely at the photo, you can see the white grout showing in the corners on the top right and bottom right corners of the Crate and Barrel Tray – I do think each piece will be different though. Yours might not show any!

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Goop Marble Petite Round Tray

Small measures 8″ in diameter, 1.5 inches high

I love the small but still practical size of the Goop Marble Petite Round Tray ($50). I do not think it’s carrara marble as the veining and coloring isn’t quite as nice as other marble furniture pieces I own, but I think it’s really well made and I love the size. The Petite Size is currently in stock ($50 for 8 inches) and I just ordered the Grand Size ($80 for 12 inches, currently on waitlist). They’ve restocked multiple times since I first ordered mine. More views of it and full breakdown of the makeup in the photo listed in my Everyday Makeup Favorites post here.

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West Elm Marble Cheese Board Round

Measures 14 inches in diameter (from my Best of Cle de Peau)

I love West Elm! I stalk their site on a weekly basis. Their Marble and Brass Cheese Board Round ($49.50) is perfect for our kitchen to display a few candles and room sprays. I also borrow it for a prop on some of my beauty shoots from my Best of Cle de Peau, Charlotte Tilbury review and Hair Care Favorites to name a few. I really should just order a second one.

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Marble and Brass Cheese Board – Rectangle

Measures 14″w x 10″d x 2″h

I also love the rectangular Marble and Brass Cheese Board ($49.50). You’ve seen this in my bathroom, on my vanity, on my desk etc. It’s heavy and I love the quality. There are some other options that I think are super cute including the Cake Stand (could double as a stand for beauty products) or their Marble Brass Footed Board.

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Acrylic Trays

CB2 Measures 14″W x 6.25″D x 2″H

I’ve gone through several acrylic trays over the years. I had some larger square options from West Elm and CB2 that I loved but got rid of over some past moves. Acrylic tends to scratch as you move product over the surface (even the sturdy durable options). Over time they wear down. I do like the CB2 Acrylic Tank Tray for my sunglasses and also for my desk. Note that this style does not have rubber feet (I added them on my own) so if you don’t want it sliding around I’d recommend adding them. They’re easy to find at a wide range of places. I ordered some from Amazon and really like them. The Container Store has some options for acrylic trays which are decent and functional, but in my experience not the best quality.

For those curious the sunglasses from top to bottom in the photo: Black round (Celine), Brown square (Tom Ford), Honey brown round (Ray-Ban), Beige round (Ray-Ban), Dark brown round (Ray-Ban), Pink small (Chanel, old style).

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West Elm Mirrored Trays

Small Size Measures 15″ x 10″

I love the look of mirrored trays, especially with any brass or gold accents! However they’re high maintenance as they scratch easier than other surfaces and show every speck of dust or finger prints. Mirrored trays are easy to clean, I just find I have to clean and dust them frequently. This Fishs Eddy Gilded Cafe Mirror Tray – Brass from West Elm has held up for many years though. It’s the same one I’ve had since I lived in San Diego. There are a few scratches as it has been well loved. I have the small size but they have a larger option too.

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Lacquered Trays

Medium Shown measures 7.2″w x 10″d x 1.1″h

Most of my lacquered trays (gloss or matte finish) have been from West Elm. I’ve loved and used them from years! I’ve bought them long before I started blogging. As we’ve moved around I have switched and rotated them with other styles. This one is the Color Block in the Medium Size. I like that it’s on the compact side and easy to fit in small places/shelves. They also have other colors and sizes which I have but haven’t put to use yet. CB2 also makes nice options!

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Marble Wine Coaster

Measures 4.75 in diameter and 1.75 high

This Williams Sonoma Wine Coaster ($15.96 on sale) is the perfect size to hold a Byredo Candle or standard size Diptyque Candle. It’s also tall enough to store small things like my Slip Silk Scrunchies or rubber bands. Long matches from Tommy Bahama. Photophore from Diptyque (older style, but current versions here). Wick Trimmer from Diptyque.

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Small Marble Brass Inlay Tray

Measures 9″w x 4.5″d x 1″h

If you want an extra small tray to keep things super tidy, I think the Small Brass Inlay Marble Tray ($40) from West Elm is really lovely. It’s quite small and only holds a few things but it well made, heavy and looks lovely on the night stand, shelf or desk!

Trays added to my Ikea Billy Bookcase shelf (option is with doors):

A few extra tips on finding the perfect tray(s) for you:

Some trays do not come with anything on the base. You might want to buy a set of thin small felt pads if you have a surface that might get easily scratched. Adhesive bumpers/rubber feet are also another option if you want the tray to stay in place and prevent them from sliding around. I ordered a bunch from Amazon (also for furniture too). You can find these easily at Target or any home improvement store etc.
Look for products that aren’t labeled “tray.” Some other things will pop up on search that can double as display trays. For example on home good sites like West Elm or Crate and Barrel (etc.) type in the search bar words like dish, board, trivet, cake stand, coaster etc.
I tend to look for small to medium trays for beauty product storage as larger ones can get cluttered REALLY fast for me. If you’re organized it should not be an issue or problem at all though! I also have a console and shelves that are on the narrow side so finding a smaller tray has been ideal for me.
Sites like West Elm, CB2 and Crate and barrel often have sales on their sites. Lots are happening this weekend for Memorial Day. Target has some really nice affordable home decor options but the seasonal launches tend to sell out quickly.
If you stain your marble with watermarks or oil, it’s possible to remove by applying a baking soda + water mixture. Mix it into a paste and apply to the stained area. Leave on for 24 hours and then wipe away. For smaller stains that haven’t settled too long it should absorb any oil and remove them! This has worked for me when oil from skincare or water from a cup/jar has left a ring on my tray. Your mileage may vary depending on what the stain is made of, how big it is, how long it’s been there etc.

Beauty organization post to follow soon but leave all your questions in the comments below so I can add them to my list for FAQs! I hope you found this roundup helpful. I’m asked on a daily basis “where did you get your marble tray?” – the answer is usually that I have several! This post has them all in one place so now for reference.

Trays featured:

Other decorative accents/accessories featured:

Do you have any trays you love for your beauty products? Or do you tend to display them on a shelf, drawers or boxes? I’d love to hear how you organize your beauty stash!

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Lifestyle Roundup

Checking In

April 2, 2020

Just wanted to do a quick check in post to say hi and see how you are all holding up. The world feels like everything has been turned upside down and life feels like one long extended nightmare. In Florida we are now on a state-wide stay-at-home-order although it started earlier in our county with lots of businesses closing except for the essentials. Grocery stores, pharmacies, take-out food and pet stores etc are still open, but our beaches have been closed as well as some parks. A lot of our favorite bakeries and cafes have closed. The panic buying continues here (it started a lot later here than other places). It’s still nearly impossible to find toilet paper in stores. The paper towel aisle and cleaning sections always seem to be cleared out.

We are holding up just fine – we are social distancing but continuing outdoor walks to stay active and trying to support local businesses with take out as much as we can. We took our bikes for a ride last weekend at some parks and nearby trails – although with many parks being closed we aren’t sure how long we can do this. At home we are enjoying time in our backyard, doing more home work outs, cleaning and organizing. We just started watching the new season of Ozarks and Westworld. Better Call Saul is also on my list. I’m trying to stay distracted to stay sane and positive. Really looking forward to the days when things can and will go back to normal.

So how are you holding up? What have you been doing to stay busy at home? I wanted to answer some FAQs on new beauty launches – so many of you have been asking about things since everything now is literally online only. On my more immediate to-do list I will be reviewing the new Armani concealer, Chanel Les Beiges, By Terry summer and new Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks.

From recent posts, several of you have asked where this round mirror is from. I found it at Target and think it’s super cute. My other favorite makeup mirrors here.

I haven’t been getting good sleep lately. Unfortunately I’m sure this is the case for many of you. I’ve woken up with puffy eyes more and these 111Skin Eye Masks have been life savers for me. I really love the Sub Zero De-Puffing Eye Masks (blue ones) are my favorites. I also really like the Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Masks as well (pink package). They’re a really nice treat in the mornings and I think they’re 100% worth the splurge. Some retailers carry them in 1 sheet packs too. I haven’t had much luck with melatonin sleep aids in the past but I’ve ordered the HUM Beauty zzZz to try as I really like their other supplements. If you have any favorites let me know.

My favorite at-home comfy things to wear are the APL Techloom Slides. I own them in so many colors and bought some for Andrew too. They have nice support and are so much better than flats or sandals that have no cushion. We wear ours everywhere. The lighter colors are easy to clean up – I just throw them in the washing machine but air dry them. Below is the color Parchment (toes is an older nail polish color in Chanel Resplendissant).

My sweet girl Lucy and me in our backyard, she’s 15 this year! We really miss Jake who passed away over the summer. (Wearing Dior Addict Stellar Halo Shine in Peace Star.)

For those asking about DIY manicure tips, I’ve done several hand nail care routine posts in the past. I’ve been doing my own since we moved to Florida (for over 3 years now) since I’ve never quite found a salon that I really liked. In case you want to do your nails at home and want some tips you can find my most recent Hand and Nail Care Routine article here. Quick note that I think some of my holy grails from Deborah Lippmann have been reformulated. I ordered replacements and they don’t perform the same! I’m trying out some other cuticle softeners/removers from Sally Hansen and CND hoping they’ll work better.

Will have the Chanel Les Beiges 2020 collection review soon! (Ordered everything except the 2 nail colors, still undecided about those.) I will also review the new Armani Luminous Silk Concealer (ordered 6.5 which is a good match for the 6.5 foundation).

How are you all holding up? What are some things that have helped you remain calm or sane? Any good new TV shows to binge watch? Good movies you love to re-watch? How are you staying active at home or are you able to go outdoors?

Hoping you are all well and safe. Sending lots of love. I’m doing a lot of stress eating at home to cope!

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Holiday Gift Guide Home / Interiors Lifestyle

Christmas Home Decor + Cute Gift Wrap Finds

December 9, 2018

I’m sharing something a little different today with a look at some of our home decor pieces for the holiday along with some fun gifting accessories. An overwhelming number you requested a home decor post in a recent poll and so I have a peek at a few things we’ve done to make our place a little more cozy. We have one holiday themed corner in our living room to get in the spirit and everything is fairly simple and minimalist. I do love the beautiful elaborate wreaths and garlands I see everywhere else and maybe when we find our forever home someday we will go all out. For now I’m really just happy to keep things simple with a few key accents. Fur babies are included below. Our two Jack Russells Jake and Lucy are 13 years old this year! Kitty turned 6 in August.

Our tree is a 7.5 foot Flocked Tree we bought at Home Depot. We considered getting a real tree but after some thought we opted for an artificial one and I love it! It’s pre-decorated so it already has lights and pine cones. The tips are flocked which give it a festive feel. I particularly love that we don’t have to water it and we can use it again in the future!

We did add some ornaments to it. Over the years we’ve found some pretty ones from Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and other places but when we moved a couple years ago we didn’t bring a lot of our little things (we gave a lot away). This year we stopped by Target to get some wrapping paper and I was so thrilled to find a wide range of beautiful affordable ornaments. They have a wide range of colors for the ornament balls. We also stopped by Michael’s which I find has even more affordable budget options, for the quality and price Target has better ones.

Left Silver, Clear, White, Blue set (42 pieces) from Target, middle silver ornaments from Michaels, right red and gold mini ornaments from Target. 20 mm silver bells from Michaels. String star twinkle lights are Philips Lights from Target. Throw from West Elm.

As much as I love beautiful wrapping paper for gifts I feel like it can often times be so wasteful as it always gets thrown out! Target had some really nice budget options from their Wondershop and their Sugar Paper line. Ribbons and string are also from Target and Michael’s. If you need a specific color of ribbon Michael’s literally has every thickness, material and color you can imagine. Most of them were on sale for the holiday too.

Wrapping paper rolls, bows, string and scissors are from Target. Gold ribbons and bells are from Michael’s. I’ll link everything below.

For the gifts we are putting together ourselves that require a box we found some nice sturdy simple options at Michael’s. They come in a wide range of colors including the basic brown tan which can be easily dressed up with a simple ribbon, gift topper or cute gift tag. Target Sugar Paper has some nicer pre-decorated options as well. I can’t find the cute North Pole gift tags online but I did find them in store at Target.

Other fun things include these Gold Jingle Bells from the Sugar Paper Line. I found some cute take-out boxes also at Target which you can fill with candies or use to send guest home with baked goods.

Perhaps the easiest and simplest way to add some holiday cheer to the home is with candles. My favorite holiday ones already rounded up in my Favorite Luxury Candles for the Holiday post. I was able to buy the full-size Diptyque Carousel when it restocked, but it sold out again. The small one is still available in the Carousel and Candle Set with Baies + Tubereuse.

Shown above: mini tree, white copper string lights, tray, coffee table, throw

I’ve really been loving Byredo as their scents are so unique and the candles have amazing throw. Chai is new this season, I don’t know if it’s limited-edition or not but it smells just like chai tea and it’s so cozy! I think Woods and Tree House are also amazing options for Christmas but versatile enough to burn year round as well.

Other details shown below linked: mistletoe, mini burlap wrapped tree (also available in flocked version), small lights, round globe lights, mirrored tray, gold photophore is an older style from Diptyque (boutique exclusive, other options here)

I hope you enjoyed a peek into our holiday decor! If you’re still in the process of picking up things to decorate a quick tip is to always check online for items first, even if you’re going in store. So many places like Target and Michael’s have a store stock locator option which is so helpful! Sometimes you can reserve online to pick up in store. Other times if you just want to go in yourself but want to check to see if they have things in stock it will tell you which aisle items are located. It’s super handy so you don’t end up driving all over the place searching for things!

The Christmas countdown is on and my goal is to have everything wrapped by tomorrow. I do think the best and most efficient way to shop for gifts is to simply order online and have things shipped directly. But if you have gifts you’re giving in person I hope you found these ideas helpful!

Do you decorate your home for the holiday season? Any tips or tricks or traditions you want to share? Let me know in the comments! Two notes:

I’ve started up Instagram giveaways again are announced every Wednesday on stories. In case you missed the announcement last week this week’s giveaway is a Diptyque Miami + Vanille Candle. All you have to do is follow me @beautylookbook, comment on at least 2 posts during the week and like my posts! Super easy 🙂 I announce winners and contact via DM on Instagram.

I’ve also decided to start up my blog giveaways again. Every Sunday on the blog I’ll announce a new one. For the blog this week I’m giving away two Diptyque Candles to one reader! Simple enter through the widget below and one person will be selected on next Saturday to receive one Miami City Candle and one Tomas Maier WDR candle (both purchased by me). Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. Not sponsored or affiliated.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Home / Interiors Lifestyle

Home Loft Tour

February 23, 2017

Today I’m taking you inside our loft with a peek at our living space. Over the past couple of years so many of you have asked for a home tour. I’ve shown snippets here and there but as a rather private person I’ve been a bit hesitant to share our home, but today I’m finally giving you a look into our loft. This post is bittersweet for me because as this post is being published we’ve actually packed everything up inside a moving truck and are on the road as we are relocating to Tampa, Florida! If you remember our Florida trip over the holiday this was a trip to explore the area and see if we could actually live there. I’ve lived in California for pretty much my entire life but both my husband and I felt like we were ready for a change of scenery and so decided to embark on a new adventure. There were a number of reasons we picked Florida, but the main reasons were weather and pet-related. We both like warm weather (I can’t remember the last time we’ve seen snow!) and the warm Florida climate seemed like the perfect place to transition to. Also because we have two dogs and a cat we ruled out cities for the time being. Our dogs need a nearby park or a backyard to run around in. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions for me. I can’t help but feel excited, sad, thrilled, apprehensive, and happy all at the same time. California has been home and I’ve never lived in another place since I was seven (aside from a couple months of travel) so leaving kinda breaks my heart. However we aren’t really saying goodbye. Who knows what will happen in the future, we may return or might find we fall in love with another city. Right now we’re saying yes to new adventures.

Enough rambling, onto our home tour. When we moved into this loft we were looking for a small-to-medium yet modern looking space. The floor to ceiling windows were just to die for beautiful and we fell in love with it as soon as we saw it. The concrete building was so different from our beach house that we had lived in previously for almost a decade. Out of all the places I’ve lived this has definitely been one of the most unique and memorable. I wanted to document bits here and there for memories and thought I’d share it with you too.

I have an empty space photo to show, this is what it looks like right before we moved out, empty just like it did when we moved in. Since it’s a loft it’s primarily an open space although the kitchen area is lined up on a dividing wall to separate the bedroom/office area. Shown below our Away Carry-Ons reviewed here.

How we furnished the living room below. Since lofts tend to be small, all space had to be used or multi-purpose. The living area also has a work out section with a treadmill and a marble desk that doubles as a dining area and work space. By the time I took these photos we had already started packing up some of our things but this is pretty much what it looked like while we lived here. I’ll list our furniture at the bottom by room.

Our loft is basically one big open space however we did have a partial dividing wall to separate an area for the bedroom and a corner by the window that I could use as my blog/work/storage area. The bedroom area was large enough for a king size bed and Ikea closet units with plenty of room for dressers and a side chair (not shown).

Bathroom:

My work corner and a peek at how I organize my beauty products. Organization has always been a challenge. As a beauty blogger I go through quite a bit of product for testing and also for use. Being able to find things is essential especially for referencing items for comparisons or just know where something is when I want to use it. The organization system has always been evolving. I’ll do a separate post on organization for beauty. For now here’s a look at the different items I’ve tried. My husband had begged me for months to invest in a good tall cabinet or tall drawer unit. I was reluctant to install a closet system anywhere because for beauty products I either needed shallow drawers to be able to see things laid out versus stacked. Or I needed something clear to be able to see things easily.

Since I don’t use products from a single brand, bur rather many and also since makeup and skincare comes in a shapes, sizes, heights, widths etc. finding something to store a wide range of items has been challenging. I started with Muji acrylic drawers which I find great for lipstick, glosses, small compacts, but it requires you to lay things flat. Also sizes are limited. It took me over a year of research to decide what other acrylic units to invest in. Many are expensive and the biggest deterrent for me was the time it took to make and ship the units. Some said it would take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks as each one was custom made. I lack patience when it comes to shipping so I didn’t order one until I found two options that would ship immediately. GLAMboxes launched on QVC with inexpensive quick shipping so I ordered the GLAMboxes GLAMpetite with a Partial Lid ($199). Another one I found with good reviews is the Original Beauty Box and they did not have a long wait time for shipping so I also ordered the Deluxe Beauty Box ($159) to compare. Both are well made and the drawers slide easily and smoothly which was really important for me. I haven’t seen a wide range of acrylic units so I can’t report on quality comparisons to other brands, but both are functional, well made, sturdy and work well. Since the Original Beauty Box has drawers that are taller it worked better for me. Although it can get heavy if you stack items – I haven’t had any issues opening the drawers with what I put inside though. I liked the Original Beauty Box so much I ordered two more.

Other storage units include Ikea Alex Drawers (I like the wider ones). Inside I use Container Store plastic bins and lipstick dividers to store and organize products. They aren’t completely filled with plastic bins as I find some items are ok free floating.

To organize new products to be tested or swatched I started using clear plastic shoe boxes from the Container Store. The ones I bought were relatively cheap in price and look and feel cheap, but they are functional and fit my bookshelves perfectly so right now they work.

Below, left to right: GLAMboxes GLAMpetite with a Partial Lid, Muji Acrylic Stand, Ikea Alex Drawer with Container Store plastic dividers

I’ve tried to list everything by room for those curious about where we bought our home furnishings. It took us at least six months to fully furnish the place as we found it challenging to find what we wanted that would ship within a reasonable time. It had been a few years since we did major furniture shopping so we did not realize that buying furniture would require sometimes several months for delivery time. If there’s anything I missed let me know – I will be traveling cross country this week but will get back to you as soon as we’ve had a chance to settle in.

Living Room

Rochelle Couch from Crate and Barrel
Rochelle Side Chairs from Crate and Barrel
Wooden coffee table from Crate and Barrel, discontinued old style, current version here
Tulip round side tables (one marble, one black wood) from Rove Concepts
Side rectangular glass tables from Crate and Barrel
Large floor lamp from CB2
Black leather chairs from IFN Modern
Blue rug from Crate and Barrel
Large metal tray from Pottery Barn (old style)
Walnut shelves and console from Modani (older styles)
Treadmill from Nordic Track (last year’s model, current one is the 1750 here)
Yoga mat the Manduka PRO Yoga Pilates Mat (old style, but it’s the PRO version)

Bathroom

White shelves and cabinet units from Restoration Hardware
Hydro Cotton towels from Pottery Barn
Light sensor mirror by Simple Human
Glass canisters from Crate and Barrel

Bedroom

Bed from Crate and Barrel, Tate Style
Bedding from a mix of West Elm (braided quilt and mini stripe coverlets) and Pottery Barn (old style)
Closet solutions and shoe storage from Ikea
Night stand tables from Crate and Barrel (Osborn style, discontinued)

My Office Space

Walnut bookshelves and desk from Crate and Barrel, Anderson Style (discontinued), almost identical desk version here
White Alex drawers from Ikea
Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker (old style, current model is the Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker II)
Makeup organizers from Muji, GLAMboxes and Original Beauty Box (I will do a separate review on these detailing why I ordered what I did and what I ended up liking or disliking about each style)
Clear containers in drawers from the Container Store
Desk lamp from Design Within Reach
White leather desk chair is the SOHO Eames Style Soft Pad Management Chair
Wood desk chair from Pottery Barn
Walnut drawer unit from Wayfair
Sheepskin rug from Pottery Barn

I hope you enjoyed this home tour even though by now we have moved on. There were some areas such as our closet, kitchen details and bathroom areas which I didn’t photograph but hope this gives you a glimpse into how we decorated and styled our home. My husband and I have similar but different tastes. He loves more color and fun accents while I would be thrilled to have an entire monochrome house with neutrals. I think we found a good balance with this one. For our next home the space we will have is going to be 2x the size of our loft so there will be a lot of space to fill and decorate.

Many of you have asked how we keep the loft clean with three fluffy pets, all of which have white fur and shed a lot. My husband is the organized and clean one so he did a lot of research on vacuums and pet grooming. We have used an iRobot Roomba for the past 10 years. They get regular use on a daily basis so we’ve gone through 3. We always bought the cheapest option which runs around $400. For Christmas Andrew decided to get the iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum 980 as my Christmas present. It’s more than double the price but works noticeably better and hands down well worth the investment – especially if you have pets or if your home gets dusty easily. If you want a list of the other vacuums he’s bought I can list them in this post, but the Roombas are a life saver.

I’ll be on the road for the next several days and will have limited access to my computer while we make our way across the US to our new home. You can follow along on Instagram @beautylookbook as I’ll be posting a few things here and there along the way.

Hope your week is going well! More fun beauty reviews to come as soon as I’ve settled in. I was able to get a sneak preview of the new Tom Ford Soleil items yesterday (details on Instagram and if you can catch IG stories before they disappear) and everything is to die for! I also bought three of the Rouge Coco Glosses which I’ll be putting to the test while on the road.

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