6 Midi Skirts to Transition from Spring to Summer

Tuesday, May 31, 2016
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You probably know by now that I am not a fan of the summer or of high temperatures in general, but what I am a fan of is gorgeous springtime skirts that transition perfectly from spring to summer. Midi skirts are long enough to prevent wardrobe malfunctions during these windy months but short enough to still take advantage of the cooling breeze. I picked these six in particular because they are versatile and can be worn for any occasion.

Which is your favorite, and how would you style it?
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Weekly Reading | May 29, 2016

Sunday, May 29, 2016
LABELS:

Blogging

Last week, I read up on some blogging articles in preparation to dust off and clean up my blog.

"The Anatomy of a Killer About Page" via Create and Cultivate

Health

These articles can help you foster good mental health.


Travel

Here are some articles to guide you through the stages of planning your summer vacation.

"How to Nail Airport Style" via Fashion Mask

For more health posts as well as beauty and fashion posts, check out the previous Weekly Reading.
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May Sephora Play Unboxing

Thursday, May 26, 2016
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If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I subscribed to Sephora Play last month, but I never got around to posting an unboxing of my April Sephora Play, which I regret because it was a great box. There was the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien, the Sephora Collection Colorful Cheek Ink Gel in Peony, and the Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream, among other things. Admittedly, I haven't actually tried any of the three products I mentioned, but they're the ones that I was most excited to see.

When I opened my May Sephora Play, I was immediately disappointed by the packaging. I was expecting the gorgeous box that my April Sephora Play came in, complete with confetti and booklet, but all I was greeted with are a folded sheet of paper in place of the fancy booklet and a flimsy linen bag in place of a sturdy box. I'm not sure if they only pull out all the stops for your first box, or if they're cutting down costs now that the service is open to everyone, but even if my April Sephora Play didn't raise my expectations, this packaging is still subpar compared to the other beauty subscription boxes out there. The Ipsy Glambag also favors flimsy bags, but at least they're cute and reusable, and Birchbox may just come in a cardboard box, but at least it's sturdy and pretty.

The products themselves, though, are not too bad. I'm especially excited about the fragrance, lipstick, and mask primer. I feel meh towards the mask and lip liner. As for the hair mask, I already have the exact same sample from a previous Birchbox, which I also haven't used, so that's that. Here's what everything is:

1. Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial, $48 (1.35 fl oz) at Sephora.com

2. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask, $36 (8 fl oz) at Briogeo

3. Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Cologne Absolue Pure Perfume, $120 (3.3 fl oz) at Sephora.com

4. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Kimchi, $26 (0.15 oz) at Sephora.com

5. Tarte Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram, $18 (0.01 oz) at Tarte Cosmetics

6. Origins Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer, $22 (3.2 fl oz) at Sephora.com

Have you tried any of these products?
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May Drugstore.com Haul

Tuesday, May 24, 2016
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I am back with another Drugstore.com haul, and before you raise a skeptical eyebrow at my suspiciously regular purchases from this website, no, I am not sponsored by Drugstore.com. I just genuinely enjoy the higher convenience and lower prices. I do not have a car, so running around to pick up essentials can be quite a hassle. Drugstore.com provides free three-day shipping for orders above $35, and since my monthly essentials exceed that threshold anyway, I have no reason not to buy them online. There are other perks on top of that, but this is starting to sound like a plug, so you can check out the website if you so choose.

Here is what I purchased this month:

1. Revlon Aquamarine Body Lotion with Aloe, $1 (14.8 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

2. Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Wash, $5.79 (10 fl oz) at Drugstore.com

Summer is coming, so it is time to rid myself of (and prevent) body acne. My skin is still really dry from the cold Winter months, so I will only be using this on my chest and back areas.

3. Jergens Extra Moisturizing Hand Wash, $1.49 (7.5 fl oz) at Walgreens.com

Likewise, the skin on my hands is in terrible condition, but I hate putting body lotion or even hand cream on my hands, so this is my compromise.

4. Aussie Hair Insurance Heat Protecting Hair Shine Spray, $2.97 (8.5 fl oz) at Walmart.com

5. Natrol MSM and Glucosamine Double Strength Tablets, $13.29 (90 tablets) at CVS.com

6. Natrol Omega-3 Fish Oil Softgels, $11.99 (150 softgels) at The Vitamin Shoppe

I am getting old and feel my body slowly giving up on me, so I have started taking supplements. The MSM and glucosamine tablets are for joint health and the fish oil softgels are for heart health.

7. Yogi Tea Green Tea Kombucha, $3.99 (16 bags) at Drugstore.com

I have previously tried a couple of teas from Yogi Tea. The Detox one worked really well, but the Skin Detox one, not so much. This Kombucha one is to help balance out my digestive system, which hates me.

Have you tried any of these products?
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Weekly Reading | May 22, 2016

Sunday, May 22, 2016
LABELS:

Beauty

Last week, I found some articles tackling topics not usually covered.

"Lipstick Confidence" via Discoveries of Self

Health

These articles can help you live your best life.

"Restorative Yoga Poses" via Real Simple

Fashion

With Summer on the heels of Spring, here are some articles to get you started on planning your Summer wardrobe.

"Fit and Flare Dress" via Dresses and Denim

For more fashion posts as well as college and lifestyle posts, check out the previous Weekly Reading.
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May Birchbox Unboxing

Thursday, May 19, 2016
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If you can believe it, my last Birchbox unboxing post dates back to October 2013, more than two years ago. That is back when I had a different camera, as can be seen through the questionable quality of those pictures. That is also back when ExtraExtravagant had a completely different layout. I unsubscribed after my December 2013 box, after two years of continued subscription, mainly because of financial reasons. I was at a point in my life when $10 can sometimes be the difference between being able to eat and otherwise, so extra expenses had to go.

Since then, I have gotten my shit together and am in a much better situation, not just financially but generally. I am better at adulting now, and I decided to reward myself by resubscribing to Birchbox. I have much more room in my budget for $10 every month, but I still wanted to hold out until a good offer comes along. For those of you considering subscribing to Birchbox, here is a pro tip: sign up for the newsletter first. They will send you constant emails urging you to subscribe, and they will throw in a special offer to entice you. Wait until an offer that interests you comes along, then subscribe. I waited from August 2015 to March 2016 before I received one that I wanted: a free deluxe sample of the Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner, which was completely underwhelming, btw.

You probably did the math and realized that if I resubscribed in March, the unboxing posts for that box and the April box are missing. Tbh, I was super pumped to post about them, but life (well, school) got in the way. The Spring 2016 semester kept me busy, and it was all I could do to stay alive, let alone devote time to my blog. I am back now, though, and hoping that the summer semester is kind to me. With that being said, here is what came in my May 2016 Birchbox:

1. Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo for Coarse or Frizzy Hair, $25 (8.45 fl oz) at Birchbox

2. Davines LOVE Smoothing Conditioner for Coarse or Frizzy Hair, $29 (8.45 fl oz) at Birchbox

I started using this shampoo and conditioner duo on Monday, so we shall see how that goes.

3. ModelCo Lip Lacquer in Creme Brulee, $24 (3 ml) at Birchbox

4. Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer, $29 (0.28 oz) at Sephora

I was excited to see this sample. I already have the full size, but I love it so much that I am excited to have some extra.

5. COOLA SPF 30 Organic Makeup Setting Spray, $36 (1.7 fl oz) at Birchbox

I was miffed to see this sample because it was already in my March box, and it did not work for me at all. Even if it had worked, I would still have been annoyed at a repeat sample.

6. CLEAN Blossom Eau de Parfum, $41 (1 fl oz) at Ulta

I always love receiving fragrance samples!

Have you tried any of these products?
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Influenster Bloom Voxbox Unboxing

Tuesday, May 17, 2016
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Influenster sent me another Voxbox, the Bloom Voxbox, which I assume is a Spring theme Voxbox. The only product in here that screams Spring is the nail polish, but I am still excited about three other products. Here is what came in my Bloom Voxbox:

1. Sunbelt Bakery Oats and Honey Chewy Granola Bar, $3.50 (15 count) at Walmart

2. Not Your Mother's Plump for Joy Thickening Hair Lifter, $5.99 (8 fl oz) at Ulta

3. NUXE Huile Prodigieuse, $45 (3.3 fl oz) at NUXE

4. Secret Outlast Xtend Completely Clean Invisible Solid Antiperspirant, $3.97 (2.6 oz) at Walmart

5. Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover Pads, $3.99 (10 count) at Drugstore.com

6. Sinful Colors Sinful Shine Gel Tech Nail Polish in VIP

The three products that I was most excited to see are the hair lifter, multipurpose oil, and nail polish remover pads. I've tried the Not Your Mother's dry shampoo and really liked it, so I have high hopes for this product as well. The multipurpose oil, on the other hand, I will probably use on the ends of my hair to hydrate them. As for the nail polish remover pads, I got them in my Glam Voxbox and liked them, so I'm glad I got more.

Have you tried any of these products?
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Weekly Reading | May 8, 2016

Sunday, May 08, 2016
LABELS:

Fashion

Last week, I stumbled upon some fashion hacks.


College

I also found some tips to help out those of you who are going through Finals Week as well as a listicle to give you that extra nudge to try study abroad next semester. Then, you will have experienced life as an international student.


Lifestyle

If Finals Week has you in the doldrums, here is a listicle as well as an amazing compilation of artwork made from old books to put you back on your feet! If you are already on Summer Break, I also found a blog post on how to stay healthy while you are on vacation.

"How to Stay Healthy on Vacation" via Citrus and Style

For more fashion and lifestyle posts as well as beauty posts, check out the previous Weekly Reading.
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