The Quest for the Perfect Monoi Oil - The Body Shop Monoi Body Balm Review

So I have been on the search for a new Monoi oil product ever since Bath and Body Works discontinued my most favorite product of theirs ever, Miraculous Monoi. Monoi oil is amazing, it's really popular in French Polynesia, where it has been used for centuries as a beauty product. It's made from soaking Tahitian gardenias (aka Tiare flowers) in coconut oil. Supposedly its use dates back 2,000 years to the Maori in New Zealand.

The Body Shop has two products devoted to monoi oil, that's how awesome it is. I'm a picky buyer, so I did some thoughtful research into what Body Shop product I was going to give a try. The obvious choice was the Polynesia Monoi Miracle Oil...except further investigation revealed that coconut oil was actually the third ingredient after sweet almond oil and brazil nut oil. It also has sesame seed oil and a whole bunch of fragrance. Disappoint. "Authentic" monoi oil is pretty hard to find (or at least I'm having a hard time finding it) because apparently traditional methods of production have specific guidelines for everything from picking the tiare flowers to how the final product is stored.

The best option in the Spa Wisdom Monoi Line is the Polynesia Monoi Moisture Balm, where coconut oil is the second ingredient (yes!). It's a bit price at $24 for 6.77 (why .77? WHY?), but a little does go a long way. I really like how this product performs. You only need a small amount and it absorbs quickly but leaves skin moist. It does, however, have a really strong gardenia scent that will stay with you all day - if you don't like florals, specifically gardenias, this probably isn't the lotion for you. I can honestly report, though, that it has made a noticeable difference in my skin, making it much softer and helping to eliminate some of the redness caused by my KP. If I could change it in any way I'd just make the fragrance a but more subtle, because it totally overwhelms my perfume :(

Nars makes a monoi oil called Monoi Body Glow II that is apparently pure coconut oil and tiare flower, however, it is also $59 for 3.9 ounces, and at the rate I use this stuff that would last me maybe a month...yeah I don't think so.

Has anyone else tried these products or monoi oil? What do you think of it?

Weekend Pick Me Up: Silk Butterfly Hair Clips from Kate's Cottage

Sometimes I need to get butterflies for hats or other accessories, for instance, a friend was looking for them for her wedding this past January...but the only ones I've ever been able to find are crappy looking ones from Michael's with half-assed painting, split feathers, and bent antennae. Disappointing to say the least.


Which is why I was quite excited to come across Kate's Cottage on etsy, who makes the most lovely delicate dupioni silk butterfly clips. A single clip is only $6 and you can pick from 20 different designs. Good luck finding something this nice at Claire's Accessories.

I think they are all lovely. Actually, I think the above image looks incredibly gorgeous and would look amazing in a shadow box mounted on the wall...is that strange? I think it would be beautiful, and one could say no butterflies were harmed in the making of this fauna display!

Although if I was going to buy them (which I am most certainly considering!) I would probably just go with a set of 3, for $16 (and only $2.50 for shipping). I can't attest to the quality of these clips, but based on the photos and feedback it truly looks like they're in a world of their own and would look wonderful for a special occasion or everyday.

My Newest Obsession: Ribbonwork Embroidery

As you ladies know, this blog is kind of my secret girlie place. So you can imagine why I felt the need to share these images with you. When I came across them on pinterest (of course) I was just blown away - they're so beautiful! The website is in Russian, so I'm not exactly sure what is going on, suffice to say it looks like beautiful floral embroidery done entirely with ribbons.

Beautiful right? But aside from an heirloom wall piece, what do you do with these things? is there anything similar that I could incorporate into every day life? Pieces of art with a utilitarian purpose? I imagine a purse would be striking, or perhaps a scarf? Or the hem of a skirt?

I was shocked that when I googled "ribbon embroidery" I got some hits on etsy.

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I also suggest you check out Umi's Embroidered Gifts (below) because she does incredible work -

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And if you're interested in purchasing a piece all of her work is priced very reasonable, specially when you take the exchange rate into account!

The Purl Bee also has a fabulous tutorial on how to make and ribbon embroider pillow cases...which of course I now want as well. I'll see if I can find some for purchase (skeptical) otherwise I might actually give this a try over the summer. I'm pretty much horrible as sewing, but she actually makes it seem do-able!

P.S. By the end of this post I discovered that another common name for this technique is "ribbonwork."

Guys, I Won a Contest!

So I won a contest over at It's Always Something. Awesome, right? Who doesn't love free stuff!? I definitely do.

I don't usually win things. And I'm not being modest. It rarely happens.

I have won two things in my life (3 if you count this contest). The first was was in 6th grade when I won a raffle for a mountain bike from the local alternative radio station, where they told me they were disappointed by my lack of enthusiasm.  Sorry, I was raised Irish, we are taught not to have emotions, and certainly not to display them. The second was a scholarship my senior year of high school for, and I kid you not, "the student who deserves a scholarship but is often overlooked" - or something along that jist.

And now the third thing I have ever won - a giant candle from Old Williamsburgh Candle in Iced Lavender...Truth be told only 3 people entered the contest so yeah...Why Thank You, Effie, the odds were indeed in my favor. However, this does not diminish my excitement.

Not only did I win (woot!), but Deb was SO nice she included approximately one bazillion Yankee Candle tarts in some of my favorite scents. Yipee! 

The Iced Lavender is a really light scent, which is a refreshing change, since I'm often that person whose house smells super strong (the delivery people are always commenting on it when I open my door to sign for packages)...You should all be thanking god I've been forgetting to wear perfume lately, because I'm probably also that person who leaves a scent trail through every room they walk through. This candle has a subtle scent to it, not over powering at all, which is great because I'm not usually the worlds biggest lavender fan. I have to say though, this is not your typical lavender, it's much more soft and less herbal than I expected, but at the same time it's not that sugary at all (which is great because I also hate frosting/foodie type scents). The throw is pretty subtle, but it really does freshen up a room, I don't think you'll get a significant impact from this candle unless you're in a relatively small space (like a bathroom) or a partically closed off room.

Deb wrote a very lovely review of the candles, and her description of Chamomile Green Tea has me tempted. Actually, I just checked out their catalog and I pretty much would love anything from Sea Island Spa collection (especially Sheabutter and Coconut!) or their Life Aquatic line...and I'm also seeing a Lilac fragrance (my favorite scent!). Hm...I'll let you guys know if I end up with more :)

{Review} Boondock G Soapery

 A couple weeks ago I ordered some soap from Boondock G Soapery on etsy. (this purchase was instigated by a post on Soap Obsessions). As soon as the words "soap" and "sale" were mentioned in the same sentence I was a goner.

Add to that the fact that their soaps are primarily made with coconut oil, which, as I've already mentioned, is pretty much my favorite bath and body ingredient, and I was definitely going to be making a purchase.

I ordered a bar of Serenade {rosewood & pikake} and Victorian Black {violet & heather}. The owner was kind enough to include a sample of Little Queenie soap and Miss Laura Perfume Oil.

I've almost used up my bar of Serenade and I really like the soap - although neither of the scents are very strong. It lathers up a lot and doesn't leave my skin feeling dry after I shower...although I still use lotion because I have the driest skin ever...and I like being extra smelly. 

Miss Laura is described as ~

Night-blooming florals of tuberose and jasmine with white southern magnolia blossoms ~ drops of sticky chocolate honey. Quite southern belle-ish with a naughty side.…all wrapped in one.

I think that the scents go exactly in the opposite order they're described. At first I smelled the chocolate sent, with undertones of honey. The floral scent was there but really game out as the oil dried down, and was quite strong. All in all this isn't really a scent for me - I'm not a fan of foodie scents at all - BUT I know chocolate is a very popular scent with most people and I think this perfume oil might be worth their notice.

I really like BoondockG's soaps and might make some orders in the future, although I have quite a long wishlist to work my way though first :)

Spring Green - Indoor Plants for Dark Places

So I really love plants, and I really want a garden, but alas, we live in an apartment that has no outdoor space whatsoever. So I'm looking for some indoor flora inspiration.

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Ferns are great for low light spaces.

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 This is a beautiful little set, but the fern itself isn't real, which I suppose I would prefer...but I guess that makes it perfect for spaces that have no natural light?

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I love orchids! I got the orchid bug a few years ago, but for various reasons I don't have any in my current apartment. Usually I buy the crapped out ones from Walmarts when they go on sale for $5. Historically I've been pretty good about getting them to re-bloom, but alas they all met a tragic end when I spent a month in Tokyo and my mother forgot to water them. This terrarium is totally bananas! And it's on sale for the low low price of  $249.

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 I've been considering putting some air plants in our bathroom, but I'm pretty sure the lack of windows mean they're not going to survive very long - but I'll give it a shot.

I spent a few years working at a plan nursery and would always take home the sickly plants that had been returned. Hence I came into possession of a large staghorn fern, which was totally awesome...and which was usurped by an ex ex boyfriend. I've since learned that replacing it is ridiculously expensive, so I'm not sure if I can ever forgive him of his plant thievery. Especially since he never even took care of it. Hmph.

Crappy Weeks Should Always End with Ice Cream and Mani/Pedis.

So last week was one of the crappiest weeks ever.

For the past two months I've been working non-stop on trying to get my PhD dissertation finished on time and extra stressed out because even if I got it in one time it could still be rejected...so it was a bit of a crap shoot. I have literally been writing 2-3,000 words a day...which in case you don't know, that's a whole lot. I haven't been leaving my house for much, except maybe to work and get coffee. So yeah, last Friday (4/20) my draft was do. Which meant all of last week I was in a super stressed out state.

Add to that the fact that I was majorly PMSing and got my period. Awesome.

Add to that the fact that the day before my draft was do I got rear ended at a right light by a crazy woman driving without a license.

Awesome. Literally awesome.

It was like the perfect storm or crap.

But, I made it through, got my draft in (totally 57,000 words, which is basically like 80% of the work, yay!), and then went out for celebratory ice cream at The Snowman in Lansingburgh, which is about 10 minutes from where we live.

The Snowman is responsible for me gaining 25lbs last year, so I am now avoiding it as much as possible. Tony and I decided we would not go until I handed in my draft. The sundae's are gigantic and awesome and relatively inexpensive (at least they are when you consider that Friendly's costs more and gives you 1/2 as much), not to mention all the ice cream is homemade. It is like paradise. I cannot recommend it more highly.

Tony always gets the same thing - a peanut butter flurry thing.

not a real smile. yes, it is half the size of my head and i am very skeptical about my ability to finish it (i didn't)

I like to mix it up between strawberry shortcake and the brownie sundae. It's hard to decide between the two. Ah, first world problems.

like my yarn, it's for a hat i'm making for an etsy customer

The I went and got myself a mani/pedi at Will Nails in Clifton Park - which in case you were wondering, is by far the best place in the area. Trust me, I've tried a few. They have super reasonable prices and do a much better job than most places. Except you're going to have to expect something like this...

And that's if you're lucky, because most of them don't even talk to you or speak English (or don't want to). But either way, "Anne" did a great job on my gel french manicure. I have no idea wtf "Anne" and "David" (he did my pedicure) are saying about me. Maybe that I have gross feet and a fat ass? I don't know, and quite frankly I am not sure if I care since they do a much better job than any other non-Asian salons I've gone to. I don't know, I just feel like Asian salons tend to do a way better job...at their job. Go figure.

Weekend Pick Me Up - Shabby Chic Votive Candle

Everyone knows about my not so secret obsession with shabby chic decor. I was scouring etsy the other day when I came across these shabby chic votive candles and I think they are just perfect.

Not only are they beautiful, but they're super affordable - $4 for each candle holder and even with shipping ($5) they're still under $10. The seller, Inspirations by Faith, will even do custom colors, text, and monogramming.

I've finally started redecorating my apartment (not sure if I can really say "redecorating" since I never got around to decorating it in the first place) and I think I'm going to pick up a set of these candles and make them part of a focal point in my new romantic shabby chic bathroom. Excitement!

Lunch with Lindsey - The Placid Baker {again!} and Anchor No. 5 Boutique!

Both Lindsey and i forgot our cameras = phone pics for you, sorry!

So Lindsey and I have pretty much determined that from now we're going to just stick with having lunch at The Placid Baker and then spend the rest of our lunch date shopping. This was determined by the fact that we were going to go to Broadway Brew for lunch, but when we got there we discovered that it had been closed for being a public nuisance...something about stabbings? Yeah, okay, maybe not.

i think i could eat this every day.

Besides The Placid Baker is da bomb! Everything always tastes good and the prices are reasonable. For example, my super awesome chipotle mac & cheese plus a lemonade was the perfect size, tasted delicious, and only cost something like $5.86.

Lindsey got her favorite turkey sandwich.

imaginary sandwich photoshoot

 She even practiced how she would look in our lunch time photos with this jacket on be eating imaginary sandwiches in front of the mirror this morning. She's also the best sport ever for letting me take 50 photos of her with my phone.

We also stopped by Anchor N. 5 Boutique - a super cute shop in downtown Troy that carries all sorts of pieces from local artists. And we may have been about an hour late getting back to work because we were chatting with shop owner Petra.

I got a super cute pair of earrings from local artist Ali Herrmann that you can find on etsy. They came in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and styles, but I went with the peach posts because I'm sure they'll match all the coral I plan on buying. AND they were only $6, Double Yay!

Travel Tuesday: Safari in Kenya

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One of my epic goal in life trips is to go on a safari. I know it's a bit colonial in some ways, but what can I say, I'm a sheltered white girl and the idea of viewing wildlife in Africa is too much of a temptation. Safaris has been a big part of the tourism industry for decades and there are a number of culturally and environmentally responsible tours.

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Not to mention I'm just as intrigued by different culture as the next person. Actually, probably far more so than the next person - particularly by cultures that have managed to preserve their traditions and adapt in the face of encroaching Westernization.

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I'm extremely jealous of my little brother (you know, the one with red hair) who got paid to go to Kenya on an internship last summer...and while he was there they set him up in a swank hotel and sent him on a safari. Amazing. I'm pretty sure I could live in a tent like the one above for uh, forever.

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And besides, I want to see badass animals...especially when there are cute babies. And of course, amazing sunsets.

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In Which I Attempt to Be a Fashion Blogger

Sorry for cutting your head off, Lux. It's revenge for you being in focus while I am not.

Dolci says I should start blogging about my various thrift finds, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I like to buy clothes...a lot. And since I am not particularly well off (and work 4 jobs) I accomplish this by occasionally buying designer clothes from outlets and sales and the rest of the time hitting up the thrift store.

And so, without further adieu, I enter the world of fashion bloggers! 

[Thrifted faux wrap dress for a whopping $1.50 | Steve Madden heels via DSW | Andrea Jovine sunglasses from Marshalls]

Except not really, because it took something like 70 photos before I deemed a few of them acceptable. Needless to say I need some work on modeling and Tony needs some work on fashion photography.

I thought Tony might be kind enough to take a few instagram photos, where a Lomo-fi filter would instantly make me cool, but he wanted to use his fancy extremely expensive camera...Yeah. Personally I think that the instagram photos probably would have turned out better... for me at least. I'm sure this can all be done in photoshop, I jus don't know how. So this is what you get for now.

Supermodel du Fashion.

As this photo indicates, Tony would rather take photos of Lux, who is far more photogenic than me, than of shoes. Lux does not need instagram filters to look good.

And Lux would prefer to not be here. At all. Thank you very much.

Anyway, I think I'm doing well on achieving my goal of being the crazy cat lady who walks her weirdo hairless cat on a leash.

Weekend Pick Me Up - Bijunea Stud Earrings

I have decided to start a new post series. I shall dub it, "Weekend Pick Me Up" and I shall post about an inexpensive pick me up you can purchase for yourself guilt free. You know, for when you've just had a bleh week and you need something to look forward to, such as mail containing a treat for yourself.

Thus I present to you these extremely cute Panda Earrings by Bijunea. You can own for a whopping $7.90. Not only that, but they will be shipped to where ever you are in the world for only $3, hooray!

However, I might need to get myself these wicked cute Giraffe Toy Earrings, because they are inanely cute and only $3.95 - Oh, and they ship free with the purchase of another item.

I don't know, there are so many cute things in this shop it's hard to decide on just one!

What do you guys think, super cute, right?

What do you get yourself at the end of a crappy week for a little treat?