Birchbox vs. Ipsy - September 2014

One of my more popular posts is every month when I compare Birchbox vs. Ipsy. Septembers post is coming pretty late, but it's here now! Unfortunately, I wasn't extremely thrilled by either box, and I think that might be what kept postponing me writing this blog post. So keep your eyes peeled, because Octobers post will be up soon since this one is going up late.

If you haven't heard of these before, they are both monthly subscription services that deliver a bundle of products to you monthly. The products range from sample size, to full size, and the value of the bag/box always varies. Each service is $10 a month, and here I am to compare which one I enjoyed more this month.

Up first, Birchbox. I've said before in previous posts, Birchbox is the original subscription box. They do tend to send smaller samples, but they are a very successful company with great consistency, and a wonderful reward system online. You can check out more about Birchbox here. 

1. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
Full Size Value : $16.00 for 1.25oz
Sample Size : 1 oz
Verdict : I tried this the other night and it wasn't bad. It  is a pretty thick moisturizer, so I will only be using it at night. It is a great sample size that I can get quite a few uses out of. I won't be purchasing the full size just because I have other moisturizers that I love.

2. Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser
Full Size Value : $32.95 for 4oz
Sample Size : 0.2oz
Verdict : I haven't tried this yet, but I'm super excited to try it. The fact that it is a foaming exfoliator is really intriguing to me, and it smells great. It is a pretty small sample, I'm assuming I can only use this once or twice, but I'm excited to try it. It is pretty expensive so I'm hoping it is a good quality exfoliator.

3. Ruffian Nail Lacquer in the color Naked
Full Size Value : $10.00
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : I have received this nail polish in Birchbox before and really enjoyed the formula. This is a good color, and I'm generally happy about receiving this in my box. The value of the nail polish pays for the box this month, so I'm excited about that. This also came with a nail polish remover wipe, which I  used before taking the pictures for this post. I DIDN'T like the wipe at all, it was greasy and smelled really bad.

4. Noir Cosmetics Long-Wear Eyeliner
Full Size Value : $15.00
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : Extremely happy about receiving this in my box this month. I honestly don't know the last time I purchased a black eyeliner, because right when I get around to needing one, I receive one in a subscription box! I am not picky with pencil eyeliner at all, so I'm happy to have received a full size liner in my box this month.

5. Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner 
Full Size Value : $45 for 1oz
Sample Size : ?? .. small ;)
Verdict : The sample doesn't have a size on it, but it is a smaller sample for sure. I am looking forward to trying this, simply because the name sounds so disgusting but so awesome. Dr. Brandt is a really well known skin care brand so I'm looking forward to trying this and expecting it to be nice quality.

Up next, Ipsy. Ipsy comes in a makeup bag every month, as you can see up in the photo above. Ipsy tends to have smaller brands, but bigger samples. I usually like Ipsy more than Birchbox, but you never know!! Also, the brands that you get in Ipsy often give a coupon code that you can use at their site for the month, which is a really great bonus.

1. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask
Full Size Value : $26 for 5.25oz
Sample Size : 1oz
Verdict : I haven't used this yet, but will be soon. It doesn't have much of a smell to it, but it is very thick which is common for deep conditioning masks. It has pretty good reviews on Sephora so I'm looking forward to trying it. I still swear by the Loreal Total Repair 5 deep conditioning mask that I know I would never purchase this, but excited to try it!

2. Hikari Lipstick in Cabarnet
Full Size Value : $13
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : I love this lipstick! It is such a pretty red for fall, and it looks great with my skin tone! The main reason I love Ipsy is that they actually put full size makeup in their bags and it makes it completely worth it. Very happy to see a great lipstick in my bag!

3. Pacifica Natural Eye Pencil in Fringe
Full Size Value : $11
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : Like I said earlier for my birchbox, I love getting eyeliners in my subscriptions! I use eyeliner daily, and for some reason I don't like purchasing them so receiving them in my bag is really nice! I love brown eyeliner, and Pacifica is a great brand that you get at Target!

4. LeeAni Eco 3 in 1 Revolution
Full Size Value : $18 for 2oz
Sample Size : This sample doesn't have a size on it, but it is enough to use a handful of times.
Verdict : This is an individual company, that I have never heard of. Their website looks like they have some pretty innovative skincare. This product claims to be a toner, serum, and moisturizer in one. I'm really looking forward to using this and seeing what it is all about.

5. Crown Brush C476 Brush
Full Size Value : $17.50
Sample Size : FULL SIZE
Verdict : I love this brush!! I've used it almost every day since getting my bag. Crown Brush is a really great brand for brushes, and I loved seeing a brush in my bag this month. Makeup brushes are something that I would always be happy to get, since you can never have too many. It was a great value, and I'm super happy to have received it!!


Final Verdict

This month, Ipsy won. I wasn't overly excited about either box, but the lipstick and the makeup brush were enough for Ipsy to win this month.

Interested in seeing previous months?
- May
- June
- July
- August


As always, thanks for reading!
xoxo, Jaimie

Top 10 Darker Nail Polishes for Fall and Winter

I have always preferred darker nail polish, so when fall rolls around I get extra excited to be able to wear dark nails and feel appropriate. I made the official switch today from bright nails to dark nails, and I thought it would be the perfect time to round up my top 10 fall/winter nail polish shades. What are your favorite fall/winter shades? Let me know down below!

I swatched each color on my nail, because they look so different on the actual nail. If you click on the title of each polish, it will take you to the website where you can get a better view of the color, price, and where to purchase.

Okay, onto the first five.

1. "Bobbing for Baubles" by Essie
This color is a very pretty blue/gray color. The brand describes it as "the deepest, darkest sapphire blue" This color is picking up a little bit of green, but it is definitely more blue, like the first picture when they are shown in the bottles. This is a very nice formula, completely opaque in just one coat, but even better with two coats. Essie is my favorite formula, so obviously I'm a little bias here. This is a great color for everyday wear, it isn't too dark, but still fall appropriate. This is also very "office appropriate"

2. "Odette" by Zoya
This is a great mauve-purple color for fall. It isn't too bright, but still a way to incorporate a lighter color into the darker months. It is appropriate for all ages, my mom tends to borrow this one sometimes as she doesn't like to have anything too bright on her nails. This is also a very opaque shade, all you need is one coat. Zoya is a great brand, toxic and paraben free, I've loved all the shades I've tried from Zoya!

3. "Rodeo Drive Royalty" by NCLA
You have to have a good red nail polish when you're approaching the winter months with all of the holidays. This color is such a true red, but it can also turn a little darker if you choose to apply more coats. I like this formula, but not as much as Essie, so I'm definitely adding a "true red" to my shopping list from Essie. NCLA polishes are $16 a bottle, and Essie is $8 so I would definitely recommend a red from Essie such as "Really Red" or "Lacquered Up"/

4. "Because You're Worth It" by L'Oreal
First off, the name of this polish was enough to make me add it to my collection, but the polish is equally as amazing. It is a great formula, and such a gorgeous gold shimmer polish. It isn't too shimmery, you could definitely wear this on all 10 nails and not look like you're headed to your first middle school dance. It is a very "classy" shimmer polish, and definitely great for all of those holiday parties that come up in the winter!

5. "Neve" by Zoya
Another Zoya polish, they are so great! This is such a gorgeous blue color that has a touch of shimmer in it. It isn't too dark when it is on the nail so it is perfect for work or everyday wear. Like I said above, I love Zoya's formula, the polish stays for a long time and you truly only need one coat, I always do two for maximum wear, but their formula is truly so great.

Okay, onto the next five.

6. "For The Twill of It" by Essie
This color is probably the most unique color I have in my collection, and unfortunately in this photo, it doesn't do it justice at all. Lucky for you all, I've done an entire blog post about this color and showing photos from all different angles because this polish looks different at every angle, and under different lights. It is such an amazing polish, so you can check it out here!

7. "Power Clutch" by Essie
This is in my top ten polishes ever, which might not sound that great, but I have A LOT of nail polish, so thats a tough group to fall into. This is just a gray polish. Nothing more, nothing less. It has no shimmer, no shine, and no special finish. It is a plain, gray polish, and that is why I love it! It is such a consistent, go-to polish for me. It is the closest to black polish that I can wear without wearing black polish. I absolutely love it, and of course, love the formula. #EssieLover  ps: online, Essie says it is a gray/green, but the bottle I have has always been straight up gray.

8. Essie
So, funny story, I picked out my favorite polishes, took all the pictures, and then started writing. When I picked up this polish to write down the name, the name sticker isn't on the bottle. I don't know the name of this polish, which sucks, but I'm going to talk about it anyways because it is already in the pictures! It is a gorgeous red color, with swirls of silver shimmer (you can really see them in the pictures of the bottles). I love this color as it is a darker burgundy red! Sorry for the name fluke, I even looked it up on Essie's site and can't find one that this might be, they have SO many.

9. "Bluecoat" by Butter London
Holy cow, another one that is in my top 10 all time. This is the most gorgeous blue polish, as you can see in the photo. It is so creamy, shimmery, and opaque. It reflects so beautifully in the light, and wears really well. Butter London is another one of my favorite brands, they are a more expensive nail polish brand, but the polish holds up really nice, especially paired with their top coat which I love!

10. "Under Your Spell" by Wet and Wild
This is such an affordable nail polish, I believe they are $1.99 at any drugstore. They are such a great formula!! I recommend this formula to anybody who wants to try a new nail polish shade without spending a lot. It is a great formula for the price, and even if it was a more expensive polish, I would still feel the same about it! This color is so great for those winter months. Some days it looks a little more red, some days it hits more into the wine/purple color, and it always has a really pretty metallic reflection. I love this vampy nail color for fall!


Well there you have it, those are my ten favorite darker polishes for fall and winter. What are yours? Or do you like to still wear bright polish through the winter months? Let me know down below!

As always, thanks for reading
xoxo, Jaimie

Current Favorites

Hi Everyone!

Wow it has been tough to get back on track since returning from vacation. Once I get settled in with Grad School and my job and getting organized, I might try to migrate into a more concrete posting schedule, such as posting on Wednesdays and Sundays, or MWF, or whatever works best for my schedule.

I love blogging, and I am so thankful that my followers reach out and tell me that they enjoy my blogging. I think to switching to a more concrete posting schedule will help me stay accountable, and also allow you guys to know when to look for new posts.

Today, I'm going to round up my current favorite products. I usually do a monthly favorites post, but August got away from me, and it's too early for September favorites. I also am not going to take personal pictures of these items, my camera battery was dead when I went to start this post and I really wanted to get it up, so sorry for no real pictures!


1. Loreal Collection Privee - The Perfect Nudes Collection

This collection came out a month or so ago, and I love it so much. All four of those lipsticks up there look so different in color, and you might not consider them all a "nude" lipstick, but they are. This is the perfect nude collection and it is designed to find that perfect nude lip for all skin tones and undertones. I bought the color "Jennifer's Nude" which is the one on the far right, J Lo's perfect nude.

It works so well with my skin, and I love the creamy matte finish. I have been wearing it almost daily, as it truly is the perfect nude for my skin tone! 

2. Victorias Secret Eau So Sexy Body Spray

This is a newer scent to VS, and I am so obsessed. I lean toward body sprays more than perfumes, but I'm honestly considering purchasing the perfume in this scent. I prefer a lighter fragrance, and I don't really like having a heavy scent on all day, I'd much rather reapply a lighter fragrance. I have one bottle of this, and it is almost gone! They are only $10 for the body spray, since they don't last as long. I am going back to buy a few more so I can keep one in my car!  The notes in this fragrance are

Bergamot, paradise apple, and chantilly cream. yum. 

3. Essie Nail Polish in "Watermelon"

This has always been one of my favorite nail polish picks. My friend and I both applied this on our nails before we left for Hawaii and it held up so great. It is a really bold pink color, without being neon or too "little-girly". It is a very sophisticated hot pink, if that is even possible ;) 

4. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer

When I returned from Hawaii, none of my makeup matched my skin. I got pretty dark, pretty quick. This was a great sign, since it also cleared up my skin amazingly! Since I've been back from Hawaii, I haven't worn foundation. I have just been dotting this concealer over any dark spots that I have, and blending it out, setting it with a light coverage powder, and then doing my blush and bronzer as normal. I really love this concealer, mine is almost empty, but I'm definitely going to repurchase it! I know they also have it in a brightener shade for under the eyes, I definitely need to try that.

5. Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner

I have been killing this shampoo and conditioner lately. I used an entire bottle on my own before my vacation, this is what we used on vacation, and I'm using it still after I return home!! I usually switch up my shampoo and conditioner with every purchase, so this is a pretty big deal for me. I love how soft this leaves my hair, I feel like I can get a really good wash with minimal product, and it smells amazing! It is a very natural coconut smell, so don't expect this to smell like a fruity pina colada, more like a true coconut milk smell, I love it so much. I would highly, and confidently, recommend ANY shampoo and conditioner from the Organix Line! 

Well there you have it, my current favorite products. Like I said earlier, I am hoping to get on a more scheduled way of doing things around here. I will for sure keep you updated on what I do end up deciding, but I think it will take a few weeks of Graduate School to see what I'm really getting myself into! Also, would you guys want any lifestyle posts about grad school? I had a thought of sharing my interview process and giving some tips for a graduate school interview? 

As always, thanks for reading

xoxo, Jaimie

Recently Read : Chapter Two

I got sent a free copy of this book by Birchbox in exchange for my review. As always, anything written on my blog is 100% my true opinion and beliefs.

Onto my second installment of my recently read books! I only have one book to share this time, because I have been SO busy. On top of all of that, I just got accepted into Graduate School, so my pleasure reading might take a hit. I will still make sure to review any books that I do finish though!


I recently read "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)" by Mindy Kaling.

It is a collection of short stories from the famous actress from The Office. I love Mindy Kaling, she is so hilarious. Since I have seen her as an actress, it is a little easier to breeze through this book while picturing her voice and personality shine through her writing.

Like I said, it is a collection of short stories, which makes it extremely easy to read it on the side. You can really set down the book whenever, and pick back up pretty smoothly. The whole book is hilarious, down to earth, and easy going. She talked a lot about her experiences before becoming a successful actress, which was really fun to read about. Often we see successful actors/actresses and assume that they just grew up famous and had it easy, that wasn't the case with Mindy. She shared her struggles, and the crappiest moments in her life, but then shared how it all worked out for her.

After reading this book, it made me laugh, smile, and love Mindy Kaling so much more! It was a little hard to finish just because of that short story concept. Right when I would get into what she was writing about, the topic would completely change into a completely different time in her life. I found myself putting this book down a lot because I was bored, but if you have extra time and need a good laugh, I highly recommend this!! :) 

What should I read next? I am lusting over "Big, Little Lies"! 

As always, thanks for reading

xoxo, Jaimie

Beauty Tools Worth The Splurge

There are some products that come out on the market that literally make my jaw drop when I see the price tag and I can never justify spending my hard earned money. There are also those same products that draw me in, cause me to spend the money, and I have never been happier to spend that stack of cash. Today I am going to round up some products that seem absurd to spend money on, but I have personally bought and LOVED. 

Please keep in mind that everyone views their money differently and I am not recommending that you go spend money on these products if you don't feel it is worth it, I'm simply sharing my thoughts and experiences. 

1. Clarisonic

The most important thing when it comes to applying makeup, is your skin. It is the base for your everyday life, and whether you are choosing to wear makeup, or go sans free, your skin is so important. I used to only use a makeup wipe to remove my makeup. Then I progressed into using a makeup wipe, and a facial cleanser. I thought I was absolutely cleaning my face as much as I could, and thought the Clarisonic might be a waste of money. I ... WAS ... WRONG

On a completely normal makeup day, with just foundation and powder, I will use a makeup wipe, and then cleanse with my clarisonic and be STUNNED with how much makeup and dirt was still trapped in my pores. When the Clarisonic is used consistently it has been extremely effective for me with clearing up my skin. I definitely notice that when I get off track with using mine, my skin will get clogged up. 

I also think it is important to note that if you decide to try out a Clarisonic, expect your skin to break out for a few weeks. This is a good sign, don't give up! A skin care specialist once explained to me that all the bacteria on your face is on a "conveyer belt" and the blemishes on your skin have really been underneath the skin for a few weeks getting ready to come to the surface. When you start to use the Clarisonic, you will be clearing up that conveyer belt, which is going to make those blemishes come to the surface. This is often referred as your skin "purging". 

The Clarisonic I have is the Clarisonic Mia 2. It runs for 1 minute, with four different pulses which indicate to move to a different section on your face (10 seconds on each cheek, 20 seconds on nose/chin, 20 seconds on forehead). You can also buy different brush heads for your Clarisonic, I use the one for sensitive skin because it is the softest. 

2. Beauty Blender

This isn't as expensive as the Clarisonic, coming in at $20. But when you really just look at it and see that it is a sponge, it seems a little ridiculous that it is $20. I have tried a few different sponges for applying foundation, and nothing compares to the Beauty Blender. I have purchased three of them over the years, but have never regretted my purchase. Whenever I decide to switch it up and apply my foundation with my hands, or a brush, I instantly grab my Beauty Blender and fix it. I feel like my makeup is just sitting on top of my face, and when I use the sponge, it really meshes with my skin and makes it look 10x more natural.

To use a Beauty Blender, you run it under water and it will double in size. You then ring it out in the sink so it is just left damp. I apply a pump of my foundation right onto the big end of the sponge, and then disperse it around my face making "bouncing" motions to really blend it IN to the skin. I use the pointed end of the sponge to apply my under eye concealer, it is great at getting in all of the small spots.

3. Makeup Brushes

The definition of "splurge" can mean different things for different people. With that being said, I think it is important to get good quality makeup brushes. I will link some sites down below that I have tried brushes from and have loved all of them. I will list them from cheapest to most expensive, but I would confidently recommend any of them. I believe there is a definite difference in your makeup when you use a good quality makeup brush. Especially when it comes to an eyeshadow blending brush, that is my absolute must have for good quality brushes. Blending out your eyeshadow is so important!!

1. Eco Tools (found at Target, Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens)

2. Makeup Geek

3. Real Techniques 

4. Sedona Lace (majority of my brushes are from this brand, they have great deals during holidays)

5. Sigma (if you're willing to spend, they have amazing sets that have everything you need)

4. Hot Tools

Good hot tools for your hair is very important. I love having healthy hair, and having good quality hair tools is just as important as my daily care to my hair. I mainly use a straightener, and a curling wand, and they are each a splurge, but could definitely be worse. Having good ceramic tools that disperse heat evenly, heat up quick, and stay nice over time, are essential.

My straightener is from GHD, it was actually a Christmas present from my boyfriend three years ago and still works like it is brand new! This is the model I have, and I would highly recommend it. They have cheaper models, and other brands definitely sell flat irons that are similar for a lower price. I can highly recommend this one though, it has held up with daily use and lots of traveling for three years! 

For curling wands, I use a set I got from Nume about three years ago as well. The set I bought came with four different size wands that all attach to the same base, and I absolutely love it! I feel the same on a curling wand, it is important to have a nice ceramic wand (or iron) that will distribute heat evenly, warm up quick, and stay high quality over time. This is the set I have. 

The OCD person in me really wishes that I could make this post 5 items, but this is all I can come up with, without straying from what I truly believe! I am completely comfortable splurging on items, because trying out new products is so fun and exciting for me, but at the same time I make sure I have read a lot of review from bloggers I trust before swiping that card. I definitely have other items in my stash that I have splurged on, but these four right here I could recommend to anybody and truly say that it is worth your time and money to invest in these items (if you are comfortable with it ;) ). 

As always, thanks for reading

xoxo, Jaimie :) 

Maui, Hawaii - September 2014

As some of you may know, I just got back from vacation! I went to Maui with my best friend and her family for a week. We stayed in Napili, Maui and it honestly was such an amazing, relaxing week! I still have a lot to catch up with at home with my Etsy shop, work, laundry, and the blog so I figured today I would just round up my vacation and share some photos with you all. I would love to have all of my vacation summarized in one place, and if any of you are interested, here you go ;)

Saturday September 6th

We flew out of Seattle, Washington at 10:00 on a Saturday. We were up super early to head to the airport, drop the car off, and get ready for our flight to Hawaii. We flew on Hawaiin Airlines, and I would highly recommend it to anybody traveling to Hawaii. It really added to the experience having that Hawaiin music playing on the plane, can't really explain why, but it was fun! Each seat thankfully had a screen in the head rest so you could buy movies to pass the time. My friend Karli and I watched "The Other Woman" on the way there, it is so funny!

We arrived in Maui at 12:00pm (Hawaiin Time), so we still had plenty of time to enjoy our day. After getting our rental cars, and groceries for the week, we immediately hit up the beach. Like I said earlier, we stayed in Napili, and Napili Bay was literally right outside our condo, so it was so nice to be able to walk to the beach. It was so beautiful, we couldn't stop saying "is this real!?".

After we swam in the ocean for a while, we took a dip in the pool and then got ready for dinner. We ate at The Hula Grill, which was really good! It was right on the ocean, with a live band and we got a front row seat to watch our first sunset. 

Sunday, September 7th 

Sunday was such a fun day for us. We didn't do anything extravagant, but it turned out amazing! We started off the day getting coffee from a little coffee shop called "The Coffee Store" in Napili. We then hung out at our beach, Napili Bay, and then we went and rented snorkel gear and boogie boards from Boss Frogs. We went to D.T. Flemming Beach and tried boogie boarding. The waves weren't that great, so we didn't get to truly boogie board, but it was a great beach to hang out at! We went back home and had dinner at our condo and then went to downtown Lahaina for the night.

*this is a cool tree downtown Lahaina that is one tree that is all connected, all of these trunks and branches intertwine together and it's really cool! I think it was called the Banyon Tree.

Monday, September 8th

Monday, Karli and I woke up pretty early, and immediately saw purple and orange shining through our window. We shot out of bed and ran outside to catch the remainder of the sunrise. It was so gorgeous, I can proudly say #nofilter on all of my pictures! We then took a nice walk to the coffee store again, and then hung out at our beach for the morning.

Part of our group went and explored the Venus Pools, and a Blow Hole that were nearby Napili. I stayed back and took a nap because I felt pretty exhausted this day. I was extremely sunburnt from the day before and I think it was finally catching up to me. I am bummed I missed out on the venus pools, but I definitely needed that nap! After they got back, we again just hung out at our pool and our beach for the day! We had a big day planned for Tuesday so just had a relaxing night at home.

Tuesday, September 9th 

Tuesday, we went snorkeling! It was honestly one of the coolest things I have ever done! We snorkeled at Molokini Crater, which is in the middle of the ocean, and we took a charter boat over there (approx. an hour boat ride), and then got right in the water! It was so crazy to look down and perfectly see so many different types of marine life right below you. I saw an octopus, and eel, and SO many different, beautiful fish. I really wish I would have brought my boyfriend's GoPro camera, because I could never describe how pretty it was on the ocean floor!

It was about a 5 hour trip, and we visited two different snorkeling locations. If you are planning a trip to Maui and considering a Molokini Crater Snorkel Tour, I HIGHLY recommend taking some motion sickness pills (I took Dramamine). Even if you don't think you will get sea sick, it won't hurt you to take something. About half of our boat was sea sick the entire trip and never even got to get in the water to snorkel.

After snorkeling, we took some naps, and then went out to dinner at Bubba Gumps! We caught the most amazing sunset right outside our dinner window, and had an equally amazing dinner. It was such a fun restaurant, with trivia, fun drinks, and a great atmosphere!

Wednesday, September 10th

We had an amazing breakfast at The Gazebo in Napili. It has a huge line before the place even opens, it was so good! I forgot to take any pictures there, but I had white chocolate chip pancakes (they are famous for their banana macadamia nut pancakes). 

After breakfast, we went rock jumping at a place that the locals call "The Cliff House". It was again, walking distance from our condo which was really nice. I am a little baby, so I didn't jump off the rocks but I sat in the water giving everyone floaties once they jumped, I was the official Noodle Girl :) 

We then went back to D.T. Flemming Beach to try boogie boarding again since the previous time we went wasn't the greatest waves. We had great waves for boogie boarding! It was my first time trying it and it was extremely fun. We hung out there for the afternoon, went home and had fish tacos, and then went to downtown Lahaina to do some shopping.

Thursday, September 11th 

We took a little trip to Honolua Bay to go snorkeling. You had to take a beautiful walk through this canopy of trees, which was such a site to see. A local who owns the property recommending us not snorkeling, because the water was murky, and murky water can sometimes mean sharks will be around, so we decided not to snorkel. We took a walk completely through the trees to see the water, but then turned right back around to head to a different beach. 

We ended up going to a bay right outside Napili Point and ended up swimming with SO many sea turtles. This is referred to as Turtle Bay in Napili, and I can see why. We saw so many turtles, both above the water and below. Snorkeling is truly one of the coolest things because you can see all of these animals in their natural habitat. It was so amazing swimming right alongside a huge sea turtle, seeing how they back themselves up into their homes underwater, and seeing how they come up for air. I officially am a sea turtle lover! 

 After snorkeling at Turtle Bay, we took the drive (about an hour) to Big Beach. Big Beach is a famous beach on Maui known for its huge waves. It was extremely cloudy on our way there, but actually turned out to be a beautiful day. We hung out at this beach all afternoon, and I people-watched for hours. So many people try so many crazy things out in the waves, and I just sat back and watched!

 After Big Beach, we went downtown Lahaina again and ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise. There was a live singer, and an awesome atmosphere again. Great food too, I would highly recommend it!

Friday, September 12th

We woke up to go grab our coffee for the day, and ended up running into an extremely nice guy Jesse who let us take pictures with his parrot, Apache! It was so cool!

Our group took the trip to do The Road to Hana on Friday, but Karli and I stayed at our condo. We really wanted to stay by the beach on our last day, and not in the backseat of a car. Our group said that the road to Hana was gorgeous, but it truly took their entire day to do the trip. Karli and I didn't have a rental car, so we were limited on what we could do. 

We hung out at our pool for a while, then went to our beach. We went to a restaurant called The Sea House which was right on our beach for happy hour. After that, we went back to the pool to soak up the last bit of sun that was left of our vacation. We took our beach chairs down to the beach to watch our last sunset, which are always BREATHTAKING. 

We initially planned on meeting with our group for dinner, but they were gone later than expected. We didn't have many restaurant options so we walked down the road to a place called Iron Imu. It was southern BBQ food, and it was actually really good! 

Saturday, September 13th

We went home this day... :( I still don't want to talk about it... 

Overall, this was an AMAZING vacation. So relaxing, but equally fun and exciting! I loved going with my best friend, we made so many fun memories! I will always remember this vacation, if you have any questions about my vacation that I didn't cover here feel free to leave them down below in the comments. I will be back to normal beauty posts after this ; ) Thanks for sticking with me.

As always, thanks for reading

xoxo, Jaimie :) 

VACATION!!!

Happy Friday to all of my amazing readers!

I just wanted to get a quick post up to let you all know that I am heading out tomorrow for Vacation! I'm heading to Maui tomorrow and won't return until Saturday, September 13th. This will mean no new blog posts for the week. Hopefully this doesn't disappoint anybody too much, but it will be nice to have a break from reality for a week ;)

I wan't to give you all a little teaser of what to expect when I return.
- All about my trip to Maui
- August Favorites
- August Bulu Box (health and fitness subscription box)
- Ipsy vs. Birchbox for September
- Book Review (2!!)
- Skin Care Essentials



Can't wait to return to my little corner on the web, but also extremely excited for 7 days in the sun with my best friend!

Talk to you all soon,
xoxo, Jaimie :)