Holiday Thoughts

Hey, guys! I didn't have any products I was really excited to review this week, so instead I wanted to take some time out to share a little bit about my thoughts on the holidays. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled scent-related product reviews after Christmas (but probably not next Sunday, since I'll be on a plane).

Last year was the first time ever that I wasn't with my family for Christmas. I grew up in New England and until last year, that's where my entire family was. My parents are still there, but about a year and a half ago, I moved to Tennessee. My sister followed a few months later (though she's moved again now). And then last fall, my aunt, who was pretty much the keeper of Christmas, moved to Florida. At that point, our traditional Christmas plans pretty much fell apart. I could have gone back home, or to Florida, but I'd just gone home for Thanksgiving and plane tickets are expensive. Plus I was working in retail at the time, and if you've ever worked in retail, you know how hard it is to get time off around the holidays. As it was, I'd had to fly back Friday afternoon after Thanksgiving to work Black Friday. So the thought of spending a few hundred dollars to have a couple good days but ultimately have another holiday ruined by my job was unappealing. My sister and I went to see the Christmas lights at the Opryland Resort (if you ever find yourself in Nashville around the holidays, this is a must-see), saw Frozen, and had dinner at Dave & Buster's (not our first choice, but surprisingly good, if a little depressing). We made do, but it was not a holiday to write home about. This year, I swore things would be different.

When Black Friday ruined my Thanksgiving, I promised myself that this year I would not be working retail. Thankfully, I was able to keep that promise. I had a couple of part-time coworkers whose full-time jobs were at a company they raved about. Just about the time I was having to remind myself on a daily basis, "You cannot quit. You have nowhere else to go. Remember rent? Yeah, that's a thing that needs to be paid," they said their company was hiring. They passed along my resume and I got hired in June. Besides the regular hours, the health insurance, and the awesome coworkers, one of the best things about this job is the fact that I have vacation time and holidays off. Working around the holidays and having those sad little breaks last year really made me appreciate how important the uninterrupted family time that comes with holidays is to me.

I got to spend six days at home for Thanksgiving this year, which was awesome. I had a relaxed holiday, took a side trip to New York City, caught up with a couple friends I hadn't seen in a while, and just enjoyed being home with my family. It was fantastic. And for Christmas, I invited myself to Florida. It's going to be a short trip, but I'll be with my aunt and her husband, enjoying home-cooked meals and catching up after going way too long without seeing her. Last Christmas could have been worse (all I can say is thank goodness my sister was living here at the time), but I'm definitely thrilled that I won't be having Christmas dinner in a sports bar.

Anyway, I just wanted to take some time to reflect on how much things can change in a year, and to urge you to enjoy your families and friends this time of year. I know we can all get caught up in the sales and the presents and the parties, and those things are great, but it's nice to remember how much joy the simple things can bring us, too. Whether you're spending Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/etc. with friends and family or at a Dave & Buster's, I hope you find a way to make it a special time.

Happy Holidays!

The Body Shop Body Lotion

The Body Shop $12

So here's the deal: I have this in "Early Harvest Raspberry" which I bought because I've never met a raspberry I didn't love. However, it's a seasonal scent that isn't available right now, so I can't link to it. That being said, you can't go wrong with any of The Body Shop's scents. I linked to the strawberry scent because I figured it's the closest to raspberry, but they also have peach, mango, and others, and they all smell delicious. Anyway, on we go...

This is a pretty heavy scent and it lasts a while. Obviously it fades over time, but I do still notice the scent the next morning and sometimes into the afternoon and evening, the day after I use it. This might bother some people, but I love it. I hate when you put on a scented product and in 15 minutes it seems to be gone. This lotion isn't overpowering, but it's definitely there, and it definitely sticks around. I'm obsessed with the raspberry (which will probably be back next summer/fall), but like I said, you can't go wrong with any of the scents. I'm partial to the peach and the mango, which are year-round scents, and they have a seasonal apple scent right now that is to die for (though apparently they don't have the apple in this exact product). I tried to buy a hand lotion in the apple last week but some lady had apparently just bought out the store. 

Anyway, this a pretty thin lotion. I like that because although my face and hands are super dry, my body isn't so bad. I use body lotion more for maintenance than treatment, and I like that this sinks in fast and isn't oily as it dries. It is super sticky when you're applying it, which I'll readily admit is extremely strange. I don't know what that's about. But after a minute or so the stickiness is gone and my skin feels moisturized but not slimy like it sometimes does with thicker creams and lotions. That being said, if you're looking for a seriously moisturizing body lotion, this is probably not the one for you. 

Thanksgiving

Just a heads up, I will not be posting this week(end). I'm going home for the first time in a year and will be spending time with my family and friends I haven't seen in way too long. I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving!!

This Must Be What Hell Smells Like: Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protector Frizz Fighter

Sephora $33 (out of stock)

Let me preface this post with a disclaimer: I used this product precisely once before returning it (you can probably tell why from the title), so I can't speak to how it works. That being said...

Welcome to my first "This must be what hell smells like" post. You know how in my banner it says the scent can make or break a product? Well, I'm putting this one in the "break" column. When I bought this, I had just cut my hair short for the first time in a while and I had grand plans of straightening my hair regularly (Ha! Tell that to my lazy self when I'm trying to get ready in 15 minutes or less in the morning). With that in mind, I began carefully comparing products on Sephora's website to see what might help cut down on frizz while also giving me heat protection and shine. I settled on Drybar's Hot Toddy Heat Protector and Frizz Fighter. It claims to "naturally enhance shine and bounce" by "sealing split ends" and "creating a protective barrier against heat." It's cruelty free and safe for use on keratin and color-treated hair. Sold.

It came in the mail and I decided to try it immediately. The first thing I did after I smoothed it into my hair was run my head under the faucet and rinse it all out. I can't even describe the smell. Reviews online say it smells fruity and other people thought it smelled great, so maybe my nose was off that day. Maybe I got a bad bottle. All I know is that I literally could not stand to live with the smell. I actually stuck my head in the sink because I couldn't even wait to get in the shower. The scent was overwhelmingly strong, and not in a good way. I returned it and went for a cheap drugstore heat protector while I looked for something better. Two years later I think I've straightened my hair once, so I'm glad I didn't end up spending a lot on a product I did need.

What's the last product that made you say, "Oh my gosh, no. You could not pay me to use this again"?

One Lovely Blog Award

I want to begin by thanking Sari from The Sweet Life for nominating me for the One Lovely Blog award. She's got a really fun blog dedicated to the things she loves like beauty, fashion and food, so check it out and show her some love.

The One Lovely Blog award is passed around by bloggers to the new(ish) blogs that they want to bring some attention to. The award allows bloggers to recognize those blogs they think are "lovely" based on content and the way that their authors interact with followers and other bloggers. It's a great way for the blogging community to come together and help each other bring in some more viewers. To accept the award, bloggers must complete the following five steps:

1) Thank the person who nominated you and include a link to their blog.
2) Follow the person who nominated you on bloglovin'.
3) List the rules and display the award image in your post.
4) Share 7 facts about yourself.
5) Nominate other bloggers you want to know better.

Here are 7 facts about me:

1) This is my 4th attempt at blogging, and the only one that's lasted more than a couple of posts. I have the Birchbloggers community to thank for that! When I've tried to blog before, I've given up when I realized that no one was reading (side note: Page views are great, but I'd really love to hear from you. Please comment if you like (or hate) what you're reading).

2) I moved from New England to the South a year and a half ago and I still feel like I'm new to town.

3) I watch way too much tv (and my two favorite shows, Scandal and Parks and Recreation, could not be more different).

4) I used to sing in chorus, musical theater, and a cappella and I miss it all the time.

5) I've changed my mind approximately 1,700 times since I graduated 4 years ago about what I want to do with my life, and I still haven't figured it out.

6) I adore makeup, but I hardly ever wear it because I can't seem to make it out of bed more than 10 minutes before I need to leave in the morning.

7) I get unbelievably excited any time it snows.

I nominate:

Jade at A Teaspoon of Serendipity

And I'm looking for a few more bloggers to nominate, so if you would like a nomination, please let me know and I'll update this post!

DevaCurl Styling Cream

DevaCurl Styling Cream $25

This one's an oldie but a goodie. I've been using this styling cream for a while now (just checked and it's been 11 months) and I'm still on my first bottle. When I first bought it, I remember thinking, "Should I really be spending this much on a styling cream?" but 11 months later, I've definitely gotten my money's worth out of it. 

Anyway, I'm writing about this cream because when I first got it, I remember saying, "Oh my goodness, I don't even care what this does to my hair. It was worth $25 just to smell it." And the smell is heavenly. It's always reminded me of grapes for some reason, but don't buy it or not based on that description, because that's more of a feel than a smell. I can't explain how a smell can feel like a grape, but... Okay, this is veering into bizzare-o rambling territory, so let me try this again. A commenter on the Sephora website described this as smelling like Starburst candy, and I actually think that's a great description. It's sweet and fruity and I seriously want to eat it every time I do my hair (don't eat it!). 

Remember how I said I didn't care what it did to my hair as long as it kept on smelling just that delicious? Well, this cream actually works really great for me. I have super thick, wavy hair. Too much product and it's crunchy and flat. Not enough and I get a vaguely triangular, frizzy mess. About a pump to a pump-and-a-half of this (My hair is shoulder-length now. I used 2-3 pumps when it was mid-back-length) and I'm good to go. I rub it between my hands, run my hands through my hair until most of the cream is off, scrunch, then flip my head over and shake my hair out. The flipping and shaking probably undoes the scrunching, but that's what works for me, so I keep doing it. The DevaCurl cream helps give my hair a little more curl definition while keeping the frizz at bay. The description says it works best with "Botticelli and corkscrew curls" (I have no idea what Botticelli curls are. Anyone?), so it's probably even better if you are lucky enough to have real curls, but I've been happy with what it does for my wavy hair. 

I'll probably buy this again when I run out unless I find something I love even more first. Any suggestions? I'm always looking for ways to make my hair look styled just by tossing in some product. 

On a side note, I'm looking for some blogs to nominate for the One Lovely Blog Award (it's a fun way to get to know a little bit about some great new bloggers, spread the love to some blogs your readers may not be familiar, and get some links back to your own blog). All you have to do is write a few facts about yourself and provide links to a few other blogs. Super simple. So if you have or you know anyone who has a blog you think would like to participate, leave a comment below with a link to the blog. Thanks!

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion $18

Keeping on the moisturizer track, today's product is Naobay's Body Radiance Lotion. I got this in a Birchbox a few months ago and it immediately went on my favorites list. I made my sample last as long as I could, but it's gone now and I can't wait to buy more. It's a very light lotion. A lot of the reviews online are from people saying, "It was alright, but I prefer a thicker lotion," but I actually love that it's light and almost a little liquidy. It rubs in really easily and doesn't leave your hands feeling sticky afterwards. This lotion also left my skin feeling so smooth, I just wanted to touch my legs all the time. I would shave, put this lotion on, and go into my sister's room and say, "Feel how smooth my legs are." She thought I was weird, but whatever. 

This lotion has a lemon scent that I love. The smell definitely lingers, but I don't think it's overwhelming. Also, I don't know if this is a selling point or not, but my sister's cats loved the smell. I'd use this, go into her room in capris, and they'd immediately start licking my legs. The website says this is 98% natural and 19% organic, so it's probably not as bad for them as it could have been. Obviously, I tried to prevent the cats from trying to eat my lotion, but the point is, this scent is loved by both humans and animals! I have, I want to say, 4? full-size bottles of lotion right now, so I'm waiting to buy this, but it's definitely worth it.

Has anyone else tried this lotion? Did you love it as much as I did?

TOCCA Crema da Mano

TOCCA Crema da Mano $10

Okay, so it's been a while. I've been in the process of moving - side note: Is there anything worse than moving? - and it's sort of taken over my life, but I'm in my new place now, so I have no excuse. I still have an abundance of unpacking and organizing to do, but it's slowly coming together. The one thing that is the most daunting and I am also most excited to organize is my bathroom. The new place has pretty much no bathroom storage, which is a giant pain in the short-term, but also means I won't be able to leave things out on the counter and make a giant mess in the long-term, so, yay? Anyway, I'm getting back to what I think I'll call improved normal, which means I'm going to start blogging in a much more regular manner. I'm promising to post once a week (probably Sundays going forward), with the potential for more. I'm also still playing around with what I want the blog to be, so expect some out of the ordinary posts coming up soon. Let me know what you think when they arrive. 

So here we go with another favorite: TOCCA's Crema da Mano. This was (again) a Birchbox find, and I feel like it is especially appropriate to write about now that the temperatures are starting to drop. I'm prone to dryness all the time, but especially in the fall/winter. It's only early November and already I can see my hands starting to crack. When you're dry like I am, you tend to develop very strong feelings about very boring things like hand creams, and I'm definitely in love with this one. It's moisturizing without the greasiness you get with a lot of hand creams. I keep it in my desk at work and use it a couple times a day (probably not as often as I should, but I'm trying to make the decent-sized sample I have last as long as possible). Since moving it from my purse to my desk, this is what I've learned is the mark of a good hand cream: I put it on, rub it in, go straight back to work, and don't see any greasy residue on my mouse or keyboard. This is actually really amazing to me, because even hand creams that didn't make me feel greasy in the past still looked greasy, so the fact that one that smells so good, doesn't, makes it a winner in my book.

That's right, the smell... This comes in five different scents: Cleopatra (grapefruit and cucumber), Stella (blood orange), Giulietta (pink tulip and green apple), Bianca (green tea and lemon), and Florence (bergamot and gardenia). I have Cleopatra, which I love. I think the cucumber is a little stronger than the grapefruit, but cucumber's an overwhelming scent that way. There is a nice, fruity hint from the grapefruit. I don't know what else is in there, but it's good. Yes, I need to moisturize my hands during the day, but part of the appeal of using this at work is that it smells so good it gives me a little pick-me-up in the middle of the day. Basically I smell hand cream instead of drinking coffee. Weird? Yeah, probably weird. Anyway, Cleopatra is great, but I can't wait to try Giulietta next. Tulip and apple? How can that not be amazing? 

Have you tried any of the TOCCA hand creams or any other hand creams that I should know about (seriously, you can never have too many)?

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser

Okay, this one might be my favorite thing I've ever sampled from Birchbox (and I've been a subscriber for over a year now, so that's a lot of products). To date, it's the only sample I've actually bought the full-size version of. Now, I haven't actually used it since I bought it because I currently have 4 cleansers I'm trying to finish up, but that's not the point. The point is, this is my absolute favorite cleanser and were it a little bit cheaper, I wouldn't have 4 inferior cleansers to get rid of. It's organic, which I love, and gentle enough to use more often than a traditional exfoliator. When you wet it and rub your hands together a little bit, it starts to foam, and something about the foaming and the exfoliating together made it almost a little bit fizzy. It sounds weird, I know, but it left my face feeling so clean and refreshed. I cannot stress how much I love this cleanser. And of course now that I'm thinking about it, I'm going to have to start using it again. Sorry, 4 other cleansers I just can't seem to get rid of.

Anyway, on to the reason we're here. The scent is described as "lemongrass and chamomile," but the lemongrass is the real star. As it turns out, I love me a good, strong lemon-y scent. I love it in my face wash, my lotion, my cleaning products... I just love lemon. It just smells clean, which is great for a cleanser. This one is strong but not overpowering, so you get a nice jolt of citrus-y goodness while you're washing your face, but it doesn't really linger. The scent is actually what first got my attention, but the actual product definitely lives up. Can you be in love with a face wash? 'Cause I think I am...

Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Body Wash

I feel like I should start with the body wash that inspired this blog topic. It's not the first product I've used where the scent made a huge difference in how much I liked or didn't like the product, but it is the first that made me think, "This smells so good I want to tell people about it." The description online says it "leaves behind a fresh aqualeaf and citrus scent." A lot of people, in their reviews, said it reminded them of the beach. I do understand that, though I can't say I personally thought of the beach. It's a little bit sweet (maybe that's the citrus) but not overwhelmingly so, in the way that vanilla is. Maybe it's because the name is "Spa Therapy" but it does remind me of a spa. Or a bubble bath. Whenever I smell it, I'm instantly relaxed.

The second part of the equation, of course, is how does it work? It's always kind of hard to tell with body wash because how bad would it have to be not to work, right? But I will say it gets nice and sudsy, which I appreciate in a body wash, and I felt clean, which is what you want.

Moral of the story is that when I tried this I thought, "This is the best thing I have ever smelled." That may or may not be true; I mean, I've smelled a lot of things in my life and I couldn't possibly remember all of them, but it smells so good that I am actually willing to spend $15 on body wash, so that's saying something.

Introduction

I know the scent of a skincare/makeup/hair/etc. product is not the most important thing. I know that, and still I have a hard time remembering it. The best products work great and smell great, but I can't tell you how many times I've said, "I don't even care if this works. I'd buy it again just based on the smell." Clearly, I have a problem. But if you, like me, care more about the scent of a product than you should, and will return a product that doesn't smell good, no matter how many reviewers raved about it, then keep reading. Most of the new products I try come from Birchbox, so I'll probably end up posting about once a month when I get my boxes, but if I come across products I love (or hate) in between, I'll post about them, too. So without further ado...