Good Morning and Happy Friday, everyone!
I’ve had a pretty busy week- both at the office and in the evenings after work where I’ve been going to various social functions/meet-ups- so I am admittedly pretty tired. I’ve really been looking forward to the weekend so I can kick back, relax, and spend some time with my family on Easter (all while eating way too much food, of course)– but wanted to share a few of my favorite things from March, first- before my “In a Nutshell” month-in-review post goes up tomorrow morning.
March was a bit tricky in terms of favorites- and a lot of it had to do with the weather here in New England. Some days were spent buried under feet of snow while others were spent out and about in nothing more than t-shirts or light sweaters, soaking up the sun. Many of my favorite items from January and February carried over as I tried to keep warm- and then some days newer, more Spring-appropriate things would find their way into my daily regimen.
I was able to narrow my list down to the essentials, however- and I’m hoping that there will be plenty more floral print and pastels to share when it comes time to write about my favorite things for April! I’m praying Spring is finally here to stay for a while!
Although my leopard print coat still got plenty of wear this past month, I also found a new favorite in this gold moto jacket throughout March, too. Form-fitting and eye-catching, this coat kept me warm on cooler days and dressed up even the most basic or “boring” of office ensembles.
I paired it with everything- flared jeans and t-shirts, maxi dresses with boots, jumpsuits with wide-brimmed hats. It just looks so effortlessly cool and dare I say- futuristic- and I know I’ll be wearing it well into April, as well!
March also marked my picking up a new David Bowie t-shirt while I was visiting Brooklyn a couple of weeks ago- and I’ve been wearing it pretty much non-stop on my days off as part of my usual “band tee and comfortable jeans” Weekend Uniform. It’s soft and baggy- which is exactly what I look for when I simply want to be comfortable while running errands or just hanging out in casual settings.
I can’t stress it enough- if you can make it to the Brooklyn Museum anytime soon- you have to check out the “David Bowie Is” exhibit! So worth the ticket price and the lines to get in!
While I’m still experimenting with new colors for the Spring (hello, lavender lipstick)– two products rarely left my face or my makeup bag throughout March- and both were so bright and so fun that at times I felt like I was getting dolled up for a pool party in the middle of Summer.
The first, a cool metallic blue/teal eye liner from Sephora– made my eyes pop and added an unexpected swipe of color along my lash line and against otherwise muted, subtle shadow shades. I love the hue and it’s longevity- which when applied over a primer- lasts all day and well into the night.
And, on my lips- ‘Yacht Week’ by Tarte– a really bright and slightly iridescent orchid/pink/purple shade. The formula is long-lasting and moisturizing, so this color doesn’t dry my lips out or bleed out to the edges of my mouth and leave it looking patchy. Instead, it hydrates my lips and keeps them looking bright and sparkly for hours. I’m in love with this color!
Exfoliation is key- especially in those weeks that transition us from Winter to Spring. Me, personally? I’m prone to dry patches and breakouts when the weather can’t seem to make up it’s mind- but proper exfoliation can slough away dead skin cells and make it easier for my moisturizers/lotions to sink deep into my pores and keep me feeling comfortable and looking dewy fresh.
I have been head over heels in love with the new, gentle exfoliating body scrubs by Dove– particularly this macadamia and rice milk one because it smells like heaven. I use the scrub every 3-4 days, and it’s gentle enough not to strip my body of essential oils- but effective enough to smooth my skin and keep it soft between uses.
It’s also super affordable and can be found at pretty much every drug store/pharmacy- so consider me a devoted fan!
And, with that marking the end of the photogenic items/products- let’s get into some of the other things I loved throughout March!
– MUSIC/MOVIES/TELEVISION –
Franz Ferdinand: ‘Always Ascending’ – Although this album was released in early February, I wanted to give it a few spins before I weighed in on it, first. I’m a big Franz Ferdinand fan- and it’s always so exciting when they suddenly release an album every few years. Although a couple of the tracks on this one took a little while to grow on me (‘The Academy Award’, for example)– the rest of the album has a sort of dark, discotheque feel to it- and I’m really, really into it!
MGMT: ‘Little Dark Age’ – Another early February release by another one of my favorite bands- MGMT were the light, poppy counterpart to Franz Ferdinand’s dark broodiness throughout my morning commute soundtrack. I’ve been listening to this one, track for track, for the better part of the month now and it’s still just as good as the first time around! I’m really excited to see these guys live soon.
‘Flip or Flop: Las Vegas’ – One of my guiltiest pleasures, really- and not just because I’m moving to Vegas. The couple who star in this obviously-edited-heavily-for-HGTV series spend the bare minimum to fix up houses that otherwise should be condemned due to how dangerous and neglected they are- and then they decorate them in the most gaudy, tacky ways imaginable and try to sell them. It’s an absolute train wreck- but one I can’t turn away from for the life of me!
– MISCELLANEOUS –
Starbucks’ Iced Hazelnut Mocha Coconut Milk Macchiato – If you can get past the ridiculous name when ordering this one, you won’t regret it. I had every intention of cutting back on caffeine this Spring- but then Starbucks came out with this combination of the best flavors ever and I can’t stop drinking them.
And I think that’s it, everyone! I’ll see you all again here tomorrow when I talk about the month overall- but until then- enjoy your Friday!
xx
– Ashley –
Blondie Birdie 