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The Better Department Store Makeup

April 30, 2015

I got such a positive response from my post about my favorite drug store beauty products, so I thought it would be fun to show you guys what items I love enough to spend a little bit more money on.
from left to right
Kai Oil Perfume. I am in love with anything gardenia related, so this scent fits me perfectly. It’s very strong so a light dab is all that is needed. Plus I love how convenient the size for keeping in my purse and taking with me when I travel.
Nars Matte Lip. This lipstick is magic! I own it in a variety of colors, and I think it is well worth the price. I wore it on New Year’s Eve and one application at 9PM lasted me well until 2AM.
Clinique Stay Matte Foundation. I’ve owned some expensive foundations (Make Up Forever, Dior, Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown), but this $23 dollar purchase has a beautiful formula, matches my skin tone, and comes with so much product. Plus it gives the wearer a lot of options in terms of coverage. On a day to day basis, I’ll buff some onto my trouble spots, but I still have the options of layering and doing a full face on fancier occasions.
Tarte Smooth Operator Concealer. At first, I was concerned that this Tarte concealer would be too thick and give me cakey results. However, after months of use (and just bought my first replacement), I have realized how much I depend on this in my day to day makeup routine. A little goes a long way, and by the end of the day, it looks just as flawless as it did in the morning.
Touche Éclat. While this is super pricey, I am always willing to bite the bullet and hand fork over the money for this product because it lasts forever and does a beautiful job at highlighting my brow and cheekbones for a glowy look.

Do you have any must-haves that you find are totally worth the hefty price?

The Better Bolognese & Bucanti

April 23, 2015

While the real star of this food show is the bolognese sauce, I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to talk about the fact that bucanti is the best and most underrated pasta. It’s like a thick spaghetti straw that holds onto sauce really well. Spongebob pasta, my old favorite has officially been demoted.

The Better Mongolian Pillow DIY

April 19, 2015

As I’ve been working to pull my apartment together, I’ve started to learn the importance of budgeting and being smart about where I spend money. As much as I love love love these Mongolian pillows, spending $150 for one pillow just doesn’t make sense no matter how I try to justify it.
While playing around with some of the faux sheepskin rugs from Ikea, my sister came up with the great idea of creating a pillowcase from the rugs to mimic the expensive, trendy versions I’ve seen in some of my favorite home stores.  Since I’m a big fan of changing things up regularly, I just chose to use a safety pin and an old pillow to achieve the look. This way if I decide I’m over the fuzzy pillow, or I accidentally spill some red wine on it, I can easily remove the sheepskin and still have a pillow I love.
The best thing about this DIY is that it is cheap cheap cheap! If you have a pillow you can repurpose (mine is about 14.5 x 10 inches) and a safety pin, you will only spend $13 to purchase the Ikea rug

The Better Pomme Rösti with Salmon & Crème Frîache

April 12, 2015

As my sister and I continue to decorate our apartment, I can’t help but get excited about the housewarming party we are going to have. Also, I’m excited about loads of yummy hors d’ oeuvres I’ll get to serve. A while ago when I was home in California, I made this pomme rösti as a fun breakfast for me and my mom. We drank orange juice and ate in our bathrobes, but that does not mean this has to be limited to a morning meal. I think if they are placed on a platter next to a stack of napkins they will make a simple, yet sophisticated treat for our guests.

The Better Podcasts I'm Currently Listening To

April 09, 2015


1. IF I WERE YOU SHOW: An advice podcast where people write in with their life problems and then the hosts proceed to give their advice. Rarely helpful, always funny. They can get pretty vulgar, so I never listen when my mom is around. 

2. THROWING SHADE: Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi are a hilarious duo who discuss all things women's issues and gay rights. Informative, funny, and original; this is one of my favorites.

3. THE MOTH: Everyone has a story to tell, and The Moth podcast proves that if you're intrigued by the art of storytelling this is for you.

4. HOW TO DO EVERYTHING: Mike and Ian answer questions big and small. From how to eat more on Thanksgiving day, to how to find water in a desert, to the best way to peel a banana. These guys are on it. Informative and highly entertaining.

5. STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW: Every episode Chuck and Mike pick a topic and explain it with great detail. If you ever wondered how subways work or what body farms are, take a listen and you will become the best dinner party conversationalist to ever exist. 

6. MILLENNIAL: A new podcast from the people who made some of my favorite podcasts when I was in high school. This show humorously discusses pop culture and informatively covers news and politics in a way I can actually follow.

7. ASK ME ANOTHER: A game show in a podcast is the best way I can describe this. Be wary if you listen to this while commuting on the subway. When you shout out answers in triumph, people will be perplexed and frightened.

Tell me, what podcasts are staples for you?