The 2 for 4$ Drugstore Matte Lip Score

 It's admittedly been a while since I found anything truly exciting at the drugstore. I went through a long phase where I bought a lot of drugstore makeup and had a lot of 50/50 experiences. 

I think that's to be expected when you're shopping on a budget. In my experience the formulations, while great for some, have a much more narrow margin of success at a lower price point. Since then my beauty budget has increased a bit and so I'm more inclined to shell out for pricier products.

That said, every once in a while the drugstore gives up some really stellar surprises. 

Treat Yo Self

 So ok... I know we were supposed to talk about eye things but then over the weekend I did a thing.

I bought the Burberry Lip Velvet Lipstick in Oxblood because I can't help myself and because it's a beautiful, perfect, autumnal red. 

This is not my first foray into luxury lip products but it has been a long time since I was inspired to spend more than 30$ on lipstick. 

In fact I haven't bought much makeup the last few months anyway but when I found myself with a little extra cash to spare I went right for the lipstick display. 

Oxblood is the color they used in their most recent runway show and has since been dubbed the brand's "signature color".

Wishlist: Korean Skincare Edition

Apart from the inaugural BB Cream moment that took the beauty world by storm about 5 years ago my dabbling in Asian beauty products has been pretty minimal. I've trialed a sheet mask here and there (meh) and my love of cleansing oils began with the DHC version. 

So while my experience is minimal I have had something of a skincare revelation at the hands of a Korean brand.

So when I spotted the Sephora SoKo to Tokyo kit, pictured above, I knew this was a perfect opportunity to nab some much talked about products for a VERY fair $40 price. 

In addition to the value set; Sephora has upped their Asian skincare selection and America website Peach and Lily has been gaining momentum across the blogosphere for bringing new Korean goodies straight to the American skincare loving public in real time. 

There has never been a better time for a wishlist. 

Romancing the Glow

Something about this Summer has reinvigorated my love of a tan. I have been responsibly beach going on the weekends since my return from vacation and as such have had my first real summer tan in over a decade. 

As such I am starting to dread losing my color. I know a couple of months down the line I'll be loving my Snow White winter complexion with a nice dark lip but for now I'm all about holding on to what's left of my Summer glow. 

Crystal All the Things

I have been majorly jewelry obsessing over here this Summer. Ever since I started shopping to go on vacation I've been preoccupied with updating my wardrobe and investing in some nicer pieces to add to the line up. 

No while the clothing arena is a little slow going right nowI've definitely developed a definitive preference when it comes to my personal decoration. 

All the crystals and ALL the good vibes. 

The Mid-Week Pamper

 There are a million different people out there talking about how they love a good Sunday pamper session. 

Who doesn't?

A whole evening spent relaxing before the work week starts and treating your skin to some TLC is always great but, every once and a while I like to throw in a slightly modified mid week pick me up.

If it has been an especially difficult week a couple of masks and a little facial massage can go a long way to get you over the hump.

Dublin, Ireland #zitosonparade

 Next stop on the list was Dublin. 

Now to be totally fair the Zitos spent a grand total of 6 hours in Dublin.

So not nearly as long as some of the other places we saw and certainly not long enough to get a real feel for the city. 

So while I can't really recommend anything specific maybe some of my snapshots will inspire some visits of your own.

Oh! We did have lunch and a few quick pints at O'Donohgues on Suffolk St which was quick, easy and, delicious. It came at the recommendation of a friend from Dublin and it was a solid choice. Looked like an excellent music spot too. 

Dingle Co. Kerry Ireland #zitosonparade

Holy view Batman!

Today marks the chance for me to share easily one of if not my favorite location from the entirety of the epic Irish tour.

I actually find myself at a bit of a loss for words with this one. 

The town of Dingle is set into a gently rising hill along the coast of Dingle Bay and is speckled with a rainbow colored array of buildings that house a selection of shops and pubs that far exceed the tourist spots along the main drag.

There are some great places to stop in before touring the peninsula to get a bite, some snacks for the road or some memorabilia on your way.

Holding Out for $2 Perfection

I have spent nearly a year and a half with various postcards, posters and prints haphazardly taped to walls in a holding pattern just waiting for the perfect frames. 

Yes...yes I am a little bit picky I will admit but, the last place I anticipated finding the perfect addition to the collection was the new to New York Flying Tiger flagship.

The best part?

They were 2$.

No Such Thing as Signature

I don't like to plunk for new fragrances too too often, I find that it's one of the few beauty arenas (along with mascara and face powder) that I ever really finish in a timely way. 

As I've gotten a little older my tastes seemed to have changed pretty drastically. 

My desire for variety has not.

The new baby is Bella Freud's Ginsberg is God.

It's Cheaper At Home

 I went all the way to London, trolled the Charlotte Tilbury counter at Selfidges and then came home and snapped up one of the newest shades of the Matte Revolution lipstick. 

What? It was cheaper at home.

Just a Dusting

 The one thing I seem to be able to successfully keep in my collection one at a time is face powder. I'm not sure if it's because it's less fun to buy than other base or color products or if it's because I go through it faster than any other product in my collection.

It's the one thing I always manage to show the most loyalty to as well. I find myself finding a formula I love, going back to it two or three times and then move on to something new. 

There were quite a few new to me formulas on my international "to buy" list so for the first time in months I have more than one compact to work my way through.

Nails:New In

It has been quite a while since I've purchased nail polishes. Not just since I've featured them on the blog but since I've bought any period. 

I had amassed such a large collection at one point that it became overwhelming.

A little over a year ago I got rid of a whole bunch of colors and have bought very few new colors since. 

When I was away on vacation though, I thought it would be a lovely opportunity to give a couple of new to me formulas a shot.* 

The Homewear Wishlist:1

I have done a seemingly endless amount of wishlist posts on the blog before and almost all of them centered around clothes or beauty so this time I thought I'd switch things up and talk a little home inspiration with you guys. 

After my 3 week vacation and some rather thought provoking AirBnB stays I've been newly inspired to up the anti in my own space once again. 

Ever since I moved into my current apartment I have been slowly getting rid of all of the "temporary" and left over collegiate furnishings in favor of some slightly more sturdy adult options. 

In addition I've been going a step above just blue tacking a few posters to my walls and hoping for the best. 

...So with some careful Amazon-ing and some skillful souvenir shopping I've gotten some new ideas for my spaces. 

Cashel: Country Tipperary,Ireland #zitosonparade (I'm Back!)

View from the Rock of Cashel

I'm back from my three week family vacation and can't wait to share some of the snaps I took with you guys! I really wanted to have things ready to go up while I was gone but ultimately between work and friends and packing I simply ran out of time. 

I'm going to make it up to you though. 

I have the rest of the Summer and 1,300 photos to share from our epic family adventure...not to mention several haul videos worth of products, prints, clothes, books and, albums.

Storm King Art Center Saturday

So last weekend on something of a whim some of my coworkers and I headed out of Queens and up to New Windsor NY to check out the Storm King Arts Center. 

Despite having lived within a half hour of the place for more or less my whole life I'd never been so I figured it was finally time for a little art hike.

If you are in the Hudson Valley or are looking for a cool day trip from NYC this would easily be my first recommended stop. 

It doesn't hurt that the drive up is a beaut too.

Look Alive

 Organic and "all natural" makeup is a tricky thing. With brands constantly on the hunt to find ways of selling customers a more green angle it's hard to know what brands that claim to be organic are legit.

RMS Beauty has long been regarded as one of the forerunners in organic and green beauty products. While this isn't necessarily a huge concern for me when it comes to beauty (I'm an equal opportunity hoarder) when you hear enough about any given product it's hard not to cave and give it a try. 

So when a little coupon code incentive surfaced for DermStore last week I went ahead and finally picked up the RMS Living Luminizer. 

DIY Yourself into a Golden Girl

Remember a couple weeks ago when I mentioned how much I missed making things.

Well I've started to again and it feels SO. GOOD.

I posted this picture on Instagram last week and I thought today I'd walk you through how I made my new Golden Girls-esque circle shroud. 

At least that's what I'm calling it.

The Warm Weather Dark Lip Obsession

I'm not sure what it is this year. Normally I am SO on board with spring this-summer that but this year it seems the only shades that have graced my lips have been in the blood red and burgundy families.

Admittedly I'm having a bit of a baby goth girl moment as my Instagram can certainly attest to.

I think there is something about a more generous makeup application that feels fun for me right now.

I have mentioned a fair few of these babies before but as they have barely left my lips in nearly a month I think it's high time they got another shout out.

Come Correct

As a makeup junkie with hereditary dark under-eye circles and years of concealers and correctors under my belt it gets very hard to find things that do anything new for you. 

On my "to buy" list for this year's Spring VIB sale was a product I had heard so much about but just could not commit to the insane price tag.

It is so worth it.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Giorgio Armani Master Corrector.