Loves of the Last Week // 17.2.19

Oh man - what a week! Valentine's day dinner was delish, I got some great news on Friday (see my last love), I officially joined my floorball team, and spring is finally here (though while I love the warmth, it's unnerving that it was 60 degrees in the middle of February)! That, and it's officially one month until I turn 29. Last week had its ups and downs, but I'm glad that everything happened. 

Loves of the Last Week // 10.2.19

Another week in the early part of the year, another week of early bedtimes and restless nights. Let's just say that this week my list of loves is a bit shorter than the last. 

Loves of the Last Week // 3.2.19

This week has been long. It's honestly hard to believe that we only got back from celebrating PJ's graduation in London on Tuesday because it feels like it's been a lifetime since then.

So. I've been thinking, and there are way too many things in my brain to be able to recount them to you, my friends, my colleagues, my boyfriend - even Hobson! Thus, I've decided to start up a new series (inspired by Grace Atwood's weekend reading) on the things I've loved this week. I hope you enjoy. A small disclaimer - I know my tastes aren't everyone's cup of tea/coffee/wine/whatever, but I like what I like and, as someone who blogs, I love to share.

Paperless Post and PJ's Graduation

Let's clear things up first: I loooooove snail mail. But I’m also extraordinarily bad at 1) buying international stamps 2) going to the post office and, most importantly 3) writing. I have the handwriting of a 7-year-old. It’s so chicken-scratchy that my manager once gasped with a slight chuckle the first time she saw my handwriting in person. I also tend to feel pretty guilty when I consider the environmental costs of sending a tiny piece of cardboard across the ocean to my friends. 

So, needless to say, I was thrilled when Paperless Post reached out to me to try their service. Though I’ve dabbled with Paperless Post before, I had only ever used the free option for flyers and received a few Save the Dates from friends. But, spoiler alert, I can fully see myself using it for any invites I might need to send out when the time is right. Reducing my carbon footprint and sending beautiful mail is a combination I can easily get behind. 

The stationary lover in me was thrilled. So. Many. OPTIONS to choose from, and zero necessary reasons to leave the comfort of my living room (or my dog) and head into the January cold to send out cards for the new year. We just for our second snow of the season so I'm especially feeling this way today. 

It also happened to be the time when we were preparing for PJ’s graduation ceremony from KCL, and while he’s actually the person I’m most likely to buy a real, paper card for, he’s the least likely to keep them on display for more than two days.

Luckily we have plenty of digital memories to keep - his graduation was great. 

 Dress // ASOS

Shoes // ASOS

So - on I went to Paperless Post. The process is easy, but I’m pretty indecisive so this was a very nice, soft lesson in making choices. 

First, you choose exactly what type of mail you want to send out - they have flyers, save the dates, greeting cards, invitations - anything you could want, for any reason. I chose to go for the obvious (this time) and scoured the graduation greeting card options before ultimately settling on one from the congratulations section. 

We received tickets to The Lion King in the West End for Christmas during this little London excursion, so I was more than excited to find this appropriately themed card. Then came the backdrop, envelope liner, and response card options - you’ll forgive me for now showing off my personal message to my favourite graduate. Some sentimental secrets need to be kept!

Of course, I wanted to send it immediately so I could see his reaction to my handiwork but thought he may like the surprise of receiving it as he prepares to cross the stage even more than I’d like to see him get it, so I was extremely happy to discover the scheduling feature. A girlfriend’s gotta do what she’s gotta do sometimes, you know? And I was right - he adored it and I was so happy to get to congratulate him in multiple ways throughout the day!

Now to make a list of all the birthdays coming up in the next few months so I can brighten up the inboxes of all my friends. 

xox,

Suz

Let's talk beauty // Maybelline Snapscara

I've been on the hunt for the best mascara for the better part of 14 years. Everyone knows it - my best friend's mom asked me my newest preferences at her daughter's wedding this summer; a college friend asked me if I was still obsessed with making my lashes as black and long as possible, and it had been 5 years since we'd seen each other (my bad!).

My favourite mascara isn't sold in Belgium so I've been on the hunt for something that's more easily accessible for this Belgium-based lash lover.

Thus, I was extremely happy, and surprised, to find the new Maybelline Snapscara at a decent price in Au Chan in Lille (for some reason, France is always the best place for beauty buys in this region). As an avid social media user, I had of course seen Maybelline's posts and ads for this with Gigi, and I can't say that I was particularly impressed. But mascara is one of the things that I'm always willing to try so into my basket it went!

I waited just 12 hours before trying this, and I was gobsmacked. The formula has no wax so it's nice and smooth, but I worried that all it would be to my fine, blonde lashes would be to colour them. But this baby makes it look like I'm wearing falsies, with no clumps, and it doesn't flake at all, with no need to reapply before a night out, though it does layer well.

My point? If you're a mascara lover, try this. I like my lashes thick, curled, and black, and this helps me check off every need on my list.

Have you given it a go? Let me know your favourite mascara!

xox,

Suz