so in right now.

It’s always good news when some favorite things become popular and/or make a comeback.

For example - Is it just me, or were people hating on cats for far too long? From fashion to art to plain old Pinterest cuteness, it seems cats are getting the recognition they’ve always deserved.

I love me a massive nearly-size-of-my-head cupcake as much as the next girl, but they can be a bit excessive when you just want something small to satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s no surprise that bite-sized cupcakes have become quite trendy recently – they’re adorable, and you can eat 2-3 at a time.

Tip: they’re especially tasty if stored in the fridge or even freezer. Just saying.

The only good thing about 75% of new movies being complete rubbish (and taking FOREVER to come out on Netflix…) is that it allows time to catch up on the oldies that I’ve never seen. The acting in Flashdance may have been painful at times, but at the end of the day I never met a cult movie I didn’t like.

There’s a time and a place for smiling in photos, but there’s also a time to…well, not. Being silly makes for a much more fun memory, if you ask me.

And then, there are things that never go out of style.

So in. Always.

What are you glad is “in” right now?

holiday beauty must-haves (+ deals).



The only thing better than getting dolled up for the holidays is getting dolled up for the holidays with fun new beauty products.

…and the only thing better than getting dolled up with new beauty products? Getting deals on new beauty products. That’s why I was more than willing to share some of these amazing deals on products from P&G – a premier online retail site with new and better ways to shop online.

When it comes to appearing and feeling your absolute best for the holidays, my favorite look is a simple one. It’s still looking like your natural gorgeous self, but using a few easy tricks to give a bit of a pop to your every makeup or beauty routine.

My first go-to when I want to switch things up a bit? A classic red lip. What’s great about a red lip is that it instantly ties the rest of your look together. With a little black dress, a few accessories, and hair pulled back – you’re good to go for your work holiday party or get-together with friends.

I love CoverGirl Outlast All Day Lipcolor, which keep your lips looking fresh and bold for up to 16 hours. And if you’re not into red, it comes in 38 different shades. Click here for a deal on CoverGirl Outlast All Day Lipcolor.

To make your red lip even more eye-catching, make sure your teeth are looking their best. I’m a huge fan of Crest White Strips for a fast and easy way to get your pearly whites looking…well, less pearly and more white. Click here for a deal on Crest White Strips.

If a red lip isn’t your thing, you can glam up your holiday look by instead focusing on your eyes. I love a good smokey eye paired with a neutral lip.

I always go straight for CoverGirl when it comes to my eye makeup products as well. To me, it’s the best quality while still being inexpensive. Here are the deals for some of my favorite CoverGirl eye products:

CoverGirl LashBlast 24HR Mascara

Cat Eye: LashBlast Volume Mascara

Cat Eye: CoverGirl LiquilineBlast Eye Liner

In addition to taking the opportunity to get dolled up, I think the holidays are the perfect time to spoil yourself…but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hundreds of dollars treating yourself to a day at the spa. Give yourself a spa treatment at home with some of my favorite Olay products.

Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Facial Moisturizer

Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion - 2.2 oz & Peel System Skin Care

So go ahead…take a break from Christmas shopping for others for a bit and get yourself a treat, will you? All of the deals include:

  • 15% off on a first-time order from a new customer, using promo code: A9Z-MN5-KY3-ISA
  • Free Shipping on orders over $25
  • Free Samples with every order

How are you spoiling yourself over this holiday season? What are your go-to beauty products/looks?

weekends are for brunching.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about being a New Yorker, it’s that we live for this little old thing called brunch.

Whether you’re in the mood for breakfast, lunch, booze, or just spending time with friends, brunch can satisfy all of the above.

Jessi and I kicked off the weekend with a late Saturday morning brunch at one of our favorite spots, The Smile.

We both ordered the Baked Eggs and Avocado with crushed tomato sauce and manchego cheese. Served with a side of olive oil-topped sourdough bread, it t was a delicious and hearty meal to start of the day off right (…or in my case, the perfect fuel for a day of Christmas shopping).

On Sunday we brunched at another one of my favorite new spots, The Leadbelly. This time we brought along quite the crew for our (soon to be weekly) FreelyBe brunch series.

The Leadbelly was kind enough to create a prix fixe menu for us, which includes a drink, starter, and entrée. I went with the Kale Caesar Salad and Avocado Toast with soft boiled eggs. Both dishes were so simple yet so out-of-this-world good!

How often do you brunch? Do you prefer breakfast or lunch dishes?

let’s be real.

This view? Never gets old. Never, ever, ever.

I’ve been considering getting my nose pierced again. It will never happen. And if it did, it would never look as good as this (supermodel) Pinterest inspiration.

This breakfast tasted way better than it looks.

(Spinach omelet + avocado + mascarpone cheese)

Considering my apartment is void of any and all holiday cheer, I’m extremely jealous of Jessi’s Christmas tree.

I started working out again here and there. But it’s not to be healthy, it’s to avoid gaining the “holiday five.”

Yeah, I said it.

And, if we’re really being real, I must say that it almost feels wrong to even blog after a tragedy like yesterday’s occurred. All I can say is that my heart is broken, and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the Newtown school massacre.

Give it to me straight – what do you need to be real about right now?

a wind down day.

Wind down days. We all need them.

…especially amidst the craziness of the holidays, no?

My yesterday - aside from work - looked a little bit like this.

…not bad. Not bad at all.

What would your ideal wind down day look like?

cost approach, 9.

A perfect FreelyBe holiday party: one ski lodge-themed venue and a group of our favorite people.

The embarrassment of later finding out I was socializing with a head covered in fake snow: priceless.

One commute to Pennsylvania: a train ticket, good music, and some boredom selfies.

The flexibility of being able to work remotely for my dad’s company: priceless.

A cozy decorated office and insane holiday food spread: a happy heart and full stomach.

Having a “work day” of spending (much missed) time with my office family: priceless.

One girls’ dinner out: about five Cobb Salads from Elmo.

Getting to know the lovely miss Madi for the past year before she moves back to New Zealand on Friday: priceless.

What has been priceless to you over this holiday season?