The Brand Next Door

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7 Products Next Door (Under $25!)

One of my many qualities is I'm easy to buy for. You know how every year you're like "what do I get for _______ that is new and different, and something s/he won't return?" I can guarantee you I'm not _______. At least not to the people who have known me for more than fifteen minutes. A short list of the things I like in pretty much every form:
  • Anchors
  • Cozy socks
  • Fancy candles
  • Funny phone cases
  • Grey crewnecks
  • Note pads
  • Wrapping paper
  • New beauty products
  • Different brands of Cheetos
  • Wine
For this write-up, though, I've chosen to focus (mainly) on products - most of which I got for Christmas, from more than just my mom. And sorry for the janky photo editing - I have an old laptop and no Photoshop, so...yeah. 

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Harrison wanted to tint and moisturize his lips, too. He tried to get my little Fresh Sugar tube, but thankfully I got it away from him before he completely ate the top.


1. One Line A Day Memory Book: My BFF got me this journal last Christmas and now that I'm in year two, it's so fun to see how much a difference a year really makes. I love reading to Raz what we were doing on this day last year. One year ago today, I went to happy hour with my former coworker and manager. I wouldn't have necessarily remembered that if it wasn't for this sweet little thing. It puts so much in perspective. I've taken it traveling a bunch, too, so it's super beat up. I flew over 50,000 miles last year, and I'm impressed the book isn't more beat up.


2. Rifle Paper Co. Bon Voyage Travel Journals: These came in a pack of two and my mom ended up getting them for me for Christmas. Since she travels a ton and I do, too, I've decided to write my speech for her wedding in it. More to come on that. I love most everything Rifle does. They're so smart and cute and full of whimsy. 


3. Formulary 55 Candles: I got these on sale at one of my favorite Seattle boutiques a few weeks ago, and am OB-SESSED. I'm a little bit elitist about what candles I burn (and I burn them constantly, so it's a pretty expensive habit), but I blame my dad walking through the perfume section at department stores and always saying he got a headache from too many smells. So, anyway, these guys smell a little sweet, but not too much, and a little earthy, but not too much, and everything good in a candle, but not to much. You know? So they are my current bedroom rotation. I have a lavender honey one burning right now.


4. Lather Yuzu Sugar Cane Body Buff: I don't even know where to begin with this stuff. It was another Carlovilla find (thanks, mom!) and it came at the perfect time. My mom also gave me hand, mouth and foot disease in December and after it went away, my hands peeled like nobody's biz. Once I started using this, it scrubbed off all the embarrassing dry skin, moisturized my sad hands and smelled phenom. Lemony and delicious, but not too lemony and delicious. Now I stare at it in the shower wanting to use it and also wanting to save it and sometimes just smell it. It really is a struggle. My mom and I are in this constant competition to get each other addicted to new beauty products and I think right now she's winning. 


5. Fresh Sugar Berry Lip Tint: THIS STUFF IS THE BEST. It was a gift from one of my gfs this Christmas and I've been savoring every bit. I'm a huge Vaseline person. Like I have it in every beauty bag and in my night stand and in travel size and everywhere. I live and die by it. During the work week, I put Vaseline on to start the getting ready process and end with some kind of bright red or pink lipstick. But on the weekends, I use this. It adds the perfect amount of stain to my lips and doesn't peel or get creased. I don't have to worry about looking like a weird clown in the middle of convos as it wears off, and it's just all around amaze. I'm gonna go get every other color they have because it's that good. Super moisturizing, too. 


I'm telling you, Mr. Harrysonos was really into it. I had to remove it from him. Multiple times. 


6. Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream: Another Christmas gift, this time from one of the managers on my team. If you haven't gleaned it by now, I'm a picky smells person, and this is another "smells amazing, but not too amazing" lotion. I still have a few little HM&F spots on my fingers that need deep moisture and this stuff does the trick every morning. My beauty products bill is quickly adding up. I know they have Bliss products at W Hotels, so I might have to take myself to one and load up, haha. JK...half.  


7. ban.do YEAH Phone Case: I know you're thinking two things: "She still has a 5?" And "How many phone cases does she have?" So, yes, I still have a 5, and I need that to change soon, but I've never been called an early adopter by any means, so I'm giving myself time (even though my storage overflows every day). And, I'm not sure how many phone cases I have, but it's a lot. I just had to have this one because it was at the Rack and it reminded me of my grandma. Whenever I would say "Yeah" to her, she would look at me and respond, "What you mean to say is 'yes, Grandma.'" It's like in Miss Congeniality when the coach guy is like "Always yes, never yeahhh." It's my little wink of rebellion.

What are your fave products and things right now? Share with me because  Melanie got me addicted to beauty YouTubers and I'm about to be doing a lot more of these random roundups.