birthday purchases

Some lovely goodies came in the mail the past week that I'd like to share.

First from qvc.com I ordered this philosophy purity made simple set. I fell in love with the cleanser I picked up in the little sample section at sephora. When my 3oz bottle was almost out I jumped on this new set for 4 easy payments. lol

It came with a large 32 oz purity made simple cleanser with a pump that I keep in my shower to wash my face, a 16 oz bottle I keep at my sink, face wipes I keep in my night stand and the new face mask! 

The mask is not one of those super drying ones that leave your face begging for moisture. It is a quick minute mask that deep cleans and leaves my skin glowing! 

After the minute is up I put a face cloth under the faucet until the water is as hot as I can handle. Then I hold it to my face with the mask still on for roughly 15 seconds, this opens the pores to let the mask deeply penetrate my skin. 

After I rinse my skin is quenched, soft and more radiant it's an awesome product!

Since I have to much of the cleanser now I'm also going to use it to clean my makeup brushes. 

I also used a gift card for sephora from my boyfriends mom. (Thanks Micci!) I picked up one of new hourglass ambient lighting blushes. 

Hourglass swirled subtle color with one of their ambient lighting powders that can blur imperfections, highlight, or bronze depending on the shade. I got luminous flush, a beautiful bright pink marbled with the luminous ambient power, a golden champagne color.  

The blush leaves a beautiful glow to the skin and is buildable with out looking like a red faced clown. 

I also got the Tarte 12 hour maracuja oil foundation in the color deep. It is a medium to full coverage foundation with a Dewy finish, which I have been really into lately. I apply it with my real techniques expert face brush. Because I have combination skin, oily in the t-zone and normal else where I do set it with a powder. I lightly dust the Tarte setting translucent setting powder just on those areas. 

Thanks for reading! 

Xoxo brianna 

Weekend fun, wavy hair, red orange lips and nails

Hello there :)

So it's Sunday night, after a nice long productive day, patrick and I grilled up some dinner and now are watching a movie. It was a lovely weekend. Went the a sox game with family, sat around the fire with friends and got a lot accomplished. 

For the sox game I knew it was going to rain, so I didn't want to do too much to my hair. I'm trying to get the whole beachy waves in heat and humidity look. It's not easy. 

first I used my favorite product in the summer, ouidad heat and humidity gel. Then I actually used a straightening balm to calm my curls down a bit and let it air dry. 

Once dry I used my revlon 2 in 1 flat iron and curling ward. I lightly straighten the roots of top of my head, then curled face framing hair. 

Then I sprayed my hair with beach sea salt spray and scrunched, making it more texturized, messy and beachy. 

To hold the look I actually stole my boyfriends suave paste. I took a little in my hands and ran it through making it even more piecey. 

I certainly haven't perfected the look but it was a good try. 

This weekend I also wore a trend I've been loving in beauty. Orangey red. I used it on my nails and my lips. It's so summery I can't even stand it. 

Sally Hansen nail polish in sonic boom 

Urban decay super saturated high gloss lip color is punch drunk. 

With wearing a bold bright lip I would suggest leaving the eyes neutral and matte. 

Patrick and I also voluteered at a benifit for the American cancer association. We sold all natural and organic food and products from the company patrick works for and the proceeds went to the foundation. I have to say it is so rewarding to help out in something like that. Writing a check for a foundation is all well and good but putting in some hours made me feel much more connected to the cause. 

that's about all...I am getting some exciting new things in the mail this week I bought with my birthday gift cards so ill share them next week. 

Have a wonderful week xoxo brianna 

Smoked salmon spinach quiche with gluten free quinoa crust

I love smoked salmon. A lot. Lol

I love having it in an omelette or atop a bagel with cream cheese and chives. It was something new I tried in the past year and I'm obsessed.

Plus I get a good dose of fatty fish oil right in the morning. The fat paired with the protein from the egg keeps me satisfied all morning. 

I also love making breakfasts ahead of time for the work week. A stack of berry waffles, veggie mini muffins or smoothies are ready to grab regulars in our house. 

This week I made a quiche! Now I went way over board with the cream cheese but you can put less or skip it all together for a dairy free version. 

2 cups cooked quinoa for crust

1 3oz package smoked salmon, roughly chopped 

I can spinach, drained

Half a dozen eggs, beaten 

dollops of cream cheese (optional)

For the quinoa crust I simply pressed cooked quinoa into the sides of a oiled loaf pan. Then pour the egg, spinach and salon on the quinoa. Dollop the cream cheese on the very top. 

Cover with foil and bake for 30 min at 375 degrees. Then take foil off and bake for another 15. 

The result is a loaf of semi-healthy creamy, savory, magic. 

Patrick thought the combo sounded strange but tried it and it is breakfast, brunch even lunch approved! 

Thank for reading 

Xoxo brianna 

Current skincare and recent outfits

Over the past year or so I've been experimenting with different skincare. I've gotten a routine down that me, and my skin are both liking as of late.

This past week was my birthday (yay 26!) and I got the clarisonic as a gift so I have added it into my nighttime routine as a deep clean. Here are the other products I've been using other the past few months.

Morning routine 

Philosophy purity cleanser

Botanics rose water spray

origins ginzing eye cream 

Night routine 

Philosophy purity (even takes off waterproof mascara!)

clarisonic Mia 2 with clarisonic cleanser 

Korres wild rose + vitamin C overnight sleeping facial

Korres evening primrose eye cream 

Other items 

One a week or so I use a scub and mask I also have some other items for spot treating acne and acne scars I use sparingly. 

I started using eye creams last year as a preventative treatment for future wrinkles. I love the origins cream because it also makes my under eyes look more awake in the morning. 

I'm really loving the Korres line so far as my first time trying it. I want to try the fresh peony brightening line next.

As for the clarisonic, everyone has different skin as some people may not be able to use it everyday, some might be able to use it twice a day. I think because I always exfoliated my skin regularly the regular brush head isn't too harsh for my skin to use nightly. I think I'm going to get the deep pore cleansing brush head next. There is a sensitive, acne, and cashmere brush head as well. I would really recommend it and am loving it so far : ) 

If you follow me on Instagram or twitter (both bcecilee) you might have seen me post these outfits from this weekend! I had a birthday party/ housewarming party at our home and was able to wear my new knife pleat maxi skirt from jcrew factory that I love! Then today I went to a Mother's Day brunch with my family and wore my new Ivanka Trump sandals I scored at tj maxx. They retail for $150 but I got them for $30, not to mention they are covered in beautiful mint green/blue/clear colored gems! So cute. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend and Mother's Day!!!

Xoxo brianna