Shopping Haul!! ~ Feat. J Crew and Vineyard vines

Hello Dolls!

Out of all the things I love to do, shopping is definitely up there on my list! I went shopping yesterday and got a package in the mail today, and thought "why not do a haul?" This is my first ever haul, so if you like these types of posts, then comment down below in the comments section and let me know if you would like to see another one!

*Disclaimer this is not to "show off" but just to share*

J Crew

1) Creme Excursion Puffer Vest

I already have one in navy, which I absolutely love, so I had to get it in creme! This will look sooo cute paired up with a darker colored shirt!

2) Navy and White Striped Tee

Honestly, I have way too many striped tees from J Crew, but I loved this one so much that I couldn't resist! I think it will look so cute paired up with the creme excursion vest I got. 

Vineyard Vines

1) Navy Shep Shirt

Lately I've been having a shep shirt obsession! I love the navy one because it is darker than all the other ones I have and it is great for everyday because it is very understated. 

2) Whale Nautica Tee

I mainly got this because I needed some more casual wear, and thought the whale on this was so adorable!!

3) Whale Magnet

Super cute to attach to my car! I am not a fan of stickers because I fear that they can ruin the car, so I do magnets instead! So much easier to remove!!

4) Gold/Navy Leather Flip Flops

I ordered a gold pair of these flip flops back in March and absolutely LOVED them!! I wear them all the time and it was time for a new pair! So I ordered two pairs, one in gold and the other in navy because these are honestly the best and most comfortable flip flops I've ever worn. 

Hope you enjoyed this haul and don't forget to comment below if you would like to see more hauls!! Also I will be posting more soon, so subscribe (only available in web version only, so if you are on your phone make sure to click to go to web version) to get updates on the newest posts!

XOXO,

The California Belle

September Favorites

Hello Dolls!

I would like to apologize for not posting a lot this month, school has taken over my life. Being said, I do have my monthly favorites that have been my savior during this crazy month! Without these products, I honestly don't think I would have been able to survive this month.

1. Botanics Rosewater Spritz Spray

I am in L O V E with this spray!! I use it every day for my "2 pm pick-me-up" and I don't know what I would do without it. You can find it at Target and this company has a makeup and skin care line that I reviewed, which I will link here.

2. Jamberry nail wrap

I did a review last month about this product, and honestly, it has become a September favorite. To see more about this product, you can click here. I really love this nail wrap because it is really perfect for the busy girl on the go! It takes no longer than 10 minutes to do your nails without needing to dry them!! What more can we ask for?

3. Up & Up Oil Absorbing Sheets

Let me just say that these have been my lifesaver this month! I use them right before I spray my face with the refreshing rosewater spritz, and it leaves me feeling fresh for the rest of my day.

4.  Lilly Pulitzer Agenda

Is anyone really surprised that I added this to my favorites? Yes, this has been a monthly favorite of mine, but honestly it has been my savior this month, because I would have been lost without it. If you need any help on organizing your agenda, you can click here. 

5. Lifeproof Phonecase

I am not one who likes to spend a lot of money on their phone cases, however, I couldn't afford to keep replacing the screen on my cracked iPhone anymore. So I went to Target and bought the Lifeproof case and I love it! I even personalized mine and got it monogrammed to make it more fun! This case protects your phone from water, dust, cracks, and it just absolutely amazing! Worth the $80!!

I hope yall enjoyed seeing my favorites for the month! I will try to post more often, I apologize for not doing so, school has been hectic!

XOXO,

The Californian Belle

Product Review // Mani Monday feat. Jamberry

Hello Dolls!

If it's one thing we all love it's a good manicure that LASTS! A couple weeks ago I was approached by a rep from Jamberry to do a review on their nail products, and I thought "why not? maybe my readers and I will enjoy it!", and I have to say I did.

Jamberry is a company that specialized in nail products and care. The product I was asked to review were their nail wraps, which are similar to the Sally Hansen gel nail wraps. I know that y'all love coupon codes (as do I), so I asked if I can have a code for y'all and I was denied the option because the company doesn't provide them; but I will say it is worth the cost for sure!

Here is how the product works: 

• Pick a design
• Prep your nails
• You can put the wrap on your bare nail or over a polish color
• Use a blow dryer to make the wrap hot
• Apply wrap to nail
• Apply more heat from blow dryer to secure wrap onto nail
• File away the excess wrap on your finger
  
  And then you should be good to go for SEVEN days!

So here is the package that my sample pack came in. I got a catalog, two sheets of samples, an amazing nail file (like seriously I was so impressed with it), a cuticle pusher, and one of those spongy toe dividers. 

So here is the nail design I chose, it is a cute pattern that is white and clear (and is meant for another color to go underneath). 

I chose to paint my nails in the color "Bikini So Teeny" by Essie

Then I applied the wrap onto my ring finger

Here is the nail wrap seven days later!
On the top is my left hand, the wrap was perfectly in tact for all seven days!

On the bottom is my right hand, you can see the wrap did peel off a little bit, but in the products defense, I was having problems with application on my behalf (my finger was hurting from the heat application).

Overall, I would recommend this product to everyone! Honestly, this stuff lasts and looks good as new for the entire week! (Which is so important for me because I'm constantly doing stuff that would ruin my nails like cooking or cleaning dishes). My only "problem" with the Jamberry nail wrap would be application because using a blow dryer on my nails kinda hurt (because I'm very sensitive towards heat in general).

I hope you guys enjoyed my very first product review!! I really did enjoy this product and really hope y'all do too!

XOXO,

The Californian Belle

August Favorites

No Hello Dolls!

It seems like I was just typing out my July favorites post only a few days ago and now we are at the end of August coming to September. 

Just a quick little update on my life for those that care: SCHOOL HAS BEEN CRAZY(and it's only been two weeks since it started!). Being said, I still somehow find time to post these blog posts and I'm so happy that I get to do this. It's a dream come true to have people read my stuff so I just wanted to take the time to say thank you for that. 

Anyways, back to the reason why you clicked on this link...to see my favorites for August!!

1.  CopperTone Sunless Tanning Lotion

Yes I am aware of the 'irony' of being from California and using tanning lotion. This summer I was not outside as much as I used to be in the past and I was so upset to see my self a "California pale" color. I was strolling through Target like usual and decided to try this lovely little product. Let me just say how impressed I am with this product!! It is so perfect for maintaining or even gaining that desired tan you want during the fall and winter seasons.

2. Eyes Lips Face (ELF) Acne Fighting Gel

Having acne prone skin absolutely sucks! I am always on the lookout for a product that works at a decent cost. This gel is just that product! It is only $2 and has ingredients such as salicylic acid and tea tree which really help clear up your skin. I use this every night before I go to bed and in the morning before I apply my makeup and I LOVE this product!! Definitely a bang for your buck.

3. Lilly Pulitzer Agenda

I guess this one isn't really fair because it is a favorite of mine every month, however it has helped me stay so organized since school has started that I just HAD to mention it in this post! (If you want to see how I use my Lilly Pulitzer agenda to stay organized click here)

4. Nailene French Manicure Kit 

I love a salon manicure look, however I don't have the time to sit in a salon and being in college I feel like I can put my money to better use elsewhere. This is why this manicure kit is everything! It is so easy to get that salon look and this is coming from the girl who can barely paint her own nails. I highly recommend this because it doesn't take more than 15 minutes to do your nails!

I hope y'all enjoyed this month's favorites. Seriously these products mentions are all products I live for and wanted to share with you guys! If you have ever tried any of these products or if you have any of your favorites this month you would like to share then just comment down below! (don't be shy! All comments are welcome, and yes you can post anonymously) 

XOXO,

The Californian Belle 

Fashion Friday: Let's Get Nauti(cal)

Hello Dolls!

Unfortunately my summer has come to an end and I decided to dedicate this post to what I believe has become the style of this summer: nautical. Of course all of the preps have been into nautical for such a long time, it's practically in our blood. Most of us have heard of a brand called Kiel James Patrick (KJP) which is the ultimate all American and nautical brand, but this summer I have seen so many stores such as Target, Nordstrom, J Crew, Vineyard Vines, and local boutiques really go all out on the nautical theme. I am all for the nautical style (it is probably one of my favorite styles) and I was delighted to see it spread around more this summer than I have ever seen before.

1. Stripes

Stripes really are the way to go when going nauti! I, myself, am a huge stripe advocate and believe that stripes are a great way to make any outfit a little more exciting! A personal favorite striped top of mine is the striped J Crew painter tee that you can find in almost any color! 

2. Anchors

The beloved universal symbol of all nautical preppiness: the anchor! As we know, KJP is known for their infamous anchor bracelets and necklaces, but did you know they are coming out with pearl anchor earrings? These are definitely something I will be on the lookout for! They're gorgeous!!

3. Navy

As they say, navy is a neutral, and they definitely aren't wrong about that one! Within the past year, I have noticed my closet shift towards having what seems like 2/3 of my closet be the color navy. But seriously, can you blame me? Navy matches with practically every color and who doesn't love something that matches with everything?

4. Knots

Knotted accessories are the perfect nautical accessory that goes with any outfit! So understated, yet shows that you have that nautical flair!

5. Woven Accessories

Don't ask me why, however I've always felt like basket woven type accessories are so nautical and perfect for a day out to the beach, yacht, pier, etc. I believe that Sarah Vickers definitely captures the beauty of woven accessories in her outfits the best!!

Summer may be coming to an end but that doesn't mean our summer style inspirations don't! What is so great about the nautical style is that bits and pieces of it can be worn throughout the year, even in the coldest of months!! Hope y'all enjoyed this weekends Fashion Friday!

XOXO, 

The Californian Belle

Travel with me: Family Weekend Get-A-Way

Hello Dolls!

First, I would like to apologize for not posting my new weekly "Fashion Friday" post last Friday, between going to work and then going out of town that day, I just didn't have enough time to plan accordingly. 

So, my weekend get-a-way, it was great! This is an annual trip that my family does every year at a retreat in Aptos, CA every year with my mom's company. The company rents out villas for every family and then has great clam bakes, lunches, brunches, and activities for everyone to do! So, Im going to go chronologically from start to the end of our trip! (I tried to take as many pictures possible, however sometimes my phone would die and I wasn't able to get a picture of everything).

Day 1: Friday

Driving into the resort

This is the first floor of the villa and I wasn't able to get a normal picture of the rest of the room because my brother quickly messed it up and made it his own. So behind the table and chairs there is a sitting area with a couch that turns into a bed and then a balcony with a great view!

Seriously like wow!

So this is my bedroom, which was located on the second floor, (totally reminded me of Nantucket) and connected to it I had my own bathroom.

My mom's room looked very similar to mine, and she also had her own bathroom connected on the second floor. Most importantly, LOOK AT THE VIEW SHE HAD!!

The company always gives us a duffle bag filled with goodies from all over California and they gave us these AMAZING chocolate dipped oreos (as if regular oreos weren't enough calories).

The following is a collage of pictures from our walk down to the beach for dinner:

So it is buffet style dinner, and as y'all may or may not know I do not eat meat, so my plate was emptier than others. I had some great salmon, roasted vegetables, and then a vegan pasta. (Trying to stay healthy on vacation!)

Day 2: Saturday

The morning view! We got really lucky and didn't have too bad of an overcast. (Sorry I didn't get a picture of breakfast but I just had eggs, fruit, and half a bagel)

Lunch we had on the bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, which was just stunning!

After lunch, my brother and I headed down for the beach to go play the activities that the company had set for us. 

It was ridiculously hot on the beach (to the point where our feet burned from touching the sand!) so we decided to hang in the water instead. (P.S. excuse my sandy feet)

For dinner there was a clambake on the beach (I don't eat shellfish) so instead I had some asparagus, bell peppers, and some scalloped potatoes. 

Here is a panoramic shot I got during the clambake on the beach. It is a breath-taking view. 

And here is the lovely sunset, (the sun was so much bigger in person, I wish I could have got it on camera) but trust me when I say it was amazing in person!

Day 3: Sunday

We had an amazing brunch to send us back home! I had a great veggie omelet with half a bagel and some water.

So that was my little weekend get-a-way trip! This is honestly just a great trip to relax and have fun at! Today, I start school and I feel completely refreshed and ready for classes because this trip definitely relaxed me for it! For those of you who have school, best of luck to you guys on your first day!!

XOXO,

The Californian Belle