lindasaidmeow: words,fashion & stuff from the brain of a girl in her 20s.
  • Home
  • beauty
    • reviews
    • categories
      • skincare
      • make up
      • hair
      • body
      • nails
  • lifestyle
    • adventures
    • recipes
    • books
    • places
  • fashion
    • ootd
    • jewelry
  • spilled ink

You know how I discovered Santa wasn't real? My mom actually asked me to wrap some of my brothers' gifts for her. And although this may sound awful, the thing was that I had always enjoyed wrapping up presents. When we would go Christmas shopping I would always ask my mom to not get a gift box so I could wrap them up myself and I would always look with envious eyes at the wrapper kids at the mall. I don't know why I get so excited about wrapping up gifts, but each year one of the things I impatiently wait for when Christmas comes around is coming up with new ways to decorate my presents!






This year I decided to use up some wrapping paper I had lying around from Ikea, though I'll admit it is not my cup of tea because I'd rather work with something more minimal. But I tried to find ways to make it work anyway.

To introduce some natural elements, I decided to pair the polka dots paper with some string, which I got for very cheap from Flying Tiger, and mimicked the chalkboard effect using some black cardboard as a gift tag.











I decided to complement the green paper with some baby pink ribbon, which is also from Ikea, and a piece of my Christmas tree for decoration. This is such an easy way to make every gift a little bit more personal and a little bit more interesting. If you want a more unisex look you could definitely use the string again or some green ribbon. I actually made the gift tag myself, printing this Christmas tree pattern I found on Pinterest on a piece of green cardboard.

If you are interested in other gift wrapping ideas you can check out my dedicated tag.

Happy wrapping!

SalvaSalva
SalvaSalva

'You should never have chipped nail polish.
Either it looks good or you don't wear it'

Those words belong to a friend of mine's old friend. I have never met this person, but I imagine her being a very well-put-together woman, with soft white hair tied up in a bun, a simple string of pearls around her long neck and her hands resting on her lap. Perfect.
I thought a lot about these words, every time I looked at my hands, to be precise. See, my nails are never perfect. My nail polish is never not chipped. Sometimes it chips within the first hour of wearing it. I blamed the polish, the top coat, my impatience. But I don't think that's right. The thing is, I use my hands. They're in my hair when I'm thinking, in my mouth when I'm nervous. They restlessly run up and down my skin right there where a mosquito decided to leave a bite. They tap on every surface, slide on every cheek. They go through water and dirt and flaky lips. They are covered now in ink and now in soap. And in this vortex of skin and walls and paint, some nail polish gets lost. It's the sacrifice that my life requires, and I'm not mad about it.

So I decided to start this series to celebrate the beauty of chipped nails. The beauty of slightly faded eyeliner after a night out and messy hair after a rough morning. The beauty of something that's not perfect, because life got in the way.

Here I'm wearing L'Orèal Hypnotic Red, a beautiful deep red and a dupe for Essie's Wicked. Two coats, chipped.
I have a question for you: have you ever met Tyler Oakley? I did (you can read about it here) and the only word that I can think of to describe him is nugget. A beautiful, kind, purple-haired nugget, that hugged me, pulled a weird face for a picture and signed the mega poster I have chilling in my room right now. So yeah, I'd say I kinda like him. Kinda. Given that, you can imagine I was kinda excited when I discovered Warby Parker and him collaborated on a glasses collection. Kinda.

If Warby Parker rings any bell, it is because it's a brand that has been collaborating with YouTubers for quite some time. From Arden Rose to, obviously, Tyler, many have turned on their camera and asked their audience to help them chose a pair of designer eyewear and new sunglasses. Yes, because Warby Parker does something amazing, they ship you five frames of your choice, you try them on, choose which one you like best and send back the other four, all for free and yes, with no human contact. Exactly, you can go through the whole process of buying new glasses in your PJs while Netflix testing them.


Now if you think about Tyler I bet a young man with crazy hair pops up into your mind, probably wearing a black tuxedo and, obviously, glasses. And this is the Warby Parker x Tyler Oakley collection. Quirky, classy and fun, all in one. Grandma chic as Tyler would say. The frames range from a mat jet black to pastel colors and wood. And if you get them, you'll also receive a snazzy lens cloth in windowpane check, chalk stripes or polka dots, just to bring the quirkiness to another level. Oh, and in case you are still doubting whether you should treat yo self to this collection, remember that Warby Parker donates a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair sold. Exactly that little extra good action you needed to get on the Nice list.


Wait a second...
Warby Parker inspired me to write this post.


Maybe you won't see her right away. No, maybe you'll get into the club and head straight to the bar. 'I'll have a gin tonic, please'. You'll awkwardly sip, trying to avoid the straw, and look around for fresh meat. You'll dance, barely. Let's say you'll walk into the middle of the dance floor and stand there, gently bobbing, still too much blood in your veins to jump around like a restless monkey. We'll leave that for the end of the night. You'll see someone, through the blinding lights. You'll reach her, touch her, breathe her in. You'll feel her body before having ever heard her voice. But she's just a piece of stardust, fleeting, like the lights she'll disappear under. Your mouth will taste like alcohol at this point. Yours and hers. Nothing human here. So you'll escape. 'I'm heading out for one second, mate' you'll try to mouth, but your mate is at his monkey jumping stage and couldn't care less. It will be cold outside, so much more than you were expecting. You'll put a cigarette in your mouth and hug it with your hands, to not let the wind kill the flame and to try to warm up a bit. And then, then you'll see her. She'll be leaning on the balcony, only one without a death threat between her lips. She'll have Bambi eyes and Snow White lips. She's not a piece of stardust, no, she's the whole outer space. You'll stare at her, at her lips parting. She'll bat her eyelashes and blow your mind. You'll try and peek at the constellations growing on her skin. She'll smile and the Milky Way will be a dull smattering of explosions in the sky.
You'll look at her, stargazing.

The Facts

Name: Mink Eyelashes
Brand: Tricky Hair
Type: False Lashes
Purchase it at: Tricky Hair
Pros: super mega soft. They have a pretty thick bar which makes them quite easy to apply, even for a lashes n00b like me. Long enough to cover my big ass eyes. The packaging is super cute and luxurious and more practical than normal lashes packaging since it's magnetic.
Cons: they're quite out there. Personally, I prefer a more subtle look so these are a bit too much. But if you're into the dramatic look these may be right up your alley.
Would Repurchase It? not this style, but they are the softest and more fluttery lashes I've ever had nonetheless.
Bonus Points: 100% mink fur, free international shipping.

Wait a second...

These lashes were kindly sent to me by Tricky Hair. Tricky Hair sells clip in hair extensions and 3D Mink Eye Lashes. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post and all opinions are my own.




As I said previously, I love fashion week for the inspiration it gives me with make-up. Fun, minimalistic, a little overboard, but always stunning. Those are all words you can also use to describe Path McGrath's make-up look for DKNY for this NYFW show. Dark lipstick topped with, at first, just a hint of gold on the cupid's bow, and then, as the show was coming to an end, glitter and sparkles all over. The rest of the face was kept minimal, a blank canvas to show off this season's new hit jewelry: your lips.

wearing NYX Velvet Lip Cream in Copenaghen

 From your skin's train of thoughts:
"I hate Mondays. Yes, I hate them, too. She doesn't let me sleep, forgets to hydrate me and then drowns me in make up, all. day. Sometimes she even puts me to sleep with that nasty stuff on! So yeah, I hate Mondays, and yes, I'm acting up, could you blame me? Oh my God, stop trying to squeeze me, girl! Can't you see this is only making it worse? Oh, I see. She's coming at me with the big guns now. She wants to shut me up with clay. Ugh, I hate it. Noo! She's putting that horrible thing on me! Oh no! And the smell, ew the smell... wait. This smells kinda nice actually. What, what is this? Coffee? Oh, I feel so much more awake already! I just feel... smoother. But yum, is this chocolate? Is she giving me chocolate?! Aaah, praise the lord. Ok, I'm calming down now. I feel so good, it's like this thing is lighting me up. Wow, this... this is good. Thank you, girl. I guess Mondays aren't so bad, after all."

3 ingredient DIY mocha mask
purifying, brightening and smoothing
  1. Mix equal parts of ground coffee, cocoa powder and clay (I used this one).
  2. Add water until it reaches the desired consistency.
  3. Apply and let it dry.
  4. Wash off with warm water and using the ground coffee as a gentle scrub. Pat dry.


He looks at the wooden floor below his feet and thinks about her. He thinks about the first time he brushed her face with his fingers, the first time they kissed. Her skin smelling like a bakery on Sunday morning: almond and vanilla and sugar and everything nice. That's not the way humans smell, he remembers thinking, she must not be human then. A fairy, maybe. He pictures her laying next to him, blades of sunlight caressing her smile. His fingertips bouncing on that tiny trampoline that were her cheeks. He remembers her at night. Silk and musk. Her face flushed, ripe, juicy, like a peach that is just waiting to be bitten. Storm, then quiet. There she was, a tiny figure sitting in front of a dull mirror. She's busy, massaging her cheeks, applying potions and lotions, turning her face into a miracle.

The Facts

Name: Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream
Brand: Antipodes
Type: Day Cream
Price: €26,10 for 60 ml
Purchase it at: Beauty Bay
Pros: Smells heavenly, makes skin plumper and tighter the moment you put it on.
Cons: may feel a little oily at first, but absorbs pretty quickly. Definitely not as light as the name says. The tin tube looks cool af but will probably be a hassle once the cream starts running low.
Would Repurchase It? hell yas.
Bonus Points: organic, ingredients 100% from natural origin and 71% from organic cultivation.

Lately, I've been obsessed with iced coffee.
It happens every summer, but this time it's different. This time I froth my cold milk with a french press, I add vanilla, I add ice and I pour everything into a big cup with a cap and a straw. It's my favorite thing. I like it better than Starbucks or any other cappuccinos or espressos. It's funny because my dad gets dressed every morning, even on Sundays, to get his coffee from the bar downstairs, and here I am liking the way I make my coffee better than any other one I've ever had.

But here is a thing: I don't think my coffee is better. I don't think I make the best coffee or that anyone would taste it and find a new obsession. I'm not ready to leave everything and invest all of my money into a hipster coffee shop with fairy lights and mason jars. I just like the way I make it. And it doesn't matter if it's too sweet, or too cold or if the brew is not honey and goji flavored or the beans weren't toasted right before a new moon. It's simple, I like it. That's it. 

And this is the part in which I transform a chat about iced coffee into a life lesson. Uhm, a blog lesson. I want this space to be simple and how I like it. I don't want to care about perfect pictures or clickbait or a schedule. Because although it takes time and money to make a perfect Starbucks copycat, we all know the original thing always tastes better, so why even bother. Let's put a bit too much sugar in it and welcome back.



My famous* iced coffee recipe
*never been famous and never will



  1. Get some espresso.
  2. Put your cold milk into a french press and froth it pumping the press up and down in a very innuendo way. (You can add syrup or vanilla or whatevs to the milk if you wanna be fancy).
  3. Get a fancy container like a mason jar or an old Starbucks cup.
  4. Put stuff in the cup in this order: ice, coffee, frothed milk.
  5. Drink it and be prepared for some serious milk mustache.
Growing up one of my favorite movies has always been Bride Wars. I mean, Anne Hathaway, Chris Pratt, and Kate Hudson all in one movie, set in New York, about weddings... what's not to love? Since then I always thought there was nothing better than June at the Plaza for tying the knot, but then I grew up and realized that June means hot weather and sweaty armpits, not to mention battling through other hundreds of 'Save the Date' to find a place on your friends' calendar. By now, I'm a fully converted fall weddings lover, and here are five reasons why you should be, too.

» THE SCENERY
Getting married in the woods, or - let's be real - in a park, has always been my dream. A full on Bella and Edward experience, with fairy lights and wooden benches. Doing this during the fall would allow you a breath-taking scenery of falling leaves and warm colors, giving the whole ceremony an earthy and cozy feeling.

» THE COLOR PALETTE
I'm talking nude, burgundy, camel and grey. These colors appear much more sophisticated and unique than the classic pastel combos. You can incorporate them in your wedding through accent pieces here and there, your make up, or even your man, that could sport something like this chic and affordable necktie or this patterned papillon by The Black Tux, a tuxedo rental company.

» A TWIST ON THE BOHO
I want my wedding to be bohemian and if that is your taste as well, then look no further than a fall wedding. You could use warm colored leaves to create an alternative flower crown and incorporate earthy tones like brown and beige into your hair with some feather extensions. Also, adding some rustic elements like some antlers or cozy candles will give your wedding a homey and modern vibe.

» THE FLAVORS
Pumpkin pie, apple pie, and cinnamon. Chai tea lattes and warm spiced cider. Hearty beef pies and mashed potatoes. Do I need to say more? My mouth is already watering.

» THE COZINESS
Add some blankets and cushions so that your guests can snuggle up, best if with a hot cup in hand. If you manage to find a venue with a fireplace, that will only add to the coziness of it all. Serve some red wine to the adults and marshmallows to toast to the kids and enjoy the warm and family-like atmosphere you have created. Oh, and if you take anything from this post, please please please, make that my invitation doesn't get lost in the mail.
Coffee, ripped jeans, a white crisp shirt and potted plants.


Featuring Connor Franta and Lea Michele's books, New York Times best seller The Girl On The Train and the perfect summer read.


Here we go with the third installment of 5 Books I've Read. Unlike #1 and #2 this one features all hits and stuff I'd recommend to you. So get ready to add a bunch of names to your summer read list.

Beach, sand, salty hair. June's a dream if you don't have to study your butt off until the very last day, like I do. A part from the crazy exam situation that is going to invest me in less than 20 days (oh my), June prospects to be a rather nostalgic month for yours truly. With my very last week as a high school student ( which means also my very last bell ring! ) and a first, bland taste of what my life's gonna be like for the next five years, I already predict a lot of teary days, high heeled nights and hungover mornings, though luck there's no exam on foreseeing...




The creds as always go to this one: aserendipidtyseeker.
I'm here, sitting on the balcony. It's 9:11 pm and I'm just wearing my sweater but I'm fine. The air is just a little fresh but still comfortable and it caresses my legs, my ankles crossed, wearing only fuzzy socks. I'm listening to the Best Chillout Playlist Ever because I was angry, and this always manages to clam me down someway, but I know I'm gonna take my earphones off very soon and just remain with the sound of the city that's quietly resting after dinner and my fingers on the keyboard.
I love doing that.


I love tea. What do they say? It is like a hug in a cup. My problem is that I don't like the classic teas: you know Earl Grey, Prince of Wales and stuff? I sometimes find them boring, or too bitter. I much prefer those fancy creative numbers, that usually taste so sweet and interesting, and I finally found the perfect place to get them from.


Concealers are my life.
Since I've been blessed both with a spot prone skin and some genetic dark circles I really can't live without them. Those are two recent additions to my collection, both from Maybelline and both pretty cheap.


Whut? Is it already May? Like seriously? This means I'm doomed.
I have a freaking exam coming up in two months, not to mention the beach and the bikinis my wiggly overweight body is seriously not ready to embrace.
Ok, let's calm down this pretty little mind and take a deep breath. At least I'm not alone, right? I mean, everyone fears May but Spiderman, as she's his aunt. Haha. What a joke. Obviously I'm already losing my mind :)...




Bella Oggi is a brand I've never been drawn to and never really looked into. This was until I spotted the color 16 Nude Look of their Gel Effect Keratin Nail Polishes and squealed with joy because it looked like I had finally found a dupe for my beloved Maybelline New York Color Show Latte, which apparently has been discontinued.


Older Posts Home

THAT GIRL IN HER 20S

23 years old, aquarius, cat lady.
hobbies include reading, drinking tea and procrastinating.

current location: rome, italy

SAY HI!

THE COOL KIDS

  • H&M FALSE NAILS REVIEW
  • NICE NEWS » BOOTS GOES INTERNATIONAL
  • DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS
  • BOURJOIS TWIST UP THE VOLUME MASCARA REVIEW
  • & OTHER STORIES PUNK BOUQUET PERFUME

FEATURING

  • SUNDAY STORIES
  • D.I.Y.
  • SNOG MARRY AVOID
  • THE LITTLE GUIDE
  • COFFEE
  • FOREVER REPURCHASING
  • chipped

Advertisement

FOLLOW US @ INSTAGRAM

Copyright © 2016 lindasaidmeow: words,fashion & stuff from the brain of a girl in her 20s.. Created by OddThemes