Good morning, girlfriends – happy HUMP! And hello from Cincinatti! I keep thinking of the scene from Glee where Vocal Adrenaline is about to sing “Rehab” in competition and starts by singing “Ohiiiiiiio, Ohiiiiiiio, Ohiiiiiiiiiiiiiio!” Ha! ICYMI, I’m in Cinci on a quick lil’ trip with Olay (as well as a few other sister brands – Herbal Essences, Secret, + Head and Shoulders!). Today’s agenda is *so cool* – so cool that I’d say drop everything + join us via Instastories (@ericaligenza) ;). We’ll be heading behind-the-scenes LITERALLY, going into the labs to see how our favorite products are actually formulated, + what goes into the science of each. WHICH IS SO COOL RIGHT?!?! The nerd in me is freaking the freak out, so stay tuned for what’s sure to be a super geeked out time. 😉
And also, it’s the last day of February.
UM WHAT.
I know I should be used to this by now – I mean, I do this at the end of every month, and every month is the same. How does time fly by so dang fast?! Is this adulting? Geez Louise.
But I can’t complain, because March is MY BIRTHDAY MONTH HOLLAH! Any guesses how old I’ll be? 😉 Now…for some cool sh*t I loveloveloved all February long:
Links I Love:
- 10 Key Lessons on Starting your own Business from Women Entrepreneurs
- Turn toward instead of away – Expert Marriage (slash relationships in general) Advice
- The Better Alternative to Multitasking (Introducing, Unitasking)
- 22 Bath & Body Works Hacks that will Literally Blow your Mind
- Women surround crying son at the airport and change this mom’s life – SUCH a heartwarming story!
Stuff on Sale – MAJOR Shopbop Sale!
Classic Levi’s short shorts for summer (c’mon Mother Nature…)
Perfect Gucci loafer lookalikes!
The prettiest, airiest sundress that’s currently in my cart
Supposedly the comfiest slides on the block. I’ll be the judge of that…#AddToCart
Basic white Madewell tee, on sale for $19.50 (also comes in grey!)
If you’re gonna spend an arm and a leg (and a hip, too) on the iconic Stuart Weitzman Lowland boots, now’s the time.
My faaaaavorite thongs on sale (your bum will thank ya later)
BEYOND in lovelovelove with these polka dot shorts
The *prettiest* ruffled floral dress to bring on spring!
Great lookalikes to a classic Chanel shoe
Things I Love:
THIS JACKET THO. Oy. I’m *utterly* obsessed. I originally pulled the trigger in preparation for Disney World, cos it felt very Minnie Mouse-esque and I was already imagining the Instagram potential. (I think it worked? Ha!). It was def more than I had ever spent on a jean jacket before, but I’m sooooo into pearls and it just felt so COOL! Looking back, I am *so* glad I got it. I’ve been wearing it constantly with every outfit under the sun, cos it just works. Throw this on top of actually anything and it automatically pulls a look together – even over athleisure! It feels trendy but also classic, which I lovelovelove. It’s a total showstopper – I was literally stopped by a TSA worker at the airport going through security for outfit details! And it’s so well-made. The pearls are studded in, so they ain’t going anywhere – even if my brigade of felines gave their best attempt. 😉
I also featured it in this blog post on 18 spring buys to wear right now, because it’s literally the *perfect* piece to buy AND wear right now, all the way through May! It’s a fabulous soft, lightweight denim (Dontcha just hate when jean jackets are too rigid and kinda hard and uncomfortable? No bueno!) that just goes with all the spring things, and the slight distressing at certain points keeps it so that you can dress it up AND down.
Sizing tip: Def size down one full size!!! It runs BIG. I’m wearing an XS, for reference!
The second I saw this coat at Fashion Week, I knew it was coming home with me. At NYFW, I styled it over a black-and-white ensemble for a chic, Olivia Pope-esque look:
This is the ideal piece to have on hand for any sorta fancier occasion, when you want your coat to complement the rest of your look. Over more professional workwear is gorgeous, or even just over darkwash denim + heels to help dress up your date night look! Super flattering cut + super on trend with the whole “longline” coat trend as of late.
I found a few similar options for the whole blush longline coat thing in case ya wanna shop around for your own – this one, this one (under $30!), + this one are all cute alternatives!
Starbucks Medicine Ball
If you follow me on the ‘gram, chances are, you’ve seen a Medicine Ball rant at one point or another. 😉 THEY’RE JUST SO GOOD! So, what the heck IS a Medicine Ball?
It’s a Tea drink at Starbucks that you’ve gotta ask for specifically (it’s not on the main menu – it’s a “secret menu” item!).
Your cup is filled half with hot water, half with steamed lemonade – then a Teavana jade citrus mint tea bag + a Teavana peach tranquility tea bag are added, as well as a packet of honey + an optional peppermint pump.
BUT.
I’ve got a twist that I prefer even more than the original: Replacing the peach tea with Teavana Youthberry tea. Don’t get me wrong – lovelovelove me some peach. But something about the Youthberry tea just works so well with the mint, and it’s the absolute yummiest thing. I had a quasi-crisis not too long ago, when the drive thru lady told me they were discontinuing Youthberry. BUT WHAT AM I TO DO WITH MY MEDICINE BALL?!?! Luckily, she was an angel sent from God above. I told her I was fine with the peach and that is was all good – by the time I got to the window, she had found more Youthberry, gave me a few take-home packets, used it in my drink, upgraded me to a venti, AND I don’t think she charged me for my cake pop that day, either. Bless up.
Also bless up because I definitely still get Youthberry at other places, so not quite sure what’s going on there…maybe the Youthberry trees were in shorter supply this season? IDK. So long as I get my tea. 😉
The Medicine Ball is always referenced on Instagram when folks are sick (great job marketing that, Starbs 😉 ), and eventually my curiosity got the best of me and I pulled through the drivethru to ask about this weird Medicine thing. Turns out, it’s the most magical tea drink since the peach green tea lemonade, may it rest in peace. My ONE gripe with it – I did originally think it was steamed LEMON WATER, not half water and half lemonade. I feel slightly weird about the fact that straight up lemonade is being used in a good-for-you tea…but it’s, like 30 calories, so I’m just convinced it’s not a LOT of lemonade. 😉
Go to Starbucks today, order one, + report back to me with your thoughts!
Feels like deja vu – we just talked about this! 😉 One of my all-time favorite (+ most damaging to my Prime account – whoops) is affordable sunnies on Amazon. My blog post was 15 under $15, but there are so dang many, yo. Namely, there are so many fabulous designer lookalikes. Y’all know I am the *queen* of lookalikes. And these lookalikes stand the test of time! This month I somehow ended up with, like, 10 pairs of sunglasses showing up on my doorstep. Apparently spring is going to be v bright this year, folks. V BRIGHT.
I’ve got so many and didn’t even KNOW they were lookalikes for anything designer until I had ’em and folks would ask if they were XYZ label. Of course, they weren’t – they were, like, 10 bucks from the internet. But that can be our little secret. 😉 I just cannot for the life of me spend more than $30 on a piece of plastic. It just doesn’t make sense to me how anyone can drop literally HUNDREDS of hard-earned dollah dollah bills on plastic that might get sat on, thrown under a car seat, forgotten at the grocery store, etc.
SO, I swear these are the saving grace solution!
These look like Karen Walkers.
These look like Celine.
So do these!
IDK what designer they are, but these look designer – and y’all ask about ’em a lot when I wear ’em on Stories!
These are the pink ones pictured here.
And then this blog post has a million more! Welp, not a million. 15 actually. You get the gist. 😉
I’ve always been a huuuuuuge fan of Lancome products – they’re just so fabulous + feel so luxe! Lately I’ve been on a big Lancome mascara fix (specifically, the Hypnose Drama mascara, for those of ya asking on Stories!), but I pounced on the chance to add a new highlighter to my makeup bag, too. Cos if there’s two things that always need to be on fleek, it’s lashes + highight. Also eyebrows. But that’s another story. 😉
This highlighter comes in a buncha different shades, but I lovelovelove the Radiant Rose Gold.
It’s just so PRETTY! It applies flawlessly, lasts all day, and really *glows*. It’s just one I’ve been reaching for repeatedly this month – and there’s quite a bit o’ competition happening in my highlight drawer for top dog. It also blends beautifully with my blush, contour, face powder, etc, which is key!
What links/things/sales have you found + loveloveloved lately?
For past Cool Sh*t I Lovelovelove, click here.
For tips on goal setting for big goals, big rewards, click here.
For 3 ways to style the *best* ponte pants for work + play, click here.
For a full recap of my #AdultsAtDisney trip, click here.
For 18 transitional spring buys to wear right now, click here.
For tips on getting into New York Fashion Week shows, click here.
For the latest #AskE Q&A post, click here.
Happy HUMP – thanks for hanging out, girlfriend!
