Casual Weekend Look

Casual Weekend Look by grecbarn featuring Current/Elliott

Current Elliott top, $325 / Topshop Unique black pants / Tory Burch brown boots, $255 / ALDO handbag / Nars cosmetic

Redbox Reviews: Maleficent & Begin Again

Ideally I would watch all of the movies I review once each in order to judge them fairly. But I cheated a little for this "Redbox Reviews" post. I actually saw Maleficent for the first time when it hit theaters last year and then I watched it again on DVD about a week ago. And it just so happens it was better the second time than it was the first. But for the sake of fairness I'll try to judge Maleficent based on my first viewing.

Maleficent was one Disney's most anticipated movies of 2014, largely due to the fact that the titular character is played by Angelina Jolie. And she certainly didn't disappoint. With her already striking bone structure enhanced by vampire-esque makeup she literally looked like she stepped out of the cartoon Sleeping Beauty. Despite the narration spoken by an older Aurora and bit parts played by the younger Aurora (Elle Fanning) and other minor characters, most of the dialogue is focused on and spoken by Jolie in a dreamy but dark British accent. Overall, Jolie is certainly the brightest light in Maleficent.

Though the special effects are good and the costume design is pretty incredible, what Maleficent lacks is strong supporting characters. Despite the modern take on the fairy tale (and spoiler alert: its modern "true love isn't just romantic love" theme), Aurora is no more empowered in this story than she was in Disney's cartoon, which is probably not viewed by critics as the most shining example of feminism in film. The prince, who we only see briefly in the movie, is equally weak and even ditzy, but maybe that's a modern twist on the typical guy-who-saves-the-girl story line. Either way, the minor characters weren't working for me.

The verdict? Maleficent is a kid-friendly film with beautiful costumes and even more beautiful Angelina Jolie, but the overall story, including the development of secondary characters, is lacking. I give it a score of 7 out of 10. Maybe that's a little harsh but I did give Boyhood a 9 out of 10.

On to Begin Again...

I was a little afraid to watch this one, probably because I'm such a fan of the critically acclaimed and cult favorite film Once. I still think Once is a better film, but can you can't really compare apples and oranges. One is an indie film starring real life musicians and was made for practically nothing; the other stars well known and experienced actors Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo and was made on a considerably larger budget.

But I happy to report that Begin Again is surprisingly good. The music is a pleasant mix of coffee shop style and indie pop, the actors are great (It's nice to see Keira Knightley actually play a happy character for the first time in years.), and despite its happy ending the movie is never overly sentimental. Gretta (Knightley) is a talented singer and songwriter who gets dumped by her newly famous singer boyfriend (Adam Levine) and, on a whim, records an album with has-been producer Dan (Ruffalo). The two bond over their love of music as they walk the streets of New York and record the album in various locations live.

Some of the dialogue is a little forced and at times it seems like the film is trying too hard to be cool and contemporary. It doesn't tug at your heartstrings or leave you thinking about it for hours like Once, but it is a pleasant watch and I'd watch it again for a pick-me-up. I give it a 7.5 out of 10.

So, what do you think of my reviews? Have you seen these movies yet? What Redbox rentals should I check out next? Let me know with your comments below. :)

How I Feel About My January Birchbox...3 Weeks Later

My first beauty box this past December was a variety of products based on the profile I created on the Birchbox website. For January's box I decided to do something different and instead chose a guest-edited box called Relax & Recharge. It was between either that box and a fitness inspired box, but I've never been much of a physical, exercise-y kind of person; I'm definitely a couch potato. Plus, I saw on the website that the R&R box would include tea bags, and I'm a sucker for some good hot tea.

So here's the rundown on the six products I received...

• The Perlier Intensive Body Balm with Lavender Extract smells really good, plus it seems really hydrating. Though the formula is fairly thick it goes on smoothly. Also, the sample size at one ounce was pretty generous and is perfect for carrying in my purse.
• I liked the purple-red berry color of the Manna Kadar Lip Locked priming gloss stain, but I don't know if it is really a "stain." The consistency reminded me a little of NYX's matte lip cream but it didn't have the same staying power. The gloss part was nice, however; the product never felt goopy on my lips and didn't leave residue either.
• I have yet to try out the Travelmate Sheet Mask. Only one came in the box (They're sold in sets of four.) and I want to save it for my next plane ride, the most notorious time to get dry skin. I'll let you know what it's like once I've tried it!
• I'm probably not the best person to judge the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream. I don't really get dark circles under my eyes unless I'm really, really deprived (or maybe I just ignore them), and because I'm in my early twenties, fine lines aren't an issue for me yet. I did use the product a few times, however, and it did moisturize the areas around my eyes well. It's also 99 percent natural and has no distinguishable smell.
• The product I was most excited to try, the Briogeo Don't Despair! Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask, was also the most disappointing. I have color-treated, frizzy hair and I'm always on the look out for a great conditioner or oil treatment. Perhaps I didn't use enough of the product on my thick hair the two times I used it, but the mask seemed to provide about the same amount of hydration a normal conditioner would. I left the product on for five minutes before rinsing, as stated in the instructions, but perhaps wrapping my hair in plastic wrap and leaving it on throughout the night would have done the trick. My favorite deep conditioner is Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deeeep Conditioner. It's literally magic in a bottle, plus it's affordable.
• And last but not least, the Teapigs Tea Temples. The two teabags came in Chamomile and Licorice and Peppermint flavors. Chamomile is always a good go-tea for tea and, of course, it was delicious. I gave my mom the other tea bag. I'm not much into licorice, and she also likes hot tea.

So, do you get Birchbox or another beauty box? Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of them (especially the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream) Let me know! :)

5 Classic Books Written by Women Every Girl Should Read

There has never been a shortage of good women writers but sometimes the best in women's literature can go overlooked, especially when the classics that have been around for a few hundred years. And while I could dedicate an entire post to just one of Jane Austen's books, there are definitely other literary classics written by women that are worthy of being mentioned. You probably have heard of some of these (or perhaps all of them) and may have read them once already, but sometimes once isn't enough. After all, they're classics for a reason.

• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I know. It's Jane Austen. But I have to include at least one and Northanger Abbey is one of the lesser known, perhaps because it's one of Austen's gutsier, more satirical works. Young Catherine loves gothic novels and becomes so obsessed with them that she imagines the mysterious Northanger Abbey is home to secrets and even murder. Or is it only her imagination? Ooohhh...spooky. Well, not really. But it is a fun read, and if you're over Austen's more popular novels Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey is a nice departure from the romance.

• The Awakening by Kate Chopin

This is one of the lesser known books I'm including in my list, but it is perhaps one of the most compelling. I first read it in a composition course while I was in high school and then again in an American Literature class in college. Edna is a Southern housewife living in Louisiana with her husband and young son in the late 1800s. She has wealth, security and everything a woman could want...except for independence. Edna, depressed and desperate for a way out of the confines that kept women socially and emotionally trapped, starts to live her life on her own terms. Emotional, beautifully written, and even tragic, The Awakening shows the light and dark sides of female empowerment.

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This is one you may have read, but though I had seen numerous TV and film adaptations of it, I didn't read it until about six months ago. Jane Eyre is a British orphan who attends a boarding school for disadvantaged girls and eventually finds work as a governess at the home of the stern but misunderstood Mr. Rochester. Good and kind Jane gets the opportunity to love a man, something she never dreamed was possible. Though it definitely has its romantic moments, Jane Eyre more than anything is a young woman's story, personal and intimate as if it were a real girl's biography. 

• Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

This book is hard to follow at times because it can be difficult to differentiate between the present and past. Mrs. Dalloway is a middle aged wife and mother who, like Edna in The Awakening, is unhappy with her present situation. Dalloway, throughout the course of a day, reflects on her past experiences that all have their share of intrigue. With her distinct writing style and perspective, Virginia Woolf created a story that has lasted years after it was written. If you like Mrs Dalloway or Virginia's Woolf's other works, watch The Hours, a movie that tells three different but connected stories based on Virginia Woolf's life and Mrs Dalloway. 

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Did you know Frankenstein was written by a woman? I didn't until about two years ago when I read it for a romantic prose course. Perhaps that's because the story is about a male scientist and the "man-monster" he creates, but the lessons are universal and relevant for both genders and every generation. If all of the books on this list are classics, then perhaps this one is the "most classic." Another reason to read this one: it's actually fairly short and readable. You could read it in few hours or a few days easily.

What are your favorite books written by women? Also, what books are you reading right now? Let me know with your comments below. :)

Beauty Review: Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art

I've always liked the look of dramatic eye makeup but I typically don't wear a lot of eyeshadow, eye liner, or eye glitter so I thought doing a beauty review of Revlon's PhotoReady Eye Art shadow/sparkle duo would be a good opportunity to try something new. I originally went to CVS to buy the product but they were completely out except for one tube in a shade I didn't particularly care for. Thankfully Walmart had all the colors in stock. I chose number 080 in Desert Dazzle, which is the shade Olivia Wilde wears in the Revlon ads. She has hazel, greenish eyes and so do I, so I thought that shade would complement my eyes the best. There were a lot of pretty jewel toned colors to choose from though, including a pretty turquoise shade with matching glitter and a copper tone with bronze glitter.

My eyelids tend to stay oily, so I applied NYX eyeshadow base to one eye and kept the other one bare so I could compare how well the color and glitter stayed with and without a primer. As soon as I applied the cream shadow and glitter to both eyes I noticed that the cream shadow was already sliding off the bare eye. It left an obvious line of product in the crease of my eye as well. While the color wasn't as intense as I thought it would be, the shadow blended well and initially stayed on the eyelid with primer. The glitter, like the shadow, stayed better on the primed eye.

When first applied with no eyeshadow primer...

 And four and a half hours later...

And with eyeshadow primer...

And four and half hours later...

The cream shadow has a thin sponge applicator which makes it easy to apply all over the lid. The sparkle is a little trickier to apply. It has a thin brush applicator, but  I ended up using my finger to apply the glitter all over my lid to get more even coverage. The advertisement says the product can be used on the lashes, put on the lids, or used to line the eyes, but you would definitely need something thinner to apply the glitter on the lash line. Applying the glitter to my lashes was also tricky and left a lot to be desired. I could barely see any glitter on my lashes after applying one coat. Maybe another coat would've done the trick.

What bothered me the most about the eyeshadow and glitter was that it felt heavy on my eyes. If you're used to wearing fake lashes or lots of eye makeup, you may not be bothered by it at all, but for people who don't wear a lot of eye makeup or just don't like the feel of makeup in general then this product probably would be uncomfortable. After a few hours, however, the sticky heaviness on my eyes didn't bother me as much.

Overall, though I'm mildly impressed with the overall "glittery" effect of the Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art shadow duo, the discomfort outweighs the good. I may pull this product out every once in a while, perhaps to wear with a costume on Halloween or with a dress for a holiday party. But would I buy this product again? Nah.

Have you tried the Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art? Do you agree or disagree with my review? What are your favorite eye products? Let me know in the comments section below! :)

#OOTD: Classic Style

Orange Coat - Liz Claiborne
Turtle Neck - Made For Life
Skirt - Sis Sis from Modcloth, pictured here
Tights - ?
Boots - Cliffs
Purse - London Fog

In my favorite movie Breakfast at Tiffany's Audrey Hepburn wears the most beautiful orange, long coat as she walks the streets of New York City. Weeks after I bought this coat, I finally realized that that was the reason I was drawn to it immediately. It's the perfect coat. Its shape is very classic but the bright color is more interesting than basic black. The same goes for this London Fog bag; it has a classic silhouette but is navy instead of black. This skirt from Modcloth has become my work staple. It sits high on the waist (though mine does like to come down a bit) and is long enough to be work appropriate.