I love some of the new things they’ve come out with for spring. I browsed the site last night and wanted to share a few favorites:

BR Monogram Pieced Silk Blouse

Perforated Yoke Tank

Colorblock Crepe Tank

Mixed-Media Cutaway Tank.

(I Love tops that are cut like this. The neckline looks like it would be super flattering.)

Read More about Spring Picks From Banana Republic

amirite?

Update: Ann Taylor is having their friends and family sale this weekend. I ordered it online, along with this skirt and this blouse. I also tried it on in-store. Like a lot of Ann Taylor pieces, it runs a bit large.

Read More about This Coat Is Gorgeous

This post from Young house Love (miss them), has also always stuck with me. I was so impressed at their frugality and discipline. I also love Kristen from Minima. She teaches her clients to carefully choose the things they bring into their lives.  For me, it’s an interesting balance. I’m a huge believer in taking care of yourself, treating yourself, and having fun with your life in general. That’s actually where the name of my blog comes from. Tiramisu for breakfast? Why not? I love buying things and sharing about them, but I also want to be aware. It’s easy to get sucked in, reading blogs, seeing things on Instagram and watching hauls on YouTube. I don’t want to spend my thoughts and time on things I want to buy, and I don’t want to feel guilted into into buying things I don’t want at the mall because I’m easily convinced by sales people.

This January, one of the Youtubers  I follow, LisaLisaD1, did a no-buy month. I watch her videos because I love living seeing all the clothing and beauty goodies she picks up each week. She teamed up with her friend and they both challenged themselves to refrain from shopping at all for one month. I followed along as she shared and decided I’d try a no-buy month out for myself. I went for February, the shortest month (sneaky sneaky). I thought It’d keep track of all my temptations and what I did to keep myself on track. I told a couple of friends I was doing it, but I’ve been waiting until now to post in case I caved and went on a shopping spree. Spoiler alert: I didn’t. Here’s how it went:

2/1: I noticed the new grey super-soft sweat shirts that my Barre studio got in. I was just about to tell the instructor to charge my account when I realized nope, today began my no-buy month.

2/6 On the way to our ski trip in Wintergreen, VA, we stop at the mall. I needed to pick up my work computer from the Allie store and get the security tag removed from a bra I purchased from LuLulemon that was left on by mistake. The salesperson invited me to check out all the pink and red stuff they were featuring for Valentine’s Day and I glanced longingly but bolted out of the store to avoid temptation. I didn’t like the new IT cosmetics mascara I got in the mail from ULTA so I did exchange that for the Too Faced one I know I like. The difference was $0.22. Maybe this was cheating? My boyfriend said it was not.

2/8: I order a subscription to Real Simple from Amazon and feel guilty. Is this cheating!? Still not sure… I notice Nordstrom now has two new colors in these comfy lounge pants that I LOVE.  You guys, these pants are SO soft and wonderful. These are definitely going on the list. (I kept a mental list of all the things I thought about buying but didn’t, so I could decide at the end of the month if I really wanted them.

2/10: I stop by Elements on my lunch break to pick up samples and am tempted to buy the full size Erno Laszlo toner. I’m really loving the oil, cleansing bar, toner, moisturizer system and am worried everything will get out of sync if I run out and have to skip the toner step. I decide I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it and walk out with just some samples.

2/11: Sephora emails to say they’ve picked up the Armani line. I peek, of course, but don’t add anything to my basket. I noticed the Kenneth Cole mules I want from Macy’s are on sale. This was hard to resist. What if they sell out?! Then, I see this coat on Js Everyday Fashion. Stunning. How is this only $72? If I had not been on a no-buy, I would totally have gotten it.

2/17:  I went on the Sephora website to order a gift, and then thought I’d check-in on my Nordstrom shopping cart. The pants I wanted are sold out. 🙁 Such a bummer

2/19. A coworker got a Sephora delivery at the office and I freaked out and made her tell me what she got. So many withdrawals. The vitamin C serum I wanted to try is sold out. This is the worst.

It’s so funny looking back on the notes I took throughout the month. Obviously, some days were easier than others.  I feel so lucky to receive things from companies to blog about (like the Erno Laszlo products in this post), so that definitely made not shopping a lot easier.  One cool thing I noticed is that I rediscovered old products that I’d forgotten about and tired new things that didn’t cost anything extra, like this female version of a “man bun,” that I saw in an ad for Tresemmé.

3/1 No buy is finally over I made it! Throughout the month, I planned on heading to the mall as soon as the 1st came, and splurging on all the stuff I’d deprived myself of throughout the month. It was  Sunday, so I started the day with a barre class and then went to Marshall’s for the first time since February. I was used to stop in there every time it was on the way workout classes in the West End but I hadn’t been there in a month The magic wasn’t there. I even passed up this Kate Spade bag.

I came home and did end up treating myself to a few things from Elements, all of which I feel good about (of course they always throw in extras for me, which makes it even more worth it). The pants I wanted at Nordstrom also came back in stock, so I ordered those. Overall. A no-buy month was a pretty cool experience.

I was just introduced to Erno Laszlo skincare and it’s quickly becoming a favorite. Erno Laszlo was a famous eccentric dermatologist from Hungary that came to America and opened an institute in 1939. His mantra is “Beautiful skin takes commitment, not a miracle.” (You’ll see that later on when we get to the famous splashing technique). Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn,  Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis were all clients of his. I’m a sucker for luxurious products, so of course I was excited. Jeanie and Sherry gave me a bunch of good stuff to try, including sample of the Hydra Therapy Sleep Mask, which I mentioned here. I love masks you can sleep in, so I was especially excited to try this. I loved it so much I ended up purchasing the full size.

I talked to Julie, a representative from the brand to learn more about the line and get recommendations according to my skin type. At the risk of boring you with  too many specifics, my skin is pretty sensitive and acne prone. If I use the right products, everything can be fine. BUT, one wrong mask and I’ll be recovering from a breakout for weeks. I’m always wary of over-drying and make it a point to use lots of moisturizing products (think oils, masks, that REN emollient cream that I love).  I told Julie I had dry but acne-prone skin. We talked about it more, and decided on a program for combination skin, and she sent me these products to try. It felt like Christmas. Shout out to @shopanomie on Instagram for the photo inspiration)

How cute are those tiny bottles? When Jeanie and Sherry originally gave me the pre-cleansing oil and mini treatment to try, I didn’t read the instructions and was apparently using them incorrectly. Julie explained that you’re supposed to rub the wet treatment bar over the pre-cleansing oil on your face, and the two mix together to make a creamy emulsion. Much better results. I also got to try these eye creams. They’re all great, but I think I like the Firmarine best. The first one I tried, TranspHuse, is an age fighting, moisturizing eye cream. The Luminous is a detoxifiying, cooling gel. The Firmarine forumla hydrates for smoother, firmer under eyes.  Spirulina Maxima encourages collagen production & boosts firmness. Sodium Hyaluronate & Glycosaminoglycans hydrate, increase elasticity & smooth the skin. Aloe Extract calms, soothes & moisturizes. They’re all a clear, gel formula that doesn’t irritate my eyes at all.

Here’s the cleansing ritual I tried:

Before I use the Erno products, I take my makeup off using Bioderma cleansing water. Then, I follow with these four steps:

One: Phelityl Pre Cleansing Oil: For dry and combination skin types that want to remove impurities before they wash their face, it’s rich in 12 essential oils full of fatty acids to nourish and protect the skin. I’ve used cleansing oils in the past, (I use the ones from Shiseido because they’re extra soft). This smells wonderful and feels awesome on the skin. I take my time rubbing it in before I add the soap because it feels so great.

Two: Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar: Enriched with 26 essential minerals, this magic bar is supposed to detoxify, cleanse and hydrate. Here’s how to use it: Fill the sink with hot water, dip the bar, and gently rub the bar over the Face (the oil is still on the skin at this point). Repeat to create a rich lather and massage the face. Then comes the famous splashing technique. Splash 20 times in the accumulated water, then splash another 10 times with clean water. This is apparently the magic trick. I’ve seen bloggers/vloggers talk about gathering product from the bar with a wet Clarisonic brush and using that, but I haven’t tried that yet. The first time I tried this, I washed the oil off before using the soap, which was more trying. The two together is a perfect formula.

Three: Light Controlling Lotion: This is called a lotion but it’s what most of us would refer to as a toner. It controls surface oil while minimizing the appearance of pores. This is the product I was most hesitant about. I stay away from toners because I associate them with alcohol and drying out the skin. I was pleasantly surprised at this one. Clove Oil eliminates bacteria & serves as an antiseptic, while glycerin naturally binds moisture to the skin. The result is clean, refreshed skin and tightened pores. Sweeping it over the skin with a cotton pad (I use the ones from Shiseido because they’re super soft) gently exfoliates and it makes my face feel super clean.

These three products come in this set, which I’ll be purchasing once my samples run out/when my no buy February is over.

Four: Oil Control Day Lotion with SPF 15: It seems like a basic moisturizer with an SPF of 15, but I love the way the whole system works together. It’s described as  a moisturizer for oily skin that needs moisturizing, but also needs oil control. Glycerin plus antioxidant Vitamins A, C & E hydrate, repair and renew the skin. Avobenzone (3%) & Octinoxate (7.5%) protect from UVA/UVB rays.

Don’t forget to use the code TIRAMISU to get 10% off these and any other products you like at Elementsbeautyshop.com or in their Carytown boutique.

*This post is a sponsored collaboration with Elements Beauty Shop.  All opinions are my own.

Elements also partnered with Chic Stripes, Worthy Style, Sweet Caroline RVA and Kristel Poole. Be sure to check out their posts too!

My favorite things to relax with.

The most amazing vanilla tea (This links to Amazon but it’s cheaper at your local grocery store. I got mine at Martin’s) | A Candle that smells like Abercrombie (in a good way?) | A hydrating lavender mask | The sweetest little teacup. The softest, most wonderful lounging pants (I can’t wait to get another pair in black).

1. Mason Pearson Styling Comb from Elements Beauty Shop: I bought these for my dad and my boyfriend this past Christmas and they both really like them. My dad had always used type of plastic combs that are free in hotels, so he was excited to have one that’s made by hand. The plastic comes to the factory in Switzerland from Italy in a sheet, where it is die-cut into the general shapes of the comb styles. From that point, until the comb is finished, everything is done by hand. Each tooth is cut, one at a time, on a special saw. The comb is then tumbled in a polishing drum to smooth the surface.

2. The Red Lindsay Lambswool Scarf from Ledbury: Everything from this store is so luxurious and has me wishing they made clothes for women too. They’re kicking off a big warehouse sale this Thursday with a Mardi Gras-themed party in their downtown Richmond showroom. Sweaters, blazers, accessories and discontinued shirt styles will be up to 75% off through Monday the the 16th.

3. Statesman Socks from BoldFoot: Frustrated by design under a concept called “planned obsolescence,”(the amount of time a brand wants its products to last before they fall apart and you’re forced to replace them) and the fact that just 3% of apparel sold in the U.S. is made in the U.S., my former coworker, Brad, launched Boldfoot just last year. Boldfoot aims to prove that “American-made” stands for something, and is starting with awesome socks. They’re 100% American-made from cotton grown right here in the states.

4.  The McDaniel Chambray: Another classy pick from Ledbury.

5. Caswell-Massey Shaving Brush: My boyfriend really wanted one of these for Christmas. I didn’t realize that Elements carried them until after I’d already bought him one from The Art of Shaving in Short Pump Mall. I wish I’d seen these though. A much cheaper price-point ($35 vs. $85) and it’s a local business.

6. Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather: I bought this to go with the brush. He says he only needs to use a little bit of the product and it’s his favorite thing from the Jack Black line.

7. Luncar Eclipse Tie from Richmond Thread Lab: I showed my friend Molly this roundup as I was working on it and she made sure I didn’t leave out this company. I love this tie and this grey one.

8. Candy Valley Cake Pops: How awesome are these?! I first tried these when they made these adorable custom geckos for our client’s book launch and I’ve since had them at company parties, bridal showers, and football parties. If you’re guy has a sweet tooth, these are perfect. AND, they’re taking orders up until the 13th!

Get 10% off any purchase from Elements Beauty Shop with the Code TIRAMISU.

Just picked up this dainty little thing from Need Supply in Carytown.

PS: Cat Bird also has a pretty version (which is what I saw first), but it’s $$$.

Read More about Hero Ring

The lovely Tiffany Williams of Chloe+Isabel knows supporting the local arts community in Richmond is important to me, so she offered to collaborate on a fundraiser for Richmond CenterStage.

Chloe+Isabel is a jewelry company based out of NYC where everything is designed in house. Everything is hypoallergenic, nickel- and lead-free, and has a lifetime guarantee.

Richmond CenterStage is a 501c3 organization whose mission is to provide diverse local and world-class performing arts, transformative arts education experiences for students of all ages, and inspirational venues—all to strengthen the cultural and economic vitality of Greater Richmond. I’m the current chair of the Richmond CenterStage Associates board, where we support the foundation by spreading awareness and raising funds. Here’s a few of us from the group at one of our fundraising events.

  One of my favorite parts of being involved with this organization is participating in Lights Up.  Lights up is a free weekend of youth and the arts at the Genworth BrightLights Education Center with  30 workshops, master classes, lecture-demonstrations and live performances featuring the Resident Companies of Richmond CenterStage. Children get to play in an “instrument petting zoo,” with cellos, violins, trombones, and other instruments that might not get to experience if it weren’t for this organization.

Now that I’ve convinced you of the worthy cause, here’s how the fundraiser works: I picked out ten items from the Chloe+Isabel collection. ALL of the profits from these ten items will be donated to Richmond CenterStage. Click here to see/shop these items! Thank you, Tiffany, for being so generous and I’m excited to see which jewels you all choose!