Holiday Prep with Crest!

Ahh, the week before Christmas when everyone (me included) is trying to do a million things all at once. Should I even mention that 2016 is only a few weeks away? Yea.. let's not even go there haha.

It kind of makes me wish I was still an impatient kid wondering when the heck Santa was going to arrive. Sure the days were long but at least, I wasn't running around with my head cut off.

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Without fail, the holidays for me always turn into a mad dash to finish last-minute projects (all the coffee please!) while finishing up all my Christmas shopping. Needless to say, every minute counts.

Oh, and the holiday parties. So. Many. Parties.

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There are the get-togethers with the "in-laws", dinners with my fam, a few office parties, and then the fun boozy nights with amazing friends (these always turn into amazing nights). With enough invites to take me through the rest of a year with a gnarly hangover each day.

But just because my days are a little bit jam-packed doesn't mean I won't treat myself during the madness. It's important to keep myself sane, you know?

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One thing I really have been wanting to do is get my teeth whiten & straighten. It might be a little too late for braces, but I can whiten my teeth and undo the damage my caffeine addiction has done.

Whitening my teeth with Crest Whitestrips is pretty affordable and something I do before big events (read: all of December). It's super easy to use the strips, not messy at all, and can be worn while on the go. You can even drink water while they're on. For me personally, I love whitening my teeth and having the bright smile and bold lip. In fact, a bold lip is all I can do sometimes when so busy in terms of makeup.

For those of you that have sensitive teeth - these have not caused me any discomfort in the slightest and my teeth are super sensitive. Also, it only takes one hour of wear to get rid of years of coffee and red wine.

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Right now, Walmart is having a BOGO event for a limited time on these Crest Whitestrips which is awesome since I can give a box to my boyfriend. It's a pretty awesome deal since a box of Whitestrips can go for $57+ and these are coming out to $39.97.

Well now that my smile is covered all I have to do is make it through the season in one-piece (and get that Christmas list completed ASAP).

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DressGentle Fawn  Vest: Zara (similar)  Boots: Zara (similar)  Necklace: Custom (make your own here)  Backpack: Tumi  LipstickPlush via NYX Cosmetics

What are a few ways you prep for the holiday parties this season? Have you ever tried Crest Whitestrips before? I've been loving them since my High School days :).

Today's post has been sponsored by Walmart. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Happiness is...

Things that don’t make me happy - an overflowing inbox. Apologies in advance if you’ve recently reached out to me via email but the holidays are pretty synonymous with busy, busy, and busier.

It feels like I'm constantly trying to play catch up while struggling with everything coming my way. Are you feeling overwhelmed as well? Well, let's focus on things that bring us joy.

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I find that focusing on things that bring me joy definitely helps (a lot) when trying to relax. That and picking up a few skincare products here and there. Which I definitely did a little bit too much of during the last couple of months. My bank account is still crying over my Black Friday madness, but it's okay since my skin is reaping the rewards.

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Those that follow me on Snapchat know (find me by searching: thestyleboro) about my Korean skincare obsession, but those that followed me during my Parisian vacation saw firsthand how big my hauls get. In my defense, I had to - some of these brands have yet to make it to the states and others don't have their full line here.

One of these brands being NUXE. They pride themselves on affordability and still being an all-natural line - which I love. The Huile Prodigieuse from NUXE is a cult favorite, smells amazing, and can be used so many different ways. When wearing OTK boots, I love using this as a moisturizer or mixing a few drops of it into my foundation when it's really dry out. If you're not too sure about the dry oil, try their Rêve de Miel lip balm (wearing it here) or their shower gel (smells amazing too!).

What have I learned after testing Nuxe out? I need a bigger suitcase for my next Parisian trip.

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Another thing that brings me joy, arting and this mural filled the bill quite nicely. If you're wondering where to find it head over to the East Village and it's located inside a park - I think it's 2nd & 2nd but will head back to confirm this.

It was the perfect backdrop when talking things that make me smile.

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SunglassesThe Row  Dress: re:named (similar here)  Coat: Willow & Clay (similar here)  BootsSam Edelman (similar)  Necklace: Lulu Dharma  Purse: Shana Luther  Lip Balm: Nuxe  Dry Oil: Nuxe

Alright, now that I divulged in what makes me happy, it's your turn. What do you do to bring joy to an otherwise hectic day.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens.

Shop the look:

Gift Giving Made Easy

Today's shop has been sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! 
#GiftingAMemory #CollectiveBias

And just like that we're on the cusp of the holidays. How insane right? It honestly feels like we were celebrating Labor Day yesterday!

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Knowing how busy I was all summer, I actually crafted up my gifting budget along with the lucky giftees back in September. But I still have not started my shopping. With all the rushing and spending that will inevitably happen, I came up with an affordable Plan B.

Now if we're talking numbers I try to spend between $20-$30 per person. If I want to make it out of the season with my savings intact, sticking to these numbers is a must. I also want to try and get the majority of my gifts in one place to minimize the hassle of traveling all over the city.

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Year after year I'm gifted fragrance sets and personally - I love it. You can never go wrong with something that smells heavenly. Coty does have holiday gift sets that are not only affordable but can be found at your local Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS. And in case you didn't know COTY is the company behind a few mega-brands like Marc Jacobs & Calvin Klein. So, these guys definitely know how to whip up some smell-good delights.
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One of the many advantages about picking up one of their gift sets at my local Walgreens is that Walgreens is one those one-stop shops. I'm able to pick up stocking stuffers or additions to my gift, gift bags and holiday cards.

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For one girlfriend in particular, I did a little research before hand. I know she's a huge Katy Perry fan but I needed to pick the right scent that suits her spunky attitude but very feminine style. From Katy Perry's line, Mad Potion was just released, smells delish, and has great reveiws. It's a heavenly scent of Tahitian vanilla orchid, sweet peony, jasmine petals and apple musk. I also think the Mad Potion gift box looks fancy.

I absolutely know that she'll love this overall. I added in a new loofah too so she gets the full experience haha.

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See easy peasy! And now every time she spritzes it on she'll think about me. Oh, and don't forget the card.

What do you think of think of Coty's Holiday Gift Sets? Do you think it's a no-fail gift idea?
Find more ways to gift a memory this holiday season.