Xmas 2013 Gift Guide: Beauty

I love presents. I love getting them and I love giving them. It's just another excuse to shop. I'm fairly picky when it comes to presents--the thought is nice, but it's even nicer to get exactly what you want. Unfortunately, it's hard to get exactly what you want and also be surprised, so most people have to decide which is more important--the surprise or the quality of the present.

Things I Like: April Edition

Oops, guess I missed the month of March. Time has really flown by; I feel like when you're an "adult", months just go by suddenly. I feel like I've been in a coma for half of winter. Anyway, going clockwise from top left:

Things I Like: February Edition

I haven't had time to put up any real product reviews in between avoiding my homework, chaining episodes of Arthur and baking weekday cakes. I thought I would write five mini product reviews, based on things I've been using quite a bit this month.

Review: Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum + The Daily Gimme

$68, Sephora

Sephora had an amazing Black Friday deal, where they were selling ten products for only $10 each. I picked up three things: a three-piece Tocca rollerball set (similar here), a three-piece TokyoMilk rollerball set (which contains minis of this, this and this), and a three-piece Ole Henriksen (similar here). I tried some of the Tocca perfume in Stella yesterday, and I am in love. The website describes it as having an orange-y scent, but I didn't really think of that when I put it on. It was very sweet and opulent, and definitely very feminine. It reminded me of the Old World and lush, expensive courtesans (weird). Also, the name is awesome.

The Daily Gimme: Bottega Veneta Solid Perfume Compact

$165, Nordstrom

I admit, I don't really know what this perfume smells like. However, the description on the Nordstrom website sounds wonderful: plum, pink pepper and jasmine. Additionally, I feel like Bottega Veneta would make a perfume that is great and elegant. Finally, even if the smell was only so-so, this delivery system is perfect. A solid perfume in a beautiful compact, which you can slip in your purse and dab on as you need it? Awesome.