Author: Trina

Room Tour: The Balcony

When you live in an apartment or condo without a yard, your balcony becomes a super important outdoor space. While I normally like to invest in higher quality furniture, I knew that my patio was going to take a beating in the Arizona heat. I opted for cheaper outdoor furnishings and desert-friendly plants to make my outdoor space as low-maintenance as possible.

I was really feeling a tiger print outdoor rug for some reason. Maybe it gives the space a more tropical vacation vibe? I got my outdoor bench from Target. I got my side table and palm leaf outdoor pillows from Wayfair. I really love how soft the outdoor pillows are instead of being that scratchy Sunbrella material.

Instead of a coffee table, I have a woven pouf. When I’m by myself, it acts as a nice foot rest. When I have guests over, it acts as more of a coffee table by putting a tray with some acrylic glasses on it. I also found a black rattan chair at Target for some extra seating.

All of my outdoor plants are desert-friendly and were bought from a local shop called Pueblo. I highly recommend a visit if you’re ever in Phoenix. These plants are all super easy to take care of and I’ve had them for years.

In the summer, it’s usually way too hot to sit outside in the daytime. My twinkle lights and lanterns help softly light up the balcony when I’m sitting outside at night.

Tiger Queen

Let me state, for the record, that I loved tiger print way before I binge-watched Tiger King. I’ve got a tiger print outdoor rug on my balcony, tiger print pillows on my couch, and multiple pieces of tiger print clothing. Some people think tiger print is tacky, but it’s tacky in all of the right ways.

Since we’ve been in quarantine, I haven’t really worn much besides sweats and oversized tees. But taking a day to pick out a cute outfit and do my hair and makeup does help me feel human again. I’m now finding myself getting dressed up for my daily walk to my mailbox.

I thrifted this cool Harley Davidson top from Wang’s Vintage in downtown Phoenix. I did a little DIY and turned it into more of a muscle tee. I tucked my top into some cuffed skinny jeans from Frame with a super cute button fly. If you’re ever looking for skinny jeans that don’t feel as basic, look for ones with a button fly. Trust me on this one.

I finished the look off with some gold bangles and tiger print boots from Kenneth Cole. These boots have some more western styling with silver metal tips. I really love little details like that. They may seem small, but they really make the piece feel more well thought out and high end.

Photos by Maria Mena

Obsessed With Cruelty Free Skincare

I used to have super bad skin as a teenager. It got to the point where I was going to a dermatologist once a month and getting painful deep peels that caused blisters all over my face. And they didn’t even help with my acne at all.

I currently have the best skin of my life. Honestly, skipping the harsh acne treatments and switching to a gentle plant-based cruelty free skincare routine has made a huge difference.

After removing my makeup, I use the Superfood Cleanser by Youth To The People and a facial brush to cleanse, exfoliate, and unclog my pores. Then I use the Jasmine Green Tea Toner by Herbivore Botanicals, which tones and balances my skin without drying me out and causing my oily skin to overproduce oils. Then, I use the Bakuchiol Serum by Herbivore Botanicals, which is basically a vegan retinol alternative. Lastly, I use the Superfood Air Whipped Moisture Cream by Youth To The People. I love it as a moisturizer because it’s light and doesn’t clog my pores or leave me greasy.

My favorite part of my cruelty free skincare routine is my jade facial roller. After using all my serums and moisturizers, I give myself a super relaxing facial massage. The massage helps push all of my products deep into the skin while also de-puffing, toning, and encouraging lymphatic drainage. After my facial massage, I apply my GradeBrow and GradeLash serums by Grande Cosmetics to try and help my brows and lashes recover from my high school years. Finally, I put on some Agave+ lip balm by Bite Beauty to keep my lips nice and moisturized.