FOODIE FRIDAY: TOFU RICE BOWL

Happy Foodie Friday!

Today's recipes is one of my absolute favorites. If I could choose to only make one thing for dinner for the rest of my life, this would be one of my top choices.

I can make this tofu rice bowl in the evening for dinner and be able to divide it into two halves to have for one half for lunch the following day.

Adapted from Mealime

Ingredients

• 1 crown broccoli
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 (12 oz) package extra firm tofu
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 cup jasmine rice
• 1/2 lime
• black pepper
• crushed red pepper
• honey
• natural peanut butter (we'll want the runniness)
• salt
• sesame seeds
• soy sauce
• virgin coconut oil

1. Cook rice per directions, set aside
2. Wash and dry any fresh produce
3. Peel and grate/mince ginger and transfer to small bowl
4. Preheat skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tbsp coconut oil. Once heated, add ginger and cook until fragarant (10-30 seconds)
5. Drain and cube tofu, add to skillet with ginger and season with salt/pepper to taste. Cook 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown
6. Cut broccoli into bite-sized florets and transfer to a medium bowl
7. Peel carrot and trim off ends. Using a box grater, corsely grate the carrot and transfer to another medium bowl
8. Transfer tofu and ginger out of pan and add broccoli to cook until soft (2-3 minutes)
9. Peel and mince/press garlic. Transfer to a small bowl to prep the sauce
10. Juice lime and add to garlic
11. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, water, honey and crushed red pepper to the garlic and lime juice. Whisk until combined
12. To serve, arrange rice, tofu, broccoli and carrots in a bowl. Drizzle with peanut sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Enjoy!

CURRENT BEDROOM

Hi hi hiiii good day everyone!!

I'm back with ONE MORE home post before we make the big move to N.C. and this post is showcasing our bedroom! It's the darkest room in the house (strange, because there are two windows) so the photos aren't the prettiest but I tried my best to make it look good for ya.

Framed art is super high, I know. It was hung based off an old piece I had before my storage console.

First up is our bed. That beautiful headboard is from Pier 1 Imports. I've had my eye on headboards like this for a long time but getting a custom one is hella expensive and making my own seemed super tedious (because I didn't want to have to attach to or lean against my wall). I was so beyond excited when I found this one online and ON SALE! It's typically always on sale I've noticed so if you want it and it's not right now, give it a few days.

The bed is piled with a bunch of bed pillows and some throw ones. The pink one is an old design from Target and the winky face is one of Urban Outfitters' signature products. It's not the highest quality but definitely makes a statement. Under those is my duvet from West Elm. The story behind this duvet is slightly interesting-- once I finally agreed with Charlie on letting go of the one I have had in my family for YEARS and really liked-- it matched those brownish bed pillows-- I found myself shopping around and was at a total loss for what I wanted in a duvet cover aesthetically. I thought to head over to my 'Bedroom' Pinterest board and I realized that one of my favorite photos on that board starred a duvet I already had IN MY SHOPPING CART from West Elm. Suddenly everything made sense. and I bought it and I love it.

Hugging the bed are two side tables from Target. These are a steal IMO and the quality is top notch. I highly recommend if you're looking for a cute side table/night stand/accent table. The lamps are also from Target; I bought the grey lampshade on sale years ago and held onto it through numerous moves without even utilizing it on a base because I fell in love with the soft dove grey color. Unfortunately, I only had one so when the time came for both Charlie and myself to have bedside lamps, I was forced to look for another match. Better yet, I found a similar-yet-different match. Same lamp shade, same reflective gold lining, just in black. Voila! A quirky lamp combo. I threw them on matching brass lamp bases and have been happy with the combo ever since.

Above the bed is a custom piece from RadicalSouls Collective on Etsy. It's a huge item but brings a level of whimsy to the room that I enjoy. I loved working with Danielle from RadicalSouls because she let me customize to anything my heart desired from the wooden beads on top of the tassels to choosing the right piece of driftwood to mirror the design's shape that I had envisioned. She NAILED it. Here's another photo of it from her Instagram account:

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A post shared by RadicalSoulsCollective (@radicalsoulscollective) on May 17, 2018 at 11:37am PDT

This is my side of the bed. This storage console is from Target and I utilize it as a vanity-type station. Atop it are my go-to skincare picks (I posted about them in October. Check it out!), makeup brush carousel and my Simple Human mirror. It's a hefty buy at $199 but if purchased at Bed, Bath and Beyond you can apply a 20% off coupon on it. It simulates natural daylight-- which comes in handy over the winter when I'm getting home from work and it's almost dark out.

Feel free to shop this post below! I included some items that were in the photos but did not touch on in case you were curious:

GIORGIO ARMANI BEAUTY A-LINE CONTOUR LIQUID BRONZER IN '21-COOL'

Happy Tuesday!


I'm not sure what's with me and liquid contours lately but that last one seemed to go over prettttttty well so here's another review and demo! Today I'll be discussing the Giorgio Armani Beauty A-Line Contour Liquid "Bronzer".

In the above swatch, it looks like the product is bleeding (and it is) but it does not bleed on the face and it doesn't really matter since you blend it out anyway.

Pictures really do say a thousand words, don't they?

I've had this contouring liquid in my 'loves' list on the Sephora app for weeks and I finally decided to give it a go during Sephora's recent 20% off promotional sale. The shade I purchased was '21-Cool'.

After I dusted off the initial SHOCK of how tiny this bottle is.......... it's like, smaller than my palm.......  I was able to demo it out and I concluded that I do really like the stuff. If you're scared of contouring, this is a great beginner product for you because it blends very, very easily. I personally prefer highly "blendable" cheek products because I don't have a very precise way of applying face makeup. Anytime an item can blend itself out well and not require too much specific attention, it's a winner in my book. Additionally, this contour doesn't look dirty on the face as some cooler-toned contours can appear. The one down side? The $38 price tag.

I've been applying this liquid contour/bronzer with either a brush or my Beauty Blender. I do not recommend using your fingers as things can get a bit streaky.

Feel free to shop this post below:

FREE PEOPLE YELLOW KNIT + BAUBLE BAR

Hey there!

I've been wanting to show more of my style choices here sooo I am doing just that with today's post. My fashion taste is simple but sometimes I feel the need to share those simple things as this wild online world can sometimes be overrun with OTT outfits that I could never imagine actually donning for an entire day.

I picked up this Free People sweater from LuLu's on Black Friday because I was inspired by the sunny shade in a sweater since I'd be obligated to wear it November-March-- the months I'm usually rocking jewel tones and extra hardcore blacks and greys. I paired the sweater with some tassel earrings from BaubleBar in a matching mellow yellow color (similar tagged below).

Heads up if you're reading this the day I'm posting it or soon thereafter-- this sweater is actually 40% off if you buy from Nordstrom (linked below), which is an even better deal than what I got it for on Black Friday! It comes in a variety of delicate shades that you can easily transition from Winter to Spring when the time comes.

Random side story-- I have driven past this little gateway well over a hundred times in the two and a half years I have lived in my current city. It's behind a stretch of townhomes next to the shopping center that holds both my Target and grocery store (aka I'm passing by there a LOT). I always told myself I would get around to shooting either myself or someone else underneath it but have just never gotten around to doing so. Yesterday I was off from work for a day of mourning former President Bush and I figured I'd do it since I'm moving so soon. The owners of the home were totally fine with me setting up behind their house for a few minutes on a random, chilly Wednesday afternoon. I love that.

Let me know below if you pick up the sweater while it's on sale and tell me which color you got! We can be style (and/or color) twins!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: JEWELRY LOVER

I'm not big on gift guides BUT I have found myself drooooooling over some jewelry lately across a few different sites so I figured I'd throw together a mix of what I've seen that's new and pretty in jewelry land.

1. I have two favorite stones from Kendra Scott. I love her opals and I love her dichroic glass. These studs are the latter-- and come in two more colors! They're fairly large for studs-- which I prefer. If you're gonna buy pricier jewelry that you think is cute for someone, I think they should show them off as much as possible!

2. If you follow me on Instagram then you know about my obsession with South Moon Under's resin tortoise earrings. I own two of the three shown above and fully intend on buying the third as well. I love the creaminess and contrast of this tortoise pattern and they're sooo light. It's like you aren't even wearing earrings. I sent a picture to my sister after I bought my first pair and she immediately went and bought the same ones. They're definitely a gifting winner!

3. Another fave of mine from Kendra Scott are her lariats. This one comes in three colors and is a unique addition to a layered necklace look.

4. This necklace looks a bit wild but I think it's just so cool. The discs look like they're floating on your neck and the choker length creates an edgy, yet simple vibe. AKA MY VIBE. Edgy, yet simple. Always. This one also comes in silver!

5. On the topic of creamy and contrasted, this sweet bracelet is just that. I'm a sucker for anything black and white and speckled. This bracelet is made of dalmatian stone-- which, other than sounding cute, balances the emotions and body. Plus, it's stretchy. Who doesn't prefer a stretchy bracelet? This allows it to fit many different sized wrists so it makes a worry-free gift.

6. Next are some statement earrings. They also come in a blush but something about the black and gold screams New Year's Eve to me and these would be the BEST party earrings for somebody. These also come in blush!

7. Lastly is this delicate letter necklace. You can pick any letter you want for your recipient for your name, their name or anything else your heart desires. I want to pick up the 'B' for my first name (and future last name!) The chain balances the off-kilter letter by placing in two small stones up the chain to the left. It's dainty and understated but will feel extra special with the personalized letter-- without having to pay for an actual personalized gift.

Feel free to shop this post below:

HIS, HERS AND OUR PINNED LOCATIONS

This thing was so popular on my Instagram stories that I wanted to pop on here real quick to share with the link so everybody can have this before it goes away after the holidays!

I bought this cork USA map ornament from Target last year and pinned all of the places me and Charlie have been either on our own or together and color-coded it all. The cute star pin comes with the ornament!

Yellow = Places Charlie has been by himself

Pink = Places I've been by myself

Orange = Places we've been together

These are the pins I have but Target also sells a gold, black and white pack as well.

I hope you all enjoy.

RIFLE PAPER + BAN.DO

Welcome to my work desk.

Just kidding.

Except, not really. This post is about my SAVIOR these past two and half years that I've been in the professional world. I have had a Rifle Paper Co. appointment calendar at my desk at all three jobs I've held since graduating college and each one has been adorned with an assortment of Ban.do stickers. Ban.do has released four(!) volumes of their sticker books and I have all of them! The combo of these two products has kept me organized while away from home and my other organization and scheduling tools.

Here are some of my more, ahem, acceptable months to show off how I utilize this combo.

Above are some of the stickers that I have from Ban.do. If you're looking to buy these, I would recommend the first three books. The fourth book was pretty "meh" and there weren't a lot that could be used on a calendar. The first three are straight perfection, though.

Do any of y'all use physical calendars? I feel like most people I know use their phone calendars to organize their lives but I swear every time I put an event on my phone it DISAPPEARS! That's why I've stuck with this calendar and I've already bought my 2019 one to be prepped early.

If you want to shop these items, check 'em out below:

THANKSGIVING OUTFIT

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my U.S. readers!

I wanted to pop on real quick to share the outfit that I wore today. Let me just say one quick thing prior, though: stretchy pants.

I picked up my pants and sweater the other day during South Moon Under's 20% off $150 sale. The pants are PULL ON with an ELASTIC WAISTBAND. They're unbelievably comfortable and super, super cool. My (future) bro-in-law told me I looked straight outta the 1970's and I could have melted into a puddle of pride right there. That is my goal in life like, every day.

The sweater has a hella dramatic cowl neck and I was worried it wouldn't 'lay' right but it somehow naturally falls really well. It wasn't my initial plan for my top but it was record-breakingly cold today so I absolutely needed more warmth than the tunic I'd originally planned.

I wore some studded, open-toed shoes (old Jeffrey Campbells, also from South Moon-- the 'Bess' style) with socks because again, cold and paired everything with these really chic resin tortoise hoops. It was entirely unplanned but somehow my entire outfit was from South Moon. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: South Moon Under's Black Friday sale is currently on and they're advertising 30% off EVERYTHING! This is an post is not sponsored-- I just love that store! Go go go get whatever you've been wanting.

Check out my ShopStyle below to see the exact items I wore and again HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

TINTED BROW GEL FACEOFF: GLOSSIER 'BOY BROW' VS. BENEFIT 'GIMME BROW' VS. MILK MAKEUP 'KUSH'

Happy pre-Thanksgiving! I'm so excited about today's post because I feel like I am finally organizing all of these thoughts that I've had in my head for the past few weeks and publishing them down in a concise, easy-to-understand manner. Let's get to it!

Today I wanted to compare three similar, mid-range tinted brow gels that are out on the market currently. We're looking at the Glossier Boy Brow, Benefit Gimme Brow, and the Milk Makeup Kush brow gel.

Starting with applicators, they are all very similar. Each applicator is decently short, which allows you to fine tune your brow gel application and not get it on surrounding hairs or skin. Boy Brow is a bit more compact and dense of a brush than Milk, which is more compact and dense than Gimme Brow. I believe this does make a difference in applications. See below!

The three shades chosen were all mid-toned brown offerings from each of the brands. That being said, each brown is not created equal. Glossier's Boy Brow in 'brown' is the lightest of the three, MIlk Makeup's Kush in 'Dutch' is the darkest and Benefit's Gimme Brow in '3' was in the middle.

Okay, let's get into the nitty-gritty.

One of the highest rated brow gels on the market right now is Glossier Boy Brow in 'Brown'. I have owned this product in the past and have genuinely enjoyed it but due to Glossier's limited online availability I never picked up a new one until I was creating this post. It's different than the other two gels listed here in that it's more of a pomade than a gel-- meaning that it feels like it doesn't truly dry all the way down. That being said, it does lend a more natural appearance and feel to your eyebrows. I find that Boy Brow is the best of the three products for making current hairs appear fuller (aka needing to fill them in less or using BB as a replacement for fill-in products!). If you have a decent shape to your eyebrows and just need help to get that extra mile, Boy Brow is your product.

Truly my "OG" in this category, next up is the Benefit Gimme Brow in '3'. I have absolutely loved this product for years and have repurchased numerous times. The reason that I like Gimme Brow is that you get the tint, you get the hold and you get the slight volumizing of your hairs. I'd say Gimme Brow does not volumize your hairs as much as Boy Brow but the formula of the product does allow it to dry down and not feel as pomade-like throughout the day. I also prefer the Gimme Brow brush the best over the others-- it's easy to use and doesn't get product all over your face.

Milk Makeup Kush brow gel in 'Dutch' is the newest product for me in this trio. It is the most "brow gel"-like in the group, meaning it holds your brows in place the best. The 'Dutch' shade was a bit too dark and cool for me personally, but that is no fault to the actual product. One thing that I do find as a fault, though, is the brush. I can never seem to apply Kush without getting product all over my small facial hairs. If you're looking for a brow gel that applies a tint and holds your hairs in place (ala Anastasia's tinted brow gel) though, this is your product. If you're looking for something that will assist your hairs in looking fuller, the other two products mentioned are yours!

I prefer the Benefit Gimme Brow the most, followed by the Glossier Boy Brow and the Milk Makeup Kush. I think I may buy that Milk one in clear to use as a brow setter instead :) LMK your favorite tinted brow gels in the comments below! I did not include the Anastasia Beverly Hills gel because I personally use the clear and use it for a different purpose than these.

Shop this post below:

WELCOME TO BAILEY BEE

I am so excited to finally share my new blog name and design with you all!

In just a handful of weeks, my blog turns six years old. I began this blogging journey while on an off-semester in college shortly after deciding to transfer to an in-state school from my out-of-state family school. Throughout the life of this blog I have proceeded through and finished college, joined the professional world and got my own place with my significant other. Beautymunson was my place to pop on and interact with others who share a love for all things beauty. It became such a part of my identity that it is actually a nickname many of my friends now call me in real life.

However,

I love sharing things with all of you so much and those things are no longer limited to just beauty. That paired with the fact that I will eventually be dropping Munson as my surname led me to the decision to rename and rebrand this online home of mine.

Bailey Bee is a beauty, home and lifestyle blog.

Nothing changes but a name and a color scheme so please stick around! I have my own domain now (check it out!), a new email (hello@baileybeeblog.com) and a whole slew of ideas for this page. My main goal for this blog has not and probably will never change-- it is still to create a personal community within the larger beauty, home, lifestyle and overall blogging communities.

Thank you for all of the support over the past six years and here's to six more successful ones!

Love, Bailey