November 2017 – Page 3 – L'ensemble du jour

November 3, 2017 – In Which Dental Hygiene Is My Aesthetic: Bianco Smile Whitening Powder Review (and OOTD #151)

Published on November 9, 2017November 9, 2017 by lensembledujour2 Comments

Today’s post will be a little different than usual – in addition to my typical OOTD discussion and sarcastic humor, I’ve got a review for you too!

The lovely folks at Bianco Smile were kind enough to send me a package with their Activated Charcoal Whitening Powder to try and review, and I was just so excited about the fact that someone on the Internet noticed me, that I couldn’t say no. Admittedly, I’m no teeth expert – in fact, the last time I went to the dentist, I got rather passionately criticized for not flossing. But I suppose that’s why there’s a several billion dollar dental hygiene industry out there – because idiots like me don’t care for their teeth like they ought to, and then need to buy things to try to fix them.

The product came packaged in a cute little black box with the instructions labeled on all four sides – 1)Dip ya brush, 2) Scrub ’em, 3) (Smile). I rather a fan of the simple, all-black look; it was very fashionable, like something I wouldn’t mind having sat out on my bathroom counter.

As the instructions suggest, powder itself is actually rather simple to use – simply dip your wet brush into the powder, and then scrub your teeth just as you would with toothpaste. And indeed, the experience was rather like just brushing my teeth as I would any regular day, the primary difference being the texture of the powder (for lack of a better word – powdery), and how I looked when using the product.

To be honest, you’re probably not going to look pretty while brushing your teeth – in fact, you’ll probably look like you’ve just eaten a bunch of blueberries and now their guts have coated your teeth – but that’s alright, because you’ll look pretty afterwards.

I’ve compiled here some photos of my teeth over the last few days using the product:

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

The verdict: I rather liked this product! I really don’t know anything about charcoal whitening powders, so I can’t compare it to any other similar products, but for my first experience using a whitening charcoal powder, it was overall quite positive.

Perhaps I’m just seeing things, and perhaps it’s simply the result of wearing red lipstick in the final photo (which does tend to make your teeth look whiter), but I do believe my teeth looked a touch whiter after a few days of using the product. I definitely think I will continue to use it – maybe not every day, but perhaps in rotation with my regular toothpaste.

My only complaint is that it’s not exactly the cleanest product ever – there was definitely some black powder left over on the sink after I was done brushing, but it was super easy to wipe up and left no stain.

You can check out the product over on Bianco Smile’s website here, if it looks like something you might be interested in purchasing. Use code MEILIN20 for 20% off at checkout!

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one with more updates on my life here at Notre Dame. Don’t forget to check me out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr! For business inquiries, shoot me an email at lensembledujour@gmail.com!

Jacket: Vintage (thrifted)

Dress: Pitaya

November 2, 2017 – Neverending Doorways (OOTD #151)

Published on November 7, 2017February 14, 2018 by lensembledujour4 Comments

When’s the last time I wrote a blog where I wasn’t stood next to some Notre Dame doorway?

For real, when was it? When I was back at home over fall break, maybe, and I went to a pumpkin patch?

As much as I’ve complained about Notre Dame’s architecture, saying that, with the exception of Bond Hall, it’s all the same golden beige color – I do find it rather pretty. In fact, that’s what I usually say when I inevitably get the awkward question “why did you come here?”

I know it’s a pretty shallow reason, but the honest answer that no one wants to hear – because Columbia wouldn’t have me – isn’t a socially acceptable response to give a stranger who doesn’t understand your sense of humor. And so, lacking any other ideas and being too lazy to come up with a better fib, I usually go with “well, I uh…toured it junior year, and I really liked campus and um…yeah.”

I like Notre Dame’s architecture so much, that I’m pretty sure pretty much half of my blogs at this point have me standing in front of doors. Kudos to whomever decided that if Notre Dame needed to be made of like, exclusively yellowish beige brick in order to represent the Golden Dome or whatever, it would at least have beautiful doorways.

Welp, I don’t have a clever conclusion to end this with today – though I don’t usually, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise – so I’m just going to cop out and say I have a lot of homework to do, and sitting around trying to write good conclusions is taking away from the time I would have to do my homework.

Bye!

Jacket: Hollister

Shirt: PacSun

Necklace: J Crew

November 1, 2017 – Birthday Blob (OOTD #150)

Published on November 7, 2017November 7, 2017 by lensembledujour11 Comments

That’s not a typo, friends – I really meant “blob,” rather than “blog.”

I had actually originally titled this post “birthday blog,” but that was simply too generic and boring for me, so I had to take the self-deprecating route and refer to myself as a “blob.”

I mean, I don’t think that that’s really a bad thing here – that’s simply the way the dress was designed. It’s another one of my vintage pieces, which means perfect fit is probably not going to happen, so you’ve just got to settle for whatever doesn’t drag four feet on the floor behind you. In which case, something a little bit too blob-like is perfectly acceptable.

So now you know the relevance of the word “blob” – but what about “birthday?” Could it possibly be that November 1 was my birthday, or something ridiculous like that?

Yes, on November 1, 1998, I was born into this world! I’m 19 now, which means I only have one year left that I can blame my angst upon being a teenager; after that, I just have to that I’m an unpleasant human being. How unfortunate.

Dress: Vintage (thrift)

Top: Forever21

Tights: Target

October 31, 2017 – Even More Late to the Halloween Party (OOTD #149)

Published on November 5, 2017September 4, 2019 by lensembledujour4 Comments

Fun fact: I had to look to a WordReference forum to find out how I should word this blog title – “even more late” or “even later.”

My findings: neither one really sounds right, and no one on WordReference knew what was proper and what wasn’t. One user suggested saying “even more behind schedule,” but then I wouldn’t have the fun continuity from the October 30 blog titled, “Late to the Halloween Party,” and the October 31 blog titled, “Even More Late (Even Later?) to the Halloween Party,” so I just went for what I felt like.

Feel free to leave me a comment telling me I’m wrong.

Seeing as I already devoted an entire blog to the topic, I’m not going to whine today about the issue of my blog delay resulting in awkward moments where I’m posting about a festive Halloween outfit days after Halloween is over.

Do note, however, that it bothers me, and I’m still trying to think of a way to post topical date-specific blogs on their respective dates without giving up the comfort of not needing to rush to take my outfit photos and write about that same outfit in a single day.

Anywho, I’ve barely left my room all day today, and it feels fantastic. The Meilin of October 31 was put-together, dressed for a festive holiday, and posing in front of the most beautiful building on campus (the Basilica); the Meilin of November 5 hasn’t looks like a slob, hasn’t gotten out of her pajamas, and has been sitting in the same place that she has been for several hours, alternating between doing her French homework and looking at WordReference forums.

It’s been a dull, unproductive day, but that’s alright. Some days are like that; they’re balanced out by days that are exciting and productive.

…which, you know, I can’t remember the last time I had, but I’m sure they’re out there. Look, I just want to feel justified for being lazy today, okay?

Sweater: Target

Top: River Island

Skirt: Rue21

Saturday Musings + Coffee – Not Cold

Published on November 4, 2017November 5, 2017 by lensembledujour1 Comment

Hey, hey, guess what?

I’m cold.

I know, I know, I’ve never said that before in a blog. I have never, in the history of this site, written a blog based upon me being cold. For that matter, I’ve never even done a blog about being too hot. I am immune to the elements; they do not bother me, and I have no reason to complain about them.

Besides, who could complain when they have coffee? And not only coffee, but coffee in a Christmas cup!?!

I’m still trying to decide upon my go-to cold weather Starbucks drink. I’m happy to do a cold brew, even in the winter, but not all the time, you know?

Anyway, I’ve been experimenting around, and I think I might have landed on an option: a café Americano with steamed almond milk on top. It’s got just the right touch of decadence with the steamed milk, while still being bitter enough to make me feel warm inside.

Unfortunately, my coffee is gone now, and all I’m left with is the yellow stain on my teeth.

I’m also very cold, so things could be better. Notre Dame is presently winning though – is the win worth me standing out in the rain for four hours? I don’t know. But I’m here now, and I got some good touchdown pushup photos out of it, so I guess it’s not so awful.

Anyway, that’s it for today! See you in the next blog! Maybe by then I’ll have warmed up.

October 30, 2017 – Late to the Halloween Party (OOTD #148)

Published on November 3, 2017November 3, 2017 by lensembledujour2 Comments

What? You mean to tell me Halloween is over?

Ah yes, the downsides of posting your blogs on a delay. See, I take my pictures of my outfit a few days before I write the actual blog post about it – that way, I have time to reflect upon the day, and I’m not stressed to immediately write a blog about a day that’s not even over yet. It’s also helpful in case I don’t manage to get my photos done until later in the afternoon.

So far, it’s worked pretty well. With some exceptions, I’ve managed to get a blog posted on this website almost every day for the last few months (I’ve yet to have a perfect month though…November goals?) The pitfall of this strategy though, is that holidays like Halloween pass and I don’t have a topical blog that I’m able to post for the event.

That’s particularly unfortunate when I have an outfit themed around the event – like, for example, this spooky and low-key emo outfit I wore the day before Halloween. See, now that it’s November 3 and I’m posting about the outfit, it seems weird to invoke any Halloween imagery or talk about my excitement for the holiday since it’s already passed. But that was what was on my mind on October 30 when I was wearing the outfit – so do I talk about my October 30 Halloween vibes, since that’s the day that I wore the outfit, or my November 3 not-Halloween vibes, since that’s the day I’m posting the blog?

Or maybe I can just talk about the conundrum of posting my blogs on a delay and avoid the issue altogether. That should fill up space so to that I don’t have to deal with my problems.

That will be slightly problematic for when I have to post my October 31 blog tomorrow though…

Jacket: Banana Republic

Jeans: Hot Topic

Top: Hot Topic

October 28, 2017 – The Frozen Irish (OOTD #147)

Published on November 2, 2017October 6, 2019 by lensembledujourLeave a comment

Get it? ‘Cause it was cold?

(I’m not funny, sorry.)

I was so hideously underdressed for this football game, like…wow. Never making that mistake again.

30 degrees Fahrenheit is much too cold to go without a coat for three and a half hours – even if you’re wearing two sweaters, a jacket, and a scarf, even if you’re crammed into a stadium with thousands and thousands of people, even if you wear a hat and pull your scarf over your mouth and nose and put on sunglasses to block the air.

The fact that I’m already acting like a miserable wimp about the weather and it’s only FALL makes me low-key terrified for the winter. Winter has always been my favorite season, but something tells me that one winter in Chicago may make me change my mind.

I was talking to one of my friend’s parents at a tailgate about how cold it was and they mentioned that one year, while they were at Notre Dame, they came back to campus after winter break to temperatures 40 BELOW. I didn’t even know such temperatures existed anywhere in the continental US. The coldest I’ve ever seen in 10 below, and when we had temperatures like that in Kentucky, they closed school.

In better news though, Notre Dame won the game! That’s always fun. It feels like that one time in my junior year of high school our basketball time won the state championship, but on a larger scale. I’ve never been a huge college football person, but I may be becoming one.

Notre Dame may take away my will to live the wintertime, but at least they have the kindness to replace it with an interest in collegiate sports.

Sweater: Forever21

Jacket: Chaps

Pants: Banana Republic

Boots: LL Bean

October 27, 2017 – Warm Colors, Cold Person (OOTD #146)

Published on November 1, 2017 by lensembledujour2 Comments

If I wear wear colors, I’ll be warm, even if it’s cold out…right?

I wish. Rather, it was chilly and autumnal outside while I was doing these photos, and my thin orange swearer and burgundy scarf only helped so much.

I’m still getting used to how different the weather here in South Bend is compared to what I’m used to in Kentucky. The weather we’re getting right now in late October/early November is actually more like the weather we get in December in KY.

So basically, what I’m saying, is that it feels like Christmas and I’m ready for it to hurry itself up and get here.

Actually, on the contrary, I’m not one of those people that is really very interested in celebrating Christmas as early as possible. I’ve got a friend whose family puts up their Christmas tree on HALLOWEEN NIGHT – as in, they have trick-or-treaters coming to their house in their costumes as they put the ornaments on their tree and listen to Christmas music – and that to me is just too early.

I, personally, am a staunch believer that one should not celebrate Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. But when it is time to celebrate Christmas, I do it with intensity – I bust out the Christmas sweaters, the Christmas playlists, and the decorations, pretty much all at midnight on the day after Thanksgiving.

So what’s my point here? I like Christmas, quite a lot, and I’m definitely excited for it, but even though I’m excited, I don’t want it to start celebrating it for another month still. Halloween and Thanksgiving must be given their equal share of time before Christmas comes.