Image Map
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts

My Loss Is Your Gain: Part 1

Check out today's earlier post for details on why I've decided to offer this opportunity to my readers.

To recap: We're moving. I don't want to take clothes with us if they don't fit or I don't love them. I've picked the best of the best to offer to my readers. See something you like? Grab it while you can!

The rules:  I'm posting a price along with each item. Shipping is included with the price, up to $4. If you want super quick shipping, I just ask that you pay the difference. Do you want more than one item? Great! I will gladly take $5 off of the total just for being so fantastic! If you decide you want an item, comment on the post telling me which item you'd like along with your PayPal email. I will send out an invoice ASAP and it will be marked as "SOLD" on the original post once I receive your payment. Everything will be shipped by Thursday at the very latest.

Let's get to it!


Andrew Marc one shoulder dress. Brand new with tags. Size 8.
It's a nice silky material that drapes in all the right places!
$25 $18

Black and white party dress from F21. Size large. Hits above knee. 
Worn once. 
$12 $10

Solid black shift dress from Apt. 9. Size medium. Worn once.
It's got pockets, need I say more?!
$18 $12

Brand new, never worn Shabby Apple Tuileries dress. Size small. 
They still sell this dress - here's the listing!
Paid $88, asking $50 $45

Check back again tomorrow for more dresses and a brand new pair of wedges that you can wear with juuuust about everything!

Comment below and my loss will become your gain!

Looking for a New Home:

By now, you're probably more than ready to start seeing pictures of our new house, hear stories of how wonderful it is to finally own our own home, and read endless lists of the updates we're planning to do.

You're going to have to wait a couple more weeks. Why? Oh, just because nothing about this home buying process has gone smoothly and our closing date was pushed back three weeks. We're now closing on September 30.

Yes, the same day that we need to turn in our keys for our current rental.
And the same day that nursing school officially begins the 'accel' portion.

So basically, I have less than two weeks to completely pack our house - while doing school stuff and working still! - and to clean our current duplex so we can rid ourselves for once and for all this crazy rental.

Why should you care? Well, because I'm cleaning our closets out like mad. And it just so happens that I'm in the mindset that less is more so I'm getting rid of anything that I don't love or that doesn't fit perfectly. I've lost almost 30 pounds in the past few years and I haven't gone through everything - until now. Basically, half of my wardrobe needs to find a new home.

There are a few things that still have tags on them or that have been worn once or twice and I figured I'd offer them up to my lovely readers before taking them to a consignment shop.

So here's how it's going to work:
I'm posting a few items each today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. I'm posting a price along with each item. Shipping is included with the price, up to $4. If you want super quick shipping, I just ask that you pay the difference.

Do you want more than one item? Great! I will gladly take $5 off of the total just for being so fantastic!

If you decide you want an item, comment on the post telling me which item you'd like along with your PayPal email. I will send out an invoice ASAP and it will be marked as "SOLD" on the original post once I receive your payment.

Everything will be shipped by Thursday at the very latest.


Click here for today's post.

Happy shopping!

Lemon Sugar Scrub

I don't know about you, but it's around this time every summer that I start ignoring my feet.

You know what I mean, when you start pretending they're perfect, beautiful, lovely, etc... without looking at them. I mean, they've been in sandals for a couple months now, almost exclusively, so you know what they look like. No need to look any closer. You've painted your toenails every pretty shade that comes up on Pinterest so you know they've gotta look like a million bucks, right?!

Right.         I mean, wrong.

I got a little more up close and personal the other day with my feet and let me tell you it wasn't a pretty sight! The bottoms of my feet and my heels have skin that is peeling off them {TMI? Nah.} and the balls of my feet have seen better days, that's for sure.

It was a day I was at home, being productive {read: searching for house after house after house that resembled something we could see ourselves in} and I wasn't about to head to the mall for a pedicure or even a fancy foot scrub. Instead, I raided my kitchen for what has now become my favorite body scrub ever!

It's cheap to make, you most likely have most {if not all!} of the ingredients on hand right now, and it's incredibly effective.

Seriously, bookmark this baby right now. Go ahead and pin this sucker! It makes a great gift in a small jar with a new polish or two, I'm tellin' ya! Just try it!


Here's what you need:

- a jar to store your scrub in
- 1 ripe lemon
- olive oil
- white table sugar

It's simple: mix two parts sugar to one part oil (1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup oil) - then add in sugar or oil to get to your desired consistency. I like the 2:1 ratio for my feet, but if I make a face scrub I generally like more sugar and less oil. Add the juice of your lemon. If you're making a small batch, just use the juice from half a lemon.

Mix it all up, spoon it into your jar {or, if you were smart, you started mixing everything together in the jar itself}, and scrub all your dead skin away!


Make sure your jar has a lid that seals and store it in the fridge for extra freshness. It will solidify at colder temperatures because of the oil, but that quickly goes away when you use it in the shower or let it warm up a little before use.

If you like lemon as much as I do, check out this scrumptious treat sure to please all!


check this out!

Love List

After a long holiday weekend spent on vacation in Indiana followed by two LONG days at work {seriously, so many patients, so little time!} I finally have a day off to get stuff checked off my to-do list.

Maybe it's the looming tasks or the fact that I should be at the gym right now but instead I am sitting on my butt being lazy, but either way my blogging inspiration is nowhere to be found. With that said, I still want to be in the groove of posting often enough and I still want you to find new content when you visit You and Me are We so today's post is going to be lighthearted.

Here's my current Love List - what I'm crushing on, what I'm looking forward to, etc.


1) Next month, Whit and I are spending some time in Chicago. We're staying at The James and I can't wait! We'll explore the city and meet up with our mutual friend Maya!

2) Essie's Bachelorette Bash may have a permanent home on my toes - it's the perfect bright and cheery summer color!

3) It's officially raspberry season! Tomorrow, I'm heading to the same place I picked strawberries and I'm loading up on one of my favorite fruits.

4) This dress from LOFT is one of the most comfortable dresses I've ever owned. Plus, it's pretty darn lovely looking. Win!

5) BareMinerals to-go brush is making summer travel so much easier!

6) I submitted my resignation for my position at work in the Emergency Room because I can't keep it during school. I'm only freaking out a little inside because school is SO CLOSE! But don't worry - I'm not completely unemployed, I was working in the ER only as needed, I'm still working on the floor until the very possible last day I can before school.

7) Recently, I've become re-obsessed with this scent from Bath & Body Works - eucalyptus spearmint. I have multiple eucalyptus spearmint candles in our bedroom, a eucalyptus spearmint car freshener, eucalyptus spearmint oil for the oil warmer, eucalyptus spearmint lotion, and the list goes on and on. It really does help me relax and unwind, plus it just smells so fantastic!

8) Last weekend, Trevor and I visited the same friends as last year around this same time. It's so refreshing to have friends who are a perfect match for us as a couple. We don't have any couple friends near home, so it's a treat when we get to see these two.

What have you been loving lately? I'm always looking for fantastic new things to try!

check this out!

Wedding Wednesday #3 - Anniversary Edition

Every Wednesday this month, I am recapping our wedding as part of our two year anniversary celebration. Today's our actual wedding anniversary, so you get an extra bonus post! Two weeks ago, I showed you photos from our ceremony and told you about our unity tree. You can catch up on that here if you missed it or need a little refresher. Last week, you were overloaded with photos from our reception, so don't miss that post either!

Today is all about our attire!

BRIDE:
First, let me tell you, my dress was a beast to find. Actually, it was one of the first dresses I tried on... but while it was love at first sight, I thought there would be something better out there so I kept looking. And looking. And looking.

My poor mother who sat through hundreds of dresses... sorry, Mom.

Finally, I realized that I was holding that dress so high that I'd be stupid not to buy it - no other dress was measuring up! So we went back to the local dress shop, put down my payment, got measured, and waited nine months for it to come in. The dress {Jasmine Couture T180, without the jacket} was made to my hollow-to-hem measurements and you bet your pretty face I called the dress shop every couple of weeks to check on my order!




The sample dress I tried on puckered a little around my thighs so the woman who measured me told me that it would be best to order up a size. After a bit more discussion, she suggested we order two sizes up so that the seamstresses would have more material to work with. They told me that it'd be easier to take in than let out due to the fact that the entire dress was lace.


Fast forward to when my dress arrived - after I had been working out with a personal trainer for months - and my dress literally fell off of me. The seamstresses pinned me up and took the dress for alterations. 



We repeated this over and over up until the Wednesday before the wedding - the day of my final fitting. I still wasn't happy with the way the dress fit. I stayed until closing time having them fix as many things as they could, but ultimately, I still left with a dress that didn't fit me the way it was meant to.



If I had to do it all over again, I would not choose the same dress again {heck, maybe not even the same silhouette!} but I really do think that I may be the most critical of the dress because I saw it through all of the stages.

Take a peek at our professional photos because they make the dress look better!





GROOM AND GROOMSMEN:
Simple, they rented tuxes from Men's Warehouse. In hindsight, it would have basically been the same cost had we asked the guys to BUY a grey suit with us gifting them ties and/or a shirt.

I never once thought we should have black tuxes. We had a lunchtime wedding, it wasn't a black tie event, and I loved the way grey looked with navy and pink! So, from the get-go I knew grey tuxes would be what the guys would wear. It just so happened they were basically the most expensive tux rental.





BRIDESMAIDS:
The three ladies that were my bridesmaids all had different body types and I wanted them to all be comfortable on our wedding day so I told them I wanted them to wear navy blue dresses and I wanted them to be short {not tea-length or long} dresses. Since one bridesmaid lives in Texas, the other two and I stopped at a David's Bridal closer to home and they both tried on a bunch of dresses and decided on a short, strapless, cotton dress. The third bridesmaid also liked the dress so we ordered the dresses that day.

The bridesmaids wore the navy version of the same shoe I wore {except mine were ivory}. Comfortable and pretty inexpensive!

I gifted a set of genuine pearls to each of my bridesmaids. The set was made of up a necklace, bracelet, and a pair of earrings. They wore their sets and I wore the exact same set for myself.




I know this is basically the longest post of all time, but I also want to leave a little note of my feelings for Trevor on today, our second anniversary. Feel free to skip over the rest of this as it's more for our memories than anything else.

Trev, you have been an amazing husband to me. I am so, so blessed to have you in my life and I am incredibly honored that God picked you to be my best friend, husband, and leader of our family. Our second year of marriage hasn't been easy but you never wavered - you and I are in this for the long haul, through thick or thin, and for better or for worse. You will make an amazing father someday, of this I am certain, and our family will be infinitely better because of you. Thank you for being the man that you are and for being the husband that I never dreamed I'd deserve. 

I said it two years ago, but I'll say it again and again until I die: I promise to fully share my life with you through days of happiness or sadness, abundance or want. I love you, always and forever.

Come back again tomorrow for a photo post of wedding details and next Wednesday for a wrap up complete with regrets and dos/don'ts!

Please leave any wedding related questions in the comments below and I will happily reply to you via email. You don't have to limit your questions to be about our wedding - I love helping brides no matter the size, feel, or location of their weddings!


With the exception of my horrible cell phone photos of my dress, all photos courtesy of Laurie Marie Photography.

Project: Do You #12

Please note that this is a link up that focuses on individual self discovery goals. The goals you see below were set by me and for me only. If you choose to link up with us, please create your own goals to work toward and to update us on. If you are unfamiliar with Project: Do You, check out this post that introduces the project before proceeding.

#1 - Read one book per month. I finished Looking for Alaska by John Green and haven't started another book yet. I really want to (and I really should if I'm going to meet my yearly goal before school starts this fall!) so hopefully I have more down time in the next few weeks to do so.

#2 - Work out on a regular basis. Our YMCA membership is still keeping us at the gym at least 3-4 times a week. I'm loving it!

#5 - Plan a date night ahead of time for each month. Saturday night Trevor and I took one of his motorcycles to an old fashioned ice cream place about 40 minutes away. It was a nice ride and not too cold!

#7 - Shape eyebrows. I'm finally happy with both eyebrows so I'm crossing this off the list! They're even and match pretty darn well. It's amazing the difference nicely shaped eyebrows make, that's for sure. And now I just have to maintain them...

#9 - Travel more. I'm crossing this off the list, too, because I just returned from my mother-daughter trip to Chicago (trip recap to come soon!). Seeing as how school will be starting in a few months and I can't stray too far during my year of studying, we don't have any new vacations planned. We are still visiting friends in Indiana next month, but other than that there won't be trips happening until after graduation next October.

#15 - See a Broadway show. While in Chicago, my mom and I saw Book of Mormon. Hilarious and so good! I'm sure I'll have 'Baptize Me' and 'Hello!' stuck in my head for days, but that's alright with me because they keep me laughing to myself. And now I'm curious to see how Mormons feel about the show...

How are your personal goals coming along?

check this out!

Beauty Finds {Part Four}

I can't keep these products to myself any longer so I figured another Beauty Finds post was in order.

It's no secret that I love The Gnarly Whale products so this first beauty find should come as no surprise to you. If you choose to buy nothing except The Gnarly Whale Lip Balm in Chocolate Strawberry you will still be livin' large! It glides on like buttah, it leaves your lips with a nice moisturized look, and it smells like heaven. Plus, you can't beat the fact that you're supporting a small business that's vegan and only tests their products on humans. Just sayin'...
Cost: $3.50 for one from The Gnarly Whale (or you could buy 3 for $9 or 5 for $12)
I mentioned one of my favorite concealers in my last Beauty Finds post, but here's another one I love just as much and use even more often! NYX Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand is amazing. It comes in a handful of colors so you can find one that matches your skin tone nicely. Plus, they have color correcting shades as well - green, purple, and yellow. It covers well and I use it daily to hide my under eye circles. It doesn't get thick or noticeable throughout the day like so many other under eye concealers do. Pimples are no match for this guy, let me tell you!
Cost: $4.99 at Ulta, but it's rare to find it NOT on sale (usually BOGO 1/2 off).

Vaseline makes timeless products. My Grandma has used Vaseline Intensive Care Total Moisture Body Lotion for years upon years. I can still remember getting baths at her house and then slathering on Vaseline lotion afterwards... and the smell of it still takes me back to that 20+ years ago. I love it! It's not greasy and it lasts for a long time. I love rubbing it on my legs after I've just shaved them - it keeps them smooth.
And, if you don't like the scent of the yellow bottle, try the brown bottle (Cocoa Butter) or the green bottle (Aloe Vera).
Cost: Depending on the size of the bottle it can be anywhere from $2 to $8. Check out Target, Walgreens, or any other drugstore for decent prices.
Catch up on all of my other beauty finds in {part one}, {part two}, and {part three}!


check this out!

H54F

Welcome to another week's recap! While you're here, don't forget to enter to win a Starbucks gift card and some ad space - there's still time left!

This week has been pretty darn good compared to so many of the past recaps. Wanna see why?



1) Holy amazeballs. Trevor got a job offer this week. I don't have too many details to share at this point, but we know that he'll be working just a short commute from where we live now {yay - we don't have to move!} and he's working for a company that likes to promote from within. He really likes the company and this job is the best out of all of the places he had applied to the past nine months. I am so relieved that he has a job and that we can finally be a two income household again for a little while until school {possibly} starts up for me again in October.

2)Trevor's birthday was last Sunday. I ended up having the day off of work and we had a great day! I baked him a chocolate cake {from scratch!} and frosted it with peanut butter chocolate frosting {also from scratch!} and gave him a few gifts. I love planning little things like that for him... it's how I show my love.

3) We signed up for YMCA memberships this week and I am so excited! I've already signed up for a SimplyFit class on Wednesdays and a Saturday morning Zumba class that starts in June. I'm thinking of signing up for a spin class, too, but am a little nervous. Do you recommend a spin class or am I digging my own grave by signing up?

4) On Monday I went out for sushi with two lovely local bloggers - Whit and Maya. I've actually known Maya since I was a little tot {remember this post?} and Monday was my first time meeting Whit. Maya now lives and works in Chicago - as of TODAY! - but Whit and I will definitely get together again soon and add a few more bloggers into the mix as well. Who can say no to sushi and blogging?!

5) Hi, I'm Sara and I am addicted to The Gnarly Whale's Chocolate Strawberry Lip Balm. Oh, it's divine!

How was your week?

check this out!

Beauty Finds {Part Three}

I'm a bad blogger. I filmed a vlog for this beauty finds post... and then forgot about it.

...and now that I've gone back and watched it I think it may be too rough to edit into something remotely watchable...

So, you get this version instead!

First, I love the Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes in the 'evening soothe' scent. They take makeup off in one swipe and the wipe itself is pretty big. I can take a whole day's worth of makeup off with less than one towelette. It smells SO. GOOD. and leaves your skin feeling moisturized, not dried out like some other makeup removers do.
Cost: $4.69 for 30 towelettes at Target or $4.55 at drugstore.com


I stumbled upon this next one while browsing Ulta during a week it was on sale. I bought it on a whim and I am so glad I did! It's FX Moroccan Moisture Miracle Argan Oil. You simply put it on your hair when you get out of the shower and it leaves you with healthy hair - seriously. It doesn't weigh it down, it doesn't make it greasy, and it doesn't cost as much as other brands out there. To be honest, I think the FX smells better than the Organix that was sitting next to it for a couple bucks more! I've had my bottle for a couple of months and even with every day use I still have at least two-thirds of it left.
Cost: $5.99 at Ulta or $4.47 at Walmart.

Lastly, I want to tell you about one of my favorite concealers: Maybelline DreamLumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (I have the 'buff' shade). It comes in a great little tube with a built in brush so you don't have to use your fingers on your face to apply it. The product covers well and lasts all day. But what I love most about it is that you can easily buy a shade that works for highlighting and use it soley for that - the little brush is perfect for highlighting!
Cost: $7.99 at both Ulta and drugstore.com before discounts - right now they're BOGO 1/2 off at Ulta and 20% off at drugstore.com

What are your favorite beauty product finds?
Don't forget about the first and second Beauty Finds posts for other great products!

check this out!

we are our own worst critics

I've been wanting to write today's post for weeks... but I knew I needed to be in the right mindset to sit down and lay my heart out there. Today, I'm feeling vulnerable and ready to share. Plus, I know most {if not all} of you reading feel this way at some point. Join in the conversation!

We are our own worst critics. It's true! Stand me in front of a mirror and I will list off everything I wish could be changed: I think my face is too fat, my thighs touch, my eyebrows have a mind of their own, I hate wearing glasses, my skin is covered in blemishes, I wish my arms were toned... and on and on.

So I'm taking a stand. I'm deliberately going to choose to focus on the good in me, rather than pick apart my flaws and weaknesses. I urge you to join me, if only for a day, just to take back some positivity!

Yeah, my legs aren't stick thin... but they are some damn strong legs if I can say so! I consistently have to set leg machines higher at the gym to get some resistance. My legs allow me to run all over at work, they allow me to run for exercise, and my calves are sexy to boot!

My skin is so sensitive and I'm allergic to just about everything under the sun. But you know what? It's part of my genetic makeup - my grandma is the same way - and I'm proud of that connection she and I have. It's not ideal {God knows I'd love to have my ears pierced!} but it gives me comfort in knowing my grandma is part of me.

I wish I could lose another 10 pounds. But my body is strong and healthy because I sty active and feed it tons of fruits and veggies - and when I do decide to splurge, thank goodness for the metabolism I have, because I don't usually pack on the pounds.

My patients at work consistently tell me how kind I am, how much patience I have, how I have a loving heart, and how I will make the most wonderful nurse. I am proud of who I have become! Adolescence wasn't the easiest for me {what, with being part of a broken family, with a mother who remarried a man I didn't get along with at the time, graduating early from high school, and being a college student at age 17} but I have come a LONG way and my conscience knows what's right and wrong and guilt tugs at my heartstrings if I stray from 'right'.

I may not look like the women we see in magazines. I may not be as tall as them, have long beautiful flowing hair like they do, have toned thighs, or have a perfectly slim {blemish free} face, but I am me. I am the only one of me. I am beautiful in my own way. I don't need to be photoshopped.

As women, we need to learn to love ourselves.
For our own sanity.
To be good role models for our daughters.
To set an example for all young women.
Because we deserve it.

Dove released a video 3 days ago that has been viewed over THREE MILLION times. It fits with my commentary so well that you've got to watch it. It only takes three minutes and is worth your time, I promise.


we are our own worst critics.
but we deserve better than our toxic thoughts.

What makes you beautiful? Please share below.

check this out!

The Gnarly Whale


One of the best parts of blogging is the relationships you build and this post is some serious proof of that. I met Ashley when we realized we only lived half an hour from each other.

One lovely afternoon last fall, we met at an Atlanta Bread Company between her house and mine and talked for hours. We have so much in common, from our husbands, to our interests, to our in laws.
It's nice knowing that there are genuine bloggers out there who really are as wonderful as they seem on screen. Ashley is definitely one of those!

So that's the reason that I offered my space for the day. She's a great blogger and a wonderful business woman who is doing all the right things for all the right reasons. She'll explain more in a bit, but she and her husband have a business (The Gnarly Whale) making some fantastic beauty products. Yes, I've tried their products (hello yummy coconut lip balm!)... and no, I'm not getting paid to say that. Their business has evolved from a dream to a reality and I couldn't be happier for them! And the best part? You can help their next dream for The Gnarly Whale come true. Keep reading, and you'll see what I mean!
__________________________________
I'm Ashley from The Gnarly Whale - an all vegan, eco-friendly minimal-ingredient bath and body shop. Today Sara was gracious enough to let me share our story about our company and our dream and I am SO excited to do so. This business is what I do - day in and day out - and to be able to share something I'm so passionate about is truly a privilege for me.

The Gnarly Whale launched in October 2012 from a dream that I was unsure I would ever fulfill. I approached my husband about starting it as a hobby, needing something else to focus on while I was designing and consulting. By the end of the year, we both realized it was never meant to be a hobby. It was never meant to be a small side project. Instead, it was meant to change our lives and restructure our dreams. And that was exactly why I'm here today, sharing our story and even asking for your help after you get to know us.

About Us
We're a husband and wife team doing what we love to do and hoping that some day, doing what we love will be enough to financially support our entire family. Our dream is to someday relocate ourselves and our business to Florida to open up a shop oceanside. We know that this dream will become our reality as soon as we can afford the cost of relocation and the cost of doing business in Florida where there are much stricter guidelines for cosmetic type businesses. Until then, we're focusing on growing our brand awareness and our current product lines.

About Our Brand
All of our products are 100% vegan and cruelty free. We’re tree huggers ourselves so we made sure that all of the ingredients used in our products are completely vegan and have not been tested on animals. Final product testing was also done on humans. Most of our printed materials (business cards, postcards, etc) come from recycled paper. We also use reusable packaging when we mail out our orders whenever possible. Our hope is to leave the Earth a little better than when we found it and provide our customers with a way to do the same.

In the almost seven months we have been open, we already have plans to work with an international retailer to carry our products and will be featured in two celebrity gifting suites this year: The Primetime Emmy's and The Cannes Film Festival. Our current product line includes: hair detangler, beach waves, body and face scrub, body spray, shampoo, and lip balm. In the future, we have plans to include a child product line, a pet product line, soap, skin care, and various other hair and body products in the future.

And here is how you can help us make all of this a reality. We've asked Intuit to grant our small business wish and we're hoping we can get enough votes to win the money to expand our product line, purchase better equipment to speed up our manufacturing, and to put towards the cost of relocation. All you have to do is take a couple of seconds, click the link, and vote once a day. And if you really think our story is worth it, share it with you friends. With your readers. With your family. With your neighbors or co-workers. Shout it from the rooftops if you like us that much.

Anything you do to help is appreciated. No matter how big or small of gesture, we're grateful for you even taking the time to get to know us and our dream. And if you'd like to connect with us further, we'd love to hear from you! Follow us on Twitter. Like us on Facebook. Send us an email and say hello. Or even stop by our shop.

Thank you in advance for anything that you do!

- Ashley and Nathan
_____________________________________________

Please click on the link above and vote for Ashley and Nathan. They'd appreciate it, I'd appreciate it, and it only take 5 seconds. You don't have to register for an account, you don't get spam emails, and you don't even have to enter you name. You DO get a feeling of satisfaction knowing you're helping a dream come true, and that's better than anything else.

check this out!

Beauty Finds {Part Two}

Following up to last week's Beauty Finds {Part One} are three more beauty products that I can't get enough of!

First, I can't post another Beauty Finds post without mentioning Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque! It's similar to other masques out there in that it treats your skin while you have it on... but the best part about this specific masque is that it shrinks your large pores and helps dry up blemishes you already have. I have a 3oz. jar and have used it a few times every month. I bought my current jar seven months ago and it's only halfway gone. Not only is it effective, it's cheap, and it lasts forever! Buy this stuff ASAP!
Cost: $3.79 at Walgreens or buy here from Amazon

My wonderful mother in law bought me Coach Poppy perfume for my birthday last month and I can't remember the last time I loved a scent so much! It's fresh and light but stays around for hours and hours. It kind of reminds me of a not-so-musty version of Victoria's Secret Very Sexy. It's seriously my fav!
Cost: Ranges from $22 for a rollerball {Ulta} to $85 for 3.4 oz {Sephora}


Sometimes, I buy beauty products when I don't "need" them but I find a great price on a great shade or product. That's how I found CoverGirl's EyeEnhancers Eye Shadow in Bedazzled Biscotti. Not only does it go on well, it has a unique hint of shimmer to it. The entire powder isn't shimmery, but there are bits of shine added in. It's the perfect light color for a neutral daytime look and I often wear it over my Clinique palate of colors.
Cost: $5.14 for two from Amazon or $2.99 from the P&G eStore
I've already got some ideas for Beauty Finds {Part Three} so stay tuned - there's more on the way!
And if you're looking for more of my favorite products, be sure to check out these posts!


What are your favorite beauty product finds?


check this out!

Sweetheart VoxBox Review {video}



The products in my VoxBox were the Olay Fresh Effects {Va-Va-Vivid} Cleansing Set ($12.99 at Target), Skinny Girl On-The-Go Bars (price varies, can find here), Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response deodorant ($8 - $10 here), and Not Your Mother's Hairspray ($6 at Ulta)

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

So, tell me, have you used any of these products? What do you think of them?! Which ones are you dying to try?

P.S. Remember the room I told you about in this post? Hope you enjoy a little more exposure of it in the video above!

check this out!

Beauty Finds {Part One}

I've been on the hunt for new beauty products that are amazing. It may not be so great for me because my bathroom storage is getting pushed to the limit, but it's fantastic for you!
Why?
Because I'm sharing my favorites with you!

My absolute favorite find is the It's A 10 Miracle Leave In Product Plus Keratin. Spray some into your hair while damp, comb it through, and style as usual. You will be floored by how smooth and soft your hair is!
Cost: $20 for 4oz at Ulta or buy here at Amazon

I also love Maybelline's new Color Whisper line, especially Pin Up Peach. It's easy to swipe on over some lip balm for a bit of color or by itself. It's not sticky at all and it goes on so smoothly. It's my new must-have lip product!
Cost: $6 at Target or buy here at Amazon

Benefit's Watt's Up highlighter is amazeballs. It's easy to blend in under or over makeup and gives you just a hint of light where ever you put it. Looking for That Glow? Wham, bam, you found it with this guy! I got a sample size in my birthday gift from Sephora and I'm in love.
Cost: $30 for full size at Sephora... or make a purchase during your birthday month and get a little sample sized one for free :)

I have {at least} three more products I want to share with you, so be on the lookout for {Part Two} coming soon!

What are your favorite beauty product finds?

check this out!

DIY Hair Ties

These no-kink hair ties have been all over Pinterest lately and I was very intrigued to say the least.

I decided that I'd like to try and make my own before buying them because they're usually so expensive. Turns out, the hardest part of the whole project was picking out what colors of elastic I wanted to buy! The rest was a piece of cake.

Follow along and you'll see just how easy it is to make a set of these for yourself!

To make, you'll need elastic {the technical term is fold over elastic, or FOE}, scissors, and a small flame {I used a candle}.


You can find FOE at Hobby Lobby {though, they only have a thick white verison} and at other craft stores, but I found the best value and the most variety of colors on Etsy - more specifically, I ordered from ShekhinahPalace and was very satisfied.

Cut strips of your elastic about 8 inches long. Feel free to customize length for thicker hair or if you would prefer to make a headband rather than a hair tie. If you do choose to make a headband, I suggest wrapping it around your head where you want it to sit and adding a couple inches so you can tie a knot in it.


Cut the ends at an angle to make them look pretty.


Then quickly pass the angled end over your flame. No need to hold it over the flame for a long period of time, you just need to melt the elastic enough so that it won't unravel.


Next, fold the elastic over and tie a knot in the end. Pull tight!


Repeat, repeat, repeat to make a full set.

 

check this out!

Beauty, Day 3

Hey there and happy Wednesday!

Today is day numbero tres {yup, totally bilingual} of Beauty Week!


I hope you've read Monday's post about makeup and yesterday's post about nail care.

Today, Liz at I couldn't help but wonder... has shared a post all about homemade beauty products. I love them all and I'm stopping at the grocery store on the way home from school to pick up a few of the grocery items I don't already have so I can try them all out {I gotta put my bananas to good use!}.

Check out the recipes, experiment, and enjoy!
Just don't eat it all off your face ;)

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...