Sparkling New Years Eve Nails

The new year is fast approaching and I can't wait to celebrate its arrival. I've painted my nails for the occasion with OPI's Glitzerland.

Here's how it looks on my nails (3 coats):

Normally I don't wear glitter polishes because I don't like their grainy texture. I wind up picking at them and totally ruining the look. However, this polish doesn't contain chunky glitter; it's more of a shimmery gold polish that dries with a smooth texture. Love it!

What are you wearing on your nails for NYE?

Review: Coach Poppy Flower Eau de Parfum

One of the best gifts to receive for any occasion is fragrance. It could be a lotion from Bath & Body Works or a perfume from the department store, I just enjoy getting products that make me smell good. This Christmas I was given the Coach Poppy Flower Eau de Parfum. First of all, the bottle is gorgeous. It's very girly and classic looking. Secondly, the scent is perfectly balanced between floral and fruity. It's fresh and light and a great everyday scent.

Read the full description of the scent here:
Coach Poppy Flower

If you're a fragrance lover like me make sure to check this one out! It's one of my new favorites and since I'm a big fan of the Coach brand it's even more perfect!

Let me know if you try it!

Christmas Recap

What a busy holiday weekend! It started off with going to Mark's parent's house on saturday to spend time with his family. We ate a big meal, watched football, and exchanged gifts.  We had a lot of laughs as usual.
Then on sunday morning Mark and I had our own little Christmas celebration together and gave each other our gifts. Shortly after, we got ready to go to my parent's house to celebrate with them. Lots of food, presents, and laughs once again. Both days were long especially with all the driving we had to do! We had a great time though.

Today I tried to get everything organized and presents put away. We spent a couple hours taking down the tree and packing away our decorations. It always feels so empty right after we take the tree down. There's so much space now! I still have more stuff to put away but it feels good to have a big chunk of it done.

I'm really excited for a couple of gifts I was given (obviously I loved everything I got but these are pretty relevant to my blog).....

Mark got me a brand new Canon EOS Rebel T3. I can't wait to start playing with it.

Isn't it beautiful??

My parents got me a new laptop. My old one was not working very well and doing anything on it was a complete pain. Getting a new computer is always fun!

Did you receive any cool gifts?
Hope you enjoyed your holidays!

December Birchbox: Amika, Jouer, Inoco

My December Birchbox finally arrived! This is my second box and I'm not as thrilled with it as I was with my first one. Here's why....
First of all, it came later than the last one, which I can understand since it's the holiday season, but I hope it doesn't come this late from now on. I read that there were some issues this month that affected people getting their box on time but I wasn't notified about any problems. Another thing I wasn't crazy about was that one of the products (hair oil) had leaked all over everything else.  At least it smells really good.
One final thing was that I wasn't crazy about receiving an energy booster. I would've liked another beauty product instead.

Here are the contents of my box:

What's in my December Birchbox

1. Inoco Nail Polish Applique

16 strips $7.99 - $10.99

These are nail strips made with real nail polish and contain a base coat and top coat. They come in a variety of colors and designs. Mine are silver and glittery. I like this idea, I just wish I was given a different color.

2. AHAVA Mineral Body Lotion
Full size - 8.5 oz. $24
This body lotion smells light and fresh and the sample size is pretty generous at 1.3 fl oz. I'll be able to use it for awhile.

3. Showstoppers Designer Fashion Tape

24 strips $9.99
These are strips of double-sided tape that you use to make sure parts of your outfit stay in place. I'm not sure that I'll actually need this but I like having these kinds of things on hand.
 

4. Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss 

Full size - 0.21 oz. $20
This came as a mini lip gloss sample in a shade made for Birchbox. It looks bright pink but when I tried it on I was able to apply a thin coat so that it looked more natural. It doesn't feel too sticky either.

5. amika Obliphica Hair Treatment

Full size - 3.38 fl oz. $34

I'm very excited to use this hair oil. It's for anti-frizz, shine & nourishment and can be used on damp or dry hair. So far I like it.

6. EBOOST Orange Natural Energy Booster

20 packets $28

I definitely was not excited to receive this. It's just not something I'm interested in trying but Mark said he would try it so I'll have to see what he thinks.

Obviously I'm not in love with everything I got this month but that's just the nature of these subsricption services. The point is to try new products to see if you like them. I still like Birchbox a lot and will continue my subsription.



Have you subscribed to any of the beauty sample subscription services? Are there any you want to try?

Join Birchbox!
More of my Birchbox reviews can be found here.


Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. A referral link was used.

Sephora Haul

I placed an order on Sephora's website for some everyday makeup items I needed. Since my birthday was last month I was also able to get my birthday present for being a beauty insider (Sephora's rewards program) and I also got a really great deal for black friday/cyber monday! Read on to see what I got...

Tip: Applying Eyeshadow

If you've ever taken a drawing class you may have learned one general rule: to draw with a light hand and build up darker areas slowly in layers. I use the same rule for applying my eyeshadow. 

The outcome isn't so great when you load up your eyeshadow brush with a dark color and plaster it onto your lids or crease. We've all done it at some point. It's frustrating to try and figure out your next step. Should I wipe it off with a tissue? Should I remove it with makeup remover? Should I apply more eyeshadow? You can avoid this fiasco and it's fairly simple.

Here's a tip:

Lightly dab your brush into the eyeshadow and tap it onto your lids, don't swipe (you'll get a more even application by tapping). Keep building it up until you create the look you want. You might have to go back for more eyeshadow several times but it's better than applying a heavy layer all at once. You'll also waste less product (which also can lead to saving $$$!)

For the crease and outer lid area I like to apply shadow with my blending brush. It gives a light application and blends at the same time. Then you can go back with a regular eyeshadow brush to intensify areas that need it.

Did you find this tip helpful? Let me know!

Review: Ultra CHI Flat Iron

I've always wanted a CHI flat iron but always chose other brands instead, mainly less expensive ones. For the past couple years I've been using a Conair Infiniti and it worked great....until I met Ultra CHI.

Mark gave me an Ultra CHI flat iron for my birthday this month and I'm so glad he did. I really didn't know what I was missing out on. I had been using a flat iron that straightened my hair but did nothing for volume or shine. I'm happy to finally join the ranks of CHI lovers.

• It straightens without taking the volume away.
• My hair has bounce!
• It heats up really fast
• It glides through my hair...no pulling or tugging
• It adds tons of shine!

I have no complaints or dislikes so far. I'm in love!

Overall thoughts

I know many people already use CHI but if you don't and you're using a flat iron that doesn't work that well, look into getting one. Put it on your wishlist or save up for it. It's worth it! I'm not sure how I went so long without one.

Birthday Recap

So yesterday was my birthday (I turned 24) and I just wanted to share how my day went with you guys.



I got up and got ready while Mark made us delicious blueberry muffins for breakfast. I cleaned until my parents came over and gave me gifts. We hung out for a bit and the doorbell rang. It was a flower arrangement from my sister! It was so pretty and an unexpected surprise. Then we went out to a couple stores and out to dinner. After my parents left, Mark and I met up with some people for drinks and then we came home. It wasn't a huge elaborate celebration or anything and I liked it that way.

As for my gifts I'm not going to list all of them but I'll share a few. I was eligible for an upgrade on my phone so my parents got me the newest iPhone. Siri and I are getting along great! They also gave me new boots, Kirkland makeup brushes (Costco brand), and a few other things.  Mark gave me an Ultra Chi Straightener - review to come soon - along with a couple other gifts.

Anyways, so that was my day. Did you celebrate a birthday recently? If so, what did you do?

Blogging Tips

You might already have a blog or maybe you're just starting out, but it's always good  to be open to advice no matter what level you've reached. I've been blogging for awhile and have learned a lot about improving my blog. I've put together some basic tips on blogging to share with you and hope that you can share some in return.

1. Create your own style
Play around with different fonts, backgrounds, and colors but remember not to go overboard. Busy backgrounds, bright colors, and crazy fonts can be distracting and make it hard to read. You want your blog to be easy on the eyes.

2. Add pictures to your posts
This makes your blog more appealing. People love to look at pictures. I would suggest taking your own pictures unless you have permission to use someone else's photos. You may encounter issues if you use pictures that aren't your own, even if you have given credit to the owner.

3. Don't be too wordy 
Some people are fine with reading lengthy posts, but many readers want to read your main points, look at your pictures, and move on. The length is up to you, but keep in mind that if you're too long-winded readers may lose interest.

4. Organize your thoughts
 You might want to consider sectioning out your main points and organizing them with titles, bullets, and numbers- that way people can skip ahead to the areas they want to read. You can also use bold or italic font to identify important areas.

5. Proofread and edit your posts!
Write out a rough draft and then leave it alone for awhile. Come back later to read through it and make corrections. It will be easier to catch mistakes.  Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation!

6. Look at other blogs
No, I don't mean steal or copy another blog's ideas, but use them for inspiration!


 Have some blogging tips of your own? Tell me in the comments!

November Birchbox: Anastasia, Kerastase

This month I received my first Birchbox! In case you didn't know, Birchbox is a monthly subscription service in which you get 4-5 deluxe samples for $10 a month. Once you try the sample you can buy the full product directly from the Birchbox website. I first saw this on youtube and thought it was a great way to try new products without having to buy them.  I love to explore new brands and try different things so I had to sign up.

What's in my November Birchbox
1. Befine Night Cream
Full Size - 1.7 fl oz $30
I've never used a night cream before and hadn't heard of this brand prior to trying it so this was completely new to me. I really like it a lot! My skin felt very soft and smooth when I woke up. I'm tempted to buy the full size.

2. Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara
Full Size - 8 ml  $22
This mascara advertises that it "will add full volume thickness and uplifting curl". I had a chance to try this out today. I think it does exactly what it claims. I like it but I don't think I want to spend $22 on it.

3. Kerastase Elixir Ultime
Full Size - 125 ml  $54
This conditioning oil is really nice. It has a thin consistency and spreads out onto your hair evenly. I haven't used it enough to tell if it makes a big difference but $54 is too much for me to spend on a hair product.

4. Supersmile Professional Whitening Toothpaste
Full Size - 4.2 oz  $21
I used this once already. I'll have to keep using it to see if it does make a difference but so far I don't have plans to buy it.

5. Alex and Isabelle Classic Hair Ties
Set of 6  $12
This is such a cute and unique idea. When I first saw it in my box I wasn't sure what it was for but then read that it was an elastic for your hair. It actually looks really pretty and feels gentle on my hair. I'd be interested in getting more.


So I can't say I'm disappointed with anything I recieved. I've read that the contents can vary from one Birchbox to another so I'm excited to see what other people received. I will be reviewing my Birchbox every month here so watch for my next one in December!


Join Birchbox
Want more Birchbox reviews? Find them here



Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. A referral link was used.

Selling Scarves

So far I haven't mentioned a whole lot about my shop. My reason being that I don't want to constantly advertise it. That can be pretty annoying and there's nothing worse than being pushed into buying something. With that being said, if you aren't aware of it yet, I sell scarves that I make in an online shop. You can find some of them under the "My Shop" tab at the top of the page. To see my full shop you can click HERE .  Check it out if you want. No pressure, this is just a friendly reminder that it's there.

Interested? Here's a little more info...
-I price most of them under $20, which I think is very reasonable.
-If you want specific colors or sizes you can request a custom order and I will be happy to do it (no extra charge).
-I constantly add new scarves so check back often
-I do ship outside of the U.S.
-I accept payment through Paypal.


Keep in mind they make great gifts!!
If you have any questions you can e-mail me at missaf23@gmail.com
You can find updates regarding my shop on my facebook page: www.facebook.com/sparkleknit
Happy shopping!

Bath & Body Works Select-A-Shimmer

I recently purchased this product for fun and because I'm always so tempted by it when I go to B&BW. Of course they don't carry it in my favorite scent (Secret Wonderland) but I wanted to give it a try anyways. I chose the scent Charmed Life.

What is this product?

It's a customizable body lotion. One side is a shimmer gel and the other side is a body lotion so you can pick how much or how little of each you want to be dispensed. You just twist the top to the desired position and then pump it out.

Likes and Dislikes

-I like the feel of the lotion.It'svery lightweight and the scent I chose is a subtle fresh scent.

-I like that the shimmer isn't too crazy or over-the-top. You won't look like a disco ball, I promise!

-I love that its customizable. Some days I might want to sparkle more than others.
-I don't like that it's only available in certain scents. Maybe that will change eventually.

Overall thoughts

This product isn't a must-have but I do think it's really fun to have around or even give as a gift. It's a little pricey at $14 so the best time to buy it is during one of their many sales.  It's at least worth checking out next time you pay a visit to Bath & Body Works.

Pumpkin Carving

Happy Halloween everyone! Who else is digging into the candy already? I can't help myself!
Anyways, as promised here are the pumpkins we carved. :)

Creepy Halloween Look

I got Mark to agree to let me paint his face for a creepy Halloween look.  It was my first time doing this so it didn't come out exactly how I imagined but it sure was a lot of fun! It's part skeleton, part zombie. It took about 2 hours to do but he was so patient! I used a kit from Target that included the base makeup, colored grease makeup, fake blood, and scar wax for $7.

Here's how it turned out:

Hope you like!

Remember, if you're painting someone's face this year make sure you have a good idea of what you're going to do and give yourself plenty of time!!

Brand Review: Benefit Cosmetics

I've been using Benefit products for years now, even before my love for MAC blossomed. I was introduced to Benefit by a girl I knew from high school who would always stop by the Benefit Brow Bar to get her eyebrows done. My eyebrows had never been touched besides the occasional tweeze here and there so when I went for my first wax I became hooked on the brand overall. For a number of years I used Benefit items exclusively from foundation (playsticks) to fragrance (Maybe Baby), until I realized there were other brands out there that were less expensive and comparable in quality. As you can probably tell, my thoughts are a little mixed....

Likes
I love the incredibly cute and girly packaging. It's so much fun to pick out your favorite items - although it's also very easy to go overboard when everything catches your eye! I also like the variety of products they offer - skincare, makeup, fragrances, brow bar services - everything to cover your needs (and wants!) and among all those items they have some truly great products (BadGal Lash anyone?).

Dislikes
Although there are some must-have products, the prices can be a little high for what you get. I think this has a lot to do with that super cute packaging. Another thing I don't care for is the lifespan of the actual products. They don't last as long as I'd like them to and that means more money spent more frequently.

Overall thoughts
I still think Benefit is a great brand, however it's not my go-to brand anymore and I don't feel the need to stop by every time I'm at the mall. I still buy a few favorite items and like to browse their selection from time to time but my purchases have become more of an occasional indulgence rather than a recurring necessity.

Peacock Themed Makeup Look

For this look I decided to go more dramatic and colorful!I was inspired by peacock feathers but this look can be used for a mermaid look too or altered to suit other themes as well. It doesn't even have to be for halloween!

Weekend Giveaway! *CLOSED*

Welcome to my first giveaway!  I was inspired to do this by a nail polish I had in my collection that I didn't want (and never used) and figured it would be nice to give it away to someone who will actually want it. Then I decided to add a few more items - all brand new - to make it a little more exciting.

The Rules:
-You have to be following my blog.
-Open to U.S. Residents Only - Sorry, this is just to make it simple for now.

The Prizes:
-OPI "Funky Dunky"  - deep purple nail polish
-Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear "Strobe Light" Polish - a gorgeous glitter polish
-Rimmel Glam Eyes "Smokey Brun" Quad - claims to be best suited for blue eyes but I think it will work for any eye color.
-Bath & Body Works Enchanted Orchid Lotion
-LashBlast Fusion Mascara in very black - my favorite mascara!
-Travel size Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Scrub - my favorite way to exfoliate!

How to win:
I'm keeping it simple. If you want to be entered into the giveaway leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite accessory is for fall. One winner will be chosen randomly. I will post the winner when the contest ends.

The giveaway will start today (Thursday October 6) as soon as this is posted and will run until sunday night (October 9) at 10 pm PST. Good Luck!

***UPDATE***
I got some feedback that people weren't able to leave a comment. I changed the settings so everyone should be able to comment now. If you have any trouble you can email your response for the giveaway at missaf23@gmail.com

Golden Goddess Makeup and Hair

Halloween is around the corner and that means everyone is planning their costumes as we speak or at least thinking about them. I decided to do a few posts of looks that can be used for various costumes.

Hair Tip: Ponytail Sleeping

Do you ever notice that your hair gets greasy overnight even thought you just washed it the night before? We all want fresh looking hair in the morning and throughout the day but our hair doesn't always cooperate.

Here's a tip:
If you wash your hair at night or know you're not going to be washing it the next day, comb out your hair and put it up in a ponytail (or a bun) before bed. Gently pull on your top hair to create some space so its not flat against your head. It will keep some of the volume in your hair and lift your roots from your scalp so that it's not absorbing oils as much. Make it loose so it's not uncomfortable or damaging.

If you still wake up with some greasiness try using a dry shampoo (like the Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo) on your roots. It's inexpensive and a quick solution for when you're on-the-go!

Brand Review: Victoria's Secret

This has to be one of my favorite stores ever. I cannot go to the mall without paying a visit to VS and most of the time I leave with a bag in my hand.

I normally buy underwear, bras, swimsuits, shorts, yoga pants and other things.They have great deals on underwear most of the time and their swimsuits last years and years. I do have to replace my bras every so often because they stretch out over time but they are the most comfortable bras I can find.

I love everything in their Pink line.  From yoga pants to hoodies....it's all so cute and in really fun colors - not to mention super comfy!

As for their beauty products, I don't buy much of it. I like their makeup, but I don't find it necessary to add to my collection. Some of their scents are really nice too. They have tons of products! I'd rather spend my money on the clothes though.

As for the prices, VS can get expensive if you don't keep track of what you're getting. The best time to go is during their semi-annual sales when you can get some really great deals and stock up!

20 Things I Love About Fall

As summer comes to a close, I can't help but think of the things I love most about fall...

1. Pumpkin picking and carving/decorating
2. Boots!
3. Family get-togethers
4. Football
5. Pumpkin pie... mmmmm
6. Halloween
7. My birthday! (24 this year)
8. Baking delicious treats
9. Comfy clothes, blankets, and hot chocolate on a cold day
10. Black Friday! Need I say more?
11. Taking walks
12. Fall fashion...and shopping for it
13. Warm, soft scarves
14. Fresh apple juice and other goods from local growers
15. Candles with "warm" scents
16. Starbucks - hot drinks
17. Cooking (and eating!) holiday meals
18. Shopping/planning for gifts
19. Smokey eyes!
20. Thanksgiving dinner (and leftovers!)

Ah, my list could go on and on. I see I have a quite a few food related favorites.
What are some of your favorite things about fall?

Review: Urban Decay 15-Year Anniversary Palette

As soon as I saw this palette I wanted it. The colors looked amazing from what I saw online. I texted my bf the other day that it was a must-have and he surprised me with it! I had the chance to use it a couple times already and I definitely know I'm going to enjoy this palette!

Here are my observations:

Like

- I love the variety of colors in the palette. Neutrals, unique colors and darker shades. All brand new too!

- The eyeshadows apply very smoothly.

- My favorite shadow is Omen which is a purple.

- It is $55 but I consider that a pretty good price considering how much individual eyeshadows normally run from Urban Decay. It's worth it!

Dislike

- The packaging is not my favorite. Sure it's pretty to look at...until you get your fingerprints all over the mirrored lid. And the inside is a shiny metallic purple, making it hard to focus on the colors, not to mention very hard to photograph!

 

Overall, the positives out weigh the negatives. The colors and quality of the shadows are what really matter to me. I think I will have a lot of fun with this palette and I'm anxious to try out more looks.



I also have the Naked Palette and the Book of Shadows Volume III (NYC) so if you want reviews on those let me know. Also don't forget to check out my shop and like it on facebook if you want!

Review: The Body Shop Body Butter Duo

Body Butter Duo

Floral Acai

6.75 oz  - $18

I received this body butter as a gift from my boyfriend's parents. I was so excited to get this because The Body Shop is one of my favorite stores.

This product contains two types of lotion. One for normal skin areas and one for dry skin areas. The normal skin side is a nice light lotion and the dry skin side is thick cream.  I've used both sides already and I like the texture of both. I use the thicker cream for really dry areas such as my elbows and knees and the lighter lotion for all other areas. 

The scent is pretty good. It's a little bit different than scents I normally choose but I still like it. It's a sweet floral berry scent. The floral part is more noticeable to me though.

Would I get it again? Maybe. It's a little pricey and I always have lotions on hand but I wouldn't mind trying out some other scents. They do have some great products so I would definitely recommend checking the store (or website) out if you haven't!

Top 5 Nail Polishes

Just sharing my 5 favorite OPI nail polishes in my collection.

1. Dating a Royal
I'm not the biggest fan of blue or green nails but when it comes to this color I'm in love! It's a true royal blue. I love to wear this color in winter.

2.  Purple with a Purpose

This color is the most perfect purple shade I've ever laid eyes on.
It's a really fun color. I wear this color any time of year!

3. Let Me Entertain You

A sparkly multidimensional red. I think of this most as a holiday party color.
It's a beautiful red with glitter and pink undertones.

4. Royal Flush Blush

This is basically summer in a bottle (assuming you like coral hues like me)

 I also mentioned it in my last post.

5. Ate Berries in the Canaries
I don't like this on my fingernails very much but it's a perfect color for my toes! I love this color for spring or summer.

Infiniti by Conair You Curl XL

I've been wanting a clampless curling iron (aka conical wand) for a long time and I finally decided to get one last month. I got the Infiniti by Conair You Curl XL from Walmart for around $30.  I was so excited to get it home and try it considering I've never used one. 

It came with a little half glove (which is a little funny to me) to protect your hand from the heat of the curling iron. This was the one thing I wasn't fond of. It didn't stay on my hand and was very awkward to use. (Conair, I love you, but can I have a full glove next time?). It has a swivel cord, which is great so the cord doesn't get all twisted and tangled up. I still have some hair tools that don't have this feature - I know, crazy right?

The iron heats up to 400 F but the heat level is adjustable. It was very quick and easy to use. I took small random pieces, held them on the iron for about 5 seconds and then ran my fingers through my hair a little when I was done to get a more natural look. I finished it off with some mousse to help it stay in place and for the rest of the day I had gorgeous waves!

I have to say I prefer the natural loose waves created by a conical wand over the tighter uniform curls made by a curling iron with a clamp. It was exactly what I was hoping for (and the color is nice too!).

Nook - My Review

This last Christmas my parents gave me a Nook Color (an e-reader from Barnes and Noble). I have to admit I hadn't thought about getting an e-reader prior to that, but since I do love to read I was ecstatic to receive one.  There's so much I can do with it and I literally use it every single day.

-You can browse the web on it and watch videos 

-You can download apps

-You can add your friends and share books with them.

-There are tons of books to choose from and you can preview a piece of the book to determine if you'd be interested in reading it.

-You can also subscribe to magazines and newspapers on it as well..

One thing you have to remember though  is that this is something you will continue to invest in and it is a bit expensive to begin with.  Definitely research different e-readers and decide which one is right for you if you plan to buy one...they're all different!

I'm still excited about my Nook even though I've had it for awhile now. I'm reading even more than I used to and I'm always discovering new books.

getting to know me

Hey everyone. I'm in the middle of improving my blog and trying to find different things to do with it. I added my twitter (on the side) so feel free to follow me or just check my updates on here. I figured it might be a nice way to get a little more personal aside from my typical topics. I don't know about you but I like to know more about people I follow aside from their taste in perfume. :) I'd like to make my blog as interactive (and definitely not boring) as possible so have any suggestions? Let me know - all feedback is welcomed!

Hair Repair (Part 2)

This will be my last post in my Hair Repair Series, which is a relief because I'm ready to move on to a new topic already! So let's get on with it...

I've been taking steps to make my hair healthier and grow faster. In the past I would just cut my hair short and let it grow out from there but I wanted to do something different this time and keep it long. 
With this new set of guidelines I've been following I do notice a difference in my hair but only slightly. Here are my observations:


1. Since I wash my hair less often it seems to produce less oil and looks less greasy at my roots.


2. I basically kicked my hair dryer to the curb (ok not completely!) and now I let my hair dry naturally most of the time, which is somewhat reducing damage.


3. My hair feels a bit stronger and more moisturized because of the products I've been using


4. I do have some split ends which a trim would help immensely. 


5. I notice my hair in general is more manageable.


Unfortunately, I don't see a major improvement but I'm going to continue with what I've been doing and see what happens. I'm going to try to be patient but we all know how hard that is when it comes to hair!


Have any suggestions or product recommendations for me? Let me know!

Review: Redken Extreme Anti-Snap

It's been a month since I started my hair challenge and instead of updating you with one post, I have decided to break it down into different parts. I mentioned a few steps I would take to achieve healthy, gorgeous hair but before discussing my progress I wanted to highlight some products that have really helped me out. Consider it a "hair repair mini-series".

The first product is the Redken Extreme Anti-Snap

I'm really excited about this product because it actually works! How many times have you gone to the store and picked out a hair product that claimed to do great things for your hair, only to find it doesn't do anything besides make your hair crunchy? Too many times, right? I've been there too!

This product claims to reduce breakage and strengthen damaged areas. So not only does it help repair your hair but it also works to prevent further damage (and I totally agree that it does!)

It's a leave-in treatment that is meant for distressed hair. It was recommended to me by a stylist and I cannot be more pleased with it! I apply it to my ends after my shower, while my hair is still damp. It smells great and has a thin, gel-like consistency, so it doesn't weigh down your hair.  I've noticed that it makes my hair a lot more manageable and smoother. One bottle lasts a long time as it doesn't take much product to coat the areas that need it.

I love this treatment and I definitely will repurchase - over and over again!

Thicker Bolder Lashes

The one thing I try to accomplish with my makeup on a daily basis is to make my lashes look thicker and fuller. I don't normally wear fake lashes but I like the look of them so I rely on a couple of products to emulate that look.

The first, most obvious product is mascara but finding the right one can be challenging. There are 3 mascaras that I rely on. L'oreal Voluminous in Carbon Black, CoverGirl LastBlast Fusion, and Benefit BADgal lash. All three of these mascaras separate my lashes really well, make them look thicker, and overall give them that false lash effect.

The second product is a matte black eyeshadow. I typically use Carbon by Mac but any will do. Since I use a gel eyeliner my line can look a little too bold sometimes and my eyelashes tend to get lost instead of stand out. I like more of a smokey look so what I do is use the black eyeshadow to blend and smoke out the outer half of my eyeliner. This also helps my lashes look 10 times thicker!

The Coupon Craze

It seems as though coupon clippers are sprouting up everywhere. People are piling up their coupons to maximize their savings. After watching people save tons of money with coupons, I became interested in partaking in the savings too. I started buying the Sunday paper every week and building up my stack of coupons. I've heard people say that they spend so much time gathering coupons that it amounts to a full-time job! I don't think I could go that far with it, but if I can save a few bucks while shopping, I'm all for it.

So now I'm collecting coupons from the paper every week and printing a few out online when I have the time. I don't spend a crazy amount of time doing this and I only buy one paper at a time. I only use coupons for things I already buy. If I used all of the coupons I came across, I'd be spending way more money than I need to and have tons of things I didn't need.

I even find a lot of coupons for beauty products! I've saved money on products from brands like Revlon, Rimmel, L'oreal, and Pantene.

Do you use coupons? How often do you use them?

Hair Repair (Part 1)

My Hair Challenge

Recently I've set a goal for myself to take steps towards getting my hair to be more healthy. I want my hair to grow long and beautiful but in its current condition that's not probable. My hair is oily at the roots, dry at the ends and somewhat damaged from all the heat I use on it. So I've decided to create my own hair challenge.

These are the things I've realized I need to do for my hair in order to acquire the gorgeous hair I long for:

1. Wash less often. I'm one of those girls who showers and washes her hair daily. I like to feel fresh and clean everyday and since my roots are so oily I feel gross if I don't wash my hair, however, it is considered unhealthy to wash your hair daily. I want to wash my hair 4 days per week instead of 7.

2. Use less heat. My hair is wavy but not the pretty kind of wavy. Some partsof my hair are sort of straight, other parts are a little on the curly side and altogether it looks like one big mess! I use a hair dryer and a flat iron to tame it but they can be so damaging. I want to eliminate one of those heat tools.

3. Trim more regularly.  I'm not the type to get a trim every 6-8 weeks as recommended and that's because I feel like it doesn't have time to grow in that short period so I only get a couple trims a year. I want to trim my hair more often in order to keep it healthy and prevent dry, split ends.

4. Use a heat protectant. Using a heat protectant is key when using hot tools on your hair. I only use them every one in awhile. I want to use a heat protectant every time I use a hot tool on my hair.

So those are the steps I plan to take and I'm sure I'll try out some different things along the way as well. Feel free to take on the challenge with me and tell me the steps you plan to take!

I will be posting again in about a month to give an update on my progress and let you know how things are going!!

Summer Pink Nails

I found a great pink nail polish for spring and summer. Japanese Rose Garden by OPI (from the Far East Collection). It's hard to find a pink that goes well with my skintone. Bright colors, hot pink included, tend to make me look more yellow than I care to be so I have to be careful with bright hues.

This pink reminds me of  a darker barbie pink. It's a thick creamy polish that only requires one coat and dries fast. I think it would go well with any skintone and will definitely look great with a tan. It has quickly become one of my favorite polishes. It makes me so excited for summer!

Loom Knitting

This month I took on a new project - learning to knit a scarf using a loom! I had never knitted before but I decided to give it a shot.

I've been using the long rectangular looms for this but there are also circle looms as well. They're all pretty inexpensive. You can check out all the looms HERE

I was surprised at how fast and easy looming was. There are lots of different patterns and helpful videos online too. Most of the time I work on my scarves while sitting in from of the tv. I'm really enjoying this!



First scarf I made with the 19" loom

Second scarf I'm currently working on with the 10" loom

Clarisonic Mia Review

I wanted a Clarisonic ever since I first heard of it a couple years ago while browsing videos on youtube. I had the Clarisonic Mia on my wishlist this past Christmas and I was lucky enough to receive it as a gift.

The Clarisonic is a skincare brush that deep cleans your skin, removes makeup better than other products, and reduces the appearance of pores. The Clarisonic Mia does the same job but is slightly different. It's considered the travel version so it's smaller, cheaper, comes with a different charger, etc.

After using it for awhile, I can confidently say that I'm in love with this thing!
I have had great results. My pores appear smaller, my skin feels smoother and my makeup applies better. My skin was oily in the t-zone with dry areas on my cheeks; now my skin is much more balanced - no excessive dry or oily patches!

I use my Clarisonic Mia 3-4 times a week (at night) with a basic cleanser and I love how fresh and and clean it makes my skin feel before bed. I used to be one of those people that couldn't be bothered with washing their face at night and now I can't imagine not doing it. This is definitely an investment at $119, but over time you will see a major difference in your skin.


You can find more info here Clarisonic Mia(TM) Skin Cleansing System

Disclaimer: This is not a paid or sponsored review. No affiliate links were used in this post.

Flower-Pot-Painting

Lately I've been wanting to do more artsy type things since haven't for awhile and I was sitting around wondering what I could do that would be a little bit different. I was in the mood to explore new areas I could go with art. So I thought it would be a fun idea to paint some flower pots.
The flower pots were very inexpenisve at Lowe's and I already had a ton of brushes from painting classes. I had to buy some paint and that was the most expensive part of the project. I got 6 fun acrylic colors for about $30 from an art store and I bought a bottle of white acrylic paint from Walmart for really cheap. Walmart has a bunch of inexpensive acrylic paints in tons of colors. I also noticed Michaels has a section dedicated to this type of project as well. You can basically get all the supplies there although some things might by slightly more expensive.

For the first one I used fun bright colors and painted a leopard print pattern.

For the second one, I painted a more abstract design in bold colors.

They didn't take much time (especially since I used the white paint as a base) and it was a fun little project. I plan to do more of them using different designs and if they turn out good enough I might sell them if people are interested but for now I'm just having fun with it.

You can find a set of arcylic paints to start out with here Basics Acrylic Paint-8 Color Set

Liquid Eyeliner Tip

Liquid eyeliner is tricky to master. For the longest time I wouldn't wear it because it was so hard to apply. My lines would always be choppy and uneven. I wanted to be able to wear liquid liner though because I liked the intensity and the staying power of it.  Eventually I figured out a way to apply it more easily.

First I would apply a thin line using my pencil liner like normal. I used this as my guideline. Then I traced over it with liquid liner in short strokes. It was easier to see where my line should go and how thick it should be.  It also looked smoother since the pencil liner acted as a base.

After I got the hang of it, I stopped needing to use the pencil liner altogether and my eyeliner came out flawless (most of the time!).