I've been finding myself lacking inspiration for this blog. In fact, I have been contemplating switching to Tumblr. If that happens, I will post the link here, and hopefully you'll come with me. I am tossing around new ideas for this place. I've started a new job, and my husband returned from deployment. So, yes, I have been busy.

There's something about Spring. Without even knowing it, it's like I've awoken from a long slumber. Sometimes I feel like I'm fighting who I am with who I want to be. Does that sound crazy? It feels crazy. It's like my laziness is keeping me from going after what I want. I'm hoping to work on that this Spring.

What about you? What new things are you feeling or doing?

Bath and Body Works Sugar Scrub Review

Not too long ago, I bought the Orange Ginger Sugar Scrub from Bath and Body Works. While it smells amazing and leaves my skin very smooth (two pluses), I went through it in five uses. It doesn't last long at all. I applied it all over my body, just like I do with all of my other scrubs. Usually they last a long time. Not this guy.

I think this would be great if you use it for either hands or feet, but not for a full body scrubbing. I have a scrub from The Body Shop that my husband bought me, which I'm looking forward to using. I love that store.

What scrubs do you use? I'd love suggestions!

Timeless Elegance

Sometimes I like to fantasize about the goodies I would invest in if money weren't an issue. Yes, invest. There are many pieces of fashion that are timeless and are meant to last decades, like a beautiful Burberry trench coat or a pair of pearl earrings. Some investments are for comfort, like a pair of great fitting shoes. I've created a collection of timeless elegance that I would purchase if I had an unlimited budget. Some items I already have, like the Chloe perfume. I love a timeless, understated, elegant look like the items below would create.


I'd love to hear what you think and what items - not necessarily from below, you find timeless and/or elegant.

Burberry slim coat, $1,840 / L.K.Bennett round toe suede pumps, $300 / Kate Spade red crossbody / MELANIE GEORGACOPOULOS 18k earrings / FOSSIL stainless steel watch / Bare Escentuals mineral lipstick / Chloé lily perfume

Vegan Cuts Beauty Box

I finally decided to start a beauty subscription. Well, I signed up for two, but the other one hasn't arrived yet. The first box I have comes from Vegan Cuts. Each month, for $19.95, you get 4-7 items that are vegan, cruelty-free, and good for both you and the environment. I swear, it's like Christmas each month. The items are really good sizes, so it's a pretty good deal. Yes, there are many other beauty boxes that are cheaper, but with Vegan Cuts I can be sure it's cruelty-free, which is very important to me.

Here's what I got this month:

1. DermOrganic Masque and Shampoo
2. Gourmet Body Treats Scrub
3. Ellovi Butter
4. Modern Minerals Eyeshadow
5. Crazy Rumors Lip Balm
6. Bella Pierre Nail Polish

So far, I've tried the lip balm and love it. The Modern Minerals eyeshadow is a beautiful copper color, which is perfect for my eyes. I'm in the middle of doing my winter clean out in my house, so I've put off playing with these goodies until the weekend. But let me tell you, they smell so good, and they are good sizes to try and use. It's a great way to find new products and test them out before you buy.

The Beauty of the Bees

I've had bee products on the mind lately. The smell of honey is divine, and it can make some great beauty products. It smells so nourishing and natural. I've been wanting to try a bee venom moisturizer, but it can be a little pricey. I'm hoping one day it might come down. But then, how cruelty-free is it? Oh dear. I hadn't thought of that. Does anyone know the process? I don't want an animal or critter to be harmed just for my vanity. Gotta research this. Anywho, here are some products - and items - inspired by bees and their delicious honey.

Rodial face moisturizer / The Body Shop face mask / Rituals body moisturizer, $26 / Queen Bee body cleanser / Burt s Bees body moisturizer, $15 / Fornash honey bee earrings / Laura Mercier candles candleholder, $79

Remedies for Dry Winter Skin

I hope you had a lovely few holidays! I went back to my parents for about a week. It was nice to visit, but it sure is wonderful to be back home.

This winter has been especially harsh on my skin. It's very dry here in Puget Sound right now, and my skin is taking the brunt of it. My feet are so dry that they're cracking and peeling. Gosh, it can be painful. This has never happened to me, so naturally, it freaked me out. After trying several products and steps, I think I have found a good solution.

Step 1 - Soak your feet in a nice foot spa that can bubble and keep the heat. Add bath salts to the water for your soak. You can even find foot soak fizzies, which I love.
Step 2 - Use a pumice to smooth your feet and remove the dead skin. Pat dry.
Step 3 - Using a cotton ball or cotton pad, apply olive oil to your feet. Massage in.
Step 4 - Once the olive oil has been soaked up, apply a strong lotion, preferably one for feet as they tend to be thicker.
Step 5 - Put on socks right after you apply the lotion.

I have been doing this a few evenings, and I can tell a difference. Olive oil...who knew?

Holiday Nails

This time of year, we tend to go to a few parties. I am going to a party for work on Saturday as a matter of fact. A fun, easy way to get all festive is to add nail polish. It quickly adds a bit of glam or fun to your look. A brand I just discovered is LVX. This company is cruelty-free (yay!) and is free of the top five harsh chemicals found in polish (yay!). The three colors that caught my eye are Luxe, Sanguine, and Alchemy, which are in order below.

Do you have a favorite polish for this time of year? This might be the year of the red for me. Surprisingly, I have never owned red nail polish. I just might have to get some. Sanguine just says Christmas to me. I love reds and greens everywhere with silver and gold accents. Luxe and Alchemy remind me of the song "Silver and Gold" from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. A little nail polish, some lotion for the dry weather, and you're all set!

Should You Wax Your Face?

Since we're in the Christmas season with parties and other get-togethers, I'll be doing a series on holiday pampering and gifting, starting with what I'm doing this week: a whole fax wax. I'm hoping with this posting you'll know more about what it is and why I can't live without it.

Background, first. I inherited a lot of hair from my dad. It's great on my head and eyebrows, but it also creeps all over my face and neck. This has been a lifelong problem. I never shaved my face - ew - but I did try birth control to help it and to regulate my heavy period. TMI, I know.

One day, my husband kindly told me it looked like I had a mustache. I'm not being sarcastic; he very nicely told me of my dilemma, which I wanted him to do. So, I booked an appointment for a lip waxing. I'll be honest. The upper lip is the most painful part of the face to be waxed, but man did I feel like a woman after!

After enjoying the hairless lip for a month, I decided to get the whole face done. It is cheaper to do that. Where has this been my whole life?! No longer was I a werewolf! I was a real woman! No more hair on my sides! I had the perfect eyebrows! It was wonderful!

So what should you expect or need to know? Do not drink caffeine the day you get it done. It makes it so much more painful. Caffeine affects the nervous system, so you will feel the burn much more than you normally would. Which leads to my next part. The upper lip will hurt, but not as much as you think it will. Tell your esthetician to put a lot of numbing cream on you to help. Let her or him know if your skin is more sensitive than what is considered average. After you have your waxing, use some lavender essential oil on your face. It smells great and helps with irritation.

Will this make your hair darker or coarser? No. In face, it will have the opposite effect. The more you have waxings, the longer you can go between waxings.

I have been doing this for over a year, and I always go to Michelle. I highly recommend you use the same person each time. Michelle now knows my skin and what works best for me. She puts on great products to help with ease the hair out and to help with pain and irritation. This procedure has the potential to be painful if performed by the wrong person, so start with a small part of your face to see if you like the person's technique or not.

I absolutely cannot live without my waxings. If you have unruly facial hair, you should get this done.

Beauty Love: Bare Escentuals

In my never-ending quest for the perfect cruelty-free eyeliner, I think I have found a winner. I'm excited about this. As many of you know, I love Flower Beauty cosmetics. The line has a great liquid liner that I use, but it's only available in black or brown; it is a great product. The navy shade in the pencil liner is a perfect shade and goes on great. The other shades are too dark for what I want, so I turned to Bare Escentuals, and I struck gold. I chose the Lasting Line Long Wearing Eyeliner in brown, grey, and orchid. They are great. They go on smoothly, and the pigmentation is exactly what I want - not too dark and not too light.

Bare Escentuals also has a skin care line that I have started trying and am loving it. I plan on trying more after I run out of what I already have, at least the moisturizer.

If  you've tried any of Bare Escentuals products, tell me what  you think!

Smashbox Full Exposure

I have been on a quest for a quality nude eyeshadow pallet. My eyelids tend to get greasy, and many shadows I've tried don't last, even with primer. I came across Smashbox's Full Exposure kit a few weeks ago. The kit comes with the pallet that has a great double-ended brush as well as mascara. The brush has an end for the matte shades and an end for the shimmer shades.

I love this pallet. It has all the shades you need to create any look, from the no-makeup look to smokey. It is a wonderful tool for all skin and eye colors. I really feel like a makeup artist with it. The shadow doesn't flake off when you use the brush either.

I really like this, and I highly recommend it.

Summer Dry Skin

For the past couple of weeks, my feet have been itching like crazy. I thought I had somehow gotten athlete's foot. I sprayed Lotrimin twice a day, but nothing changed. Perplexed, I did what many would do in this situation: I googled it. What I never considered came up; it was probably dry feet. So, I started lotioning my feet with great zeal, and turns out that my problem was a case of dry feet.

On Thursday, I visited the Bobbi Brown counter because I needed some corrector. The lady who helped me and gave me a complete makeover told me my face was very dry and that the products weren't working like they should because of it. Huh. I always put on moisturizers twice a day, but I wasn't as consistent these last few weeks. So, needless to say, I'm dry all over. I've been applying lotions and moisturizers more vigilantly than before. In case you're in the same boat, here's what I've been using.

I'll be honest. I have a thing for lotions. That is the main reason I have so many listed here.

My favorite hand lotion is Aveda Hand Relief. It has amazing, deep moisturizing properties. My hands are smooth and hydrated for hours. Plus, it smells like a spa retreat. Not that I've ever been on a spa retreat, but it's how I imagine it would be.

 

 

For my body, I use Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. This one is fragrance-free, so it's good for work. It glides on smoothly and gets soaked up pretty quickly. I also use Neutrogena Body Oil after my shower. Just a little amount will do! It has a great fragrance to it and makes the skin feel great. It's perfect after shaving.

Lastly, for my feet, I use Bath and Body Works Twisted Peppermint. This is only available at Christmas time. I love a mint feeling on my feet, especially in the summer. I don't like peppermint lotion in the winter since it makes me feel cold, so I save it for the summer.

This is my arsenal! I have to stop myself sometimes when I find other lotions and remind myself that I have plenty. What do you use?

Giovanni Tea Tree Shampoo and Conditioner

I like to wander up and down the beauty isles at Target and Walmart or any other store like that. So many times, I'll look at the natural products section and see the Giovanni Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner but not give it a second thought. Well, I did the other day. I am about to run out of my purifying shampoo (I like to use it once a week to get rid of any build up in my hair), and it caught my attention. Turns out, this shampoo is a great purifier plus it's vegan and cruelty-free. Yay! The website says the products "consists of only the most carefully selected blends of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, herbs and oils. These unique products contain no parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate or animal by-products. Cruelty-free-never tested on animals, pH Balanced and biodegradable formulas with recyclable packaging."

So, I tested it out. And I loved it. I'm very picky about my shampoo. I've used Aveda for several years, but this stuff works just as well and costs under $8. It keeps my hair clean a day longer than Aveda as well. I recommend this, if for nothing else than to have a weekly deep cleaning.

Decluttering the Make-up and Body Products

I have a slight obsession with make-up and body products. I'll see something I like or something that smells great, and I'll get it, even if I already have plenty of other products to do the job. Lotions, eyeshadow, bubble bath, it doesn't matter. I love it all. I realized the other day that I need to clean out what I don't use. I sometimes fall into the trap of "I'll use it one day," but that day never comes.

I have a unique place. In our bedroom, we have an extra sink and cabinet. Weird, but so handy for me. That sink is mine. It is so easy to add more stuff if you have enough space. That's what happened to me. So, clean out time! Here's what I did.

(I took the photos with my iPad thinking they would be as clear as my iPhone pictures. Hmm...not so much. I'll stick to the phone next time.)

Step 1: pull everything out of the cupboards and off the counter.

You can see my kitty wanted to help with the process. Yes, lots and lots of pretty things.

Step 2: sort into piles based on category (make-up, hair products, face products, etc.)

This sorting process made a huge task much better. This way, I knew what I had in each type of product so that I could make the best decision on what stayed and what was tossed. I realized I had more than I thought when it was all lumped together.

Step 3: eliminate the unused products.

Step 4: organize and display.

I have a make-up tray now on my counter. Getting rid of make-up was hard, but I knew I needed to get rid of what I don't use. I have my lotions and other essentials out and displayed. The rest (bubble bath, hair products, and summer products) are in organized containers under the sink. Now, I feel much better.

Questions? Ask in the comment box!

Loves: Face Products

Growing up, my mother stressed the importance of taking care of my face. There are many products you need or want that you don't need to buy the most expensive or name brand option. Facial products aren't one of those. Having the right products for your needs can make all the difference in the world. After all, your face is what is noticed and scrutinized most.

The past few months, I have been playing with new products to find the one for me. Now that I live in Puget Sound, WA, my face has changed a bit with the new climate, so I've changed my products, too. No longer am I prone to oil; rather, I tend to be dry.

For my face wash/scrub, I use Neutrogena Naturals. Many dermatologists say that since the wash isn't on the skin for long, you don't have to invest a lot of money into your product. Still, you don't want plain soap. Neutrogena is always an excellent choice for any product you need. I really love their new Naturals line. It's very gentle.

After the washing, follow with a toner. Yes, toners are good. They help reduce pore size and remove any leftover dirt the cleanser might have missed. For now, I am using Burt's Bees Rose Water toner. I really enjoy it, but it contains alcohol which can dry out the skin. Not only does it smell great, it also can be used as a cleanser if you're in a hurry or your water is out.

Now, for my favorite brand: Clarins. After a long search, I have fully realized that Clarins works the best for my skin. Happily, there is a Clarins outlet store about an hour from where I live, so I can get my products cheaper than if I were to buy them in, say, Macy's. What I love about the outlet is they have gift sets of full-sized products for about the same price as the product alone. Needless to say I have racked up over the past few months. Below, is my treasure trove.

Aside from facial products, Clarins has amazing body products like body oils, makeup, and excellent lotion.

I truly believe in the power of face products. Preserve your face while you can, and put on sunscreen!

Summer Reading, Summer Watching

There's something about the summer. Somehow, everything seems more relaxed. More time to stop and smell the roses and expand our horizons. This summer, I've been reading like crazy and taking full advantage of the library where I work. We have an amazing collection, especially movies. I've been reading more books on style. My style changes about every 9 months or so. I've been moving from a laid back, nature-girl look to casual chic. Another quest of mine, if you will, is rediscovering my artsy side. I wanted to share some of my finds in case you're doing the same as I.

Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer Scott is a wonderful read. Jennifer recalls twenty lessons she picked up while studying and living in Paris as a college exchange student. One lesson I really enjoyed was watching French films to get a sense of the women's style and makeup.That lead me to watch Priceless with Audrey Tautou. I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it, especially if you're looking for French style.

How To Look Expensive by Andrea Lustig is a must read for anyone who loves fashion and beauty. It's filled with great suggestions, tips, and how-tos based on your personal needs and style. I loved it so much that I went out and bought it. Yeah, it's that good.

I really love the summer. So full of possibilities. I'd love to hear what you're reading!

Items Worth Trying

Sometimes you go to the store and see a product, and you wonder, "Is this any good?" You might notice that I love sharing products to you, the readers, when I find something I love. Sometimes I will read about them or decide to try it myself. Below are some of my favorite products I use. They are amazing and well worth trying.

1. Tree Hut Brazilian Nut Sugar Scrub - This body scrub is amazing. I typically use it about once a week, since I daily wash with a loofah. There are several fragrances available. It contains a lot of natural ingredients, and it's cruelty-free. I got mine at Wal-Mart.

2. Aveda Chamomile Shampoo - I love Aveda products. Their shampoos and conditioners are the only ones I'll use. I love pampering my hair. This shampoo smells amazing, and it's designed to enhance your natural color. I have brown hair with natural golden highlights, and this shampoo and conditioner have worked well to bring out the color. They have one for each color.

3. Victoria's Secret Pro Airbrush FX Perfecting Primer - Long name, but excellent product. This is the best primer I've ever owned. I also use it on my lids, and my eyeshadow never goops. It also has an SPF in it: bonus!

4. Too Faced Kabuki Brush - Every lady needs a kabuki brush. I use mine for face powder and for bronzer. It's soft and applies the right amount.

5. Neutrogena Body Oil - I had my doubts about this. I thought it would be slick and unappealing. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it absorbs into the skin very quickly and without a slickness to it. My skin feels so soft, and the oil smells so good. It's better than lotion.

6. Bliss Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub - We all need to exfoliate our lips, and Fabulips is a great choice. It goes on easily and washes off easily. Plus, it smells and tastes good.

Valentine's in Style

I adore Valentine's Day. I always have. My love for this day goes all the way back to elementary school and the wonderful parties we would have in class. Oh, it was so much fun to make the bags and have classmates drop in the cards. I miss those days.

Every year, I celebrate the day. Many, many years I was single, but I never felt sad or alone. I always looked at the day as a day of loving myself. I would treat myself to something - candy or a novelty item. Now that I'm married, I get to spend it with the love of my life. This year, I wrote a poem for him and uploaded it to his Kindle. His deployment is Sunday, so I wanted to give him something very personal that is easy for him to have and carry. He gave me a beautiful bouquet of white roses; white roses are one of my favorites. They are my favorite type of rose.

 I like to create a feel and mood on Valentine's Day. With that in mind, I have some great finds for you to use to celebrate the day of love. Who says every day can't be Valentine's Day? It's all about love, and loving  yourself should be at the top of your list.

• Essie Nail Polish
• Kate Spade Handbag
• Kate Spade Studs
• Estee Lauder Lipgloss
• Full Tilt Tank
• NARS Blush

Aveda Smooth Infusion Review

One of my goals this year is to take better care of my hair. Growing up, I had thick, frizzy hair, and never knew what to do with it. I didn't read the magazines I read now, so I was clueless. I went to my mom's hairstylist, and he never enlightened me because he thought my hair was so thick and gorgeous. It was thick, but not gorgeous. Frizzy hair isn't pretty. I didn't discover the flat iron until either my senior year of high school or freshman year of college. That was a huge hair changing event for me.

I've always wanted a sleek, frizz-free look without the time spent flat ironing it. I tried so many shampoos. The hairstylist I just visited told me that drugstore products are watered down and aren't as effective. That made me think. I had some Aveda shampoo and conditioner already, but I only used it on special occasions. I decided to use it regularly.

I'm in love. I use the Aveda Smooth Infusions line. It's pricey, but I don't use nearly as much as I was using on shampoos like Fructis or L'Oreal. My hair is so soft and smooth. I still have my natural waves, but they are smoother and softer. It's perfection.

For me, good shampoo is worth the investment. Always having a good hair day is amazing.

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Review

For a while now, I have been wanting to try Not Your Mother's Beach Babe. I finally got around to getting it about a week ago. I was so eager to try it, and, I have to say, it didn't disappoint.

It can be applied onto wet, damp, or dry hair. I sprayed it on my hair after I had towel-dried my hair. When you apply it, it sprays out as a mist rather than something from an aerosol can. The thickness of your hair will dictate how much you spray. I have to spray a good amount because my hair is thick.

Once you spray it on, you can use your hands to scrunch up the hair or twirl/twist it to get the texture you want. My hair has a natural wave to it, so I'm not sure how this will work on straight hair. I do know that no matter what, it will give your hair extra body.

After I sprayed it on, I allowed my hair to air dry. You can use a blow dryer with a diffuser if you want. Throughout the drying process, I would occasionally scrunch and twist my hair. It does give you a nice smell to your hair, and it's not an over-powering smell. Your hair will probably have a little crunch to it after it has dried.

Overall, I love this product, and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I bought mine from Ulta for $5.99.

Update
I just tried the Beach Babe on dry hair. I brushed my hair thoroughly and then sprayed on the Beach Babe. Instant waves. I kid you not. If you were wondering if it works on dry hair, it does. I think it works better on dry hair than towel-dried hair. 

Finding a Signature Scent

I think it was back in fourth grade that I received my first perfume. It was Sunflowers by Elizabeth Arden. I wore that scent for years, and to this day it still smells great on me. When it comes to perfume, it may smell great when you spray it on a strip or in the air, but it changes once it comes into contact with your skin. That's why it's so important to test it out on your body and walk around for a while before purchasing. Not only does this allow you to see if it works with your chemistry, it also allows you to determine if it will stay with you for a short or long time.

Having a signature scent, to me, is essential. What happens with me is that I love so many scents that I have amassed quite a collection over the years. I wear some scents during certain times of the year. For example, many times I tend to gravitate toward lavender during the winter months. This probably has something to do with the fact that I first discovered my love for the flower in the winter during college. I got my hands on everything lavender; I was even lucky to find just straight lavender perfume. It was heavenly. During my last two years of college, I fell in love with Burberry London. It smelled elegant. It took two years to go through one bottle, and every time I smell it I think of my time in my beloved university.

While I have many perfumes already (Victoria's Secret Heavenly and Estee Lauder Beautiful Love), I have finally found my absolute favorite. Chloe Eau de Parfum is the best fragrance I've ever had. It smells so sweet, and it really lasts all day. I used my birthday gift cards and finally bought a bottle yesterday. I had it on all day, and when I woke up this morning, I could still smell it on my neck.

Description: Chloé's newly unveiled signature scent captures the creative, confident individuality of the Chloé woman. A fresh and feminine fragrance with an utterly innate sense of chic. Notes: pink peony, rose, lychée, lily of the valley, magnolia, velvet rose, cedar wood. amber, honey.

 If you haven't found a scent you love, I highly recommend it. I feel every woman should have a fragrance that is hers.