Finding a new me.

Styling my bargain shorts!

2012-05-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

I recently picked up two pairs of denim cutoff shorts at a garage sale. The shorts were a dollar a piece and they looked like the perfect vintage cutoffs! Both pairs are a little bit large on me, but with a belt they are perfect and super comfy.

Today I wore the lighter pair with a braided brown leather belt and cuffed the bottom of the shorts. I tucked in a sheer cream lace top from Forever21 (with a basic white cami underneath) and ta da! My cheap, casual, cute outfit was complete!

I'm really into the high-waisted/cutoff denim trend, not only because it's cute, but because you can achieve the look easily and cheaply by shopping at garage sales and thrift stores, or even for FREE by using an old pair of your jeans. Are you digging this trend?

DIY: Make not-so-perfect shoes PERFECT (:

2012-02-12T18:48:00.000-08:00

Ever found the perfect pair of shoes--the right size, they fit perfect and are actually comfortable to walk in, the right price---BUT.....they aren't the right color? That's what happened to me as I was strolling down the aisles of Payless Shoe Store about a week ago. I saw a pair of size 5 wedges (which always gets me excited, it's not an easy feat to find size 5 shoes!), with nude straps but with a striped design on the side in a color scheme I was less than crazy about. Examine exhibit A:

Now some people may like the design, but I personally didn't care for it; too seventies-ish for my liking. I tried them on anyways to discover they are absolutely the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn! Plus they were under $30. I just had to buy them! I had resigned myself to find some sort of dress...brown perhaps, rusty orange maybe, to match them, when a brilliant idea struck me: I could paint over the awful design with a nude paint and have the perfect nude wedges for summer that would match just about any dress! At risk of ruining my precious new shoes, I gathered my supplies:

-Blue Painter's Tape (Lowe's/Home Depot)

-KILZ Original Primer in a spray can (Lowe's/Home Depot)

-Folk Art Acrylic Paint in #2559 Coffee Latte (0.97 cents at Wal-mart)

-Goof-off (Lowe's/Home Depot)

-Paper towels, small paint brushes, and ear swabs (not pictured)

I began by *carefully* applying the painter's tape around the edges, trying to only leave the part I wanted to paint exposed:

Next, I attempted to paint the shoe, and ended up with a splotchy, uneven mess; it was evident KILZ was going to be necessary.

So I covered any exposed areas in paper towels and applied two coats of KILZ to the shoes, letting each one dry completely before applying the next one.

Then I could finally paint it and it look even. I applied two coats.

I removed the tape and paper towels and used the Goof-Off and ear swabs to clean up any little oopsies, where the tape didn't stick well and paint/KILZ had gotten onto the straps or rubber sole. The final result looks like this:

Voilà! Nude/tan wedges for summer time! I much prefer the all-nude to the design before. It may seem like a lot of work (and it was!) but it's very difficult for me to find shoes that fit me and that are comfortable. I have a small, weird foot (I can wear a 3 in kids...it's hard to find heels that fit me that don't have Hannah Montana plastered on them!) so it was worth the extra effort. Here's a pic of them on my feet:

Have you ever put your own unique spin on shoes or clothing to make them more to your liking? It was a fun little project, and I'm happy with the results...I can't wait to wear them this spring and summer with shorts and floral dresses! Maybe I'll alter some more stuff in the future :)

New hair color!

2012-02-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

After about six months of bright blonde highlights, my hair was absolutely frazzled. It was thin and brittle in the first place, so I haven't a clue why I decided to bleach it. It looked like this:

There was quite a bit of blonde in the front, and it would break off and frizz out all of the time. I have spent a pretty penny on high-end hair care products trying to mend it (which I will do a haul about soon, I have discovered some amazing products in the process!). I decided that the healthiest thing to do was to dye it dark so I wouldn't need to keep up with it as often, since my natural color is a very dark brown. I wanted red undertones in it too, since my natural color is reddish in sunlight. Here's the result:

I LOVE it! It's exactly what I wanted! In low light or inside light it looks black-brown, but in natural or fluorescent light the red really shines though! (This pic was taken by the window.) Here's a few more pics:

So now the goal is to leave it alone and let it grow out! I'm still not using sulfates/parabens on my hair, not washing it every day, and taking vitamins that help your hair (B vitamins, Biotin), so hopefully it'll grow out and be HEALTHY and long and strong! No more bleach!! :)

What do you think? Which do you like better?

Current Faves!

2012-02-08T13:51:00.000-08:00

Hi all, second semester is in full swing...my last semester of college!...but I'm going to try to post as much as possible.

For now, here's my current favorites!

Hair, skin, and body care:

Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque. An oldie but a goodie! This masque is a thick, mint green paste that you leave on skin until dry and wash off with warm water. It makes my skin feel super soft and it has sulfur in it to dry up acne. It's about 3 dollars at drug stores, so it's also really affordable.
Clinique #3 Clarifying Lotion. I love this toner! It smells pretty strong but the smell doesn't linger on the skin. It removes any oil/dirt on the skin but doesn't leave it feeling dry, tight, or like there's a film left on it. Plus it has a small amount of salicylic acid to combat pimples and prevent them from forming.
John Frieda Clear Shine Luminous Glaze. I use this three times a week and it makes my hair so soft and shiny; it feels HEALTHY when I use this stuff! It's not heavy either, so it doesn't have the effect a deep conditioner might have where your hair gets oily quickly or just seems weighed down. Just apply after you have used the shampoo & conditioner of your choice and leave on for 3 minutes. Rinse and style as usual. Easy, fast, and it really delivers results.
Victoria's Secret "Give A Little Pink" Body Lotion & Body Mist. I got this for Christmas from my future brother & sister and law, and I have been using it like crazy! It says it's snowy violet and apple blossom scented, but to me it just smells fresh and light and perfect for everyday. I have been into using the coordinating lotion/spray/body wash lately, and I think it makes the fragrance last so much longer.

Cosmetics:

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup. This stuff is great for the winter months. It's the perfect medium coverage, and it leaves a nice, subtle glow that makes skin look fresh and dewy despite the dullness or dryness that occurs due to the cold. I wouldn't wear it for going our at night, but for an everyday foundation, it's great. I'm in shade #40, Nude.

Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Magnifique. It's a deep brown plum that is gorgeous on the lid for a dark eye or in the crease for a smoky look. It looks matte but it has a beautiful purply iridescence that adds dimension to the eyes. It looks like you have spent a while expertly layering shadows when really you only swept one color on!

L'Oreal Carbon Black Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner. THIS IS THE BEST LINER EVER! It's so rich and pigmented, glides on evenly and smoothly, and stays on! In the pictures below, I have compared it to my old favorite eyeliner, Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof...it blows it out of the water in all dimensions, pigmentation, lasting power, and price!! The L'Oreal can be found at drugstores for about $8.

L'Oreal Extra Intense on the left; Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof on the right.

See the difference? Hard to believe the L'Oreal is about $20 cheaper too!

What are your current favorites?

Cosmetics Company Outlet Goodies

2011-12-13T04:03:00.000-08:00

It's better to give to receive, but every once and a while a treat for yourself is called for, especially in the midst of the end of the semester! I purchased a few things for myself at the Cosmetics Company Outlet, or CCO. If you live in the Maryville/Knoxville area, you know that you have to drive all the way to Pigeon Forge to visit the nearest CCO (it's in the Tanger Outlet Mall). A CCO has high-end make-up, skin care, fragrance, and hair care products at discounted prices. They may be last season, from a special edition or in special packaging, being discontinued, etc. The one that I visited had Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Estee Lauder, and MAC, to name a few; I exclusively purchased MAC. Here's what I picked up:

MAC Paint Pot in Dangerous Cuvee, a beautiful silvery lilac color. It was $11.75, as opposed to $17.50 regular price. This paint pot is from the Cham-pale limited edition collection.

MAC Satin Lipstick in Mystic, a deep berry color for winter. It was $10.25 as opposed to $14.50 regular price. I'm not sure what collection it's from. Here's a photo of me modeling it:

MAC Viva Glam VI Special Edition Lipglass, $10.25 compared to $14.50. This lip gloss is the perfect pink color, not to pale and not to bubblegummy---it's great for everyday wear.

"Do-the-trick Buff and Line Brushes"

Ah, my favorite purchase: The Do-The-Trick Buff and Line Brush set from the Magic, Mirth, and Mischief collection! It's a set of 5 short handled brushes: the 168, 209, 252,219, and 187. It was around $35, compared with $49.50 when they came out in 2009. I have been wanted the 168 & 187 foreverrrr, I am so excited to finally own them! As you can see from the bristles, I have already tried them out and LOVE them! Merry Christmas to me <3

What have you purchased for yourself lately?

Christmas Cards!

2011-11-30T09:31:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year: time to make my Shutterfly Christmas cards!

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0ActmrZu5cM2byw&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET

Are you making your own photo Christmas cards this year?

Holy Grail Hair Dyer!

2011-11-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

Hello my lovelies! I'm baaaaack! I've been EXTREMELY busy with school, and my poor blog has been neglected. But now that I'm nearly finished with my senior thesis, and Christmas break is right around the corner, I am excited to be able to post more frequently.
If you've ever read any of my posts talking about hair care, you know that I have thin, brittle, unhealthy hair. In the past few months I have tried a number of things to combat this: using sulfate free shampoos, always using a heat protectant, and taking vitamins that encourage healthy hair. But there's a sneaky culprit I've missed until now: my hair dryer!

Here's my old hair dryer. Looks friendly enough, right? I got this baby at Sally's beauty supply about a year an a half ago. It makes sense that any kind of heat we expose our to isn't going to be the best thing for it, but the type of heat can really, really a difference.

Here's a few pics of how my hair looks after I blow dry it. My method is the easy way, to flip my head upside and blow dry, and brush through at the end. The pictures are after I'm done drying but before brushing.

I would often get awful tangles in my hair during blow drying, like this:

I attributed this frizzy, awful mess that is my hair after blow drying to my hair's poor condition.

I WAS WRONG!

Enter the Hana Air Professional Hair Dryer. It uses a ceramic heater the emits infrared ionic heat and infuses hair with pure tourmaline crystals, a.k.a lots of shine! When I opened the package, I was surprised how beautiful it was! Yes, a hair dryer can be beautiful. It's inspired by Italian design, so it's super sleek, right down to the sturdy box it comes in that magnetically closes.

Blow Dryers

But the best part about this dryer is the way it quickly, evenly dries my hair, and leaves it so silky and shiny. It has 2 fan speeds, 3 different heat settings, a cold shot button, so it's sure to have a setting you like. I prefer high fan speed and high heat, just like I used on my old hair dryer. For both sets of pictures, I used the same shampoo and conditioner (Organix Morroccan Argan Oil) and Tresemme Heat Protectant. The only difference is what hair dryer I used. Again, this is BEFORE brushing through my dried hair.

Look at the difference!! So much less tangled and healthier looking, even before brushing it out right after drying. This picture is after brushing:

It's like I have totally different hair. Who knew that my hair dryer was one of the main contributors to my hair woes? No website I looked while doing my research on how to get my hair healthier even mentioned hair dryers. They obviously haven't tried out the Hana Air hair dryer, it really makes a world of difference.

What it comes with:

-Free Heat Proof Pouch

-Free 2 year warranty on your applicance

-Concentrator that attaches to the end for more precise blow drying

-Free same-day shipping

Pros:

-Beautiful, user friendly design

-Environmentally Safe

-Emits Ionic Heat that conditions hair, plus tourmaline for added shine

-Visibly makes a difference in the appearance of your hair!

Cons:

-The retail price is $314.99, which is steep for a hair product....BUT Misikko.com always has great sales. Right now you can purchase it for less than $195. That may still sound expensive for a blow dryer, but I believe in investing in certain things that are worth it (for example, my Clarisonic...it wasn't cheap, but it has been worth every penny!). Since this dryer has improved the appearance and manageability of my hair, I think that it's definitely a wise investment. In the long run, it may even save you money because you'll end up spending less on hair care products. If you have damaged, brittle, unhealthy hair like me, or you just want a fantastic hair dryer, I highly recommend giving the HANAair Professional dryer a try!

If you're not looking for a hair dryer, check out some other professional-grade hair products Misikko offers:

Flat Irons

Best Hair Straighteners

Thanks so much for reading! In your opinion, how well does your current hair dryer perform? Would you try this hair dryer?

Another Shutterfly Share

2011-09-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

I love making photo books, they are the best gifts ever :) This is a book I made for my fiance's brother's girlfriend for her birthday, it's all about her son Jayden Shane.

Click here to view this photo book larger

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0ActmrZu5cM2btI

OOTD: End of Summer

2011-09-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Here's and outfit I wore to class, a cute floral dress with a large turquoise pendant, cross body bag, and leather boots. I did minimal make-up and wore my hair twisted and secured with bobby pins on either side.

Floral Dress-Target

Turquoise Pendant-Forever 21

Cross-body Bag-Target

Cognac Leather Boots-Steve Madden from Delia's last year

Have a wonderful day!

Make up fun :)

2011-08-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

My gal pals Stasia & Rowan & I love to do our make-up when we're bored and our boyfriends are being lame and playing video games and what not. We have created countless make-up looks....some crazy, some dramatic, some wearable. Here are a few picture from our make-up escapades!

Latina Inspired Chola Look....we used a Kandee Johnson tutorial she did on Chola make-up!

Yes, she applied GLUE to her face and then sprinkles....

And left the forehead rainbow colored! Make-up look of the future ;)

Teal Eyeliner

Stasia made Rowan a pin up girl!

And a mermaid.....

Blue gills and all!

Rocker Chick Eyes

Bare Escentuals "Saucy" eyeshadow with the duo chrome teal/burgundy color from the Wet n' Wild Comfort Zone palette

We have a blast playing around and creating bizarre looks! Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading!

OOTD: Peach & Lace

2011-08-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

Here is an outfit I wore this week for doing errands around town. Enjoy!

Lace top, $9.99 at Ross

Peach Tank Top, $2.50 at Forever 21 (It had ridden up in this picture, I liked it to end where the white lace top ended, not 3 inches above it lol).

Peach Rose Necklace, Forever 21, around $3.00

Bongo Shorts

My make-up: Smokey Eyes

Thanks for reading!

Why Sulfates Are Terrible For Your Hair + Organix Review

2011-08-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

I want to start this post by explaining my hair type. I have dry, damaged, breakage prone hair that is flat and naturally pretty straight, completely straight when I blow dry without even using a straightener. On top of that, I just don't have a lot of it. My hair strand itself is thick, but there's not a lot on my head. It falls out like crazy in the shower, in my brush, and I "shed" on my clothes all the time. Really, it's quite upsetting. I know part of it is due to imbalances in my body from PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome, read more here), but it's a nightmare.

I want to be as kind and gentle to my hair as possible, so I started doing some research about sulfates. They have gotten a bad rap recently, and justly so...they are terrible for your hair. What's more, sulfates are the primary ingredient in many, many shampoos, drug store and salon brands alike. So why exactly are sulfates so bad for your hair? Sulfates like sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl are common ingredients in shampoo because they help form a lather, easily remove grime and dirt, and are cheap. But while doing so, they dehydrate the sebaceous glands, the oil producing glands on your scalp, stripping it of its natural moisture. This can damage the hair follicle and lead to hair loss. If you look at your dish washing liquid, sulfates are the main ingredient because they get that tough grease off of dishes. Do you really want to put something that harsh and stripping on your hair? There are other means of properly cleansing your hair that are much gentler and healthier. Organic and sulfate free products use mild surfactant ingredients that cleanse the scalp without doing damage the sebaceous glands and hair follicles.

Nearly every shampoo, unless directly labeled "Organic" or "Sulfate Free" contains sulfates. Herbal Essenses, Pantene, Dove, Aussie, Suave, and even more expensive brands like John Frieda and Nexxus all contain sulfates, among a plethora more. Since I have been on the hunt for sulfate free products, I discovered the Organix line of shampoos, conditioners, and treatments. All of their products are sulfate free. I purchased the Renewing Morrocan Argan Oil Shampoo, Conditioner, and Penetrating Oil, all around $7.00, at my local Wal-mart.

I have been using this system for the past few weeks, washing my hair every 2-3 days, and I love it! The shampoo doesn't produce much lather, as expected, but does leave hair feeling very clean. I shampoo when I first hop in the shower, then leave the conditioner while I shave, wash my face & body, etc. and rinse at the end of my shower, letting it soak in a while. My hair is so silky after using the conditioner! Then after I have towel dried my hair, I apply a dime sized amount of the penetrating oil all over, even at the roots because my hair is so dry. After blow drying, my hair is oh-so-soft and supple, shiny, and manageable. It doesn't tangle as easily as it used to. And I feel like with this shampoo, I don't need to wash my hair every single day, which is why I have been going 2-3 days in between washes...it just doesn't get oily or gross looking! I suspect that it's because when you use a shampoo containing sulfates, it strips your oil producing glands, so they try to compensate by producing more oil, making hair build up oil faster.

Overall, I adore this shampoo, conditioner, and oil system. I can't comment on the health of my hair or if it has stopped falling out as much yet because the life cycle of a hair follicle is way more than the three weeks I have been using it, but in about 3 months I hope to see a visible improvement.

There are several more formulations of the Organix shampoos and conditioners, including Rejuvenating Cherry Blossom, Brazillian Keratin Therapy, Coconut Milk, Teatree Mint, Cocoa Butter, and many more. They can be found at Wal-mart, Target, most drug stores, other select retailers, and at www.organixhair.com.

How do you feel about sulfates? I got a lot of my information here, Why Sulfates are Bad for Hair, and other internet research. What shampoo and conditioner do you use?

Search Amazon.com for organix

Summer Whites

2011-08-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

White is always a key color of summer. It's simple, classic, and looks great on (spray) tan skin (read my post about tanning & melanoma here!). White is cool and crisp for the blisteringly hot, humid August days we have been having in East Tennessee lately, and perfect for the beach. From airy sundresses to simple white shorts, I am going to share my favorite ways to wear white in the summer. Enjoy!

Eyelet Dresses

(from Delia's)

(also from Delia's)

The eyelet detailing gives the dress an interesting texture and spices up what could otherwise be a little plain. Eyelet dresses also have a certain country charm and I think they look very cute paired with boots and a denim jacket, or belted with a brown or cognac colored belt.

White Shorts

A wardrobe essential. White shorts practically go with everything and look fresh and fabulous.

(from Forever 21)

I love Target's shorts! They are so comfortable.

White shorts look really pretty with a coral top. I wore this to a cook out.

White Lace Tops

(from Delia's)

White lace is so delicate and feminine. I love how versatile it is, easily dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion.

Don't just wear white clothing, accessorize with white too!

White Wayfarer Sunglasses

(Only $4.25 at Amazon.com!)

White Feather Earrings

(Handmade at Artedesigns.com)

Target, $7.99

White Handbags

(available at Bluefly.com)

Coach Madison Leather Large Sophia Satchel (Coach.com)

I went to the Coach Outlet at Tanger recently and bought my own white handbag!

MSRP $328....but got it for around $100 at the outlet!

The green pop of color is sooo pretty.

White Floppy Sunhats

Since I have been careful about sun exposure this summer, in addition to slathering on the SPF when I am poolside I also wear a sunhat to protect my face and hair. The one I'm wearing in this photo was only $12 at Target!

White Watches

I love the white watch trend! You can splurge on a Michael Kors (pictured), but nearly everywhere has much cheaper options!

How do you style white for the summer?

Thank you so much for reading!

Collective Drugstore Hair, Bath & Body, & Make-up Haul!

2011-08-07T02:37:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies, I haven't posted a drug store haul in quite a while, and as a result I have accumulated a sizable collection of drug store purchases that are begging to be blogged about. These items are from the past couple of months and are a smattering of beauty and body products. Enjoy!

My beauty purchases of late:

My hair, skin, and body care purchases:

The details:
Covergirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundating in 340 Maple

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation in 40 Nude

Covergirl Aqua Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer in 810 Light to Medium

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer in Medium

Wet n' Wild Mega Liner Liquid Eye Line in Plum

Wet n' Wild H20 Proof Liquid Eyeliner in Ultra Black

Wet n' Wild Idol Eyes Shadow Stick in Distress (navy) and Techno (duo chrome purple)

Sonia Kashuk Angled Contour Brush (on clearance at Target for $6!)

ELF Studio Powder Brush

Original Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly (I included this in the beauty category because I'm using it as a nightly lash moisturizer. I heard that it makes lashes longer and stronger....we'll see!)

NYC Bronzer in Sunny

Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner

Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Penetrating Oil

Conair Teasing Brush (Couldn't find and exact picture but it looks similar to this)

Two Boxes (it was a special) of Dove Clinical Protection in Revive (Pomegranate and Lemon Verbena)\

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser

L'Oreal Ever Strong Reconstruct Shampoo & Conditioner

Bumble & Bumble Creme De Cocoa Travel Size Shampoo & Conditioner

Bumble and Bumble Travel Size Styling Lotion

Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub

Bikini Zone Anti-Bumps Shave Gel (Featured in my My secret to smooth summer time legs post!)

And lastly, Giovanni Cool Mint Lemonade Salt Scrub

Whew, that was a lot of products! Do you want reviews of any of these? Do you own any of these items and love or hate them?

Thanks so much for reading, have a splendid day! :D

Online Shopping Haul: Back to School Pieces

2011-08-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

I have done some online shopping in preparation for going back to school! I start my senior year at Maryville College on Wednesday, August 24th! I was searching specifically for a few off-the-shoulder tees. My friend Stasia and I tried to make some ourselves but failed pretty miserably, save for an old Led Zeppelin shirt that came out good. So finding some cute off-the-shoulder tees was my focus, as well as some cute items for back to school! Here are a few pieces I picked up from Forever21.com, Delias.com, and Ae.com.

From Forever 21.com:
Wayfarer Sunglasses, $1.50 each in Black and Turquoise

Ikat Contrast Top, $15.80

Striped Geo Burnout Tank, $14.80

From AE.com:

Off-Shoulder Ribbed Back Tee in Black & Runway Purple, only $10.00 each!!

Off-Shoulder Lace Inset T in Dark Pewter, $29.50

From Delias.com:

Deep Dollman Tee, $22.50

Elle Chiffon Dress, $44.50

Box Shape Hi/Lo Hem Blouse in White Multi, $34.50

Taylor Williamsburg Wash Low-Rise Super Skinny Jean, on clearance for $19.99!

Tomorrow begins the tax free weekend, and I am getting up bright and early to go shopping! I going to Target first, then Office Depot to get some school supplies. Who knows after that? I will be sure to post a blog about my new goodies! Are you going shopping this tax free weekend?

As always, thanks so much for reading!

Review: Skin Perfection Gel

2011-08-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

I received a sample of the Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel in Radiant, a medium beige color, with a Sephora.com order a while back. I had seen the product on the Sephora website before but I hadn't heard too much about it. The sample size was quite small, but a little goes a long way so it lasted for 4 complete applications, which I used for 4 consecutive days. It's a mousse like product that glides on skin and makes it look smooth and polished, diminishing pores and imperfections, but the coverage is so light that it doesn't look like you're wearing anything! It's AMAZING. Even better than a tinted moisturizer, in my opinion, since it covers flaws, looks natural, and leaves a silky satin and not greasy finish. On top of that, it's a natural product that doesn't test on animals, is oil free, fragrance free, paraben free, and contains antioxidants and vitamins A and E. It didn't irritate or break me out after 4 days of use, just made my skin look gorgeous!

The full size (1 fluid ounce)

My sample size. The product was in the little clear bubble (sorry about the flash). Yes, it really lasted 4 days! You can see the color range on the right side on this package as well--Translucent, Luminous, Radiant (my color), Rich, and Decadent. Even though this is a sheer product, I like that there are more options than the usual 3 shades of Light-Medium-Dark, as well as a translucent shade that ensures every single person can use this product, regardless of skin tone.

This product almost lives up to its namesake of 'Perfekt' except for one small detail. Are you sitting down for this? The full size, one fluid ounce, costs $57.50. INSANE! I could never pay that much for an ounce of make-up. I know that it would probably last quite a while, and it is a phenomenal product, but that's around 60 dollars for make-up. No thank you.

However, there may be a loop hole. Sephora offers a To Go size that is 0.25 ounces for the much more manageable price of $17.50. Still, very high for 1/4 of an ounce, but if it lasts as long as my sample indicates, it might be worth it. And forking out around 20 dollars is so much easier than 60. I believe I will add the To Go size to my Sephora.com Shopping List, and I will report back on whether it's truly worth the money based on how long it lasts after I purchase it.

The 0.25 To Go size ($17.50)

Thank you so much for reading! Have you tried the Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel? What did you think about it?

Pool Party Cupcakes!

2011-08-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

I made these cute Pool Party (or Beach themed) cupcakes recently! Aren't they cute? And really simple too. You'll need:

-Cake Mix

-White Icing

-Teddy Grahams

-Gummy Life Savers

-Sweet Stripes Mints

-Cocktail Umbrellas

NOT PICTURED:

-Blue food coloring

-Fruit Roll Ups

-Powdered Sugar

Prepare and bake cupcakes according to the directions. Place icing in a bowl. Add powdered sugar to stiffen icing so it holds it shape better (optional) and blue food coloring until the desired color is reached. I added about 8 drops.

Ice cupcakes. I used a round tip for this, but you can use any tip you like or simply spread it on with a knife.

Now, get your teddy grahams ready by putting a gummy life saver around their stomach. It works better on the ones that have their arms up.

Now stick onto your cupcake. Add a cocktail umbrella and a sweet mint as a beach ball. They end up looking like this:

You can also make a float out of fruit roll ups (I used strawberry). Just cut out a small rectangle and make a little pillow at the top by turning about 1/4 inch of it down to mimic a real pool float. Put a little icing on the teddy graham's back so he'll stick. I found that the ones with their arms down worked best for this.

If you're wanting a beach theme instead of pool, crush up some teddy grahams in a sandwich bag and sprinkle onto half the cupcake as the sandy shore line.

Thanks so much for reading, have a wonderful day!

About to finish:

MAC Haul!

2011-07-13T20:41:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been less of a Sephora junkie and more of a MAC addict...and I'm okay with that! Here are my most recent purchases.

Mineralized Eye Shadow in Clarity from the Semi-precious collection, $20.00

I had never seen an eyeshadow like this before! It's described on maccosmetics.com as light pink, off white green, gold, and black. Isn't that the most interesting mix of colors? This is the swatch from the website:

It was hard to get a focused swatch because the eye shadow is so prismatic!

On the lid

Smoked out in the outer V for a simple smoky eye

I love this color! It's a gray with green undertones and lots of glitter (so if you aren't a glitter fan, stay away from this one!). I wore it to a baby shower because it was the day after I got it and I was so excited to to wear it, but it's probably better suited for a night out. Loooove it!

Paint Pot in Rubenesque, $16.50

I love my Painterly Paint Pot so I decided to give this one a try. It's a golden peach with a golden frosty sheen.

Plushglass in Ample Pink, $18.50

This is my first plushglass and I love it! It makes my lips look so soft and bigger than they naturally are. The color is such a full, soft rose that is perfect for everyday wear.

Thanks so much for reading! Any MAC products that you recommend?

Now reading:

Review: Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Shower Cream

2011-07-10T22:02:00.000-07:00

Let me start off by saying that I love Bath & Body Works. They have so many wonderful scents and I have been a big fan of their body washes for as long as I can remember. They recently came out with these new Triple Moisture Shower Cream body washes that come in an 8 ounce tube and claim to be a new formula, enticing you to try it by saying "Feel it to believe it." Well, I tried it, I felt it, and I am not that impressed. The particular scent I bought was Midnight Pomegranate, a smell I love. The scent lasts for hours on the skin, especially when paired with the coordinating lotion. But the body wash was a very thick white cream that was hard to lather and made my skin feel just as good as their regular formulas.

My biggest issue with this product is the packaging. The tube is hard to squeeze for me, especially when you get down to the bottom. I know there is still product left in my tube but there is no way for me to squeeze it out since it's so thick, which is a waste. And the second or third time I used it, the print on the outside of the tube began flaking off, so there are tiny metallic flakes all over my tub and often on me when I get out of the shower. If I am paying $12 for 8 ounces of body wash, I expect for the labeling to at least hold up! So that was very messy and annoying. Now my next complaint might be downright nit picky, but it really bothers me: the cap lets water get in and the next time you pick it up to use it, a splash of cold water from the last shower gets all over you. I hate that! It's so unpleasant, and it holds quite a bit of water in there.

Feel it to believe it! Bah...

Look how much of my label has flaked away!

Tiny metallic flakes from the label. These get absolutely everywhere! In my shower, on my puff, and all over me!

Look closely at where the cap meets the bottle....see that slight opening? That's what allows water to collect in it and the next time you use it, a splash of cold water comes out and is very unpleasant.

Pros:

Scent lingers on the skin for hours

Cons:

Tube is difficult to squeeze & get all of the product out, which wastes the last bit
Labeling flakes off and makes an ungodly mess
Water stores in the cap for an unpleasant surprise next time you pick it up for use

Overall, I would skip this formulation and purchase the signature shower gel. It retails for $10.50 in store for a 10 ounce bottle....cheaper and more product, that to me has the same skin benefits in a much friendlier packaging.

Have you tried out the new formula of Bath and Body works shower cream or lotions? What did you think?

Summer Reads

2011-07-09T17:09:00.000-07:00

As a jobless college student, summer means a blissful break from the strenuous school year....which can often times translate to sheer and utter boredom. Now that I am not continually busy with something, I don't know what to do with myself! Thus I have fallen back in love with reading....not the dull, dense assigned reading that I'm used to for class, but reading for my own pleasure. Here are some books I have recently read, have purchased recently to read, or are planning to purchase or check-out from the library.

Have Read:
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne
This novel is for young adults, but I wanted to read it anyways. As with all novels about the Holocaust, it is sad but interesting. I also watched the movie that was adapted from the book.

The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
I was inspired to read these Holocaust books because of my Western Civ 390 summer course, and this one especially because I had read when I was younger but didn't quite grasp how touching and extraordinary it. Highly recommended.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
This book is what I'm currently reading, and I am completely absorbed in it! A great thriller and mystery. I can't wait to see the movie that is coming out soon.

Heaven is For Real, Todd Burpo
I am not usually one to read religious books, but I got this for my mom for Mother's Day and she insisted I read it. I read this over Memorial Day Weekend.

Purchased today:
The Girl Who Played with Fire, Stieg Larsson
I ran out and bought this today! It's the follow-up to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Little Bee, Chris Cleave
Honestly, I bought this because it has a cool cover haha.

Water For Elephants, Sara Gruen

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, David Wroblewski

Devil in the White City, Erik Larson

Plan on purchasing or checking out from the library:
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Steig Larson

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

The Hunger Games Trilogy, Susanne Collins

The Room, Emma Donahue

Something Borrowed & Something Blue, Emily Giffin

Catch 22, Joseph Heller (had to throw in a classic)

What are your recommendations for summer reads?

New hair!

2011-07-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

Well here it is! My highlights. Candy Bright at Tangerines Salon and Spa in Maryville is my stylist. I have been going to her off and on for at least 5 years, and she always does great. I am happy with how it turned out, but next time I want more blonde in it. She wanted to take it slow & not do anything drastic since I freak out about things like that (she's known me forever). Here are some pictures:

Thanks for reading! :-)

I'm down with Jaclyn Smith!

2011-07-07T21:36:00.000-07:00

The fastest way to drastically change the way your bedroom looks, in my opinion, is to get a new comforter! I was long overdue a new one even though I pretty recently received a "bed in a bag" set (got it for Christmas from Mom and Dad). It was so cheap literally falling apart. The white fluffy innards of the comforter was coming out in places. Also, it was the opposite of comfortable, as the name 'comforter' implies. It was so cheap and felt rough. I liked the way it looked (check it out here), just not the way it felt. So, I am happy to say that I picked up a new comforter at K-mart today! It was more expensive than the last set, $79.99 for a queen set that included the comforter, two pillow shams, and a bed skirt.

Still in the bag! I never thought I'd be a fan of Jaclyn Smith Today, but I love the hounds tooth print. Plus it's my favorite colors for decorating a bedroom (or any room really), good old black and white!

Cute matching accent pillow ($14.99)

The second I took it out of the bag I could tell that this comforter would actually be comfortable! And I couldn't resist buying the adorable matching pillow. They had another black pillow meant to go with it, but I had a similar one so I didn't purchase it. The matching sheets, which were basically white with a thin pink stripe on the edge were around $50, so I opted out of those too and used a plain white set we already had at the house.

I love it!!

I can't wait to cuddle in :)

Thanks so much for reading! Do you like my new comforter? What are your favorite colors for decorating a bedroom?

HELP, I'm getting my hair done on Friday!

2011-07-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

I am getting my hair cut and highlighted this Friday!! I am quite excited as my last few cuts have been at Great Clips just for maintenance. I have done pretty well at growing my hair out to a decent length, so I just want a trim and my long side swept bangs to have a little more shape. The color is what I'm nervous/excited about! I have had highlights in the past and liked them a lot, they looked like this:

My hair is about 3-4 inches longer now that in this picture. I found some pictures on Google Images that I might take to the salon. I want golden, summery highlights, maybe a little more dramatic than what I had before.

What are your thoughts on this hair color?

My secret for smooth summertime legs!

2011-07-02T00:21:00.000-07:00

I hate shaving my legs A LOT. Let's face it, it sucks, and for me personally I struggle with razor bumps and irritation that can be really ugly and downright painful (I have very sensitive skin). However, I think I have finally found the perfect combination of products that reduce the red, irritated bumps! I wish I had discovered this routine years ago, so I just had to share it with you!
Step 1: EXFOLIATE!
This is really important. I have tried the routine without exfoliating first and it doesn't work as well.
I have been loving this Tree Hut Shea Sugar body scrub, you can find it for about $5 at Wal-mart and it smells awesome!

Step 2: Apply a thin layer of Bikini Zone Anti-Bumps Shave Gel
I know this is formulated for the bikini area, which it's great for, but it works wonders on the legs! The best shave gel I have ever used. Also found at Wal-mart for $6-$7.

Step 3: Shave! I don't really think what razor you use matters. I really like Bic Soleil disposable razors.

Step 4: Apply a pea-sized drop of baby oil gel to your legs before you get out of the shower, right after shaving.

Step 5: Towel dry legs and apply an unscented lotion. I love the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion for this. Anything with dyes or fragrance will irritate and burn my freshly-saved skin.

And that's it! My legs don't get ugly red bumps anymore! This may seem like a lot of steps---and it is---but the extra effort is totally worth it. Now I don't have to deal with razor burn or worry about how unsightly those bumps will look in shorts :)
Thanks so much for reading! Do you have any holy-grail shaving products?

Review: Hope in Jar Moisturizer by Philosophy

2011-06-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

As a make-up/skincare junkie, I have heard so much about the Hope in a Jar Moisturizer from YouTube make-up gurus and blogs. Mostly they are rave reviews, and if it didn't cost so much I would have tried it out much earlier. Luckily I received a generous sample size (0.4 ounces, said to be a $12 value) with a recent Sephora purchase and have been putting it to the test. It claims to be suitable for all skin types, 99.99% oil free, and to smooth the complexion by reducing the appearance of wrinkles and discoloration. It also claims it will exfoliate the skin and contains antioxidants.

(This what my cute 0.4 ounce sample tube looks like).

Pros:

Lightweight
Hydrates the skin
Makes skin look smoother
Sulfate/GMOs/Triclosan free

Cons:

Smells AWFUL, like plastic (and the smell lingers forever)
Stings eyes (not getting in them, just getting CLOSE them!)
Price: $38 for 2 ounces at Sephora; may be cheaper other places

The bottom line for me is that while it does indeed hydrate my skin, it smells so bad and is way too expensive. I'll stick to my old faithful Clinique Dramatically Different gel.

Thanks so much for reading! Any thoughts on this moisturizer?

As always, found it cheaper on Amazon.com!