Trial and Error

Imaginary Creatures

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:43:26 PDT

Sidewalk Crack Creatures, by Blueskysunburn.

So after more than a year my urge to do something artsy has finally bitten me. I didn't want to commit to anything too time constraining due to my work schedule so I signed up for an at your own pace online class, Imaginary Creatures with Carla Sonheim.

I like the idea of making imaginary creatures rather than being too hard on myself for not getting realistic enough.

The practice assignment consisted of finding images inside a picture of sidewalk cracks. I couldn't decide between the three I found so I did all of them.

I had forgotten how much I loved coloring with colored pencil.

Changes Ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:43:40 PDT

Some of you may have noticed a huge amount of backdated postings showing up in your feed this weekend. I'm trying to restructure my blogs a bit and in doing so I'm importing my three separate blogs into my one primary one.

I'm doing this for two reasons 1) I don't have time to really keep up with one blog let alone three and 2) It seems silly to have three separate blogs when they are all just different reflections of me anyway.

You'll now find postings for my general life posts, art posts, beauty posts and wannabe fitness postings all right here in one place. I've also decided that with the ease of use on instagram that it would be an easy way to keep postings updated through some of those pictures as well.

I'll be working out the kinks in the following months and probably still won't be posting anywhere near as much as I used to but hopefully I can streamline the process a bit and feel a little more levelheaded. Holy cow, can you say one huge run on sentence?

Anyway, I hope those that were followers of my other blog make it over with the move and those that are current followers of this blog stick with me and the transition.

Necessary Evil

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sat, 26 May 2012 20:49:26 PDT

Necessary Evil, a photo by Blueskysunburn on Flickr.

The waiting is the hardest part.

Trying out the Montagne Jeunesse Clean Up Mudd.

Influenster Love VoxBox First Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I was fortunate enough to be selected to receive complementary products from Influenster once again. This box had some definite hit and misses for me.

There are a couple beauty related items that I will post a full review at a later time. In the meantime, here is a breakdown of what I received and a quick review of the things I have already tried.

Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Chocolate invites you to "Experience a moment of timeless pleasure with all natural Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk™ chocolate." I had already tried this chocolate prior to receiving it in this sampler box and I wasn't disappointed to receive it. The chocolate is smooth and creamy and definitely lives up to the Ghirardelli standard you'd expect.

Gillette Venus and Olay Razor is the newest razor product by Gillette. I've been a fan of the Venus razor since the day it came out and I'm a huge fan of Olay. I was excited to try this product.

This razor is suppose to lock in moisture while you're shaving with the Olay moisturizers. I'll test this out further and let you know how it fairs.

I was a little disappointed to open up my sampler box and see Truvia inside. I am not a fan of natural sweeteners because they always taste chemically and end up causing health problems in some form or another.

Truvia is calorie free, made with natural ingredients and is supposed to bake and brown like traditional sugar. I did give this one the benefit of the doubt and tried it in a couple of glasses of tea.

I found that while it does sweeten well and does not taste as chemically as Sweet N Low, the fact that it's made with natural ingredient-s such as erythritol bothers me. Excessive consumption of erythritol is known to result in digestive upset, diarrhea, gas and bloating.

That being said this product is suppose to be a good alternative for those with diabetes. I, however, will be sticking with pure sugar.

Stash Herbal Tea is another product I was kind of disappointed in receiving simply because I rarely drink hot tea. I've had this brand before and liked it but I tried a couple more cups from this sampler for good measure.

I really like that they sent the sampler with caffeine free teas. I try not to drink caffeine, especially at night. The tea is good, like I remembered from past experience, with my favorite flavor bring the cinnamon apple chamomile.

I didn't dawn on my until yesterday afternoon, that I could probably drink this tea cold. It doesn't say anything about it on the box or website. Do you happen to know if you can drink any teas hot or cold?

Kiss Nail Dress was another product I was kind of disappointed in simply because of the design I got. I'm 31 and I work in an office, how am I suppose to try out hot pink zebra stripes for a week?

Thankfully I had this past week off work and was able to try them out. I'll have a full review on these later.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried any of these products? Did you like them?

Review: Montagne Jeunesse Chocolate Masque

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I've been trying my best to use facial masques once a week as it's supposed to help reduce the appearance of pores and help to promote an even skin tone. This week I used the Chocolate Masque from Montagne Jeunesse.

I've already reviewed the product in detail with the Fruit Smoothie Masque so I'm not going to go into too much depth here. Similar to the Fruit Smoothie Masque, the Chocolate Masque is another deep cleansing mud masque.

Upon opening the package I was instantly hit with a very strong scent of brownie mix. I worried the scent would be too over powering once I got it on my face but to my surprise it wasn't.

The product went on smooth and thick just like you were painting mud on your face. It was supposed to be left on until it dried but if I use this one again I don't think I will leave it on until it's completely dry.

As you can see from the picture above, by the time the thicker parts were dry the thinner parts were an itchy cracked mess. I was very uncomfortable by the time I went to wash it off and it wasn't just because I couldn't move my face.

I did remember to take before and after pictures unlike the last time I posted about a face masque. As you can see in my before picture below, my pores are enlarged and it have redness and irritation by the side of my nose.

Afterward my skin felt smoother but a bit stripped. I had to put facial lotion on once I removed the masque to get rid of the tight feeling. My pores don't show any difference but you can see a reduction in the redness around my nose.

In hindsight, I don't know that I will purchase this particular masque again. While it did reduce redness and make my skin feel smoother, I don't feel the irritation of the masque drying was worth the results received.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried this product? Did you like it?

CCO (Cosmetics Company Outlet) Beauty Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I had a day off this past Monday and after getting my taxes done I decided to take a trip to my local outlet mall. Unfortunately, my hour drive turned into a two hour drive when I took a wrong exit but I eventually made it.

I love going to the CCO (Cosmetics Company Outlet) every few months or so because you can get crazy deals on cosmetics and you can also find limited edition or discontinued products that are no longer sold.

I've very pleased with my purchases and I'm eager to try them out.

MAC Dazzleglass Creme in Gone Romancin' - This is part of the Tartan Tale collection. I'm not 100% certain how I'm going to like this gloss. Normally, you can use testers to check out all the colors but sometimes they only have individual items in their shipments. Those you can only look at and can't try.

This was one of those. It's a very pretty lilac/pink with lots of sparkle and hopefully it will go well with my complexion.

MAC See Thru Lip Color in A Secret Crush - This color was part of the A Rose Romance Collection. It is another product they only had one of and I couldn't test. I've never seen this before and upon looking it up on the internet I see it's a little old. Upon opening it up it doesn't smell bad and the consistency has not broken down so I'm not that worried about it.

The rep told me it's just a sheer wash of color but it doesn't wear off in chunks like stains do. Hopefully I will have some luck with it.

MAC Glitter Eyeliner in Enbronze - This is another discontinued product. It's a deep brown liner with multicolor glitter. It's subtle enough to get away with wearing it as an adult without looking like you're trying to relive your teenage years.

MAC Viva Glam Lipglass in Cyndi - I was so psyched when I saw this! This is my absolute favorite lip color ever. When I originally found it I lucked out and bought the very last one they had at my local MAC counter. I haven't been able to find it since.

I bought three boxes (two as back ups for myself and one as a future giveaway here). In my opinion this is the perfect coral lip shade ever! I love that it goes on sheer or opaque depending on how much you apply.

MAC Eye Shadow in Knight and Swell Baby - I bought both of these as I don't have any gray shadows that aren't super shimmery. I have such a hard time finding grays for my complexion as well.

Knight is part of the Brunette, Blonde, Redhead Collection from a while back. I think I was kind of spot on in selecting it since it was part of the Blonde set. Swell Baby is part of the Surf Baby collection that was just released a while back. You can still buy this at some of the MAC counters by me but why buy it full price when I can get it here?

Smashbox Masters Class - I'm such a sucker for palettes. They had a few Smashbox palettes but this one was the only one for fair skin that wasn't all pinks. I mean, do they really think blondes wear nothing but pink?

I'm really pleased with this as I got a ton of items inside - everything from shadow to liners to glosses. There are detailed shots below.

I really like that it came with a little booklet to give you ideas on how to combine a lot of the products. I always think it's cool when the companies throw a booklet in. Sometimes all the colors at once can be so overwhelming when you don't have a place to start from.

What are your thoughts? Have you been to CCO? Did you score any cool items?

Checking In

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sat, 26 May 2012 20:48:47 PDT

Just checking in on here. I haven't forgotten about this blog. Things are so hectic right now I simply don't have time for it. Well, I could if I really wanted to (just to be honest) but with so little time from work with school and trying to work out I simply spend what little free time I have doing other things, namely trying to spend time with my husband.

I'm burned out and feeling very depressed right now. In addition to the hours there are other things that are really bothering me and I am very unhappy. I resist the urge to cry when I wake up and realize I have to go into work and there have been numerous occasions I've been crying on my way home lately.

I'm still trying to eat right and work out. I bought a bodybugg and I've been doing well with my tracking. I'll get back to this once things get better.

Review: EOS Lip Balm

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I've been hearing people rave about the E.O.S. (Evolution of Smooth) Lip Balms for quite some time now. During our weekly grocery run I happened to see some for sale in the impulse buy section by the checkout line. I figured I'd see what it was I was missing and threw one in the cart.

The flavor I ended up with is the bright pink one, Summer Fruit and as the name implies it smells a bit tropical (think mangoes and honeydew melon combined).

The packaging is a cute, original design. It's something that's so different you could easily find it in the bottom of your purse without looking.

Upon researching the product I saw that they do not test on animals. It's also 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. All of which are big pluses.

Unfortunately, that's about where I stop liking the product. The application is a little...awkward. The rounded top is too big for my lips and I always manage to get it outside of my lip line. Also, since it's already too big I'm afraid what it will be like once the rounded top starts to flatten.

Unlike the balms I usually use, this one feels waxy and my lips feel almost more chapped than before I used it. The more I use it the worse it gets. I regret purchasing this product and do not see what all the hype has been about.

EOS lip balm is available in six flavors for about $2.99 at most locations including WalMart, Target, CVS and Walgreens.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried this product? Did you like it?

Nail of the Day: Found! Essie Ballet Slippers Dupe

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I absolutely love the color of Essie's Ballet Slippers. It's the perfect delicate pink and putting it on says instant class.

What's I don't like about it is the formula. No matter how hard I try with Essie polishes I always get these weird dents in the back of the polish where the brush lifts color. Also, unless you do about four/five coats of this particular polish it's very streaky.

Question - Can you tell which polish is Essie Ballet Slippers and which is the dupe?

I immediately did a double take when I saw OPI's Femme De Cirque SoftShades display in my local Beauty Brands. I recognized the color the second I set my eyes on Step Right Up.

Those that read my blog know my love for OPI polishes and my disdain for Essie (if only they didn't make such pretty colors!). I jumped at the chance of having an OPI dupe for Ballet Slippers. I compared the OPI bottle side by side with a bottle of Ballet Slippers and since it looked near identical I went ahead and purchased it.

There is an immediate difference in formula. The OPI polish is a lot thicker than the Essie as is normally the case. The second obvious difference is the brush. I can't stand Essie's teeny tiny little brushes and much prefer OPI's larger thicker brush. I also don't have the problem I mentioned earlier with the polish lifting when I used the OPI.

Unfortunately, due to the color of the polish, the OPI takes just as many coats as Essie to avoid streaks.

Upon first glance you can't see a difference between the two colors. They look almost identical. Sitting here inspecting the colors to decide if it's a dupe you can see only the tiniest difference in the shade. The Essie polish looks just a hair whiter than the OPI.

My opinion - this is a dupe and I am thrilled! If you have to sit there and inspect the polish to find a difference color then you're obviously not going to find much of one if any. The only thing I'm kind of bummed about is that I believe this is a limited edition color from OPI.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried these colors? Would you switch from Essie to OPI?

Nail of the Day: Zoya Minka

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

Ever since I had tried Zoya's Pandora from their Touch collection I've been interested in the rest of the colors in it.

I hadn't really seen them anywhere (the again, I wasn't really looking) but I happened to walk right past them at Ulta one day and snagged this one in Minka. It's a light beige color with a slight metallic finish and the lightest polish in the Touch collection.

Unlike Pandora, Minka goes on completely opaque with two light coats. I did notice that if you don't wait until the layers are completely dry the color does lift a bit when you apply the next coat.

Other than that I have no complaints! It's an office appropriate neutral that's really good for just about any occasion.

You can purchase Zoya nail polish for $8 on their website and at Ulta (in select shades). The Touch Collection comes in three colors and Zoya's full line of nail polish comes in over 300 shades.

February Makeup Monthly Box First Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

Immediately upon opening this month's Makeup Monthly box I was disappointed. I know I'm only promised two items at a minimum but opening the box up after spending $30 and only receiving that amount leaves you wanting more.

After my initial disappointment with the amount of items I became even more disappointing upon looking at them further.

Like always I'm not reviewing the items (and in this instance I won't be using either) so I'm just posting my initial impressions.

M·A·C Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation (Loose) - This product alone made up for this month's subscription cost. It's full size and it retails for $30. I was actually pretty eager to try it given my limited experience with mineral foundations. Unfortunately, any hopes I had of using the product were squashed when I looked at the color on the bottom of the container.

I received Medium Deep. Really? I can't find foundations light enough for me and I receive a Medium Deep? I'm not quite sure what the point of taking the profile about your coloring is for if they aren't going to use it.

Smashbox Brow Tech Quad - This product I can't fault the company for since they did send me proper coloring in the Brunette, Taupe and Blonde. Too bad for me though, I can't/won't use it. The wax I could probably use since it's clear but I won't. The three powders don't match my coloring. The taupe and blonde are too gold for me to use and the brunette too dark.

This month marks the end of my three month trial period I give most subscription services. As I had mentioned in my first post about this subscription I was very leery about spending $30 each month.

The idea behind this service is great. I really like that I get name brand and full size products in each box. However, in my second box, I started noticing a trend of receiving older products.

Also, out of all the products I've received, I only use one routinely. That combined with the issues in this box I decided not to continue on with the service. I feel I could take my $30 a month and spend it on products I know I will use instead of taking a gamble.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried this company? Did you like it?

Nail of the Day: OPI DS Classic and OPI Warm and Fozzie

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

Today's color inspiration was thanks to Beauty by Miss L. I came across one of her posts where she used these colors together in her nail art.

Now, I've tried my hand at nail art (and failed miserably) but I could definitely pull off the combo!

DS Classic is par to of the OPI Designer Series and is a warm gold holographic while Warm & Fozzie mix of bronze, gold and pink foil particles in a dusky translucent base. I think the two combined offset each other wonderfully.

Both polishes went opaque in three coats. While DS goes smooth with a top coat Fozzie takes a couple of coats as it eats top coat a little.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried these colors? Did you like them?

Nail of the Day: China Glaze Fireside Glow

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

When I saw this polish I instantly decided I had to have it. Since going to accent nail only and deciding against full 10 digit glitter I've been taking more of an interest in neutral glitter polishes.

Fireside Glow is part of China Glaze's (Ulta Exclusive) 2011 Holiday Collection. It's the only one that really caught my eye out of the collection. It's a mix of orange and halographic glitter inside a clear base.

It's kind of hard to tell if it's suppose to be a brown or burnt orange tone but it's gorgeous nonetheless. It took three thin coats to get the polish opaque. The polish dries matte and a bit rough to the touch.

I stopped applying top coats after two coats since it seemed to just keep eating it. Even then it was rough to the touch.

I was pleased it lasted a couple of days before it started chipping, especially since I hadn't used a base coat. I think it will also make an awesome toenail color.

On a side note, I've decided I am going to go back to doing only two or three posts (if that) per week. For one, I think I burnt myself out a little bit in January when I was posting everyday. For another, I simply don't have the time to produce five quality posts per week.

Right now, with work and going to the gym I leave at 7/7:30, work all day with no breaks or lunches, try like crazy to leave by 6:15 so I can make it to the gym. That has me getting home between 8:30/9 to eat a little something for dinner, spend time with my husband and be in bed by 10/10:30. I'm tired, cranky, just started another class for school and on top of it all apparently working on the weekend is now the new routine for the office.

You might have noticed I haven't been on Twitter much either and that's why. I'm frustrated and things are going to change but wanted to let you guys know what's going on with me behind the scenes. So enough of my drama...

What are your thoughts? Have you tried this color? Did you like it?

Face of the Day: Using Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I went back and forth buying this Pomagranate shade from the Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo line. I worried I wouldn't wear it much or that I just plain wouldn't like it.

Turns out it's my favorite color out of all the ones I own! Be sure to check out tomorrow's post for my full review on these products.

Products Used:

Eyes: Maybelline 24 Hour color tattoo in pomagranate, Wet N Wild Brulee, Wet N Wild Knock On Wood Trio using cranberry and brown colors, NYX Black, Prestidge My Biggest Lashes Mascara in Black
Face: MAC Gingerly
Lips: NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Smokey Look

What are your thoughts? Have you brought a product you were worried about only to love it? What was it?

Review: Estee Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Dune Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I was so psyched when I received Estee Lauder's Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Dune Rose inside my December Makeup Monthly Box. It's the perfect color of pink and I knew immediately I was going to love it.

The lipstick is a satin finish and is super moisturizing. The shade I received is just two shades darker than my natural lips making for an excellent nude. The lipstick has a sickeningly sweet scent that I'm not too fond of but it does not settle into the cracks or bleed.

I had such high hopes for the lipstick but I was very disappointed once I went to wear it. Just an hour had passed and it was gone. I thought maybe I did something unknowingly and it came off so I reapplied and paid more attention again. Within an hour it was gone. All day long I was having to reapply.

I think the lipstick I received is in old packaging because now all the lipsticks are in a gold case. Hydra Lustre Lipstick runs about $22.50 at Estee Lauder or at your local makeup counter.

I'm a little confused as to my experience with this lipstick. Everyplace I look at for reviews people are giving it a five star rating and just raving about it. There are people stating how long the product lasts.

Maybe I got part of a bad batch or maybe my chemical makeup just doesn't work well with this. Either way, it's a dud for me. That's too bad.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried this product? Did you like it?

My Glam January Bag First Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I heard about My Glam after it was already too late to sign up for the December bags. After all the hubbub I'm glad I didn't start until January. It seems like they are still working kinks out as this month there was a problem with shipping and some people received two kits and others receive their kits two weeks later.

I'm still willing to give them a shot for a few more months because I really like the contents of my bag!

If you aren't aware of what My Glam is it's a monthly beauty sampling service where subscribers get a makeup bag and deluxe samples or full size beauty products to try out. This month I received three full size products and a deluxe size sample along with my makeup bag so I'm thoroughly pleased with the monthly price of $10 a month.

Aside from the Wen, I haven't used any of the products I received so I'm eager to try them all out.

My Glam Makeup Bag - The makeup bag isn't really anything to write home about. It's just a white canvas makeup bag with the My Glam logo and a leaf pattern across the bottom. It's a decent quality so I'm sure I'll find a use for it.

Cleansing Conditioner by Wen - I already use this product and I can honestly say this stuff is awesome! My main concern with the sample size is that this isn't enough product for people with long hair. I have to use almost the amount of the sample tube when I wash my hair and mine is above my shoulders.

I have a full review saved in drafts that I need to get to but I will throw this out there in the mean time...You have to use it more than a few times to see decent results!

The first two days my hair looks dull and lifeless. It's the third day you start seeing improvement. I start and stop using this product (which is why I haven't finished my review) and it's the same thing that happens every time I start up again.

Sheer Cover Duo Concealer - I've seen Leeza Gibbons advertising this product on infomercials many a sleepless night. I've wondered if it works as well as she claims.

It says the concealer comes in two colors so you can make the color your exact shade. This may be a tricky thing for me to do since the lightest shade is quite a bit darker than I am but I'll at least test it out and see how well it covers.

The Balm Shady Lady in Luscious Lani - I was so psyched to get this shadow! I have been seeing people talk about The Balm all over the internet but have never seen it in person. This shade is perfect for an on the go/minimal makeup look. I am interested in seeing how it performs.

Freeman Peel-Off Cucumber Mask - Can I just start off by saying I love peel off masks? It's completely sick but there is something so satisfying in peeling that layer off your skin and knowing impurities are coming away with it.

It smells really good too. I will probably try this out sometime this week.

What are your thoughts? Are you a My Glam subscriber? Do you like it?

At Least I Got to the Gym

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 08:14:06 PDT

So today was just as crummy food wise. After eating my fourth cookie I decided I am going to start bringing my lunch to work and just ordering a salad. I think that's the worst part of staying in for lunch at the office. They order us great food but aside from not getting a mental break everything that gets ordered from restaurants isn't near as healthy as what you can bring from home. You just know it's cooked in butter and grease even when you're ordering from their healthy menu.

Today was just as bad food wise as the rest of the week was. I think it has a lot to do with not being happy and constantly stressed at work. Those things combined equals a bad, bad combination for me.

Chick Fila Breakfast Sandwich
Quarter of a grapefruit
Tortilla Soup
House salad with ranch
Chips and queso, two bites of guacamole
Half corn tortilla
Four chocolate chip cookies
Two pieces of pepperoni pizza

Water about 64 oz.
Multi Vitamin
No Caffeine

One good thing that came out of today was that I forced myself to go to the gym and took my first Flirty Girl class. It was so much fun!! It's basically stripperobics without the pole. There are a lot of hips gyrating and up in the air. I'm actually a lot better at this class than I am with Zumba. I am so awkward in Zumba class even when I know the steps.

While I was there I got my print out for the times I visited last month and I was happy to see that I went enough times in order to qualify for my company's wellness plan. My membership is only a little over $20 but still it's a nice perk.

I plan to go back to the gym tomorrow for Zumba. Fingers crossed we get off of work in time!

On A Roll

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 08:14:06 PDT

Today was still a bad day. I was suppose to go out and meet some people for beer and trivia after work but by the time I left I was grumpy and I had a headache.

Whatburger Taquito
Apple
Peanut Butter
Bite of Tortilla Soup
Part of Sirloin steak
House salad with ranch
Cheese Cake with Strawberry syrup.
A rolo and a tootsie roll
Cutie
Crab Rangoon
Philidelphia rolls

multivitamin
no caffeine

I should have gone to the gym tonight since I didn't go out but I chose not to. I do plan on going tomorrow if we can get off of work on time though. I want to go to my first flirty girl class. I hear it's really fun!

Two Steps Forward...

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 08:14:06 PDT

It's been a long day and I don't really feel like posting. I was suppose to go into work early but didn't get my text and was the only one there that came in the time I normally do, I ate like crap and got out of work too late to go to my class.

Seriously, I'm getting tired of it too. My office has an incentive program where they pay for you to go if you go ten times a month. The kicker? You can't make any of the classes because you work too late (I'm not really a treadmill kind of girl).

We work all day without breaks, no lunches, we're constantly drowning, we work until we're done and now we're suppose to be coming into work early too. I enjoy my job and I'm thankful that I have one but for crying out loud hire more staff!!!

Can you tell I'm frustrated? I stayed away from caffeine like my mini goal but as I mentioned above I ate like crap. Here's my log in all it's glory.

Breakfast quesadilla
multivitamin
Cutie
Granola bar
French dip sandwich
1 ½ croissants
¼ cup roasted tomato and vegetable soup
Crackerful
Pear
2 rolos, 1 hershey mini, 1 mini peanut butter cup
Side Salad with vinaigrette
Three crispy tacos with sour cream
Bean Burrito

I've been feeling like a bottomless pit lately. I eat and eat but constantly feel hungry. I am pretty certain it's emotional or stress eating but it's still pretty hard for me to control it when it's out of control. Between this last week and my week so far I'm almost certain I gained back what I've already lost.

Nail of the Day: Sally Hansen Naked Ambition

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

Today's nail of the day is Naked Ambition from the Complete Salon Manicure line by Sally Hansen. Like most nail polishes I bought this on a whim.

I've never really been one to research polishes first. I see a color I like, I buy it. This polish, however, I'm kind of regretting doing that.

The color itself is very pretty. It's a peachy pink nude with a slight shimmer to it and it goes great with my fair skin tone.

They have this stiff oval shaped brush which I really like as well. I've seen quite a few people stating they have trouble with it but it worked nicely for me. The bristles don't splay like most polish brushes do and I had an easier time controlling it.

I also like that the bottle is a little bigger and heavier than most. Being the clutz that I am, it's nice to have one that is comfortable to hang on to. I can't tell you how many bottles I've almost knocked over.

Unfortunately, that's about where I stop liking this product. The Complete Salon Manicure line is suppose to be all inclusive with the polish being your Base Coat, Strengthener, Growth Treatment, Color and Top Coat all in one.

To start the color goes on very streaky. I normally only do two light coats of polish but went a step further the next day and did a third coat trying to get it opaque enough so the streaks didn't show. I wasn't so lucky.

The polish also takes forever to dry. I applied the polish hours before going to bed in thin coats and still woke up to bed sheet imprints in the polish (as you can see in my middle and pointer fingers below).

It also chipped very easily. See my ring finger in the picture above? That picture was taken the next morning. I didn't even do anything to chip it!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure is available in 41 shades and can be purchased most anywhere including Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and more ranging from $5 to $8.

I saw online that this was rated as one of the top products of the year by Marie Claire, Redbook and Self Magazine but can't help but wonder why. Judging by the reviews I've seen from other bloggers and other customers it makes you wonder how that decision came about.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried this product? Did you like it?

Spring Chick Challenge "Week 5"

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 08:14:06 PDT

I had to take a little impromptu break from blogging. Work got crazy stressful and then all my school work for my class was due today so I've been working on that any free chance I get.

I saw in the forums that this grader is a lot harder than the others and people that usually get A's are getting B's and C's. I was trying my best to work on them extra hard. Hopefully it pays off. If not, well I guess there is not much I can do. As long as I pass I will be okay with it.

I didn't do good on my little break either. Yeah, it was bad. I didn't track my food, I ate crappy, thanks to work and homework I only got to the gym once and I feel like a nasty blob. I was supposed to be doing no sweets but I blew that out of the water. I didn't even check to see what the last mini goal was.

My goal this week is to get back on track. I plan to track my food and go to the gym three times.

I checked on this week's mini goal and it's no caffeine. Easy peasy. I rarely drink it anymore so I shouldn't have a problem keeping this goal!

Nail of the Day: OPI Pink Friday and Ulta Tink-Her-Bell

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I've been eyeballing the OPI Pink Friday since I starting seeing it pop up in people's twitter feeds. I have a weakness for bubblegum pink and I don't know why.

I was so excited to try this color on once I got it but unfortunately I was very disappointed once I did. It is not made with the traditional OPI consistancy! It's thick and gloopy!

I also had to use three coats which is something I rarely have to do with OPI.

I imagine it was because the polish is so thick but it took forever for it to dry. Also, once it was dry and you added your next coat it does it removes part of your first layers when applying the next (the way a lot of Essie polishes do).

I continued on with my ringer finger painting as I'm a little obsessed with now and added Ulta's Tink-Her-Bell. I don't believe I ever did a nail of the day post with this polish but I love it.

I'll have to make a point to do so in the future so you can see it. Three thin coats and it's pink sparkle goodness.

I thought it would look pretty over the bubble gum pink color. It kind of reminds me of Valentine's Day.

I also wanted to take a quick moment to let you know I will be taking a small blogging break. Between being sick and work on school work I've run out of posts!

Rather than rushing through and posting lesser quality posts I will be taking a break. I will be back sometime next week with normal posting.

What are your thoughts? Did you have the same troubles with OPI Pink Friday? What do you think of Tink-Her-Bell?

Beauty Army January Beauty Box First Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

I think I may have been one of the last people to get my hands on Beauty Army's inaugural run. I was one of the first 300 subscribers so I was automatically included but it took quite a while for it to get to my house.

I wasn't aware until later that the boxes are shipped from Canada. Once I found that out I was a little more patient though I think most know patience is not my deal. I was avoiding others posts like the plague so I didn't get jaded before my own box arrived.

If you aren't aware of what Beauty Army is it's a monthly beauty sampling service where you get to choose your own samples for $12 a month (free shipping). I've been waiting for it to open subscriptions since I first heard about it several months ago.

Once it arrived though I decided it was definitely worth the wait. Since Beauty Army allows you to choose what you get in each box the contents are not a surprise in the slightest. However, I think it makes these boxes a little more personal since everyone gets different things and it's stuff you actually know you want to try!

The box it comes in is a sleek black design with the company logo and different beauty jargon printed across the top in slight raised lettering. It reminds me of those pencil boxes you had in school as a kid. Since the box itself is pretty study I will more than likely recycle it for use of something at a later date.

The inside of the box is lined with pink camo print and everything is neatly wrapped in blue tissue paper. Upon opening the box you are greeted with a welcome letter from the company.

The products come neatly packaged in tissue paper with many of the items wrapped individually. I know it's probably to secure the contents of the package but I felt like I was unwrapping little presents while I was opening the box.

As usual since this is a first impressions post I won't be providing a review of the products but here's an upclose look at what I did receive.

StriVectin Get Even Brightening Serum - I got this to try to work on two age spots I have under my eyes. It's supposed to even out your skin tone and texture and bring out a natural glow in your skin. It's suppose to take 8 weeks before it works on the pigmentation so I'm not sure I will have enough of the product to really see how well it works but we'll see.

CellCeuticals NeoCell - This is an exfoliant that uses natural enzymes and volcanic-minerals. It's not supposed to cause any irritation when using it. I'm eager to try it as most exfoliators cause me to break out after using them. I'm hoping this one will be an exception.

LaRocca Skincare Pumpkin Fleur de Sel Body Polish - OMG it's the smell of pumpkin pie in a bottle! I don't want to use it as it smells so good! This is a sea salt body polish with pumpkin and cinnamon. I thought it would come in handy for my knees and elbows since they get so dry during winter.

MyFace Cosmetics Blingtone Eyeshadow - I was pleased to see this was a full sized product! The color goes on a lot lighter than what it looks like in the container. It's a light sandy beige with gold micro glitter. Dry it is very sheer but with a little water it's pretty pigmented. I'm very concerned about the possibility of this shadow turning into a glitter bomb on my face. I will be using it with caution.

Chella Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit - Considering I rarely get a full night's sleep I jumped at the chance to try this product. This is suppose to lift, firm and smooth your skin to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.

Shea Terra Organics Black Soap Facial Cleanser - This one I chose purely on a whim because I like products that smell like roses. In reality it smells kind of like multi vitamins inside a bottle. It's 100% natural which is always a plus. It's suppose to work like microdermabrasion to remove dead skin, even skin tone and fight acne. I have to admit I was/am a little worried when I read on the instructions "slight redness and tingling are normal as soap works away dead skin". That translates to me as "it's going to eat off your face". I think I will try this on my hand first before I try it on my face.

I know many people were put off when Beauty Army subscriptions opened up on January 1st and their site crashed. I was one of those people. In fact, I had decided not to subscribe at all after an hour and a half. The rep on Twitter convinced me to give it another go.

Beauty Army had gone to extra measures to prevent the crash from happening but I honestly think the amount of traffic they had was beyond even their wildest expectations. I went onto their site a few hours later and signed up with no problems at all.

I don't think I have ever come across a company with the stellar customer service this one has. I'm not just saying that either. I literally talk to their Social Media Editor, Nancy-Lee of fashionCHICsta, multiple times a day on Twitter and see her all over the place on Facebook. When I made mention that my shipment hadn't arrived after a week I got an email within a few minutes updating me with my tracking info and where it was.

Beauty Army limited the first run of boxes to make sure they work out the kinks which was smart thinking on their part. I think allowing customers to choose their box samples is a very unique idea. If they work out all the kinks and keep the customer service at the level it currently is, I think this company will really be going places. I'm happy to have been a part of it from the get go!

If you are as excited as I am about Beauty Army - click here to join: Join Beauty Army

Then jump over to their Facebook page and say "I just joined the beauty revolution! Thank you Adventures in Beauty for recruiting me, I can’t wait to choose my own samples!”: Beauty Army on Facebook

You can also tweet about it by saying "I'm joining the #Beauty Revolution http://on.fb.me/oHF5yB Thanks to @blueskysunburn & @BeautyArmy #luxury #beauty #samples"

What are your thoughts? Have you subscribed to Beauty Army? What did you think of it?

Quick Tip: Storing Your Makeup Remover Wipes

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:09:47 PDT

Do you ever have the problem of grabbing a makeup remover wipe only to find it's kind of dry? It's because gravity is pulling all the moisture down to the bottom of the package.

The solution? Store the package upside down.

Not only will the wipes you pull out be full of remover but the bottom of the package will start have the drier ones. This will signal to you when it's time to buy some more.

We are looking for submissions for our weekly Quick Tips series! If you have a quick tip you'd like to share email me at blueskysunburn (at) hotmail (dot) com. If your Quick Tip is selected you'll receive full credit with a link to your blog or twitter at your preference!

What are your thoughts? Have you tried this trick? Did it help you?

Can I Have My Food to Go Please?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Williams) — Sun, 27 May 2012 08:14:06 PDT

What is this world coming to? I heard this morning that Burger King is starting a test market to deliver fast food in Washington DC.

People already have enough trouble with their weight and now they are starting to deliver fast food? So many times the only thing that's kept me from eating fast food is the fact that I had to leave my house to order it.

Breakfast: Jimmy Dean Delight Sausage Croissant, gummy vitamin
Snack: 1/2 apple
Lunch: Bowl of Chili's enchilada soup and a small house salad with cucumbers, tomato, cheese and fat free vinagrette
Snack: 1/2 apple
Dinner: 6" Subway tuna sandwich on white bread with lettuce, bell pepper and pickles
Dessert: Four peanut butter girl scout cookies (not my finest dessert but it was sure good!)

Water: 80+ ounces GOAL!

This morning I was feeling a lot better than on Tuesday. I was still sore and congested but I went into work and by the end of the day felt halfway decent. Yea! I didn't walk on the treadmill at the gym like I originally planned. That's my hazard of going home first.