StarFocal

777 Ecigs: Magnum Digital Essentials Kit Review

2013-08-23T18:44:00.000-07:00

I am very excited about this next review! You guys know that I have reviewed electronic cigarettes before, but what you may not know is that I have been looking for the next step up from regular ecigs to ones with larger batteries and tanks instead of carts. I found a company called 777 eCigs and they are definitely a company that you should know about!

I received 777 eCigs Magnum Digital Essentials Kit to review. This kit includes a 650 mAh Digital LCD Battery, one refillable 1.5 ml Tank and coil, 5 replacement coils, and a smart wall charger.

So why was I so excited to review this kit? First off this batter will last a lot longer than the smaller batteries. This particular battery is super cool because it not only tells you how much battery life is left, but it also tells you how many puffs you have taken since the last time you charged it! This battery also has a 15 second cutoff safety feature that will shut off the battery after 15 seconds of use to prevent overexposure to nicotine. It will also lock if you press the button 5 times within 2 seconds so that you do not have to worry about it turning on in your pocket or purse!

Even though the battery is quite large I was very surprised at how light it was. It is lighter than some of my regular batteries which is insane to me! Because the battery is that much larger you get a lot more vapor production. I have been using regular eCigs to try to cut down on cigarettes but I never get the same sensation and never really get anywhere. The Magnum Digital has helped me cut the cravings in half which is great for me!

One of the main reasons I have been dying to try an eCig like this is because they are equipped with a refillable tank instead of a cart. Carts may be convenient but once you get down to the end can have a burnt taste and are in my opinion nearly impossible to refill without that taste lingering. I love that filling the tanks are super easy compared to the carts. Not only that but the tanks seem to hold more liquid and you can see when you are running out so you can refill before you reach the burning point.

777 eCigs also carries a lot of products to customize your eCig. They are currently offering a promotional LED Tank for the Magnum that is really cool! Just like the other tanks it is easy to fill and easy to use, but this one has an LED light built into the coil so that when you vape it turns your tank either red or blue depending on which color you have. I really hope that they make this tank or even just the coils as part of their collection! I have really enjoyed this tank so far!

I also received some great eJuice to review for you guys! I received Berrylicious Lemonade, Citrus Cooler, Raging Sevens, and Vanilla!

One of my all time favorite eJuice flavors has been Vanilla eJuice. Some are not up to par, but this Vanilla even smells just like vanilla extract. The flavor is pretty spot on and I think this is a great beginner flavor. It is not overly powerful and is easy to vape.

Raging Sevens is meant to taste like an energy drink eJuice, to me it tastes like a regular Monster or Red Bull. I have been wanting to try a flavor similar to this for quite some time and I was very impressed with how great it tastes!

Berrylicious Lemonade eJuice is wonderful for those hot summer days that make you just want to stay indoors! I have tried a Strawberry Lemonade from a different company which was very sweet. This is a little more on the sour side and you taste more blueberry than you do strawberry, but it is still pretty good.

Citrus Cooler eJuice is a blend of lemon, lime, and a dash of mint. I really love this one! It does have mint, but its not a powerful mint which is nice. It is another flavor that is perfect for these hot summer nights!

777 eCigs has a large variety of flavors and I hope to be able to try some more of them! You can find these and other great products on their website here.

Have you tried 777 eCig's products before? Let us know your thoughts below!

Gorgeous Eyes with NYC New York Color- Review

2013-08-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

I always get compliments on my eyes. It is one area of my face that I am proud to flaunt! So when I get the opportunity to review things to make my eyes look even better I jump on it! I was lucky enough to receive some great eye products from NYC New York Color to review for you guys.

I received some great products to let you know that you can create some great looks on a budget without losing quality! I received samples of NYC New York Color's Show Time Glitter Pencils, Individualeyes Custom Compacts and Big Bold Curl Mascara.

I love eyeliner! I swear eye liner is one of my favorite make up products. However, it is also one of the products I am very picky about. I was very excited to receive the Show Time Glitter Pencils as I love anything that sparkles. I was impressed with how smooth this eye liner was and with how many sparkles it produced, but I was a little disappointed with the color quality. I prefer really dark bold colors and while these colors were pretty, they were not very bold.

Even though they were not as bold as I would like they were still pretty and would work great for someone looking for a more subtle look. They also lasted a lot longer than I thought they would which was a nice surprise.

Next up is the Individualeyes Custom Compacts. I was very excited to be able to try these as I have been wanting one for months! Each compact comes with 4 eye shadows, a primer, and a illuminator.

Here are some swatches of the two compacts I received. The top row is with the included primer and the bottom row is without.

Smokey Browns

The shadows themselves are pretty pigmented at first, but do blend very well. The primer (as you can see above) does help hold the shadow which is great. I think my favorite part about these compacts is the illuminator. I love the way eyes look when they have a white based color on the inner corner and I love that one is included in this compact. I found that this compact had little to no creasing and the shadows themselves were of good quality.

I would have to say that my favorite of all these products would have to be the Big Bold Curl Mascara! I used to have what I would have considered perfect lashes. They used to be long, dark, and curled perfectly without any help. When I had my first daughter I lost all of my eye lashes. After some hard work and some of the products found on this site, my eye lashes have some what grown back. They are not as full and long as they used to be, but something is better than nothing. Since they have grown back I have a really hard time trying to get my lashes to curl.

This mascara does a wonderful job of curling my lashes without using any scary instruments or adding so many layers that it clumps. The brush itself is a little intimidating but I loved the results I got from it. This is definitely my new favorite mascara and I'm sure I will be buying more soon!

Of course as soon as I open the box with my new goodies, guess who comes running to help try them out? Yes, little H came to the rescue to prove to us that she really is a little princess.

Cute little princess aside, here is the look I created on myself:

I thoroughly enjoyed these products, especially the Big Bold Curl Mascara! You can find these and other NYC New York Color products on their website here.

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Beautiful Glass Nail Files from Mont Bleu: Review and Giveaway

2013-08-21T10:30:00.001-07:00

I remember when Glass Nail Files first became popular. They were decently expensive, but after trying them out I was hooked. I still for some reason can't wrap my pretty little head around how well they work and have become obsessed with some of the really pretty ones! As I'm sure you can imagine I was very excited when Mont Bleu told me they were sending some of their gorgeous files for me to review!

I still remember my first glass nail file. Me and my mother bought files in our favorite color with our initials on them. They were pretty but the monograms were off center and crooked and while I loved it, I had always wished I could find something better. I kept that file for a couple years until one day it snapped in half in my purse. I was devastated! I was so upset about it breaking that I decided I wasn't going to get another until I knew that I could take care of it better (I was about 16 at the time).

I recently found Mont Bleu's website and instantly was reminded of why I love glass nail files! Their collection is amazing, and had just about every color combination I could think of! After talking with them I received 2 glass nail files, a pair of tweezers, and a pair of really cute earrings.

These nail files were even more gorgeous in person than I thought they would be! The crystals are extremely clear and cut so well that they look like gems! Of course I couldn't wait to try these out so I immediately went to file my nails with them! I was very impressed! These nail files worked 100 times better than my old glass file, but were soft enough to not destroy my nails at the same time!

I also love that the colors seem to fade into the file area instead of just being cut off were the file ends. I think it adds a more delicate touch to these files. My last file was also rounded at the end, so I really enjoy that these have a pointed end to clean under my nails, or even push my cuticles back.

It amazes me how many choices Mont Bleu offers for nail files! It would be extremely difficult to pick just one! You can find just about any design you want on their website! Some are even hand painted designs!

Next up for review are these amazing tweezers! I am pretty picky about tweezers, mainly because anything not girly in my house is stolen by either my husband or my brother-in-law. So I was very happy when I saw these included with the files. I love that these tweezers are higher quality than I expected! Some companies with similar products will "bedazzle" the cheapest pair of tweezers they can find. These tweezers are really nice! Not only are they designed really well to get the perfect grip, but they have a rubberized finish so they are easy to hold (and look super cool too)! My favorite color is also purple so I just plain love these things!

Lastly I was also sent these crystal earrings. I don't typically wear earrings, but these are so gorgeous that I have been flaunting them with pride. I love that they change colors with different lights. As you know bold colors are a must have for me, so these are perfect! Not only do they make beautiful earrings like these, but they also make rings, necklaces, bracelets and just about anything else you can think of!

I absolutely loved all the products I received from Mont Bleu and I hope I can share more with you soon! You can find these and other great Mont Bleu products on their website here. Use code :"BLOG" for 20% off your purchase!

Giveaway!

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SoundVape BEAT Xpress Giveaway!

2013-08-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am very proud to share with your our first ever eCig giveaway! Sure we have done a few eCig reviews, but never a giveaway! The lovely people at SoundVape have graciously given us a kit to for you to win!

You can check out our review of SoundVape here, or check out the awesome prize below!

Not only will you win this great kit in the flavor of your choice, but you will also win one of their disposable ecigs!

About the BEAT Xpress Kit:

The creation of a great sound begins with a sound beat. Our Beat XPRESS starter kit will be a first step in your journey to a SOUNDMIND, a SOUNDBODY, a SOUNDVAPE. Beat includes (1) SoundVape carrying case, (1) one battery, (1) one USB charger, and (2) two cartomizers. Each cartomizer equals about 1 pack of cigarettes per refill. This beat is sick.

If you win you will also receive a MINI Beat (Disposable eCig) of the flavor of your choice.

Sound Vape has the following flavors to choose from:

Straight Up Light (Tobacco)

Straight Up Menthol

RY42 (Camamel Tobacco)

Fresh Mint

And of course my favorite Moondrop Elixir!

You can find the MINI Beat and the BEAT Xpress along with many other great eCigs on SoundVape's website here.

Giveaway!!

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Zoya Pixie Dust Swatches and Review

2013-08-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

I LOVE nail polish! Lately, because my nails are no longer stubs, I have been super obsessed with all the nail polish that is out there! I recently stole some Zoya polish from a friend to bring you review of their latest Pixie Dust line!

Recently I have become a big fan of some of the textured polish that has been coming out. The Zoya Pixie Dust is actually my favorite of all of them so far! Not just because of the name, but also because it is not overly textured. Even though you can feel the texture it is not one that you will pick at because it is too much for you to handle.

Ladies please meet Tomoko. This is one of my favorites of the fall collection! It's light but it truly stunning. I love that it is bright without being too much for fall.

Here is Chita. I do not normally like green but this Pixie Dust seems to enchant me, so I do not mind this color at all!

Next is Sunshine. I am not really sure if I agree with the name of this color, but I do love it so oh well.

While I believe that Carter is gorgeous, the formula on this one was a little runny. I'm not sure if it was just my bottle, or if it is the color itself. But it was a true shame, although it did turn out pretty.

This next one is one of my favorite of the bunch and I wish it was mine for keepsies, Arabella.

Dhara truly surprised me as orange is one of the few colors that I generally HATE, but I LOVE this one!

Of course with having all of these colors at my disposal I wasn't going to leave you with just swatches! So this is one of the designs I came up with after drooling over all the colors!

Pixie Dust is one of my new favorite polishes! You can find these and other great Zoya Polishes on their website here, or at a retailer near you!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Ouch-Relief Sugar Wax Kit by Sally Hansen: Review

2013-08-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

I have never been a fan of really any hair remover products. It has been quite a while since I have tried any, but they either don't work, are too painful, or some are even too messy! Thanks to Sally Hansen I have found a solution to all three of those problems!

When I heard that I was getting this kit I was both excited and terrified. My last experience with a waxing kit did not end well and I vowed NEVER AGAIN. However, this kit really had me intrigued.

What Sally Hansen says about the Ouch Relief Sugar Wax Kit:

Hair removal can be painful and frightening. But not anymore with the Ouch-Relief Wax kit. NEW Pain-Relief technology in a pre-treatment wipe helps to reduce the pain associated with waxing. This no-heat formula is easy-to-use and mess-free as the wax simply washes off with water.

What I think:

There are a couple really great things about this kit. First I will start off with the most important part. Each kit comes with pre-treatment wipes, wax, wax strips, and a wax spatula. The item in this kit that had me the most interested was the pre-treatment wipes. They are meant to numb the area you are waxing so that it is not as painful. Keep in mind that these will not make waxing pain-free, but will help. I was a little worried that they would not work but was surprised to find that they worked way better than I thought they would! Sure I could still feel that I was waxing, but it made it tolerable for me. The pain is main reason I decided not to do at home treatments before so this is wonderful for me!

I loved the wax included in this kit! It is made of honey and sugar and washes off with just water! It smells absolutely amazing too! I hate that some similar products have a horrible chemical smell. I get headaches very easily and I swear that I can smell chemicals for hours after I use a product, so this was a nice change for me. Also I have sensitive skin and this wax left my skin soft and did not irritate my skin at all!

Some kits I have used came with the waxing papers, but none matched the quality of this kit. The strips included in this kit are very thick and are not as paper-like as others. It makes it easy to grip the strips and stays strong so that you can apply enough pressure to remove the hair.

Overall I really liked this kit. It did not remove hair as easily as I thought it would, but the pain relief wipes made the extra tries worth it. At around $10 this kit is definitely worth the money! I would recommend this kit to anyone with sensitive skin or that does not have a high pain tolerance when it comes to waxing.

You can find this and other great Sally Hansen products on the website here, or at a retailer near you!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

SoundVape Electronic Cigarettes Review

2013-08-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

As you know, I have been scouring the web trying to find the best electronic cigarettes at the best prices for you. Recently I came across a brand new e-cig company, SoundVape. They offer high quality e-cigs at amazing prices! I was able to score some of their products to review for you and I could not be happier with my experience!

About SoundVape

¹sound adjective, adverb \'saủnd\

1. strong, secure, reliable; robust: a sound heart; a sound mind; a sound investment.

2. competent, sensible, or valid: sound judgment.

3. of substantial or enduring character: sound moral values.

SoundVape has fully committed to bringing you products that have just the right balance of quality, ease of use, and affordability. We want to transition our customers into the “vaping” era—a new way for people to “smoke” without the ash, tar, smell, and other chemicals found in traditional cigarettes. We've dedicated quite a bit of time testing countless electronic cigarettes on the market while making sure that the products we choose fit the needs and budgets of our customers. Unlike many competitors, we also encourage our customers to refill their cartomizers (nicotine cartridges) to keep more money in their pockets. Vaping should be simple, pleasurable, and cost effective. After trying our products you won't need to go anywhere else. Join us today and discover the SOUND alternative to smoking.

What I think:

I received a Remix Blackout Starter Kit which included two e-cig batteries, a USB charger, an AC wall adapter, and either 6 fill-your-own cartomizers or 6 fresh-to-order pre-filled cartomizers. You heard that right, if you decide to order the pre-filled carts they will be filled the day you order them so that they are as fresh as possible! I chose my kit to have the blank carts so that I could fill them with what I wanted.

I loved that the Remix Blackout has a kind of rubberized finish to it. Not only do I think it looks better than most shiny black e-cigs, but it is also easier to hold. I did notice that this battery does not take as long as some of the other batteries I own to charge, but lasts just as long if not longer. So I was really impressed with this battery. It is also not nearly as heavy, which is a nice change.

This is the second company that I have seen individually wrap their cartomizers. I love this idea because it keeps them fresh and makes it easy for the refillable carts, because you know which ones you have filled and which ones haven't. With other brands I would sit there and smell each one to see if I had filled it. There is nothing worse than mixing eliquids that do not go well together! So thank you SoundVape for packaging your carts like this!

In case you have never seen a refillable cart before, here is what they look like. They have polly-fill material inside that looks somewhat similar to cotton, and these particular ones utilize horizontal bottom coil technology. Why is this important? It helps each cart last longer and helps prevent the burning taste you get when your cart is empty.

It is super easy to fill up these cartomizers too! You just take your cart at a 45 degree angle, put a drop of liquid on the side above the polly-fill material, rotate and repeat until it starts to pool at the top. Other companies will warn you not to overfill but will not tell you what to do if you overfill. SoundVape let me know that if you blow sharply on the end of your cart over a paper towel or cloth that it will blow the excess liquid out of your cart so it is ready to use! I love that this company tries to help you succeed in using their products! It truly is refreshing to see a company that wants to make things as easy as possible for their customers!

I received both Moondrop Elixir and Straight Up Menthol eliquids. The Straight Up Menthol is a mixture of mint and tobacco that I definitely enjoyed. The mint was a little stronger than I would have preferred, but I could also taste the tobacco flavor behind it. Regardless of the mint, this is the best menthol eliquid I have tried! It actually tasted like a menthol instead of tasting horrible. So it was a nice change.

My favorite of the two would have to be the Moondrop Elixir! It took me a long time to figure out what this tasted like. I could tell immediately that it was somehow watermelon and knew that it reminded me of some kind of candy. After a couple of days of sitting there and pondering about the flavor it finally dawned on me! It tastes just like Watermelon Poprocks!! Of course I could be off, but I asked my husband and my brother-in-law and they both agree! I can honestly say I have never tasted anything like this flavor and it is by far the best I have tasted. It is one of the only flavors in my collection that does not leave a weird after taste. This is definitely one of those flavors that leaves you begging for more!

I think SoundVape was spot with their description. Their products are the SOUND alternative to smoking! After testing their products I have definitely become a fan and I can't wait to share with you what they come up with next! Stay tuned for more awesome products from SoundVape!

Be sure to check our their website here, give them a like on their Facebook page, or even send them a tweet or two on Twitter!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Star Focal does not advocate smoking one way or another, but does realize that it is up to the individual to make their own choices as to whether or not to smoke.

This post is intended for adults only. Please do not visit the mentioned websites unless you are 18 years or over. Please act responsibly. Thank you!

Enter to Win Wholly Guacamole!

2013-08-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

Wholly Guacamole has a contest running on their website where if you enter a picture of your lunch with Wholly Guacamole you could win $100 and your own Guacamole!

Here's how:

- One Lunch, Two Ways! See how you can make two different lunches with the same ingredients.

- Grab a $1.00 off coupon

- Watch OMGuac videos for lunch ideas and handy info

- Enter a picture of your OMGuac Lunch for a chance to win $100 gift card and FREE Wholly Guacamole!

- 3 Weekly Winners will be announced.

Enter here:

Also be sure to check out Wholly Guacamole's website here!

Be sure to let us know if you win!

Get a flawless face with Laura Mercier: Review

2013-08-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Since I started blogging, I have fallen in love with some wonderful makeup brands. One of those brands happens to be Laura Mercier. Everything I have tried from them has been of superior quality and I can always count on them for a beautiful look. Recently they sent me some products to review for you and I am proud to say that they do not disappoint!

I received the new addition to their primer line called Protect, as well as their Creme Smooth Foundation to try out.

Here is what Laura Mercier has to say about these two products:

Foundation Primer- Protect Broad Spectrum spf 30/pa+++

Prime the skin for makeup application, creating a smooth surface between skincare and makeup so skin texture looks smooth and makeup lasts and lasts. With the added benefits of UVB/UVA protection, this product creates the perfect canvas for makeup application.

Lightweight, oil-free creamy gel creates perfect canvas for makeup application
Primes and protects flawlessly; prepares face for Foundation, Tinted Moisturizer and makeup application
Provides UVB/UVA SPF 30 protection; helps prevent signs of premature aging, due to sun exposure
PA+++ provides high level protection against UVA rays
Features “Colour True Complex” to keep makeup looking fresh and colour-true all day
Conditions with Vitamins A & E
Perfect for all skin types, even sensitive

Creme Smooth Foundation- Warm Ivory

A modern, lightweight foundation that floats over skin without visibly settling into fine lines. The hydrating formula includes a multipeptide complex infused with Dermaxyl and advanced optical diffusers that help to visibly smooth out lines and wrinkles.

Perfect for normal to dry skin
Offers buildable coverage with a radiant, smooth finish
Available in 12 shades across a range of skin tones
Non-comedogenic
1.0 oz./30g

What I think:

Primer- Protect

Since this would be my first time playing with a foundation primer I was unsure of what to expect. The only thing I have ever used that was close to this would either be an eyelid primer or a bb cream. At first I was a little worried because as you can see, the formula is a little thin. I just didn't think it would smooth out the surface of my skin as well as it the package says.

After using it a few times I was quite impressed with how well it works. I love that this primer is spf 30! I am probably the worst when it comes to putting on sunscreen or really anything to protect my skin from the sun. However, I will admit that when buying makeup one of the first things that I look for is something that will protect my face from the sun. Now I just need to work on protecting the rest of my body and I will be set!

Creme Smooth Foundation- Warm Ivory

I was very excited to review this foundation! I love Laura Mercier Foundations and this one is definitely my new favorite! It is super smooth, and covers wonderfully. I have combination skin so I need something that is pretty moisturizing while not being too heavy. While this foundation seems thick at first it thins out really well while still giving me the coverage I need. I also love that this foundation is not orange. I seem to have a problem finding products that are in my shade but that do not turn my skin funky colors, so I was very happy with this foundation!

Here is what my face looks like without these two products:

Here's what they look like with them:

I love the way these two products come together. The primer makes my skin really smooth and helps with the application of the foundation. Because of the primer I was able to stretch the foundation that much further and I could not believe how little I was using. Without the primer I would need at least twice as much foundation! Not only that but the primer helps keep your makeup intact throughout the day and makes it just that much more manageable! I hate spending hours in front of the mirror just to apply makeup and then have it wear off in a matter of minutes. So I am VERY happy with these products and will be using foundation primer from now on!

I highly recommend these products to any girl looking for a flawless face without needing to use tons of products! You can find these and other great products from Laura Mercier on their website here.

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Trade in your old movies, cd's and games with MusicMagpie!

2013-08-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

One thing that I have an abundance of in my house is movies. I used to be a manager at BlockBuster and started a collection of all kinds of movies. At one point I owned over 300 movies which made me realize that they were really not worth the amount of space they were taking up.

Sure I love the fact that everyone wants to come to my house a borrow movies, but I hate the fact that a lot of them don't come back, or even sometimes come back destroyed. Right now they are all just sitting next to the tv like a huge eye sore. My husband and I have been talking about selling them, but we don't have the time to deal with sites like ebay, or craigslist. Especially with that many movies we would have to figure out if any are worth more than the other ones, or if maybe we should just sell them as a whole. This is where MusicMagpie comes in.

MusicMagpie gives you the chance to get rid of all of your unwanted lonely movies. They make it super easy to find out how much your movies are worth by just entering in the barcode from the back of the case. Of course you won't be getting your money back on each DVD, but they do have good prices to buy back your movies. They also offer free shipping, which is great because all of the stores that offer to buy your stuff doesn't give you free gas to drive to their store. I especially love this because we live at least 30 minutes from any of the stores that would buy them back and that's if they will even take the movies that we have.

Another great thing about Music Magpie is that they also have an apps for your phone. Since working at BlockBuster I know how annoying it can be to sit at a computer and enter barcodes all day. Which if you have a ton of movies you might just have to do that. With the app you can take pictures of the barcodes instead of entering them in by hand. I love that they have thought of just about everything to make your experience with them pleasant.

What are you waiting for? Trade in your clutter for some cash!

Orly Smart Gels: Beauty Stop Online Review

2013-08-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Amberlee and I am a gel nails addict. Luckily for you guys I have been missing my gel addicts anonymous meetings so that I can bring you a new gel review!

I was send some wonderful Orly Gel Nail products from Beauty Stop Online. First let me talk about Beauty Stop Online. They offer TONS of both professional and personal care products at amazing prices. It is really hard to choose even one thing from their site and you end up wanting more! They have everything from hair products and hair tools, to nail products, makeup, and salon equipment. They truly are your one stop shop for all of your beauty needs!

After a long search of their website I decided to pick some products from their Orly Gel Polish selection, and here is what I got.

I received the Orly gel remover, the gel cleanser, cuticle oil, base and top coat, and 3 different colors. First off I love how big the bottles of the cleanser and the remover are. Each come with 4oz of product while most other companies have 2oz or less. I like to use a lot of the cleanser so this is perfect for me! This is the fun part about Beauty Stop Online! If you were to purchase either bottle anywhere else you would pay $9.99 a bottle, but from BSO you pay $4.99! Which I think is a great deal!

Like I said, I use a lot of the cleanser and I don't notice too much of a difference from other cleansers (they mostly consist of alcohol), but I fell in love with the remover. Most of the time I use acetone to remove my gel nails, but that can be really harsh on your nails and of course your cuticles! So I love that this remover is designed to specifically remove Orly Gel Nails, does not take as much time as acetone and is definitely a lot more friendly to your nails.

The received the colors Rage, It's Up To Blue, and Star Spangled. All of these are colors that I would not normally choose, but after seeing the swatches on their website I HAD to have them! They are all very shimmery and very unique. I can honestly say that I have never seen similar colors in any other gel polish lines. From what I understand after doing some research every Orly Smart Gels Polish is made to resemble a regular Orly counterpart. So if you have a favorite Orly Polish that you can't live without, now you can have long lasting results with the Smart Gel version!

One thing that I was super excited about trying was the Smart Gels Cuticle Oil. My cuticles have always been a disaster area and it has only been lately that I have been on a mission to keep my nails up to par with all the other bloggers. To be honest I was a little afraid that the oil in other cuticle oils might hurt the coloring or even the seal of my gels so I just decided to not go there. When I say that Orly makes a cuticle oil just for gels to say I was excited just doesn't cut it. I was a little worried about it being in such a small bottle, but it spreads really far and as you can see from the picture above I have barely made a dent in it. I love the way it smells and I love even more the way it soothes and protects my cuticles!

I normally don't like to wear red unless it is during the holidays. There has been very few reds that I have actually enjoyed wearing. After seeing Orly's Star Spangled I was in love! I don't think I have ever gotten more comments on a solid color manicure in years! Here is what I am talking about:

Indoors

In the light

In the light at a different angle

These pictures don't really do this color justice! I tried to take different angled pictures to show you how much this polish sparkled in the light, but the angles that sparkled the most would show up as a solid color on camera. This is by far the most beautiful red I have ever worn and I will definitely be showing off this color again very soon!

Next is another color that I do not normally wear but was enchanted by. It's Up To Blue is described as a light blue, which to a certain extent is true but to me it is more of a bright blue than a light blue. Maybe you guys have a different opinion? Let me know what you think:

I had a little more luck with this color as far as showing how much it shimmers. Although I still must say that these photos do not do the color justice. The one problem I did notice about them is that they are a little opaque. In order to get full coverage with this colors I had to use three coats. The result is well worth it though! I am very impressed!

I was also impressed by the price. Each bottle of Orly Smart Gel Polish retails for $15.99 but the Base and Top Coat is $8.99 on BSO and the colors are $7.99. If I would have purchased these products elsewhere I would have paid $93.93 +tax. These products on Beauty Stop Online cost $47.93 +tax for a total savings of $46.

If you are looking for great products at even better prices you should check out Beauty Stop Online's website here.

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Shoplet: Avery Product Review

2013-08-11T12:16:00.002-07:00

I am always excited when I hear that I get to participate in another Shoplet review. This time around they sent me some wonderful Avery products. I have always been a fan of Avery products, in fact when I buy products for school or anything else they are my go-to products.

Shoplet offers great prices on really great office products. They always have the latest and greatest products and I love just looking at what cool new stuff they have!

I received an Avery Flexi-View Ring Presentation View Binder, Ready Index Contemporary Table Of Contents Dividers, Round Easy Peel Labels, Blank Printer Compatible Tags with Strings, and Tri-Fold Brochure with Tear-Away Cards. I have fallen in love with all of these products and I love how many things you can do with all of them!

First I will start off with the Flexi-View Binder. I really love this binder! I have been using it for my blog organizer. Before I had a similar flexible binder, but it was so flexible that it kept falling behind the couch so I was very excited to have this new one. While it is flexible it is still sturdy. My old one also was somewhat see through, so you could see that there was something inside but you couldn't see what is was. I love that this binder has the opening in the front so that you can put a cover inside. I think it would be great for any business to have one!

Another thing that I love about this binder is that it also has a slit in the back to hold loose papers as well as a business card. I have been using this area to keep all the press releases and representative cards for the reviews that I am working on. It is VERY high quality, and probably one of the best plastic binders I have ever owned!

Next up is the Ready Index Dividers. While they are pretty great in quality, I did not enjoy these as much as I thought I would.

I do love the colors, but I really do not prefer the table of contents over being able to write on the tabs themselves. I got rid of the table of contents for my binder and now I am much happier. The ends where the hole punches are is reinforced which is great because I swear every time I buy dividers they end up ripping out of the binder. If you are looking for great dividers with a table on contents included this would be perfect!

Next up are these great Printable Tags with Strings. I am still not sure what I will use these for, but I would imagine that they would be great for a small business for price tags or even for luggage tags for someone who travels a lot. I love that you can print them from your computer and I really like the strings that come with them. I like that they are not your typical plastic ties that are ridiculously hard to take off. They seem to be really sturdy and add a little extra flair to the tags.

Just like with the Printable Tags, these round labels have me stumped as far as what I could use them for in my home. I know that I used to make homemade candles and I think these would have been perfect to add a special touch to my candles. Since I am no longer making candles I am thinking about making name labels for my girls toys, or really anything that should have our names on them. The labels themselves are not your average printable labels that seem like they would rip apart when you try to stick them to something which is something I really appreciate. I just want to go nuts and label everything in my house because I am that type of person, but these would be great for those that make and sell products that would love to have their logo attached to the product itself or even the packaging.

This product is one of my favorites of the bunch! These brochures with tear-away cards are great because not only are they perfect quality for brochures, but they also have 4 tear away cards that you can use for business cards, coupons and so much more! My parents recently opened their very own Senior care home, so I offered them up to create affordable personalized brochures for their business.

I was very impressed with Avery because I thought I was going to spend hours trying to find the right program and the right template to be able to create these brochures, but I was happy to find out that you can go to Avery's website and find lot's of great templates and their website is super easy to navigate.

Be sure to check out Shoplet.com for all your office related product needs. I know that school is starting soon, so make sure to check out their website here for great prices on all your school necessities!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Eversmoke Review

2013-08-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

Lately, smoking has become a major problem for me. With so much going on with my family and friends I feel the constant need to go outside and take a break from the world. I do understand what smoking can do to me, but at this point in my life I am not quite ready to quit.

It has been a while since I have reviewed any electronic cigarettes for you, so I decided to give them another shot. It amazes me that even in just a few months everything can change! I was given the chance to review Eversmoke electronic cigarettes and I am very happy with them!

First off, let me start with what I received. I was able to snag the Eversmoke Reusable Express Kit, the Flavor Sampler, and the Disposable E-Cigarette. I was very impressed with how fast these items got to me and even more impressed with what I got. So lets get this review started!

I will go ahead start off with their Disposable E-Cigarette. This was not my favorite of the bunch as I prefer rechargeable E-cigs, but I was still pleasantly surprised with this one. I have noticed with a lot of other brands, their classic flavor disposable will have a weird after taste. So far I have not noticed that weird after taste so I was very excited!

Another great thing about disposables is that you don't have to recharge them. The built in battery will last a little bit longer than the re-chargeable but once it is dead you just throw it away and get a new one. The good thing about that, is that you always know that your E-Cig is fresh (which really does help the flavor). You also don't have to assemble the disposables. You just pull it out of the package and start smoking. At about $10 a piece it is definitely a good deal.

My favorite part about Eversmoke is that they have their Express Starter Kit that looks like an actual pack of cigarettes. This nifty little pack is normally $39.99 but is currently on sale for $29.99! Each Express kit comes with one battery, two cartomizers of your choice (Classic or Menthol) and a USB charger. I love that it all fits in the pack which fits perfectly in your pocket or purse.

I was also very surprised to find the diamond accent on the end. A lot of other companies have the plain ash cap, which is great but I do prefer the accented ends mainly because while I do like them to look like cigarettes I do like everyone else to know that they aren't. They also glow a pretty orange color. I was very impressed with the Classic Tobacco! It even feels like a regular cigarette! Every so often you will find an E-cig that will taste similar to a regular cigarette, but never one that feels like one!

Remember how I was talking about the fact that a good thing about the disposables is that they are fresh out of the package? One reason I am very obsessed with this company is that the Flavor Sampler I received had each flavor packages separately. So you can have your rechargeable and have fresh cartomizers for it!

Another thing that really surprised me about these e-cigs is that they have really good vapor quality. Most cheaper electronic cigarettes have almost no vapor after being exhaled. So these were definitely a nice change.

If you are looking for a inexpensive way to break into the electronic cigarette world you should check this company out! They have some great options and some great deals! You can find Eversmoke and their products on their website here.

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Star Focal does not advocate smoking one way or another, but does realize that it is up to the individual to make their own choices as to whether or not to smoke.

This post is intended for adults only. Please do not visit the mentioned websites unless you are 18 years or over. Please act responsibly. Thank you!

ToiletTree: Deluxe LED Fogless Shower Mirror: Review and Giveaway

2013-08-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you the amount of times I have tried to do my makeup in the bathroom only to be disappointed because the mirror was foggy, the bathroom was too dark, or lately there is just not enough space in front of the sink. I have tried using the little makeup mirrors that I have but the lighting in my whole house is really not that great so no matter where I go I can barely see and I am always afraid that I will end up looking like a clown!

I recently received ToiletTree's Deluxe LED Fogless Shower Mirror with Squeegee and I have been very impressed with both the quality and the design!

First off let me tell you about how the fogless technology works. The idea behind it is that if you keep the mirror itself the same temperature as the bathroom it won't fog. So there is a reservoir behind the mirror that you are supposed to fill up before your shower. At first I found this to be a little strange, but after thinking about it I realized that this idea was genius. I just wish I had thought of it first!

As I said before, our house does not have very good lighting. One of my favorite features of this mirror is that you can take it off the mount and carry it around the house. I know this may sound lazy, but because of our horribly small bathroom I tend to do my makeup on the couch. I love how vibrant the light is! The light itself has two settings. You can push the button on the side once for the bright setting, twice for the low setting, and three times to turn it off again. Similar lighted mirrors that I have used in the past never seem to have enough light, so I was very impressed and happy that this one has the perfect amount of lighting!

Another thing that was great about this mirror was that it was super easy to install. It was already put together so all we had to do was add the soft silicon to the marked areas on back of the mount, press it against the wall, and after 24 hrs hang the mirror on the mount. It took about 5 minutes to get everything set up and place it on the wall. The hardest part was waiting for the soft silicon to dry.

Hubby putting it in our shower

I think that anyone who hates trying to use a foggy bathroom mirror, or with little to no light in their bathrooms should own one of these mirrors. I was truly impressed and would recommend this to anyone looking for a great mirror! ToiletTree also offers a smaller version of this mirror without the LED lights, as well as a small travel version. So they have something for everyone!

Make sure to check this and other great ToiletTree products on their website here.

Giveaway!

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**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Karma Kiss: Light Up Butterfly Watch Review and Giveaway

2013-07-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

My daughters have always been obsessed with watches. In fact if they see one they will try to rip it off your wrist to play with it! My best friend recently got a new light up watch and now the girls are always messing with it. I decided that it was time to get them their own watch that they can play with! Thanks to Karma Kiss they now have a butterfly watch of their own.

I remember when I was young and flip watches were all the rage. Of course back then they were finger watches. I remember my favorite one happened to be a little VW bug. I have always been obsessed with flip top watches, so when I saw this one I knew I had to have one for my girls. Of course my oldest just turned 3 so for her this is more for looks, but with her obsession with watches I figured it's never too early to start teaching her how to tell time.

I absolutely love the butterfly on the outside! I think it is super cute and my daughter loved it! She got even more excited when I showed her that she can open it.

When you open the watch it has a digital reading, which is perfect for first watch. To make them even more excited about this watch (as if it being able to open wasn't enough), if you press the bottom right button the watch flashes. I tried to get a picture but it was hard to get a picture of flashing lights.

Since having this watch my girls have both passed it around and have been pretty good about sharing. My only concern with this watch is the clasp for the band is pretty stiff. I have a hard time helping the girls put it on. The rest of the watch seems to be good quality and is adored not only by my children, but their friends as well.

Even though this watch is pretty awesome it is only $14.20 on the Karma Kiss website! You can find this watch here.

Giveaway!

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Architectural Mailboxes Floating House Numbers Giveaway Closed

2013-07-26T00:19:00.000-07:00

One of the first things that someone will see when they come to your house is the numbers that show your address. I always hate trying to find a friends house that doesn't have the numbers printed somewhere clearly so that I can actually see when I have arrived! So why not show some style while making it easy for those friends to find you!

Architectural Mailboxes make many great things for your home, one of them being Floating House Numbers. At first I was very confused. It took a while to realize what they meant by floating. After doing some research on the matter I realized that I was just being a little slow and that by floating they mean that they are extended a little bit away from the wall so that they look like they are floating. They can also be mounted flush with the wall. Either way you decide to mount them the screws are meant to not be seen. I really like this idea as at times I can be very nit picky about what is on my house and how things must be even or I get upset. I think that these numbers would be a great addition to any home and can help your address "stand out" from everyone else.

Not only does Architectural Mailboxes sell these Floating House Numbers, but they sell a whole lot of items to make your house gorgeous. Just the way we like it! Here are some other items that they sell:

This is my favorite of all of their products! It is called an Elephant Trunk. I love this because I am always getting packages and having issues with either neighbors messing with my things, or even having the delivery drivers placing my packages in random spots. I love that it locks and would keep all of my packages secure while I am away.

Like the Elephant Trunk the Saratoga Wall Mount Mailbox locks, but instead of holding packages it holds your mail safely. I love the elegant curves to both of these items and would love to have them at my house!

They also offer Post Mount Mailboxes both for single family homes, or multiple homes that I wish I could have at my house! I think they are absolutely beautiful!

You can find these and other great options on their website here. You can find at store near your here.

Giveaway!

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**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

From War to Peace Giveaway! Closed

2013-07-24T22:27:00.002-07:00

This is another giveaway we are sharing! I absolutely love this bloggers story, and I think you should read it. The companies story is also very awesome, so I am very happy to be able to share this with you!

Giveaway Hosted by Beautiful Incentives

I love jewelry, but I love it more when it has a meaning behind it. It's kind of like my love for tattoos, but only if they have a significant reason for being there, a story or metaphor if you will. I first found this company through a gift I received from my mother on my birthday. This company is like no other, in that the art and skill behind their creations is workmanship from military weapons.

From War to Peace is an eco-friendly company that recycles disarmed nuclear weapons into fine jewelry made of an alloy called Peace BronzeTM. I found this so unique and beautiful in thought that I had to review for them.

That wasn't the only reason though. My brother was a Naval Officer who passed away during a helicopter mission in 2005. Well, technically his helicopter went down. He, being the pilot, and two others helping navigate the helicopter, went down. They nor the reminance of the crash were found. Seeing jewelry made out of weaponry reminds me of my brother and I feel like wearing this makes me feel closer to him in some way. I have unresolved anger towards the military and the needless loss of my brother, so I find some peace in what I don't like, transformed into something beautiful. From War to Peace couldn't have said it better "We turn weapons meant to destroy us into art meant to restore us, swords into plowshares, bombs into beauty, hate into love, & war into peace".

I chose the Tree of Life pendant for review, to symbolize my brother's life on this planet. It wasn't very long, as he passed at just 28, but he made a huge impact on me and everyone around him. He was loved by all and worked harder than anyone I have encountered to this day. To bring light to this fact, the reason he was even chosen to make this flight was because the one before him failed the test required. They asked my brother who knew everything and he filled in. This tree of life necklace keeps him in my heart with ever growing love, growing eternally like the tree that symbolizes him. I feel a sense of peace when I wear or look at it.

The back of the pendant.

As you can see, the pendant is very detailed with gorgeous color. It sparkles in the light with a rainbow of colors. This piece as with all their pieces was recycled from weapons into alloy Peace Bronze TM.

The bracelet I received from my mom for my birthday is made of the same Peace Bronze TM, only dipped into silver. I love this one too. The seven circles of peace stand for an ancient belief of perfection. In this design by James Main, the circles form a 7 pointed star in the middle, signifying peaceful unity of all nations and faiths.

These are both gorgeous, really unique pieces of art and I think anyone that has a loved one in the military or not should consider purchasing one. They also carry dog tags that you can have personally engraved. Also, part of the proceeds go toward peace and social justice organizations.

This is just a small peak into what they offer. They have so many more awesome designs.

If you'd like to learn more and keep up with promotions from From War to Peace, follow their social media sites for the latest info.

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

AND now my lovely readers have a chance to win one of their own beautiful Tree of Life Peace Bronze TM Pendant! Good Luck! Ends 8-7 Midnight EST.

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**Disclaimer** Star Focal is in no way responsible for this giveaway. We are just helping out a fellow blogger!

Therafit Shoes Giveaway! Closed

2013-07-24T22:24:00.003-07:00

We are pleased to bring to you this giveaway! I personally want to try these shoes, so hopefully one of you win so that I can hear about how great they are!

Giveaway hosted by Beautiful Incentives

I have had a bad back since I was in my early twenties. Due in part to bad genes and just plain growing up a monkey. As I got older It got worse and I eventually had to have back surgery TWICE at the age of just 25. The doctors said that my x-ray looked like that of someone who got into a bad car wreck. During my recovery I found that it was essential to have a good shoe and to this day I am very picky about what I wear. Flip flops are very bad for the back and legs, but we all love them, so I wear them sparingly.

Well, if you have a very picky and sensitive body like me with the added bonus of fibromylagia, you will love these sandals. With Therafit, by Dr. Lisa Masterson, there is an answer. We all know her from the entertaining Doctors show. If you don't, you should definitely watch. She has manufactured a shoe that makes it so that you can be absolutely comfortable in your flip flops or sandals and fashionable at the same time, which is very hard to find!

I have searched high and dry for a flip flop or sandal that wouldn't leave my back and legs in bad pain just after an hour or less. I have only found two types so far that have managed this and The Therafit style is my favorite of them. The design is very ergonomic with a WOMAN'S comfort in mind. Finally, A sandal that looks as good as it feels!

First of all, Therafit's presentation was so cute and thoughtful. They wrapped up the box like a regular gift! I love the colors and i'm a recycle nut, so I will get use out of the ribbon.

I chose the Tiffany Black Sandal. This particular style also comes in white. Look at the gorgeous detail !

I chose the black, which goes with absolutely everything as we all know, and I love the added bling on the top. I have worn these with skirts, dresses, maxis, jeans and capris. They go with everything! The jewels on the top really take away from any kind of geriatric feel that you might get wearing clunkier comfort shoes. They are made very durable and I do not see them giving up any time soon. They look like they will last years.

Now that we have ooh'd and ahh'd over the look of the shoe, let's get into the specifics. The reason behind the ergonomics and just why it is so comfortable.

The Therafit has a special 4 layer system for maximum shock absorption and comfort. It is meant to be supportive for those who are on their feet a lot. I do a lot of walking because I can't run with the way my back is, so these were just meant for me. The cushioning of the sole is adjustable depending on how soft you want the shoe to feel and it is meant to have the ultimate comfort for at least 12 hours of the day. Those without a back condition I can only imagine how comfortable these would be on you!

They would also provide the prevention of added damaged from wearing flip flops and other non-ergonomic shoes!

See those little balls? Those massage the bottom of your feet as you walk and you can tell that these help keep that comfort lasting all day. They have very thick soles, but not too thick and perfectly contour to the shape of your feet.

The three circles at the bottom are where they can adjust to how soft you want the fit to be.

Look at that bling shine!

It took me all of 5 min to get used to walking in them and then I was addicted hardcore. My feet, back, hips and legs love these. They fit perfectly. I normally wear a size 8.5 - 9 so these run big at size 8. If you are a half size, it is important to size down, because they run big.

Something very important for me to point out.

I just test drove a pair of new over 2 inch high flip flops. They looked comfy as can be and of course really cute, but not even an hour later I was in severe and I mean SEVERE pain in my feet. I didn't even feel that kind of pain with Therafit at the END of the day. So that is just my glowing testament of how well these work.

One more time with a closeup of the bling bling, because I love it.

Another reason this company is so great is that they give back to a charity of YOUR choice with every purchase. So it's a great way to feel good on your feet, along with feeling good helping others.

These sandals and fitness shoes come in every color and style you could want. Here is just a small peak at what's in store.

Right now until July 31st, you can grab an awesome pair of full price shoes for a whopping 50% off!! These are pricey, though worth it, but this deal is amazing and I would take advantage while you can!

You can also take comfort in the fact that they have FREE Shipping and Exchanges!

BUT, the good people over at Therafit are also letting me offer up a chance for one lucky reader to receive a pair of their own!! Good luck to everyone! You will adore these!! Ends 8-7 12 am EST.

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**Disclaimer** Star Focal is in no way responsible for this giveaway. We are just helping out a fellow blogger!

Crayon Rocks Review and Giveaway Closed

2013-07-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

My daughters 3rd Birthday was this last Sunday and instead of giving her more crayons to break in half we decided to go a different route. I hate finding pieces of crayons everywhere and hate how they break so easily. We were sent a package of Crayon Rocks to review for you.

About Crayon Rocks:

Hi, my name is Barbara Lee and I taught children with special needs for 23 years. I invented Crayon Rocks after being inspired by Jan Olsen, OTR, and the Handwriting Without Tears program. I learned from her how important it was to develop early a good tripod grip. Handwriting skills depends upon this.

Since a child's first writing tool is usually a crayon, that crayon should be one that encourages him or her to use thumb, first and second fingers in a tripod grip. This is what makes Crayon Rocks a wonderful tool for fine motor development.

A Little Goes a Long Way
A really good crayon should take very little effort in applying great swaths of color to the paper. In fact, that crayon should be as much like paint as possible. Rich color that goes on smoothly and easily helps little fingers to grow strong as they spill their creative ideas onto paper.

I wanted a coloring tool that students with grip strength problems and disorders effecting fine motor control could use AND enjoy. It has been lots of fun to see what my students do with their Crayon Rocks.

What we think:

I love that Crayon Rocks are easy for children to hold and are non-toxic, vegan, and have zero phthalates! They are made in America from natural soy wax and colored with mineral pigments! With the exception of a few crayons, they are all very pigmented and very soft. When coloring with these crayons they do feel like you are painting instead of coloring with crayons.

My daughter was very excited about these crayons and has been obsessed with them since I gave them to her!

She loves them so much that she has been carrying them around the house and putting them in different containers along the way.

I love that they fit perfectly in her hand and do not break in half while she is coloring. The funny part is that my husband forgot about them and saw them in a cup and thought she had found colored rocks from outside. He even went to throw them away! Once he realized what they were he stopped of course, but I do like that they are pretty realistic looking (other than the bright colors of course).

I would recommend Crayon Rocks to anyone who has toddlers, or for presents for kids in your family. They are great to color with and perfect for kids hands! You can find Crayon Rocks on their website here.

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**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Gorgeous Easy Eyes With New York Color! Review, Swatches, and Looks

2013-07-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

While I love my makeup brushes, I always hate having so many different brushes for the different types of makeup I have. Which is why some of my favorites of my collection have built in brushes. However, I can never find a good pigmented eye shadow with an applicator built in.

NYC New York Color makes Sparkle Eye Dust in a container similar to a tube of lip gloss. At first I thought that being in this type of container would make this eye shadow hard to apply, but to my surprise it has made application so much easier! I was even able to apply this shadow on my toddler (she is a girly girl!) without any problems! She always is the first to try out the new products in Mommy's boxes, most of the time she's the first to the door when we get new ones!

Little H sporting Amethyst Dazzle

At the price tag of $2.99 at most retailers I was not expecting this shadow to be very pigmented or really very pretty at all. There has only been one other cheap company that I have fallen in love with, but their product quality can be hit or miss. I was very surprised to see how pretty and colorful these shadows are! The only issue I have found is that they do have a lot of fall-out but if you are careful and you tap the end over the bottle before application you will be fine.

I decided to put this eye shadow to the test and wear it at my daughters 3rd Birthday. I was very happy with how well this shadow stayed on, it even lasted as long as my $45 eye shadow! Here is the look I went with for this shadow:

What's even more surprising is that these pictures were taken after I had gotten home from the party! I could not believe how vibrant the color was after such a long hot day! I really enjoyed this shadow, and for the price I think you will too!

You can find NYC New York Color's Sparkle Eye Dust on their website here, or at a retailer near you!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Glamour Look by Mary Kay: Review and Looks

2013-07-22T20:40:00.002-07:00

I have reviewed boxes for you guys from Influenster before and recently I received a new box that I am very excited to share with you! I received the Glamour Look by Mary Kay VoxBox. This is what was inside:

This box came with so many great things! I was so excited to be able to try them out and share them with you!

Lash Primer

I loved this lash primer, but I mainly loved the brush. I have never seen anything like it! I loved that it separated my lashes and unlike mascara it doesn't clump during the process. It goes on clear and dries an opaque white. I have never used a primer before, so I was extra excited to try this product! I was very impressed and will be using this primer from now on!

Lash Love Lengthening Mascara

Of course I had to use the Lash Love Lengthening Mascara and the brush is pretty cool on this one too. I love the curve as it helps curl my lashes without the extra curler. I hate having a bunch of unnecessary makeup tools when one product can do multiple tasks. This mascara went on clump free (I'm sure with help from the primer) and stayed on all night! The first time I used it was for my husbands birthday trip in Reno, NV and I was out until about 6am and when I came back to the room it was still in tact. Normally after that long my lashes begin to look a little funny, but with this mascara they looked like I had just applied it.

Cream Eye Color in Violet Storm

I was very excited to use the Cream Eye Color. For one it is purple (my go-to eye color) and two it looking like it would be super simple to apple (which it was). I can't really say that I was disappointed with this product, but it is definitely not my favorite of the bunch. While it went on smooth, I had a hard time trying to blend it with any other product. As it is only one color I wanted to add more but every attempt was worse than the one before it. I did love the color, and will use it again. Another issue that I had is that it creased really easily. Hopefully I can find a way to keep it from creasing because it is one of my favorite colors of my collection, I just wish it was my favorite product.

True Dimensions Lipstick in Pink Cherie

I don't normally wear lipstick, but I do enjoy having a pretty color for when I do want to change things up a bit. I fell in love with this color the moment I saw it! It blends perfectly with my skin tone and goes on incredibly smooth. The container was a little confusing at first, although now that I am used to it I really like it. Since having this lipstick I have worn it almost everyday. Like I said before, I don't wear lipstick very often so that is saying something about this product!

Cream Eye Color/Concealer Brush

Lastly I received this makeup brush. I LOVE it! I only have a couple of brushes in my collection but I only keep the ones worth while. Because of this brush, I have thrown out my old concealer brush. This on is firm, yet extremely soft. It is now one of my new favorite brushes!

Here is the look I created using these products:

I loved these products and I can't wait to try more Mary Kay products! So far they all seem great!

You can find Mary Kay and their wonderful products on their website here.

**Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.**

Stand Out Nails With Sally Hansen Insta-Gel! Review and Swatches

2013-07-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

As you all know I absolutely love Gel nails and I love creating designs with my gel polish. Not all of us can create free-hand designs on our nails, let alone have them all match. So how do you get perfectly designed Gel nails without paying a fortune at the salon?

With the Sally Hansen Salon Insta-Gel Starter kit! I love that this kit is so easy to use! Unlike other gel systems this kit only has really only 2 steps to get a beautiful manicure that all your friends will be jealous of! Each kit comes with a mini LED lamp, Gel cleansing cloths, 16 Gel polish strips, Gel top coat, a file, and a manicure stick. The starter kit comes in 3 different colors: Red My Lips (red), Wine Not ( shimmery dark red), and Shell We Dance (light pink).

This kit is super easy to use! First you lightly buff your natural nail, but make sure to LIGHTLY buff your nail otherwise you can damage it. Then you wipe your nails with the gel cleanser (I like to go over each nail twice to make sure that they are completely clean). Next you take the strips out of the package and stick them on your nails according to size ( I find this to be the hardest part because of the shape of my nails). After that you add the top coat over the stickers and cure under the LED light for 30 seconds. Last but not least, use the last cleanser wipe and remove the tacky layer off the top. Viola! You now have salon quality gel nails at home!

If you are like me and the colors available in the kit are not your style they have lots of other colors and even pre-made designs! So of course that's where I run to! I received 3 different strips, two of which I am going to show you in this review (the other I'm sure you will see soon!).

First up is Pretty 'N Poppy.

One of the main reasons I love the Insta-Gel kit is that you get everything you need when you buy a new polish. You don't need to constantly buy refill kits of the necessities which can be very pricey after a while. In every kit there are 16 nail strips, Gel cleansing wipes, Top coat, a nail file, and manicure stick. Sound familiar? It's pretty much everything included in the original kit but the LED lamp!

I was very surprised with how easy they are to put on! With other Gel kits it can take forever to do each layer, but this was simple and fast! After some bad experiences with nail strips I half expected these to turn out horrible, but they turned out perfect!

In the light

Indoors

I love how shiny they are, and I love how easy it was to get a perfect design! I have spent hours before painting my nails with Gel polish so I was very happy with my results! On the box it says to put one coat of top coat, but for these pictures I put 2 coats. I like my nails a little thicker so that they don't break so I added 2 more coats later on.

Next I decided to use the Amazing Lace Nail Strips. I absolutely love the way these ones turned out. They have a gold color for the base and a realistic black lace design on top.

Outside

Indoors

This is one design that I have been wanting to do for a long time! I have seen some simple lace designs that I thought might be easy enough, but I just don't think I have the patience to do a free hand lace design without messing it up. So I was very excited when I saw this product.

Tips for using Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Strips

LIGHTLY buff your nails! You want to make sure you get the whole surface area of your nail, but if you are too rough or file too much you can ruin your nail.
Make sure to clean your nails with the cleanser, like I said earlier I like to do this twice to make sure they are clean.
Stretch the strips to the end of your nail and then file off. This way the strip is stuck to your nail. If it is not stuck to the tip of your nail it will peel off.
Make sure to keep the clear polish off the edges and cuticles of your fingers. If you get the polish on your skin it will cause lifting of your nails.
The clear coat is pretty thin so make sure you go slowly and take your time putting the clear coat on so that you don't get any on your skin.

The only thing I did not LOVE in this kit, was the LED Lamp. While it worked great I do wish it was a little bigger. It did have it's upside though, because of it's shape it was very easy to hold and it is also very easy to travel with. Other LED Lamps can be big and bulky and hard to find room for.

I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for salon quality nail designs that you can do at home! I loved the way these nails turned out and I loved how easy they were to apply!

You can find Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Products on their website here, or at you local retailer!

What do you think of these products? Let us know in the comments below!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Keep Your Home Squeaky Clean With Home Right! Review and Giveaway Closed

2013-07-19T10:55:00.001-07:00

I'm sure you have heard great things, or seen commercials about steam mops. If you are like me you were too afraid to invest the money into a steam mop just to find out that it didn't work. I found a great company called Home Right that makes a product called a Steam Machine that is not only inexpensive compared to some other steam products, but has multiple functions as well!

What Home Right says about the Steam Machine:

Looking for a quick and easy way to remove wallpaper? The SteamMachine is the absolute fastest and easiest way to remove wallpaper, plus its chemical free! Simply use the steam plate to apply steam and peel the paper away. Get the most out of this multi-purpose steamer by using the attachments to sanitize and clean floors, stovetops, ovens, bathrooms and grills. The SteamMachine leaves behind no chemical residue and kills 99% of all germs and bacteria.

Use the steam mop to sanitize your hard floor surfaces; such as tile, vinyl and linoleum. The high pressurized steam blasts the surface clean and the cleaning pad wipes the surface clean. The canister comes equipped with two wheels to move with the attached floor steam mop as you clean.

The SteamMachine uses pressurized, high temperature, steam to loosen and dissolve dirt, grease, grime and kill bacteria. Its many uses include; kitchen counter tops, ovens, stovetops, bathroom fixtures and barbecue grills

What I think:

I love how much this machine can do! So far I have used it on our stove, our bathroom, our floors, and so much more! We have a lot of places in our house that have caked on dirt or grime that just will not come off! With the Steam Machine all I have to do is spray it down with the machine and wipe away the dirt. It makes cleaning those hard to reach places so much easier!

Before cleaning with the Steam Machine

After

My first plan of attack was my stove. It was never really cleaned before we moved in and for some reason the pieces don't come off of the stove itself. So there is always oil and grime stuck around the burner. When we first moved in I scrubbed for hours trying to clean them and couldn't get it all off. The Steam Machine helped remove the majority of the grime with ease! I was very impressed since I knew how hard it was to try to get the little bit that I did get off before by just scrubbing.

The Steam Machine is very easy to set up too! You just add your water, add the attachments you want, turn it on, and within about 8 minutes you are ready to clean! I also love that it has a storage compartment in the front so that you can keep all the little attachments safe and of course in a place you can find them! The only thing I do not enjoy about this machine is that since I clean my parents house on occasion I wanted to be able to use this machine to make the job a little easier. The Steam Machine, at least from what I can tell, does not have a way to wrap the electrical cord or hose around the machine. However, I am very thankful for the built in handle!

After how good it cleaned the stove I decided to take it to the bathroom. Our bathroom is very small so not only is it hard to reach certain areas, but if I am using chemicals I can only clean for so long before I feel like I am going to pass out from the fumes. The Steam Machine does not use chemical to clean! So I can clean the whole bathroom in one go and trust that it is clean and germ-free! and the machine itself is pretty small so I can fit it into the bathroom with me and not feel crowded while trying to clean.

After asking around, I found that some machines either have the spray button on the machine itself or in a very awkward place. This Steam Machine has a trigger button that makes it super easy to use with any of the included attachments. I especially like the trigger when I am using the Steam mop attachment, because it is at the perfect level so that I don't have to bend down and hurt my back trying to use it.

Another great use for this product is to clean up after pets. Our new kitty can make a mess with his food and his litter box, and I want to make sure that any mess he makes is completely clean and sanitized so that my girls don't get into it. I love that I can use this machine for those quick clean ups and know that it is actually clean before they get to it. It is nice to know that this machine is easy to turn on and can be used at any time!

Overall I would recommend this product to anyone that would like to have a squeaky clean house without the use of harsh chemicals! I love being able to clean around my children without worrying about them inhaling the harsh chemicals I am using!

You can find Home Right's Steam Machine on their website here.

Giveaway!!
Thanks to the wonderful people at Home Right, you have a chance to win your very own Steam Machine! Enter to win below! Please make sure to follow the wonderful bloggers helping keep this giveaway going! :)

Entry -Form

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Everything's Better Sugar Coated! Nail Swatches and Review

2013-07-15T11:58:00.001-07:00

One of the most popular nail trends recently has been textured nails. I have seen just about everything from furry nails, bumpy nails, nails with little balls glued to them, and of course matte nails. While some of them I are amazing, others (like furry nails) I still have not learned to love. I received some really awesome polish from Sally Hansen that they call Sugar Coat.

When I first heard of the textured polish craze I thought I would freak out if I had nails with texture! I hate it when there is a flaw in my nails, so the thought of every nail having "flaws" on them just did not seem like a fun idea. After trying them I realized that the pictures make the texture look a little more rough than they really are. I find textured polish to be tolerable and have started to like certain ones. I was pretty excited to try Sally Hansen's Sugar Coat Line, and I am proud to tell you that they did not disappoint!

I was sent two colors to review for you guys: Cotton Candies and Bubble Plum. I think that the Cotton Candies color is my favorite of the two!

Bubble Plum and Cotton Candies with Cotton Candies bottle

Bubble Plum and Cotton Candies with Bubble Plum Bottle

They really do look like someone poured sugar into the bottle, but that are not sharp even though they look it. I was very surprised with how fast they dried! I was expecting this polish to take forever, but I was even able to paint my two year old's nails with it! By the time she got up it was already dry! With most polish it ends up getting smeared or smudged because she doesn't like to sit still long enough for it to dry. Mainly because she likes to go show them off!

In the light

Indoors

Because of my experience with the last Sally Hansen polish I thought that I was going to need at least 3 coats with this one, but to my surprise I only needed 2 coats and they were perfect! The polish glided surprisingly easy, and was the consistency of a slightly watery polish, but as it dried you could see the texture popping up.

For this review I just did a regular manicure because I was excited about my next review of the Sally Hansen Insta-Gel System, but next time you see these I will attempt at a texture color blocking design. I have see it done a couple times and I think they look pretty awesome! You can see what I'm talking about on the Pinterest post here. Be sure to follow us on Pinterest to see all of out designs, as well as all of the cool designs we find along the way!

If you have not tried a texture polish I highly suggest you do! I thought I would hate them, but it is one of those love/hate relationships. Not only that but the colors in this line are absolutely gorgeous!

You can find the Sugar Coat line on Sally Hansen's Website here.

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

Fall in love with Gem Crush Nails- Swatches and Review

2013-07-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

I LOVE sparkles! Especially when it comes to my nails! I always find it hard to find the right polish color that has the right amount of sparkle. I finally found a polish that has tons of sparkle and also comes in lots of gorgeous colors!

This is Gem Crush by Sally Hansen. There are 8 full coverage glitter polishes in the collection and consist of two different shapes, sizes and colors. I was really impressed with how easy they were to apply! I hate glitter polish that takes 10 coats to get anywhere with and that doesn't have very much dimension.

I received Glitz Gal and Be-Jeweled to review for you guys and I am happy to report that they are amazing! I decided to do all nails but my ring finger with Be-Jeweled and my ring finger has Glitz Gal for an accent. I don't know why but I really like to have at least one thing different on my manicures!

Glitz Gal bottle

Be-Jeweled bottle

The bottle itself says to add 2 coats, but for these pictures I added 3 coats to get complete coverage on my nails. I was really impressed by how fast it dried considering how thick the polish itself was. The polish glides on really well for how thick it is! My nails are generally pretty flimsy so I like having polish that is a little thicker than normal. Just so that not only do my nails have a little extra cushion from breaks, but so that they are less likely to peel right off.

In the sun :)

Inside

Gem Crush is now my go-to glitter line, and I am very happy I was able to try them! If you get the chance I would highly recommend them to anyone who likes glitter, or looking for a full coverage, long lasting polish.

You can Find Sally Hansen and their Gem Crush Polish here.

Check out the ad for Gem Crush!

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

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