Monday, September 29, 2014

Dollar Tree Haul!


While running important errands this weekend (TJ Maxx, Big Lots... etc.) I decided to stop in to my local Dollar Tree and see if any fun beauty products had come in. Lucky for me (and you!) they had some really fun nail stuff that I couldn't pass up for such a cheap price!



These Essie UV-cured nail strips retail for $9.99 at target! What an awesome Dollar Tree find! While they had a few other designs, I got only three: glam it on, over the moon, and embrace the lace.

Nail strips are pretty hit or miss for me. Sometimes they work great, other times I can't get them to evenly fit on my nail. If you have any tips for me, please let me know in the comments!



LA Colors nail polishes are a hidden gem in the beauty world, in my humble opinion. I never see anyone write about them, but they perform pretty well and they have an extensive selection of colors. These super fun shades could not be left behind so I snatched up (L to R): Confetti, Craze, Candy Sprinkles and Purple Passion.

Fun items like these come and go quickly at Dollar Tree. Head over to your local store to see if you can find anything fun - and let me know if you do!

Friday, September 26, 2014

Ipsy | September 2014


I apologize that this post is SO late this month! Did anyone else receive their Ipsy really late like I did? Anyway... this month has some unique items... let's get right to it!

  • Pacifica Natural Waterproof Eye Pencil - The color is not listed on this, but mine appears to be a dark brown shade. Just from testing it on my hand, this liner feels really soft and smooth. I don't typically like pencil liners, but I just might have to give this one a try.
  • Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask - This has a subtle fresh scent, and there looks to be enough in here for one mask if you have long hair. You know I love my deep conditioners, so I'm anxious to try this out. 
  • LeeAnni Eco 3-in-1 Revolution Light - You wouldn't gather what this is from the name, but it's a toner, serum and moisturizer in one. It doesn't really smell like much and the ingredients appear to be mostly, if not all, natural.
  • Hikari Lipstick in Cabernet - This color is a brick red and honestly, it's not very smooth on the lips. I've never heard of this brand, but judging from this one lipstick... I can't say I'm impressed.
  • Crown Brush Infinity Shadow & Crease Duet Brush - I really like all the brushes I have from Crown Brush. I think they're a great affordable alternative to Sigma or MAC, and this brush is no different. It's soft and dense and works great!

Ipsy costs just $10 per month and you get some really great items each month. If you want to sign up, just click here. I can promise you that you won't regret it! 

Monday, September 22, 2014

2 Year Anniversary | What We Wore

Photo by Juxtaphotos

Today my husband and I celebrate two years of marriage! Wow - I honestly don't know where the last two years have gone! We have had so much fun together, and I can't wait to see what the years ahead bring us! To celebrate today, I thought I'd share some pictures from our wedding day, and a little bit about something "sweet" that brings me right back to that day.


Photo by Juxtaphotos

As we prepared for our big day, I read a tip that I knew I had to try out: buy a new perfume and cologne to wear on your wedding so that the smell always reminds you of that time in your life. Scent is a huge memory trigger and really has the power to transport you back to a time or place.

We did lots of sampling to find the perfect scents for our wedding day and here is what we chose.


Jake chose Chanel Allure Homme as his new wedding day cologne. I absolutely love this cologne, and it smells so classy and formal for a big event like a wedding. The top notes are a mix of "green freshness, warm sharpness of pepper, strength and elegance of wood, and warm sensuality of labdanum, and tonka." (source)

This cologne has a warm, earthy freshness with a hint of musk. The lasting power is great - you can smell it even at the end of the day.

For my perfume, I chose Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb. Flowerbomb is a well-loved scent, characterized by green tea and bergamot, and floral scents like orchid, jasmine, freesia and rose. It's a rather powdery floral scent. I think this perfume is classic and feminine - an absolutely perfect bridal scent.


Photo by Juxtaphotos
I would suggest all future brides & grooms pick a new scent for your wedding day, and keep those scents just for special occasions. Jake and I wear Allure Homme and Flowerbomb on our anniversary, Christmas, date nights... any day we find special. Each time I spray on Flowerbomb, I'm transported to the happiest weekend of my life, warm nights in Barbados (where we honeymooned), and a feeling of utter happiness. 

What perfume did you wear on your wedding day? I LOVE knowing what people chose!

Friday, September 19, 2014

Burnin' Up #4 | Diamond Candles


Remember the days of mystery bags as a kid? One dollar and you have the chance of getting something super awesome? (although normally you didn't) Really, the best part was the mystery of it all. I LOVED getting mystery bags as a child. That's what Diamond Candles remind me of. Have you guys seen these?! Because if you haven't, you're in for a treat!

Diamond Candles are a super cool concept; hidden inside every candle is a ring! Your ring could be valued up to $5,000! Can you see the little circle on the top right of the candle above? That circle marks the spot where your ring is sitting. You have to burn the candle down in order to retrieve the ring, safely secured in layers of tin foil and plastic wrapping. Luckily, these soy candles burn quickly so you don't have to wait too long to see what you got.



Diamond Candles come in a variety of scents, and it seems they are always releasing new ones. The scent I purchased is pomegranate lemonade. As you can imagine, this is a super fruity scent and it smells like fruity lemonade is drenching my home. The scent throw is incredible - I could smell it all over my house. The one thing that did surprise me is how fast this candle burned. It seemed this burned much faster than other candles I've had in the same size. 

Diamond Candles cost $24.95, and are available at www.diamondcandles.com

If you're curious what ring I got, here it is. There are no marking on the band, so I think mine is worth about $10, the minimum value.



Monday, September 15, 2014

Zoya - Odette


All hail the great Zoya! Never ever ever EVER has Zoya failed me - their nail polishes are the absolute best and I've come to love another of their polishes! Seen here is "Odette", a fairly recent polish that came out in their winter Naturel collection

Odette is described as a "sultry orchid maroon cream". It's a beautiful dusty purple that is perfect for the early fall season. 



This a very pigmented, opaque shade. I got great coverage with just one coat, but used two for good measure. Zoya has excellent wear time; on natural nails, I can get 4-5 days of wear with minimal tip wear and chipping, and painted over press-on nails (seen here) it absolutely doesn't chip or wear. I wore this for a week on press-ons and it didn't chip at all.. how amazing is that?

Zoya's Odette is great for every day wear, especially appropriate for a work environment for a pop of color without looking unprofessional.

If you haven't tried out Zoya nail polishes - you absolutely must! Let me know what you think of Odette!

Friday, September 12, 2014

Empties #8

So many empties this month! Check out my mini-reviews on each product below.



  • Neutrogena Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes (would repurchase) - These are nice makeup removers, especially for those who are prone to acne. I think they do a good job of removing all of my makeup. I'd buy these again, but Jake hates the smell of them so it probably won't be anytime soon.
  • Klorane Soothing Eye Makeup Remover (would repurchase) - I loved this eye makeup remover. It was super gentle and didn't leave any residue behind. I absolutely want to get this again as it's one of the best I've ever tried.
  • Lush Prince Shaving Cream (would not repurchase) - This is marketed towards men for facial shaving, but I picked it up on a whim when Lush was out of Turkish Delight. To be honest, I didn't care for this. It had a nice, earthy scent but my legs itched so bad after I finished shaving because this wasn't hydrating enough for me.
  • Organix Cherry Blossom Ginseng Shampoo (would not repurchase) - I didn't particularly care for the scent of this, mostly because it smells like a deodorant I've used. I felt like I had to use a lot in order to get a decent lather going, so I don't think I'll get this again.
  • Nexxus Dualist Conditioner (would repurchase) - I got this for a complete steal when it was on clearance, and that's the only reason I bought it. This is marketed towards those with colored hair, which I don't have, but it worked just fine for my normal hair. It was moisturizing, and the dual-sided packaging is kind of fun.
  • VO5 Daily Leave-In Conditioner (would not repurchase) - This did next to nothing for me. It wasn't great at detangling and I didn't notice any extra conditioning in my hair.
  • HerStyler Nourishing & Moisturizing Shampoo (would repurchase) - I did a full write-up on this product here, so I'll spare you the details. 
  • Organix Hydrating Moroccan Argan Oil Creamy oil Body Lotion (would repurchase) - I LOVED this stuff. It had a very faint shimmer to it (so faint it took me half way through the bottle to notice it), has a nice scent and is moisturizing. 
  • love&toast Honey Nectar Body Lotion (would not repurchase) - I used this as a hand lotion, but I didn't find it moisturizing enough nor did I like the smell. Happy to be done with it. 
  • Organic Surge Tropical Bergamot Shower Gel (would not repurchase) - While I enjoyed the body wash, I didn't love the scent as much as I thought I did when I purchased it. I would definitely get another shower gel from this brand, but definitely in another scent. This was fine for summer time, but it would not be moisturizing enough for me to use in the colder months. 
  • Skintimate Raspberry Rain Shaving Gel (would repurchase) - Nothing fancy, just a shaving cream. It did the job.
  • Aquafresh Fresh Impact Toothpaste (would not repurchase) - The toothpaste itself? Fine. The packaging? Horrible. If I hadn't cleaned it up before throwing it in my empties bin, this toothpaste can would have been CAKED with toothpaste. Just disgusting.
  • Suave Moroccan Infusion Shampoo (would repurchase) - I don't love the smell, but this is a nice shampoo that makes my hair feel nice. 
  • Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in1 Foundation (would repurchase) - Blah blah blah... you've heard me talk about this a million times. LOVE it. Full review here.
  • Eyeko Black Magic Mascara (would repurchase) - I got this in a Birchbox a while back, and immediately thought the packaging was so cute! The mascara itself was okay, it didn't do anything magical for me, but if I saw it for a good price, I'd probably buy it again.
  • Covergirl eyeliner (would not repurchase) - I don't even know the full name of this... it's not on the tube anywhere! This was a REALLY liquid-y eyeliner pen. It was really difficult to build up a solid line as the formula stayed wet so long. This was a big miss for me.
  • NYC Smooth Skin Pressed Face Powder in Transluscent (would repurchase) - This was a surprising favorite of mine. I had this sitting in the back of my drawer and finally brought it out to use up. They have all new packaging on this powder now, so yeah... time to use it up. It's really finely milled and looks so natural on the skin - never cakey. Loved this.
  • B&BW P.S. I Love You Shower Gel (would repurchase) - This is an old scent that B&BW doesn't carry anymore so I was sad to see this go. It has a nice floral rose scent and is one of the best scents I think they've ever made. This shower gel is by no means hydrating so don't purchase it if you need extra nourishment for your skin.
  • Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream (would repurchase) - This is just a little sample, but I got many uses out of it. I used this as my night time eye cream, but think if I were to purchase it again, I'd use it in the morning instead. It's really moisturizing without being greasy or heavy.
  • StriVectin Instant Moisture Repair (would not repurchase) - It could be coincidence, but I think this broke me out a little bit. It was the only thing I switched in my skincare routine, and boom - new zits. No thank you!

  • Yankee Candle Beach Vacation Candle (would repurchase) - This had a lovely scent, truly reminding me of sitting beachside somewhere. It smelled faintly of sunscreen and ocean air and had excellent scent throw. Full review here
  • B&BW Snap Peas Candle (would not repurchase) - I have a full review of this here. I liked the smell, but it just wasn't strong enough for me. 
  • B&BW Root Beer Candle (would repurchase) - This is an old B&BW candle that isn't available anymore. It smells JUST like a root beer float and gives off crazy scent throw... my husband actually had to blow it out because it was too strong a couple times! (I loved it, though!)
  • Better Homes & Gardens Line-Dried Linen wax tarts (would repurchase) - This gave off the most wonderful laundry scent in my home. It smelled fresh and clean without being overwhelming the way some laundry scents can definitely be. 
  • Gold Canyon Ten wax (would repurchase) - My mom bought a bunch of these little wax tubs that you scoop out and put in your wax burners. Ten smells like a high-end perfume and I absolutely loved it. 
  • B&BW Lemon Mint Leaf candle (would repurchase) - I have a full review of this here. This was a nice fresh scent, still available at B&BW (with different packaging).

Phew... that was quite the empties post! Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Fall Bath & Body Works Haul!!


I think it's safe to say fall is here in Minnesota, and I am in 7th heaven - it's my absolute favorite time of year! We were blessed with the most perfect weather this past weekend, 70s, sunny and a tinge of autumn in the air. All this fall excitement had me out the door and heading to Bath & Body Works to get some of their scents of the season (especially because their fall scents are always gone WAY too early... anyone else notice that?) Here's what I picked up...



Brown Sugar & Carrots Hand Soap - "A gourmet treat of glazed carrots warmly scented with vanilla and cinnamon." The design on the bottle is absolutely adorable, and this smells heavenly!

Pumpkin Cupcake Hand Soap - "Satisfy your sweet tooth with the scent of baked pumpkin, whipped vanilla frosting and a hint of honey." The description couldn't be more spot on - this smells just as you'd expect.

A Walk in the Woods Hand Soap - "A leisurely stroll through golden leaves, red rosewood and cool bergamot." This has more of a cologne-like scent that is just enough, not overpowering. 

Cozy Vanilla Cream Hand Soap - "Whipped frosting and sweet cream warmed with vanilla bean create a cozy treat." If you love vanilla, this is for you.

Crisp Morning Air Hand Soap - "Breathe in the invigorating scent of mountain pine, fresh juniper and pear." This soap has a more earthy, autumnal scent that is fresh and invigorating. 



 I was NOT intending to come home with body products buuuuuttttt... you know how it is!

Plum Moscato & Almond Harvest Shower Gel - This shower gel has a warm fruit scent, with hints of bergamot and sandalwood. I definitely didn't need this, but it was buy 2 get one free, so it happened.

Pumpkin Latte & Marshmallow Comfort Shower Gel - Holy crap, this smells AMAZING. I took one whiff and absolutely had to have it. I love marshmallow scents and this one spoke to me. The latte notes don't come through too strong for me, but you can definitely smell the pumpkin and marshmallow.

Pumpkin Latte & Marshmallow Triple Moisture Body Cream - I love B&BW Triple Moisture body creams because they are so moisturizing and leave my skin feeling silky and hydrated. This scent MIGHT get sickening as a body cream, but I sure hope not.


Have you tried any of the fall B&BW products? Let me know!

Friday, September 5, 2014

Old Wives Tail Argan & Rosemary Organic Oil Treatment | Review



I'm pretty good about avoiding added stress to my hair. I don't often curl it or blowdry it, and I've never colored it in all my life. Despite letting my hair run its natural course, which keeps it fairly healthy, I still like to use a deep conditioner to really bring it back to life - usually about once a week. I like to switch up what I use, that way my hair doesn't get too used to anything, so I was more than happy to give Old Wives Tail Argan & Rosemary Organic Oil Treatment a try.

This oil treatment is much different than anything I've ever tried. The consistency is that of a whipped argan lotion, and it's rather thick. I actually panicked that I had just put lotion in my hair until I ran back to look at it, only to be reassured it was hair oil. This Argan & Rosemary treatment has an herbal scent, strong when applied but it doesn't linger once washed out.


According to the Old Wives Tail website, "This unique blend of organic oils aid in protecting your tresses against weather and styling damage. This is the perfect natural treatment to use as a deep conditioner or just a few drops can be used before styling to smooth and protect your hair from breakage."

The directions are as follows: Use on damp hair and massage into your scalp. Leave the treatment on for one hour. Rinse with fresh water and shampoo. Repeat this process until your hair feels clean and product free. After shampooing you can use conditioner on the ends of your hair only. Rinse out thoroughly and style as normal.



The Old Wives Tail Organic Oil Treatment is nice, however I don't think it is game changing. I also don't often have time to use a treatment that requires an hour to set, and then to be rinsed out. I had to use a LOT of shampoo to fully get this out of my hair, and one rinse of it was not enough. I had to use shampoo and follow with a conditioner because my hair was a tangled mess and I could still feel the oil clinging to my hair. 

I will not continue to use this as an in-shower treatment, but rather I'll put a small amount in my hair as an overnight treatment because I don't want to deal with the hassle of overwashing my hair when I use this in the shower. 

To try any of the Old Wives Tail treatments, visit www.oldwivestail.com. They offer free worldwide delivery on any order!


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

August Favorites!


This month's favorite products are a bunch of "new to me" things - nothing particularly new to the beauty world. Nonetheless, they are all so worthy of sharing with you as I've thoroughly enjoyed everything you see above this month. Let's get to it...

My absolute favorite moisturizer this month was the Plantlife Patchouli Body Oil. I'm a die-hard patchouli fan, so I loved applying this all over and smelling magnificent all day long. I used this at the end of my shower in the morning, and even 9+ hours later I could smell it on my skin! I like pairing this with warmer perfumes such as Britney Spears Hidden Fantasy, as it creates a unique earthy fragrance.

Second best in the moisturizer category this month was The Body Shop Early Harvest Raspberry body butter. This smells AMAZING. For all I know, I'm smearing real raspberries all over me, that's how good the scent is. This body butter is extremely moisturizing and keeps my skin soft all day long. 

On a whim this month, I picked up the Nature's Bees Natural & Organic lip balm. I'm not a fan of Burt's Bees lip balm, so I don't know what posessed me to try this, but I am so glad I did! This balm has a soft mint scent and give the slightest tingle to the lips (nowhere near as tingly as Burt's Bees) and it moisturizes like no other. I picked this up at Big Lots for 99 cents I believe, and I love it so much I think I need to buy a backup or two!

For a summer glow, I've been turning to Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in Transluscent. This highlighting powder is comparable to higher end versions I've tried. It gives the most beautiful sparkling sheen that really finishes off any look when applied to the tops of the cheekbones. It's a great option if you're looking for an affordable highlighting powder.

What have you been loving this month? Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

Monday, September 1, 2014

GIVEAWAY: Mia Mariu Skin Nourishing Oil



I haven't talked much about skin oils on my blog, other than that one time, but this summer, oils have been one of my favorite ways to moisturize my body. Why? They're a super quick way to moisturize and I don't have to leave the shower to do it!

Mia Mariu's Skin Nourishing Oil is a more recent find of mine, but I have to say I've really been enjoying it. This oil can be used anywhere you please - face, legs, arms, wherever you need a boost of moisture and nourishment. I've been primarily using it on my legs, and it keeps them silky smooth all.day.long.  

The Mia Mariu Skin Nourishing Oil is formulated with oils of Sweet Almond, Avocado, Wheat Germ, Safflower Seed, Soybean, Lemon, Orange and Grapefruit. The last two oils are probably the reason it has a faint citrus scent - nothing overwhelming, but a nice subtle smell. If you choose to use this oil on your face and neck, you'll benefit from age prevention properties; it helps to stimulate collagen which helps keep skin looking young. This is a bonus wherever you choose to use it!

My favorite way to apply this is in the shower. I save this baby for last (just to keep the oil from getting in my hair or on my clean face) and apply it all over my body. I rinse off to set it on my skin, and gently towel off. Wa-lah... perfectly soft skin! 

And just because you guys are AWESOME - I'm giving away one Skin Nourishing Oil to a lucky reader! Enter below! Sorry, this contest is only open to US residents.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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