Ramblings

so....I exercise. I watch what I eat (most days) but I love my wine and beer. I have a good amount of tolerance, and especially since my trip to Spain (which was wine/beer fueled from 10am) I have found it harder and harder to lose weight. Now call me vain, but I won't see my fiance for the entirety of October, and our aniversary is at the end of the month...and I want to show up at our mutual (weekend) event looking banging (semi....kinda...sorta). I want to fit into a dress I own and feel good in it...mainly...this blog being a beauty blog...I want to be healthy.  Now with 21 credits, student teaching twice a week and working 16-20 hours a week and maintaining Honor's level status is crazy busy. But for the month of October...I will give up alcohol beverages and make sure I go to the gym at least 3 times a week. My only exception will be on my father's birthday which we are going to a very fancy restaurant that makes my favorite cocktail properly. But I want to get through 31 days of no drink...which I would safely say is my biggest barrier to losing weight.

Why is this so hard for me? My friends and I commonly meet at the local bars, which when we present our school ID's...we get discounts (I'm 22 mind you) and being me...I drink a good amount (not drunk...high tolerance woot!) but still. This isn't the best option to lose weight. I tried finding my favorite European beers and had a heart attack. SOOO...with the fiance being a part of organization that have many holiday parties...I want to also FEEL pretty. I'm not saying skinny...but pretty. I can't look in the mirror without a critique and high heels only do so much.

So here is my official no drink (other than one night being my father's bday) October. I want to lose 5 pounds by Novembre 8th...which doesn't seem like a lot, but my current medical condition isn't really nice to me so that means A LOT of work. Are you gonna join me? How much do you want to lose?

Best of Luck
Emily

More Product Empties!

Hi all,
   Well I've been MIA for a while, and just honestly I wasn't inspired enough to blog about some things.  With school starting up I've been on non-stop writing mode, and that took away from the joy of blogging.  But yet, I am back, and with more products that I have finished! I'm on such a roll, and a lot of these products were taking forever to finish out! The bottom of this post will have my running total of products and HOLY CRAP I hit a big milestone!

My snazzy basket that is holding all the stuff I finished this round!

Back to Front: Garnier Fructis, L'Oreal EverSleek, Essence of Beauty, B&BW Mist, Daisy, AHAVA, VMV Hypoallergenics

Garnier Fructis Body Boost Shampoo: I'd like to mention that all GF products smell so darn good! This was for fine or flat hair (both of which I have) and really did leave my hair feeling amazing. In general, I haven't met a GF shampoo or conditioner that's done me wrong.

L'Oreal EverSleek Reparative Conditioner: After being in Spain for two weeks and using horrible hair products that left my hair feeling like straw, I wasn't sure if I'd have my hair back to decent condition. But amazingly this product worked.  While I can't say my hair feels salon-just-got-a-haircut-new, it does look much healthier.  It didn't weigh my hair down either. Snaps for EverSleek!

Essence of Beauty Sweet Pea Body Lotion: So random back story that kinda relates to this product...I got this when everyone who was anyone LOVED sweet pea scents.  Like no one would dare say that they didn't own a sweet pea fragrance.  Fast forward a few years, and I'm finally using up those older products.  I now can say...I DISLIKE sweet pea.  This brand though had a more mild version of the "sweet pea" scent.  It didn't leave my skin feeling very moisturized hence why I won't be purchasing it again.

B&BW Signature Vanillas Lemon Fragrance Mist: So I've come to realize that I don't like the B&BW fragrance mists. I'm more of a perfume girl, so this pretty much became a room mist/ sheet mist which for the price is not worth it.  I can pick up better room sprays and sheet mists for fractions of the price.  Although the scent is awesome and summery, it's not something I wore even down to the beach. :/

Marc Jacobs Daisy Luminous Body Lotion: I got this as a part of a gift set a few Christmas's back and I finally got around to using it.  As with other perfume set lotions I find that it is great for the actual scent, but has a lot of alcohol so it doesn't moisturize at all.

AHAVA foot cream: This was really great for my heels and felt so nice. I left a good amount of lotion on and put on socks and watched tv!

VMV Hypoallergenics Re-Everything Lotion: This sample from Birchbox lasted me about 2 months! TWO MONTHS!!! It's a glycollic lotion and I opted to only use it on my face because it was just too thick to be a full body product.  I did not break out with this product *yay*.

L-R: Juicy Couture, Harvey Prince, Serge Lutons, Pacifica

Viva La Juicy Perfume Sample: I hated the way I smelled. I dislike smelling like candy or some random mix of sweet things. This was sweet overload. Good that I tried it, so I can very easily say NO!

Harvey Prince Eau Flirt: I love this scent. It is a warmish scent that is still crisp...a very fall scent without actually smelling like cinnamon.  I'd love to purchase this...but just as long as it's not online.  I don't know where I can purchase in person *sad face*

L'eau Serge Luton: This was a scent that was very crisp...almost masculine but with a hint of feminine. It didn't have musk or anything like that but it was very clean smelling. I won't purchase cause this baby is over 100 bucks *yeouch!*

Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom: I love this product. It's a solid perfume made from organic beeswax and reminded me of a mix of Hawaii and Lemons. (not sweet lemon) I had this for several years (4ish) but a little on the cuticles or hands etc makes you perk up!

L-R: Blinc, Burt's Bees, Jordana, BareMinerals, Jordana, Sonia Kashuk

Blinc Mascara: I got this in a Birchbox...and if anyone ever gets this I will tell them what I should have done...CHUCK IT NOW!!! I hated this product and it did nothing for my lashes.  It would actually cause my lashes to straighten out. To take it off was even worse, I had clumps of lashes come off. Overall, you couldn't get me to use this ever again.To make things better, it would get so "glued" shut I had to use two pliers to open the product towards the end!!

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm: My holy grail lip balm. This is just amazing and also lasts a fair amount of time!

Jordana Easy Shine Lip Gloss in 02 Babe: I don't see this on the website anymore, but I got this at Walgreens. In the tube it's a grey-beige base with pink shimmers in it. I am so in love with this though! It makes my lips a perfect nude shade, but the tiny shimmers adds dimension to my lips.  If you see this color, pick it up...I don't think you'd regret it.

BareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara in Black: I don't normally fall in love with high end mascaras, and frankly always felt that they were just over-rated. But this mascara was amazing! If I wanted a high end mascara, this would be my pick because right from the start the formula is amazing!

Jordana Easy Shine Glossy Lip Color in 07 Watermelon Juice: I've reviewed this product before, but I really liked this product.  I'll probably pick up another one of these once I get through a few more glosses or lip colors. I love finding cheap options that still work well, much like this color!

Sonia Kashuk Metallic Brown Eye Liner: This took a dang long time to finish, but it was worth it to the end. I could not ask for a better brown liner. It was creamy, but not too creamy and soft. It was pigmented and did not smudge all over my face.

L-R: B&BW, OLAY, Daisy, B&BW

Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea Bubble Bath: This goes along with my sweet pea comment earlier. I used this actually as a body wash because it had the same ingredients and I rarely take bubble baths.  This version of sweet pea was sickly sweet, and I just don't like the fragrance.

OLAY Cleansing Cloths (7 individually wrapped cloths): I took this on my trip to Spain, and while these were nice, I just didn't catch onto them. I guess I'm more of a person who likes to actually take off makeup with cleansers, not cloths. I might repurchase them....or try baby wipes.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Bubbly Shower Gel: Again, I love the scent but the product itself it just not amazing.  It went quickly and was not "bubbly" at all. I won't purchase but if it comes in a gift set...I'll still use it and enjoy it.

Bath & Body Works Signature Vanillas Lemon Body Wash: I love the scent of this as a body wash. If ya'll are confused it's ok. I like my body washes to perk me up, but what I like in a body wash isn't the same fragrance that I want via perfume or mist. If it's still available I will repurchase!

L-R: B&BW, Crest, Bio-True, Sally Hansen, NYC, No-Brand

Bath & Body Works Blushing Mimosa Hand Soap: I bought this on a whim about a year back and I don't regret it. This doesn't smell like the drink mimosa...but fresh and still sweet, but floral. I'd buy it again and again.

Crest Sensitivity Clinical Toothpaste: Now I didn't notice any less sensitivity or particular whitening, but hey it's a toothpaste and it's used up. My dentist will be happy! (lol)

Bio-True Contact Solution: A sample I got from my eye doctor. I didn't notice anything amazing with it. I feel like my cheaper options work just as well. I mean...have you ever heard someone get excited about contact solution!?

Sally Hansen  Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in 38 Flirt: Such a pretty color! A deep burgundy with red shimmers. But this one still has a WHITE cap aka very old.

NYC Color 115A: I saw this color as a trend for this fall, ran over to check my nail polishes, and then found out that it was all dried out! I guess that happens when you have a big nail polish collection. From my memory it is a rather opaque polish.

No- Brand Top Coat: This was fast drying but just okay on actually keeping the polish from chipping.

So how many products have I finished!?
Lotions/ Fragrance/  Hair:  31 + 11 = 42
Makeup: 11 + 6= 17
Candles/ Scents: 6 + 0 =6
Cleansers/ Body Wash: 21 + 4 =25
Randoms: 13 + 6 =19

Grand Total: 109 Products!!! Yep I finished that much! I will continue this project till January...let's see how many products that is!!!

How's your project going?
xoxo,
 Emily

Jordana Easy Shine Glossy Lip Color

Hey All,
     So all the new rage has been Balm Stains. Tarte has had them for  a while, and Revlon came out with them. It seems that every makeup obsessed gal has one, two or maybe all of them.  They are the "it" product of the summer it seems.  Well, needless to say, I decided to look through my makeup stash and double check if I had anything similar to these stains.  My mentality had been "if I have it already I won't go out and purchase it." Now the Revlon Kissable Balm Stains run for 7.99 to 10.49 (the highest price being at CVS *YIKES!*) and they do have some really great colors.  But with my tan skin, I was looking for a nice, bright (ish) pink, and all the Revlon colors seem to be a little too cool toned on my skin (my friend let me try on the 5 she had) .  So granted, no I don't own personally the Balm Stains, but I did find a product that I would say is rather similar.

The Jordana Easy Shine Glossy Lip Color in 07 Watermelon Juice is a product I bought a while back, but didn't really start using until last month.  It is in a stick formula, and is build-able in color. It starts of glossy looking, but after a while the shine wears off and you are left with a lovely stain on the lips that lasts you for the next few hours.  What's great is that this product goes for 1.99 at my local Walgreens and there is a decent color selection. I do own two other colors, but alas haven't worn them to vouch for them yet.  But each color's name has a corresponding scent, so watermelon juice does smell like watermelon, berry colada smells like berries and coconuts, etc.

The Tube

The actual stick of gloss

A swatch on my wrist.

The Jordana website does not claim that these are long wearing nor stains, but for someone who wants a little bit of the trend but isn't ready to fork over that 10 bucks, it's a good try. 

So a quick rundown:
Pros:
- 1.99 (aka cheap)
- good amount of product
- smooth texture
- leaves a glossy shine (for a little while)
- great color

Cons:
- Once the shine goes away, and your left with the stain, your lips do feel dry
- Not a huge selection of colors (the general line I mean)
- the packaging: The stick of gloss does stand above the actual plastic tube when you first get it, so putting the cap back on I find that I bump and nick the product a little bit. But once you start using a little of the product, it isn't noticeable. (not a huge grip but some might find it annoying)

Final Verdict:
  I like this product. I find that this is something fast to apply and takes out that 2 part lipstick and gloss process.  The color is bright, yet wearable to work.  I would repurchase this color, and at 1.99 what a steel!

Have you tried the Jordana Easy Shine Lip Colors?
xoxo
Emily

Updated Empties

Hey all,
   So another installment of products that I have finished within the last eeeeeeeeh, month I suppose.  So this is going to be a bit longer of a post, so you have all been warned! (mwuahahaha). How is everyone else doing on their journey to finish out products?

L'Oreal EverCreme Sulfate Free Moisture System Shampoo: So after my last experience with sulfate free shampoo and conditioners, I was very reluctant to try this product.  Even several youtubers had said this was not a good product, so when my father dropped off some shampoo that was on sale (aka this one) my heart sank a little bit.  BUT, then I tried it. This is actually a really nice shampoo, good smelling and did not make my hair greasy by the end of the day. I might repurchase if on sale.

Citre Shine Fresh Fusion Shampoo in Pure Energy: I love this shampoo, it had such a fresh scent and always leaves my hair with shine, less frizz, and just very healthy looking. I will repurchase this one.

Hotels in Venice Shower Shampoo in Milk Fig: I got this little sample or "travel-size" bottle from my time in Italy at one of the hotels.  I did not like this fragrance and it left my hair a little tangled. Needless to say, not a huge fan of it.  I have no idea how to even purchase it!

L'Occitane Repairing 5 Essential Oils Shampoo and Conditioner Packets: I love L'Occitane products, especially their lotions and perfumes.  These two samples were nice sized, and very nice on my hair. It felt so silky, and light. My one issue with this product is how herbally it smelled. Now this isn't a herbally in the sense of mint, basil, lavender etc. This just strait smelled of a potent concoction of mixed herbs that was not really pleasant.  I won't purchase because these are also expensive.

Camille Beckman Mango Beach Silky Body Cream: I enjoy Camille Beckman products, but this was just not a scent I am a fan of.  BUT the product itself was so thick and moisturizing to my skin.  My other issue with the product is more packaging, it's just a very thick plastic that makes it tough to get any product out.  Since this cream is so thick, I had to cut it apart to get to the rest of the product. I will repurchase one day, but in a different scent.

Ahava dermud Enriched Intensive Foot Cream for dry skin: This was a nice sized sample of the product and it was sooo nice on my feet. I'm not a foot cream user, but this was a very pampering product.  It took a little while to soak in, but pop in a movie and stay off your feet! I may purchase the product in the future.

Jennifer Aniston Perfume Samples (Two Samples): This perfume was very nice, the notes are floral and Sephora.com states that it has a musk to it. To me, it just smells of light honeysuckles. Don't get me wrong, I liked this scent and would purchase it, if the scent actually lasted on my skin.  I could spray myself and almost 30 minutes later the scent was gone. I went through two samples in roughly 2-3 days. I'd say this is more of a starter perfume for younger girls who don't want to smell sweet or sugary. But at 70 bucks for the bottle...x.x

Twirl by Kate Spade Perfume Sample: I really wanted this scent, this was so nice on my skin, but when I went to the counter and sprayed myself from the larger bottle, it smelled and dried on my skin differently (sad face!) It has a floral, vanilla and fruity sweet scent (again, not something I typically go for and even like), but it leans to more of a floral.  Since the bottle smelled differently than my sample size version, I passed on it.

Mark, White Vetiver Fragrance Sample: I got this sample from a mark. purchase, and honestly I did not like it at all. It just smells of fake floral and vanilla.  (Think of lip glosses with those fake vanilla flavors that somehow end up smelling similar to play dough) NOT a purchase.

Burberry London Delicately Floral Body Lotion: I got this a part of a box set with my Burberry perfume. I love the perfume, and the scent of the lotion is very similar although a bit more floral in comparison to the more spicy perfume.  One thing I noticed with the lotion is that it is very thin, non- moisturizing, and strong scented.  I don't know if I can purchase this separately, but it was overall nice if you are looking for something that you can layer with scents.

Mark. Glow Baby Glow Lip Gloss in Bubbles: I'd like to just say that I love this little sample size! I wish more brands gave out little samples like this so before you purchase you can really test it out.  This gloss is a pinky-purple gloss with baby blue shimmer. It sounds weird but looks so pretty on the lips.  I even used another lip gloss wand to dig out every last bit of it! I can see myself purchasing this the next time I order from mark. or Avon.

No Brand Shower Gel: I hated this product. This scent was so gross, it was supposed to be a berry scent, but it ended up being a strange floral. I got this as part of a gift from a friend a few years back, but I never plan to try to figure out where exactly I can get this.

Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Sensual Body Wash & Foam Bath in Jasmine Vanilla: I've already done a review of this particular product. I love the shower gels from Bath & Body Works because they lather so nicely and only need a small amount per use.  But this scent was something I really disliked. I already have almost 10 bottle in my parents house of these body washes in scents that I love, so I don't need to repurchase anything just yet.

Mark. Three's a Charm 3-in-1 Body Cleanser in Lemon Sugar: I got this from a fellow blogger/ youtuber, Grace from reallygraceful (her youtube name). As much as I liked this product, it just wasn't something that really stood out to me.  It was a great cleanser, but the scent didn't quite tickle my fancy.  I'll have to check if they make other scents!

Opti-Free Replenish Multi-Purpose Contact Solution: I'm not picky when it comes ot my contact solutions. I typically go for whatever is on sale, or the less expensive brand.  My eye doctor suggested this brand when it comes to the lower end of spending scale. What can I say other than it works, and that I'll most likely be repurchasing it once I finish the other bottle.

Old Spice Fiji Deodorant: Yes ladies, I use a "mens" deodorant.  After reading an article on really ow similar men's and women's deodorants are, I just went out and got this one. It has a very fresh and crisp scent, and is something I will repurchase.

Fa Deodorant in Caribbean Lemon: This is a brand from Europe that is not the easiest to find in the typical American drugstore.  I like the scent, it leans to a more lemongrass scent and is fresh without being sweet.  I like it, and next time I'm back in Europe I'll probably pick up a few more.

Sally Hansen Advanced Hard as Nails Protective Base: I have to say, that this base coat was very fast drying.  But what I noticed for the period of time that I used it, my nails still got stained and they would flake so badly.  I do not have naturally weak nails, and I even ate my Jell-O to get some extra strength to my nails, but they would just splice apart.  I wouldn't suggest this and will not repurchase this.

Swan Nail Polish Remover: I think I got a bunch of these from my local Dollar Tree for obviously a buck.  It works well, even though it is not a pure accitone remover.  Hey I like it, it works, it's cheap (after spending 8 bucks on a bottle way back when and it not taking off polish -.-). I'll be repurchasing them until I find some magic product.

** random background story regarding these last few products: I travel a lot, and so I was cleaning out all my travel bags, I found plenty of half used tubes of toothpaste that I finally committed myself to using them all up so I don't have 6+ toothpastes half used. **

Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste: This was a good one, I like that this toothpaste foams up nicely and just has a nice minty flavor that doesn't make me feel like I'm using baking soda.

Crest Whitening Plus Scope: I was not a fan of this one, I'm naturally not a fan of Crest brand ( I don't know why I just don't) But it cleaned my teeth so I can't really complain.

Colgate Total Advanced Plus Whitening: I can't vouch for the whitening because it is such a small tube, I feel like I would need to use a full-sized one to find out. I don't have badly stained teeth, but I drink my coffee and wine. (I'm 22 if someone is balking at my wine reference)

Marvis Classic Strong Mint Toothpaste: Recently everyone recieved from various beauty boxes this toothpaste, but honestly... it's nothing special. It doesn't stand out to me, other than it's from Italy and therefor is more expensive.  So save a few bucks and get your favorite toothpaste from the drugstore.

PHEWW! Wow, another large chunk of products that I really have no idea how I even finished. So my running totals are:

Lotions/ fragrance/ hair: 19 + 12 =31
Makeup: 10 + 1 =11
Candles/ scents: 6 + 0 =6
Cleansers/ Body Washes: 18 + 3= 21
Randoms: 4 + 9 =13

New Total: 57 + 25= 82!!!

xoxo,
Emily

Birchbox Series: LaROCCA Champagne and Acai Sugar Polish

Hey All,

                Another Birchbox post to bring to you all, I have really been working hard to get finished with all the little samples taking up space in my drawers (which I really need space for other things). I’m bringing a body product to you all, the LaROCCA Champagne and Shimmer Acai Sugar Polish from a November box.  

LaROCCA Champagne and Shimmer Acai Sugar Polish (November 2011) Full Size: $35.00

According to Birchbox:

“This revitalizing sweet-smelling body polish buffs away dull skin with raw sugar, acai, and 24-karat colloidal gold. But that’s not all, coconut oil and shea butter work to moisturize and combat dryness so that you’re left with nothing but softness.”

My Take:

This product smelled soooo good.  The product also did have this awesome shimmer to it, but the sample was not enough to use on my entire body.  When I use a scrub, I want it to be a bit abrasive, and filled with more scrubbie particles. It’s a cool product, and left a shimmer on my skin, but I could feel the oil, and I was not a fan of it. I get that it makes your skin feel soft, but for me, it was uncomfortable. The scrubbie particles were not packed enough, and very easily melted away in my shower, which was a slight disappointment. It just was not a “WOW, I need this product” feeling.  Also the 24-karat gold was just not a selling point for me. 

How Much Is In A Full Sized:

$35 for 6.76 oz (where do they get these random oz?)

Did Birchbox Make Me Want To Buy It:

For me, this product was just “meh”. It wasn’t special, and I rarely use body scrubs.  I just don’t feel a pull to purchase this product. 

Xoxo,

Emily

Birchbox Series: Clark's Botanicals Radiance Mask

Hey All,

                I’m bringing another segment of the Birchbox Series to you.  It has been a while since I posted anything regarding to these little samples, but I finally pulled myself together and finished one. So in an October box I received the Clark’s Botanicals Intense Radiance Mask.  I received enough product to use for a full face application twice. 

Clark’s Botanicals Intense Radiance Mask (October 2011) Full Size: $72.00

According to Birchbox:

“This white clay mask is formulated to purify skin and soften fine lines and wrinkles. White genepi, an alpine plant extract, delivers antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties, while algae extract zips in moisture and helps to lift and tighten skin. Finally, an advanced tri-peptide complex reduces redness.”

My Take:

The mask smelled quite nice, but I did not see any amazing results.  Frankly, my Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask (drugstore large bottle at that!) leaves my skin feeling more refreshed than this very expensive product. I did not see any purification, and the softening of fine lines and wrinkles would probably have to come after using this product more than twice. I did not find it tightening, or lifting or reducing redness at all. It was just a mask, that sat on my skin, and maybe took away some oils.  

How Much Is In A Full Sized:

$72 for 1.7 fl oz (Holy crap!?!)

Did Birchbox Make Me Want To Buy It:

Nope. I never had heard of Clark’s so this was a first introduction to the brand, and frankly, I don’t believe I will be purchasing a product from the brand. It seems to be overpriced, and doesn’t do anything for my skin type. So at least Birchbox showed me that my cheap, under 10 dollar face mask works better than a $72 one. 

Xoxo,

Emily

Losing Weight Update

Hey Everyone,

    I hope this summer is finding you well.  I just finished my summer class (ICK) so that kinda explains the reason why I haven’t blogged a lot recently.  I wanted to give an update of my working towards health goal.  As of yesterday I was 184.5 pounds which means I have lost 12 pounds so far! Woot woot!.  This means that I lost roughly 6% from my original weight! I haven’t been that number in at least a year or two.  It also made me thrilled that I can fit into a dress (although a tad snug) that I didn’t wear since my sophomore year of college (I’m going to be a senior). This is a HUGE deal for me, and just makes me feel already so much better.  My next goal is to lose 5 more pounds before my trip to Europe so that I can hit the “under 180” mark.  This is something I can do, I just need to work out more regularly.

Something that I have been learning during the last month is changing my choices that I make when it comes to food.  This is coming from a food addict, and it’s been tough.  But I cut myself some slack and came out really proud of myself especially in June, which was a month of almost daily get together with friends and HUGE potluck dinners.  I ate, but I chose what I really wanted to eat too.

 One thing that stuck with me were the words of my Health Wellness Professor, the first few bites are always the best, after that we are just chasing after that flavor. The bigger the portion, the less “as good” the flavor is by the last few bites.  This makes sense to me, so I’ve kept my portions a bit smaller. 

I already instated an alcohol only on weekends and with dinner “’rule”.  I do see the weight coming off easier through that. (wohoo) Now my next choice is to have one day a week where I will not have breads or pastas of any kind.  I think that just one day is manageable and practical.  So that is just my little update.

Be healthy!

Xoxo,

Emily