Sigma Beauty!

      If you are in need of new makeup brushes you definitely need to invest in these. They won't put a dent in your wallet and in the end they are very durable. Usually you can tell how well your brushes hold up when you clean them on a daily routine. If the bristles aren't falling out, then that's a sign that the brushes are well worth the money. If you find your brushes are "shedding" I strongly believe that you should write the company for your money back. Please let me know if you have any sigma products and what your favorite are. Below is a link to the sigma website with a coupon code that will take 10% off your purchase! Try them if you haven't already.

Sigma Beauty Discount Code!

Bio Oil

           After discovering this product from my sister, I knew that I had to purchase it. My sister was using this product to even out her skin tone around her nose piercing. After taking it out, she recently developed a darker skin tone around the rim of her piercing. Using the bio oil for 2 months, I can see dramatic results on her nose. She doesn’t have to apply a concealer to the area anymore. Bio oil is a skincare product for the body and face to help with scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, aging and dehydrated skin. I was skeptical at first when my sister first mentioned the product. There have been multiple times when I consulted my dermatologist for a scar and stretch mark cream that would help and the only thing he would recommend was lotion in general. When I saw my grandma using this product on her age spots on her face and the results, I knew this was a product I definitely needed. I purchased this product about a month ago and so far so good. I have been using it every day on my face and body. So far I have seen my skin tone even out. I especially like applying it to my face after I spent the entire day out in the sun. This product is oil but doesn’t give the greasy feeling. I purchased this product from CVS for originally 8.99 but with two coupons I only spent 5.30. Let me know if you like this product!

DIY: Staining Mahogany Bathroom Cabinets

Before:

 After:

Supplies:
- Minwax gel stain (Bombay Mahogany Satin)
- Painters tape (the thicker the better)
- Paper/Cloth to cover the floor
- Paint brush (Roughly 1 1/2 inch)
- Cleaning suspension (I used clorox)
- Screw driver


Steps:
1. Use your screw driver to unscrew all the screws that are attached to the drawers and cabinets.
2. Remove the hinges from the cabinets. (See picture below)

3. When all drawers and cabinets are removed from the vanity, place them on a covered surface ready to stain. I didn't remove the draws because it would have caused me more effort to take them out then actually stain them in the vanity.

4. Using painters tape, tape around all the edges of the vanity. Make sure you place paper on the floor so that no stain will get on your floor. I used printer paper because I didn't have any newspaper lying around the house. Any paper will do!

4. Using your cleaning supplies wipe off any resident on your cabinets and vanity. Make sure you dry the cleaned surfaced before you start to stain.
5. With a paint brush, stain the vanity and cabinets with a gel stain. I used Minwax in the color of Bombay Mahogany. Any gel stain will work but be cautious because some stains don't have the same outcome. 
6. After the first coat is applied to the vanity and cabinets, let it dry for about 15 mins . Reapply the stain two more times to the shade of your liking (see picture below). Let the stain dry over night and if it helps place a fan in the room to circulate the air so the fumes don't stay in the enclosed area. 

7. After the stain is dry, screw the cabinets back onto the vanity with the desired knobs/handles. Take up all the tape and paper. At this step you are finally done! Enjoy your new cabinets. This project only cost me around $22.00. If you are looking to change the appearance of your vanities without the dent in the wallet you should definitely try this!

Sunburnt?!? Quick Methods to Healing!

You just spent the entire day on the beach exposed to sunrays. You applied sunscreen but still got burnt. What next? I have to admit that I have had countless sunburns. I do use a SPF of 30-55. The key to not getting burnt is reapplying. Also it is crucial to apply it everywhere. Most people forget to apply sunscreen to their hands and feet. It is important to know that your hands and feet age the fastest and sun damage can give them an older look. When I do get sunburn especially on my face, I usually take an antihistamine (usually Benadryl) right away. There have been times when my eyes and legs became swollen from the exposure. I have really sensitive skin and if you do to, you should consider taking one. Lotions and aloes should be applied to the skin multiply times during the day. I can’t stress the application of lotions and aloes enough because they soothe and hydrate the skin. I think it is important that the lotions and aloe are basic brands that don’t have lots of chemicals or fragrances that will irritate the burnt skin. One of my favorite after sun gels that I use is the Mary Kay after sun replenishing gel. I discovered this product while I was on vacation with my boyfriend and his family. It really soothes and hydrates the burn. One bottle usually last me one summer and this product isn’t that expensive ($12). The only downfall to this product is that you have to find a Mary Kay consultant to purchase the product. This product is not convenient enough to just drive to the store when you’re burnt. You have to be prepared to buy it in advance. This has been the only product I have found that is affordable and is able to replenish my sun burnt. It doesn’t make my skin peel at all. If you haven’t tried this product, it is a must! Another important method to healing is drinking water. It will hydrate your skin and body. Let me know what you do to cure sunburn. Post your comments below!

*The pictures are from here and here.

My Daily Skin Routine

        In the morning, I start my days off by washing my face with Neutrogena's deep clean cream cleanser. I have been using this product for years now and I love it! Even when I stray away from it for a couple of months I always rediscover it. I love how cooling the product is on my face and it prevents break outs. After I wash my face, I use the Sea Breeze sensitive skin fresh-clean astringent. There are astringent's from Sea Breeze that will burn your skin when applied with other products but I haven't found the sensitive skin product a problem. This is another product that I have been using for years and I will always have it in my bathroom cabinet. After these two products I apply a face moisturizer that has an spf. The past couple of months I have been using Clinique even better skin-tone corrector. This cream has evened out my skin tone and color all around. The only downside to this product is that it is pretty pricey. When I don't use the Clinique face lotion I usually use cetaphil facial moisturiser that has an spf of 15. It is always important to have an spf in your daily lotion because your face will be protected from harmful rays. 

     At night, I start off by using a scrub that can exfoliate my face. I have been using the Aveeno positively radiant skin brightening daily scrub. I think that a scrub is the best thing to use at night because the entire day your face picks up a lot of dirt from your fingers from touching your skin and hair. After I use the scrub, I use a night cream that will hydrate my skin through out the night. The night cream that I am using right now is from Dermatouch night recovery for problem skin. I never heard of this product and it was actually given to me by my sister. After using it for 2 months now, I really like the consistency it has given my skin. My skin is very sensitive and peels. This cream hydrates my face while preventing break outs. My skin routine does change ever so often because I like to try new products. The Neutrogena's deep clean cream cleanser and Sea Breeze astringent are products that I always used. Let me know what products you use!

4th of July

        Hey guys! I just wanted to wish everyone a fun and safe 4th of July! The 4th of July consists of traditional American BBQs, fireworks and being surrounded by the people we love. As a country we have come really far and I think it is important that we further our inspirations for ourselves and each other. This 4th of July I made some homemade pasta salad. Check out the recipe below if you need something quick to throw together for a BBQ or a simple snack! Happy 4th of July!

Homemade Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

- 1 box of rotini (I usually use whole wheat)

- 1 cup of feta cheese (Any brand)

- 2 bell peppers (Any color)

- 1 cucumber

- 1 pint of cherry tomatoes (I didn't use them this time because they were rotten at the store) 

- 1/2 cup of sun flower seeds (You can use any seeds to your liking)

- 1 can of black olives

Dressing:

- 8 tablespoons olive oil

- 4 - 6 tablespoons of red wine vinegar (Depending how you like the taste)

- 2 tablespoons of dijon mustard

- 1 tablespoon of ground basal

- Salt & pepper to taste

       When I make pasta salad I always cut up all the vegetables first and place them in a large mixing bowl. Then I make the dressing for it. I like to have everything prepared so that when the pasta is done I can just throw everything together. 

         I usually cool the pasta with cold water before I mix everything together. If you do use hot pasta there is a chance you might melt the cheese. You don't have to follow this exact recipe, in fact the more you change it up with different ingredients and vegetables the better. I also recommend that you let the pasta salad sit in the fridge for a few hours before serving. This will allow the dressing to set in. I hope you like this recipe and let me know if you try it!

*I got the firework picture from here.

BB Cream

BB creams have become increasingly popular in the last several months. They have been popping up in makeup lines such as Bobbi Brown, Smashbox, Garnier, etc. This started out in Korea and it is a multi-ingredient product that contains a moisturizer, primer, foundation and SPF. When I first heard of BB cream, I decided to purchase it from Garnier. This was because many of the high-end brands didn’t come out with their version of this cream. After reading the reviews I pressured myself into buying it. The price is reasonable (around $12) when comparing how versatile this product is. The Garnier BB cream can be found at almost every drugstore (I purchased it at CVS). In my makeup routine I have substituted this cream in place of my foundation. It is a thick cream that when applied comes out very light. A lot of people use this cream as a primer to their foundation and if it works for you, try it! I have used this product for 3 months now and it has completely evened out my skin tone. The only downfall to this product is that it doesn’t conceal as much. When I need coverage in certain areas, I use a concealer on top of the cream. Also I have found that this product does make my face oily but it is easily fixed when I apply a finishing powder. After I use up my Garnier I am going to purchase another BB cream from another makeup line to see how it compares. Try this cream out and let me know how you like it. Leave a comment below if you have tried any of the other BB creams from another makeup line. 

4th of July Handmade T-Shirt

Materials:

-       Plain white T-shirt (larger than normal)

-       Scissors

-       Red and Blue Spray Paint (I just went to the hardware store down the street and got them. It didn’t even say it was okay to use on fabric and when I asked the man he started laughing. Oh well…)

-       Painter’s tape (roughly 1 inch)

       Stars (I used clip art. I made one to start and copy and pasted it 11 times on different pages. I then print and cut them out.)

 Steps:

1.    Arrange stars on white t-shirt to your liking

2.   Place tape on each star making sure that they are securely held down.

3.   Take a long strip of painters tape and cut it in half. This will be used for the edge along the stars, which makes a backwards L.

4.   Make stripes on the right side of the t-shirt going down to the bottom.

5.   When all the taping is done. Place the t-shirt on a surface (I painted my shirt in the backyard so that no fumes would stay in my house.)

6.   I used paper to cover up the parts I didn’t want the other paint on. (I didn’t even put paper on the inside and it didn’t leak through.)

7.   Spray evenly and wait a couple of hours for it to dry. (I let it dry for 4 hrs and then hand washed it by itself in the machine.)

8.   Once washed go to the link below to know how to cut it. (It took me a while to cut it to the shape I wanted.) http://youtu.be/sZlW6GspLls

***I got this idea from another blogger and you can view her blog here. ( There are more pictures that can help you make this shirt! Let me know how it comes out if you do it!)

Tips: You are going to have to wash the shirt 2-3 times before it becomes soft. 

What's your makeup style?

I recently found this post on Elle Fowler’s blog and thought this post was really fun. The thread is called Tag: What’s your makeup style? Below are the original questions and my answers are in pink. Let me know what your answers would be.

•                EEK! You’ve got five minutes to do your makeup for a date. What’s your minimum? My minimum is to focus on my eyes with eyeliner, shadow and mascara. 

•                Pick a trend—crazy cat eyeliner, super hot pink blush, or feathered false lashes? I like to go bold so I would definitely have to do the super hot pink blush.

•                If you had to either give up all makeup for two months or give up your skincare for a week, which would you pick? Skincare!

•                What beauty products are always in your purse? Lip balm, gloss, powder and eyeliner.

•                Are there any beauty products that you keep coming back to throughout the years? Yes! My Lorac eyeshadows and clinique even better skin cream.

•                Smokey eyes or red lips? Smokey eyes!

•                Lipstick or lipgloss? Both and most of the time together!

•        Are there any products that you never expected to like but ended up      loving? I absolutely love maybelline’s mascaras. Every time they come out with a new one, I guilt myself into buying it and fall in love. 

* The picture above is from here.

Soap & Glory Flake Away Scrub

   The summer is finally here and with the weather getting hotter you need to make sure the sun doesn’t dry out your skin. One product that I standby during the summer is the Soap and Glory flake away body scrub. I usually use this product after I shave my legs or when my skin starts to peel from sun exposure. It is important that you don’t apply this product to sunburn because it will irritate the skin. I usually apply it 2 weeks after sun exposure to get rid of all the dead skin. It leaves the skin feeling hydrated and smooth. I recently took a trip to New York and found all the Soap and Glory products at Sephora. This is unusual for me because living in Philadelphia none of the Sephora’s stock Soap and Glory. I usually have to order it online. I already had the flake away scrub but decided to pick up the travel size body butter. I am never disappointed with this line of body scrubs and moisturizers. The line is affordable and has such a great smell. If you haven’t tried the flake away scrub already, try it because you won’t be disappointed!

Friendly Gestures

     

      As humans, I believe that it is important that we should treat others how we would want to be treated. A simple gesture as holding the door or a smile can simply make you feel better about yourself. Every Monday, after the garbage man comes, I make the extra effort to put back my neighbor’s garbage cans. It takes less then two minutes out of my day. My neighbors just recently moved here from England and this certainly welcomes them to the neighborhood. I know that my gesture has made a difference because one Monday when I didn’t have the time, my neighbors were more then happy to put back my cans. There have been times, however, when a gesture does go unnoticed. For example I have held to the door for people and they don’t even acknowledge my existence. Even when people become rude you have to let it go because you don’t know what they might be going through. The friendly gestures that I am talking about are very small and don’t take that much effort to do. There are large gestures that one can do to make a difference as well. As long as you know that you did your best to be friendly that’s all that matters. Friendly gestures should be second nature to us. 

White Peach Sangria

  

       It’s Friday night in the summer and the best way to cool off is with some homemade white peach sangria. When the week has been so hot, such like the extreme weather we had this week, something cool is necessary. One thing I like about the summer is that I try to save money and make some fun drinks at home. Below is a recipe I used for white peach sangria. Instead of the ginger ale, I used seltzer. I used no sugar to cut down some of the calories because I didn’t feel that the sugar was necessary. I let the drink sit in my refrigerator for 8 hours because the longer sangria sits the better it is. Let me know what you think! Post below your favorite summer drink recipes. 

•               1 Bottle of white wine (Riesling, Albarino, Chablis, Gewurztraminer, Rioja, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc)

•               1/2 cup Peach Schnapps

•               1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you prefer your Sangria)

•               2 sliced peaches (frozen peach slices work well)

•               1 sliced orange

•               1/2 mango peeled and sliced

      1/2 liter of ginger ale

(http://wine.about.com/od/howwineismade/r/Whitelightsangr.htm)

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

After trying the Revlon lip butters I knew that I had to try the new Revlon just bitten kissable balm stains. I traveled to three different stores until I found the two colors I wanted from this line. I purchased two colors in 020 (Lovesick) and 035 (Charm). First off the pigmentation is very good and long lasting. This balm stain is very similar to the Tarte jumbo lip stains without the dent in your wallet. All of the sticks have a minty flavoring which feels nice on the lips. After wearing the lip stain I immediately fell in love. I am the type of girl who needs a lipstick and a gloss that moisturizes my lips. This product goes above and beyond my expectations. It is very moisturizing and at the same time gives your lips a nice look. A con that I really hate about lip products is that some products produce a sticky aftermath that gives your lips an uncomfortable feel. The Revlon balm stain produces a smooth feel to the lips. The color Charm is a color that I could certainly wear on a daily basis. Lovesick, however is a much more bold color that I would wear if I am going out at night in the city. I am defiantly going to pick up more of these lip stains and give them away as gifts to my friends. Try them out if you haven’t already, you will not be disappointed. 

Father's Day

  

      This past father's day has been the hardest I had to endure. Recently loosing my father a month and half ago I still haven't accepted it. I keep thinking that I can just pick up the phone and call him real quick to get a last minute judgement call on a problem I need fixing. Nothing in life prepares you for that moment when someone so close to you dies. Mentally you feel when that day comes you will be as strong as one could be and hold back the tears. Absolutely nothing prepares you for that moment. Everything becomes lifeless and empty when your wall is immediately torn down. What I have learned from this Father's day is that everyday should be father's day. I feel at some times we as humans naturally loose our sense of accomplishment with our family. Most of us are constantly trying to shoot for the next best thing whether it be in regards for work, school, etc. Especially in this generation with the increase of technology and applications we should take the time to value our families as a whole. I believe that when everything is taken from a person they still have the arms of their family wrapped around them. The person who I am today is from my dad and that should be remembered everyday.  Life is short, everyday and everyone should be embraced.

It's a 10!

      If I said this product was amazing, that would be an understatement. At first I was skeptical because I though how could one product have everything you need for your hair. Every one has different hair and when I heard that my sister and best friend loved this, I knew it could do wonders. My sister, Liz has crazy curly hair while my best friend, Julia has straight short hair. When I applied this product to my damp hair I was pleased with the smell of the product. It wasn't over powering or scentless. It has a light fresh scent of gardenias. 
      When I started to blow dry my hair, I really saw and felt the difference. My hair became so soft and full without the frizz. I love this leave-in treatment and I would love to try their other products in their line. The only con about this product is that it is pricey. There are however, some discount beauty stores that you can get this product for $12.00. I purchased the miracle leave-in plus keratin at CVS for $22.00, however I did have a coupon which cut the price in half. Even though this product is higher in price it surely does feel like you just came back from the salon. I highly recommend that every girl should have this product in their bathroom cabinet.