Wednesday Review

So Sorry that I am getting this post up a little late today.  Brooks finally went to bed so now I have time to write it.  I have been thinking all day about what product I wanted to do for my Wednesday review.  I have been using a lot of great stuff lately so it was hard to find just one thing that I wanted to share.  We have been trying to get so much stuff done before we leave for vacation so I haven't had a lot of time to blog

Wednesday's weekly review is......

Make Up Forever- Ultra HD Concealer

This new concealer from Make Up Forever has been getting so much hype and for good reason..it really is the best.  I used to use the MAC studio concealer for years and I still do use it on my face from time to time but I really don't have a whole lot of use for a true concealer anymore.  I like to use concealer for my under eye area as a bit of a dark circle corrector and also as a brightener.  I was finding that my MAC was a little to thick and would settle into my creases by the end of the day.

It took me a little bit to get my hands on this product. I was so so excited to try it and I wanted to make sure that I got it just right.  I didn't want to buy it online without trying out the different shades in the store.  Make Up Forever has the BEST shade range, I am always able to find my shade perfectly.  Last week I went to the mall and had assistance picking my most perfect shade.  The shade that I was color matched for was actually the shade I thought I was going to match into.  I think I am finally figuring out my perfect shade with Make Up Forever.

My perfect shade was the R22 for light to medium skin tones,  it is a little light on my skin but perfect for an under eye concealer and brightener!  I hope this helps if any of you are looking at this product and trying to decide what shade to get.  I would go with something that you think is a little lighter then your foundation if you intend to use it like I do.

I have been applying the product using a small beauty blender under my eye but honestly dotting it on and then using my finger to blend it in gave me the same results.  I bought the little beauty blenders thinking that it would make a difference and they really don't but I will continue to use them with it so that I feel like I bought them for a purpose! 

The formula is really pigmented so a little bit goes a long way, like all Make Up Forever products.  All you need to do is squeeze out the tinniest amount and dab it on the area you plan to use the product.  I like to do my foundation first and then touch up my under eye area.  So far this new product has exceeded my expectations and once again deepened my love for Make Up Forever!

I am really really looking forward to getting the new sculpting palette! 

Make Up Forever- Sephora

First I do Yoga, Then I do Things.

I tried something new!  This week I attended a Barre class at my yoga studio before my usual Aerial Yoga class.  What a great work out! I did Barre from 5:30-6:30 and then Aerial from 6:45-7:45.  Best work out combination because you had the strength training and stretching from a Barre class and then the stretching, relaxing and fun from Aerial.  Perfect Monday night if you ask me!

I had never taken a Barre class before and did little research on it before attending, I just kind of went without really knowing what to expect.  There was only 1 other girl in the class with me, which was absolutely awesome! Our instructor Rose is great and she tailored the class to fit exactly what we wanted to do and work on.  Practicing in front of a mirror was wonderful.  I felt like I could really work on my positioning and technique.  You know those pictures that float around pinterest and youtube where they say "what I think I look like and what I actually look like", this was a little like that.  

For those of you who haven't taken a Barre class before it really isn't as intimidating as it sounds.  There is A LOT of leg work but you don't need to be flexible.  You build your flexibility slowly.  Barre is more about strengthening your legs and core in a way that feels graceful and controlled.  The nice part is while your taking the class you don't really feel how much of a workout your legs are getting...that hits you later and for me it was during Aerial.

I brought my friend Mindy with me to Aerial for her first time and she did AMAZING!  I really love when I invite new people to join and they really enjoy the class and want to come back.  Best Surprise ever! My best friend Sam showed up! I had no idea she was coming she was getting home from a trip earlier so that absolutely made my night.   Aerial is so much fun when you go with friends.  You can applaud each other on accomplishments, try new things and laugh at each other when you have an epic Aerial fail like I did that night.

After Barre I was already feeling warmed up and my muscles were loose so I thought great I can really get a deep stretch going tonight.  I didn't realize how bad my legs really hurt until we were practicing warrior 1 and warrior 2 in the silks.  With every squat and lean into the stretch my legs felt like they were on fire.  Thankfully at the end of class Rose commented that her legs were dying also and then I didn't feel so lame.  I really think I was walking funny even the next day my legs and inner thighs were hurting for sure.

So let me tell you about my epic Aerial Yoga fail moment.  This is what I get for trying to be cool and keeping up with the girl behind me who is Fantastic at Aerial!  I don't even know if I can explain what I was attempting to do.  You have to start in a hip hang and then wrap your leg around the fabric.  Then you pull yourself up in the silks and flip yourself over so that your upper body is wrapped in the silk.  I am not explaining it in a way that makes any sense.  I will master this eventually and then share a picture of what it is supposed to look like and maybe a video so we can see how close I was at explaining it! Anyway I got myself really stuck when I was trying to wrap my body around and ended up flipping towards the floor.  I was able to catch myself and ended up so tangled with the biggest wedgie imaginable!  I don't even remember how I was able to get myself untangled but it did take awhile.  Sam was super helpful by taking pictures and laughing at me haha.  Now we just have a really funny story to tell.

Wednesday Review.. Lush Bath Bomb!

One of my most favorite past times when I finally get a few seconds to myself usually at the end of the day when Brooks goes to bed is taking a relaxing bath.  Wether I had a great day or a stressful day a bath always feels needed.

This week I used the Sakura Bath Bomb by LUSH and I must say it may be my new favorite!

Sakura

This is one of the most subtle and relaxing bath bombs that I have tried from LUSH.  If you are expecting this bomb to turn your water crazy colors or make fun bubbles then this isn't the one for you.  This bomb is white in color but has light green and pink ( I call them pop rocks) on the top that seem to make a sizzling sound while your bomb is dissolving. 

The smell is WONDERFUL.  It is so relaxing and gets you in the mood for spring.  If you close your eyes its almost as if your laying in a warm field of flowers.  The scent of this bath bomb is a sweet floral, not rosey smell but a great mixture of all kinds of flowers that you can't really exactly put your finger on.

Sakura is made with the scents of Lemon, Orange Flower, Jasmine and Gardenia Oils.  I love the smell of Gardenia's so maybe that is why I was loving this bomb.  The featured ingredient is Mimosa Absolute which is a yellow flower that almost looks fuzzy is a good way to describe it.  Absolutely beautiful.  My skin smelled and felt amazing all night.  It has all the same moisturizing qualities that you would expect from any LUSH product.

Sakura Bath Bomb- LUSH

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Mommy Moments

Finally its nap time!  I probably only have about 30 minutes left in quiet nap time bliss before the tiny human decides to wake up and wants a snack.  Always the first thing he thinks of upon waking up.. "Snack please".  Its pretty cute.

I think I just about got done everything quick that I wanted to.  Mailed some things, emptied the dishwasher, showered and got ready, updated our calendar for the month.  I think thats a pretty successful nap time so far.

I need to vent about an experience I had about a week ago.. I think it was roughly around there.  We are hitting the terrible two's currently at age 18 months and the thing Brooks seems to hate the most right now is sitting in his carseat!  It is such a struggle sometimes to get him to sit and strap him in.  I try everything that I can possibly think of, I let him watch youtube on my phone, I bribe him with snacks and toys.  I take him out, give him a big hug and sit him back in.. nope nothing the kid refuses to sit.  Sometimes I literally have to lay across him and wrestle him into his seat kicking and screaming.

There is no rhyme or reason to when he is going to have a carseat melt down either.  I wish I knew what things set him off to go into full hatred for the carseat.  One time I can just pick him up and sit him down to get buckled without any issue at all and the next its tantrum city!  He is completely unpredictable.

So the other day I had taken him to run some errands with me.  We went to target, the pet stores and he was being so good that I pushed it and took him with me to go buy some wine (ironically I probably ended up drinking the whole bottle that night after this incident).  He was so good when we were in the store and everyone was commenting on how well behaved he was.  We shopped and checked out without any issue at all.  I am carrying him to the car and it is about 4:30 in the afternoon, he asks me for "Pizza".  I said "Sure Huni! as soon as we get home I will make Pizza for dinner".  I open the car door and he loses his little mind!  He arches his back and starts screaming, protesting his carseat screaming "Pizza" at the top of his lungs"  I try reasoning with him (useless) reassuring him that when we get home I will make the pizza right away and telling him we need to go home in order to have the pizza.  Nope, nothing. 

15 minutes later he is still screaming and I am still trying to coax him into his car seat (I was against laying on him at this point in time but I got over that REAL FAST!).  I am standing there begging him to sit down and promising him all sorts of outrageous things when this older women taps me on the shoulder.  At first I was so thankful, maybe he will sit for someone else.  WRONG! She wasn't there to help me at all.  

She gives me a dirty look and says "Is he even YOURS".  Seriously how rude can you be!  It took all I could to politely say (because small child was listening) that he wouldn't sit in his carseat and thanked her for her concern (in a sarcastic tone of course).  

First! Can I remark again how absolutely RUDE this was!  Even before I had a child I would NEVER say anything like this to someone and would always offer to help!  Second, my son looks IDENTICAL to me..maybe she needed stronger glasses.  And finally,  honestly if I was going to steal a child I would NEVER pick steal a child who was in the middle of a tantrum.  Seriously who wants to steal a bad child (not that my child is bad in any means but he was acting like a brat in that moment).  If I had actually "Stolen" him, I would have quickly returned him to his parents if he was throwing a tantrum like that!

How did I finally get him in his carseat you might wonder.... I caved and called Morgan.  He had to come and rescue me... and you know what was the icing on the cake! Brooks saw him... gave him a big hug and then let Morgan place him perfectly in his car seat and said "Home now".

Ok Rant over, Thank you for listening :) 

February Favorites

February is almost over and that means we are one month closer to springtime and nicer weather!  

The end of February also means that it is almost time to leave for Costa Rica!  My countdown is soon getting down into the single digits.

Last month I felt like it was a little hard to just pick 5 things that I have been loving but this month it took me no time at all.  When I sat down to start thinking about my favorites blog I knew right away everything that I wanted to include.  Maybe its because this month is the shortest so I have had fewer days to use things or I have just been using some really great stuff this month that I'm excited to share.

February Favorites!

#5- Sweet Onion Salsa from Target
Ok I know this isn't a beauty item,,, but it is beautiful to my stomach!  I am addicted to this salsa and will literally eat all of it in one sitting if I wouldn't be ashamed of myself for doing that.  Actually I don't know if I would be ashamed I just don't have the time to sit and eat an entire container of salsa.. I wish I did though!  Pick some up you will love it.

#4- Beachwood by Yankee Candle

Beachwood candle

Probable one of my favorite scents from Yankee.  It is soft but not subtle you can definitely tell throughout your house that you are burning this candle.  Perfect for pre-spring with its light floral and sandalwood scent.  For me this is my comfort smell candle.  I have so many wonderful memories associated with this scent.  When Morgan and I first started dating his apartment smelled SO BAD from whatever he left in the fridge so I bought him this candle because he didn't want anything that "smelled girly".  He loves this scent.  Him or I would burn it all the time in his apartment and whenever I smell this candle burning in our house that we own together now it just brings back all those happy memories from our beginning.

#3 Lululemon headband

Lululemon

I am in love with everything Lululemon and its not just because of the brand name... their stuff is just really good quality.  My hair is not super thin but its not very thick and maybe my head is just a crazy shape but normal sports headbands just don't stay in my hair.  I wear the lululemon headbands to Aerial yoga and they still never fall off.  

#2 Dandelion Shy Beam Highlight from benefit!

Benefit Liquid Highlighter

I got this as a deluxe sample from Sephora and already have the full size in my cart to purchase.  What an awesome product from benefit! I also am a fan of the Watts Up highlight but this one is just subtle and beautiful.  What I really like to do with this is use it right along my brow line and even in the creases of my eye.  It looks beautiful when paired against eye shadow.  I haven't used it as a highlight for my face.. I'm sure it would be perfect but I still can't go a day without using my Laura Mercier highlight.

#1! Tony Moly Eye Brightening Base

Brightening Base

So I definitely bought this product because of the packaging.  That panda is so stinking cute and looks adorable sitting with my make-up on top of our vanity in the bathroom.  This stuff is really awesome for perking up your under eye area.  Its a light white color when you rub the stick on but then quickly blends into your skin.  I just use my finger to rub it in on my under eye area.  Its like magic... like you have slept for 8 solid hours plus!  Perfect for those days when your late for work..or up all night with a toddler who refuses to sleep.

Happy End to February! Here's to hoping that March brings more happy memories and good weather!

What's in my Birchbox.. February

I've had a Birchbox subscription for about 7 months now.  Its always exciting to see what the box will look like for that month and what your samples are going to be like.  I'm always about 50/50 on my box, I get some good things and then others I give away if I am not interested in the product. Its always hit or miss and to me thats the fun part!

I love seeing posts from other Birchbox subscribers about what was in their Birchbox that month and what products they were loving or hating as well.  I really think the actual box is my favorite part.  They are always so brightly colored and fun.  I have a collection of my boxes in our bedroom, not sure what I am going to do with them yet but I'll figure that out.

Here is what was in my February Birchbox and my thoughts on the products.. the good and the bad!

Malin+Goetz Clarifying clay Mask- LOVE THIS!  I can be pretty picking when it comes to masks.  I have tried the best of the best and I have high standards when comparing masks.  So when I say something is good then it really is worth spending the time and money on.  I've gotten 2 uses out of the sample and I think that is pretty decent.  The mask is light and dries on your skin in 10 minutes.  What I love is you can't really tell when its dry without touching it.. Your aren't going to feel that cracky feeling like some masks make you feel when they dry.  Great for exfoliation and leaves your skin looking refreshed and pretty.  No harsh smell either thats an A+

Coola Tinted Matte SPF30 for Face-  I'm skeptical I give this about a C.  I really didn't find that it evened my skin tone or gave me face a matte finish.  I wouldn't switch by BB cream that I currently use for this product.  Overall I haven't been a fan of any Coola products.

Juara Candlenut Body Creme- YUM! This moisturizer smells amazing!  Very fresh spring/summer scent that lasts on your skin.  Absorbs quick without leaving oily residue. A+ I am going to be purchasing the full size!

Klorane Tinted Dry Shampoo for brunettes- No Thank you... This product make my hair feel dry and flat and I swear you could see the residue left behind from the product. I couldn't wash this out of my hair fast enough...kind of defeats the purpose of dry shampoo.  I would rather my hair look Oily then have everyone be able to see the specks from my dry shampoo.  Sorry this is very honest.  Living Proof has the best Dry Shampoo!

ModelCo Lip Enhancer Illusion Lip Liner- I am on the fence about this product also.  The color was a very pretty wearable pink and looked very natural.  However I thought the product was a little rough.. at first I put it on and it scraped my lips a bit.  I thought if I wore it down then it would soften up a bit.  Wrong.. I really want to like this product and I think that I do and I would purchase it if they either changed the formula or the packaging.

 * All these products can be purchased directly from the Birchbox website * Birchbox

I rate this Birchbox 2.5/5 maybe throw in another .5 of a point because the box was so cute.  Can't wait for March!

Mascara madness

The other day I got a super sweet email from a follower and one thing she asked me was if there was one make-up item I could not live without what would it be? My answer is : MASCARA! 

  Honestly if I wear nothing else on my face I will always wear mascara at all times!  I don't like my lashes to look fake but I think mascara is one of those things that just makes you look pretty.  The first thing I seem to always look at when looking at other people is their eye lashes. It amazes me how you can get so many different looks from different Mascaras.

   So here is my list of top favorite Mascaras for different occasions. 

Best Every Day 

Make Up Forever- Smokey Extravagant Mascara

Make Up Forever

 I'm a nurse in a crazy Emergency department, I work 12 hour shifts and never really bother spending too much time getting ready in the morning because it will all be ruined in the first 30 minutes of working guaranteed.  But what I love about this mascara is that it goes on effortlessly in 10 seconds and looks great all day.  I never have smearing or raccoon eyes at the end of the day.  It makes my eye lashes look defined but natural and acceptable for going to work.  Best part is that it removes easily with just normal washing of my face at the end of the day when I am ultimately exhausted.  I have been using this product for years... That's saying something. 

Gold star.. Blue Ribbon whatever it is Make Up Forever wins it with their mascara! 

Best Water Proof

Tarte- Lights Camera Splashes

Tarte

 My best water proof mascara award goes to Tarte.  This mascara is truly water proof not just water resistant like I've found in a lot of other Mascaras that say they are "Water proof".  I have worn this on many vacations, in the pool, the ocean, sweating on the beach.. Doesn't matter my mascara won't budge.  True test to this: I even wore this to my best friends wedding where I cried like a baby.. And still looked fabulous doing it! 

Most Dramatic

Too Faced- Better Than Sex

Too Faced

Is this really better than Sex?? Honestly, probably depends on who your partner is haha for me currently no way but prior I would have to say heck yes it is! If you are looking for very full, dramatic looking lashes then this is for you! Make sure you spend the time to do it right or you will end up with clumps.

Best Date Night

Urban Decay- Perversion

Urban Decay

Urban decay really does not have any product that I haven't liked.  Perversion is my favorite go to date night mascara.  Perfect for when you want to look perfect but not over the top.  This mascara will give you well defined, volumized and BLACK lashes! I love how deeply black the formula is.  It's a very wet formula also which makes it very easy to work with and build up!

Splurge Mascara

CHANEL- Le Volume De Chanel Mascara

CHANEL

If you want to feel a little fancy then give this mascara a try!  It is the best sophisticated, black and volumizing look that you can get.  This mascara is everything that you would think of when you hear the name Chanel.  It is sleek and classy with elegance.  The best part is the packaging! It comes in the cutest little black bag that is perfect for packing earrings in on trips.  This was the first mascara I have ever worn and I do think that my high standard for mascara are all because of this.

Best Primer

Benefit- They're Real Tinted Lash Primer

Benefit

I am in Love Love Love with this product! I have this in the brown currently because sometimes I like to wear this alone for a real natural look.  The formula is so perfect that it goes on effortlessly and never makes your mascara clump overtop.  It helps to lengthen your lashes and assists in easy mascara application over top.  Honestly this primer works great with whatever brand or type of mascara you choose to place overtop.  I will never be without this product! Way to go Benefit!