tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23287693345158672952024-03-05T18:04:19.610-08:00Things We Love/Things We Don'tLa Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-84679586710160031452013-04-11T06:58:00.002-07:002013-04-11T06:58:26.936-07:00Garnier Skin Renew BB CreamI've been wanting to jump on the BB Cream bandwagon for a while now. It took a good friend to post some before and after shots of her face before I got serious about it. She introduced me to <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/22150899?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem">Garnier's Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector for Combination to Oily Skin.</a><br />
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The Highlights:<br />
<ul>
<li>Affordable - Average price is $12</li>
<li>Contains SPF 20 sunscreen</li>
<li>Non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, oil-free, and non-greasy</li>
<li>Provides light/medium coverage for those of you who have flawless skin</li>
<li>Will purchase again - replaced my current foundation primer</li>
</ul>
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My skin type: I have a mess of a face. I don't say that to be funny. It's actually quite irritating LOL. I have an oily forehead, and chin. My t-zone is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It really does flip-flop its oil quantities on a whim. I have hormonal issues as well, so sometimes, my face decides to throw in a little cystic acne. With that said, I have areas that require heavy coverage. I purchased the light/medium formula in oil-free. I had no expectations that this BB cream would act as a foundation for me.</div>
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Not all BB creams are created equal, and if you are considering purchasing a BB cream, I'd be happy to shed some light on the subject. BB creams are <b>NOT </b>foundation. Let us be very clear on that. BB creams are actually closer to foundation primer or tinted moisturizer, but some of us are blessed enough to be able to use BB creams as foundation. At most, you will only get medium coverage from a BB cream. I've read many web reviews of BB creams, and it is clear that many are confused as to what a BB cream actually is. Main complaints have been the lack of coverage. Well, that is because a BB cream is <b>NOT </b>a foundation. My only caveat is if you already have flawless, healthy skin and can get away with light coverage. The handful of friends I know that can put on BB cream, dust with powder, and walk out the door are fair skinned with no blemishes.</div>
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Garnier advertises their BB cream as a "miracle skin perfector". It claims to even tone, hydrate, renew, protect, and brighten. No where on the bottle, or packaging, does it advertise itself as a foundation, or boasts claims of "coverage". I'm driving this point home because I want you to make an educated decision on the type of product you need so that you can have realistic expectations of the product you're purchasing. I'd hate for you to waste money because you heard you can use it as foundation, and then be disappointed with the results.</div>
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With that said, let us go back to the Garnier product and hit up its claims:</div>
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<ol>
<li>Evens tone - I immediately saw a difference. It was a bigger difference than the expensive foundation primer I was using. It also reduced redness that I wasn't aware I had.</li>
<li>Hydrates - Yes. I have noticed that my dry spots have become more tame.</li>
<li>Renew - I honestly cannot verify this claim for you. I can say that my skin feels more moisturized and healed since I started using this product in place of my former primer. My problem areas seem to be doing better, but I cannot fully account that to the BB cream.</li>
<li>Protect - It contains SPF 20. I'm going to assume that it protects.</li>
<li>Brighten - I honestly cannot verify this claim, either. I have to apply foundation on top of the BB cream, so any brightening effects have been compromised.</li>
</ol>
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With all the above in consideration, I definitely recommend this product. It is a great product at a great price point. It performs well as a primer. I feel like my skin breathes better in comparison to my old primer. It is also a significant savings vs. my other primer and has better benefits for my skin. I have also been able to retire my moisturizer, and I don't have to worry about sunscreen products because it already has SPF 20 in it.</div>
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The only thing I would change with this product is the consistency and the SPF level. It is pretty thin, even for a moisturizer. I wish it had the consistency of a light facial lotion, and not like hot, liquid foundation. My dermatologist recommends 50 SPF for my face, so it would be nice to have a higher SPF rating, but 20 should be okay if I wear a hat.<br />
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If you are looking for "full coverage" or "pore reducing", this is not the product for you. BB creams, at the most, give medium coverage when layered. Due to the thin consistency, this product does not fill in pores like a primer. If you are looking for a product that will help give you an airbrushed look, turn to a true primer.<br />
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I apologize that I have no pictures to support my claims. I took some with my iPhone and as you can image, the quality was pretty poor and you really couldn't see the big difference it made before and after. I just haven't had the time to break out my DSLR and take good before/after pictures. I may amend this review to add pictures at a later date.</div>
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La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-11328542899169613882013-03-20T09:10:00.000-07:002013-03-20T09:12:46.979-07:00Julep Polish - Great Customer ServiceAs mentioned in my previous post, I ran into an unfortunate situation with my March Maven box and felt a separate post was needed.<br />
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I was so excited when I received my March Maven box. It's like Christmas, y'all. The packaging is always so fun filled with crinkled paper in a black box. I purchased the "classic with a twist" style profile. My box came with two polishes, Simone and Debra. Simone is described as a "<a href="http://www.julep.com/simone.html">soft pastel lilac opalescent shimmer</a>". Debra is described as a, "<a href="http://www.julep.com/debra.html">smoky taupe creme</a>". Also enclosed, I received their <a href="http://www.julep.com/rock-star-hand-creme.html">Rock Star hand creme</a> and a courtesy tube of their strawberry-mint lip balm. Unfortunately, you'll have to stone me. I didn't take any pictures.<br />
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After work, I rushed home to delve into my polishes. I opened Simone and there was something intensely wrong with the formula. I would describe it as "old". It was thick, gooey, and streaky. I didn't even finish one hand. I immediately removed it because it was so thick on the first coat.<br />
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Determined not to ruin my excitement, I opened up Debra. It wasn't as bad as Simone, but something was definitely wrong with the formula. Again, it seemed like a very old bottle of polish, if you can imagine that consistency. I was barely able to complete a manicure with Debra. Drying time took forever due to the thickness, and some nails had thin spots I couldn't control. I could have applied a second coat, but one coat was really thick enough. You can hold onto your rocks and stones, I actually took a picture.<br />
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You can visibly see that the polish is heavy in the bottle. It has already sunk from the top showing empty space.You can see that the polish is so heavy, it can't even stick to the inside of the bottle. This was one coat and there is visible unevenness. You can see it on my pointer and middle finger.<br />
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When my manicure with Debra was complete, I tried my Rock Star hand creme. The statement on the tube claims, "Anti-aging, emollient blend of shea butter, glycerin, coconut oil, and vitamin E keeps hands hydrated, even after washing. This non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula will leave you cheering for an encore. Rock on."<br />
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I was pleasantly surprised. It is a very nice hand creme. I keep it in my purse. I am a paralegal and deal with a lot of paper. This means dry hands. This creme holds up nicely. It lives up to most of its claims. It is supposed to be anti-aging, but I don't notice any change. It does keep hands hydrated. I can get 1-2 washes before feeling the need to replenish. It is non-greasy and does absorb fast. Will I spend $16.00 when I run out? I'm on the fence. It is definitely a very well formulated hand creme, but the thought of spending $16.00 makes my wallet weep. I'll have to keep track of how long a bottle lasts me to make a final determination.<br />
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After a few days, the dissatisfaction with the polishes I received festered. I finally got up the nerve to complain. Side note: I am an easy going person. I really don't like to complain, but I will.<br />
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I sent an email and within a day, I received a response. While I won't copy and paste my complaint or their responses, my complaint was light-hearted and basically stated that the formulas were not top-notch. I let them know that I wasn't looking for replacements, since I like the colors, but did not "love" them. I relayed that I would thin the polishes out on my own and that I just wanted to inform them in case they do have a storage/formulation issue. Side note: I don't "expect" a company to replace anything or offer me anything in return. I also don't demand compensation. I feel if you have to demand it, then you need to switch brands.<br />
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In their response, they apologized for the quality control issue and offered to send me another polish from their March collection. I obviously accepted the polish and responded with a thank you. I should be receiving Catherine any day.<br />
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The speed of their response, and the quality of Julep's generosity should be noted. I definitely felt like they wanted to get it right, and stand behind their product. Nowadays, that is a very hard quality to find.La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-39172936163917043852013-03-19T12:49:00.000-07:002013-03-20T08:05:18.864-07:00The Julep Maven Subscription ServiceFirst and foremost, I apologize for the LONG hiatus. Hopefully, I will have more time to post reviews. As stated on the very front of my blog, I am just a regular person with a regular job and raising a family. I wish I could be a more consistent and frequent blogger, but alas. Real life comes first :) With that said, I have discovered the wonderful world of Julep nail polish!<br />
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<b>What is the Julep Maven subscription service?</b><br />
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The Julep Maven subscription service is similar to the ever-growing "beauty box" subscription services. It is a way to pay a monthly fee and receive a variety of product at a discounted price. While Julep is heavily known for their nail polishes, they also offer various beauty products. The monthly rate for becoming a Julep Maven is $19.99 for a monthly box valued at $40.00. For simplicity, I urge you to read the <a href="http://www.julep.com/maven-faq.html#monthly-cost">Maven FAQs</a>.<br />
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<b>How does it work?</b><br />
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I am going to be very general, so if there is something you do not understand, I urge you to visit <a href="http://www.julep.com/">www.julep.com</a> for some self-educating.<br />
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Julep has a style quiz that you take. It will assign you a style profile. Currently, they have the following style profiles:<br />
<ul>
<li>Modern Beauty - You receive two full sized body products.</li>
<li>Boho Glam - You receive two limited-edition nail colors and one full-sized beauty product.</li>
<li>Bombshell - You receive two limited-edition nail colors and one full-sized beauty product.</li>
<li>Classic with a Twist - You receive two limited-edition nail colors and one full-sized beauty product.</li>
<li>It Girl - You receive three limited-edition nail colors in every box.</li>
</ul>
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Don't like the style profile they give you? No problem. They allow you to change it at any time.</div>
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Once you pick a style profile, you get to choose your introductory box. They also offer "add-on" items for a discounted price when you check out. When I ordered my introductory box, they were offering many polishes at $4.99 (reg. price $14.00).</div>
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Unfortunately, this was the only picture I took at the time, and it is iPhone quality. I apologize for that. My intro box came with two polishes, and the Essential Cuticle Oil. I added on the Quick Dry Polish Drops and two of the polishes for $4.99 each! The lip balm was enclosed as a gift (I assume since I didn't order it).<br />
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On the 20th of each month, you will receive an email informing you that the contents of the next Maven box are revealed. You are provided a link, and from there, you can decide whether to stick with your style profile, try a different style profile, skip the month, or send your box to a friend. They give you until the 24th to make your selection. If you do not skip, or cancel by the end of the 24th, you will be charged on the 27th. It really is that simple.<br />
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The March Maven box was a bit of a disappointment for me, but more on that in a different post. Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of my March Maven box. It contained two polishes and their Rock Star hand creme. It also contained a really nice strawberry lip balm.<br />
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<b>Is it worth it?</b><br />
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As a nail polish lover, I say yes! I am still a new Julep Maven, but I have loved every moment. During my short time as a subscriber with Julep, they have provided excellent customer service, and have provided quality boxes containing a great value.<br />
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Mystery boxes. It's like Vegas, except better. Julep offers mystery boxes. This month's Spring Mystery box was $24.99 with a guaranteed $70-200 worth of product. Also, one lucky purchaser will open up their box to a pair of 3/4 carat diamond earrings! Sadly, I only received the lower end of the price guarantee, but it was still a bargain. I received four polishes, a nail wipe sample, three hair ties, an emery board, and pomegranate body creme.<br />
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Without going into too much detail since this post is mainly about the boxes, I will say that I am satisfied by the nail polish quality. More about that in a following post.<br />
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Julep's generosity is unmatched, in my opinion. Every month, Julep sends out "golden" boxes to lucky customers. They have also been known to randomly select items from your wishlist and mail you one. Tales of their excellent customer service can be found by browsing their Facebook page. I'd recommend giving the Julep Maven program a try.<br />
<br />La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-85235134807111094932012-02-14T11:50:00.000-08:002012-02-14T11:50:32.718-08:00Facial Care Review: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily MoisturizerI have a good friend who is a dermatologist. When I was shopping for a new moisturizer, she told me, "Neutrogena is really the best. You want SPF 30 or higher."<br />
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Well, you can't go wrong with a recommendation from a dermatologist, right? I immediately went out and purchased a tube of <a href="http://www.neutrogena.com/product/healthy+defense-+daily+moisturizer+spf+50.do?sortby=ourPicks">Neutrogena's Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50 with Helioplex.</a><br />
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Highlights:<br />
<ul>
<li>SPF 50</li>
<li>Affordable - Less than $15 for a 1.7 ounce tube</li>
<li>Super Greasy</li>
<li>Will probably NOT purchase another</li>
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I wanted to love this product since it was dermatologist recommended, BUT I don't. This product advertises that it is not greasy. WRONG. It is like applying sunscreen to your face. I think if you have oily skin, this is not the choice for you. I used the entire tube to make sure, but yeah. It caused breakouts along my chin, and hairline. I would not recommend this product for oily skin. This would definitely be better for dry skin that needs that extra moisturizer.</div>La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-49143568351867681122012-01-26T18:27:00.000-08:002012-02-14T11:50:50.032-08:00Makeup Review: Maybelline New York Color Tattoo by EyestudioI was shopping in Walgreens when this new Maybelline display caught my eye. It was a display with bold cream shadows in glass pots. The display picture had the model in a bright, sparkly teal. To read more about this product, visit their <a href="http://www.maybelline.com/products/164/eyes/eye-shadow/eye-studio-color-tattoo-24hr-cream-gel-shadow/tenacious-teal/40?shadeId=917&cm_mmc=LabeliumSearch-_-GoogleBrand-_-MNY+Eyes-_-color%20tattoo%20maybelline&gclid=COvt_rWA760CFWdeTAodp2zXqw">website</a>. I was able to curb the temptation, but ended up purchasing a pot from Target. I purchased #30 - Pomegranate Punk.<br />
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The Highlights:<br />
<ul>
<li>Long lasting</li>
<li>Blends well</li>
<li>Creamy texture</li>
<li>Reasonably priced - I paid $6.99 at Target</li>
<li>Probably will NOT purchase more</li>
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First, I will apologize for not having enough pictures. It is something I will try to remember when I intend to review something. </div>
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I woke up for work and decided to give the 24 hour Color Tattoo the 10 hour work day trial. I applied the Pomegranate Punk with a brush. I will admit, I think it is pretty gross to shove your fingers in makeup. I tend to avoid makeup in pots for hygienic reasons. Anyhow, I kept my look simple. I applied it to the entire lid and blended a matte flesh colored highlight downward. I did blend with my fingertip. Blending with a brush was nearly impossible. The brush would catch on the texture of the shadow. My hands were thoroughly washed before blending. Sorry, I have no pictures.</div>
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Overall, my impression is negative.</div>
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The positive - This eye shadow is long lasting. I do think it will live up to its 24 claim, but more opinion on that to follow. The product was easy to apply. It had good texture. It can be used as a liner. The price is right. Other beauty bloggers, which I am not, is claiming this product as a MAC paint pot dupe. I can't say whether it is or isn't. Besides price, value, and lasting wear -- I can't really like this product.</div>
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My first complaint was the color. When I flip my jar over, I see this beautiful plum color with shimmer. When I applied the shadow, it was more brown. This could be my skin tone. It could be a million other factors. I can certainly say, it was not the color I see at the bottom of the jar.</div>
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The swatch - As you can see, when I applied the cream shadow on top of Shadow Insurance, it really pronounced the sparkle in the shadow. It almost has a gold sheen. I had to apply A LOT to get this color. It wasn't picking up the plum color. Without Shadow Insurance, the color is very brown, not plum. This is what I had on my eyelids. Not the rich plum, purple hue of a pomegranate. Again, I had to apply a ton of product to get this dark color. I don't think you should have to apply supporting shadow to get the color you want. I fear this product is no more than a colored base.</div>
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I have never tried a cream shadow, and I am fairly certain I will probably not purchase another. I had to build the color very heavily to get the color coverage to match what was staring at me in the jar. I could feel the weight on my lids. It wasn't like taping quarters to my eyelids, but there was a weight difference in comparison to mineral shadows.</div>
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This is NOT a solution for oily lids. I have oily lids and I can say by the end of my work day, there was a change in consistency, and color. The shimmer had disappeared. I am sure I could have applied a primer, but I see no point in adding more weight to my lids. I felt this shadow all day. Especially when I blinked. I am sure this could be solved by a lighter application and more blending; however, we purchase certain bold colors to be bold. It was my experience that in order to achieve the somewhat plum color, I really had to cake it on.</div>
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24 Hour Claim - As mentioned earlier, I think this product will last 24 hours and not budge. Honestly, I don't see why you would need this to last 24 hours. It seems a bit ridiculous to me. This will NOT come off with soap and water if used directly on the skin. The shadow over primer came off by 75%. The only way this could be removed effectively is with makeup remover and/or makeup removing cloths. I have cloths and the shadow came off with a bit of scrubbing.</div>
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I think overall, I am just not a fan of cream/pot shadows. This might be the bigger issue and this may be an unfair review. There are some positives, but I don't see this being a part of my makeup routine. If you're looking for a long lasting product, this is for you. Honestly, I would rather stick to primers and loose mineral shadows.</div>
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<br />La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-35664652518189000682012-01-17T19:01:00.000-08:002012-01-17T19:01:08.121-08:00Culinary Product Review: KRAFT Fresh Take in Cheddar Jack & BaconI was on my way home and needed something for dinner. I went to Walmart with no dinner idea in mind. That's right. I walked into the store with ZERO inspiration. When I was about to give up and just grab one of their take-and-bake pizzas, I remembered seeing something on my last shopping trip. I headed toward the cheeses. Hanging with the cheeses was KRAFT's new Fresh Take line of coatings. For nutritional information and product information, you can visit<a href="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/Products/ProductInfoDisplay.aspx?SiteId=1&Product=2100003078"> KRAFT's website</a>.<div>
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I grabbed a package of KRAFT's Fresh Take in Cheddar Jack & Bacon. It is classified as a cheese breadcrumb mixture.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cr9lXYW6PLU/TxYybW5cgeI/AAAAAAAAE5s/Um1aMBjXtvg/s1600/P1020423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cr9lXYW6PLU/TxYybW5cgeI/AAAAAAAAE5s/Um1aMBjXtvg/s400/P1020423.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Highlights:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Done in 30 minutes</li>
<li>Cost effective</li>
<li>Crispy and flavorful</li>
<li>Will purchase again</li>
</ul>
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According to the package - This system is supposed to coat 6 pieces of meat. It claims you can coat chicken, pork, or fish. I purchased four thinly sliced pieces of chicken. There was definitely enough mixture for two more pieces.</div>
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When you open the package, you will find the instructions printed on the enclosed zippered pouch. You are instructed to break the seal in the middle and mix the bacon mixture with the cheese mixture. I had no problem breaking the middle seal. The instructions say to rinse the meat. I used an egg wash instead. Be warned. The mix is not ready to eat. The packaging tells you to not eat this mixture without cooking. If you are going to use an egg wash, definitely DO NOT reuse in anyway and make sure to wash all surfaces properly. </div>
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The instructions are simple and easy to follow. You toss the chicken piece in some egg, toss it in the pouch, and then place on a properly prepared baking sheet. I covered my sheet with non-stick foil. It is a wonderful product for something like this. The instructions say to use a sprayed cookie sheet. Forego the mess and invest in some non-stick foil.</div>
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Here is what the chicken looks like after coating. The coating will not completely cover the chicken. Don't be worried. You are instructed to put extra topping on top.<br />
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28 minutes later, this is what came out of the oven:<br />
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The verdict: I will definitely purchase this again. I was able to get dinner on the table in 30 minutes. I made mashed potatoes while the chicken was baking. My son LOVED it. The texture was better than any oven baked chicken I have done. It was actually crispy. You can hear the crunch when I made the initial cut. The chicken inside was moist. As for the flavor, it had that slight hint of fake bacon, but it wasn't bad. I think it was a very nice compliment. The flavors were not too overpowering at all. Best of all, it wasn't bland.</div>
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If you're in need of a quick dinner idea, give the cheddar jack and bacon a try. That is if you like cheese and bacon. It has a nice touch of both.</div>
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<br /></div>La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-65636817135768953322012-01-17T11:47:00.000-08:002012-01-17T11:47:09.158-08:00Food and Beverage Review: International Delight Vanilla Iced CoffeeToday, I tried <a href="https://www.facebook.com/InternationalDelight?sk=app_268639556534275">International Delight's Vanilla Iced Coffee</a>. You won't be able to find it on their website. It takes you directly to their Facebook page.<br />
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There are three flavors: Mocha, Original and Vanilla. I picked up a container of Vanilla because I like sweet coffee and vanilla usually delivers.<br />
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Highlights:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sweet with a good vanilla flavor</li>
<li>Convenient</li>
<li>Cost effective</li>
<li>Would probably purchase again</li>
</ul>
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The flavor - It is definitely your typical faked coffee drink, but don't be discouraged by that. It has a nice vanilla flavor, but doesn't really compare with the real thing.</div>
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The texture - Without ice, it is really silky, and creamy. I would even describe it as thick. I'm not too into the silky coffee drink. This is probably the one aspect that I did not like.<br />
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The value - I forgot to check my receipt for a price, but I think it was $4.00 for a half gallon. Great deal when compared to a drive-thru version or Starbucks.<br />
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Ingredients - Coffee, skim milk, sugar, corn syrup, cream, sweet whey, gellan gum, natural and artificial flavors, carrageenan, and sodium citrate.<br />
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My overall impression: I like it. I don't LOVE it. I think I'd still prefer the sugar-free vanilla iced coffee from McDonald's; however, I don't have to drive anywhere for this. The texture without ice was weird. It was almost chocolate milk like. You know the kind that is silky and coats your entire mouth? I didn't like that. I suggest making sure you pour it over ice and allow the ice to melt. It extends the drink AND brings the texture closer to a real iced coffee. The flavor doesn't water down which is a plus. In fact, I think it's better after sitting awhile in the ice. I would recommend trying for yourself. This gal likes it enough to maybe keep in the fridge for emergencies LOL.<br />
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<br /></div>La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-41938125300728150012012-01-10T08:51:00.000-08:002012-01-10T08:51:20.606-08:00Bath and Body Review: DERMADoctor's Ain't MisbehavinI've been using <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml;jsessionid=MNP1LXJDVIWZ0CV0KSGAQAQ?id=P181704&_requestid=21300">DERMADoctor's Ain't Misbehavin Medicated AHA/BHA Acne Cleanser</a>. Click the link to read the details about this product.<br />
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The Highlights:<br />
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<ul>
<li>$25.00 for a 7 ounce tube (will last 4-6 months)</li>
<li>Applied to dry skin</li>
<li>Non-comedogenic</li>
<li>Soap, oil, fragrance and dye-free</li>
<li>Overall impression - Best cleanser for my type of skin</li>
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About six months ago, I walked into a Sephora and was browsing. I had no makeup on at the time because my face was broken out and I was trying to keep from causing more issues. A consultant walked up to me and said, "I noticed your face is pretty broken out. We have a product that I think will help you so much." She proceeded to say, "It appears to me that you have oily skin, right?" I told her yes. She asked me what I was using. I told her I was using the ProActiv system. She kind of cringed and said, "You know that is really harsh on your skin, right? That is why it works for the first few months and then you start having other issues." Man, this lady knew what she was talking about.<br />
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She proceeded to take me to the DERMADoctor line of products and squeezed me out a large sample of the Ain't Misbehavin. She told me to apply it to dry skin and that I wouldn't need a toner. I was very skeptical, but she said, "I promise. You'll come back next weekend and purchase a full bottle. Don't balk at the price. This bottle will last 4-6 months. Do the math. $30 a month for ProActiv vs. $25 for ONE product that will replace that system that will last a few months. Just give it a shot."<br />
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Here I am, six months later, and I just completed my first bottle.<br />
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What you need to know: This product is NOT for all skin types. As I did my research (reading multiple reviews on multiple sites), it amazes me how people can't read a simple label before purchasing something. This is my plea: Do not review something that was clearly NOT meant for you. The bottle clearly states, "...for oily, blemish-prone, or combination skin." If you do not have oily, blemish-prone, or combination skin -- DO NOT PURCHASE. I read one review that gave it one star and said, "Completely dried my skin out! Worst product ever!" Then I read her stats and she listed her skin type as dry. Seriously? Ok, jumping down from my soap box.<br />
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I have oily skin that breaks out pretty severely. By the end of the day, I look like I slaved a shift at the local fast food joint. With continued, uninterrupted use of this product, and a combination of makeup better suited for my skin, I no longer have this issue. If you don't have this problem, this product is NOT for you. It is meant for oily skin and acne caused by excessive oils. In my opinion, this product is best suited for those of us with overactive sweat/oil glands.<br />
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The product doesn't necessarily smell good. I don't quite understand why people complain about smell. It is a medicated product. Not everything can smell like roses. It is creamy in texture. It has the consistency of thick moisturizer or lotion. I don't think it smells bad, but it isn't pleasant either.<br />
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At first, the product will sting. Do not let this deter you. It contains witch hazel which is an anti-septic. My face was pretty bad. Sorry, I don't have pictures. I didn't think of it at the time. Think cystic acne. Not just whiteheads or blackheads. My skin produces these massive whelps that were very painful. The sting hung around for maybe two weeks. Just like alcohol on a wound, it is killing any bacteria you have on your face. I did have slight redness for the first week, but the consultant assured me that I should stick with it for at least a month before throwing in the towel.<br />
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My skin care routine: First, remove any makeup prior to using. I am STILL amazed at how many women are too lazy to remove their makeup prior to their skin ritual. Read my words: NO SINGLE PRODUCT removes everything. While I was told this would remove makeup RESIDUE, this is clearly an ACNE CLEANSER. Again, if you read the bottle BEFORE purchasing, no where does it state it is a "makeup remover". It is a cleanser which will remove the trace elements of makeup residue. Use the product as intended, people, and you will have better results. I use cheap, off-brand makeup wipes that I get from the grocery store. They are good enough to remove my eye makeup and most of my foundation, and best of all, they're cost effective. I think I pay $3 for 50 wipes.<br />
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Second, allow your skin to completely dry before apply Ain't Misbehavin. I was told that applying to wet skin decreases the effectiveness of the medication. I know it seems weird to apply a creamy cleanser to dry skin, but it works! Apply in a circular motion.<br />
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Lastly, remove the cleanser. I use a warm washcloth to GENTLY wipe the cleanser off. Remember, ladies. Your skin is delicate. I have seen friends scrub their faces with a washcloth. Here is a hint: Your face isn't a counter top. Don't treat it as one! GENTLY wipe the cleanser off or just rinse it off with water. Sometimes, I turn my shower on, apply the cleansers, and then hop in the shower and rinse it off in there.<br />
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The results: Again, I've used one complete bottle of this product. I use it twice a day. My skin has never been better. I still have breakouts, but those are normally hormone-based. Nothing you can really do about those. The good news is, they heal quicker than with any other product. Like any facial product, you must maintain a routine. This product is cost effective and it works. Bottom line: My favorite acne cleanser of all time.<br />
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<br />La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-62896239217469414382012-01-09T10:11:00.001-08:002012-01-09T12:20:45.551-08:00Hair Products Review - L'Oreal EverSleek Intense Smoothing SystemOh, L'Oreal. How I want to like you, but just can't. First, it was the poor performance of your Feria brand and now, I must write yet another lack-luster review regarding one of your products.<br />
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The Highlights:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Fairly priced at $5-6 dollars for an 8.5 ounce tube</li>
<li>Okay scent</li>
<li>Liked the leave-in conditioner</li>
<li>Overall impression: Will not purchase again.</li>
</ul>
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Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my older sister was telling me how sulfate-free shampoo is the way to go. Her sales pitch was pretty convincing. It's so gentle on the hair and is supposed aid in keeping color in, and on and on and on. I was already getting low on my Matrix Biolage, so I figured, why not?<br />
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If you don't know much about sulfate-free shampoos, I can sum it up for you in one sentence. A sulfate-free shampoo does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, which is an ingredient that helps remove oily residue. In other words, it is the detergent equivalent in beauty products.<br />
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My hair - I've written about it before. I have this mixed bag of hair types. In some places, it is flat. In some places, it is frizzy. In some places, it is curly. It is a hot mess. With that said, I do have a moderately oily scalp. I've never really had an issue with overly dry hair. The only product I simply refuse to use is Suave shampoos. They always make my hair feel like straw.<br />
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I have been using the L'Oreal EverSleek Intense Smoothing System (shampoo, conditioner, and leave in conditioner) since the beginning of December. This is not a "I've only used it twice and will give it glowing reviews!" Nope, not going to find that here. I've used it for a month and a half now.<br />
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My process: I do shampoo every day. I know that people/stylists lecture that you should only wash your hair every other day, once a week, etc. Use a dry shampoo. I'm sorry. That is just nasty when you live in Texas. I think if I were in a colder climate where my scalp wasn't constantly sweating, I wouldn't mind. Here in Texas, that is a no-go. Dry shampoos just creep me out. In the winter, there are times I do an every other day thing, but not often. For my trial purposes, I washed every day, conditioned every day, and applied the leave-in creme every other day.<br />
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For the first week, I was a fan. It had a scent I didn't particularly care for, but my hair did seem just as healthy as it did on Biolage. My thoughts were, "HOT DOG! I'm saving a lot of money!" By the end of week two, I started noticing that straw feel and the twinge of buyer's remorse. By the end of week three, I was definitely noticing the straw feel and had a definite case of buyer's remorse. By the end of week four, five, and six, I continue debating whether or not to just throw it in the trash.<br />
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First Complaint: When I was researching sulfate-free shampoos, I learned that a chief complaint was they don't really lather. This is a very true statement. I have pretty thick hair, and it was kind of a chore to get any kind of lather going. So, if you are going to try this product, keep that in mind. On its best day, I get a hint of a lather. It is kind of an odd feeling trying to "wash" your hair without lather. This alone kind of turns me off. I feel like I am damaging my hair because the lack of lather leaves me just rubbing the hair together. That can't be good, right?<br />
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Second Complaint: I now have a case of itchy scalp. If you do your research and read other reviews, you will find a large group of users out there complained of dandruff and other scalp ailments after a long period of use. I am one of those people. As I sit here and type this, my scalp really doesn't feel clean and I have that dry itch going on. As mentioned, I do have a normal scalp during the winter months. Now, it feels superbly dry.<br />
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Third Complaint: After shampooing, my hair feels no better than using Suave. Honestly, maybe a little worse. I hate to dog Suave. They don't produce a bad product. Just not a product good for my particular head of hair. Immediately after shampooing, it feels dry, stripped, and straw-like. I would say to the point of not being able to run a comb through it without a snag.<br />
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The only saving grace, for me, with this system is the conditioner and leave-in conditioner. I wouldn't say that they are "miracle" products, nor would I recommend them as stand alone products. I think they are designed to correct the havoc the shampoo creates. My hair would feel somewhat normal after applying the conditioners, but it is my opinion that you shouldn't have to apply conditioner if the shampoo is doing what it claims. I don't feel that is the case with this shampoo.<br />
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Bottom line: This is not a good system if you have similar hair characteristics to mine. The more research I did (mostly reading reviews from many sites), I realize that sulfate-free is NOT for everyone. I think if you have healthy enough hair using normal products, sulfate-free is not going to benefit you. I think this is more geared toward people that want to keep color in their hair longer, people that care more about the environment than their own appearance, and people that have intensely dry/damaged hair. I had perfectly healthy hair when I started down the L'Oreal path. I can't say this product damaged it, but I can say I think this product dried it out more than my sulfate infused Biolage.<br />
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I will NOT be purchasing the L'Oreal sulfate-free line of products anymore, which is a shame. I LOVED the fact that I could purchase the whole line for less than one bottle of my Biolage. I will be returning to Biolage as soon as I run out of L'Oreal. Overall, it was too strange for me. I did not like the transition from straw like hair to silky smooth. That doesn't sit well with me.<br />
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<br />La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-53782366320771219982011-12-27T08:55:00.000-08:002011-12-27T09:39:29.037-08:00Makeup Review: Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip GlossFirst of all, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I can honestly say that I am glad it is over and done with. No, I am not that much of a Grinch, but for reasons I can't share, it was a very depressing holiday and I exerted a lot of energy into trying to find the bittersweet happiness in it all.<br />
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I was able to spend a little time in Sephora yesterday. I have had my eye on a tube of Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss for awhile. In fact, all of their glosses are tempting, however, I have a big problem. I buy gloss and I end up not using it. Same goes with lipstick. I have a weird skin tone that rules out the pretty soft colors. They just don't show on my lips. The tones that compliment my skin tone often don't translate on my darker lips. I don't like being all up in your face with red lipstick all the time. I feel like I am always shoved into bold, dark colors when it comes to lip wear.<br />
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The Highlights:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Stickiness Factor - Very well-balanced.</li>
<li>Thickness Factor - Very well-balanced.</li>
<li>Stay Factor - Typical for a gloss.</li>
<li>Color selection - Wonderful</li>
<li>Price - $14.00 for a .13 ounce hard, clear tube with hourglass wand</li>
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With that said, I had Christmas money and told myself I would give <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml;jsessionid=RPEJH4G0VUYKICV0KRTQQAQ?id=P266811&categoryId=C17366&shouldPaginate=true">Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss</a> in Cherry Red a try. The $14.00 price tag always makes me cringe, but in comparison to a tube of Fresh Sugar, it is a steal. It comes with this odd hourglass shaped wand, but it is easy to get used to. After playing with it a few times, I actually like it better than the traditional brushes. It picks up quite a bit of gloss and I had even application.<br />
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What Sephora claims: "A maximum-shine, moisturizing gloss starring a new generation of 'multi-holographic' shimmers, for perfect light reflection." Sephora goes on to describe this gloss as achieving a wet look with elegant luster, and a jewel-like finish.<br />
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Does it live it to the claim? I think it does. This is the first lip gloss in a LONG time that I actually like. It is not thick and gooey like so many high performance glosses are. I do not like having a thick layer of gloss on my lips to achieve color. One layer of Cherry Red and I have this beautiful red color. It is very well balanced in my opinion. It has some weight to it, but not so thick the wand suctions inside the tube. I think the stickiness is well balanced as well. It didn't glue my lips together, but there was a hint of tackiness. Just enough to let you know it is still there. I do NOT like a watery gloss. It does appear wet for about the first hour of wear and then fades. As the day went on, I had these nicely stained and moisturized lips. I did not get, what I call, a sloughed mess. I'm not sure what the beauty term for it is, but it is when you wear a lipstick or gloss and after a few hours, the color has rolled into little balls on your lips. This effect is generally seen with cheap lipsticks. It did not do this. I was really happy with the stained effect. I did not use a liner and it did feather a little bit. You might want to watch out for that.<br />
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I've read some reviews complaining of having to re-apply often. This gloss does NOT advertise all day wear. I noticed, like any gloss, it had to be re-applied after 2-4 hours to keep that wet look. My lips still had product on it, but it obviously was not as fresh looking BUT still moisturized. I've read reviews bashing the gloss because it wipes off/kisses off/comes off on coffee cups. This is true, but again. This gloss does NOT advertise that it is a miracle product. It is a gloss and it will come off. If you need it to last all day and not come off on everything, find a different product.<br />
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Overall, I am very pleased with this product. I'm wearing the Cherry Red in the picture above. I will purchase it again. There are a few other reds that I am interested in and a few of their new colors look awesome as well.<br />
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<br />La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-32440520270539716782011-12-14T19:23:00.000-08:002011-12-16T11:10:08.106-08:00Makeup Review: Facebomb Cosmetics' Saucy Jack, Trashy and P.S. I Love YouI ordered more Facebomb Cosmetics. Like, tons more. For now, I am going to review Saucy Jack, P.S. I Love You, and Trashy.<br />
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First up is P.S. I Love You. It is a pale pink with lots of shimmer. It is a good highlight color. If you are more pale, it could probably be a nice primary color.</div>
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Next is Trashy. It is a really dark pink. It looks red here in the swatch, but it applies as a really dark pink. This is a great primary/crease color for some pop. There is a good deal of shimmer, but not overly so. Again, I have to plug my Two Faced's Glitter Glue. You can definitely see that the Glitter Glue adheres more of the glitter and pigment. Invest in some, people! Just remember you will have to PAT the minerals on, not swipe.</div>
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Here is the look I created with P.S. I Love You as the highlight and inner eye and Trashy as the outer lid and crease. I really liked it. It was subtle enough for work. Loved the shimmer of P.S.</div>
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Now, Saucy Jack is one odd color. It looks like a bronze in the jar, but is a purplish maroon. It has lots of gold sparkle. See, you can hardly see any purple in the minerals. I honestly thought she packaged the wrong color. Excuse my plain nails. I used to do a lot with my nails, but I type most of the day and it would just chip. I guess it wouldn't hurt me to put on at least a clear top coat LOL.<br />
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Here you can really see the speckles of glitter. This was taken AFTER a full day of work. Yup, you read that right. AFTER a full 10 hour day, you can still see the individual glitter sparkles. I used Saucy Jack on my lids and E.L.F.'s Innocent as the brow highlight. Blend. Pretty simple.<br />
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As always, turn around time was a few days. Shayna is always quick to fill your order, and quick to tell you whether there is a problem. Her products are awesome. I've tried many Indie brands and I keep coming back to Facebomb. Give them a try. You can find Facebomb and Shayna on Facebook. She will invoice you through Paypal. It is my understanding her website is still experience growing pains.</div>
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</div>La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-20042545268394326692011-12-14T09:03:00.000-08:002011-12-14T10:59:50.408-08:00Hair Product Review: Suave Professionals Captivating Curls Whipped Cream MousseI have a hot mess on top of my head. My hair is a combination of straight, frizzy and curly. If I allow my hair to air dry, some parts will roll up into cute spiral curls, and then there are the rogue parts of my hair that are just straight/frizzy. I blame my genetics. I am 1/2 Filipino, 1/4 Choctaw Indian and 1/4 "Caucasian". I say "Caucasian" because there is a little German in there and rumored Transylvanian blood (Romanian). Truth be told, I am a genetic mutt. My Filipino roots give me this thick stranded head of hair. Almost like wire. The Choctaw in me gives me the curls and frizz.<br />
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Anyhow, I digressed. My hair is a hot mess. It takes a lot of manipulation to look decent. I have to blow dry my hair straight, otherwise, it is a frazzled mess. Sometimes, I don't have the time or the energy to go through all of it. If I towel dry my hair and put some mousse in it, all those weird frizzy/straight patches all of a sudden curl up. How weird is that? The only problem I had was "crunchy hair syndrome". You know, where your hair is hard as a rock and forget touching it. You end up looking like you have a head full of dandruff. I have tried many price ranges of mousse. I have used drug store brands, and special order brands. <br />
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I was in the store and ran into an end cap with <a href="http://www.suave.com/products/Professionals/Styling/Captivating-Curls-Cream-Mousse.aspx">Suave Professionals Captivating Curls Whipped Cream Mousse</a>. I typically do not buy Suave products. They tend to strip my hair and dry it out. Something urged me to try it.<br />
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I absolutely love it! The product boasts that you will have touchable, not crunchy, curls. I found this mostly true. You will still get crunch if you do not towel dry you hair enough or follow through with blotting per the instructions. One morning, I didn't have time to go through the steps. I just ran some mousse in my hair and walked out the door. There was a slight crunch, but still touchable and VERY curly. <br />
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The texture of the product is different. It is silky and smooth when it comes out. When you rub it in your hair, it is almost like a silky soap without the suds. It took me some time to get used to it. I noticed it didn't produce a sticky feeling on my hands.<br />
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If you have curly hair, I recommend you try Captivating Curls. It's affordable and I think you'll find it performs like any other top dollar mousse, if not better. I bought mine from Target. I've seen it in all drug stores and grocery stores.La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-56637601965940647952011-12-11T07:05:00.001-08:002011-12-14T11:05:02.280-08:00Consumer Warning: Walmart Visa Gift CardsThe other night, I had to go to Walmart to buy some odds and ends. Truth be told, if I didn't have to shop at Walmart, I would be happy. Unfortunately, I live in a small town and Walmart is the most convenient place.<br />
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Typically, I purchase Target Visa Gift Cards for friends and family. I purchase the $25.00 card with a $4.00 activation fee. I don't mind the activation fee. I'd rather not give friends and family a card they can only use at Target. What if they don't shop at Target? What if they don't have a Target near? It keeps things simple. They can go wherever they want.<br />
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Anyhow, it was late. I needed to pick up groceries that I knew our Target didn't have and I didn't want to make two trips. I was sending gifts to a friend in another state and was extremely happy when I saw Walmart sold their own proprietary Walmart Visa Gift Cards. Looked on the front. Had a cheaper activation fee than Target. Win-win situation.<br />
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I get up to the register and I always put cards and gift cards at the very end. The cashier looks up and tells me, "You know you have to pay cash or check for those right?"<br />
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I look at her confused and said, "Excuse me? Are you serious? You can't be serious. I purchase these on my debit card all the time from Target. They don't require that I pay cash or check."<br />
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Then she says, "Yeah. And I have to ring them up in separate transactions."<br />
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I just handed them to her and said, "Never mind then. If your company doesn't want my money, I'll let Target have it."<br />
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So -- I came to two conclusions. Either this cashier is correct and you cannot purchase the normal, run of the mill gift cards with anything other than cash, or she didn't take the time to look at the card and realize it wasn't a Walmart Money Card. Those are those cards that you can set up direct deposit to and use like a credit/debit card without having a bank account.<br />
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Anyhow, consumer beware. I have a cousin who works at Walmart and when she responds, I'll let you know if the cashier was wrong or the policy is true. Either way, Walmart lost hundreds of dollars of business to Target that night.La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-59589410701320065232011-12-06T17:36:00.001-08:002011-12-06T19:25:22.250-08:00Makeup Review: Facebomb Cosmetics Black Friday SaleThere was only one sale I stayed up for and that was Facebomb Cosmetics. I can't say enough good things about Facebomb. Shayna is a cool gal that always puts her customers first, prices are excellent and customer service has always been great.<div>
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For the Black Friday sale, I purchased:</div>
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Powder Keg - Bright Blue</div>
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All Sparkly Glowy - Shimmery Gold</div>
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Provocateur - Bright Pink</div>
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Obnoxious - Bright Yellow</div>
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1.21 Gigawatts - Silver</div>
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Cuppycake - Purple</div>
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Unicorn Tales (Sample) - White</div>
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Heart Strings (Sample) - Rosy Pink</div>
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Below are my sad attempt at some swatches. I'm feeling under the weather and my heart wasn't all there to mess with my camera settings. The white balance is crap. I apologize. I did the best I could. All colors are swatched over NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk. I know, I know. I always gripe that a good primer and glitter glue are the best for loose/glittery pigments. I'm running low on my Two Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue, so I grabbed the cheaper alternative. Sue me :) FYI: I took the plunge and tried one of these pigments over the Milk. After a day of work, it creased! My hot and oily eye lids caused the Milk to melt into my crease. No bueno. So, while I will use it because I am too poor to purchase the good stuff right now, it DOES make a good swatch.</div>
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My swatches really do these colors NO justice. All of these colors have an extra pop if you use glitter glue. I know, I'm totally killing it with the glitter glue, but it literally grabs all the sparkle and keeps it there. So far, my favorite looks are below:</div>
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1.21 Gigawatts applied to the inner 1/3 of the eye. Cuppycake applied to the middle and outer lid. Also applied to the crease. Blended the Cuppycake into the crease. I used a matte powder for the brow. Applied over Two Faced's Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue.</div>
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All Sparkly Glowy applied to the inner half of the eye and brought up to the crease. Provocateur applied to the outer eye. No brow highlight at all. Applied over Two Faced's Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue.</div>
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1.21 Gigawatts applied to the inner half of the eye lid and brought up to highlight the brow. I typically do not put glitter glue on the area underneath the brow. I do this purposely so I can blend in some of the shimmer to the brow without it picking up TOO much sparkle. Powder Keg applied to the outer lid. Applied over Two Faced's Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue.</div>
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Same colors as above, just a further away shot. Yes, I understand I used the same application technique. I don't sway from this formula much because I do wear this to work at a law firm. I am honestly surprised I get away with these colors. I'm pretty sure it is because of the smokey eye look I try to keep. No crazy liners. No extreme glitter. Behind my glasses, I think it cuts down a lot of the perceived glitter.</div>
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My favorites from this batch are is actually NOT the color that I had been waiting for. The reason for this purchase to get 1.21 Gigawatts. Don't get me wrong. I like it, but I didn't fall in love with it like I did from the original swatch. My two favorite colors are actually the two I almost didn't buy. I LOVE All Sparkly Glowy and Provocateur. Together, they make an awesome combination. I've been finding All Sparkly Glowy as my go to sparkle. It is GREAT for the inner eye. It really pops in a warm way. Provocateur is a lovely pink. I don't usually do pinks, but this one is great. I haven't had a chance to really do a look with the Obnoxious. It is too bold a statement for work, so that is going to have to be something I play with on another day. Cuppycake was okay, but I prefer the Witches Brew from Facebomb's Coffin Collection. I'll be honest. I have had trouble getting Cuppycake to blend the way that I want to. Not sure if that is me or what. I did try a look with Unicorn Tales and Heart Strings and it was a disaster. My application was sloppy and I really didn't like the combination of them together. Heart Strings is more of a red hue on my skin. It wasn't flattering. I'll be honest, I have trouble finding a use Unicorn Tales. White is such a bold color. I'll have to come up with a different look when I have time to do it justice. Not bad products, just not flattering on me.</div>
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I love all of my Facebomb products. As I've mentioned in previous reviews, the owner gets your order out fast, is willing to go above and beyond and her products are awesome. I truly have not been disappointed in any purchase. I constantly get compliments on my makeup which is the reason I take the time to review every order I receive from Facebomb. All products are paid by me with the exception of samples. My opinions are my own and I am not a friend, family member or live in the same state as the owner. I just really enjoy helping out a small company in any way I can AND I really do love her colors. I love glitter and her bright pigments. They make me happy.</div>
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Oh, I should probably also say I am NOT a makeup artist. Not being compensated with products for good reviews, etc. so on and so forth. Heck. I am FAR from a makeup artist, but I have been asked. It is flattering, but really. I think they're just trying to be nice LOL.</div>
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You can find Facebomb on Facebook. Shayna has a website up at <a href="http://www.facebombcosmetics.com/1.html">Facebomb Cosmetics</a>, but I last I heard, it is having trouble with IE and still working out the kinks. You can like Facebomb on Facebook and order from Shayna directly.</div>
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<br /></div>La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-21329043775929389682011-12-06T11:58:00.001-08:002013-10-02T11:36:51.192-07:00Hair Products Review: L'Oreal Paris Midnight Collection in Violet Soft BlackUnfortunately, I do not have pictures of me using the product, so you will have to take my word that I did try this product and I am representing the facts in my situation as truth.<br />
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This past Saturday, I purchased L'Oreal Paris' Midnight Collection in violet soft black (M32). On the box was this beautiful shade of black with a violet sheen. Very work appropriate for those of us who like shocking colors but work in a place that does not allow those shocking colors.<br />
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With that said, I consider myself an experienced over-the-counter colorist. No, I've never attending cosmetology school, but I have been coloring my own hair successfully since 1997. I've had every color under the rainbow and I've used a range of products from drug stores to beauty supply stores.<br />
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Immediately upon mixing the developer and the color, I realized that something was wrong. I've dyed my hair black before, and well, the resulting mixture has always been a brown/black color. This was a BRIGHT red. I took a deep breath and told myself the only way I was going to find out was to try it. I applied the mixed color to my unwashed, dry hair. As I applied the color, it was darkening, so my worries were eased a bit. I left the color on for 25 minutes exactly and followed the rinsing instructions. Even before blow drying my hair, I knew it was the wrong color. I could see hints of maroon and auburn. Trying not to panic, I blow dried my hair. This was the result:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJlkA47OUD2SSdjipa4ISznxoR3YRYTvfngOqsC9g23E0thIJFjgDeJ2T_N-s6TlJ-MGMTgQ8VpWGEWooKBejIOlwvhh1Iix913joAzGHivn04yjVj6NgqRqnWFqSBfvIkoq0Fk38RjgH/s1600/Hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJlkA47OUD2SSdjipa4ISznxoR3YRYTvfngOqsC9g23E0thIJFjgDeJ2T_N-s6TlJ-MGMTgQ8VpWGEWooKBejIOlwvhh1Iix913joAzGHivn04yjVj6NgqRqnWFqSBfvIkoq0Fk38RjgH/s400/Hair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have a VERY cherry head of hair. My roots were a deep chocolate brown. NOT BLACK. The ends and all around my head pick up splotches of uneven cherry/maroon red tones.<br />
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I was upset. I started trolling the Internet and I WISH I had read the reviews on this product. I am not the only person complaining of no black and all red. This is a poorly formulated product. If you are dreaming of a dreamy soft violet black, this isn't it. I would have LOVED just black. I probably wouldn't have taken the time to bash this product, but that wasn't even done right. Since when does red = black?<br />
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Anyhow, I had a friend that tried to help and say that I needed to get it done professionally. WRONG. No professional would have mixed a RED and called it black. This is not a case of me doing it wrong or having high expectations. I already have dark brown hair. I would definitely say black is within two shades. The only excuse for this is INFERIOR PRODUCT.<br />
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Don't get your heart set on this shade and don't waste your money on this particular Feria hair dye.La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-89720118265930322932011-11-03T13:09:00.000-07:002011-12-14T11:00:58.252-08:00Bath and Body Review: Tree and SaplingI recently purchased a few items from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/treeandsap">Tree and Sapling</a>. It is an indie beauty shop found on Etsy that whips up soaps and scrubs for men and women.<br />
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The Quick Highlights:<br />
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<li>Turn Around Time - 19 days due to shipping mistake.</li>
<li>Arrived in a box. Nice and thoughtful packaging. Not sloppy.</li>
<li>Items nicely wrapped.</li>
<li>Good customer service.</li>
<li>Overall Impression: Indifferent</li>
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The Purchase:<br />
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4 oz. bar of Limited Edition Halloween Soap in Cat Scratch ($4.00)<br />
4 oz. bar of Raspberry Fizz Soap Bar ($4.00)<br />
4 oz. bar of Limited Edition Halloween Soap in Bad Apple ($4.00)<br />
4 oz. bar of Chamomile and Peppermint French Market Soap ($4.00)<br />
6.5 oz. Prickly Pear Salt Bar ($6.50)<br />
4 oz. of Tropical Breeze Whipped Soap with sponge ($8.00)<br />
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My relationship with Tree and Sapling started on shaky grounds. I used a Heartsy voucher and obviously, her store was slammed. As a frequent Heartsy voucher user, I do not hold extending shipping times against vendors. I get it. Everyone is trying to get in on a deal. The issue began when my order was marked shipped and after two weeks, it didn't arrive. I sent Tree and Sapling a quick message via Etsy. Come to find out, my order was marked shipped when it wasn't. No biggie. I wasn't in a rush to get my items, but it was a set back. You simply cannot get too upset about that. The important thing was Tree and Sapling corrected it immediately and included a sample of a sugar scrub. <br />
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I am not going to nit-pick over the packaging UNLESS it I feel it was done poorly. I've read plenty of blogs that take pictures as they reveal the box, but that isn't me. I'm more interested in the product, not the packaging details. My package arrived in a well-packed box. Nothing was broken. It was filled with beautiful tissue paper. It was a very impressive effort in packaging.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nS3B12EGoFI/TqjP738XPhI/AAAAAAAADbo/VwOWMxo_ijM/s1600/2011TreeandSapling-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nS3B12EGoFI/TqjP738XPhI/AAAAAAAADbo/VwOWMxo_ijM/s400/2011TreeandSapling-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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A group shot of my order. Everything was packaged so beautifully. I was really impressed with the time and effort the store put into packaging.</div>
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The Detailed Results:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5IigOMuWuuU/TqjP9_xF6uI/AAAAAAAADb4/Z-pikEm0LTU/s1600/2011TreeandSapling-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5IigOMuWuuU/TqjP9_xF6uI/AAAAAAAADb4/Z-pikEm0LTU/s400/2011TreeandSapling-6.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Bad Apple was the first bar I tried. This was part of the limited edition Halloween collection which means this is a scent she doesn't carry year round. With that said, it is a beautiful bar of soap. The glittery sparkle seems to be Tree and Sapling's trademark. The scent was your typical apple scent. Unfortunately, the experience as a whole was disappointing to me. Nowhere in the literature does her soaps indicate whether their formation is for hand use or body use. I tried to use it as a body soap and that was a big mistake. This is clearly, in my opinion, hand soap only. Maybe I should have known that, but I am no soap expert. Overall, the soap was very drying on my skin. It didn't really lather even with a wash cloth. The scent did not linger on the skin at all. After a few uses, I didn't smell the apple scent at all. It will get your hands clean, but that was about all. It is a basic soap that I would throw in a guest bathroom for looks. Not function. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCX0ERWedOY/TqjP-33R3qI/AAAAAAAADcE/3QayvonPDYU/s1600/2011TreeandSapling-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCX0ERWedOY/TqjP-33R3qI/AAAAAAAADcE/3QayvonPDYU/s400/2011TreeandSapling-9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I had purchased the chamomile and peppermint soap because Tree and Sapling advertised this soap as, "...a stress relieving scent to relax those overworked muscles. The Chamomile is perfect for relaxing and the peppermint cools tired muscles. This is the perfect soap to treat yourself before b<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">ed." Aha, I thought! I have a stressful job and I LOVE those relaxing soaps that exude a relaxing scent. However, this soap did not deliver. For me, it does not have a "relaxing" scent at all. There was close to no peppermint scent at all. It had a really earthy scent. Bottom line, I didn't like the smell. Typically, peppermint soaps have a tingling effect. This did not deliver. I wanted to love it, but I don't. I will not be purchasing his soap again. Beautiful packaging though. Right?</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bPq2FQ2ZRM/TqjP_dga6iI/AAAAAAAADcI/BPMN0P1Owp8/s1600/2011TreeandSapling-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bPq2FQ2ZRM/TqjP_dga6iI/AAAAAAAADcI/BPMN0P1Owp8/s400/2011TreeandSapling-10.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The third product I had time to try is the Tropical Breeze Whipped Soap. When you open the jar, you are punched in the face with the scent of banana flavored Laffy Taffy. There is a very faint touch of coconut. The name is a bit deceptive. I really found nothing tropical about this scent. I would consider this scent strictly banana. I was also a bit disappointed to find my jar only 3/4 of the way full. I don't know if the product settled or melted down, but being the most expensive product I purchased, I was bummed. The shope is filled with pictures of overflowing jars of product, and then I get a 3/4 filled jar. It is a bit disappointing. By far, this was the best product I received as far a lather goes. This whipped soap transforms into a wonderful lather. The scent will fill your shower while using it, but again. Once you step out, you will smell no trace of it. While, that may be fine for a lot of people, I don't see the point in spending $8.00 on a scented soap that doesn't at least leave a hint of scent behind. Is that not the reason why we purchase scented soaps? Out of the three types of soap I purchase, this is the most moisturizing and the closest to an actual body soap.<br />
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I have yet to use the salt bar, the raspberry fizz bar or the other Halloween bar. I'll revise this review when I have had the chance.<br />
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Overall, customer service was good. I want to love Tree and Sapling, but so far, I am indifferent. I think I would use their products for decorative reasons, but nothing more than that. In my opinion, the bar soaps didn't lather well, nor did they leave any hint of a scent. The bar soaps pretty much stripped my skin despite the claims of being moisturizing. The whipped soap is their premier product, in my opinion. It has a nice lather and some moisturizing effect, but at $8.00, I think I can just stick to drug store brands. Again, my overall rating is indifferent. I neither love nor hate this Indie shop. Their products are cute, great for decorative uses, good customer service but their soaps don't suit my needs.<br />
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<br />La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-45677797806087011802011-10-15T20:39:00.000-07:002011-10-15T20:39:57.146-07:00Makeup Review: Facebomb Cosmetics Coffin CollectionOn Friday, I received my Coffin Collection from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Facebomb-Cosmetics/205660746129543">Facebomb Cosmetics</a>. I am a repeat customer of Facebomb. I've tried many mineral/loose shadow Indie companies, but I think I found my home with Facebomb. Shayna, the owner, really puts together some wicked colors that have glitter impact. In general, I recommend anyone to give her products a shot.<br />
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Please excuse the white balance in my pictures. I was having major issues. Anyhow, my collection came in this handcrafted coffin. How cool, right? I honestly love it.<br />
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Included in the coffin are five mineral shadows in the standard 5 gram jar with sifters already inserted. All sifters are covered with a sticker. All jars are individually sealed. This collection included the following colors: Spectre (glittery white), Voodoo Doll (glittery black), Witches Brew (glittery purple), Pumpkin Guts (glittery orange), and Danse Macabre (glittery green).<br />
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I swatched all the colors over Two Faced's Glitter Glue. It is my base of choice. Many people like using white liner pens. I don't like doing that. Glitter glue keeps the sparkle in place. As you can see, they all pop. The Voodoo Doll is one heck of a black. Spectre is one glitter packed white. You can use it without a base and produce a nice, light sparkle OR pack it on a base and get some real color. I really love Witches Brew. It is one unforgettable purple. I haven't really had a chance to play with Pumpkin Guts but it swatches really well. The whole reason I purchased the Coffin Collection was to try Danse Macabre. It is BRIGHT.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nCaMsR4HvY/Tpo68oiKXkI/AAAAAAAADM4/7t66D5QeKIU/s1600/2011FBCoffinPurpleGreenSpectre-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7nCaMsR4HvY/Tpo68oiKXkI/AAAAAAAADM4/7t66D5QeKIU/s400/2011FBCoffinPurpleGreenSpectre-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My husband took us out to dinner and I decided to give the coffin collection a try. I used Witches Brew on the inner corner, inner and middle lid, and lower to middle lash line. I then used Danse Macabre on the outer "V"/outer lid. I applied Spectre as a brow highlight. I did not apply glitter glue underneath my brow to avoid the white. I just wanted a sparkle.</div>
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Here is the look from far away. You can see the shimmer and sparkle from the Spectre. I was really impressed with the way it caught the light without being overpowering.<br />
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Here you can see the whole thing. Don't mind my hamster cheeks. Yes, I realize they are huge and no, I don't store food in cheek pockets.<br />
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Facebomb has announced she will be bringing back the Coffin Collection for her Black Friday sale. I know these colors aren't necessarily "holiday" friendly, but I really recommend grabbing them while you can. They are really fun. As for wear, if you are using a high quality primer/base, her shadows will last all day. I have never had a problem with creasing or fading. Give Shayna's products a try. She is currently invoicing straight from Facebook because she is in the process of opening her own website. She is always accommodating, communicates well and encloses samples and other goodies with your order. She is really fun to follow on Facebook, too.<br />
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<br />La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-42299746412434728082011-10-12T10:25:00.000-07:002011-12-14T11:01:20.717-08:00Bath and Body Review: Ophelia's ApothecaryToday, I received my order from Ophelia's Apothecary. You can find Ophelia's on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OpheliasApothecary">Facebook</a>, at their <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/opheliasapothecary">Etsy </a>shop, or at their <a href="http://stores.homestead.com/hstrial-opheliasapoth/StoreFront.bok">website</a>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT:</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE ORDERING PROCESS</u></b></span></div>
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I discovered Ophelia's Apothecary on Heartsy. You should all know how I feel about Heartsy by now. It is THE place to get a good deal, especially if you are hesitant to purchase from Etsy or Artfire.</div>
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I try not to focus too much on these details, but it has been brought to my attention that a "good review" even writes about the boring details. So, with that said, the ordering process was a breeze. If you haven't used Etsy before, it is like any other online shopping experience. You add things to a cart, checkout and pay. There really isn't anything new to add there. I received all the confirmations and invoices. Communication was great.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT:</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><u><b>SHIPPING and TURN AROUND TIME</b></u></span></div>
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My first caveat. I typically do not take pictures of the packaging. I receive my items at work and open them at work to ensure everything is alright.</div>
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With that said, I ordered Pumpkin Spice Whipped Body Butter, Indulgent Pumpkin Sugar and Shea Scrub, Butter Toffee Crunch Lip Scrub, and Shea Butter Lip Balms in Lemon Cheesecake, Red Velvet and a lip tint in Caramel Chai Latte.<br />
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My products arrived in a USPS flat rate padded envelope. Inside there were three bundles of product wrapped in shipping paper. In the first bundle was the sugar scrub sealed in a clear cellophane bag tied with a string. In the second bundle was the body butter in a clear cellophane bag tied with a string. The third bundle was all of the lip products in a clear cellophane bag tied with a string. Simple, cute and thoughtful. I recently received products just willy-nilly in my envelope from a different company and I was kind of taken aback that the thought was not put in to separate the type of products. You don't put cleaning chemicals in the same bag as your vegetables when you grocery shop, so I appreciate the extra effort to separate the different types of product. </div>
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I'd really like to see body butters and scrubs mailed in a box, but I understand that small businesses are limited to what they can effectively do and handle. I get it; however, if I do have a suggestion, it would be to box heavier items.</div>
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Turn around time - I feel I must give ample warning. Be prepared to wait on your order. The shop is going through some major changes and setbacks. I had placed my order on September 1, 2011, and just received my order on October 11, 2011. When I placed my order, I knew that there was close to a month wait because Ophelia's was moving. Then it seemed like the sky kept falling in for the store from dog injuries, laptop malfunctions and PayPal shipping label crashes...they literally went down everything in the list of "what could go wrong". With that said, they are still recovering, but almost caught up. I would visit their Facebook page for shipping updates and setbacks if you're in a hurry to get a product. Just be warned that it might not be the fastest turn-around-time, but I knew this going in. I was not upset or offended that it took so long to get to me. It is the price you pay when you go Indie. Life happens. It is irritating to me that this business advertised all the shipping delays and you see/hear/read how many people hounded them for their product. Don't be that guy and this is my warning to you. CHECK THEIR FACEBOOK FIRST!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT:</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>PUMPKIN SPICE WHIPPED BODY BUTTER</u></b></span></div>
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I immediately opened the body butter in my office. The scent was heavenly. Not overpowering. The body butter was smooth and silky. I am fairly new to the world of Indie bath products. Compared to my last Indie body butter purchase, this completely blew them out of the water. It isn't thick and greasy, but instead, light and airy. It melted into my skin and didn't leave my skin feeling like I lathered it in Crisco. That is the problem I found with my last attempt at Indie body butter. It smelled so good, but my skin was shiny like a Crisco'd pig. Not the case with Ophelia's body butter. When I applied it, it was almost like applying water, but not in a negative way. It is kind of hard to describe into words. It was creamy and airy on my fingertips, but when I went to apply it, the body butter just melted and moisturized. The scent lasted the remainder of the day, but not overpowering. A 5 ounce jar of the whipped body butter set me back $14.25. Much more expensive than the last Indie shop I purchased from but Ophelia's is SO much better. Worth the price.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT:</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>INDULGENT PUMPKIN SUGAR AND SHEA SCRUB</u></b></span></div>
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So far, I have ordered from three different Indie companies and have received three very different body scrubs. I will have to say that Ophelia's is my favorite. According to Ophelia's:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">This all natural pumpkin scrub is super indulgent.... we've blended organic vegan cane sugar, turbinado sugar, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter with calendula petals, black currant tea, and real pumpkin to bring you this super luxe sugar scrub.</span></blockquote>
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This scrub had the right amount of everything for me. It wasn't too harsh. I like the scent. It was not, to me, a pumpkin scent. When I re-read the material, I realized that it didn't advertise a pumpkin scent. Only that pumpkin is contained in the product. It has a very earthy scent. I mainly smelled hints of pumpkin and the tea. You can definitely smell the hints of tea. It was luxurious. Not just some sugar thrown in a jar with scented oils. A 4 ounce jar of this set me back $16.00, but it is worth it. My skin was soft and fragrant. By far, the most luxurious bath product I've purchased off of Etsy.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT:</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>SUGARED LIP SCRUB - BUTTER TOFFEE CRUNCH</u></b></span></div>
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Ophelia's lip scrubs come in a .15 ounce oval tube decorated with a beautiful label that lists the ingredients. A tube of the sugared lip scrub will set you back $7.75. It's like eating candy out of a tube that gives you soft lips at the same time. Did it taste like butter toffee? Yes. Did it slough off the dead skin. Yes. Does it moisturize? Yes?</div>
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Unfortunately, this is my first sugar scrub lip product, so I cannot compare to other shops/brands. I will say that I enjoy this product and I will purchase it again.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT:</u></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>SHEA BUTTER LIP BALMS</u></b></span></div>
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Love, love, love Ophelia's lip balms. I have received lip balms from other shops and so far, Ophelia's is my favorite. A .15 oval tube of Ophelia's lip balms run $4.00 a tube. This is the first balm I have received that doesn't taste like castor oil and fake sugar. I really do love the lemon cheesecake. I wasn't very impressed with the red velvet. I can't really put my finger on what I don't like about it. It smells wonderful though. </div>
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The caramel chai latte lip tint is a keeper as well. It adds just a light hint of color and tastes wonderful. A .15 oval tube of Ophelia's lip tint cost me $7.75. I like lip tints, so I think it is worth the price that is asked.</div>
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All the balms I have tried are moisturizing and high quality. I definitely recommend.</div>
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Overall, I am very pleased with Ophelia's Apothecary. They are definitely a shop I will continue to order from. I would classify Ophelia's as more of an upscale product. They are definitely more pricey than other alternatives, but you get what you pay for. All of Ophelia's products are superior to past Indie products that wielded a more pocket friendly price.<br />
<br />La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-53545562409417657992011-09-22T07:15:00.000-07:002011-12-14T11:01:51.755-08:00Makeup Review - Bath and Body Review: Aqua Blossom<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/aquablossom?ref=pr_shop_more#">Aqua Blossom</a> is another Etsy vendor I found through Heartsy. For $10, I received $31 worth of store credit. Again, if you like trying new things, Heartsy is the way to go. <br />
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Aqua Blossom sells mineral eye shadow, body scrubs, lip balms, and body butter. The store really doesn't have any fancy advertising or catchy slogans. The shop owner, Ashley, simply states that she is a mother of two who started making her own bath products with her children in mind. She wanted products that did not contain harsh chemicals or ingredients.<br />
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I purchased the following:<br />
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<li>Mini Scrub Sampler - Choose 3 (2 ounce) jars of body scrub. I chose Butterbeer, Mojito and Orange Creme Cupcake</li>
<li>Pick Any Five (5 ounce jars) of mineral shadow in Anemone, Sea Monster, Atomic Blueberry, Supernova and Oh My Darlin</li>
<li>Whipped Shea Butter (4 ounces) in Caramel Apple</li>
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Packaging:</div>
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Turn around time was above average. I ordered on September 12th and received my items on September 19th. The owner contacted me at every step even notifying me that she was waiting on some minerals for one of the colors I ordered and that it may be delayed a few days. There was definitely some excellent service being provided.</div>
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Unfortunately, I was disappointed, but not angry, at the packaging. My items arrived in a bubble mailer that had been folded over and sealed with tape because the mailer was too large. I receive these items at work, so I apologize for not taking pictures. I'm not too picky about that. What I am picky about is that was the only protection. Normally, when I order mineral makeup and bath products in the same order, the packer generously separates the items in either cellophane bags or more bubble wrap, or both. The reasoning? Body butters and body scrubs contain oily ingredients. The lids, even when secured with shrink wrap, can leak. When I opened the envelope, all of the mineral shadows had loose lids and two had leaked minerals inside the bag. It wasn't too bad, but disappointing. In addition, the mineral pots were not shrink wrapped/sealed. The only protection from leaking was a circle sticker on the inside. Here, you can see that a third sticker almost popped off. To add to things, all the items were a bit greasy. One of the body scrubs melted a little bit and some of that syrup oozed out just enough to make all the containers a bit oily. Having those enclosed in some kind bag, heck, even a sandwich bag, would have been nice.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>The Verdict: Aqua Blossom Mineral Shadows</u></b></span></div>
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These are your standard mineral shadows. There really isn't anything bad about them. I wore Sea Monster to work today over Two Faced's Glitter Glue and it has held up pretty nicely.</div>
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As you can see by my picture, the jars took a beating. You can see that Sea Monster (the green) and Oh My Darlin (the orange) had leaked. The black lids are all scratched. Not anything to be mad about, but I would like to see more care put into the packaging.</div>
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Here is the Aqua Blossom swatch over Two Faced's Glitter Glue. All very pretty colors. They are more shimmery than I thought they would be. I was almost under the impression that these minerals might be more flat from their pictures. You can definitely see sparkle, but a very understated sparkle. This would be a lovely entry product for women who want some sparkle but not in-your-face glitter. USE PRIMER or a BASE.</div>
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Overall, I was "satisfied" with the mineral shadows. Will I purchase again? I'm on the fence. I really do love the colors. I will just have to see if those colors are colors I can't live without. So far, I love Sea Monster and Atomic Blueberry. Would I recommend them? I don't think someone who has more pigmented/sparkly makeup would enjoy this. If I had to choose between Aqua Blossom and Facebomb - I would go with Facebomb because they have more pigmented/glittery minerals. Definitely a personal preference and not a knock on Aqua Blossom. I would recommend them to a friend that is afraid of too much bling. Aqua Blossom is more shimmery.<br />
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These products are more for the person who wants fun makeup that doesn't come with the price tag. They are reasonably priced, apply well and wear well, BUT I think these are more for a person that wants to try a more bold look. I don't think it would be a product for someone who already has a collection of in-your-face colors. I hope that makes sense. This is entry level minerals. There is nothing wrong with that. They are fun and I will have fun playing with them. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>The Verdict: Aqua Blossom Body Butter</u></b></span></div>
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I ordered the body butter in Caramel Apple. When I took the lid off, the scent almost made me drool, but unfortunately, that is where the scent ended. I applied some to my arms immediately and the scent turned into a faded memory. I could still smell it, but only when I literally smashed my nose into it. In comparison to other vendors I have tried in the past, the scent just didn't last. As for the actual product, it was hydrating and did it's job. It is super greasy, though. It is, after all, a body BUTTER. I recommend using it before bed so it has time to soak in your skin. </div>
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Would I purchase this again? Even though the scent length didn't live up to my expectations, I probably will purchase this again. It is a good price and an awesome gift for a friend that may not like the lingering scent. Not all of us want to smell like a caramel apple all day, however, I AM the person that wants to smell like the product I just smeared all over myself. Do I recommend it? Yes, I recommend this product to people who want the benefits of the body butter, but maybe not the lingering, over powering scent.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>The Verdict: Aqua Blossom Body Scrubs</u></b></span></div>
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I have only tried one of my body scrubs. I opened my Orange Cream Cupcake. Again, when you open the container, you receive a rush of scent. In the shower, you are surrounded by this wonderful citrus smell. The exfoliating power on this stuff is awesome. The downside? I walked out of shower, patted myself dry and barely smelled of orange cream cupcake. I can't really knock the product for that. I don't think I've tried a sugar scrub that actually has a scent that lingers. It was faint. My husband couldn't smell until he smashed his nose into my arm.</div>
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Would I recommend it? Yes. This is a perfect gift. It is a wonderful exfoliant. Would I purchase it again. Maybe. There is an emulsifying scrub made by One Hand That Washes the Other that is more up my alley, but I can still think of plenty of uses for this body scrub.</div>
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Overall, in my opinion, Aqua Blossom has potential. I would definitely recommend this store for Christmas gifts for a teen/young woman. I contacted the owner and let her know of my shipping mishaps and she immediately responded with an offer to replace any leaked items and admitted she wasn't happy with her recent stock of mineral shadow containers. She took all my suggestions well and that always makes me happy. I did NOT request replacements. I told her I just wanted to let her know a few things other shops do to ensure that other products don't taint each other. The prices are reasonable, the customer service was good and overall, a good Etsy shop.</div>
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</div>La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-22379828813859241812011-09-17T18:32:00.000-07:002011-09-17T18:32:21.602-07:00Business Review: Galaxy CupcakesOur family moved to Georgetown around the same time Galaxy Cupcakes made its transition from their old location to their new location. I remember waiting in anticipation to try their cupcakes. I love the idea of a cupcakery. I don't mind paying for one cupcake and not have the daunting task of eating the rest of the dozen. Recently, they have made the transition to a full bakery and are now called <a href="http://www.galaxybakery.com/">Galaxy Bakery and CoffeeHouse</a>.<br />
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Today, on a whim, we decided to visit the bakery and try their other confections that were not part of the menu when we first became patrons. We purchased cupcakes in Red Velvet, Cookies & Cream, and Peanut Butter. They added mini cheesecakes to their lineup, so I picked a Chocolate Cheesecake mini and Casey tried their cannoli.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT: RED VELVET CUPCAKE</u></b></span></div>
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The cupcake was moist and not overly large. I don't understand the mentality of the "jumbo" cupcake. I appreciate that they are normal sized cupcakes. The icing was your basic cream cheese. No complaints here. When it comes to comparing cupcakes, I am not an expert. I can tell you that it wasn't horrible. I have had better cream cheese icing. They have a very sweet cream cheese icing. I could do with more cream cheese flavor and less in-your-face sugar. Overall, I love their cupcakes.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT: COOKIES & CREAM CUPCAKE</u></b></span></div>
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My son had the Cookies & Cream cupcake. He said, "I definitely did taste the cookies and cream and the cookie on top is a cute addition. My first thought was 'OMG! There's ice cream on this cupcake!' But when I took a bite into it, there was this awesome flavor. The cake part was pretty good. I give it four out of five stars. It was a little dry. The icing was amazing."</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT: MINI CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER CUPCAKE</u></b></span></div>
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My son also had the mini peanut butter cupcake. He states, "I'd have to say I barely tasted the peanut butter. The candy on top was a very cute addition. The cupcake was very moist. I give it a 5 out of 5 stars."</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT: CANNOLI</u></b></span></div>
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Casey had the cannoli. He states, "It was a perfect mini cannoli." Wish I could elaborate more, but he honestly said it was really good and tasted like a cannoli.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT: CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE MINI</u></b></span></div>
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I wish I could rave about this sweet little morsel. First, there was a lack of a graham cracker bottom. It had melted into the cheesecake. That kind of disappointed me. It did have a nice hint of cinnamon, though. Secondly, there was kind of a lack of that cheesecake bite. I've eaten some fine cheesecakes in my time, but this wasn't my "style". I prefer the more adult cheesecake. The kind of cheesecake that isn't so sweet. This reminded me more of a no-bake cheesecake. It was kind of airy and I'll be honest. It is good in a pinch, but probably something I will not be purchasing further. The little chocolate ornamentation was pretty cute. I won't say they're bad. I ate the whole thing and got my cheesecake fix. What I am saying is I am pretty positive they use a no-bake recipe because of the lack of carmelization on the top. The tops of all their cheesecakes were blemish free. No browning. There is NOTHING wrong with that. I just tend to notice that no-bake type recipes use quite a bit more sugar than the baked counterpart.<br />
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Overall, we love our local bakery and would recommend it to any of our friends. They have outstanding cupcakes and are always friendly. I wasn't really impressed with the cheesecake, but that doesn't really mean you won't like it. Cheesecakes are made in many different ways. This just wasn't what I prefer. Casey really enjoyed the mini cannoli. It took a small bite and it was good. If anything, we recommend their cupcakes. You will not be disappointed.</div>
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La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-30614739455938769912011-09-16T09:53:00.000-07:002011-09-16T09:54:52.288-07:00Recipe Review: Paula Deen's Mexican ChickenLast week, I tried <a href="http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/mexican_chicken/">Paula Deen's Mexican Chicken Recipe</a>. It was circulating all over Pinterest and it looked delicious, easy to make and it's Paula Deen for crying out loud.<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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<li>1 10 3/4 -ounce can cream of chicken soup</li>
<li>1 10 3/4 -ounce can cheddar cheese soup</li>
<li>1 10 3/4 -ounce can cream of mushroom soup</li>
<li>1 10-ounce can tomatoes</li>
<li>1 whole chicken, cooked, boned, and chopped or 4 cups
leftover cooked chicken</li>
<li>11 1/2-ounce package flour tortillas</li>
<li>2 cup shredded cheddar cheese</li>
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<li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</li>
<li>In a large bowl, stir together the three kinds of soup and
the tomatoes. Stir in the chicken.</li>
<li>In a greased 13 x 9- inch pan, layer the tortillas and the
chicken mixture, beginning and ending with tortillas.</li>
<li>Sprinkle the cheese over the casserole and bake for 30
minutes.</li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>THE VERDICT</u></b></span></div>
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This recipe makes a lot, so I halved it. Based on the reviews on Paula's website, I substituted a can of mild Rotel in place of the tomatoes and nacho cheese soup for the cheddar cheese soup. Apparently, many people complained that the recipe was bland. I typically try not to make substitutions on the first try, but people were adamant that the recipe was bland.</div>
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I didn't like it. AJ didn't like it. Casey didn't even want to try it. I believe the alterations I made actually improved the recipe, and we still didn't like it. I would have to go with most of the reviewers who said the recipe as written is bland.</div>
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There is NOTHING Mexican about this recipe as written. The addition of tortillas, tomatoes and cheese does not make it Mexican. As written, it is DEFINITELY not Mexican. What Mexican recipe has absolutely no spice in it? No jalapenos, no bell peppers, no cumin. Nothing. I tried this recipe based on reviews who all claimed it was good. I took a leap of faith because sometimes, these simple recipes are a hit.</div>
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AJ's exact words were, "Um, Mom? It is way too cheesy and salty. I can't eat this." He didn't even finish chewing. He just spit it out, cleaned off his plate and re-heated some frozen pre-made taquitos.</div>
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My thoughts were, "This has absolutely no flavor."</div>
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The recipe is easy to make. I will give it that. If you are in a rush, it is a good starting point. It lacks a true "Mexican" flavor, even with Rotel. I can't even begin to think how bland this recipe would have been without my substitutions. </div>
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The only thing I can say is it looked good. It looked appetizing. It even smelled appetizing. In the end, it tasted like three cans of soup, shredded chicken with a hint of tortilla and rotel. It didn't mesh well. It was over-the-top soupy/salty. If you like that in-your-face cheesy kind of dish, this might actually be palatable to you. I thought it just tasted cheap and that isn't really what I like to serve my family. I was hoping for a diamond and instead I got the lump of coal.</div>
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Can this recipe be salvaged? With A LOT of alteration, I think you can turn this into something palatable. It lacks spice and doesn't even hint Mexican food to a Texan. </div>
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This was a definite miss by Paula Deen. Don't be deceived by the good photography. It was overly salty from the soups, had that entirely fake cheesy taste and just didn't do it for us here in the Bartholow household. I would not recommend this recipe, even with improving alterations.</div>
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La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-65979025659515375712011-09-14T18:00:00.000-07:002011-09-14T13:29:14.514-07:00Makeup Review: Brazen CosmeticsSo, as previously mentioned, I have been on a mineral eye makeup frenzy. It is my favorite kind of eye shadow at the moment. Pressed shadows NO MORE! <br />
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If you don't already have a VIP membership to Heartsy, I am here to tell you that it is 100% worth it if you like supporting small businesses. For a measly $10/month, you get the opportunity to purchase discount vouchers to try out Etsy/Artfire vendors. Usually, up to a 60% discount. I have been able to try a handful of Etsy and Artfire shops on a discount basis and that is nice when you're really unsure about whether or not you really want to chance it.<br />
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Enter <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>Brazen Cosmetics</b>.</span> You can find them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrazenCosmetics">Facebook</a> and stop by their <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BrazenCosmetics">Etsy</a> shop or <a href="http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/BrazenCosmetics">Artfire</a> kiosk. I'm not going to go through the process of listing prices. You can check out the links above and browse yourself.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kuuvesuUWqI/TmvKul7QIfI/AAAAAAAAC24/XAbd_mnIrpg/s1600/2011BrazenandAstrid-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kuuvesuUWqI/TmvKul7QIfI/AAAAAAAAC24/XAbd_mnIrpg/s320/2011BrazenandAstrid-3.JPG" width="318" /></a></div>
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What Brazen claims about their products via their Etsy shop description:<br />
<blockquote>
<i>Brazen Cosmetics is your top stop for creative and trendy
makeup & scents. Why blend in?! Our products work HARD to bring you high
pigmentation, long lasting wear, unique colors and makeup that actually
IMPROVES your skin! One swipe and you'll be hooked. Developed by a professional
Makeup Artist (and Cosmetic Formulator for the last 10 years!), Brazen
Cosmetics were created for the daring confident girls (or guys) who demand a
lot from their makeup and don't settle. Unleash your inner drama queen and
strut your stuff in style!</i></blockquote>
I purchased the following items:<br />
<ul>
<li>Eye Shadow in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=169961953019890&set=a.167631823252903.45743.120820027934083&type=1&theater">Jinx</a> - Described as a purple lilac with shimmer</li>
<li>Eye Shadow in <a href="https://apps.facebook.com/artfire-kiosk/&op=item&product_id=3749941&fbuid=120820027934083">Oblivion</a> - Described as a smoky green with shimmer</li>
<li>Eye Shadow in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=179210805428338&set=a.167631823252903.45743.120820027934083&type=1&theater">Animated</a> - Described as a super vibrant blue with blue sparkles</li>
<li>Eye Shadow in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=179709418711810&set=a.167631823252903.45743.120820027934083&type=1&theater">Frisky</a> - Described as a tangerine shimmer with a pink hue</li>
<li>Glitterati gel glitter in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=186260434723375&set=a.186258994723519.52900.120820027934083&type=1&theater">Red Carpet</a>. </li>
<li>Passion Pot Lip Gloss in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=232485213434230&set=a.179713395378079.50079.120820027934083&type=1&theater">Forbidden Fruit</a>.</li>
<li>Mystery Item: Passion Pot Lip Gloss in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=232573173425434&set=a.179713395378079.50079.120820027934083&type=1&theater">Peep Show</a>. </li>
</ul>
If a vendor offers a discounted random item, I most ALWAYS purchase it because it forces me out of the box. I would have never purchased Peep Show on my own. Enclosed with my order was a sample of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=187048304644588&set=a.146894555326630.29054.120820027934083&type=1&theater">Twisted</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=179710498711702&set=a.167631823252903.45743.120820027934083&type=1&theater">Courtesan</a> mineral shadows. Quite a haul, right? All for $35! Thank you, Heartsy!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Akuy3N_6zHQ/TmvK5amxrNI/AAAAAAAAC3k/Uur7hpvXKyE/s1600/2011BrazenandAstrid-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Akuy3N_6zHQ/TmvK5amxrNI/AAAAAAAAC3k/Uur7hpvXKyE/s320/2011BrazenandAstrid-14.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The packaging:<br />
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Again, sorry for the lack of photographs. I received my package really quickly. It arrived in a manila envelope with all my items carefully wrapped in an outer layer of bubble wrap and an inner layer of hot pink tissue paper sealed with a custom Brazen Cosmetics sticker. Each jar (pictured above) was individually sealed which is always nice. Sifters are already installed/included with a protective seal. Obviously, no sifters on the gel glitter or passion pots. No leaks and no cracks. Each jar is labeled on the bottom with a custom sticker that lists ingredients! Always good to see that, too.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>The Verdict - Brazen Shadows</u></b></span></div>
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You'll have to excuse the lack of pictures and the horrendous condition of my skin. I started a new medication and my whole face broke out. I've been busy and I'll provide what I have had the time to take. The pictures below are with Animated (blue). The purple and white are from other companies, so I won't mention them here. The color is fantastic. My husband immediately said, "Wow, that looks really good."<br />
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I chose to go with a not-so-in-your-face look. I am sure Animated would be wonderful all out and in-your-face. Instead, I opted to take my test run out in a more modest fashion. After blending, of course it didn't look anything like the bright blue you see in the stock photos. I can say had I chose not to blend, it looked just like Brazen's stock photo. My favorite blue shade by ANY company. Hands down.<br />
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The color lasted all day. It was applied over Two Faced's Glitter Glue. The pictures don't really pick up the shimmer, but it was shimmery and glittery. No creasing, but again, I used good primer and glue.<br />
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I have also tried every other color of my Brazen collection BUT did not take pictures. Sorry. One of these days, I might get motivated to actually do swatch photos, but for now, I'm not completely hardcore on doing that lol.<br />
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Brazen's shadows are highly pigmented, they last all day and produce the color that is in the container. I can't comment on quality of her mixology or any of the other claims more experienced and professional bloggers have. No, I don't have mica laying around to compare whether she is selling stock colors. I can just say that I love the Brazen line of shadows. I will never claim to know more than I know LOL. <br />
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My biggest piece of advice is to always use a good primer that is designed for loose pigments and a base that will help the glitter/sparkles stick. If you don't, the pigment will just wash out and/or fall out. <br />
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Does Brazen live up to their claims? I think they do. Bright colors, long lasting, fun, different and high pigmentation.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>The Verdict: Brazen Lip Gloss</u></b></span></div>
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I wish I could yell from the rooftops about how I love Brazen's lip glosses, but I am on the fence. Again, I apologize for the lack of pictures. In the pictures above, I am wearing Brazen's Peep Show. It is a BRIGHT pink. Click the link in my list above. All of Brazen's pictures are SPOT on. I toned it down by blotting which gave me a nice rosy color. I love the color, though. I really do. Brazen makes some out-of-this-world glosses.</div>
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I will say this. You get bang for your buck. The glosses come in the same size tub as the shadows. I definitely think you get your money's worth. They are thick, creamy and sticky. If you don't like that kind of gloss, steer clear. They apply EXACTLY the color you bought.</div>
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Then why have I not fallen in love with them? Maybe it is my lips. I don't know. Brazen's lip gloss will NOT apply smoothly for me. I get these weird pockets of color with light or heavy application. It doesn't like to stick to the inner part of the lips even if you thoroughly dry beforehand. Again, it could just be my crazy lips.</div>
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Go big, or go home. That is what I think with this product. I played around and really packed it on. It was gorgeous, but as time went on and the product faded, I got those weird color pockets. Fair warning that applying too much will cause your lips to stick together. I tried applying some clear lip balm before the Brazen gloss and had a bit more success with eliminating those weird color pockets.</div>
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I don't like the gloss in the jars. I have never been a big fan of any lip product that I have to stick my finger into. Especially this gloss. It is so thick, it really needs a wand applicator. Yes, I could go buy my own, but I don't feel like it LOL. Brazen is starting to sell some glosses in tubes, but not all.</div>
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In the end, I think I would recommend them for fun. I really love the colors because they are not traditional. I have seen pictures of her glosses in action and obviously, I am doing something wrong. I want to love them, but so far, I can only really, really like them.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>FINAL VERDICT</u></b></span></div>
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I enjoy Brazen Cosmetics very much and urge you to give them a try. Her shadows are awesome. I am still on the fence about the glosses, but you might have better luck. Customer service was awesome. Brazen answered all my emails the same day. The power flickered and my first round at trying to order was erased. I contacted Brazen to make sure it didn't transmit because I had entered a voucher code. I received an immediate response letting me know she didn't receive an order. I submitted the order again and immediately received an email from Brazen just to confirm she received it. Not an automated email (although I received one of those as well), but an actual email from the owner. Now that is customer service!</div>
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There are many other shades that I want to try and I will most definitely be a repeat customer.</div>
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La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-36317231449062016512011-09-04T09:26:00.000-07:002011-09-04T09:26:47.319-07:00Recipe Review: Pioneer Woman's Lemon Blueberry PancakesAfter watching the second episode of The Pioneer Woman's cooking show, the family wanted to try out the lemon blueberry pancakes she made for her son's 7th birthday.<div>
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You can find the recipe at her <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/09/lemon-blueberry-pancakes/">website </a>or on <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/lemon-blueberry-pancakes-recipe/index.html">Food Network</a>.</div>
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The cons:</div>
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The batter was way too thin for my liking, but in the interest of making the recipe AS INTENDED, I did not thicken it.</div>
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The pros:</div>
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Our family loved it. The ratio blueberries was perfect for us. Each scoop of batter yielded about 4-5 blueberries a pancake which is perfect for our family. We don't enjoy over-doing the fruit in the batter. As I mentioned, the batter was pretty thin. This made a crepe-like batter that was actually delightful. They weren't heavy and sitting like bricks in our stomach. Instead of syrup, I made a blueberry compote. I put the remainder of the blueberries in a saucepan with some water and sugar. No, I didn't measure. I put enough water up to the top of the berries, but not covering. I put maybe 1/2 cup of sugar. I also added the juice of 1/2 lemon. I let it simmer until most of the liquid evaporated and thickened it up with some cornstarch slurry. It was almost like a pie filling. The combination was amazing. The lemon in the batter wasn't overpowering at all. It was a nice surprise in the batter.</div>
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The verdict:</div>
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I will most definitely keep this recipe for special events and weekend meals. I think I will decrease the amount of liquid to make it less runny and a little less crepe like. Overall, it is probably my favorite blueberry pancake recipe. I don't like going "fruit overboard" and this recipe doesn't go all out.</div>
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La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-40603066500059921202011-08-19T17:20:00.000-07:002011-12-14T11:02:28.057-08:00Bath and Body Review: One Hand Washes the OtherI have recently discovered <a href="http://ohwto.blogspot.com/">One Hand Washes the Other</a>. I have linked you directly to her blog because that is where she lists all her available scents and the link to her Artfire shop. WARNING: She is currently on haitus until the beginning of September.<br />
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I've been on an "indie" store kick lately. I really love exploring what these vendors have to offer that isn't main stream. Becca, the owner of OHWTO, produces natural beauty products for those who are concerned or allergic to all of the synthetic materials placed in beauty products. She lists all ingredients for every product she makes on all her media sites as well as labels her products really well.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KpE8bCVm7o4/Tk28XnOq-lI/AAAAAAAACvQ/EzQ3ahmL9eA/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KpE8bCVm7o4/Tk28XnOq-lI/AAAAAAAACvQ/EzQ3ahmL9eA/s400/IMG_2389.JPG" width="378" /></a></div>
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I ordered Sweet Cream in Sun-Ripened Cherry, Lip Butter in Marshmallow Pumpkins, and Solid Scent in Viva La Juicy. I received my items nicely packaged in a small box. I was very appreciative that my items weren't just thrown into a package without any care. Inside the box, there was a cute envelope with an embossed wax seal that contained a small copy of my invoice with a handwritten thank you, a business card, some cute stickers, and two solid scent samples in Barista and Pink Lady. Right off the bat, I am impressed. The Lip Butter and Solid Scent were packaged in a cute purple bag. The Sweet Cream was in a cute Halloween looking treat bag.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkF9LN4qb5A/Tk77fac0u8I/AAAAAAAACxo/sIeLGfXUdTY/s1600/2011OHWTO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkF9LN4qb5A/Tk77fac0u8I/AAAAAAAACxo/sIeLGfXUdTY/s400/2011OHWTO.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>The Verdict: Sweet Cream</b></span></u></div>
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A 4 ounce container will run $6.50. I don't think that is expensive at all in comparison to similar store brand products. The following ingredients are listed:<br />
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<i>INGREDIENTS: Evaporated Cane Juice, Coconut oil, Grape Seed
oil, Rice Bran oil, Emulsifying wax, Stearic Acid, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter,
Olive oil, Fragrance, Optiphen (paraben-free preservative), and Vitamin E</i></blockquote>
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OHWTH states:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span></div>
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<i>Sweet Cream is an emulsifying scrub handmade by me in very
small batches, 100% from scratch. Emulsifying means that when water hits it,
the oils combine with the water and transform your scrub into a lotion-y
substance which leaves a light layer of moisturizing oils on your skin, as
opposed to rinsing totally clean like other scrubs. Along with the oils, it
will also deposit a touch of fragrance, leaving your skin soft and
sweet-smelling<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></i></blockquote>
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As you can see from the label, OHWTO clearly prints instructions and a slip warning on her labels. I used this product after I showered this morning and my initial reaction is I love it. My skin was softer and after a full day of work, it is still soft and I can faintly smell the cherry. It is not overpowering at all; however, I think I chose the wrong scent for myself. I wanted to play it "safe" and well, the cherry is reminding me of cough syrup a bit. My husband says it is all in my head. He likes the scent. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. The product itself is well worth the price and I will most likely be a repeat customer. It has a good exfoliating action, and I think this product lives up to her claims. It receives my recommendation.</div>
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The Verdict: Lip Butter</span></b></u><br />
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A .15 ounce tube of Lip Butter costs $3.25. The ingredients are as follows:<br />
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<i>INGREDIENTS: Shea butter, Coca butter, Candelilla wax, Hemp seed oil, Jojoba oil, Grape seed oil, Coconut oil, Olive squalane, Meadowfoam seed oil, Castor oil, Vitamin E, and Flavoring.</i></blockquote>
OHWTH describes her Lip Butter as:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif;"><i>This is MY lip balm, made from scratch from my own recipe,
the one I'll pretty much always have in stock unless some kind of catastrophe
occurs. It's petroleum free, consisting solely of vegetable oils and waxes-
which also means it's vegan-friendly. No beeswax is used, and it's also
palm-free (see my bar soap description below for information on that). As far
as flavors go- there are some I have which are presweetened (and due to
"proprietary" information I can't be sure of what is used), and
others I have which are unsweetened, but I typically sweeten those with stevia.
If a flavor is sweetened with stevia, I will be sure to note this in the item's
description, as I know some people can be allergic to it. If there's no mention
of stevia, the flavor is either unsweetened or it's one of my
"pre-sweetened" flavors.</i></span></div>
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I have been using this product for two days now and I am still deciding on whether I like it or not. Again, I think I picked the wrong kind of flavor/scent. I honestly think I can taste the castor oil which is not a taste I like to get unsuspecting hits of. I am not sure whether or not it is supposed to taste like marshmallow, but I am not tasting either marshmallow or pumpkin. Every once in awhile, I get a burst of sweetness that I THINK is a pumpkin spice flavor. I do not have much experience with vegan-friendly products, therefore, I cannot rightly say whether this is normal or not.<br />
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With that said, my lips are hydrated and I think use of this product has sloughed off some dead skin. I do find myself re-applying it because it does give my lips that smooth, healthy feeling. I am going to re-visit her lip butter after I order a different flavor. For now, I'm still deciding. I can say that I like it more than not.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b><u>The Verdict: Solid Scent</u></b></span></div>
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A .15 ounce oval tube costs $3.99. The ingredients are as follows:</div>
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<i>INGREDIENTS: Sweet Almond Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Candelilla Wax, Coconut Oil, Vitamin E, and Fragrance.</i></blockquote>
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OHWTH states:</div>
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<i> These are probably my most popular item online-
portable solid perfumes at an affordable price point, in a wide range of scents
to suit most anyone. Again, these are made from a recipe of my own device, and
they are surprisingly melt-resistant. No beeswax is used to harden them;
instead I use candelilla wax, which is a plant-based wax, so this formula is
100% vegan-friendly. The scent in these lasts awhile applied to pulse points,
and when it begins to fade, a quick rubbing of the spots it was applied to will
refresh the scent. Though they have a decent staying power, solid scents are
not overpowering- this was an intended part of their design. I think of them as
the "anti-Axe", as they will make YOU smell good without leaving the
people in every room you enter gagging on your fumes ;) These are one of the
strongest-scented products I have, in addition to my perfume oils. </i></div>
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I absolutely love it. I've seen similar products at festivals, and loved the idea. It is great all around. I chose the Viva La Juicy dupe. Man, did she nail it! It is a beautiful scent. With the scent aside, the actual product is awesome. It is small so you can carry it in your purse. I apply it to my pulse points and it does last ALL day. The oiliness might set some people off, but it disappears really quick. Out of all three products, I recommend this the most. It is my absolutely favorite. It is portable, functional and smells wonderful. It is perfect for your purse. It lives up to the claims.</div>
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THE FINAL WORD:</div>
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Try Becca's products out. She takes great care in packaging your items, provides samples of scents to try, and her products are worth the price you pay.</div>
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<br />La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2328769334515867295.post-77218642451791245402011-08-13T06:07:00.000-07:002011-08-13T06:09:43.479-07:00Makeup Review - Sephora 12h Jumbo Crayon in WhiteOn Thursday, I bought my first bottle of Make Up For Ever foundation that I reviewed yesterday. Along with my MUFE, I bought a Sephora 12h waterproof Jumbo Crayon Liner in White.<br />
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According to the <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P284507&categoryId=C17343&shouldPaginate=true">website</a>:<br />
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These jumbo pencils create a range of effects, from bold lines and blended effects to thin, defined lines. Resistant to water, heat, and humidity, their creamy, high-pigment formulas apply smoothly. From deep blacks to rich and shimmery shades, each is formulated with exclusive waxes and pigments to assure maximum color intensity that stays put for 12-hours.</blockquote>
What I love:<br />
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It lives up to the claims. I live in Texas and it outlasted the 100 degree weather. I applied this pencil to my arm and ran it under water. This crayon was going NOWHERE. I rubbed it. This crayon did not wipe off. I can see these pencils being a must-have to woman that love to go out to the clubs. It is highly pigmented and stays put. It does apply smoothly and blends. I purchased the white crayon and it was a very bright, shimmery pigment. I love the lasting power and guaranteed to stay where you put it.<br />
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What I could live without:<br />
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Be VERY careful in application. When I was swatching on my arm, I noticed that when you attempt to heavily apply the crayon, it tends to bunch up in areas and the product becomes uneven. I suppose you can bypass this by blending in each layer before adding more. I really wish this crayon came in a matte option. This is very shimmery, almost silky looking.<br />
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The final verdict:<br />
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I originally purchased this pencil due to recommendations of using white crayons as a base for high pigment/glittery loose powders. The NYX pencil in Milk is highly recommended on many Indie sites. I figured this pencil would do just as well. <br />
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Displayed here is Facebomb Cosmetics' loose pigment in, "Pumpkin Tits." It is a pumpkin orange pigment with purple speck of glitter. On the far left, I used my favorite product - <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P277300">Two Faced's Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue</a>. In the middle, I applied directly to my arm. On the right, I used the Sephora Jumbo Liner in White as a base.<br />
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My opinion: The cheapest option of using a white jumbo liner/crayon is not my favorite idea. In my opinion, the glitter glue is the closest to the intended shade AND was the only base/primer that continued to show that this pigment has purple glitter. If you look at the pictures very closely, you will see specks of purple glitter. Obviously, without a base/primer, you can't really see any shimmer. Using the jumbo liner, you just get a "foiled" effect. You can achieve this with a normal primer and wetting your brush. You don't NEED that extra step. While it is better than the alternative, I don't like that the glitter becomes an afterthought. If you want to do that, then just don't bother with a glittered pigment. You can achieve that look with a dampened application brush and normal compacted pigments. If you are going to purchase loose glittery pigments, go with the Glitter Glue. You won't be disappointed.La Shellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16417205837235214180noreply@blogger.com0