Blasts From the Past: Rediscovering Old Favorites

I've been on what seems like a month long cleaning spree, and now it is time to tackle my makeup drawers. I have cleansed and gotten rid of quite a few products, which feels amazing. I was recently thinking about ideas for a new blog post, and I thought about an old Shop My Stash post I did on my old blog. The idea is to go through your collection, find old favorites, and give them a try again. I thought it was about time to reach into my makeup drawers and rediscover some old favorites. 

The first item I reached for when I decided to do this post is Covergirl's Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in the shade Ivory. I was legit OBSESSED with this foundation for ages! I have extremely oily skin, and this is probably the best drugstore foundation I have ever used. It helped minimize the amount of oil on my face throughout the day, and did not budge. I actually wore it one day when I went on an impromptu trip to the beach, and it was still in tact hours later, even though I went in the water and was sweating my but off. I will definitely be reaching for this a lot this summer. 

NYX Powder Blush in the shade Rose Garden. I was in love with this gorgeous warm-toned pink with golden shimmer. I saw quite a few people talking about it a few years back, and ran to the store to get it. I loved how flattering and natural a flush it gave my fair skin. I was hesitant to try this originally because of the glitter, I am always afraid of my face looking like a children's craft project, but it really is gorgeous in person if you apply it properly and don't overdo it.

I was all about the highlight a few years ago. I mean, REALLY into highlighting. I would buy all of the new ones that hit the market, and quite a few people at that time were raving about the Hard Candy So Baked Illuminating Baked Bronzer in the shade Tiki. It was advertised as a bronzer, but it was really a champagne highlight. Baked products feel so luxurious and expensive, so I loved that Hard Candy brought that to the drugstore. Tiki gives a gorgeous glow that makes you look like a shimmering glowy goddess when you have a tan. I put this on this morning when I did my makeup, and I cannot stop staring at it.

There is an eyeshadow combination that I swore by a few years back, and I decided that this would be the perfect time to bring it back. I start off with the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo in the shade Bad To The Bronze as a base, and layer the L'Oreal Paris Infallible 24 Hr Eyeshadow in the shade Iced Latte to add a nice shimmer and glow. I received so many compliments back in the day when I would wear this combo, so I think I might make this my summer go-to look. Excuse how gross both of these look in the photo. They are very well loved.

I am so glad that I did this. It can be easy to forget how many products I actually own since I typically throw products into drawers whenever I move onto something new. Also, why spend money on brand new products when I have perfectly good products already in my collection? It just doesn't make sense to me. I can't wait to play with these little beauties over the next couple of weeks, and hopefully rediscover my love for them. 

Until next time! Xo

Ipsy: May 2017

It's time for another Ipsy unboxing! I absolutely loved my first bag last month (you can read about it here), and I couldn't wait for my next one. Once again, I couldn't resist the spoilers and totally snooped online. The theme this time around is Summer Friday. I am so excited for summer, and the theme this month is perfect! Is there even a better time then a Friday in summer?

The bag this month is so damn cute! It is a plastic waterproof bag that is covered in an ice cream cone design. Ipsy is killing it this month with the bag. This is definitely going to be used this summer in my beach bag. I love that it is waterproof so that it can be used at the beach or at a pool, and you don't have to worry about your things getting wet or damaged. 

The first item in my bag isn't really a surprise to me. I emailed Ipsy's customer service in April to select one of the items in my box. I knew that I needed to try Briogeo's Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Spray. I emailed Ipsy at support@ipsy.com, and they were able to accommodate me immediately. Great customer service! I absolutely love spray leave-ins and this one has been on my radar for a bit now. Can't wait to try it!

The next item is a little disappointing to me. I can only use waterproof mascara because of how oily my skin is, so unfortunately I won't be able to try the IT Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara. It is said to be an ultra volumizing mascara that separates and lengthens each lash. I already have someone in mind to pass this along to.

Ipsy must think that I need to improve my highlighter game, haha! This is the second month that I have received one. I'm not complaining though, since it is the Urban Decay Afterglow Powder Highlighter in the shade Sin. This champagne colored highlight is stunning, and I almost wonder if it is the same thing as the shade Sin in the Urban Decay Naked Palette....I'll have to swatch these two to find out. Either way, both are gorgeous, and I can't wait to use this. I've always preferred powder highlights, so this is right up my alley.

I love trying new brands. The next two items in my bag are from brands I am not too familiar with. The first item is the Cailyn Cosmetics Pure Lust Extreme Matte Tint + Velvet in the shade Practicable. It is a cinnamon matte tint that is meant to by hydrating, long-lasting, and opaque. The shade is very pretty, and I think I might actually hold on to this one instead of giving it away. I have a thing for matte lip tints. The last item is the Jelly Pong Pong Supercharged Super Intense Eyeshadow Duo in the shade Electric. The packaging is so cute, and I love the bright blue! Both shades in the duo (rose gold and gold) are highly pigmented and will completely flatter my blue eyes this summer. I might need to go try this once I'm finished writing this review.

This is a really great bag this month. I can see myself using almost all of the products included this summer. I already have a feeling that the Briogeo spray and Jelly Pong Pong eyeshadow duo will be well loved over the next couple of months. I'm already excited for my next bag!

Click here if you would like to sign up to receive your own Ipsy Glam Bag!

Love With Food: May 2017

I don't know about you, but I am so thankful that it is finally spring. We had a few weeks of constant rain not too long ago, and I thought I was going to go crazy if I didn't get a bit of sun. I've finally gotten my wish, and the weather ha been absolutely gorgeous. I'm spending more time outside now, and my mood has definitely improved. Who knew that weather could effect your mood so much?

Anyway, I was on my way home from a walk when I spotted my Love With Food box on my doorstep. Needless to say, I was pretty pumped. This month's theme is Savor Every Moment. I'm going to switch things up this month and list everything in the box below. Enjoy!

-MadeGood Chocolate and Banana Granola Bar

-WOWButter Toasted Soy Butter

-La Panzanella Multigrain Croccantini Crackers
-Mandy's Rich Chocolate Cookie Thins
-Dolcetto Cookies and Cream Wafer Bites
-Sensible Foods Organic Apple Harvest Crunch Dried Snack
-Route 11 Dill Pickle Kettle Potato Chips
-Lance Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
-Bakery On Main Maple Multigrain Muffin Instant Oatmeal

That's everything! I really like everything that they included this month. I can't wait to try the dill pickle kettle chips and chocolate and banana granola bar. Actually, everything in this box looks freaking amazing! This is another great box!

Click here to subscribe and get your own Love With Food box!

Home: Room Sprays

I'm a scents person. I like for things to smell nice and fresh, and work hard to ensure that where I live is just that. Room sprays are my favorite way to keep things smelling good. I have quite a collection of sprays that I use, and thought I would share my favorites with you today.

My absolute favorite spray I have ever purchased is the Primark Home White Tea Room Spray. Tea is one of my top favorite scents, and this makes my room smell like a delicious cup of sweet tea. It also has some floral notes that balance everything out, and leave my bedroom smelling so freaking good. The spray is pretty cheap too, and I am still using the bottle that I bought last year since I only need about 3 sprays to really make my room smell nice. The spray comes in a glass bottle with a wooden lid, and it feels way more expensive than it actually is, which my high maintenance self appreciates. 

A recently favorite of mine is the Febreze ONE Fabric and Air Mist* in Mandarin. This is a brand new product from Febreze that doesn't have any aerosols, dyes, or heavy perfumes. I absolutely love the Mandarin scent. It smells like a tropical paradise, and allows me to pretend that I am actually on a tropical island. I spritz this on the couch and my comforter whenever I want to give it a bit of a pick me up. I may or may not have also sprayed this on a pair of funky smelling boots I own and it totally worked to make them not smell like death.

My final room spray is actually an aromatherapy spray that is meant to be used on the face or body, but I'm a rule breaker. It's the Happy Spritz Breathe Deeply. I tend to be an anxious person, and I have found that aromatherapy sprays and oils really do help me to calm down and relax at night. There was a time about two months ago where I couldn't sleep at all. I started spraying my pillow with this spray, and I would fall asleep almost instantly. The calming peppermint and eucalyptus scent helps my brain settle down, and allows me to sleep through the night. I am actually surprised that I like this as much as I do, because I typically don't like eucalyptus. 

Let me know in a comment below if you have a favorite spray for your house. I'm always on the lookout for new scents to try. Until next time! Xo

*Product provided for review purposes by BzzAgent. All opinions are my own.

MiamMiam Box: April 2017

Bonjour! Okay, I'll stop pretending like I know French now. I attempted to dust off some of my French skills today because I'm going to be reviewing a French food box! Yes, you heard me right, a subscription box filled with yummy treas from France! I've been trying different food subscription services for awhile now, and international boxes are my favorite. I found out about MiamMiam after reading an article on Buzzfeed that they were featured in. I decided to give them a try for a month to see what they are all about. Fun fact; MiamMiam translates in English to 'yum yum'. How cute!

MiamMiam comes in three sizes: mini, orignial, and maxi. They also have an organic box and a candy box. I opted for the original box this time around. Each box is said to include the latest and tastiest treats from France that legit French people eat. I'm sold. They also have a shop on their website where you can buy products that are included in the boxes.

My MiamMiam arrived in an adorable yellow, blue, and white geometric designed box with the company's logo in red.  They included a recipe card in the box for Easter cookies, which is a fun touch. They also include a little booklet that let's you know more information about what you received in the box. This will come in handy for me since I didn't apply myself in school, and my French is extremely rusty. I will write a quick blurb about each item I received in the box below. Enjoy!

Haribo Soft Dragibus: I was on board with this box the second I saw that they included Haribo. These are an exclusive with MiamMiam. They look kind of like button shaped jelly beans. I like jelly beans, so I'm sure I will like these. Side note, did anyone else think of a dragon when they read dragibus? Just me?

TUC: These look like big crackers to me. I had to look at the card for this one since I can't tell if they are savory or sweet. The booklet says that they are, " crunchy and melting at the same time".

Pépitos Pépites: How stinking cute are these mini chocolate chip sponge cakes? The package comes with 5 mini cakes, which is a lot compared to other food subscription services. These would make a cute little dessert after dinner.

Chabrior Palets Brentons: I absolutely love butter cookies. They go really well with chai tea as an afternoon snack. These cookies look really yummy, and will be perfect for dunking!

Bahlsen Pick Up!: Who doesn't love chocolate? A Pick Up! is milk chocolate between two cookies. I think I'll save this when I'm looking for a sweet treat.

Brownie Blanc: Unfortunately, this isn't in the photo above. My sister and I already couldn't help ourselves and tried this before I could get a photo. It was freaking delicious. It wasn't too sweet, and both of us could not stop talking about how good it was.

Well, that's everything! I have to admit, this is a pretty cool subscription box. I haven't been able to travel the world just yet, but boxes like this let me feel like I have. All of the items look wicked yummy, and I like how they only include full sized products. Not a tiny sample in the whole box. This is such a cool concept.

Until next time! Xo

MunchPak: April 2017

Hey guys! Happy Easter! I'm back with another late night, I'm hungry but too lazy to get up and get anything purchase. I've got myself another MunchPak. Yes, I am fully aware that my logic of ordering food online that won't arrive for weeks when I am hungry currently makes no sense. This time around I decided to try a MunchPak mini. The mini includes 5+ full sized snacks. I also paid an extra dollar to specify that I wanted something sour in my box. I have been craving sour things all month, and I couldn't help myself when I saw that I could customize an aspect of my box for just a buck. 

Like always, they include a cute little card to let you know who packed your box. Thanks, Nick! I will list everything in my box below and give a quick little blurb for each. Keep reading to see what is inside!

Dorval Cotton Candy Sour Power Straws (Netherlands)
This is the sour item I paid extra for, and I am so pumped. I love cotton candy anything, and sour straws are one of my favorite things to sneak into movie theaters. Shh, don't tell anyone.

Vitaminka Stobi Flips (Macedonia)
The website describes these as sweet peanut butter Cheetos. Okay, am I weird to find that appetizing?

Ppushu Ppushu Honey Butter Flavor (South Korea)
I can't be the only person that eats uncooked ramen out of the package. I guess this snack is uncooked ramen that you put honey butter flavoring on. This sounds pretty interesting to me, and I've never tried anything like this before.

Olza Prince of Polo Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Wafer (Poland)
This is a hazelnut flavored wafer that is covered in milk chocolate. My dad loves these, so I'll pass this along to him.

Crown Saekom Dalkom Grape Hi-Chews (South Korea)
I freaking love Hi-Chews! I have never had the grape flavor before, but I imagine I will like it. Excuse me while I go eat the entire thing now...

The last thing in my box is a chocolate cupcake with chocolate flavored cream filling from Israel. I cannot find this on their website at all for more information. It looks good though, haha!

Another great box. I actually think I might like my mini more than the full size I got the last time. All of the snacks are either unique or something I already know that I will like. I will definitely be getting another box next month.

Until next time! Xo

Love With Food: April 2017

Hey guys! I hope you all have had a good week so far. I've been on a bit of a spring cleaning spree recently. The clutter was really starting to make me claustrophobic. I had no idea that I owned so much crap. It feels so good to throw away things that I know I will never use. 

Yesterday I came home from work, and saw that my Love With Food box had arrived. It could not have come at a more perfect time. I typically keep snacks in a drawer at work for when I forget to pack a lunch, and today I went to grab something and found out I was all out. SUCH a bummer! I'm going to restock my stash with items from my box this month. Fingers crossed I received some good items. Keep reading to see what is inside! Oh, and this month's theme is Be the Change.

I figured I would start with the savory items in my box. The first thing I pulled out if something I have actually purchased before, Utz Original Potato Chips. I get these to bring to parties and barbecues all the time. The next item is the 180 Snacks Almond Pops with Blueberry. I use to buy something similar to these at Target a few years back. I'm super excited to give these a try.

I had a ton of sweet items in my box this month. The first item is the Prince of Peace Ginger Candy, and I already know that I will be passing these along. I'm not a huge fan of ginger, so I'll pass these along. I am very excited to the the Surf Sweets Organic Fruity Bears. Anything gummy is right up my alley. I guess the fact that they are organic makes them healthy, right? I also received a bag of Dang Foods Cacao Coconut Chips. My dad loves coconut, so these will go right to him. Next is The GFB's Dark Chocolate Coconut Bar Bites. I've actually tried this brand before in a Popsugar Must Have box. I'm not a huge fan because of the coconut, but one of my friends really liked them so this will go to them. The final sweet item looks absolutely delicious! The Kashi Salted Chocolate Chunk Nut Butter Bar sounds so amazing. I've eaten Kashi cereal before, but never tried one of their bars. Who doesn't like chocolate though?

My box also included a protein powder this time around. I had no clue that Burt's Bees made protein powders. The Healthy Radiance Protein Powder isn't really my thing, but I can pass this along to someone else.

Click here to subscribe and get your own Love With Food box!

Until next time! Xo

Ipsy: April 2017

I have made it no secret that I am a huge fan of subscription boxes. I have tried pretty much every popular beauty subscription box under the sun over the past 6 years. I've finally decided to give Ipsy a try after talking with my best friend last month and she shared how much she has loved her Ipsy subscription. I have no clue why it took me this long, but I was excited to finally see what all of the hype is about.

We first need to take a minute to fully appreciate how freaking adorable this month's bag is. It's a giant red-orange ticket. This totally brings me back to raffles and carnivals from when I was in school. This is definitely a fun bag compared to the others I have seen in the past whenever I read reviews online.

Now, onto the items in the bag! I have tried to become a more patient person, but I've come to terms with the fact that I'm nosy and I don't regret it. I totally looked at the spoilers for this month, so I already knew what would be included in my bag. Keep reading to see what's inside!

Okay, I will admit that I was a little over excited to see a product from OFRA Cosmetics in my bag. I've seen so many people review products from this brand, and I have wanted to give it a try. In my bag was the OFRA Cosmetics Blush in the shade Rendezvous. It is a cool toned rose shade that I am excited to use this spring. It will look great on my fair skin.

Who doesn't love a good multi-purpose product. The Elizabeth Mott Show Me Your Glow Shimmer Shadow & Highlighter can be used as either a highlight or a shimmery eyeshadow. I typically save highlighter for days when I am wearing a full face of makeup, but I always love a subtle bit of shimmer on my lids on days when I am going a bit more natural and want my eyes to pop a bit. I've never heard of this brand before, but it seems like it would be perfect based on the swatch that I did.

I was so excited to see that my bag included the Theorie Marula Oil Transforming Hair Serum. I recently tried a spray leave-in that had marula oil in it, and my hair felt amazing afterwards. This serum is meant to moisturize and nourish hair, and it is safe for color treated hair. I dye my hair red every 6 weeks, so I definitely need this.

It has been ages since I received a nail polish from a beauty subscription service! I am so pumped to see that  the Dream by PS Cosmeceutical Infused Nail Lacquer in the shade Southern Sand is included this month. I adore peachy nude polishes, and I have been wearing pale pinks and nudes almost exclusively for the past 4 months. Apparently this brand includes grapefruit seed extract in their formula to make nails healthier and shinier. Sounds good to me!

I've been a fan of TONYMOLY for awhile now. They are a Korean brand that make amazing face masks and other products that have the worlds most adorable packaging. My bag included the TONYMOLY Liptone LipCare Stick in the shade Rose Blossom. This is such a pretty pink. I'm always game for a lip balm.

Okay, I am kind of kicking myself for waiting this long to subscribe. I will totally be able to use all of the products that were included. Sometimes beauty subscription services send some whacked out crazy stuff that I will never use, but all of my products are like things I currently use. Plus, I like that I haven't tried or heard of most of the brands that are included. Oh, and can we talk about that bag everything came in?! It will be such a fun makeup bag or mini bag to keep in my handbag.

Click here if you would like to try Ipsy!

Love with Food: March 2017

I feel like doing a little shimmy every time my Love with Food box arrives on my doorstep. I swear it always comes whenever I run out of snacks in the house and start complaining about the lack of snacks but am too lazy to go buy more...Anyway, keep reading to see what was inside my box this time around!

The first product that caught my eye was the Chocolate Emoji Cookies from Tasty Brand. These cookies are so cute. I'm a sucker for any type of fun packaging or gimmick. I was also happy to see that they included a granola bar this month. I love keeping them in my bag in case I get hungry at work or while I'm out running errands. The 18 Rabbits Jr. Granola Bar has strawberries, mango, and chia in it, and it sounds wicked good. I usually like anything that has mango in it. 

There are so many sweets in my box this month...Of course, I don't mind one bit. My box included Coffee Candy from Bali's Best, Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee from Enstrom, and Chewie Fruities from Torie & Howard. I've tried the Chewie Fruities before, and they are basically softer and organic Starbursts.

Savory snacks are my favorites, and there were two in my box this month. The first is the HIPPEAS Far Out Fajita Organic Chickpea Puffs. I love how these puffs are vegan, non-GMO, and gluten free. The second item is the Wise Sea Salt Popcorn. I eat this stuff all the time, so I already know I will enjoy it. It's always nice to have small bags of popcorn around for a quick filling snack that is on the healthier side.

They included a beverage this month! I was happy to see the Monbana Hot Chocolate. It's still cool where I live, and hot chocolate is the perfect way to warm up on a cold night. I've been drinking so much hot chocolate recently, so this will definitely be used. 

Click here to subscribe and get your own Love With Food box! Until next time! Xo

Birchbox: March 2017

It's time for another Birchbox unboxing! I've been looking forward to my box arriving, and I was so pumped to see that it arrived on my doorstep yesterday. Birchbox has really helped me to discover some awesome brands in the past, and recently the skincare items I have been receiving have been exactly what I needed. This month Birchbox collaborated with Reese Witherspoon's company Draper James to design the box, select the items, and she also helped them create a special limited edition box too. I've always liked Reese  Witherspoon, so I'm excited to see what's included. Let's jump right in and see what is inside my box!

I was tempted to choose the curated box this month, but I ended up using the Sample Choice option and selected the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. My skin has been acting all kinds of crazy recently, and I've developed dry patches on my cheeks while the rest of me is a grease ball. Go figure! This moisturizer was apparently used by explorers in Greenland to protect themselves from damage. Pretty cool stuff! I'm excited to see if this can clear up those dry patches.

My box included another skincare item, the Dr. Jart+ Dermaclear Micro Water. I have never heard of micro waters before, but apparently they are a the same as micellar water. I've used micellar water for about 2 years now, and i love how they remove all of the leftover gunk and makeup that cleansing wipes can leave behind. The Birchbox website says that this is good for sensitive skin and will remove stubborn makeup, so I'll be sure to use this once I finish up my bottle of Bioderma.

There are two makeup items in my box this month. The first is the Cargo Swimmables Resistant Bronzer in the shade medium. I'm very picky about the bronzers I use since I'm extremely pale. This looks a bit too warm for my skin, but I think I might hold onto this for a few months and see if it is more flattering on my when I have a bit of a tan. The makeup item is a mini Coastal Scents Revealed Smoky Palette . The duo is wicked cute, and both shades would make a nice subtle smoky eye.

I was beyond psyched to see that my box included a product from Davines. I've received products from this brand in previous boxes, and love how amazing they smell and how they make my hair soft. The Davines Ol All in One Milk is a leave-in treatment that uses roucou oil to moisturize and strengthen hair. I've been using different leave-in treatments recently after I get out of the shower since I stopped brushing my hair. I have wavy hair, and the woman that colors my hair suggested I stop brushing my hair to encourage it to curl instead of becoming frizzy. I'm excited to try this on my hair tonight! I also received foil packets of the Davines Ol Shampoo and Ol Conditioner. I don't mind receiving foil packets when they are a bonus item. Plus, I really like Davines shampoos and conditioners.

Click here if you would like to subscribe! Until next time! Xo