New Blog

I've run out of products to talk about for now. I'm too busy planning and packing for Florida. I have started a new blog to document this crazy next two months, check it out!

http://4hlife.blogspot.com

Inspire me.....

So I'm kind of at a loss for what to write about.  I need some motivation!  Someone give me some ideas!!!! Have anything I should try out?   Want to share your favorite products?  Give me some help here people!!!! 

Finally Ulta....

Since we don't have a Sephora in Grand Rapids YET, a good friend of mine and insider @ the company informs me that next year one will open in GR.  Anyways I am left with Ulta which is a great store but pales in comparison to Sephora.  FINALLY Ulta got Philosophy skin care on their shelves.  One of my all time face creams is Philosophy "Hope In A Jar" moisturizer.  One of the best moisturizers I have ever tried.  The way it makes my face feel is heavenly.  The only downside is the smell.....Very strange scent almost metallic?  But it's so worth it for what it does for my face.  And at only $38 for a 2 oz jar its pretty affordable (compared to some).  I am not currently using it but I hope to reacquaint myself with it VERY soon!  

Eye Spied A Good Deal

I was in need of a new night time eye cream.  I'm still hooked on the Anti-Puff Eye Roller that I have blogged about before but I only use that in the morning.  Well seeing as that my bottle of Kinerase Eye Cream cost $65 I knew I would be need to purchase something different and slightly less expensive.  I was at Walgreens this past weekend and was browsing the Beauty department and I came across the Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Eye Cream.   I read about it once in a magazine as a #1 pick for a drugstore eye creams so I decided to give it a try.  The best part was it came with a free Maybelline Mascara AND this week Walgreens has a special if you spend $20 in any Garnier products you get a coupon for $10 off your next purchase.  My Mom was with me and she got the Anti- Puff Roller to try so we paid at the same time.  So I got my $12.99 eye cream with a free mascara and then the $10 off coupon.   SCORE!!! A far cry from the SIXTY FIVE dollars I paid before.  Hopefully I will like it and won't be dissapointed!!

Trying To Save My Pennies!

So as some of you know Nate and I booked a trip to Florida this winter.  We have decided to rent a house in Orlando for the month of January!  Nate is very blessed with a job that he can pretty much do from any location with a phone and a computer.  Since the boys are not in school and I'm not working we figured "WHY NOT"!  Might as well do it know while we can.  

A month in Florida along with trips to Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studies and all the other fabulous things to do down there has put me into SAVINGS MODE!  If you know anything about me you know I'm NOT a saver!  How do I not pick out that perfect fall sweater that I just have to have?  How do I NOT buy my favorite $50 face cream?  Well I'm about to find out!  Nate has made it very clear that I need to cool it with the spending for a few months so that we have plenty of Cash to spend while we are down there.  

So I am going to start updating with all the Fabulous deals that I'm going to find over the next few months.  Darn it I will find a way to still try out new amazing products somehow!!

If you have any ideas or suggestions on where to find a good deals PLEASE fill me in!  

Pretty Pink Bags From My Mom

My Mom came over last week with a little present for me.  She went to Younkers to stock up on her favorite lipstick (Bamboo Pink) and also pick up the "Free Gift".  I used to be so excited about it back in my Clinique days.  The funny thing about my Mom and I is that we are VERY different and she is not even remotely into make-up. She tries to be and will go all out on a shopping spree and buy new things but then always settles back into her old standbys.   However that being said the one thing we have in common is NOT being able to pass up a deal!   So she brought me over all the goodies.  I think the only thing she kept for herself was some anti-aging face cream.  

So the bags are ADORABLE! I love the pink, there two but they attach to eachother.  There is a small dramatically different moisturizer which is my husbands moisturizer of choice so this small package is PERFECT to put in his toiletries bag when he travels.  Some Mascara (take it or leave it, not a huge fan) Eye Shadows that I do not like at all, they are very pink?  I'm not a fan of pink eye shadows, and a lipstick, Angelic, not too bad.  I'm not a huge fan of Clinique anymore.  I like more bold colors and fuller coverage powders and mascaras BUT I was a loyal customer for years and years.   By far the best thing about this bonus is the make-up bags!  Not sure if this sale is still going on or not?  

Fried summer hair

My hair has had a hard summer.  All the swimming, sun and of course blonde highlights have left me with a mess.  I also have been having a lot of breakage around my bangs.  I am a HUGE fan of Redken Extreme Anti Snap, apply where ever I'm having problems when my hair is wet and it works miracles.  Jennie told me to apply it every other day, something about smart proteins and if you use it every single day your hair gets used to it and it loses its working power.  My second step is to put in Schwarzkopf sealed ends.  FABULOUS product!!! Put it on just your ends when they are wet and it really does help with split ends.  I bought my first one from the salon.  It was only like 2 ounces and it was about $20.  I found this Bonus double size 4 1/2 ounce bottle on clearance at Ulta for only $6!!! SCORE!!! This will probably last me like a year! 

Ahhhhhhh......relaxation!

Well I have had a stressful week, a visit to the hospital on Sunday for a minor procedure followed by SCREAMING cranky kids has left me wiped out!  

Today I was getting my hair cut and highlighted and decided to add on an hour massage before to treat myself.  It was HEAVEN!! My salon de jour is Panopolous in Standale.  My normal massage therapist is on maternity leave so I tried the MAN therapist.  I'm always a little hesitant to have a man massage me because it just seems kind of weird but I was desperate.  My shoulders and neck were horribly knotted up.  Nathan (the massage therapist, not my husband) was AWESOME!!! He got out all my knots and even though it was DEEP TISSUE it was still very relaxing and not uncomfortable at all.  I would Highly recommend trying out a man massage therapist ESPECIALLY if you are going to get the kinks worked out.  

Jennie, my hair guru....LOVE HER!! Hooked me up with a shorter sassier hair cut with some low lights and highlights.  She also talked me into trying out a new styling lotion so I will report more on my new score later this week.  

If EVER you were looking for a FABULOUS stylist go to Jennie in the area, she is not only great with hair but she is so much fun and absolutely adorable!  It ain't cheap but its worth EVERY penny! 

I want it.....really bad!

I've been going back and forth on buying one of these for a while now.  I REALLY want one but they are about $200 and it doesn't "replace" anything it just adds to my growing list of monthly beauty products.  Now that we are going to Florida in January I'm going to have to cut back and perhaps this will be on my list for Mothers Day next year. 

Anyways its a Clarisonic which is kind of like a giant tooth brush for your face.  Its even made by the sonicare people.  But it is supposed REALLY clean your face and help erase fine lines.  You can find them @ Sephora.com and sometimes they even have specials with some of their popular skin care lines so that you basically get the the lotions and creams for free!!!

Trying NOT to shine!

I love these Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets.  I have really oily skin, which I'm told will help me in the long run with wrinkles. However I hate being shiny.  Ask anyone who knows me.  I'm addicted to my powder compact.  But these really help because just a few blots and the excess oil and shine is GONE!  

Smell This!

So for my birthday this year my husband did another fabulous job of picking me out perfume.  This is probably the third or fourth different scent that he has picked out for me and each one has been a winner.  It's called "Falling In Love" by Philosophy.  And it came with a bonus shower gel.  Smells soooo good! 

I must brag about my man a minute.  I promise I won't do this all the time BUT he deserves some credit for putting up with me for all these years! He has come SUCH a long way in the 11 years we have been together.  I remember my first piece of jewelry he bought me was from Zales in the mall and the last piece I received was purchased from the Tiffany's in NYC.  Of course that was all pre-children but he has went from thinking Sephora was a brand of soap to pointing them out to me on all our trips.  He now walks up to any make-up counter with confidence to purchase birthday/mothers day and Christmas presents.  I think he has learned more about "products" since marrying me then he ever thought possible.  We are planning a trip next month to Kansas City to see a football game and we always stay in a certain area that is SURROUNDED by an outdoor shopping mall.  Its wonderful!  Anyways he said to me "Don't you need time to shop @ that one make-up store"?  They have an actual MAC freestanding store there! Can't wait.  My point in all this is that I married a man who used to buy his Mom Jean Nate' at the drugstore to a man who purchased me Prada perfume last year and actually knew what Prada was.  They can change and come around BUT you must tell them what you want and like and make yourself a priority!  

New Shoes With NO Blisters!

We purchased new fall shoes for the entire family yesterday seeing as that its August here and only 60 degrees.  I got a new pair of pink ballet flats with a ruffle.  SO CUTE!  But trust me I would never be able to wear them if it weren't for this product.  I swear I'm just one of those people who gets blisters so easily.  A friend of mine introduced me to this product. Dr Scholl's  Miracle Shield.  You apply it to your feet and it creates a barrier to prevent blisters from rubbing.  And it really works!  I purchased mine at Meijer for about $5.  

Case of the "Blues"

So earlier this week I posted that I bought some new Christian Sirano for VS blue eye shadow.  I think that may have scared a few people because the thought of blue eye shadow makes you think of the image below!!! 

Obviously this is a Big NO NO!!!

I was wearing brown and turquoise yesterday and I used some of my new blue shade very sparingly just to bring it all together and bring out my blue eyes a bit. Its barely visible in the picture because I have been blessed with those lovely upper lids that kind of droop over my bottom lids.  Thanks Mom! Ha!  But I'd like to think that the blue was just more of an enhancement not the FOCUS to my outfit! 

Wash And Shine!

I'm ALWAYS trying new Shampoo/Conditioner.  I love new things so I get bored always using the same stuff.  I read somewhere not to keep using the same products but I'm not sure if that is accurate info.  Right now I'm using Bed Head's Dumb Blonde.  Of course what attracted me to it is the PINK Shampoo bottle but I LOVE the scent and the way it leaves my hair.  Not being a "Natural" blonde my hair takes a beating from all the highlighting.  BUT I have very fine hair and if a shampoo or conditioner is too heavy it leaves me with greasy flat hair.  I haven't had any problem with either of these products. I purchased them at Ulta when they were on sale for $9.99 each.  Normally they run $26 each but it is a half of a liter so it lasts a LONG time.  Love them!

I read about this product in one of my magazines.  Its the gloss/shine conditioner that comes with the Clairol @ Home hair color which you can purchase separate.  I decided to try it out a while back and I'm hooked.  You put it on in the shower once a week.  Keep it in your hair while you do your business.  My routine is to shampoo, apply color seal, shave, wash and then rinse this out.  You only need a few minutes.  It leaves my hair so soft and SUPER shiny.  The bonus is that its dirt cheap compared to anything you will find @ the Salon.  I ran out and picked this up at Meijer on sale for about $2.50 this week, I think it normally runs about $4. I have not found this at Target but Meijer always carries it.  You can find it in the hair color aisle.  Cheap with great results makes me a very happy girl! 

Whiten Up......and I'm not talking about laundry!

My entire life I have had ONE feature that I have been totally happy with! My Smile!  I was blessed with an almost perfect set of teeth.  I'm not trying to brag but even my dentist cannot believe it.  Not a crooked chopper in the bunch with NO braces.   They have always been white but I am kind of obsessed about it.  I started out at like age 21 doing a dentist bleaching kit.  I had a tray formed of my mouth and then had to wear this nasty bleaching retainer thing ALL night.  But it got them SPARKLING white!  Then when the Crest White Strips came out I tried them and used them on and off for like the past 10 years just to maintain the whiteness.  I still find them annoying because I hate wearing those strips and I do not enjoy the taste.  BUT again they have never dissapointed with their whitening abilities.  About two years ago I was in Sephora and found out about the Go Smile products.  They have a whole whitening program but I just used the little "touch-ups" I was HOOKED!  Love them.  Not only was it really reasonable.  The small pack of 5 Ampules is $10.  But it's super easy.  I brush my teeth right before bed and just rub it on my teeth.  It doesn't taste bad, has a nice minty bite to it.  Then I go to bed.  You are not supposed to drink for 30 minutes.  And WaLa whiter teeth in the morning.  Its as easy as that.  I'm sure if you have some deeper stains on your teeth that you need to do the whole GO SMILE Procedure but for me the Touch Ups work great.  I have also found them at Ulta which if fabulous because we don't have a Sephora near by! 

A little pick me up!

So as women I feel like we are always complaining about what we DON'T like about our features.  I am a BIG abuser of the " Don't Likes" about myself.  I try to not be negative but I think there is a chip implanted in our brain that makes us dislike so much about our appearance.  I wish that we as women would come together and build eachother up.  See a women that looks great and TELL HER!  Make her day!  It really does make a difference.  I had a women in Target last week tell me that I looked really good in a particular color of green that I was wearing. She said that I looked so "Vibrant"! WOW I felt so good about myself and that feeling stayed with me the entire day!  And it got me thinking that I need to start dishing out those compliments to my fellow ladies.  If you can give someone that "WOW" feeling and make their day wouldn't you want too?   

My goal for myself this week is to give out THREE compliments to complete strangers!  I will report back if I achieve this goal and let you know how the women reacted.  

Flatten me out

On rainy days like today I am very thankful for my trusty friend "The Flatiron" What would I do without you??? Last year I made the PLUNGE for the Chi flat iron.  I'm a shopper but I'm a thrifty shopper.  My hair guru Jennie (Panopolous in Standale) finally talked me into it and I'm so glad she did.  Although its $125 its got a 3 year warranty and if you are used to the cheaper version you will be amazed by what these professional flat irons are capable of!  Its worth every stinkin penny!  I have super fine hair with a natural Frizz to it.  My Chi always "straightens me out" 

Victoria's got a new Secret....

So I know its been a while since I have blogged so I thought how perfect, I'll get back into blogging and buy a few new things to motivate me.  Today I took my two 3 year olds to the mall and with the help of a bag of Skittles I was able to do a little shopping at VS! 

So a couple of years back I came across a FABULOUS lipgloss from VS, "Toy" was the name of the color and I wore the heck out of it.  It was awesome, not to sticky, no strange flavor or smell.  LOVED IT!  Then they discontinued it and I was bummed to say the least.  Today I went in and they have a whole new line of make-up that just came out this month.  With the help of a well very NON-knowledgeable sales girl I found what I THOUGHT was the closest color, "innocent".  After getting it home and trying it on I realized that the color sucks BUT the upside is that its still the same non-sticky formula of my long lost lipgloss BFF "Toy"!  So you take the good with the bad and now I just have to find a color I like. 

I have a new passion for eye shadow so I decided to try out two different colors.  I needed a fall green.  I have a beautiful MAC green in that summery lime color but I wanted something darker but with just a hint of sparkle.  I chose "Risk" after trying it out on the back of my hand.  Can't wait to put it on my eyes this fall.  I also tried a new one from the Christian Siriano line, its called Oasis and its a GORGEOUS  iridescent blue that I'm going to try wearing tonight. 

Some good news is that they have a sale going on @ VS on their make-up.  $10 off a $30 purchase.  I am MUCH more likely to try out new things when I know I'm getting a bargain.   I also got a $10 off coupon in the mail for my birthday so I scored $40 worth of make-up for only $20.  

You better believe I'm going to be rockin that new shadow tonight when I meet the girls @ Blue Water Grill to enjoy dinner and cocktails on the patio! 

SORRY!!!

I'm so sorry I haven't been blogging!  Vacations, kids and just life has gotten in my way.  I promise to keep updating and I hope ya'll are with me still! 

Will It Work?

While browsing the Standale Meijer Make Up aisle I saw that all the Sally Hansen stuff was 40% off.  Being a sucker for a sale I thought it would be the perfect time to try something new.   I don't take the best care of my finger nails......ahhh the shame!   I just don't have much to work with.  My nails peel, break and my cuticles well they are another story.  I usually just file them, do a cuticle treatment once in a while and then throw on some clear nail polish.  I have seen some ad's for nail polish that promises to stay on for 10 days so I thought I would put it to the test.  I purchased Sally Hansesn's No Chip 10 day Nail Color in Pink Persuasion.  Regular price $4.19 on Sale for $2.50 and then I had a coupon for 50 cents off.  How can you not at least try it right.  So I did it yesterday.  I actually really like the color, a very pale pink.  Today its still going strong no chips AND I was even swimming in the pool yesterday.  I'll keep ya posted as the week goes on.....

UPDATE: the nail polish lasted about 5 days without chips which I would call a success in my book.  Def worth the money!  10 days.....that is just down right ridiculous:) HA!

Every House Needs A Good FOUNDATION.....

I'm dedicating this post to my BFF since preschool Kelly.   While shopping in Chicago this past weekend she said it's time to start using some sort of foundation.  She has beautiful skin and hasn't "needed" it before.  We visited the MAC counter at Nordstrom and she got an awesome powder foundation and new kuboki brush.  And it look's FABULOUS! 

I however have not been so blessed.  I have reasonably good skin but I like a more polished flawless look.  This however is one product that I don't enjoy looking for.  Once I find a good one I am very faithful.   While getting my hair done I noticed my stylist Jennie's skin and commented on how pretty it was.  She said her new foundation is the secret.  I had to have some and guess what?  They sell it at the salon.  She works at Panopoulos!

I have 3 staples in my make-up bag.  Glo minerals Liquid in honey-light, Glo Pressed base powder also in honey-light and then MAC Studio Fix Liquid in NW35.   I use the pressed powder by itself during the day almost everyday when I'm just hanging around the house or running errands, I use the Glo Liquid when I want more coverage, its REALLY thick so Jennie gave me a trick.  On the back of your hand mix half foundation and half of your everyday moisturizer together then apply.  The result is amazing, goes on great and it also make's it last a lot longer.  I think I bought mine about 6 months ago and it's still going strong.  My MAC foundation is for in the summer when I have more color.  I either use it alone or add a little bit to my foundation/moisturizer combo.   

This is one area where I'm willing to invest some $$.  The Glo products are around $40 a piece and the MAC is like $30-35.   But totally worth every penny!

Take It All Off

LOVE This Razor!!! I used to always use the Schick Quattro but then they came out with this FABULOUS updated model the Trim style.  So you have your normal razor then on the side is a water proof bikini trimmer.  I got it @ Target and lately I have been getting $4 off coupons in the paper.  Right now Target has a special that if you buy Two Schick Quattro products you get a $5 Target Gift Card at the check out.  

Bye Bye Puffy Eye

Sorry It's been a while since I put up a post.  I had a long weekend in Chicago for some much needed girl time!  

So on mornings  like this when I feel like I just didn't get enough sleep I LOVE this product.  It's the Garnier Fructis Anti Puff Eye Roller.  Is it to much sodium, lack of sleep or just bad genes?  The women in my family all seem to wake up this way.  I used to use tea bags when it was really bad.  Heck I've even tried Hemorrhoid cream to make the swelling go down.   I saw a commercial and decided I needed to try it, I'm so glad I did.  I bought it probably 3 months ago at least and it's only about half gone, after using it every day!  Its very a small tube with a roller ball that you just swipe under each eye and about 10 minutes later you will notice a difference

You can buy it at any drug store or grocery store and it runs about $11.  I can usually get coupons for at least $1 off in my Sunday paper.  I only use this in the morning because I don't think it has "wrinkle fighters" in it. 

Funky Feet!

Ya know when you see those ad's on TV for different products and you think "yeah right" well that is what I always thought of the "PED EGG" My Mom put one in my stocking at Christmas and it just sat around until about April when I actually started to care what my feet looked like.  WOWZA this thing really works.  I suffer from really cracked nasty heals, this is the only thing that gets the dead skin off! Even better than at the salon getting a pedicure!  It's $9.99 at pretty much every grocery store or drugstore around.  I got the cute pink breast cancer awareness version because my Mom is a breast cancer survivor and we like to support a good cause.  I just bought the refills this week and did some "buffing" while my kids were in the bath tub tonight.  I was impressed and also grossed out at the same time at the amount of dead skin that came off my feet!  

Rock The MEGA Lashes

Tonight I have a Girl's night scheduled, dinner and cocktails.  I got a new outfit, had my hair cut and colored this week and what is the icing on the cake you ask?  False Eye Lashes.  Last year a friend of mine who might be the only girl I have ever met who love's make-up more than I do introduced me to the wonder of false lashes.  I have only tried a few different brands but I keep going back to my first love, MAC #7.  You can buy them at any MAC counter (although I have had the unfortunate luck of them being out of that size before), they are $12 and with buying them the counter person will put them on for you as well if they aren't busy.  They usually have to trim them to fit your eyes also.  I finally learned how to glue them on myself and for this I am very proud.  You can buy the glue at any drugstore, I use DUO adhesive.  If you see me out at night you will usually see me "Rockin The Lashes", what it does to your eyes is just AMAZINGLY fabulous! 

Rock The Lashes

So I was asked to do a post about Mascara from 1 of my whopping 2 followers (hopefully I get a few more people following my post soon so I don't feel like I'm talking to myself) Ha!  

My newest favorite mascara is Maybelline Colossal Volume Express.  I have long lashes but they are thin and also have a tendency to get clumpy with the wrong mascara.  I used to do Maybelline Great Lash but since trying this shockingly bright packaged mascara it has become a staple in my make-up bag.  I have both the Classic brown, for days when I'm going for a more natural look and also the Glam Black for well days when I want more Glam!  It add's lots of length and volume and doesn't clump or look like you are wearing two giant tarantula's from each eye.   

Totally Faking it!

About 4 years ago I broke up with my long time love THE TANNING BOOTH!  It was a clean break, time to stop before I looked as wrinkled as those crinkly dollar bills I used to hand over quickly to the 16 year old girl as I waited anxiously for my turn to darken my pale complexion!  As I age I realize that I will be paying in the long run for those many years of lying there for my 15 minutes of super powered sun damage.  But when you are a teenager you think you will never age! 

Which brings me to what I would consider my #1 beauty product, one that I couldn't live without! THE SUNLESS TANNER!  I have tried probably 25 different types, I have spent $35 on a bottle of Estee Lauder, $20 on Clinique, I can't even remember how much the Clarin's was but NOT cheap. I've went through every single brand at the drugstore.  I have even tried the Meijer and Target brands.  But I keep coming back to my old faithful friend.....JERGENS NATURAL GLOW!  Over the years they have updated the product, it smells better and now they have different formulas to either firm and tighten or Revitalize the skin.  I love this product because it goes on very well, its not greasy or slimy, the smell is that of a normal lotion AND it keeps my skin hydrated and soft all day.  I buy the firming formula in Medium to Tan.   I also use the face lotion as part of my morning routine, it is nongreasy, hasn't caused any breakouts and has 20 SPF which is a must, I usually go with the Med to Tan.  My newest find is the L'orea Sublime Bronze Spray sunless tanner.  I use this for my back, back of my neck, back of my arms.  Anything that I cannot reach with my hands.  LOVE IT!  Who wants to only be tan on the front of your body?  I do not use this on my legs, I have tried and its VERY streaky so I stick to only the hard to reach places. 

I guess this is one of those instances where I get to have my cake and eat it too.  I get to appear tan without the damage of the tanning booth!  Being a blonde with blue eyes its like totally unacceptable NOT to be tan! Ha! Perhaps someday I will get over my fear of being pale but for now I'm happy with my FAKE tan! 

Don't You Always Wonder?

Do you read through magazines and websites or watch commercials about the newest product that promises to lengthen those lashes, thicken your hair or tame the frizz, lipsticks that are supposed to stay on all day, or moisturizers that promise to "erase" all that time you spent in the tanning booth as a teenager?  Well I do and then my mind starts racing, will it really do that, should I try it, is it worth the money?   I read the "top products" list in magazines and wonder if they are really tested products or did that particular lip gloss company just pay for that spot on their list.   Well I decided today that I'm going to start a blog about all my favorite products, things I can't live without and products I have tried and think they are a complete waste of time and money.  Perhaps one of my favorite products will become a favorite of yours also?