I Tried It: Shaving Cream vs. Conditioner

It happened: Every girl's nightmare. You're in the shower shaving your legs and singing into your showerhead along to 'Nsync (Oh, stop it. You do it, too) when you finish one leg and... WHAT?!? There's no more shaving cream left in the container!!! Dun dun DUN!!!!!

In a moment of panic, I scour the shower for something else I can use in the place of shaving cream. Then I remembered a video by missglamorazzi where she mentions how much she loves using conditioner instead of shaving cream. So, I tried it. 

You know what? It worked great! 

So what do you guys think? Do you use shaving cream or conditioner? Would you consider using conditioner instead of shaving cream? 

Birchbox: October 2013

I received my first Birchbox yesterday! I've been hearing about Birchbox for quite awhile and decided that it was time for me to subscribe and experience for myself. This month's box is devoted to products that have won awards, celebrity favorites, and up-and-comers according to the card inside the box. 

The box includes:

Fake Up from Benefit Cosmetics

Stay Clear Cream from Evologie

Aqua Lacquer in Flowering Fuchsia from POP Beauty

Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund from Ruffian

Birchbox Find: Chap Stick Hydration Lock in Vanilla Creme

So, let's dive right in! I'm going to go through each product, explain what they are, and give you my initial impressions.

Fake Up from Benefit Cosmetics

Birchbox says: "Brighten tired-looking eyes with this hydrating undereye concealer and moisturizer combo.

Initial impression: This product looks very interesting. It is an undereye concealer in the form of a stick with a hydrating ring around the outside of the concealing core. The packaging claims that this product is hydrating, long-lasting, lightweight, and silky. I've never used a stick concealer before, so I'm looking forward to trying this. The full-size product retails at $24. 

Stay Clear Cream from Evologie

Birchbox says: "Moisturizer that protects skin and balances oil levels with a patent-pending YS3 COMPLEX."

Initial impression: I'm always looking for new skin care products. After trying a bit of this product on my hand, I noticed that it is very lightweight, has no distinct smell, and feels water-based. The directions suggest using this product both in the morning and at night after cleansing the face. It seems as though this product is a preventative cream for blemishes, but is not necessarily to treat blemishes.  The packaging suggests using their serum for the spot treatment of blemishes, and this cream for the rest of the face. The full-size product retails at $62.

Aqua Lacquer in Flowering Fuchsia from POP Beauty

Birchbox says: "A British makeup pro created this sheer gloss, which plumps and hydrates with jojoba oil."

Initial impression: At first, I was nervous about this color because it looks very bright in the packaging. However, after applying it with the paddle-style applicator, I found it to be very sheer and hydrating. I was also nervous about it's claim to be a plumping gloss. I've used a couple different plumping products and really didn't like how it made my lips feel. That being said, this product did not make my lips feel overly tingly or numb as I found other products to do. So far, I am impressed with this product. The full-size product retails at $14.

Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund from Ruffian

Birchbox says: "Metallic green from the fashion label's first lacquer collection. Exclusive to Birchbox!"

Initial impression: Anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm a freak about nail polish. My nail color changes at least once a week. This color is a metallic light-ish green color with gold flecks. I'm looking forward to trying this color on my nails. The full-size product retails at $10. 

Birchbox Find: Chap Stick Hydration Lock in Vanilla Creme

Birchbox says: "Occasionally we come across mass-market discoveries that are exciting, time-saving, or just generally awesome. These Birchbox Finds will always be in addition to your usual samples -- never in place of them. When our gold standard for lip care -- ChapStick -- develops new 8-hour moisture technology that's definitely a breakthrough worth sharing. New ChapStick Hydration Lock is clinically proven to moisturize lips, from 9-5. It also doubles as a lip primer and comes chock full of damage-defending antioxidants like CoQ10 and Vitamin E. So swipe it on -- and lock that moisture down."

Initial impression: I am a lip balm junkie. I have so many different lip balms and I am always trying new ones. When I  put this on, I was a bit turned off by the smell. It smells a bit like sunscreen to me. However, after a minute or so, I got over the smell and realized how great my lips felt! I'm excited to try this out a full day to see if it really does moisturize for 8 hours! The box also included a $1 off coupon for another ChapStick product.

Overall, I am impressed with this month's Birchbox. I'm very excited to begin getting these in the mail each month. If you don't currently get Birchbox, would be it something you're interested in? If you already subscribe to Birchbox, what was your favorite product this month?

Great Things

Happy Fall, fellow Regular Girls!
Sorry for the brief hiatus, but there have been some huge changes occurring in my life. For those of you who don't know, in the past 3 months I have graduated from graduate school with my master's degree, accepted a job and began my career as a special education teacher, and moved the rest of my life up here in Illinois.
While there are great things happening in my personal life, there are also great things in store for this blog. I have so many ideas for future posts and I'm so excited to be active here again.
Great things are happening, Regular Girls. Are you ready?

Get Ready with Me: My Morning Routine

Hey, guys! I finally did my first beauty video! Make sure to watch it in HD! Listed below are all of the products I used. What did you guys think of the video? Would you like to see more videos from me as well as text posts?

Face
Aveeno Positively Radiant Brightening Cleanser
Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer
MAC Prep + Prime BB Creme in Extra Light
MAC Select Moisture Cover in NW15
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light
Urban Decay Baked Bronzer in Guilded
e.l.f. Blush in Twinkle Pink

Eyebrows
e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit in Medium (I only used the powder on the left side of the kit)
Maybelline Great Lash in Clear (Used as eyebrow gel)

Eyes
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Original
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
Urban Decay NAKED2 Palette (Colors used: Suspect on lid, Bootycall as a brow highlighter, Verve as a corner highlight)
CoverGirl Perfect Point Plus Eye Pencil in Black Onyx
Sally Hansen Eyelash Curler
Maybelline The Falsies Flared Mascara

Lips
eos Lip Balm
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Sweetheart Valentine

Makeup Trend: Nude/Neutral Lips

Lately, I've been on the lookout for a nude lip color, and having my fair skin, I was a bit nervous about it. I didn't want this lip color to wash me out and make me look like a zombie (and for those of you who know me, I'm terrified of zombies, so that is really not an option). After doing some research online, I discovered that I needed a nude/neutral color with either a pink or peach undertone. 

I went to Ulta and decided on the NYX Lipstick in LSS630 Pumpkin Pie ($3.99) and NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in 122 Natural ($4.99). I love the NYX brand because they make great products that are both hypoallergenic and cruelty free.

I decided to pair the two products together and got a great result. I am happy with the way this color looks against my skin tone.
That being said though, the lasting power of these products is very limited. I did find myself needing to re-apply quite frequently. I will probably be on the lookout for a color dupe for this product in something with more lasting power.
I hope that this helps some of my fellow fair-skinned girls out there that want to try out the nude look. If you have found any more products that you'd like to share, please let me know in the comments. :)

Obsessed: The Body Shop

I finally took the plunge and tried these products that I'd been hearing so much about from beauty gurus on the internet. This winter, I've had a really difficult time keeping my skin moisturized from the Midwest cold. I've tried several body lotions and hand creams and just couldn't find the right product that both moisturized and didn't leave me greasy. Until now.

Strawberry Body Butter

Oh my goodness. This body butter smells so good and instantly puts me in a better mood. I bought this at Ulta for half price, so I think it was about $10. I use it when I come directly out of the shower and it keeps me smelling nice and keeps my skin moisturized throughout the day. However, I will say that you have to be careful about applying too much. This is a body butter, so a little goes a long way. If you use the right amount, it soaks into your skin and doesn't leave you greasy. Definitely a lifesaver during these past months of really cold weather. 

Almond Hand & Nail Cream

Finally! A hand cream that doesn't leave me feeling greasy! I bought this at Ulta as well for about $12, but I think that promotion has since ended. This hand cream is absolutely amazing! I put it on in the morning after getting ready, at night before bed, and maybe once or twice during the day. However, after applying it and washing my hands later, I can still tell that there's some still on my hands. This stuff has saved me from some seriously cracked hands and I will absolutely be purchasing this again.

In summary, I love The Body Shop! If you were already aware of this brand and you'd like to recommend some different products, please let me know in the comments below. :) 

xxx,

The Regular Girl

Spring Nail Trends: Essie's Lapiz of Luxury

This spring, pastels are a big deal when it comes to fashion and nail colors. Having fair skin sometimes makes this trend difficult to pull off. So, I've been on the hunt for a flattering pastel nail color. I came across Essie's Lapiz of Luxury, which is a blue-ish purple-ish pastel color. I got it at CVS for $8.00. I really liked this color in the bottle, and I was excited to see the result on my nails.

The first coat of this color is a bit streaky, which seems to be normal when it comes to Essie polishes, but it only took 2 coats to get the opaque color in the photo above. I found that this color went pretty well with my skin tone for a pastel color and I even got compliments on it! 

I really enjoyed this color and it's a great way to get yourself in the Spring mindset! :) 

Preferential Treatment: Neutrogena Naturals Night Cream vs. Aveeno Smart Essentials Nighttime Moisture Infusion

I've had a recent desire to use a night cream that I felt regenerated my skin while I slept so that I woke up with skin that felt refreshed and ready for the day. 

At first, I used Aveeno Active Naturals Smart Essentials Nighttime Moisture Infusion. This product is in a plastic jar and is about $16.50 at Walgreens. While I felt like it did the job, it left my skin feeling greasy after application. When I woke up in the morning, I felt so oily that I just couldn't wait to get out of bed and wash my face. In summary, I just wasn't happy with this product. 

Then, I tried Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Night Cream. Whoa. Let me just tell you how much I love this product. This cream is in a glass jar and costs about $11.69 at Target. After applying this product, my skin immediately felt softer and was not greasy. When I woke up the next morning, I was minimally oily (about what could be expected for me after a night's sleep). This is exactly what I wanted from a night cream. It claims to replenish moisture and essential skin nutrients while you sleep and the packaging states that it has no harsh chemical sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, dyes, or phthalates. I can't pronounce almost any of those words, so I guess it's a good sign they're not present in this product. It's even cheaper than the Aveeno product, so I really can't complain. The scent is a tiny bit like oatmeal, but it doesn't hang around after application, and I wouldn't list this as a downfall of the product. 

Overall, Neutrogena definitely wins this round. So, if you're considering trying a night cream, go for the Neutrogena one. 

Do you use something different that you'd like to tell me about? Let me know in the comments below! :) 

Cosmetic Review: e.l.f. Blush in Twinkle Pink

This blush is such a steal! Priced at only $3.00 on target.com, I would pay way more for this product. It's a beautiful pink with some gold shimmer, but once applied, it's only a slight shimmer. I use this blush every day, but it's perfect for Spring and Summer! 
This is the first blush that I have used regularly, so I don't have much to compare it to. However, after using this, I don't see any point in spending more money on another product.
Give it a try and let me know what you guys think!

Happy Hairstyles: Twisted Up-do for Short Hair

 

Hello, fellow regular girls! It's almost Valentine's Day and I thought this would be a great hairstyle for those of you that want to do something cute with your short hair for your date (or for no good reason, if you're like me :P). I came across this idea and got the pictures from Refinery 29 and thought it'd be cute for Valentine's Day (or any day, really). I tried it out on myself, and it turned out really well! It's easy and looks really cute! So, here we go!
Note: You could also do this with longer hair, but you'd just have more to do at the end.

1. This hairstyle will be easier if you already have mousse or product in your hair. It is more difficult is your hair is freshly clean. Part your hair down the center and tame any fly-aways with a cream. My hair is naturally parted on the side, and it worked that way as well. Do what you're comfortable with or what looks better to you.

2. Start at your hairline and part and grab a 2-inch section of hair, splitting it in half. Begin twisting them away from your face. 

3. Gradually add sections of hair like you would for a french braid going downwards towards the nape of your neck. It's ok if your twist isn't tight against your head. You can always adjust to your liking with bobby pins at the end.

4. Continue twisting along the nape of your neck and secure with a bobby pin.

5. Repeat on the other side.

6. Tuck in the loose ends and secure with bobby pins. Now is when you can add bobby pins to the loose parts of the twist that are not tight enough to your liking. Add some hairspray and you're all ready! If you have longer hair, you might be able to tie the ends into a bun. This was made for shorter hair, so you'll just have to improvise the end for longer hair.

Disclaimer: Again, this idea and these photographs are not mine. Click the link above at the beginning of the post to view the original post on Refinery 29.

Cosmetic Review: Aveeno Active Naturals Creamy Moisturizing Oil

I don't know about all of you guys, but this winter weather is really taking a toll on my skin. This is my first winter back in the Midwest, and I had forgotten how dry it makes my skin. Previous to this, I had been using the regular Aveeno body moisturizer (I'm not sure what it's called, but the label is green). I was becoming unhappy with it because it tended to leave my skin a bit greasy and I didn't like having to wait for it to dry to be able to put my clothes on after a shower. So, I went looking for something a little bit different.
I stuck to the Aveeno brand because I knew it worked and I've used many of their other products. This Aveeno Active Naturals Creamy Moisturizing Oil is $6.99 at Target and I decided to give it a try.

Directions 
The directions on the bottle read: "Apply AVEENO Creamy Moisturizing Oil after your shower or bath to leave skin feeling silky smooth and soft - without any greasy after-feel."
I follow those directions since the time when your skin absorbs the most moisture is right after a shower or bath.

Review
Use: I love how this product has a pump. It makes it easy to use and does require me to squeeze the bottle with the product already on my hands. The product is not the oil that I thought it would be, but that turned out to be a good thing. It's more of an oil/lotion combo and it smells very soothing. The scent is not strong, but leaves me smelling clean. 
The product also does what the bottle claims. It is non-greasy and it definitely soothes my wintery dry skin. I am able to apply the oil, and immediately dress without feeling sticky. 
Price: As an Aveeno product, it is a bit pricier than the generic brands, however, I am very happy with the results and I'm sure I will re-purchase after I run out. At $6.99, you do still get a lot of product (12 fl. oz.). 

This is a must-use product for the winter and it has really helped my skin a lot.
What are some products you guys use for these dry winter months?

Cosmetic Review: Nutra Nail Olive Oil Nail & Cuticle Treatment

I have this awful habit of picking at my cuticles when they're dry, and that is especially a problem right now because the weather is so cold and dry. So, something that I've been using to help fight the problem of dry cuticles is this Nutra Nail Olive Oil Nail & Cuticle Treatment. It is available at Walgreens for $6.79.

Directions
The directions say to apply to unpolished nails and the cuticle area. However, I just use it regularly around my cuticle area even with my nails polished. Another time that I use it is after I've taken off old nail polish and before I put on new polish. In this instance, I put a little bit on each nail to moisturize the nails since nail polish remover tends to dry out your nails.

Review
Use: I absolutely cannot get enough of this product! It is easy to use with the same applicator brush as nail polish and it is intensely moisturizing. I use it about once a day and at night before I go to bed. It is kind of oily, so it's a product to use during leisure time. I find it easy to use while I'm watching tv or before bed because then I don't get the oil on my phone or keyboard on my laptop. I tend to follow up the use of this oil with a hand cream. Pictured in the background above is St. Ives Naturally Smooth Hand Cream. It's only a couple dollars at Target and it works great paired with the cuticle oil.
Price: I think that this product is appropriately priced. At only $6.79, the bottle lasts a very long time. I regularly use this product, and as you can tell from the picture, I have only used about a quarter of the bottle. Definitely worth the price.

I highly suggest this product, especially for use in the winter with these cold and dry months. It has greatly improved the look of my cuticles and my nails. Give it a try and let me know what you think! 

Music of the Moment: Anywayican by WALK THE MOON

I was just trolling iTunes as I usually do and I came across a band called WALK THE MOON that just released an EP entitled Tightrope on January 18th. After a listen to the snip-its of the 6 songs on the EP, I was sold.

They have an easy, light sound that can be played softly in the background, or you can turn it up louder and have a solo dance party (which is what I've been doing for the last hour).

The song that I can't stop listening to is Anywayican, which I have searched on YouTube to be able to share it with you on here, but none of the versions are a good quality. So, click here to go to the iTunes page and give it a listen. Prepare to start dancing around the room. I hope you are prepared for the jam session that is about to be had.

Also, as much as I love that single song, the entire EP is a dance fest. So, check it out! :)

Hair Product Review: Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Flat Iron Perfector Straightening Mist

Before I cut my hair short like it is now, my hair was quite long and ombre'd (I might have just made up that past tense version of "ombre". Don't hate.). Therefore, the ends were pretty dry and damaged. When straightening my hair, I had previously used the CHI and Redken heat protectant serum/oil. I felt like it protected my hair pretty well, but I always felt that if I used too little, it wasn't protecting my hair, and if I used just a little bit too much, my hair turned oily. In the end, I was unhappy with the expensive heat protectant and straightening serums that I was using on my hair. My logic is that if I'm spending that much money, I should be getting exactly what I want. But that was not the case.

So, I went to Target looking for a replacement. I wanted something that protected my hair, made it easier to straighten, and in the end, made my hair look healthy (even if I'd beaten the crap out of it, which I had been at this point). I was drawn to the Garnier Fructis brand products and was looking for a product that met my above criteria. What I found was the Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Flat Iron Perfector Straightening Mist. It claimed to have a 48 hour straight finish, contain argan oil, heat protection, and to keep your hair smooth and shiny. I was sold, especially for only about $4.00.

Directions
Spray evenly on dry hair and immediately flat iron. I section off my hair, spray on the product, and then straighten.

Review
Use: This product is very easy to use and I especially like the spray applicator instead of the pump into my hand method that I'd been using with other products. As usual with all Garnier Fructis products, it smells delicious and somewhat tropical, but doesn't linger and overpower (which I think is a good thing. I don't want to walk around all day smelling like hair product). With my longer, damaged hair, I was absolutely shocked at how healthy and soft my hair felt after using this spray. My hair hadn't looked that nice and smooth since before I had ombre. It also made my hair manageable after waking up with bedhead. And we all know how difficult it is to straighten your hair in the morning if you went to bed with it a little damp the night before.
Price: Um, helloooooo! This product is only about $4.00! So incredibly worth it.

As you can tell by the picture that goes along with this post, my bottle has less than half of the product left. And you can guarantee that I will be purchasing this again and again.

Skin Care Review: Aveeno Active Naturals Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes

I used to leave it to washing my face with my regular face wash in the shower at night to get rid of my makeup from the day. That's not enough, ladies! Especially if you wear foundation! It is so bad for your skin to go to sleep with makeup residue on your face.
So, I went in search of makeup removing wipes and was drawn to the Aveeno brand wipes. I use a few other products from Aveeno and I love them all. You can get these wipes at the drugstore for about $7.00 and they come in a pack of 25. 

Directions: 
For these wipes, all you have to do is gently wipe one all over your face where you apply makeup. You don't even need to rinse your face afterwards! It doesn't get much easier than that! 

Review: 
Use: My skin is combination, sensitive, and prone to break-outs. I was looking for a product that would remove all of my makeup and not leave my skin feeling dry. What I do now is I use the wipes to remove my makeup, get in the shower, and wash my face with my regular face wash. Using just my face wash to remove my makeup and cleanse my face made me feel like it was just trying to remove my makeup and wasn't getting into my pores to prevent breakouts. This logic may be completely incorrect, but that's how I was feeling, especially now that I've been wearing a foundation. Using this process removes all of my makeup with the wipes, and then I'm able to cleanse my face and get access dirt and particles out of my pores to reduce the likelihood of breakouts. 
Smell: This product smells so good and is not overpowering. I would assume that the smell is why it's called "Ultra-Calming". It definitely leaves me smelling nice, but subtle.
Price: At first, I did think that this product was a bit pricey, however, all Aveeno products are. After using them, I knew that they were worth the price. If you have sensitive skin and break out easily, this product is for you. 

Overall, this product has worked great for me and I will definitely be purchasing it again. 

Easy Peasy Recipe: Crockpot Chicken Tacos

I'm at it again! I cooked another dish using my crockpot and it was delicious and so easy! 

This recipe is for chicken cooked in the crockpot to be used for tacos. I originally got this recipe from a blog called Chocolate Therapy. It is so simple you'll want to laugh (hence the reason I made it).

Ingredients:

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 envelope of taco seasoning 

1 - 16-ounce jar of salsa

Directions:

1. Put above ingredients in crockpot.

2. Stir together the taco seasoning and salsa.

3. Cook on high 4-6 hours or low 6-8 hours.

4. Shred chicken in crockpot.

Review:

That's it! Can you believe it? So easy and requires just 3 ingredients! All you need now is whatever you want to put on your taco. The sourced blog also listed a soup that you can make with the chicken. The great thing about this is one night you can have this chicken inside tacos, the next night you could have quesadillas, the next night you could have soup, the possibilities are endless! No need to get tired of leftovers when there are so many things you could use this chicken for. I also like how you can use different salsas for different tastes depending on what kinds of flavors or levels of spicy-ness you like. 

Overall, this recipe is so simple and has so many options for what you could use the leftovers for. I will definitely be making this again! 

Disclaimer: I apologize for the crappy phone pictures of the food. This is the last post that will include bad photography. Stay tuned for more improvements to the blog!

Home Improvement

Hey, all! For all of you that are new to the blog, WELCOME! :) I'm so glad you're here!
I have been fussing with the look of the blog, so I apologize for the temporary boring-ness of the page as of right now. I am working on it and it will all be squared away soon!
There are so many posts that are flying around in my head and I'm getting to work on them! Look for at least two new posts before the end of the week!
I'm also trying my hand at blog photography. So, no more iPhone photos!! Woohoooo!
I'm very excited about all of the changes this blog is going through and I'm so proud of all of the attention that it has already gotten.
Stay tuned for new posts (hopefully starting tomorrow) and a new look (coming by the end of the week)!

Cosmetic Review: Nutra Nail Bullet-Proof Strength Formula & High GlossTop Coat

I wanted to do a review today on a product that I mentioned using in my review for the Essie Snakeskin Magnetic polish, and that is the Nutra Nail Bullet-Proof Strength Formula and High Gloss Top Coat. 

I've never had a hard time growing my nails in the past, however, after they get to a certain point, they began to break and chip. So, I was in Walgreens looking for something that would help with that, and I came across this duo pack for about $9.45 and just had to try it.

Application: 

1. Apply the Bullet-Proof Strength Formula on un-polished nails.

2. Allow it to dry a bit, then apply a second coat of the same formula.

3. Optional step: Apply color polish.

4. Apply the High Gloss Top Coat. 

Review: 

Price: I thought that this price was very reasonable considering you're getting a strengthening base coat and a high gloss top coat. Some other products are close to this price for just one or the other. 

Application: This product is very easy to use and makes my nails very shiny. The shine that this product gives my nails has people asking me if they're professionally done. 

Overall, I love this product! It has made my nails very strong and they've been able to grow to lengths that weren't possible before. I use this product every time I do my nails. I will definitely be purchasing this product again and again! 

Easy Peasy Recipe: Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken and Rice

So, I cooked dinner last night. Which is a big deal because I am practically the worst cook ever. I think I would be a good cook if I remotely enjoyed going to the grocery store, but that is a chore that I hate and avoid at all costs. 
Therefore, the fact that I made this means that anyone can do it! 
I was surfing Pinterest to find something that would be easy for me to make and wouldn't require a whole lot of ingredients. I stumbled across this recipe from southernplate.com and just had to give it a try. 

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 large onion, chopped
1 -8 oz. box Zatarain's Yellow Rice Mix, cooked according to directions
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 - 10.5 oz. can cream of chicken
1 - 15 oz. can whole kernel corn, drained

Directions:
1. Place chicken in the bottom of your slow cooker.
2. Scatter chopped onion over top.
3. Spoon cream of chicken soup over top of that. 
4. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours.
5. A few minutes before serving, add in cooked rice, corn, and cheese.
6. Stir and serve. 

Review
This recipe was very delicious and easy. I only used 3 chicken breasts and half an onion instead of a whole. I'm weird about handling raw meat, so I like using the slow cooker because all I have to do is put it in the pot. 
The recipe also makes a lot, so I'll be able to eat this for a couple more meals. 

So, what are you waiting for? If I could do it, so can you! Get to it! 

Cosmetic Review: Essie Snakeskin Magnetics

Hi. My name is Mandy and I am obsessed with nail polish. So, when I saw that Essie is giving the magnetic nail polish a go, I just had to try it. 
I bought the Snakeskin Magnetics in the color "Snake, Rattle, and Roll" at Target for $10.99. 

There are a total of 6 different colors including:
1. Crocodilly - Dark green
2. Repstyle - Gold
3. Sssssexy - Red
4. Lil' Boa Peep - Brownish Grey
5. Snake It Up - Blue
6. Snake, Rattle, and Roll - Blackish Grey
All of the colors are metallic.
I had never tried a magnetic polish before, so I was very excited to try this version by Essie. I'm going to explain how it works and then tell you my thoughts about this product.

First, I coated my nails with a base coat. I used Nutra Nail Bullet-Proof Strength Formula, and waited for it to mostly dry.

Second, I put the first coat of the color on. Do not use the magnet yet. A first coat is required.

Next, I created the snakeskin effect. One nail at a time, I painted another coat, and held the magnet over my nail for 5 seconds. I repeated this process until all of my nails were finished.

Last, I coated my nails with a top coat. I used Nutra Nail High Gloss Top Coat. 

And voila! All done! 

Price: If this was any other brand, I would not have paid $10.99. However, I use a lot of Essie products and I had faith that it would be a worthwhile purchase.
Application: Application was pretty easy. I got the hang of it after the first couple of nails, but I did have trouble with touching my wet nail to the magnet. However, that is not a product flaw, that was my fault. Just be careful to hold the magnet close enough to create the effect, but do not let it touch your wet nail.
Color: I love the color I purchased, but I think I will be going back to get the red color (Sssssexy).

Overall, I really enjoyed this product and would purchase it again. Definitely worth a try! 

Keurig Spoiled

So, I've been in Atlanta visiting my parents for two and a half weeks now, and I'm such a baby about not having my Keurig. I'm completely spoiled at my apartment just making coffee all of the time and having a choice between a bunch of K-Cups and creamers. But here, my dad knows the ratio of water and coffee for his strong three cups. So, when I want coffee, I have to make three cups at a time, which is fine, but by the time it's noon, I'm so completely wired that I'm practically crawling up the walls. 
At any rate, I'm looking forward to going home and enjoying my one or two cups of coffee from my Keurig. 

The Times They Are A-Changin'

It's that time again; another transition time in my life. 
But it seems like that's all my life has been for two years now. 
I graduated from Georgia College in May 2012, began grad school at U of I in August 2012, I'll be graduating this summer, and figuring out where I'll be living/working after that is... well, now. It's absolute craziness living in perpetual transition. I never know where I'm going to be a year from any given time. And while these times are exciting, they're also terrifying. I'm looking forward to a time when things are somewhat predictable and constant. 
That said, I'm doing this to help myself to grow and find where I'm meant to be. People always do resolutions for the new year, but I don't do those. I'm constantly thinking of ways that I want to improve myself and make myself a better person. 

• Cook more
• Do yoga
• Find where you want to be
• Apply for jobs 
• Give more love
• Accept more love
• Don't forget who you are
• Appreciate the little things

I've already been working on most of these things, but I want to document progress so that I can look back and see how far I've come. Since things change so fast in our lives, it's important to reflect and be aware of what you've accomplished and learned. 

I've already begun this new stage in my life by cutting off my hair. Felt liberating and I feel like a brand new lady! 

So, bring on the change, Universe! I am ready!