What's In My Shower: Winter Edition

With the winter feeling the coldest it's ever been in NJ (...hello 9 degree evenings...except for the past few days, of course...), I have mostly gravitated towards comforting and sweeter scents in the shower.After all, if I have to be in my freezing bathroom I want to be using something that will make me feel nice and cozy.

Unlike with my Fall Edition, I decided to group the shower gels, lotions, and scrubs that I've been using this season into categories, as opposed to brand...so here we go...

Please Note: I am well aware of my shower gel addiction and have taken the proper steps to overcome (you can read more about that Here)...please don't judge me.

~Fruity Scents~
*Philosophy's Have A Cherry Christmas=white cherries

*Philosophy's Partridge In A Pear Tree=white pear

*Philosophy's I'm Dreaming of...White Peach=white peach

*Philosophy's I'm Dreaming of...White Cranberry=white cranberry

(note: You can also read more about my review of the I'm Dreaming of...set Here)

~Minty Scents~

*Philosophy's Candy Cane=total mint experience and a staple in my shower; perfect to use when you''re sick or need a pick-me-up

*Philosophy's Peppermint Bark=mint chocolate

*Bath and Body Works' Twisted Peppermint=candy canes and vanilla

~Comfort Scents~

*Philosophy's Fresh Cream=homemade whipped cream

*Bath and Body Works' Vanilla Bean Noel=warm vanilla and caramel

~Foody Scents~

*Philosophy's Gingerbread Girl=fresh baked gingerbread

*Philosophy's Gingerbread Man=sparkling gingerale

*Philosophy's Christmas Cookies=buttery sugar cookie

*Philosophy's Cherry Berry Crisp==a mix of cherries, berries, coconut & vanilla

~Body Scrubs~

*Philosophy's Candy Cane=smells exactly like the 3in1; gives off a cooling sensation

*Philosophy's Gingerbread Man=smells exactly like the 3in1; gives off a warming sensation

I apologize but given the fact that most of these are sold for a limited time, unless you search amazon, I don't think these products are available.As far as I'm aware, though, I believe these are all returning customer favorites.

As always, I truly appreciate you taking the time to visit my blog.

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a positive review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

This Week's Nail Polish: 1/26-2/1

For my birthday week I decided to go with Ciate's Antique Brooch, which is an absolute gorgeous color involving tons of glitter. Depending on the way the light hits, it can look anywhere from yellow gold to a pretty lilac.

Unfortunately, no matter what kind of lighting I used, the picture just did not do this polish justice. You can get a better look at it here.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog...have a great week! :)

Have You Found What Speaks To You?

I am absolutely obsessed with the Pier One advertisements and feel that whoever is involved with that marketing campaign is a sheer genius...trust me, it works!

Take me for example, my favorite commercial is the Teeter "I'm a hugga" penguin. On a whim I looked for it online and as soon as I found out that he does indeed speak I knew he had to be mine.
We were running around like two star-struck kids in a candy store and probably either entertained or scared a lot of the other customers.

Honestly, though, you are never too old for stuffed animals, especially if one says "Careful, I am a hugga!" Come on...how can you pass up on that!?!?

Thank you for visiting and have a great weekend :)

This Week's Nail Polish: 1/18-1/25

This week I really moved away from my comfort zone and decided to wear Mistress from Ciate' which is a pretty candy apple red. This just might be one of the only lighter red polishes that I currently own. I love the way this looks and have even received several compliments :)

You'll probably notice that my next several nail posts will involve Ciate' polishes...this won't be happening any time soon but keep an eye out for a review...

Have a great Thursday and try to keep warm.
As always, I thank you for visiting and supporting this blog :)

Happy (early) Birthday To Me!!!!!

Aside from my ear lobes, my first major piercing was my nose, which was done when I was fourteen. To this day I have a feeling one of the reasons my dad agreed to take me was due to the fact that I had just recovered from back surgery several months earlier...but I digress...

Since then I've become obsessed. From then to now I've gotten the following pierced:
*4 holes in each ear
*labret
*tongue (most recent)

This year for my twenty-fifth birthday I decided to gift myself a tragus piercing. Working in an office environment means that I either need to be able to take out the studs or hide them...which makes new piercings a little difficult.

The ironic part is a couple years ago when I got my fourth holes done I swore I'd never do it again...and yet, I still decided on a cartilage piercing.

I went to Pleasurable Piercings, which is where I had my nose done and truthfully is the only studio where I felt the most comfortable. When I walked in, the girl behind the counter helped me to choose my jewelry and explained in full detail what I needed to do in order to help the healing process.
Once I was called into the piercing room, Jaime, my piercer, explained everything from how the tools were sterilized to what he was about to do. He even intently listened as I rambled on with nervousness, helping me to calm down. He was really great.

The procedure itself was, well, surprising. I had heard from numerous people that it would be quite painful and I'd even hear a "pop", but all I felt was a slight pinching which only lasted no more than a minute.

I must say, next to my nose, this is probably the easiest piercing I've ever had. Aside from a slight ache which lasted all of an hour, I haven't had any pain, in fact, I can't even tell there's a stud in my ear.

If you're in the NY/NJ area and are looking to get pierced, I completely recommend Pleasurable Piercings. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, not to mention very clean. You never see someone not wearing gloves and the piercers even wear masks for a more sterile environment. I don't know why I went elsewhere for my other piercings but I'll definitely be back for the next one (which will probably be my rook)...


As always, thank you for taking the time to read my blog.


Note: I am not affiliated with Pleasurable Piercings or the Association of Professional Piercers. I have not received any kind of compensation to give a positive review. I am solely a lover of piercings and body modification.

My Last Purchase of 2012...and A No Buy

I don't know about you but we didn't exactly have a "Rockin' New Year's Eve" considering everyone in my house was sick. Just before I went to bed that night I happened to flip through the channels when I caught a Philosophy presentation on QVC. Without hesitation, I ordered it, which was actually pretty fitting.....

My very last purchase for 2012 was a Fresh Cream duo consisting of a 16oz 3in1 and 7oz body cream (as of right now, it's listed as "unavailable"). Both products smell exactly like fresh whipped cream. In fact, it's actually possible to pull out different ingredients like the vanilla and sugar...it smells really clean, perfect for a Pure Grace lover, while offering a warm and cozy scent. Since it's very light, I feel like these could remain in my bathroom all year long as opposed to being reserved for the cooler months.

I also made the decision to put myself on a shower gel no buy. Right now my bathroom is full along with about three containers of Spring, Summer, and Fall scents in my bedroom. There's so much that I was way too embarrassed to post a picture of my collection.
For now, at least until I can get more of a handle on my little "problem", I'm not going to allow myself to buy anymore shower gels...there's just no more room for all of it!!!

As of right now it doesn't look like any of my bottles are close to being emptied, although, there are several that are at the half-way mark. Much like with my perfume no buy, I want to post empty bottle reports on this as well.

Stay tuned and thanks again for visiting :)

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a positive review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

Bag of The Month: January

I make a point of carrying my Dooney and Bourke Charm handbag every January (my birthday month) because it's like a party in a bag...not to mention it was a birthday present to myself a few years ago.

While it is smaller than I usually carry, I can't help but fall in love (It's so stinkin cute!!!). I don't think these are available anymore, however, there might be one or two floating around on Ebay (which is where I bought mine).

As always, thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you have a great weekend.

P.S. I'm gifting myself a new piercing tomorrow so stay tuned for a post all about it.
P.P.S. QVC's "New Beauty, New You" day is today so check it out....25 hours of beauty products...Jason and I currently have a bet going over how long it'll take until I order something. So far, so good!

:)

This Week's Nail Polish: 1/12-1/18

I was very exited to try out a new color that I picked up a few weeks ago from Wet n Wild, Root of All Evil, which is a very rich looking royal blue. On my ring fingers I made a little design using Deadly Dose, a really pretty gold....my only problem is the quality of this polish isn't the best compared to the many others from the Mega Last line, so I don't think it will be used as a base color.

Aside from that I really like the way my nails turned out this week...even with my sad attempt at art.

As always, thank you for visiting :P

TSO 12.22.12

This was supposed to be posted a while ago, however, I never had the chance....anyway, just before Christmas I attended the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert that I'd been impatiently awaiting and as always, it stopped my heart and brought tears to my eyes (multiple times).You can read more about my love (or obsession) for this band in this Post.



Waiting for the show to start...

Roddy Chong

We walked in to find a light snow falling in the lobby, which was without a doubt, a  perfect way to be greeted. The moment the show started I immediately started to well up with tears and spent a decent amount of time in sheer disbelief that I was actually watching them live.

Band Intros by Chris Caffery

This was the first year focusing on their third album, The Lost Christmas Eve, which if interested, you can read about Here. After reading a mix of reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect but both my fiance, Jason, and myself absolutely loved it. In fact, he has now been TSO'd!

One of my favorite moments from the evening was when the creator, Mr. Paul O'Neill, came on stage and started playing. At that point I had lost it completely...The thing is, not many people could understand how much he's changed my life so watching him meant the world to me.

"Someday"

Intro-Chris Caffery

Person Screaming-Me :)

Performed By-Kayla Reeves; Accompanied By-Paul O'Neill

(Sorry for the shaky quality)

Of course, I also have to mention when my all time favorite song was played at the end, Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24. To hear it live is such an incredible experience, quite powerful....it never ceases to bring out goosebumps and tears. While I'm at it, I might as well give a shout out to Rob Evan, an incredibly talented singer, who performed several of the songs beautifully. Then, of course, there's Brian Hicks, who narrated the story with such feeling and depth...and yes, {surprise surprise} made me cry at the end. Then there are three of my favorites from the band, Roddy Chong, Joel Hoekstra, and Chris Caffery, who have such a great time on stage are so much fun when it comes to interacting with the audience. Who am I kidding, there's not a bad member in the bunch. The amount of talent on that stage was absolutely mind blowing. 

Paul O'Neill



Roddy Chong & Chris Caffery

If anything, my one and only complaint was that there was no Meet and Greet. I had been told that for certain venues, if you wait around long enough, eventually the band comes out and basically hangs out with their fans. I was determined to especially meet Chris Caffery, who I've had a major crush on literally ever since I first heard TSO. We waited around until we were the last people in the building and were asked to leave but alas, no once came out :(

While I was a little disappointed, it still didn't kill my high from watching such an incredible show. The way I see it, it'll happen when it's meant to be.

Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24

(Sorry for the shaky quality)

...Perhaps next year...  ;)

As always, thank you for taking the time to visit my blog.



Favorites of 2012

For the most part, putting together my list of H.G. items was pretty simple, especially since I like to keep a bag of back-ups under my makeup table. The following are all the products that I've used throughout the year and have repurchased.

~Hair~
*Wen*

Even though I've been using this product for a couple years, back in the Spring, I started using it more as a conditioner than cleanser. With regular shampoo, it makes my hair look shiny and feeling healthy. I did attempt to try out different products but nothing else could compare. For the winter months, I'll be using Fig, which is more moisturising than the other "flavors".

*TRESemme' Thermal Recovery Shampoo*

After spending over a year of only using a cleansing conditioner on my hair, the search for a great shampoo proved to be a tad difficult. Luckily, on my second attempt, I found my now go-to product. Just like Wen, I absolutely love the way my hair looks and feels...plus, there's the added bonus of heat protection.

*TRESemme' Tres Two Extra Hold Hairspray*

I didn't notice this until it was mentioned in an Emilynoel83 video and have been using this ever since. Not only is it affordable, but the hold is great without leaving any sticky residue.

~Face~
*bareMinerals Foundation in Golden Fair*

I started using this in the beginning of January, when I was suffering from horrible breakouts and acne scars. Over the past 12 months, it has not only covered up any imperfections but my face has also cleared up wonderfully. This is a product that I simply can't imagine being without and has been the absolute best foundation I've ever tried.

*bareMinerals Bisque*

Adding this to the mix has given me even more coverage and truly erases everything from dark circles to the occasional breakout.

*bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil*

This offers such a great airbrushed look and really evens everything out. Before I initially tried this I really didn't understand the purpose for a "finishing powder", however, this have been a product that I never leave the house without.

*bareMinerals Prime Time*

When I use this, my make-up stays on all day and rarely needs to be touched up...plus, it hasn't caused any break outs.

~Eyes~
*Tarte Lights Camera Splashes Mascara*

I've been using this for over two years and have continued to repurchase. I love everything about it from the way my lashes feel and look to how bulletproof it is. I don't doubt that this will be on my H.G. list for quite some time.

*Smashbox Limitless Liner in Onyx*

This is another product that I have been using for over two years. Over the past twelve months I've been having a lot of fun using a colored liner on the top on my lids and Onyx in the waterline. It's quite rare when I need to reapply in the middle of the day.

~Skincare~
*Philosophy Hands of Hope*

Last year when I bought my first tube, I didn't think I'd repurchase...ironically, I've had HOH in my bag ever since. It's so moisturising, especially perfect for the cooler months, and has no scent so I don't have to worry about it competing with my perfume. I'm yet to find a cheaper dupe for this.

*Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough Neck Cream*

I absolutely love this product! After the first month of use, I could see such a difference in the tightness of my neck and decollete area...the smooth feeling is a bonus as well.

*bareMinerals Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser*

Last January after using BEs makeup for a few weeks I decided to venture toward their skincare and haven't looked back since. I use the exfoliating cleanser first thing in the morning and as a mask once a week. I also really like the fresh scent it has.

*bareMinerals Purifying Facial Cleanser*

I use this every other night and it's such a gentle cleanser that takes the day off.

*bareMinerals Deep Cleansing Foam*

I use this on nights when I don't reach for the Purifying Cleaner and it applies almost like a mask.
I've been using all three cleansers for a year and not only has my skin cleared up immensely but it also looks a lot brighter. I don't think I'd want to use anything else.

*bareMinerals Skin Rev-Er Upper*

I use this morning & night and it's really helped to clear my skin without drying it out.

*bareMinerals Active Cell Renewal Night Serum*

This is such a light serum that goes right into the skin. My face has looked amazing since I've been using this product and I fully believe that this is what helped to erase all my acne scars...that and the Skin Rev-Er Upper.

*bareMinerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer*

This moisturizes my face without causing any breakouts, which is what I think was initially my problem, using the wrong face cream.

~Shower~
*Philosophy Candy Cane*

This 3in1 is part of the holiday collection, however, I keep it in my bathroom all year long. I'm not 100% sure but this has to contain Menthol because it really opens up your nasal passages and gives off a nice cooling sensation. I love using this when I'm sick or on hot summer nights....I use this on my son as well.

~Lips~
*EOS Lip Balm*

These are great to use prior to applying lipsticks or glosses. They're not greasy, smell really good, and leave my lips nice and soft. I take these wherever I go.

*Laura Geller Italian Marble Lipstick*

As of right now I have seven shades from this line and love all of them. The colors range from sheer to a bold pink and feel just like a lip balm.

*bareMinerals Moxie Lip Gloss*

After I tried a couple out, I soon became addicted and loaded up on more...and more. They're long lasting with shades ranging from clear to a deep berry. What I love it the candy scent they have and the minty feeling I get when I wear them.

So there you have it-my list of 2012 Go-To/Holy Grail/Repurchased items. I apologize for the long length of this post...thanks for sticking with me :)

Note: I purchased these products with my own money. The opinions expressed in this post are those of my own. I have never accepted any kind of compensation in exchange for a positive review. For more information, please check out my Disclaimer.

My First Pearls

Last night Jason and I celebrated a belated Christmas and I was really touched by what he gave me...my first pair of real pearl earrings.
What made it so special was the fact that he had remembered a pair I had my eye on months ago and had been in search ever since.

Sometimes he can really surprise me and this as one of those moments...

Thanks for taking the time to read this :)

This Week's Nail Polish: 1/5-1/11

Having felt summer-sick, I decided to mix a polish that was bought specifically for the cooler months with one that I reached for on multiple occasions through last spring and summer.

Luminary is a really pretty shimmery peach shade while Winter Wonder is a deep glittery tone that looks black or green depending on the way the light hits it....both are from Sinful Colors.

This was just my fun way of trying to beat the "winter blues"....that and a quick trip to Kohr's...

As always, I thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and hope you have a wonderful week :)

This Week's Nail Polish: 12/28-1/4

Ironically, the look I went with for this week also happened to be one that was featured in a recent video by MissJenFABULOUS.

Happy Holidaze & 2% Milk

Dancer Is The Best Reindeer & Silvivor

I started with a colorful take on the french manicure by using 2% Milk as the base color and Happy Holidaze, which is a glittery light blue, on the tips. On my ring fingers I used Silvivor as the base and a coat of Dancer is The Best Reindeer, a purple glitter. All the poishes are from Wet n Wild.

I thought this made a cute way to ring in the new year :)

Happy New Year!!!

Happy 2013 everyone!!!!
I must say, so far this year is not what I expected as my family and I spent the past two days sick and in bed....oh well, it can only get better.

After all that occurred last year I'm hoping that the next twelve months are a little more low key. After July, life seemed to move on fast forward-my fiance got a better job and literally ten minutes after that call, my mom was rushed to the hospital unable to breathe; only to find out that she has heart disease. My adorable little potato of a nephew was born in August and a week later my mom went back to the hospital for single bypass surgery. Since then the main focus in my house has been her ongoing recovery. Thankfully, aside from a few colds and an ear infection, everyone is now heathy(ish).

Every year I come up with resolutions, yet, I never keep them...this time around I came up with "goals" that I feel quite confident I can keep for myself.

*Keep my eye on what I want out of life
I'm really hoping to stay focused on what I want and to make a move to get it.

*Watch my spending
Right now I'm tossing around either going shopping once a month or having month-long no buys all together. Either way I feel like this will probably end up helping me to save money in the long run.

*Reduce my cluttered life
I have a lot of stuff and not that much room so I want to start cleaning house as well as trying to have a little more organization in the process.

*Keep up with my blog & diary

*Try to stay healthy
 ~drink water: I'm beyond horrible with this; in fact, I've had to go to the ER for dehydration numerous times
~take vitamins
~schedule that dr's appointment I've been avoiding
~get my blood checked
~get more sleep...or at least don't go to bed at 1:30 when I have to be up at 6:30

*Try not to let people get me down and not take everything to heart

*Be there for my son and fiance

I'm really excited to see what this year brings and am confident that it's going to be good...hopefully, by completing these goals, I'll be a step closer to happiness and finding myself. I wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy year and may all your dreams and goals come true.

As always, thank you for taking the time to visit my blog..it is truly appreciated :)