Lush Love... Body addition

Hi Everyone... Today's post is all about one of my most favorite brands! LUSH!  I've already talked a little about Lush in the past, but today I want to show you two items I seriously can't live without: Sympathy for the Skin and Flying Fox shower gel!

Sympathy For The Skin:

I've tried probably a million body lotions in my life, and I honestly have a ton of favorites.  This one is on the top of my list.  I tend to like fresh, clean scents most of the time, and this one hits the nail on the head!  It's made from bananas and cocoa butter... and makes my skin feel incredibly smooth, fresh, and clean.  This lotion is perfect for the work week or the weekend!  The scent is very mild, and will match just about any perfume or other scent based product your using.  The best part is... I've noticed a huge difference in the dryness of my skin.  My skin was pretty dry after this horrible winter we had in New England, and this lotion has come to my rescue!!!

Flying Fox Shower Gel:
Again, I have a ton of shower gels, but this one may be my favorite.  And that says A LOT!  I've been using the Philosophy shower gels for years, and always gravitate back to them... but this one, may actually take the cake!  It does what it's supposed to do... leaves my skin feeling soft, clean, and refreshed.  I also think it helps moisturize my skin.  But my favorite part is definitely the smell.  It smells like honey and Jasmine- a combination I can't even describe.  It's super invigorating, but not over powering.

So those are a couple of my favorite lush body products!  I hope every one's week is going well!!!

Hello Summer....

Hi Everyone!!!!  Happy SUMMER!!! My favorite time of the year!  I have officially moved to the Cape for the next few weeks... or maybe the next few months... who knows!  I'm super blessed to have a house down here, and even more blessed to have a job where I can be here and still commute to work! I have been running around getting ready for a wedding I am in this weekend... and I am so excited!! Can't wait to see one of my oldest friends walk down that aisle.

In the meantime, I am enjoying this nightly view....

And these sunsets.....

And cooking the most amazing fresh dinners....

So excited for the rest of the season!!! Cheers to summer!!!!!!

Another Friday... Another Top Five...

Can I just start off by saying I am floored by the dedication my fellow bloggers have to their blog?  I've been reading blogs for years and years now, and now that I am blogging on my own, I can't believe how much work you ladies put into it!  It amazes me!  This week has been absolutely insane, so I went a little MIA.  I barely had time to breathe!  I'd rather be busy than bored, so I guess I should be thankful.  With that said, here are my Friday's Five:

1.  I'm a Bridesmaid again!!

So I've been friends with this chica for almost 25 years.  That's CRAZY!!!!  We met in middle school and the rest is history.  Anyways... she asked me to dinner the other night and asked me to be in her wedding and I couldn't be happier! I can't wait to watch her marry her guy in March!!! CONGRATS ANNIE BANANNIE!!!!

2. Corona-Ritas!

I love carona-rita's!  They are the perfect summer margarita!  I tried these the other night... These are strawberry margarita's with a tasty beer on top.  I wasn't sure I'd like the strawberry, but it was just as amazing as all the other one's I've had.  Love me some fun summer cocktails!

3. Naked Flushed-in "STREAK"

 A couple weeks ago I went into Sephora on a mission to find a new bronzer for the summer.  I've been using Too Faced Pink Leopard, but was pretty much out of it.  I tried on this naked bronzer and haven't looked back!  I absolutely love that it comes with a highlighter and a blush.  It's a cool peachy tone, perfect for summer.  The bronzer slides on very sheer and is perfect on my fair skin.  It actually feels like silk when I apply it to my face.  I couldn't be happier with this purchase!!

4. SUSHI!

For some reason I was craving sushi all week.  I got the chance to nip that craving in the bud the other night!  Yummy Yummy!!!

5. MIT Under-Eye Breakthrough

So apparently scientists at MIT have invented "Spanx" for the eyes.  This cream is supposed to be a breakthrough in treating bags around your eye area.  I won't believe it till I see it for myself... but I am looking forward to trying this product in the future.  You can find out more about this breakthrough here... Under-Eye Breakthrough


I hope everyone had a fabulous week!  I'm hoping to be a little less MIA next week!

Bachelorette Survival Bags

Last weekend I attended the bachelorette party for a friend of mine.  I decided to share with you guys what I made for that party.  Bachelorette Survival Bags!  You never know what will happen at a bachelorette party, and I'm a big fan of disaster preparedness hahaha.

The outside of the bag:
In case you haven't guessed, my friend's last name is Cook, so we call her Cookie. Hence the "cookie's bachelorette" tag on the bags.  All I did was buy plain navy blue (one of the wedding colors, and the color of our bridesmaid dresses) gift bags and glued the label on.  My color wasn't working in my printer, so I had to go with black and white. I thought about printing out a ring, or a monogram of her new initials, but I decided simple would be better.   I also added a name tag.  The tags were super cheap- $1 for 9 at the dollar store.

The inside of the bag:
Inside I put a number of things one may need.  Mostly, they were hangover supplies hahaha.  Advil, gatorade, water, 5 hour energy drink, gum, tissues, candies, hand wipes, and a ring pop for fun.  Our maid of honor also found some tide to-go wipes, so I added those as well.  Oh, and because I am a crazed beauty addict, each girl got a Sephora lip gloss.

I also made glasses.  The wedding will take place in a rustic barn in Western Massachusetts.  Picture white lights, horseshoes, and mason jars.  I was intent on finding mason jars to make for the girls, but I couldn't find any reasonably priced ones anywhere.  I was trying to do everything for under $100, and the only mason jars I could find were too expensive.  I decided to get beer mugs instead.  Luckily, the day before we left I happened to go to a local craft store to pick up ribbon and found the most adorable glasses made from mason jars.  They even had chalk board paint on the front to write.  How adorable!  I was so psyched I found them.  I put ribbon on each glass so every one's glass would be a little different.  I debated painting names on or adding the date, but decided against it.  I liked the simplicity of them, and figured they would get more use if they were kept that way.

 Inside the glass I put a piece of chalk and a straw.  The straws were the same straws we used at her bridal shower a couple months ago.

These bags were super easy to make and everyone seemed to really like them!  I thought they were cute favors to pack.  You could put just about anything in a bag like this.  I also thought of putting the survival kits in a little mini makeup bags, but couldn't find anything I really liked.  I tried to tie the bags into her wedding theme, and the mason jar glasses did the trick.

So those are my bachelorette survival bags!  I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend :)

Happy Fabulous Five Friday

Happy Friday the 13th!  I've never really understood what the fuss is about this day,  just seems like any other day to me... but what do I know? Haha!  Time for my Top 5 of the week...

1. Twins Born 24 Days Apart- If you haven't already read about these beautiful baby boys... you should! Mom had a tough pregnancy and they had to deliver one baby 24 days ago.  They were able to leave the other twin in the womb and give him almost a month longer to grow.  Both babies and mom are doing just fine.  I never knew you could be a twin with such different birthdays.  The medical field truly amazes me sometimes.

2. ESSIE "Good to Go" Top Coat-

(photo courtesy of Essie.com)

Can I just say this stuff is AMAZING?  I have no patience when it comes to sitting still while my nails dry.  Inevitably, every time I do my nails, I always mess at least one up by not waiting long enough for them to dry.  It is so frustrating!  I was fresh out of top coats a couple of weeks ago, so I decided to give this a try.  My fear was I would be giving up shine and chip protection, but I figured I'd give it a go.  Boy am I glad I did.  This stuff makes your nails dry almost instantly!  And the shine is perfect.  I haven't noticed any difference with chips either.  The time I spend on my nails has been cut in half.  It's perfect for someone on the go... or someone like me, with Nail Dry ADD hahahaha.

3. St. Tropez Tanning Mouse-

This tanning mouse has been life changing.  I know I sound crazy saying that... but I only speak the truth!  I am super fair- skinned, and for years and years I used to tan in tanning beds.  BIG MISTAKE.  Now that I'm older, WISER, I realize what a huge mistake that was. There were times I was addicted to tanning and couldn't get enough.  Because I am so fair-skinned I had to tan several times a week to keep up my color. There are so many products on the market that help create a natural looking tan, there is no need to risk skin cancer in a tanning bed.  I've tried a few of them over the past couple years, but this one is by far my favorite.  I read so many amazing things about it from other Beauty Bloggers, and decided to give it a whirl.  First, this stuff doesn't stink like most self tanners.  You smell a little beachy at first, but the smell is very mild and goes away within a few minutes.  Second, it's super easy to use.  All you do is take a mit, spray two pumps of mouse, and apply to your skin in a circular fashion.  When I failed to use the circular motion, I ended up with streaks, so applying it correctly is key.  The lasting power of this stuff is great.  When I first started using it, I applied for a few days, had my desired color and stopped.  Within a few days it was gone.  So it didn't stain my skin for a long period of time.  Right now I have the color I want so I simply apply it a couple times a week to keep it up.  I no longer feel like "Casper the Friendly Ghost" when I'm wearing skirts or short sleeves! 

4. World Cup-

(Totally stole this from her Instagram account- Sorry Gisele)

So I may have a huge girl crush on Gisele, and I swear, it's not just because she's Tom Brady's wife.  I am by no means a World Cup Expert, but I do enjoy watching.  It at least gives me a sport to watch because, lets face it, the Red Sox are pretty depressing these days.  There's something about most everyone in the world watching this series that makes me smile.  I have a lot of dear friends, who have pretty much become a second family to me, who are from Brazil, and nothing would make me happier than to see their team win!! 

5. My Kitties, Again-

So it seems as if these guys make my top 5 more than anything else.  But I just couldn't resist this week!  My kitties Darwin and Simba got shaved this week and I think they look adorable!  My mom says they look scary and I shouldn't do that to them, but I disagree.  This time they even had little scarves on them.  I couldn't believe they left them on all day without a care.  Yes, I am a crazy cat lady, and I don't care.  Hahaha!

Hope everyone had a great week!!  Go Brazil!

Linking up with Carolina Charm


/>

Review- Stila Convertible Color

So I may have gone on a mini (and I STRESS, MINI) Sephora haul the other night.  I was in desperate need of bronzer (more on that in another post), and wanted a cream blush to withstand the humidity of the summer.  I planned to finally try the Makeup Forever HD Cream blush or, if I was unsure about that, pick up a new Tarte cream blush.  After I spotted the Stila Convertible Color line, I decided to go in a different direction.

Stila Convertible Color is a blush and lip color in one.  It comes in seven different colors.  I picked "Fuchsia"- a bright pink.

It comes in an adorable little compact, which is perfect for touchups on the go.  

The first thing I noticed when I opened the compact was how creamy and shinny the color was.  I was initially worried it would be too bright, but once I tried it on, the color blended into my skin flawlessly.  I was surprised the color was so sheer on my fair skin. It was just the right amount of summer flush I was looking for. 

I wore this blush out on Saturday night.  It was a little humid and there was some dancing and cocktails involved, and the blush lasted all night.  I didn't need to re-apply, and the color stayed pigmented the entire time.  As a bonus... it doubles a lipstick.  I've only used it once as a lipstick.  I liked how it perfectly matched my cheeks.  

This cream blush has won a number of awards.  It was voted "Best Cream Blush" by InStyle magazine for the past 10 years!  I don't know how I failed to try this product sooner.  If you're looking for a cream blush for the summer, I'd definitely recommend it.  It retails at $25, which is cheaper than most high-end cream blushes on the market.  Add in the compact and the fact you can use it as a lipstick, I think you get a lot of bang for your buck!  

Now the only problem I am going to have is refraining from ending up with all 7 colors haha!

Lip Addict Tag

Hi, my name is Katie, and I am a lip addict.  Which is why I was super excited when Julie from Collective Beauty tagged me to do a lip addict review.  If you aren't already reading her blog... you should be!  She has some amazing recipes, great ideas for moms, and definitely knows her stuff when it comes to beauty products!  Now- on to talking about lip products...

• Favorite Balm or Treatment- SUGAR LIP TREATMENT by FRESH

This balm is amazing.  I can't say enough good things about it.  It is super moisturizing, keeps my lips soft and even has SPF 15 to keep them from getting burned.  I never leave my house without this stuff in the summer.  It comes in a variety of shades from a neutral shade like Honey (pictured) to a vibrant Berry... this balm has a tint for everyone.

• Best Luxury Product- BUXOM 

To me, Buxom is the holy grail of lip gloss.  I haven't found anything that comes close to the quality of this product.  I love how most of their products tingle when you put them on.  They are super hydrating and moisturizing, and the color lasts several hours.  This gloss comes in so many different colors I can't keep up!  Pictured above is "Taylor", which is a pinky orange- perfect for summer!  Look how incredibly shinny this can be-

• Best Eye-Catching Red- Clinique Balm in Luscious 

Oddly enough, I don't really have many red colors.  I have tried several and red just doesn't suit me.  I'm so fair skinned red is usually out of control on me.  I look more like a painted clown than anything when I wear this color...haha.  But one red I have fell in love with is the one pictured above by Clinique.  It is a very muted red, so it's perfect for me.  This is more of a balm/butter than a lipstick, which makes it super hydrating.

• Best Drug Store Lip Product- Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter

Pictured above is "Strawberry Shortcake".  I don't wear many lipsticks.  I tend to gravitate towards glosses and balms.  But Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter has made me a believer.  It is incredibly moisturizing and is hands down the best drug store product I've ever purchased. I recently discovered this a few months ago and can't wait to try other colors.

• Best Mac Lipstick- 

Okay, so this might sound crazy- but I don't own a MAC lipstick!  I used to own a couple a few years ago, but I haven't purchased any in ages.  I think because I have found so many other options for lip product, I've gravitated away from them.  On the bright side, I suppose this may mean my beauty addiction isn't as bad as I thought ;)

• Most Disappointing- Revlon Colorburst Gloss in Bellini

 

Because I love the colorburst lip butter, I thought the gloss would be right up my ally.  WRONG.  I first tried this a couple months ago, and initially liked it.  However, the more I use it, the more I notice it does absolutely nothing for me.  It is moisturizing, but the gloss lasts all of 15- maybe 20 minutes.  I also notice my lips chap easier when I wear this.  If you read my post on "Crazy for Coral", I mentioned it, and said I really liked it a lot.  Boy how wearing a gloss over several weeks can change one's opinion.  My advice... save your money!

• Liner- Yes or no?

I very very rarely wear a liner.  I'd say once or twice a year at most.  I am always applying my lip products and some times change them throughout the day.  I don't like how liner looks on me.  I think no liner looks more natural on me.  However, I have seen many girls wearing liner and it looks beautiful on them.  It's just not for me. 

• Something Extra- Philosophy High Gloss Lip Shine & Benefit Sugar Bomb

I love both of these products and have been using them for years!  Philosophy lip shine comes in a variety of colors and flavors.  "Watermelon" is pictured above.  Another favorite of mine is the "Coconut" (for summer), and  "Vanilla Cupcake".  They also come out with a number of seasonal glosses around Christmas time which really put me in the mood for the season!  This is super hydrating and I find it works well as a lip treatment.  If you have chapped lips... you lips will be good as new after a couple uses of this.

I also couldn't help but mention Benefit's Sugar Bomb.  I love this stuff!  I am a HUGE fan of benefit products and this one is no different.  I always find myself buying a new tube as soon as a run out.  It is pinkish-nude color and can be worn year round.  It's glossy, hydrating, and makes my lips feel super smooth.  This is def one product I can't live without!

So that's it.... my lip addict review! Thanks again Julie!