Monthly Archives: August 2014

{Ipsy} Beauty Schooled

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August 2014“Learn the rules, so that you can break them. This month, you’ll discover that you’ll never stop learning – especially, when it comes to the world of beauty. With everything from styling skills, application techniques, to channeling your inner confidence and uniqueness… With the help of ipsy and your August Glam Bag, you’re about to get “schooled.”

School? I haven’t been to school for over eight years. Then again I could stand to learn a few beauty tricks. I am always looking to switch up my beauty routine in preparation of dreaded winter skin. The August bag reminds me of a pencil case and the polka dot pattern is to die for cute. I am a fan of the color orange and polka dots so its right up my alley.

Beauty Schooled

Beauty Schooled

“What did you get in your Beauty Schooled Bag?” Oh! I am so glad you asked! Let’s un-bag it and find out!

Dr. Brandt – Pores No More Pore Refiner: is a quick fix for flawless, photo-ready skin. It is the miracle base to create the perfect skin canvas for long-lasting makeup and well-preserved skin.
—————–> I’ve got one word to describe this product and that is “brilliant.” It does exactly as they claim and it left my skin looking flawless.

Urban Decay – Perversion Mascara: Bigger. Blacker. Badder. Urban Decay’s ultra-creamy, lengthening and volumizing mascara features triple-black pigments and a deeply nourishing ingredient blend. Perversion Mascara gets you sexy in one stroke, yet it won’t quit until you say when.

J. Cat Beauty – Flying Solo Eye Shadow in Half Naked: The high-quality formula and texture can be worn wet or dry. Each shadow opens up to reveal a mini mirror and applicator, making this shadow perfect whether at home or on the go!
————-> I love the versatile color that has the perfect amount of shimmer. J. Cat Beauty is a great formula that covers well and holds up to whatever your day brings.

Jersey Shore Sun – Mongongo Lip Conditioner: offers a unique protection from UV and environmental pollutants in skin applications. Mongongo oil is rich in calcium, magnesium, zinc, cooper and anti-oxidants.

Klorane – Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk: gently revives hair, ridding it of excess dirt, oil, build-up and odor while leaving hair soft, clean and full of volume.
————–> I was super excited to receive this product in my glam bag this month. My excitement was short lived when I glimpsed at the ingredients. The first two ingredients listed on the label are “Butane and Propane.” Not to mention there is a “highly flammable” symbol to the right of the ingredients. Last time I checked butane an propane have no benefit to hair or let alone skin. Just imagine what these chemicals are doing to your scalp and worse your brain. I was going to give this product a whirl on my upcoming camping trip, that is until I had visions of a spark hitting my head followed by me going up like a roman candle. This is not dry shampoo it is a fire starter. I urge all of you to not use this product as it has no benefits, other than damaging your health with terrible chemicals.

My August glam bag was a big miss the only things I really liked were the Dr. Brandt, J. Cat, and the lip balm. I have enough mascara samples to tied me over and the Urban Decay was nothing to write home about. I am still taking the dry shampoo on my trip, however it will be sprayed on wet wood to assist in getting the fire started.

Do you want an Ipsy Glam Bag of your very own? Well then, for $10 a month (shipping is free) you will receive a Glam Bag filled with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products. Members can watch and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using. If you want a bag of your very own or more information please visit http://www.ipsy.com/r/1w1i Trust me you will be glad you did!

***I was no compensated for my post. Opinions are my own***

{BirchBox) for CEW – Mass Appeal Box 2014

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BB CEW 2014If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your drugstore’s beauty aisle offerings, here’s something to help you cut through the clutter: the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Insiders’ Choice Beauty Awards. Dubbed “the Oscars of the beauty world,” this annual event gathers over 6,000 industry pros to vote on the year’s best and brightest products. Every all-star in this box was a finalist in this year’s awards.

The CEW Mass Appeal Limited Edition box is packed with the best-in-class products from this year’s finalist brands. The box features mass market brands, that once you’ve fallen in love, you can hop on over to your local drug store/mass retailer to stock up. As soon as I got word of the CEW box I knew I had to have it.

BirchBox for CEW – Mass Appeal Box

CEW 2014

Burt’s Bees – 100% natural lip Gloss in Spring Splendor: This nourishing gloss offers pearly-pink color and shine.
———————-> I was stoked to see Burt’s Bees in the box and I happen to own a few of the glosses already. I love the color and it keeps my lips moist with a touch of shine.

Dove – Go Fresh Restore Body Wash: This gentle cleanser leaves skin soft and revitalized, with a fruity scent that will perk you right up.

L’Oreal Paris – Voluminous Butterfly Mascara: A silky formula, paired with a breakthrough volumizing brush, makes for gorgeously thick, winged-out lashes.
——————–> I all ready own this mascara, it was in the Target Box this spring. I like the formula and it does exactly what it claims to do.

Simple – Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15: Gentle enough for sensitive skin, this oil-free, vitamin rich hydrator creates a lightweight shield against UVA and UVB rays.

TRESemme – Keratin Smooth Keratin Infusing Serum: This lightweight formula fights frizz for salon-rivaling sleekness and shine.

Vaseline – Lip Therapy Rosy Lips: this balm deeply moisturizes lips and adds a lovely rose tint.

This was a great box! As in 5 out of the 6 products featured are full-sized products. The cost of the Mass appeal box is $15.00 plus shipping. I used 20 BirchBox points and paid $0.00 for the box, I love getting things for free.

Birch Box is a beauty and lifestyle subscription box program that costs $10.00 per month. For every dollar you spend in the shop you can earn 1 point. 100 points will get you a free birch box or $10 towards a purchase in the shop at birchbox.com. I know you’ve got friends so why not refer those friends to Birch box and earn a few points for doing so. If you would like to learn more and get a Birch Box of your very own go to http://www.birchbox.com for more information.

***I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are my own***

{PERSPECTIVE} 10 Years of Have Bear Will Travel

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10 yearsTen years ago today I boarded a plane with 67 strangers bound for Glasgow Scotland. The only thing I knew was “I’m going to Scotland and will live in a palace.” Everything else was left up to fate. That trip lead me to start havebearwilltravel.com. It was my attempt to stay connected to friends and family back home. I wanted a place where I could share my adventures in real-time. Scotland was only the beginning, it was my starting point to an amazing adventure.

I got to travel Europe, attend the Edinburgh Tattoo, saw the Queen at the Highland games, and there is nothing like spotting a hairy coo in your front yard. I went looking for Nessie, but came up empty-handed, pub crawls, yea I’ve gotta few under my belt, art was a plenty, ghosts were all around, the underground can’t be beat, Rosslyn Chapel is way prettier in person, and if you listen you just might hear the footsteps of giants. I was an intern with the New Scottish Parliament, they thought it would be highly entertaining for me to give tours of the building to school children and tack stacks of papers.

Scotland truly was one hell of an adventure and I now have a place to call “Home” in the Midlothians. Once I returned home I continued to blog about my adventures and encouraged others to step out side of their comfort zones. Funny thing, little did I know that this blog would see me through thick and thin. It has been my outlet to the world, a place for me to gain perspective, encourage others, and a place for me to write my story.

Looking back I did a lot of incredibly amazing shit, so amazing that I have to stop and think “yea you actually did that!” Ten years ago I had no idea where life would take me or what the future would hold. I am a firm believer that everything should be left up to fate. Fate will never fail us and as long as we believe, she will come through. I’ve been married, became a step mom, had a pulmonary embolism and a stroke, became a mama, got a divorce, quit my job, found my voice, fell in love, said good-bye, and hello.

I am literally in awe of my life. I have walked the beaches of Sardinia, stood on Mount Tibidabo, sailed the canals of Venice, climbed the pyramids of Egypt, zip corded through the jungles of Belize, set sail on the high seas, collected sea shells in Mexico, panned for gold in Alaska, and shopped in Morocco. I have stood on three of the seven continents and hopefully will see the remaining four before I die. My soul needs to travel this world and as long as I am able I will always choose GO.

Go? Alfred who is now a very ratty teddy bear still goes wherever I go. He is after all the “bear” in Have Bear Will Travel. That ratty old teddy bear has seen me through the good, the bad, the ugly, and the down right hilarious moments of my life. We never grow up, we just tuck our teddy into our suit cases and no one is none the wiser. I will carry that ratty teddy bear with me until the day I die.

If I could go back 10 years I will tell my 21-year-old self to enjoy the journey and to live in the moment. Moments make us who we are, without them we are books with blank pages. I would tell her to hold on tight because you are going to have more potholes than smooth pavement. That life can be cruel and unfair. That she will endure heartache, turmoil, and fight for her life, only to say goodbye to a son who never walked the earth. Mostly I would tell her” “You are stronger than you could ever imagine and to not worry about law school, you will change the world without a law degree.”

{BirchBox} The EveryGirl Box

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EveryGirl“Between low starting salaries and skyrocketing rent, there is rarely extra cash in our bank accounts to treat ourselves to the finer things. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to forgo treating ourselves to life’s little luxuries. That’s why The EveryGirl has teamed up with BirchBox to create a special collection of affordable beauty essentials.”

In July BirchBox allowed us to pick one product for our box and the rest would be left up to fate. The August selection window allowed us to pick from several products or you could select The EveryGirl Box. The EveryGirl Box includes samples from affordable luxury brands. The full-sized version of each sample will run you $35.00 or less. Which is amazing, seeing how all of us, well most of us are budget conscious these days. The selection window did not go without a hitch, once again we broke the website. I needed to have an EveryGirl Box in my life and when the website failed me, I took to the phone. I was on hold for about 20 minutes and was able to snag one of the last remaining boxes.

Let’s Break into The August 2014 EveryGirl Box!”

The EveryGirl Box 2014

The EveryGirl Box 2014

Number 4 – Super Comb Prep & Protect: A Sulfate free leave in conditioner that safeguards color, strengthens, and nourishes hair. Full-size $32.00

Benefit Cosmetics – They’re Real! Push-Up Liner: Innovative gel liner pen that hugs the lash line and easily smooths on a waterproof swoop. Full-sized $24.00

Acure Organics – Brightening Facial Scrub: Paraben-free, botanical-rich cleanser that gently exfoliates and boosts skin’s radiance. Full-sized $14.99
———————–> I used the scrub last night and it is AMAZING! It left my skin baby smooth and dewy. I am totally going to buy the full-sized version.

Harvey Prince – Hello: Best-selling spritz that mingles cheerful citrus with floral notes. Full-sized $26.00
———————–> I have read so many reviews about Hello, a lot of women are stating that it is crisp and fresh. They are absolutely correct! I had a hard time getting my first spritz out of the sample and ended up spraying the manhuman in the face. On the bright side he smelled crisp and fresh. Hello is the perfect summery scent.

Not Soap, Radio – Happiness Inducing Body Wash: This aromatherapeutic cleanser will brighten your outlook while you lather. Paraben-free. Full-sized $16.00
——————-> This product is the reason why I chose The EveryGirl box! I am a huge fan of anything lemon scented and this, this definitely fits the bill! Its like you are bathing with a lemon. You can’t help but smile while lathering up. As soon as this product is in stock, I am going to buy it from the BirchBox shop.

This was a great box and I love that all of the products are actually very affordable.

Birch Box is a beauty and lifestyle subscription box program that costs $10.00 per month. For every dollar you spend in the shop you can earn 1 point. 100 points will get you a free birch box or $10 towards a purchase in the shop at birchbox.com. I know you’ve got friends so why not refer those friends to Birch box and earn a few points for doing so. If you would like to learn more and get a Birch Box of your very own go to http://www.birchbox.com for more information.

***I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are my own***