Wet Brush Review

A review of a brush? I can hear you all now saying "Really? A brush? How great can a brush be to warrant its own review?"

Umm... so good that when I search YouTube, a ton of results come up, including my absolute favorite by Rachel Whitehurst.
(Seriously- watch this. It is both informative and hilarious.)

So good that it has absolutely changed the way I deal with my hair both pre and post shower. I used to have to completely brush my hair preshower, but now I don't have to do that. Because post shower, this cuts through my hair like a knife through butter.
It also works great on my long hair once it's dry. My hair is fine and tangles super easy, but this gets out the tangles without ripping out my hair. 

Not that this brush is without it's problems- even though it gets through tangles easily, it's not like there is absolutely no tugging- there is. It's just not as harsh and I don't feel like any of my hair is coming out. There is also less fallout of hair while brushing. So it's a win in my book!

I also find it makes my hair more shiny- something about the Inteliflex bristles just helps my normally not-so-shiny hair look almost supermodel shiny!
I have no idea what kind of witchcraft was put on these brushes, but all I know is that I want more of it. 


You can purchase your own Wet Brush here.


FTC: This brush was a Christmas gift. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Liebster Award

Thank you to Allie from Buttons and Bees for nominating me for a Liebster Award!




My understanding of this award is that bloggers with fewer than 200 followers can nominate each other for the award, and you continue paying it forward- so more of us can see each other and connect to others in our little blog corners of the world!

It works like this:
1. The nominee posts 11 Facts about himself/herself
2. The nominee answers 11 Questions posed by the nominator
3. The nominee nominates 11 small blogs and poses 11 questions to their authors

So without further ado...

11 Facts About Me
1. I've been with my husband for 9 years and we've been married almost 2. We are currently saving up money to buy our first home, and hopefully soon after, we will be starting our family! (I'll probably post more stuff about that as it gets closer to time.) It's a cliche to say so, but he really is my best friend and one of my favorite people in the world.
2. One of my favorite things to do is thrift shop. I love hunting and finding the perfect piece!
3. The beauty product I am absolutely hopeless with? False Eyelashes. I really need to practice more, but I always end up needing someone else to do them for me if I want to wear them.
4. I'm also not great at doing my own hair, and it's only thanks to a curling wand that I actually curl my hair anymore!
5. I'm extremely close to a lot of my extended family, and was lucky enough to not only be born with a full set of grandparents on both sides, but blessed enough to still have all of them with me. I was also born with two great grandmothers that I loved dearly (and one I lived with for a time!).
6. I have recently realized I spend far too much time on social media, and am trying to find the best balance for my life. I am also trying harder to be more present in the company of friends (meaning- not looking at my phone while at dinner or out with them).
7. I'm the kind of person that is perfectly fine staying in on a weekend night. I do love going out, but mostly I don't like the hassle or the crowds. And the amount of money! 
8. I love board games. I'm a huge fan of Tabletop on the Geek & Sundry channel on YouTube, and my husband and I probably own close to thirty games now.
9. I also love going to the movies. I would go to the movie theater every day if i could. (I will see any kind of movie except the Horror genre- I don't really like scary movies.)
10. I own over 60 bottles of nail polish- I'm a little obsessed!
11. I started reading at the age of 4 1/2, and haven't stopped since!

Here are the questions I received from Allie-
1. Why did you start blogging? 
I started blogging because I wanted a creative outlet- I was tired of just sitting around at home after work and not really doing anything but wasting a lot of time. I've always loved beauty, and books, so I found a way I could combine them both. And, luckily, it seems like people are reading the posts equally! So thank you!

2. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose and why?
Honestly, right now my husband and I both really want a dog. But that has to wait until we are in our own home, and hopefully my cat (who currently is staying with my mother), will be able to adjust to the idea!

3. In a movie about your life, who would be cast as you?
This is such a good question, and one I have no clue how to answer! I would hope it would be someone like Emma Stone or Natalie Portman- they can do comedy and drama and in my life, there is both!

4. What is your #1 guilty pleasure food? You know it's bad, and that makes it soooo good!
Pretty much any kind of carb. I could never go no carbs- I'd give up meat before that!

5. What is your best color? 
I get the most compliments when I'm wearing jewel tones, and feel the best when I'm wearing them, also.

6. What motivates or inspires you?
Everyone that is currently in my life motivates or inspires me to either be as good a person as them, or be a better person than they are. (Not everyone is a good influence, so it's learning from them and being motivated to better yourself.) For inspiration, I draw from so many people, but mainly my grandmothers- they are both amazing women in their own way, and inspire me so much to be a better person myself.

7. On the other hand...what relaxes you?
Reading fully relaxes me- it sucks me into another world completely so I forgot about everything else for just a little bit. 

8. Fill in the blank: I need _____________ every single day.
a Coke. I'm addicted. I know it's not great for you, but going back to the answer for #4- I would actually give up carbs before I give up my Coca-Cola! I tried to give it up once upon a time, and did pretty well for about a month, but overall I just love it too much! But I do try to limit to once a day, or drink equal amounts water for every one I drink.

9. What is your go-to dish when you need to bring something yummy to a party? 
I'm honestly not much of a cook, but it's something I want to get better at, and hope to!

10. What are you favorite books (or genres of books) or magazines?
I love Young Adult novels, and "female" centric books. As far as magazines, I love political, entertainment, and women's.

11. What makes you feel "put together?" 
I feel most put together in a nice shirt, a sweater, and a good pair of flats. And mascara!


If Allie didn't nominate me, I would have nominated her!
The other person I would like to nominate is Dakota from Dakota's Beauty Blog. I follow her twitter, as well, and I get a lot of really good tips from her. 
Both girls write extremely well, and are thorough, which I really like!
I'm a little disappointed I don't seem to follow more "small" blogs, because I feel like I get the best, unbiased information. Time to start finding more and connecting!

My questions are-
1. Why did you start blogging?
2. What is your favorite beauty product (if you had to choose just one!)?
3. What do you wear to feel most confident?
4. What is your favorite app on your phone?
5. Who is the person in your life that inspires you most?
6. If you have a day job, what do you do, and is it a life's passion?
7. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
8. What would be your choice for a "last meal"?
9. If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why? 
10. If you could add any one piece to your wardrobe, what would it be?
11. Who is your celebrity crush?


Thanks again, Allie!

Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer Review

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer I received in my Fall/Winter 2013 QVC New Beauty Test Tube.

As I said when I first received this product, I am absolutely in love with it. I'm currently scraping the bottom of the container that I received in the Test Tube, and have a backup of the same size waiting for me. (I ordered this duo from Sephora.com.) 

The product itself is thick, so you don't need much to moisturize your whole face. It has an extremely strong floral scent, but this goes away after the product soaks in. It also burns a little- but to me, it's nothing bothersome and doesn't also make my skin red or irritated. 
It is also just works for my skin, and hasn't made me break out. I've also noticed my skin looking better under my makeup when using this. 

I have noticed that this can make makeup ball up a bit if it's not allowed to soak in all the way prior to putting makeup on- this isn't a product to use when you're in a rush. But usually I put this on, then put on my eyemakeup, and by the time I'm done with that, this product is soaked in and I can follow with my CC creams or foundation (or both). 
I also really, really like the way my skin looks with this product alone. It doesn't make my skin greasy, and I actually feel like my skin glows. I'm comfortable enough with this product alone to just leave my house, which is saying a lot because I can't do that with every single moisturizer.


The only downside to this product is the price- a 2 oz size is $69.00. However, it's good enough that I'm going to at least try to get a 0.5 oz size every once in awhile (when I can find it), so I have it for the days when I want my skin to look really, really good. I highly recommend if you can find the 0.5oz size, to pick it up and give it a try! Or, ask for a sample at your local Sephora!

You can purchase the 0.5 oz size here, or the 2 oz size here.


FTC: This product was originally received as part of a subscription box, which I paid for with my own money, and has now been repurchased with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lumene Time Freeze Anti-Age CC Color Correcting Cream Review

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Lumene CC cream I received in my November 2013 New Beauty Test Tube. 

This is one of my favorite products I have received in a New Beauty Test Tube, and quite possibly in my favorite products of all time. It provides an amazing amount of coverage, corrects any pigmentation problems, and works really well under any product I decide to pair it with.

To use this product, you basically just squeeze the tube to get out the desired amount, apply it on your face, and smooth in. I have noticed when I store this product upright, it tends to leak a little (it stays in the container, but the minute that lid comes off, the product starts coming out), so I store it upside down now and no longer have this issue. 

It's a very thin formula, but provides a decent amount of coverage- I would say it is definitely a light-to-medium coverage. And I've used it with my Bare Minerals, a liquid foundation, and just some regular setting powder, and I believe I've had great results with all three.
I've also been able to build this product up quite a bit without it looking cakey, which is great for those days when I'm running a little later for work and need to get out of the door without the usual fuss. 

I have also had absolutely no issues with breakouts being caused by this product. If anything, I feel like it's helping my skin because I don't have to use a ton of products in addition to it to keep my skin feeling moisturized, and also get a desired coverage with makeup. I don't have good skin by any means, and this helps me feel more confident as well!

This product is the reason that, even though I don't love every New Beauty Test Tube I have received, there are gems that I never would have discovered without them. Lumene is just not a familiar brand to me, and I was obsessed with the Ponds BB cream (which I still really like!), so I wouldn't have branched out to find this. And, thankfully, it is within my budget limitations and I will definitely be repurchasing again as soon as it is time!


You can purchase this Lumene product here, or at your local Ulta!


FTC: This product was received as part of a subscription box, which I paid for with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book Review: Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

Description from Goodreads
New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum knows better than to mess with family. But when powerful mobster Salvatore “Uncle Sunny” Sunucchi goes on the lam in Trenton, it’s up to Stephanie to find him. Uncle Sunny is charged with murder for running over a guy (twice), and nobody wants to turn him in—not his poker buddies, not his bimbo girlfriend, not his two right-hand men, Shorty and Moe. Even Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, has skin in the game, because—just Stephanie’s luck—the godfather is his actual godfather. And while Morelli understands that the law is the law, his old-world grandmother, Bella, is doing everything she can to throw Stephanie off the trail.

It’s not just Uncle Sunny giving Stephanie the run-around. Security specialist Ranger needs her help to solve the bizarre death of a top client’s mother, a woman who happened to play bingo with Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Before Stephanie knows it, she’s working side by side with Ranger and Grandma at the senior center, trying to catch a killer on the loose—and the bingo balls are not rolling in their favor.

With bullet holes in her car, henchmen on her tail, and a giraffe named Kevin running wild in the streets of Trenton, Stephanie will have to up her game for the ultimate takedown.


My Review
I've been wanting to read this book since I first wrote about it in my Books I'm Excited for list in November 2013, and have just been waiting for it to be transferred to me at my local library. Usually I can catch the books I really want when they are first put in the system so I don't have to wait quite as long, but this time I didn't get as lucky! 

However, I'm kind of glad I had to wait so long.
It's the same Plum formula. Nothing is new here, so if you were hoping for something new, you'll be disappointed. 

The Stephanie Plum novels are like a worn in comfy chair, and I already have a butt-groove perfectly formed. So I can't get rid of the chair, because I've used it for so long. But I am getting tired of the same old chair. 


The novel mainly centers around Stephanie (and Lula, of course), trying to capture Salvatore Sunucchi, or "Uncle Sunny", because he broke his bond for murder. The problem is that everyone in the Burg loves Sunny. He's also Morelli's Godfather, which further complicates things. A lot of people know where Sunny is, they just don't spill the beans.
There are other little bond enforcements throughout the story that provide a chuckle, And, of course, Grandma Mazur is featured and always good for a laugh.

What really gets me is that I thought for once we'd start to get a little resolution about the Stephanie/Morelli/Ranger love triangle. Instead, it gets blown off again. 
Eventually, one of those two is going to get tired of it. Or I'M going to get too tired of it to keep reading about it. I seriously have no interest in Stephanie constantly cheating on Morelli, emotionally or otherwise.  Because it appears they are really a couple. Except, Morelli doesn't have Stephanie involved in family-type things, and really they don't interact much except for sex.

Which I wouldn't mind. If Stephanie just had sex with both Morelli and Ranger, I'd be all for it so long as all parties were agreeable (or, rather, just didn't disagree with the arrangement). But she clearly eventually wants to be with Morelli. 
There is no sex between Ranger and Stephanie in this book (I don't think that's considered a spoiler), but she wants to. 

What this review boils down to is I'm tired of the formula, and wish she would shake things up a bit. I feel like this exact story has been done before for the Plum novels. 
I like a good, refreshing, predictable novel as much as the next girl. But I like a little variety in an on-going series. 
So please, switch up the formula. Kill off a main character. Get Stephanie for real engaged to one of those guys.
Just... do something!


I'm giving this book two stars on Goodreads. I was entertained by it, but it was just okay.
If you'd like to purchase a copy of this book, you can purchase a copy for Kindle here, or a hardcover copy here.


FTC: I borrowed this book from my local library. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What's in my makeup bag? (As of February 6th, 2014)

Before I get into what's in my makeup bag, I wanted to say I have decided to suspend "my looks" post. I don't feel like I have the right set up right now to continue it. I do plan on resuming in the near future, but for now, I am going to take a bit of a break.

Okay, with that said, on to what's in my makeup bag!

First, I got a new storage container specifically for my Geek Chic eyeshadows.

I picked this up at Target for $2.99. It's a good fit for what I have now, and leaves me plenty of room to grow! And now I also don't have to worry about them moving around a lot inside my other containers or my makeup bag. It's also really great if I want to travel with these. Which I will be this week, because I'm going to San Diego, and taking them all with me! Just in case my sister-in-law wants to play, too.


Okay, now what I'm going to be using this month.

Face products: I really, really love that Lumene CC cream. (I'll be posting a review next week!) The Ponds BB+ is still a face, and, of course, my Bare Minerals.
And as a follow up, I did throw out that Lorac powder. Yuck.



Blushes: The Bare Minerals on the right is not actually a blush, it's an eyeshadow, but I'm going to try it as a blush. The others are actual blushes.



Eyeshadows: I'm really digging the options of the Lorac Pro To Go (it's surprisingly versatile!). The Naked 3 is coming back because I really miss it. And I want to get this NYX palette out and play with the greens and blues.



More Eyeshadows: Love that Here Kitty. I actually took the stickers off the bottoms of all my bare minerals eyeshadows and stuck them on the lids, so they could sit properly in my containers and not make a mess. I also decided to bring back Bad to the Bronze. It's great for those mornings where I just don't have time but still want to look put together.



And Mascara. The Last Blast is in black brown, everything else is in black.
Eyeliners and such remain the same.


And that's what's going on for February! I really intend to use my Geek Chic shadows more than I have been, but also really try to create something new every day when I can. (Some mornings it is just not possible!)
Hope everyone has a wonderful February!



FTC: All products were gifts or purchased by me with my own money. Everything else was purchased by me with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This Month in Nails - January 2013

Ulta Beauty in Celebutante with a topcoat of Avon Urban Splatter in Purple Graffiti






My mother-in-law bought me THREE of the Urban Splatter polishes. I'm not super happy with Purple Graffiti- you can't even tell it's purple. BUT I do love how it looks and all the different mixes of glitters.
And Celebutante is a favorite of mine- I would repurchase it if I ever ran out. I feel like it's coming off more blue than it is, but trust me- it is extremely purple.


China Glaze in Santa Red My List






My sister-in-law bought me this in a set that China Glaze had out during Christmas time. I hit the motherload in nail polish this Christmas! I feel like this is an exact dupe for Color Club's Hot Like Lava, but I love it, so I don't mind having this little "back up".
I also really like the length of both my pointer and ring fingers here. Random observations!


Zoya in FeiFei






OMG. I really wish the swatches of this were coming off better and the tips weren't so worn. Unfortunately this is about three days in on the wear, because every time I would remember I still needed to take pictures, it was dark.
This is really more blue than it seems in the pictures, and I love it. I got it during the Zoya promo (Buy three, pay $12.00), and I'm so glad I decided to get this one. I wore it during the NFC Championship game (Go Seahawks!) and it really was near the perfect color to be wearing. I might even pop it on during the Super Bowl! I still haven't fully decided what I'm doing yet.


Sally Hansen in Jaded, Pat on the Black, Red My Lips, and Please Sea Me




I did a complete post on these polishes here. I received three of them in an Influenster Vox Box, and the other in the Allure Fall Beauty Box. The more of these polishes that I get, the more I like them!



Zoya in FeiFei with Accent Funky French with China Glaze in In The Lime Light




(My apologies for the tip wear- I forgot to wrap the tips and after typing all day it just tore my nails up!)



This is the nail look I did for the SuperBowl. I had to do it a little early due to plans over the long weekend, and needing to get two weeks worth of blog posts written because I'm going out of town for a long weekend next weekend (Sunday is my Birthday). I like how it turned out, and you can't really see it in the pictures, but the green from In the Lime Light really played off the shimmer in FeiFei. 
I purchased In The Lime Light partially because it was just so obnoxious and really the perfect "Seahawk" green, and partially for the name. (I'm a huge Rush fan, and they have a song called Limelight. I know, nerd alert!)


FTC: Please see above for how polishes were received. Unless stated otherwise, they were purchased by me with my own money.