Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips

I love makeup palettes. They seem to be a great way to get a bunch of colors all at once. The problem is that a lot of the palettes I seem to love are a little bit too pricey for me to buy all the time. So, when I saw these for only $11.99 (from Ulta.com, who also had a buy one get one half off sale at the time) I couldn't help but order 2 of them. 

Now, since I ordered them online instead of in store I didn't realize just how small they were. They are significantly smaller than the palettes that I usually buy. 

I picked the classic nude and warm nude. The colors in them really aren't all that different. They're a lot more alike than I had realized, which is my own fault. I probably could have done with just one of them. 

When you look at them the colors really are similar, which I guess makes sense since they are both nude palettes, and nude colors are nude colors. 

The colors in the classic palette were set up a little strange to be since they didn't range from light to dark. They all swatched nicely, and I liked them.

The warm nude palette also swatched nicely. The colors seemed great.

It wasn't until I went to use the palettes that I started to have problems. The little brush that came with the palettes was extremely hard to use. It made applying the product difficult. Also, due to the small size of the palette its hard to use just one of the colors. I tried using my normal brushes but they all proved to be problematic as well. The small colors were too small. 

The shadows also weren't as pigmented when I went to put them on as they had appeared to be when watched. I had to use a large amount of product to get a decent amount of color.

The formula was creamy but seemed to flake a good deal when I tried to use it, and then after all of the work to get it to look right (since they weren't very blendable) the color didn't even last all day. I tried both with and without an eyeshadow primer, and yet the shadow still wore off by mid day. 

I had such high hopes for these palettes and ended up extremely disappointed in both of them. This is one product that you get less than what you pay for. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone, and I won't be purchasing them again.

Until Next Time,

Sara

Nadine West August 2015

Nadine West is a clothing subscription service. Nadine West is completely free, unless you keep an item. You only pay for what you keep. There is no subscription fee or anything else. Each month you are sent 1 top, and 2 pieces of jewelry. The prices for each item varies, but I have yet to see something more than $25, which makes it pretty affordable for the most part. 

It comes in pretty pink package, just like Ipsy does. 

Inside your outfit is wrapped in pretty pink tissue paper. 

This month I received a pair of purple, green, and silver earrings. They were very cute, but not something I can ever see myself wearing. They kind of reminded me of an easter egg. I sent them back. 

This turquoise necklace was gorgeous, but again, not something I can see myself wearing. So I didnt keep it either. 

This pink top was very cute. Extremely thin but cute. 

I especially loved the back detail. It was way too small in the arms though. I felt like my arms were going to fall off it was so tight. I was extremely sad to have to send it back because it was so nice. 

My second shirt was also very cute. I do feel that a tank top in August was a little strange. I've been packing up all of my summer stuff since were getting into fall, and so I couldnt see spending any money on a tank top.

It did have really cute back detail as well, but it was a tad bit too short for me. 

This month I didnt keep anything. There just wasnt anything that fit right, or was my style. I'm hoping that next month I'll get something that I can actually keep. This was the first month that I had ever received two shirts, and I kind of liked it. It was nice having a second chance to find something that I was really going to like. 

I enjoy getting my Nadine West package every month, though I do wish that I would actually get some items that I like. It feels like I give feedback every month, and yet I still dont receive anything that really fits my style. I am hoping that once winter comes I start getting things that I like. I'm a sucker for a cute sweater. 

I definitely think that Nadine West is worth at least trying, considering that its free if you dont like anything. And you at least have a chance to try something that you normally wouldnt pick out for yourself. I'll continue receiving mine for a couple more months at least. 

Until Next Time,

Sara

Working Out Is Hard

I'm finding that working out is a whole lot harder than I had thought it was going to be. I has assumed that I could write down a plan and then I would just do it. But I have found that its really not that easy. It should be, and it would be great if it was but it really isn't. My list of excuses is pretty long, and it seems that every day I add more to the list of reasons why I just cant do it.

Lets see here I cant workout because:

1. I just ate.

2. I'm tired.

3. I just showered.

4. I'm hungry.

5. I have chores to do.

6. I have to check my e-mail.

7. I have work to do.

8. I need to check the mail.

9. The kids want to go to the park.

10. The cats want to play.

11. I have to clean out the fridge.

Ive even chosen to fold laundry over working out, which says how far I go to avoid it. Normally I will do anything to get out of having to fold laundry. Its the one chore that I really really don't ever want to do it, but Ive chosen it over working out. It seems extremely easy to come up with reasons why I should just skip my workout and do something else. I always promise myself that I'm going to do the workout the next day, or that Ill do it later, and I almost never follow through. Its just so much easier to do anything else. 

I still haven't figured out why I keep avoiding it. I just do. Its hard work. I want to be in shape. I want to take better care of myself. Theres so many reasons why I want, and need to work out and get in shape. I'm so over weight and I need to take better care of myself. I want to do this. I hate that I always get side tracked. I hate that I always say that I'm going to do it and that I always let myself down. I'm not proud of the fact that I don't do it. 

I'm starting over, again. This probably wont be the last time that I fall off wagon and then have to start over. I'm learning that the failure is part of the journey though. I have to keep trying and I have to keep moving forward. I have to do this. This time I already have my schedule made, and Ive already thought of my excuses and the reason that they aren't valid. I'm hoping that Ive done a better job of setting myself up for success this time. 

So heres to starting over. 

 

As of July 30th my measurements were:

Waist- 49inches

Chest- 39 inches

Left Arm- 14 inches

Right Arm- 13.5 inches

Left Thigh- 27.5 inches

Right Thigh- 27.5 inches

Hips- 48 inches

Weight- 187.8lbs

Until Next Time,

Sara

Walgreens VoxBox

Recently I received a VoxBox from Influenster. This to me is pretty exciting. I love getting mail. And I love free stuff. That makes a voxbox perfect! For those of you who don't know, a VoxBox is what influenster.com calls the box of free goodies that they send out. Influenster is a review website where consumers (you and me!) can go an leave feedback on all the products that we use. Randomly they send out surveys that you take, which then allow you to receive voxboxes. In order to join you have to be invited (leave your email in the comments if you'd like an invite).

I've been part of influenster for 2 or 3 years now and have received some pretty cool boxes. I think the Mary Kay was my favorite. Anyways, back to my latest box. This box is called the Walgreens box, and inside there were two full sized products. When I was emailed that I was getting the box I didn't know which products I would be getting. Once I got the box I was excited because I got 2 products that I actually want to try, instead of one I can't use (there was a shampoo / conditioner for wavy hair, which my pixie cut doesn't need).

 

First I received Dove go fresh Revitalize Body Wash in mandarin and tiare flower scent. The smell is a little over powering when you first open the bottle. Its definitely orange. I don't know that I would pick this scent in the future just because its really strong when I'm showering with it. It doesn't seem to leave much of a smell after you rinse off, which is good. This body wash lathers extremely well, which is always a good thing for me. I love having a nice bubbly lather. I felt nice and clean after using this, which is always important for a body wash. 

It claims to be moisturizing, and it wash, but not as much as I had been hoping. I still felt dry afterwards. Of course this could just be because I have crazy dry skin. It did make me slightly less dry, but not to the point that I would buy the product for the moisturizing effects. Overall I like this body wash, and would most likely buy it in the future. 

The second product that I received was Vaseline Intensive Care Healing Serum, Advanced Relief. Now this I loved. Seriously its a great product. It leaves my skin feeling soft, and not dry at all. Best of all, it lasts. I can put it on after my shower and I'm done, good to go till the next shower. It doesn't have a strong odor, or really one at all. I like that there isn't a scent because I like to smell like my perfume, not all sorts of other things mixed in. I used this lotion on both of my kids and it left their skin soft as well. Also, a little bit of it went a long way, which means that one bottle will last me for a while. I know that I will be purchasing this in the future. Its a 5 out of 5 for me. Love it.

Overall I loved my Walgreen VoxBox from Influenster. I received 2 products for free, and liked both of them. 

Randoms Gummies!

Awhile ago a friend of mine told me to join Smiley360. I did, but didn't really understand it. I mean she told me that she was always receiving free samples to try out, and she was constantly posting pictures of the things she received. I thought that was pretty awesome, but I didn't seem to be receiving anything. At all. But I kept checking, and doing the things the website asked me too.

Then, one day I received a mission, and got a free sample of Randoms Gummies in the mail! I was extremely excited to have gotten something to try.

My box of awesome!

Normally these aren't the type of candy that I would buy. I usually prefer either sour, or chocolate, but they were free, and so I tried them. And they were pretty good. They taste like fruit snacks, which was nice. They aren't too sweet and they come in all sorts of different shapes. The shapes are actually really fun. Not your typical gummy candy. I let my 4 year old have a few of them as a treat and she was so excited about the shapes, and loved them. 

I also put them out at a party recently, but not many people seemed to eat them. I think that they are more geared towards younger people, not adults. Which is okay. They aren't too sweet, and for being a candy there is slightly fewer calories and less sugar, which is always a plus. 

I don't see myself going to the store specifically to purchase these, but I wouldn't turn them down. I can see my daughter picking them for a special treat occasionally. 

Overall, I would give these 4 out of 5 stars.