Haul!

I went shopping the other day and somehow wandered into the makeup isle... (I was in the grocery store none the less)  I found some really great stuff that I couldn't help but pick up!!  Normally I buy the same things over and over, because we all know... a known evil is better than an unknown evil.  This time I picked things that I normally never buy.

First I discovered the NYX Collection.  I have to admit, I'd never used any of their products, but I loved the packaging, so I was sold!

 I grabbed some DOLL EYE Mascara (Waterproof) in Black.  I really liked the way that it made my lashes all feathery looking, the only thing I didn't like was that after curling my eyelashes it made them go back to the way they were before.  The only mascara that I've found that doesn't do this is Covergirl Lashblast (the orange on, in waterproof)  I probably won't be purchasing this mascara again, but I'm going to enjoy using it while I have it!



Purple/Deep Purple/ Prune



I loved their selection of eye shadows!  I had no idea where to even start!  I figured pinks and purples, and some brown and gold tones were always flattering, so that's what I picked up. I got the Eyeshadow combo thing in TS06, which is Purple/Deep Purple/Prune, and another one in TS02A, which is called Honey Comb.  I have only tried the one eyeshadow palette so far, and I have to say I loved it!  I'm about to hit the shower after this post, and after the shower I plan on applying the other one. (Future posts will go into greater detail)



Honey Comb



Next I randomly grabbed some Eyeliner. I got the FELT TIP LINER in Dark brown, and OMG, I love this!  I've never been so in love with an eyeliner before!  All I know is that I'm going to snatch this up in every single color!  Basically its like drawing on your eyes with a medium tipped marker.  It goes on like a liquid liner with the ease of a liner pencil.  It dries fast, and doesn't smudge, so if you are looking for a fantastic liner, this is it!  They really hit the mark with this product!



10 seconds, 5 seconds, Instantly



I did a test with the eyeliner to see how great it worked.  The first line I let dry for 10 seconds before I rubbed it, the second for 5 seconds, and the smudged on I rubbed as soon as I applied it!  It has great lasting power if you ask me, and at least I know it isn't going to be smudged all over my face if I decided to rub my eyes 10 minutes after I apply it!



I figured Id get some stuff from Revlon.  I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of theirs (not that I've given them a chance)  But it always reminded me of an old lady!  I bought some PhotoReady Makeup in 003 Shell.  Not thrilled.  I think it might have something to do with the fact that I'm actually a few shades darker than this color!  I'm going to try mixing it with some darker foundation today and see if that helps, but its not the right color for me, so I was a little disappointed.

Continuing on with Revlon I got the ColorStay  Mineral Finishing Powder in 030 Sunkiss.  I really like this!  I find that it sets my makeup and it adds a nice little glow to my skin!  I would recommend this overall!  I'm looking forward to using it again!

While I was browsing I hit the lipgloss section.  A girl always needs a good gloss!  I picked up BONNEBELL lipLITES in Vanilla Swirl... Yum!  This stuff not only goes on great, it smells and tastes great as well!  I also grabbed some MAYBELLINE Shine Sensational Lip Gloss in Freshly Sliced.  Not as wild about this one as the other one, but its a great on the go lip gloss!

Last but not least I hit the lipstick.  Normally I just wear lip gloss, but I figured seeing as how I'm going to be 27 in a couple weeks, it was about time I actually bought a tube of lipstick!  I had seen someone do a post on Nude lipstick the other day (I can't remember who the heck it was)  and I was in love!  I searched every lipstick brand to find the color I was looking for, and finally I found a color called Soft Nude in the Revlon section.  I love the way this feels on, and its just a great neutral color!  I can't wait to do some smokey eyes, and then use this with it!  I think its going to look stunning!

All in all the Eyeliner was the highlight of this trip!  I will be heading back to the "Grocery Store" to fill my cart with this stuff, in case they decided to discontinue it, like they always seem to do with my favorite things!

Hope you all have a happy and safe weekend.  Happy Halloween!

Beach Bags...

As most of you know by now I'm off to the sunny Land of Cuba in a few more days!!  (9 More I think... well 8 when I wake up)  For fun I decided to make all of the girls going a Beach Bag for our trip.  I found the most fun fabric I could find (I missed the great summer collection), so they're a little more fallish, but I still think they are great!  Anyways, I wanted to share them with you, and I'd love to know which ones you like the best!  Oh, and for Krystle and Karen, I'd love to know which ones you like, so that I can pack them in my suitcase (which I almost am finished packing!!)

I also wanted to brag about how proud I am of myself!  Normally when I go on vacation I pack last minute.  Thus, resulting in mis-matched clothes that don't go together what-so-ever.  The worst part is, is that my suitcase is ALWAYS over-weight with junk I don't need.  This time, I made a list of all the clothes I had, or the clothes I wanted (that are at home still) and I tried them all on to make sure that they went together, made a list, and packed my clothes in the order I planned on wearing them.  OCD much...?!?!?  But If any of you have traveled with me, you know that after the first hour of arriving in my hotel room, it looks as though my suitcase has thrown up all over the floor.  I'm pretty sure my pre-planning is going to eliminate this!  Well... that is until I can't find something I need and end up rummaging through the entire thing creating the same "barfed on the floor" effect!  Regardless, I'm making the effort to do things differently and I hope that this time I manage to go an ENTIRE week without a nauseated suitcase!  I don't know why I felt the need to share that with you, but I'm pretty excited about my organized behavior (its way, way out of character for me.  Anyways, I can't wait to post pictures of my get-away... but obviously that's not going to be for a few weeks yet! And, as promised.... The unveiling of the Beach Bags!! 

Fun Flower Print Bag



Polka dot/Target Bag



Geometric Prints?? Bag

Help My SIL win a contest for FASHION MAGAZINE!!

Natasha (my favorite Sister-in-Law) has entered a contest for FASHION Magazine.  She needs you to view her video in order for her to get votes (she's 300 behind the top person)!  I would love for you guys to check her out, she's a super talented, super sweet girl! 

http://www.fashionmagazine.com/videos/fashion/natasha-janzen/

You can also check out her Blog as well. REQUIRED2BEINSPIRED .  Make sure you check out my niece too!  She's the cutest thing you've ever seen, and I'm her biggest fan!

The Ultimate Engagement Ring - Challenge Submission

The Ultimate Engagement Ring - Challenge Submission

I just wanted you all to take 5 mins out of your day and go and read this little story! It's a contest to win an amazing engagement ring for on of our fellow bloggers. I wanted to pass this on because I really enjoy reading Laura Beths Blog, and she's always been a faithful follower of mine! (She leaves the greatest comments as well!!) So help them out, because I'd love to see her win something special like this!

While you are at it, check out her blog! She's very talented!! MAKEUP MY MIND, and its always a great read!

Good Luck Love!

Vanilla Hazelnut Body Scrub!!

I figured since winter is just ahead of us, it was time that we did something to ward off that scaly winter skin!  I am obsessed with a good body scrub, but I hate having to pay a ridiculous amount for one!  The inspiration for this one came from my fantastic cup of Java this morning!  You can make a great body scrub out of the things you have in your very own kitchen.  If you want to get a little more creative, head to your local health food store and check out their assortment of oils!  There are also wonderful places online that you can purchase supplies from. 

If you do decide to make your own scrub I'd love to hear about what you used and how it turned out! Happy mixing!   I decided that I would give you the recipe I used because it turned out fantastic! 

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup White Sugar

1/3 Cup Dead Sea Salt

1/8 Cup Coffee

1/3 Cup Apricot Kernel Oil

1/3 Cup Golden Jojoba Oil

1/4 Cup Apricot Extract

1/8 Cup Avocado Butter, Melted

1 Tbsp. Cocoa Butter, Melted

1 Tbsp. Organic Tamanu Oil

1 Tbsp. Hydrovance

1/2 Tsp. Germall

15 ml Vanilla Hazelnut Fragrance Oil

35 ml Tahitian Vanilla Fragrance Oil

You can use any other fragrance oils you think you'd like in here.  Essential oils would be great too, because they have natural health benefits, and I'm a firm believer in using natural things on your skin!  Do some research and customize this to you own skincare needs!

First you mix all of your dry ingredients together.  Make sure you mix them well.  Next, add all of your oils into the dry mixture.  Mix so that your oils are evenly dispersed through the dry mixture.  If you find your scrub is a little oily you can always add some more dry ingredients to your scrub.  I add more white sugar because I find it gives a better exfoliation than the rest of the sugars or salts!  After that is all mixed together, I used a dropper to add my fragrance.  You can add as much or as little as you want depending on how strong you want your scrub to smell.  I like a medium balance, and that's what the amounts I added will give you. 

This recipe yields about 12 oz.  I filled 3- 4 oz jars with this deliciousness!  (It makes great gifts for friends and family as well)

If you don't have the above ingredients, just use olive oil, or grape seed oil.  Any kind of oil works (okay, well maybe not motor oil... but you should probably know that) Scrubs are fantastic, because made at home they are affordable! 



Hand before Scrub....



I wanted to show you some before and after pictures of my hands.  I started out with nothing on my hands.  They are a little dry, but my skin isn't terrible (mostly because I exfoliate on a regular basis).  All I know is it could be a heck of a lot better than it is! 



Hand during scrubbing process....



Hand after scrubbing....



When you put the scrub on you'll notice the grainy texture, just make sure you don't scrub too hard!  I tend to grind it into my skin, because I like that deep cleansing feeling.  The only problem with this is I tend to make my skin turn a little bit red!  If you have sensitive skin, this could be a problem!  Make sure that before you use it you test it on a small patch of your skin so that you don't have a reaction!  This can be used a couple times a week to keep your skin in tip top shape!  I use it every couple of days seeing as how I have dry skin! 

*Note... this will make a mess in the bottom of your shower!  Don't worry, it washes right up and I didn't find it to be too slippery on the floor!*

I also wanted to mention, that if you are making this for yourself, make it in smaller amounts, as you do not want to create bacteria in your scrub (this happens when it sits too long without being used)!  If you do make a large batch, give some of it away to your friends and family!  I added some preservative to mine because I made a larger batch and I won't be able to use it all up right away.  I also plan on giving one of these lovely scrubs away in my Give-Away, so it has to have some lasting power to get to one of you fabulous ladies/gents.

NOTD

This morning I woke up, and much to my liking there was snow on the ground!!  The only depressing thing is I know its not going to last!  Its already turned into a muddy mess!!  Either way, I figured it was time to put away my bright cheery colored nail polish, and switch more to my rich darker winter colors!  I still plan on digging out the bright pink ones every now and then, but today just didn't seem like the right day.

I started out by using a base coat on my nails.  Next I rummaged around and found this amazing shade of purple!  I used MAYBELLINE EXPRESS FINISH Fast-Dry Nail Enamel in, Chocolate Grape.  It dries as more of a brownish color than the purple I thought it was going to be.  I liked the color, but I wasn't crazy crazy about it, so I decided to throw some sparkles on top!  It was a toss up between some gold sparkles or silver sparkles.  We all know that purple and gold goes well together, and if you didn't know that... you now do!  I figured I'd be a little more risky and step outside of my comfort zone to the silver sparkles. 

The first coat of sparkles and I knew it was a hit!  It reminded me of freshly fallen snow (if it's possible for nail polish to remind you of such a thing)  I used CHINA GLAZE Nail Laquer With Hardners in, Tinsel.  This is the first time I've actually used this polish since I bought it (8 months ago).  I'm actually really terrible for buying things and never using them!  It is something that I'm working on, and I'm making great progress with!  It also means I don't have half bottles of everything laying around (shampoo, nail polish remover, face wash, hairspray.... its even spread so far that I have a ton of clothing that are hanging in my closet with the tags still on them....)  So I guess my before New Years Resolution is to use up all the half bottles of things I have so that I can start the New Year out with brand new stuff!  I'm sure if I don't start changing I'll end up on that TV show "Hoarders"... and I really really don't want that! 

Well as you can all see I get a little off track sometimes, but hey, that's half the fun about blogging!  I would also like to mention my little rose that posed for so many pictures with my freshly painted nail polish!  They were a gift from my mom when she stopped by work one day!  They're getting to be on their last legs, so I figured I'd better get them in at least one picture!

I hope you all have a fantastic Monday, and that it continues to be wonderful throughout the rest of the week!  Don't forget to check out the blog Give-Aways on my sidebar!  There are some fantastic prizes!!

I SALUTE YOU

I was doing my makeup today, and as soon as I put some color on my lips I was reminded of the Army.  I have no idea why, but I was.  I just so happened to  have an army green shirt which I think went perfect with this look! 

I wanted to use brown today because I was aching for fall to stay!  It tried snowing for a better part of the day.  As much as I love the big fluffy white flakes, I'm convinced that it's just not time yet!  I started out by using NARS Primer on my eyelids.  Next I swept the color brun across the entire lid.  I hilighted the creases and the outside of the lid with Concrete and used a golden coppery color to just add a little pop of contrast along the creases and in the center of my eyes.  I used some GOSH,  in Pineapple, along the brow bone, and when I realized that it was a little too yellow I just brushed on some PIURRE EFFECT in color #310 (This happens to be my most favorite color in the world!!)

I used eyeshadow and lip gloss to make my lip color.  The reddish color I used was GOSH, in Rosewood.  I found it to be a little more on the orange side than I'd usually wear, but for some reason I think it just worked today!  I had even more fun taking pictures! 

 

I hope you all have a fun and safe weekend!  And if you haven't entered my give-away yet, make sure you do!  I'm getting really excited about all the prizes I get to send one of you lucky winners!

TROPICAL DREAMS....

Today I realized its only 16 days until I'm jetting off to warm, tropical, sunny Cuba!  It inspired me to whip up a batch of new body lotion to get me geared up for vacation (Not that it takes much).  I made a new body lotion called "TROPICAL DREAMS".  It smells basically like a Pina Colada, with a hint of citrus fruits, YUM!  I picked a bunch of products that I have in my "Creativity Box", for many different reasons.  First, I've run out of my favorite oils.  Second, I had a bunch of oils that I had never used before.  Thirdly, I was feeling a little bit experimental today!  I'm going to go through and give you a run-down on all the products I selected and why.

INGREDIENTS:

WATER: Water is the main ingredient in most lotions, so it just made sense to use it!  It was filtered for sanitary reasons!

APRICOT KERNEL OIL: It is suitable for all types of skin. It aids in slowing down the aging process and is of great use in treating inflamed skin. Being an emollient, it provides complete relaxation to the body and mind.

ALOE EXTRACT: The oil extracted from Aloe Vera plant is believed to be a great skin rejuvenatory product. It ensures speedy recovery of wounds and is also quite effective in treating sunburns (bonus for vacation!!). It is also able to penetrate quickly and deeply into the skin resulting in great hydration and moisturization for your skin!! For body scars and stretch marks, Aloe Vera oil truly works wonders!

SODIUM LACTATE: Sodium lactate is a natural humectant, moisturizer and pH regulator. Produced from renewable resources it is completely biodegradable.  This makes sodium lactate a better choice when moisturization is desired.  It is used to replace glycerin in formulations (and in my opinion, it does a heck of a better job!!)

AVOCADO BUTTER: It is a rich source of vitamin A and D that are very vital for the human body.  It also blocks the way for sun rays, thereby protecting your skin from being destroyed by blazing heat of sun. It nourishes the skin and returns the lost glow and charm to the skin.

CAMELINA OIL: This oil has also been called the "Gold of Pleasure" or "Wild Flax". Due to its high content of Omega 3, up to 45%, it is a good replacement for fish oils! 

CRANBERRY SEED OIL: Cranberry seed oil is unique in the vegetable oil market since it contains a 1:1 ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 are critical to the body to help improve cardiovascular function, increase circulation and strengthen the immune system.  It is also a wonderful oil for hydration!  This oil is fairly expensive, so you don't see it used a lot!

SILK POWDER:On the skin, silk powder radiates and reflects UV rays, acting as a natural sunscreen. It is able to superbly retain the skin's natural moisture, preventing dryness, while absorbing excess sebum. For the acne prone, silk even contains anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Good quality silk powder also contains many amino acids, like alanine, glycine and serine, which are the building blocks of protein and are essential to the skin's natural moisturization process. Pure silk is also ideal for sensitive skin, and balances the skin's pH levels.

I finished making this lotion a couple hours ago, and it took about an hour to cool and set.  I put in on my hands an hour ago, and I still feel incredibly moisturized.  This lotion felt a little greasy at first, but ended up soaking in very fast!  Its going to be a must for the winter season!  Besides, everyone needs a little bit of sunshine to help shorten this ridiculously long winter that we all up here in Northern Canada get to suffer through!

I sent a jar of this lotion over to a friend of mine who's Rig is a few kilometers away (36, if you want to get technical) I gave it to a service hand to take there for me (because I'm not allowed to leave my location) and he was rather amazed that I had actually made it myself.  Not only that, he had to take the lid off so he could smell it.  His reaction... "Hmmm, this smells pretty *$#($)# good."  Men... lol.

I asked Stephanie to review the lotion for me.  Her reaction: My hands feel silky smooth now.  It soaks in to your skin right away."



Before Lotion



After Lotion



You can't tell a huge difference in the pictures of my hands, but I could sure tell in person!  It made my skin so much more supple and hydrated!  LOVE THIS STUFF!



I've saved a jar of it for my 100TH BLOG POST GIVE-AWAY Winner.  Make sure if you haven't entered that you do, and don't forget to post about it, or put a picture on your side bar with a link back here for an extra entry!

Where there is smoke there is fire!

I decided today that I wanted to do a smokey eye!  Now It probably isn't as dramatic as it would be if I was going out for a night on the town, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to get made fun of for even brushing my hair at work today. 

I started by using NARS primer on my eyelids.  I used an angled brush to line the lower lashes with MAC's Knight eyeshadow.  On the top I brushed a lighter grey...  Black tied, if you want to be technical!  Then used the Knight on the outer eyelid.  I brushed a little bit of gold on it for something interesting, and then used a pinkish color to do the brow bone.  I kept the lips a lighter color.  I actually used eyeshadow and lip gloss to get the desired color, and I have no idea what I mixed together...   All in all this is something I would wear out!  I quite liked it, and the longer I had it on today, the better it looked!  Strange how that happens!  Anyways... here are some pictures of the final results! 

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY 100TH BLOG POST GIVE-AWAY!!!

NOTD

I've had this nail polish in my bag for a couple years and never really used it.  I've tried it out a few times because I just love the color of it in the bottle.  Once I get on one coat of it, I always end up taking it off because I'm not thrilled how it looks on.  A couple weeks ago I decided to be patient and actually do two coats of it.  Well Surprise Surprise, I loved it!  I couldn't get enough of it! 

Needless to say, I've painted my nails the same color for the last two weeks!  This nail polish has better lasting power than any others I've tried, and even when it starts to chip, you can't really notice.  I'm guessing because of the neutral color.  This happens to be a great thing for me, because sometimes I'm just lazy and don't feel like dealing with chipped polish!  I looked all over the bottle, and couldn't find what the color is.  There is a lot number and thats about it!  The brand is: RIMMEL PLAY FAST 710 STREET WEAR (or at least thats all the writing on the front of the bottle)  Either way, this is now a new staple to my fall nails!  Its neutral, natural, and it reminds me of the seasons changing! 

If you haven't entered my 100th Post Give-Away, make sure you do!  I've been shopping like a mad woman, and I think this is going to be a great give-away!  (mostly because I want to keep everything I've bought for it so far!)  Remember, you also get another entry to all of this fabulous stuff if you re-post it on your blog or sidebar!  Good Luck to everyone!

100TH BLOG POST!!

In honor of my 100th blog post I'm doing a give-away!  I just want to thank all of you for taking the time to read my blog and leave such lovely comments!  You guys are the reason that this is so much fun!  As sporadic as I've been lately I haven't forgotten about you all, and I periodically pop in to check out what you are all up to. 

Now the give-away prize is going to be a surprise!  The total Value of your surprise will equal $100.00!  That's right ladies (or gents, if there are any that read this) $100.00 's of my hard earned money is going to go to one of your beautiful faces! 

The rules of the blog are as such:

1) You must be a follower of this blog.

2) Mention this blog  give-away in a post, or add it to your sidebar (you will get an extra entry for this).

3) You should leave your email so I can get a hold of you to let you know if your the lucky winner

4) Leave the address to your blog, so that all of my other lovely followers can check you out!

Good Luck to everyone!  This contest closes November 1, 2010 (so that I can ship your prize off before I leave on my week long vacation with the girls to Cuba!)

Most Hilarious Blog I've ever read!

A friend told me about this Blog HYPERBOLE AND A HALF.  I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life!  I just thought I would pass this little grammar lesson on, because I was amused by it! 

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html


On another note.  My mom is coming to have dinner with me at work today!  I'm super duper excited!  Now I just need to finish cleaning, so that my place is up to her standards!

Biore

Do you remember those little nose strips that were all the rage awhile back (I'm pretty sure I was in high school when they made their debut).  I found some in my suitcase... RANDOM!  I've had this suitcase for 4 years now, and I finally went through and took some stuff out of the side pockets and this is one of the things I found.  I figured I'd give it a shot and see if they still worked. 

First you start by wetting your face, then apply the strip and pat down.  This set had ones for the face, so I figured I'd use it on my chin just for fun.  Anyways, after applying I wandered around in my room (I'm at work, so I figured my co-workers probably wouldn't appreciate seeing me like that.  After 10 minutes I peeled them off and examined the damage!  It took a few of those pesky blackheads out, but not all of them.  I suppose a few is better than none!  I even took a few pictures for your entertainment!

TEA TREE OIL

I had been having problems with my skin lately (actually for awhile), and the lady at the spa doing my facial a couple months ago had told me I should go and see a dermatologist about Cystic Acne, because she thought that's what was causing all the problems on my face.  I did some research to find out what it was all about, and its not pretty.  I'm pretty sure she was bang on, because it looked like the pictures, and it was very painful!  Now one of the things that sucks about it, is the bacteria spreads and can cause more breakouts.  I wasn't sure my cleanser was doing a good enough job of disinfecting my face so I thought I'd use a cotton pad and put some Tea Tree Oil on it. Tea tree oil contains consituents called terpenoids, which have been found to have antiseptic and antifungal activity. The result on the cotton pad is not pretty!  I couldn't believe the stuff (dirt and grime) that actually came off my face!!  Here I thought my skin was clean, and it really wasn't. 

I've been rubbing the Tea Tree Oil on my face twice daily and I have to say, all the breakouts along my jaw line are just about cleared up!  I'm pretty excited about this because for the first time in my life, I have flawless skin that I don't need to cover up with makeup.  That's part of the other reason I haven't done any makeup posts lately.  I figured I'd get my skin all fixed up before I started putting anything on it!  Anyways, if you know anyone who's suffering from acne... tell them to try this!  I've tried it before and its worked, and its just proving it again!!  The only downfall to this is.... it smells disgusting.  I'm not a huge fan of the whole "medicinal" scent, but who knows, different strokes for different folks!

MAKE-UP-LESS CREATIVITY

Today's post is going to be a little different!  I haven't got the least bit ready (so please excuse the horrendous eyebrows, and makeup less face).  Well I finally showered, so I guess I'm halfway there.  But the post is actually on some arts and crafts I did.  Actually, I made my very first shirt, and I'm sooo proud of myself.  Just for the record, the black tank top I'm wearing underneath doesn't belong there... I just couldn't wait to actually take pictures of it, so that's what happened... On another note... I drafted the pattern myself and then altered it so that the shirt actually fit me like it was supposed to.  This is pretty good, seeing as how the only thing I really know how to sew is beach bags (and they're probably the most simple thing ever!). 

Anyways.  I had bought a jumbo bag of fabric from the fabric store, having no idea what the heck I was going to do with any of it and figured it would just come to me.  Yesterday I just made a plain black skirt that I can wear when I go on my SINGLE LADIES VACATION in November (to Cuba).  Which is kind of off topic, but I thought I'd share it anyways....  Now I wanted a shirt that I could wear with a pair of dress shorts that I have (they are brown, and yes, I made them as well) and I

 just didn't know what to do.  I found this fabric and I loved it.  Its so soft and light, and I thought it would be the perfect material for a tropical destination. 

I started out by taping newspaper together so I could start drafting the pattern.  I did all of my measurements, and charted them on the paper, and then cut out everything.  I got the shirt all sewed together only to realize that the bust line was a good 3 inches below where it was supposed to be, and it was saggy in the armpits, which means my boobs were trying to escape out the side!  So, either I lost a ton of weight from cutting out the pattern, or I just can't measure.... I'm guessing its most likely the second of the two.  So I stood in front of the mirror and tried pinning it... now this is the tricky part.  I don't stand still long enough to pin and remove the garment, so instead I had pins shooting out every which way, (thank goodness the carpet is white, and I have colored heads on the pins because it could have been a disaster).  Obviously my pinning technique needs some work, perhaps my favorite SIL can help me with that! (oh, and good luck on your move Tash & Brody)  It just so happens that they are moving about 12 hours away from where they were currently living... which puts them a whopping 2 hours away from me now!!  YAY!!

While I'm at it, I'm going to post a couple pictures of the beach bags I made!  I'm giving one to each of the girls that come on our trip, as well as some of the lotion I made, and some body scrub and I'm super excited!  Besides, who doesn't like to start out a Vacay with presents?  The pictures don't actually do the bags any justice, they look way better in person, and a lot bigger,  but you get the idea!

Anyways, I should probably run, because my mind has a ton of ideas right now, and I'm going to get them all sketched out so that I can keep on sewing!  I hope you all have a wonderful Monday, which leads to a marvelous rest of the week!

PHYTOMER PRODUCTS

The other day I was talking about how the Phytomer line had made my skin AMAZING!  I just wanted to share some of the things that I have been using with all of you.

First I start off by using the OLIGOPUR Cleansing Gel.  This gel is designed to cleanse and eliminate impurities & excess sebum. (Sebum is an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands in mammalian skin. Its main purpose is to make the skin and hair waterproof and to protect them from drying out.)  I really like this cleanser because it doesn't dry my skin out.  It makes my skin feel clean but not tight.  I usually apply the cleanser and then leave it on for about a minute, so that it has time to work its magic.

Next I use OGENAGE Toning Cleansing Emulsion.  This is a cleanser/toner in a 2 phase lotion that removes makeup and tones all at once.  The skin is left, clean fresh and comfortable.  Natural ingredient 'SOREINA', which is a soothing aromatic seawater that relaxes the skin and optimizes the benefits of your beauty cream.  Basically all you need to do is shake the bottle well, apply all over your face with a cotton pad and leave on.  It hydrates the skin at the same time as it cleanses and tones. 

Twice a week I've been using the VEGETAL Exfoliant.  It says it is supposed to adapt to every skin type.  It eliminates impurities and refines the skins texture.  I have to say it TOTALLY works!  I wish I could use this product everyday, because I'm in love with the way my skin feels after.  I normally use it after I've had a hot shower, so that my pores are open and it has a better chance of actually doing something.

The reason I tried this line of skin care products is because I had gone for a facial a few months ago and this is what they used.  I secretly checked everything out when I was getting dressed and ready to leave the room (only because I'm nosey)  The next day my skin was AMAZING.  I've never seen it look so glowy and hydrated!  So I checked out the products on eBay, and bought them.  Just for the record, the spa I went to was RAIN in Edmonton.  If you're ever in the West Edmonton Mall... check this place out! 

Needless to say, I'm a huge follower of this line now.  Its a little pricey, but I'd rather spend a few extra bucks on something that works and have flawless skin rather than spend a fortune on a bunch of beauty products that don't do a darn thing and just sit in my bathroom taking up space.  The other great thing about this line is that it is supposed to be good for sensitive skin.  They have a whole bunch of different products to cater to your skin type.  You can check out their website PHYTOMER and see for yourself.