New Changes!

I basically have had the same hair for the last 12 years. Yeah, I've change the color a bit, from blonde and brown to pink or blue, green or purple. But the cut and style has pretty much been the same for soo long. It is time for a change. 

But being me, of coarse, a change isn't going to come easily. I have trouble committing to new things especially when it comes to hair. I've loved having the same long hair for such a long time that I'm not quite sure if I'm able to do anything else.

But I'm pretty sure something new is just what I need right now! So I took some of my older clip in extensions and went to work playing around with them in different ways to see what my options were..

Here's a couple that I narrowed it down to. 

First, I went for some bangs. I had full bangs once when I was younger and longer side swept bangs off and on a few times over the years. but I'm so scared of the commitment of bangs that I don't know if I could ever go back. So here's sort of how it turned out. 

(I felt the bangs deserved a sassy face! Who agrees?)

Surprisingly not too bad. I like that they hide my big forehead hahah. But they looked much better without my glasses on. The glasses I felt sort of clashed with the bangs. I also wasn't sure how I liked them straight down, pulled a bit to the side suited me a little better. But I'm still not sure if they suit me at all!

Another thing I tried out was shorter hair. I haven't had my hair cut short in so long I can't even remember. I've just always loved having long hair!

But I kind of really loved it! The only thing that really sways me is I wear my hair up in a bun a LOT. Mostly because I'm so sick of my hair I never want to do anything with it. But I also just really love a big messy bun! 

(Of course Snapchat filters are the ultimate test!)

I'm also torn between growing out my natural color, which I've been doing for the past several months. Or going with a completely new color. I've been going to a darker brown color for a long time. I've also done burgundy a few times over the last couple of years. All of which I love. 

I'm so undecided and afraid of change when it comes to my hair! I don't know why, it's just hair. It can always be changed and it will grow back fresh and new. Plus I always have my extensions to help me out. 

So now I'm asking for your opinions! Which of the above two do you like best? Anything else you think might look good on me? Any input or suggestions would be so greatly appreciated!! 

Heres to changes, whether big or small! Enjoy your weekend no matter where you are. Be safe. Be happy. And always stay humble and kind. <3

Family, near death experience, campfires, and bears!

View of the Blue Ridge mountains from one of the overlooks. Taken with my iPhone 6 in panoramic mode.

This time last week we were packing up the truck and headed to Virginia for a family reunion. We were all camping at Big Meadows campground, and it was a blast!
Ive never been to Shenandoah National Park, but its on my bucket list to visit every National Park! So I was pretty excited. Camping is one of my favorite things to do and Shenandoah is a beautiful place! So heres a full run down of my weekend:

Thursday morning we left for a 5 hour drive down to Virginia. It was long and boring, but the closer we got, the more beautiful the view! My excitement grew by the minute. We brought the doggos with us, so we made a few pit stops to allow for bathroom breaks and snacks/drinks. My dogs arent the best behaved in the car, so we took them for a walk in the 90-something degree weather to tucker them out, hoping theyd sleep through most of the ride there. (They did!) We finally reached Skyline Drive and I was so anxious I could barely sit still. My motion sickness meds were wearing off and the road was hilly and curvy. Plus the beauty all around was unbelievable. I could not wait to get out of the car! We stopped at a few overlooks before making our way to the campground. Setting up after a long drive is always a stressful time, so among all of the commotion I had a little break down/anxiety attack and wished I had just stayed home by myself. By the end of the weekend I was so glad I didnt! So Thursday evening was basically just us setting up, eating campfire food, and relaxing. Nothing relaxes you quite like hanging around the campfire on a cool summers evening. My happy place.

The dogs all packed up and ready to hit the road to Shenandoah!

Friday was the main day for all of the reunion festivities. We were planning on having food and laughter all day. We did not disappoint. In the morning my family had our usually camp breakfast of eggs and potatoes that always seem to taste better when youre camping.. Then we went out for a little ride around the park to see some sights and get some photos. I was so breath-taken by how unbelievably beautiful the views were up there on that mountain. I mean, I knew it would be beautiful..but it was so beyond anything Id imagined. Im the kind of person who really seeks the beauty in the world, and I dont take things like this for granted. This world always surprises me.. I have such a love and appreciation for mother nature. I could have sat there and stared into her creation for hours. But, it was time to head back to the campground and get the food started. So me and my mom heated up our 300-ish meatballs we had prepared and froze before we left and took them down to the reunion site. Everyone else (mostly) was already down there and hanging out. My mom has 8 brothers and sister, all but 2 were able to show. I have family all around the world, so its s soo great (and rare) to have them all in one place at one time. My uncle from Italy, aunt from Oregon, and uncle from California had all made it. As well as most of the local crew and Marylanders. We were just missing Uncle Larry from Singapore! A few of my moms aunts uncles and cousins made their way out too, which was super cool! I hung around for a bit, had something to eat and chatted with some family before my anxiety couldnt handle anymore and I had to head back up to our site to see what the pups were up to. (In the park you cant leave your food out due to bears, so either me or my dad was always at our site with the dogs, who arent great in large groups, and the coolers. So now it was my turn to babysit) Me and my cousin had a cute t-shirt craft planned for the kids..and any adults who were interested. So later in the evening everyone fled up the hill to our campsite to participate in the cute hand print campfire craft I had prepared. They all turned out so cute, and I couldnt have been happier! My sister and her boyfriend couldnt come until after work on Friday, so they didnt make it until around 9:45 that night, but we hung out and had a great time regardless. There were so many stars, I spent quite some time just laying their looking up. I even got to try out Astrophotography for the first time! I loved it and cant wait to do some more!

Left: "Stanton Clan" campfire hand print t shirt craft I did with the kids! Photo taken with my moms Samsung Galaxy S6 Active.
Right: Photo of the stars that night. Taken with my Canon T1i.
Saturday we kind of planned on everyone doing their own thing, hikes, sightseeing, etc. So we thought me, my sister, and her boyfriend would go off on a falls trail while my parents stayed back with the dogs, then wed switch. The hike we chose said it was moderate, ending at an 81 foot waterfall. I was so excited, because waterfalls are one of my favorite things to photograph! And one of my favorite sights ever! The hike down wasnt too bad, I actually really enjoy getting out into nature and hiking. It helps me relax, clears my head, and reminds me of where I belong. We finally could hear the water, and knew it was close! We finally reached the falls and were..so disappointed. I guess we were at the top of the fall? It must have been a little dry to, because there wasnt much water flowing. And we all felt defeated knowing wed have to hike back up the mountain and all for a waterfall the was totally not worth it. :( Still, I wanted to sit there and relax a bit. I still wanted to try and get some photos and we had to try out my dads new life straw. So I got out there and found some decent views to photograph, my sisters boyfriend got his adrenaline rush by holding himself out over the edge like an idiot, and my sister sat there grumpily because she doesnt like nature as much as she thought..hiking isnt her thing..and shes terrified of heights. (on top of a mountain is not the best place to be when youre afraid of heights, is it?) So we hung out there for a half an hour or so then packed up and headed back up the mountain. We did not expect what came next. The hike back up was so much worse than we had anticipated. The elevation made it more difficult to breathe, it seemed much more steep on the way up, it was hot, and the added weight of my camera bag did not help at all. We had planned on taking our time on the way back, but even then it took us much longer than we thought it would. I had to take a LOT of breaks. Drank a lot of water (I didnt bring nearly enough though :/) And I still felt exhausted and over exerted. Finally, after an hour and a half, we could see the car! We were almost there..until.. I felt an uncontrollable need to puke. I had held it back a few times on the way up, but this time I just couldnt.. So I sat down on a rock 50 feet from the parking lot and let it go. My sister and her boyfriend had made it all the way up, so they brought me back some water and a cold pack to put on my neck. Once I let my body rest, and..release..I could finally walk the last few feet to the car and we were on our way back to the site. Where I layed in the hammock and didnt plan to move for the rest of the day! By the end of it I hated that hike..but I am still proud of myself for completing it. And I still enjoyed being out in nature, so it wasnt all bad after all. That evening everyone gathered around again for some more laughs and good times. My mom hung out with her family while the rest of us stayed back at our site, cooked a delicious dutch oven dinner, and had a good time of our own. I wasnt leaving that hammock for much..but that food was worth it. ;)

Results of a strenuous hike. burned a crazy amount of calories and had a ridiculous number of active minutes. Worth it!

Sunday was time to leave, so we didnt really do anything but pack up and hit the road. I was a little disappointed that we were the only ones all weekend who hadnt seen a bear..that was until the road out! I saw my first ever bear in the wild. It looked young. I didnt get any pictures of it since it ran back into the woods as soon as it saw us/heard the dogs bark. but I saw it, so that was enough for me! My trip was complete! That weekend the ducks turned 18 weeks old, so we were hoping to see our first eggs when we got home! Unfortunately, there were none. But they had been cooped up for 4 days, so I let them out and by the night I had completely forgotten to put them back in..but I was surprised to see OUR FIRST EGG the next morning when I woke up. She must have been saving it for me to come home ;) She layed it right outside her pool. I was so proud of my big girl! All grown up and laying eggs like a pro. Her first few were tiny little things. But they have strong shells and and growing in size every day. She'll be a great layer, and I cant wait to try my first duck egg!

Savannahs first egg, laid July 25.
I think my favorite thing about Shenandoah was how beautiful the nature all around was. There were deer walking right through the campground, through people sites. There were honey bees pollinating the wildflowers. An unpolluted night sky with endless amounts of stars. And breathtakingly beautiful views everywhere you turn. I cant wait for my next trip there.
Here are a few more of my favorite photos from the weekend:

 One of the few photos I got from our hike to the Waterfall. Taken with my Canon T1i.

 A baby deer that was grazing by our campsite with its mother. Taken with my Canon T1i.

 Breathtaking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Taken with my Canon T1i.

 View from an overlook on our way out. Taken with my iPhone 6.

 Honeybee pollinating some wildflowers on our campsite.

 Darla keeping guard, taking in all of her surroundings. My beautiful girl. Taken with my Canon T1i.

 Dutch oven dinner staying warm over the fire. Taken with my Canon T1i.

Two baby deer grazing on the site across from ours. Taken with my Canon T1i.

Have you been to Shenandoah? What was your favorite thing about it? Id love to hear about your experiences there. Im so excited for my next camping trip and cant wait to get back out into nature! Have a beautiful week wherever your are in the world. And remember to stop and take in the beauty that is all around us in nature.
Stay Humble & Kind. <3

TGIF!

Phew..what a stressful week. THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY! I am so ready for a pamper filled weekend. 

Monday night I barely slept because Tuesday morning my pup went in for surgery. He had an enlarged testicle (which the vet said was most likely cancerous, but almost certainly hadnt/wouldnt spread) that we were having removed, and I was soo nervous. Hes a pretty old doggo. Hes probably around 14 years old.. and I had been told before by another vet, that the older the dog the higher the risk when going under anesthesia. And although the vet who was operating on him told us not to worry, there was less than a 1% chance of anything going wrong, that was still going through my mind all day. He went in at 8 am and by 1 we still hadnt heard anything so we gave them a call. A huge sigh of relief when they told us he was fine and we could pick him up at 3:45. A little added stress when the doctor told us when we picked him up that if he had taken a look at Rascals blood work before he did the surgery he never would have done it at all. His white blood cell count was really low and he was at risk of bleeding out on the operating table. Which is so terrifying, my heart stopped when I heard that. Luckily, he didnt bleed at all and everything went over great. But he is now on special food for his kidney. He has a cone for 2 whole weeks, but he is doing so well. Hes eating pretty good, although yesterday he went most of the day without eating (which is okay, we were told its normal for him to lose his appetite for a day or two) He is getting around really well, it took him a day or so to get used to the cone, and he still has trouble with it when he wants to lay down, but Im here to help him whenever he gets caught up. And on top of all this with my dog, I woke up Tuesday morning feeling like I had gotten hit by a truck. I am starting to feel a little better now, but Im definitely still relaxing and getting in plenty of rest to kick this thing in the butt. 

So finally, now its Friday, and I think Ill start my pamper weekend with a little shopping. Lane Bryant is having a sale on jeans and its also time to redeem real women dollars. ($70 jeans for $20, why the hell not?!) I also want to get myself a new lens or two for my Florida trip coming up in March. Then I think Ill give myself a little pedicure while I do a facial mask, a hair treatment, and some teeth whitening. I still have a few shows on Netflix and HBO I have to catch up on. (I should have my new book arriving in the mail today too) So while Im sitting there looking like a weird monster, Ill probably sip on some tea and watch some great TV, with my little cone head by my side. Theres nothing better, after a stressful week, than an awesome pamper weekend. And its great to start of your next week (especially after being sick) feeling all new and refreshed! 

I hope you all have a stress-free weekend yourself & maybe do a little pampering of your own. Always stay humble and kind. <3

Snowed In!

This weekend, here in southeast Pennsylvania, we are in the midst of a blizzard! We are right on the line between 12-18" and 18-24", and I am so ready for whatever is to come! We never really got any good snow last winter, so we are definitely due. ;)

So, since well be stuck in the house for a few days.. (state of emergency! :o ) Ive gotten myself fully prepared! Ive got a nice big stack of wood, just outside the back door, to keep the fire going so we will stay cozy and warm! And ive got myself a few projects lined up to keep myself occupied!

I think Ive mentioned on here before that I am working on making myself a blanket for my bed. Ive been working on it for a few months, but had to put it on the back burner to work on some christmas presents, so Im not as far along as I really should be.. :/ but Im totally fine with that because Ive got plenty to work on this weekend now! :)

I also headed over to our local Aldi and picked up this adorable little animal crochet kit I saw in this weeks ad. I just had to have it! The kit was only $10 and it comes with a little book that shows you how to make 12 different animals, and all of the supplies to make 2 of them. :) mine makes a bunny and an adorable little koala that I am so excited to make! (It also has instructions for an alpaca and a sheep, which are soo stinking cute I cant even contain myself)

We are fully stocked up on dough, crescent rolls and cheese, to make a delicious pizza twists and wreaths. And a brand new deck of cards against humanity, which with my family will be a dangerous night! I wouldnt be surprised if we all die of laughter. Oh, and Ive got a few episodes of Younger to catch up on..not to mention an huge list of Netflix shows..and GOT..that I also need to catch up on..so Ive got plenty to watch too!

You know..snow is one of those things that so many people hate and want nothing to do with. But I actually really love it. Its so magical and beautiful. Just the way it makes me feel as I watch it fall and glisten..it just warms me up from the inside. I think more people need to stop and just take in the beauty that is all around us. 

Ive been seeing a lot of hate and bitterness around lately, and Ive really been trying so hard to spread love and kindness. To help those people see that life isnt fun with hatred in your heart. Sometimes you need to just let it go and let it be filled with love and light. Yesterday I saw Tim McGraws new video for his song Humble And Kind, and Ive been singing it constantly. Those are truly the greatest words to live by.

So heres to love, happiness, winter storms, hot cocoa, and crocheted alpacas! Enjoy your weekend no matter where you are. Be safe. Be happy. And always stay humble and kind. <3

My Strange Addiction.

Hi. My name is Lara, and I am an addict.

Okay, so this addiction may not be as dramatic or unhealthy as you would typically associate with the word, but I still recognize it as such. I am addicted to crocheting.

You heard (read) me right. I am addicted to crocheting. I had my first taste of the sweet drug when I was rather young. My mom taught me to crochet when she was on her kick when I was in middle school. But, as you can expect, my middle school self wasnt quite into the whole crochet thing. But now that Im older I have come to appreciate and embrace my inner old lady.

I've been on the search for the perfect throw blanket to go with my bed. (light blue sheets, white down comforter, and light grey-blue throw pillows.) And without luck..I cant seem to find one in the color that I want that isnt that really fuzzy material. So i figured, hey why not just make one myself. And thus my addiction began.

My cousin has been into crocheting for a few years, so I went over her place a few weeks ago and had her re-teach me. I picked it up really quick and remembered a lot of the things I had learned at a young age. I pretty much immediately became super excited with the whole thing. Right away I started practicing stitches non-stop. I practiced and practiced until I was sure I was ready and comfortable to start a project.

My first project, I decided, was going to be a scarf. This super easy one skein scarf. I got myself a beautiful ombre yard and got started right away and couldnt put the thing down. I had the whole thing finished in just 2-2.5 days.

As soon as I finished, I was ready for my next project..my blanket! I looked and looked for days trying to find a pattern I liked that would be easy enough for a beginner, but looked really good! I could not find such a pattern. :( Then I went and hung out with my cousin and saw the beautiful stitch she was doing on a lap blanket she was making and decided that was it! The perfect stitch for my blanket :D I decided on a shell stitch, which is really pretty and looks great for an afghan.

So now Ive gotten the first two rows done, and Im going over my cousins tomorrow to check with her to make sure Im doing it right. (I want to double check before I get ten rows in and realize its completely wrong!) But I cant seem to put it down! I just wanna crochet forever. I can see this quickly becoming a problem. Im on the fast track to become a yarn hoarder like my cousin! :D

The yarn I decided on is by Lion Brand. It is their Wool-Ease yarn in the color Seaspray. I matched it up with my throw pillows and it is almost perfect. The stitch is soo so easy and goes so quickly, which is why I am skeptical that Im doing something wrong! The only downside is I will be using a lot of yarn. I will be spending at least twice as much making this blanket then I would buying a blanket in the store. But lets face it, nothing compares to a beautiful handmade blanket..

Im not sure if I will be sharing my patterns and such on here or if thats even something anyone would be interested in..so if you are please let me know! I will definitely be doing some progress posts as I go though. I would also love to hear about any of your "strange" addictions.

Review: Frankie & Albert

Frankie & Albert is a unique monthly subscription program that sends you hand curated one of a kind boxes filled with hand picked found items and vintage home decor. You get to select your personal style profile and select the rooms you want your items for, and every month Frankie & Albert will hand pick the perfect items just for you. I gave them a list of some of my interests and they created a special box for me to review for you guys.

My box was focused on kitchen items. The items all went together really well because they all looked to be from the 70's and had similar colors and textures.

The first item in the box was this adorable little vintage mushroom creamer dish. It looks like its straight out of the 70's and I love it! Upon a quick little google search I found that it is part of a Sears (Sears and Roebuck) collection from the 70's. The collection includes all sorts of kitchen items from spoon rests and napkin holders to canisters and sugar/creamer sets. They aren't worth a whole lot. The sugar and creamer set was selling on Ebay for around ten bucks. The creamer alone was selling for $3.50. But I think its cute either way, so the selling value doesn't make a difference whatsoever! A few weeks ago me and my mom were at a yard sale and the woman was selling a 3 piece canister set from the same collection, thinking about it now, I really should have bought them! Dang it..

Next was a bright orange ceramic pepper shaker. Just the pepper. Most of the items in the box don't have a label, description or any sort of marking for me to find out any more info on them, and I couldn't really find a similar style shaker through searching, so I have no idea what the value would be. But since its no known notable maker, I'm sure its worth no more than a buck or two. But nevertheless, the color is bright and beautiful. The style seems very 70's also, so it sticks with the same theme as the creamer. I would have loved to have the salt shaker also, to complete the set. But as a frequent yard saler/flea marketer, I know it can be hard to find complete sets sometimes. And either way, this makes for a cute little decor item regardless. 

 Next in the box was a tiny little plate that looks like it belongs to a little tea set or something. It has cute little orange and blue flowers on it that look like they were hand painted on. Again, matching with the orange 70's looking theme. I really wish this one had a makers mark on it somewhere, because I would loooove to see what the rest of the set looks like.. But the only marking on there was a "made in japan." This delicate little plate looks like its been broken in half and glued back together. I definitely wouldn't use this for anything other than a decor item because Id be afraid it would break again! (at first I thought it might be cute to use on top of my dresser to put rings or something in, but since it was already broken once Id be afraid it might break easily again..) Again, this piece doesnt look like its worth much either. But it is still super cute!

 Next there were these four wooden rings, it would have taken me days to figure out what they were for.. Fortunately my mom informed me that they are napkin rings. We've never been fancy enough to use napkin rings.. hahah. I found a similar set of 8 "vintage 70's wooden napkin rings" selling on Etsy for $20, so I'm valuing my set of 4 at $10. The thing I like about these is they don't scream 70's like the other items. I could use them for a more rustic style dinner party with a burlap table runner and off-white linen table cloth if I wanted, which is much more my style. So they are a little more versatile. Also, this is the first item I really thought I could use. All the others so far I would keep solely for decorative purposes. (I just checked and Frankie & Albert actually state that their items are for decorative purposes only, but I think this is one item that it wouldn't really matter if you used them for their original intended purpose ;) hehe)

The next item was a ceramic trivet with more orange flowers on it..and a wooden border, which ties all of the pieces together beautifully. I couldn't find anything too similar but a few I found ranged from anywhere between $10 and $30. Ill put this one somewhere in the middle at, I'll say maybe $17. This is another that is most likely totally usable. But I could also see this going in a curio cabinet along with the other items. 

The last thing in the box is a cute little brown ceramic pot with a metal lid. This is the only one with a makers mark on it. It says Westbend on the bottom. After a very quick search I found that it is in fact a bean pot. One Etsy seller claimed it is from the early 50s. Hers had an electric burner it sat on, and she was selling it for $20. Another seller said 1960s and didn't have the electric burner, hers was priced at $10. A couple Ebay sellers had theirs at $17, $14, and $16 all with no burner. So Ill say somewhere in the middle and go with $13. This guy would look super cute on the counter filled with tea bags or sugar packets or something of that sort. I wouldn't cook anything in it..but maybe if you cleaned it really well you could use it to serve something in?

So adding up all of my items they seem to be valued at around $40-$50 for the whole box. The box costs $50 per month for a month-to-month subscription, $130 for 3 months or $250 for 6 months. If every months box were like this, personally I don't think the value of the items are match the price of the box. I feel like I could do better buying my own stuff at flea markets and yard sales. That way I could get exactly what I want for prices I'd feel more comfortable with. But for others this might be exactly what you want/need with the convenience of it being sent right to your home.

You can cancel your subscription at any time. But Frankie & Albert does not offer a return/exchange policy, so if you don't like your items you're kind of at a loss.. But I suppose you could try reselling them if you really wanted to. Or give them to a friend who would love them! Luckily I did enjoy most items in my box. As did my mom. But I have a feeling my uncle Joe would love them even more. So I might be bringing him a special little gift when I go visit him this winter. ;)

For 10% off your first Frankie & Albert box use code LARALEE10!!

To find out more about Frankie & Albert visit FrankieandAlbert.com.

#SunshineVoxBox

I have been an Influenster member for a few years now, and every once in a while I'll get a VoxBox that I absolutely love! And my current campaign, the Sunshine Vox Box, is one of those boxes!

The sunshine box came packed with great products, including:

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Refreshingly Clean Cleansing Cloths - $6.99 - I had pretty good expectations for these cleaning cloths. Witch hazel is super beneficial to your skin in many ways. And the description of this product sounded great for sensitive skin. So I gave them a try right away! If youre at all familiar with witch hazel, you know it doesnt have a very pleasant smell..but that is easy enough to get past. I always wash my face after using a wipe to remove my makeup anyway.. The cloths are super soft, but I dont think theyre much bigger than any standard wipe Ive used in the past. The nice thing, though, was they are very gentle on the skin. They didnt sting or irritate my skin at all.. However, they didnt remove the makeup as well as I would have liked. Especially mascara. But all in all I liked these wipes and will be trying them, as well as some other Dickinsons Witch Hazel products, again in the future.

Blue Diamond Siracha Almonds - $1.59 - I'm really not a fan of spicy, at all! So I cant give an honest opinion on these, so I'll be giving them to my sister or her bf to try out!

barkTHINS - $4.99 - The box came with a coupon to get a free bag of these, and I have yet to use it..but Im super excited to, because these things look delicious!

Infusium 23 Moisture Replenisher Leave-In Smoothing Creme Enhanced with Avocado and Olive Oil - $6.99 - I'd heard a lot of things about Infusium 23 but havent tried any of their products until I got this in the box. And I absolutely love it! Right now my hair is super dry and dead and in desperate need of a cut. And this stuff makes it manageable and soft! This will probably be a new must have of mine!

SinfulColors Nail Polish - $1.99 - Ive tried this polish before in the past, and I wasnt impressed. I think I found it at the dollar store..and it took ages to dry. So when I saw this in the box I was like ehh its a pretty color but Ill never use it if its anything like the other ones Ive used.. But I gave it a try anyway, and Im glad I did. It went on beautifully and dried really fast. The shade is called Beverly Hills and its a beautiful light lilac color that would be perfect for spring. 3 coats covered great, but you could probably even get away with 2.

Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Spray Moisturizer - $6.49 - This is my favorite product in this box. Im not a fan of putting lotion on my body. I usually just put some moisturizer on my face and leave the rest of my body alone. But since its summer and my legs are exposed more often than not, its really nice to be able to keep them moisturized and looking nice. So this product has been a life saver for me. Most lotions and moisturizers are thick and gloopy and feel like they take decades to fully absorb into my skin. But this spray absorbs instantly and doesnt leave my hands or skin feeling greasy and gross. So I am absolutely sold on this product!

To find out more about Influenster and their VoxBoxes click here! 

* All products mentioned were provided complimentary from Influenster. 

DIY Beauty: Brown Sugar Lip Scrub

It's been quite some time since I've done any DIY Beauty posts on here..so today I decided to share with you one of my all time favorite DIY products. A Brown Sugar Lip Scrub.

I found this lip scrub recipe on Pinterest a few years ago, fell in love, and have been using it ever since. There are literally only 3 ingredients and it's the easiest thing to make. You can even double this recipe and make some for gifts for your friends!

What you'll need:

• Pure Coconut Oil
• Honey
• Brown Sugar
• Measuring Spoons
• Small Mixing Bowl
• Clean Empty Jar

The first thing you want to do is make sure your coconut oil is not too hard and not too runny. If it is too hard place (closed) in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes just until it has softened up. If its too runny pop it in your fridge or freezer for a few minutes until it hardens up a bit.
      The benefits of using coconut oil for the skin are almost endless, I found this really cool site that breaks it all down for you, you can check it out here!
Once youve got your oil to the right consistency you're gonna scoop out a tablespoon of the 'solid' in the coconut oil jar, dont be shy..you want a nice big rounded tablespoon.. and put it into your mixing bowl. To that you're going to add a tablespoon of honey.
     Honey also has many amazing benefits, so I found a page that explains more about that too!
Take a spoon or even a tiny whisk if you have one and stir until the two are combined and homogenous. You want to make sure you dont have any chunks or clumps of the coconut oil. Once they are mixed thoroughly add 2 teaspoons of packed brown sugar, light or dark it doesnt really matter, and mix that trough. I like the use of brown sugar in this recipe because it not only tastes amazing, but it has a fine texture that isnt too harsh on your skin, unlike a lot of sugar scrubs that use coarse sugar which can be very harsh.
Lastly you want to add one teaspoon of just the oil from your coconut oil jar and stir that into your mixture. You should be left with a smooth mixture you can then transfer into your jar or sealed container.

This scrub tastes great, so you dont have to be worried about it getting in your mouth. It has the perfect texture for the delicate skin on your lips. And it is all natural and organic (if youre sure to use all natural and organic ingredients, which I highly recommend!) and you know exactly what is going into it. The recipe said it can last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, but I think it should last quite a bit longer than that..all 3 ingredients last months or even years alone, so I dont see why mixing them together would make any of them spoil quickly.. Just be sure to check it before you use it to make sure it doesnt have any weird smells or mold growing in it..but if youre like me youll use it all up before it would ever even have the chance to spoil!

When you use the scrub its a good idea to leave it at room temperature for a few minutes to soften up a bit before using it. And you just use it the same way you would any lip scrub, scrub it gently in circular motions on your lips for a minute or two and rinse with warm water. Follow up with your favorite DIY lip balm for extra moisturizing power! ;) Enjoy!


Have a beautiful day.
Believe. Dream. Explore. & Be nice to people.

PetGiftBox.com Review!

Anyone who knows anything about me knows my obsession with dogs. (and goats, but thats another story..) They should also know that I have 2 fur babies, who I love to spoil. So, naturally, when I heard of Pet Gift Box, the subscription box for dogs, I knew I had to check it out!

Pet Gift Box is a monthly subscription service that delivers Eco Friendly gifts for your dog or cat. You get to customize your box by selecting cat or dog, and for dog they have 3 size options to ensure your pet is getting size appropriate toys and treats! When signing up you also enter your pets name instead of yours, so when it arrives its addressed right to them. (I think that is such a cute little touch!)

Each box, no matter what size, is only $17.99. And the great thing is plans automatically renew, but you can cancel at any time. And they say they believe in being unleashed, meaning no long term comittment or huge bills every year. You will be charged monthly and if at any time you wish to cancel your services you're free to do so.

This months box for small dogs was full of great things! The total value of the box was over $45 including shipping, saving me almost $28. You really can't beat it!
Some of the products in this box included:
PetLou Naturally Twisted Critters - an adorable little squeaky toy my Darla loves! made with premium all natural fabrics and fillers, and include multiple squeakers, crinkle sounds, and/or sisal rope tail or legs.
Pet Greens Jerky Style Treats - all natural, grain-free treats made with 90% real meat and organic wheat grass. This stuff smelled almost exactly like the jerky my dad makes, and my dogs love it!
Earth Rated Leash Dispenser w/ 15 bags - the bags are lavender scented, which is nice when your dog is like my Rascal who likes to go as soon as possible on our walks, leaving you to carry a stinky bag for the rest of our 30 min walk!
Bubba Rose Biscuit Company Earth Day Cookie - gourmet, organic treats made from local fresh ingredients. I havent opened this yet to let my dogs try, but it is the cutest little earth shaped treat, and reading more about them on their site, I am in love with this company!
K9Granola Factory Oven Fresh Quacks - these treats are so cute, theyre shaped like little ducks which I love, and theyre blueberry and vanilla flavored, which my dogs love! I've never seen dog treats those flavors, but apparently dogs enjoy it! This is another company with your dogs health in mind, they are also all natural and heart healthy. I also love that they are small, bite-sized treats, making it easy to control how much we give our little Rascal (who is becoming slightly overweight in his elder years)
Absolutely Clean Pet Stain & Odor Remover - this all-natural, plant based cleaner safely and effectively removes stains and odors without any harsh chemicals or toxins. Lets face it, accidents happen, and with dogs..they happen more often than we'd like. So finding a great, pet friendly and chemical free product that works well is a godsend!

All together, I think this box is absolutely perfect. It is full of great products both me and my dogs love! It is super affordable and much cheaper than having to buy all of the products yourself, plus it cuts out the hassle of having to research and find the eco-friendly, all-natural products you want for your pets, And its all sent right to your doorstep!

Even if you don't personally own any dogs or cats, if you know someone else who does this makes a perfect gift! And they make it very easy to gift to a friend!

The one thing I do wish for though is a few more options when ordering, like maybe the option to receive a box every other month or even quarterly. This months box came with 2 decent sized bags of treats, plus one single treat, so that alone could get my 2 small dogs through a couple of months. Other products like toys could also last long enough to wait more than a month for the next box.. So rather than having to cancel after every month and rejoining when youre ready for another box, it would be nice to see more spread out shipping options.

To order your Pet Gift Box or learn more, visit PetGiftBox.com!


Have a beautiful day.
Believe. Dream. Explore. & Be nice to people.

Venus Snap - Influenster Review

With summer basically here, we all want our skin as smooth and hair-free as possible. So when I heard about this nifty little product from Gillette I was super excited to check it out!

Gillette is probably my favorite go-to brand for razors. I love that the Venus razor has interchangeable heads, meaning you can use any type of Venun razor head on the same old handle. Making it nearly impossible to buy the wrong heads! Nothing is worse than spending a buttload of money on new razorheads only to find once you get home that they arent for your razor! I cant believe no one thought of that idea sooner..

Gillette seems to be ahead of the game in many ways, and theyve just taken another leap ahead of their competitors. Gillette just released a brand new products called the Venus Snap, the first portable razor for on-the-go smoothness.

"This portable stylish compact features Venus' best Embrace blades on a mini-handle that conveniently tucks into any bag"

This new razor has a small handle with a, kind of squishy, grip for easy handling. It comes with the Embrace razor head on it, but as all Venus razors the heads are interchangeable. The whole thing fits right into its little compact carrying case.

I think the whole idea is pretty great. Its perfect to take with you to the beach, on vacation, camping, pretty much anywhere. You could even keep it in your makeup bag right in your purse if you wanted to.
Missed a spot shaving? No problem! The Embrace razor head makes it easy to touch up literally anywhere, just wet the razor and youre good to go, no shaving cream needed.

I definitely look forward to taking this little guy on vacations, beach trips, and little getaways with me this summer.

Venus Snap with Embrace is available at any retailer where you normally find Venus brand razors. Ive seen it at Target, Walmart, most grocery stores and drug stores. You can even find it online. It retails for around $9-$12.


This product was sent to me in an Influenster VoxBox for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Twilight Teeth Whitening System Review

Ive tried a few different whitening products over the past few years. Some worked, some didnt. Some were much too time consuming, some were quick and easy. Some caused sensitivity, some didnt. Some were affordable, and some were ridiculously expensive. It isnt easy trying to find a combination of those things that worked for me.

So over the summer I tried a new product I had never heard of before. Twilight Teeth. It was also a new kind of system that I hadnt used either. Twilight Teeth uses whitening gel, a mouthpiece and an LED whitening light. Everything I had used in the past just used a mouthpiece, I had never used an LED light before. I had heard of it, but thought that was something only used in dentist offices.
The idea of using an LED light at home was so interesting to me. So I did a little more research on Twilight Teeth and found that it was use in a tanning bed, so you can whiten while you tan. You place the mouthpiece in and apply the gel just before getting into the tanning bed.
But they also have an at home version which comes with the LED light to use at home! Which was perfect for me, because I have never in my life used a tanning bed.

Over the summer I started using the system every night.
All you do is (on clean teeth) put the mouthpiece in, apply the gel, then insert the light. Let it sit for 20 minutes and youre done. You dont even have to rinse. I did find that if youre sitting up while using it you will drool an awful lot, so I just do it while Im laying in bed at night.
I had only been using the system for 3 or 4 days when my bestie said to me "your teeth look really white!"

One thing I dont like though is the mouthpiece isnt very wide, so I feel like half of my teeth that show when I smile wont be as white as the rest. I just kind of stick the brush back in there and get some gel on them and hope that its still working!

After a few weeks of using it I went on vacation and had forgotten to bring it with me, so of course when I got home I couldnt get back into the routine of things >:(
So I gave it a break for a little while, and noticed my teeth werent quite as white as they had been, so I think this product really only whitens temporarily. I dont think it gets the deep down stains, so the whiteness kind of fades after a while. So to keep your teeth white you really have to do it on a regular basis. But after you get to your desired whiteness Im sure you could just do it once a week or so to maintain your white! And that is no problem for me, because it didnt cause any sensitivity or discomfort.

While this is a wonderful system that gave me noticeably whiter teeth, I still dont think its the system for me. I am looking for a whitening system that lasts and gets the deep down stains, not just surface stains. I will continue to use it until I find the right system for me!

What whitening products have you used? What is your go to product?

Pamper Day!

SNOW DAY! We got about 14 inches of snow yesterday, so what better excuse to stay inside and pamper myself today!

For my pamper days I do treatments for my hair, skin and nails. I deep condition my hair. Exfoliate my skin, do my favorite facial mask, and use a deep moisturizer. And give myself a little mani/pedi. Candles are essential for setting a relaxing mood, as well as filling the room with my favorite scents.

I start out with a relaxing bath or foot soak. I love to use bath bombs and/or bath salts. You dont have to go to places like Lush to find decent bath products, you can find some pretty good ones at your drug store, or even walmart or target. 

While Im in the bath or soaking my feet, I like to do a deep conditioner or mask on my hair, while using a nice exfoliating mask on my face. After cleansing and exfoliating, I use my favorite eye cream, and intense recovery treatment. Im using my Evologie cleanser, Splurge scrub, Merlot mask, Dermalogica eye cream, and RevaleSkin moisturizer. As well as my favorite Fekkai conditioning hair mask.

After soaking my feet, I give them a good scrubbing with a pumice stone to remove any dead skin. Then once theyre soft and dry, I give myself a little massage while rubbing on some foot cream. The one Im using today is by Udderly Smooth.

Then, I move onto the nails. I clip, file and smooth out my nails before applying a few coats of my favorite nail treatments and polishes.

I like to finish off my relaxing day by lounging in bed with my favorite scented candles burning, and a good book to read!

What are your favorite ways to relax on pamper days? What are your favorite pamper products?

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

After Shower Routine!

Its been a while since Ive done one of these, and my routine has changed a little since..so I decided to go ahead and do a new one!

So, since Ive been trying a lot of new products lately my shower routine is never the same, thats why Im skipping the shampoo/conditioner/etc part, and skipping right to my after shower routine.

In the shower, of course, I shampoo and condition my hair. Wash my face, body, etc..
So once I get out of the shower, after drying off, the first thing I do is:

- Tone
The toner Im using right now is the Merlot Skin Care Hydrating Toner.

A lot of people dont do this step after cleansing, and really by skipping this step, youre pretty much only getting half as clean. Toners help clean pores and prep skin for deep moisture. Put your toner on a cotton ball or cotton round and just wipe it over your face. (some toners recommend circular motions, some upward motions, just check your bottle for your recommended directions) Youll see on the cotton all of the gunk thats left on your skin and in your pores after cleansing alone.
If you use a clarisonic or an exfoliating cleanser you might not notice a lot, but its still important to tone. If you dont use a makeup remover before cleansing, youll see a lot of the makeup will show up on the cotton when toning, so for me its a must!
Benefits of this toner:

• Refreshes skin.
• Purifies and clarifies skin.
• Alcohol free.
• For all skin types.
• Helps boost skins tone after cleansing.

- Hydrate
The moisturizer I use is actually a body lotion. I use the Peter Thomas Roth Mega-Rich Body Lotion.

I have really..weird..skin. Haha. My skin is typically really oily, but with dry spots usually around my mouth, chin, and eyes. So when I would moisturize the dry spots would be fine, but the rest would get really oily. But if I used one for oily skin I found that it didnt do much for the dry spots, so I could never win!
So recently, Ive been checking out new moisturizers, and the one that I found worked really well for me was the Peter Thomas Roth body lotion.
This lotion is rich with vitamin C, E, and pro vitamin B5. It leaves my skin so soft, smooth, and feels really moisturized, which is something I havent really seen with other moisturizers.

Next I move to my hair. I used to use all Redken Extreme products, but Ive been looking for other cheaper products lately, because I feel like I go through them so fast and theyre a little on the pricey side.

So lately Ive been using a the Redken Glass 01 Smoothing Serum and Hair Rules Hydrating Finishing Creme.

I know I just said Redken is a little pricey, but I had this in my closet for a while and Ive been trying to use up products I have before I go buy new stuff! So I use a couple of drops of this, spread that throughout my hair then use a small amount of the finishing creme. The finishing creme says to use it on dry hair, but I tried it on wet hair, and I like it. It seems a little to thick to me to use on dry hair. So then I just brush that through and blow it dry using my Sedu Revolution 4000i. (click <- to see my review on that!)

Then once its dry, I apply a small amount of the Bedhead After Party Finishing Cream.

This stuff seriously makes your hair so soft and silky smooth! I love it! So I just finger comb that through my hair, focus mainly on the ends of my hair. Then I straighten it using my Karmin Titanium 1" Flat Iron. (which I could have sworn I had a review on, but I cant find the link right now D: Ill get that up asap!)

And that pretty much all I do after my shower. I know theres probably more I should do, like body lotion and whatever, but I never really feel the need to do that. Maybe a little hand lotion every once in a while, but thats about it!

If you guys have tried any of these products and want to share your thoughts, or if you want to share your after shower routine please feel free to comment below! I love seeing what other people do!

This is not a sponsored post. Some products were given to me to write reviews for, others were purchased by me! All reviews provided here are the work of myself and remain completely unbiased. Product photos are from product websites. I own copyright to all content on this page, unless otherwise stated.