Dr Who Shower

A few months back I volunteered to throw a shower. this is not an unusual thing for me and I often have 2-3 different Pinterest boards going on for the various showers I'm pre-planning. Oh you're dating someone? And have been for a while? I have your Bridal Shower planned on Pinterest! You're Pregnant!?!?!?! Awesome!!! I've had your Baby Shower planned since you announced your engagement! Can I throw your shower???? Pluuuueeeeeaaaaase?!?!?!?! Nobody tells me no. I don't give them the option to tell me no. But once in a while I struggle.... today, I introduce you to the Dr. Who themed shower I did this fall...

Now I don't (or rather, didn't) watch Dr. Who and I don't know all the subplots, main plots, villains, and jokes but I have Pinterest and Tumblr... I could DO THIS! 24 hours later I looked up bleary-eyed from my computer and whispered frantically to my husband "I can't do this JUSTICE! There are too many POSSIBILITIES!" The Fandom snatched me up and now I watch the show (for research purposes of course) and I had to figure out how to translate 12 regeneration's and hundreds of episodes into a 2-hour shower with food and games... 

The first thing I did is search for the PERFECT invitation.... I looked at DIY options, Printables, Custom Made and Special ordered... And I found a wedding invitation that was PERFECT, with some alterations... The seller, a wonderful shop on Etsy (here) set me up with my perfect invite and party pack (PRINTABLES!!!!) and original art that I framed and gave as a gift. 

After forgetting to take them to Church and pass them out (FOR WEEKS Y'ALL, HOW SCATTERBRAINED CAN I BE!!!) I finally got them to the invitees and got this ball rolling. 

Food... How I love and loath thee... Once it was decided that the party should be a couples shower my usual assortment of nibbles and small bites just wouldn't work. I had MEN coming and it was right after church when everyone would be HUNGRY. Enter the Cassandra Lasagna! (Dr. Who fans know Cassandra as the last living "Human" in the reboot series) 

Origin Here

Other than calling it that I decided to not actually decorate lasagna with a face, too creepy for me! My Co-Planners brought salad, bread, and dessert!!! 

(HUGE THANK YOU TO MARILYN WHO CALMED ME DOWN AND REASSURED ME!!! AND ROBYN WHO IS QUEEN OF SHOWER GAMES) 

We shipped in a life-sized T.A.R.D.I.S. as decoration and I bought Bananas.... Lots of bananas... 

Too. Many. Bananas. 

You should always take a banana to a party

(get the joke? hehe!)

We had sweet and regular "Free Radicals" aka Tea

One of the Dr's regeneration foods was Fish Fingers dipped in Custard.... YUCK! But Twinkies dipped in Pudding??? YES!

We also had Jammie Dodgers (shortbread cookies)

I also scattered bow ties (bought here) and signs with phrases and sayings over the tables... and bananas (have I mentioned the bananas yet?)

The lovely Bride-to-Be with her "Fish Fingers"

Unfortunately, in all the pre-shower chaos, I left the camera at home. All photos are courtesy of the couple. 

Except this one

Many years of love to both of you! 

This was a new experience for me!!! Now the next shower in the works.....

#GoVoxBox

Today is another exciting review for Influenster! I received the #GoVoxBox about two months ago and have been putting my products through their paces. This box was geared towards the woman on the go and the woman who takes her downtime very seriously. By FAR my favorite products were the Aqua Spa Foot Soak and the Go Pro Pedi Rock!!! 

#NextStep 

First up is the Next Step Shaker Cup and Protein Shakes. I got 3 shakes to try in Vanilla, Swiss Chocolate, and Berry. I HATED the Vanilla flavor. Let me say that again. I HATED THE VANILLA. It tasted like cheap ice cream, and if it isn’t Bluebell Ice Cream why bother? It also gave me a headache for some reason. But the Swiss Chocolate saved it. It is a little thin for a shake but just cut the recommended water amount and you’ll be just fine. The benefit of it being thin is it makes mixing infinitely easier. If you have ever shaken up a protein shake you will know what I’m talking about. I have been known to bust out my blender on lazy days. *read: almost always*

Now the shaker cup I got! Oh My! Y’all it’s PURPLE!!! (LINK) Rather than the standard wire ball shaker this one has a 3-dimentional X-ball that doesn’t get those weird powder clumps … the icky ones that make you throw your cup across the room. Am I the only one? Yes? Fine. If I have shaken that cup for 5+ minutes there better not be a single clump in my shake! So overall, don’t bother with the vanilla but buy all the Swiss Chocolate. And snatch up that shaker cup.

 #GoProFoot 

Go Pro Foot sent me their Pedi Rock and Orthotics. The orthotics were and are generally acceptable cushioning for your shoes. The plusses are that they come with sticky-dots to help them adhere to your shoes and they really do have a pleasing cushion in them. There are many styles so you can pick the one best for your needs. The bad part is I have size 8.5/9 feet and these were juuuuuust short of the ball of my foot where I need the most help. So A for effort and B- for actual support, sadly. If there was a slightly longer size I’d probably put them in rotation with my Dr. Scholls inserts. 

The Pedi Rock... Oh My Goodness! I’ve used those callous filers, pumice stones, pedi-eggs, callous remover lotions and all the other products out there to extend or replace pedicures and nothing, NOTHING, has ever been perfect. The Pedi Rock is as close to perfect that I can get I think. It’s large and contoured so it fits in my hand beautifully. You can use it wet or dry. And it REMOVES and SMOOTHS the area you work on in nearly no time. Used in combination with the Aqua Spa Bath Salts and I’m in Heaven on Earth…. 

#RelaxWithAquaSpa 

Since I talked about my first love I should talk about this bad boy! I got the Lavender and Chamomile scent and the ONLY negative I had with the product is the lavender was kinda muddled by the chamomile and I couldn’t actually discern the chamomile scent. So I pulled out some of my Lavender essential oil and added 5 or 6 drops, shook it up and voila! Perfection! The Salts softened my scaly feet and made the removal of skin (NASTY) so much easier… 

After my soak and scrubbing I smoothed Dream Cream by Lush all over my feet and slept in socks. I’ve never had such soft feet before, and I have paid a lot in pedicures and softening tools. When my jar is empty I will be purchasing this for myself.

#GetYourGoodGoing 

NUTS!!! Need I say more??? Yes? OK! I got the Blueberry Almonds and had to HIDE THEM FROM MY HUSBAND TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU! They were spectacular (and saved my butt at my new job!) and full of good for you protein and fats. The benefit of them being sweet was a major plus. I just wish they had a honey-roasted flavor. Or maybe I don’t… I’m already fat I don’t need to get bigger! I’ll be picking up all the flavors from the grocery store for the Hubs and I very soon. 

#PlayOn 

Tampons…. The same as last time even. I have to say that this time around I gave them another go and I liked them a bit better. Maybe because they arrived before I actually needed them, or because I was desperate and they had to do. I still believe that nothing scented should ever go in your lady-business but the absorption was nice and I didn’t feel like I had to change it every hour like with some. I would probably buy the non-scented variety. Since I’m personally a pad girl (Some are so thin you can’t feel them) it will probably take me a while to get through the 2 boxes I now have of these. 

#MullerQuaker 

So confession time…. I’m a Quaker Fan. When I eat oatmeal it’s nearly always from the man in the big hat. As an actual Quaker (The Church Denomination) I’ve always felt a strong bias towards a product originally put out by my peeps. Now whether or not they still are being manufactured by the Quaker group I dunno but still… I love me some oatmeal. So when I got a voucher to try the new Muller Quaker yogurt I jumped on it. I played it safe and got the vanilla and granola variety but liked it so much I went back and bought 4 or 5 more flavors out of my own pocket. 

I’m not sure that its better than any other flavor of yogurt out there but I love that I can add the toppings in myself, no more soggy granola! I’ve added this to my regular breakfast rotation and you ought to give it a try too. 

I hope you enjoyed my box, I definitely did and am...! I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.  All opinions are my own and I was not paid to review them. 

Well that’s all folks! Feel free to come follow me on Pintrest, Instagram, or Twitter!

Thoughts on Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure

In my latest VoxBox from Influenster I received the Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure to test and review. I touched on my thoughts in my previous post where I reviewed the entire box but I have some tips and tricks to share with you. I received the "short" length to review... If I buy these for myself I'd probably look for a longer length simply because my hands look better with some length, especially when the nails have a lot of bright colors and patterns on them. 

Application

Mostly just follow the directions! 

Sizing my fingernails was difficult. I think my nail bed is fairly narrow for how long my nails are. Even when they're trimmed all the way down they are pretty long. for a few of my fingers the nail was a touch too wide and I filed them slightly. 

When pulling the tabs off to reveal the sticky underside try pulling at an angle! It makes it a little easier!

I had to press SOLIDLY on the sides for about 20-30 seconds before I had solid adherence to my nail. They felt more solid after that. 

Care

I tried my best to avoid submerging my hands in water. I used gloves when doing dishes and the like and took great care washing my hair. On that note, washing my hair was terrifying. The nail doesn't adhere 100% to the natural nail and there is some separation that can catch your hair. be extremely cautious to not stretch, rip, or otherwise damage your hair! 

Removal

Ummmm, the single scariest part (worse than hair washing!) was figuring out how to take them off without damaging my nails! I ended up using a mix of prying off with a cuticle tool and nail polish remover. (To see a similar tool to what I used click here.) 

Aftercare

Grab some cuticle oil (I use organic coconut oil) and massage into your nail bed, finish with your favorite hand cream and plan your next nail experiment!


This product was sent to me by Influenster for the purpose of reviewing. I was not compensated and all thoughts are my own.

#UniVoxBox Review!!!

I am so excited to show you my SECOND Vox Box! 

I think this box is intended for college students but as a recent Graduate I found the items to be useful anyways. 

I have pictures of everything.... except the tampons. I couldn't bring myself to take that picture and post it on the internet for the world to see.  I received the Playtex Sport Fresh Balance to try out. They are lightly scented (is that scary to anyone else besides me???) They completely freak me out that I need to review them do the job that they are intended for and, as a bonus, scent my feminine hygiene drawer very nicely. I may move some to my underpants drawer to act as potpourri. I like the Sport line and do intend to repurchase, in a non-scented manner, when I run out. 

Look features  Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation and NYC New York Color Expert Last Lipstick along with the original Urban Decay Naked Pallet, Benefit Hoola bronzer, and Nars Orgasm Blush. My very own #LondonLook

The next items in my box are the Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation and NYC New York Color Expert Last Lipstick in the shade Forever Fuchsia (shade 447). In my unboxing video I expressed apprehension because of the PINK, BRILLIANT HOT PINK, shade my lipstick came in. In my experience, hot pink lipstick doesn't flatter me and requires tons of foundation and blush and bronzer to make it balance out. All that being said, I Love This Lipstick! I've worn it several times by itself with no other makeup and incorporated it into my everyday makeup (tinted moisturizer, mascara, eyeliner, blush). 

 

The foundation, oh the foundation.... I am pale, like ghostly in the summer and see-through in the winter pale. I'm impossible to match. and on top of that I have schizophrenic skin. One day it's so dry the Sahara has nothing on me and the next it's oil-slick central. I prefer a semi-matte finish for my foundation so, in theory, I should have loved this foundation. I have very mixed feelings about this. 

The pros... very matte. For hours there was zero oil on my face. It took great pictures and it held my other products on my skin with no sliding around. The makeup lasted alllllllllldayyyyyyy. And with a decent moisturizer underneath and a hydrating primer it wasn't astronomically drying like it was when I applied it solo. 

The cons... application was a draaaaaag... I apply my foundation with a brush, it's the easiest way to move the base around and blend so that you do not see any streaks or uneven buildup. I tried putting this foundation on with my fingers, sponges, flat foundation brushes, round foundation brushes, stippling brushes... all took forever to get past the streaky stage. And all of the methods dragged on my skin. They hurt y'all. I would love to say that I'm a trooper and pain doesn't bother me but I'm a baby. Then my bronzer, blush, eyeshadow and all that STUCK where I put it and I had to work foreeeever to blend. My buffing muscles hurt at the end of application. 

The Verdict... It does what it says it is, It stays matte and gives a shine free finish. I'll hang on to it for pictures and the like but I won't be buying it for myself again. And I'm taking Tylenol before any future applications. 

Next up is the Broadway Nails imPRESS Manicures. I've used these before, they have a toe version that I LOVE, and as always the application is easy, the colors fun, and the finished product beautiful. These are freat for a night out, a date, prom, formals, and any day you want flawless nails without bothering with polish or salons. I've seen them in stores between 6-8 dollars (and the clearance bin at HEB for 2!!!) I love the pattern I got and the spring-y feel. 

Honesty-Time... I prefer the toe version to the finger version. I'm a "picker" and these are super easy to pick off when I'm bored. On my toes they can last up to 2 weeks and on my hands 3 days is as long as I can hold off picking at them. But I will be buying the toes in every cool pattern I find after I get a job. 

Tea and  my family go hand in hand. Iced tea in the summer and hot in the winter. M husband has a fancy Teavana addiction. (it's pretty bad y'all) But I'm a traditional sweet tea person! Brew it and dump a box of sugar in there and I'm good to go!!! So when i got the Red Rose Real Tea Premium Water Enhancers I assumed I would hate it and give it away... My bottle is almost empty and I'm surfing the web for coupons to buy more. The tea addiction has struck again! It's so good my dog stole it and dragged it to her lair! I had to rescue it from my dog! 

Last thing in my box is the Pilot Acroball Pure White. If you know me you know I am a pen snob. I carry 5-10 pens in my purse so I have the correct color, tip type, and ink type to write on all manner of surfaces. My favorite being gel-ink pens and marker tipped pens. I Love Sharpie Pens. It's an addiction. 

All that said. My husband stole this pen within minutes of me trying it. The grip is nice and the line is fluid. I loved it when it was mine. (for that whole 5 minutes) The husband has dragged it to work, caveman style, and is using it for all his paperwork. I am buying more asap. 

I hope you enjoyed my box, I definitely did and am...! I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.  All opinions are my own and I was not paid to review them. 

My First VoxBox!

So I LOVE makeup boxes! I have a list a mile long of all the different subscriptions I want but, you know.... I need a job first!!! So when I heard about Influenster I was super excited! Influenster is like the Facebook of beauty. Signing up is easy and you can "up" your score by filling out reviews. You can "unlock "expert" badges in different areas like food, beauty, wine, etc... 

ANYWAY!!! 

I received my FIRST box! 

I received the Colgate Optic White Toothbrush and Whitening Pen!!! 

To see the review page, click here!

It's SOOOOOO easy.... just brush, whiten, GO! (and this is my new favorite toothbrush!) The whitening pen is easy to use and there isn't a terible "whitening" taste. It is a strange feeling having a paste on my teeth, but I just smile (aka keep my mouth open) for a while until it sets and then go about my business. I'm not sure how much whiter my teeth are but considering that they are pretty yellow and I have done NOTHING to fix that in years it feels good to feel like I'm something to fix it!

It can take some time to work up a high enough score to get a box.... just a heads up! This set was sent to me by Influenster to try and review. I was not paid for reviewing this product and have given my honest opinion. 

If you want a Ipsy or Birchbox subscription, use the links below! 

Ipsy

Birchbox

My Furry Babies

I thought today I would introduce y'all to the furry little loves of my life. The Hubby tells me all the time they aren't human... to which I viciously reply that they are MY Furry Humans. But here they are:

 This is my youngest baby Darth Fluffy. (I did not name her... my brother did) She turns 1 this October. She has taught the hubby and I huge lessons in responsibility.

 This is my precious Adella. We adopted her and her brother as babies in the spring of 2010 while my dad was so sick and she has brought tremendous joy to my life.

And this handsome fella is my baby Sebastian. I love all my animals equally but they don't all have the same bond with me. My Sebastian is my cuddle-bug. he is my comforter. and he is my go-to for furry love.

These are my babies. I hope you find them as beautiful as I do... If not that's OK since they are mine and not yours!