Spring 2016 Nails

OPI Strawberry Margarita
OPI Heart Throb
China Glaze Make a Spectacle

Hair Makeover "selfies" & Curling Tips & Tricks

After having a baby, dealing with body changes and trying to lose baby weight, I was ready for a little change. I wanted my very dark brown hair to be more medium brown- like when I was younger, with some fun blonde summer highlights. I decided to take the plunge! It took me a couple weeks to get used to it, but I do like it (for now!). 

I have also been growing out my hair forever and have been wanting those great curls you see all over pinterest. I have tried every tutorial imaginable. My BFF was so awesome to take the time to do it for me after I had tried everything and I learned a few things. These curls stayed for several days! Before they would only stay a couple hours on the bottom. Keep reading to see what I found out!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Hot Curling Iron Tips & Tricks:

• I needed a hotter iron. Mine goes to 350'. We used one that goes to 400'-450'. We did it around 400' and I noticed a difference right away.
• My hair is in too GOOD of condition! She mentioned it might work better if my hair was dryer and more damaged! While I don't/won't let this happen, I realized on days I want to curl I should use NO conditioner. Along those same lines, it is important to make sure the hair is really clean, especially underneath where we don't scrub as well. Any extra product or dirt weighs it down and the curl won't stay.
• Use mouse and heat protectant about 5 minutes before you curl.
• Curl from the roots to the tip instead of the other way around, and kind of "pump" it through the strand. You can see tutorials for this, I had been doing this but then went back to the other way because it seemed to be faster and my curls weren't staying anyway. This was a good reminder.
• Hold the curl with a flat hand underneath as it sets and cools for a few seconds before moving on to the next one.
• Spray when you're done, not before you curl each strand. 
• Run fingers through and you can turn head over to mess it up a little for that more natural, loose look.

Guest Post Product Review: Nutraluxe Lash MD {natural, full, long, beautiful eyelashes}

This post was written by my bestie, Nicole. She is a fantastic wife, mother of three, and chef behind the blog The Very Hungry Caterpillar. She asked me if I would like to feature this product review after she tried it and loved it since I like to do these types of beauty reviews here on my blog. After reading her story, I  would love to try it too! I think after you read it you will agree that the results are amazing!

(This is not a sponsered post, just something we do for fun).
Take it away, Nicole!

  
I was in getting a pedicure one day and this girl next to me had the most amazing lashes. I complimented her on them and I expected her to say she had extensions in, but instead she said she used this product "Nutraluxe Lash MD". She had tried Latise and a few others but liked this one the best. So I went home and jumped on Amazon and ordered it right away, When I received it I read: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Great, I was pregnant then and I would be breastfeeding.... so it sat in my drawer for a year. It had a two year expiration on it and longer if never opened so I waited. I just finished nursing my baby back in the beginning of June. That day I busted this product out. It took about 4 weeks to see much difference, but then every month it keeps getting better. It will reach its optimal results in another few weeks- it said around 4 months. I have loved this product. Before I go to bed at night I take one swipe across my eyelid like a liquid eyeliner and that is it.... I read so many reviews before I started it and a few mentioned it made their eyes more sensitive or red around the skin in the morning, but I have not noticed anything. I make sure I do not rub my eyes at night though....

before and 8 months pregnant

after

It has turned my almost non-existent lashes into full beautiful lashes. The lashes are much thicker, a little darker and way longer and curlier. I just have one one coat of mascara here and I did not curl my lashes, like I normally would.... The girl who recommended it to me said each tube lasts for 6-9 months. I will probably buy another now to make sure I do not run out then go without for a while... it is under $30 per tube, it is much less expensive than extensions and more natural looking than fake lashes.....

http://www.amazon.com/Nutra-LUXE-Physican-Formulated-Ophthalmologist-Tested/dp/B001WAKUUC/ref=pd_sim_bt_1

Product Features

Alcohol FREE, Chemical FREE, Paraben FREE, Fragrance FREE, Perservative FREE, Physician Formulated, Ophthalmologist Safety Tested
Helps your lashes reach their full potential in LENGTH, FULLNESS, AND DARKNESS
Promotes hydration and helps lashes and brows to appear shiny and strong
Promotes healthy follicles, softens brittle lashes and brows & improves elasticity
Helps lashes and brows to stay longer by making lashes more flexible

Thanks, Nicole! The results are stunning. Have you tried anything like this? Have you had any great results from a beauty product that has see it to believe it claims? Let me know in the comments section.



Product Review: I Have Found It! {Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes/ awesome mascara!!!}

So if you follow my blog, you know abouty quest to find the perfect mascara after they took my precious away. I wrote about it here http://www.rebeccasroundup.blogspot.com/2010/07/so-bummed-no-more-max-factor-need-help.html
and here
http://www.rebeccasroundup.blogspot.com/2011/07/product-review-opi-loreal.html
After using the Loreal Voluminous I started liking it more because it got less clumpy. It did a good job and was a good price. When I ran out I decided to take it a step further and find out if what J-Lo claimed on the Loreal commercials was really true.
Holy. Lashes. LOVE it. I am so excited I have finally found an awesome mascara! It's all true!!!! Not only do they make my lashes look amazing, I can build my coverage from casual to dramatic as much as I want and the brush is crazy- it's like a ton of tiny needles that run through and separate each lash for incredible definition and make them look almost false. ( did anyone else use needles to separate their lashes as a teenager? Or was it just crazy me? My mom told me that tip by the way, so its not just me!)
This is an affordable, drug store product that you can buy with coupons or discounts which is even better.
I highly recommend this mascara. I give it 5 out of 5 and I am so happy to say my quest is finally over!!!
Has anyone else used this product? What mascara do you love?

Trends for 2012

According to my own online research, this is what I found for the hottest upcoming trends this year!
Spring Fashion: birds, pastels, baroque flourishes, drop waist, deep sea, digital imaging, matte satin, and abstract art.
Home: the color "tangerine tango," building green, warm wood furniture, textured upholstery, decorative wall murals, reclaimed wood, woven & knotted rugs, and second-hand decorating.
Beauty: luxury natural products, keratin treatments for sleek hair, magnetic nail polish for marbelized effect, and customized skin care for lifestyle instead of age or skin-type.
And my own predictions for Handmade/crafts: elaborate cupcakes, and even more handmade scarves, cowls, and jewelry.
Looking forward to 2012 and a Happy New Year to you!
~ Rebecca

Product Review: Wet n' Wild blue nail polish

Did you know that blue nail polish is a major trend for 2011? I am usually a deep purple, red, or pink girl. But when I read about everyone's blue crush this year, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a great turquoise color. I have a lot of turquoise in my wardrobe as well as dark green, orange and brown for fall which are fantastic complimentary colors. So I found a fun little bottle of Wet n' Wild wild shine nail color in Bijou Blue for a buck.
I did have to do at least 3 good coats to get the level of intensity I wanted and next time I might go 4, but being usually bright nail- color shy, I must say I was happy with the results. The best part? It's a fun color that my little girls can wear too :)
Have you found any must- have nail colors for 2011?

Product Review: OPI & Loreal

My first review is of OPI's nail laquer in "at first sight." It is a nice nude color that gives your nail a naturally polished look for those quieter fashion moods. The thing I love about all OPI nail laquers is that they are good quality, thick and last for days. They have a zillion colors so it's easy to find one to match your mood! I love having a more subtle color on my fingernails and a more bright color on my toenails.

I would give this particular color a 4 out of 5.

Next up, on my continuing search for the perfect mascara, I tried Loreal's Voluminous Mascara in black with the curved brush. I am not so happy with this one. It looks clumpy, it leaves residue even after I wash my face, and I try to apply a ton of layers and it still doesn't give me the fullness I want.

On the plus side it is found at most stores and it is on the cheaper price range. I would give this a 2 out of 5.

So the search continues...

The Great Grow Out: Bangs.

Is it just me, or is hair a constant struggle for women? I have had bangs for six years now, and I am ready for a {change}. These pictures were taken right after I got a long "shag" cut with my heavy bangs. The cut looked good for about a week.

Then it started looking like it always looks and I decided I was tired of pushing hair back out of my face constantly.

When you were little and trying to grow out your bangs, did your mom pull them back with a big plastic goody barrette and it drove you crazy cuz it looked dorky?

Yeah. Not much has changed. We call this the "brontosaurus look."

So here we are today. Thank goodness for bobby pins and ponytails. This is what it looks like most days. A "momtail" if you will.

This is my "Barbie Momtail" shot.

What about you? Do you ever need variety? What do you do about it?

I LOVE: a few good deals on fashion and beauty

Deal #1: How to get department store items for {practically} free. Do you ever get a Kohl's, JC Penny's, or other card/coupon in the mail for $10 off any purchase? If so, USE THEM! Go to the store with the goal in mind that your budget is $10! It may sound impossible, but you'd be surprised. It's like a treasure hunt of sorts. Know that you'll basically be going for small sale items or clearance racks only. Be creative and keep an open mind. Sometimes you'll walk away with 2 or 3 fun small items like a wooden letter, 4 oz. candle, and a canister of vinyl wall lettering (I once did at Kohl's!) Other times, you might not find anything fun, but get something that otherwise you need and it's more fun getting for free than spending money on (like a trash can, or kid's socks like I also did at Kohl's). My go-to fun item if you can't find anything else, is the clearance jewelry. Lots of fun stuff there.

Last week I got a JC Penny $10 off any $10 minimum purchase. TIP: at JC Penny you have to spend at least $10 before tax so I try to find something a little over $10. I got lucky and found a shirt in the JR's clearance section.

60 % off $26.oo for $10.40. Perfect.

After the coupon, I walked away after paying forty three cents! Woo-hoo!

Deal #2: drug-store/inexpensive brand cosmetics. Some cheap makeup is a good deal. Some of it isn't. I am a MAC fan, and after using the good stuff, you see the difference.

I have been wearing eyeliner every day probably since the age of 15 or 16. Just last year I was given a MAC cream eyeliner they call Fluidline. It is SO. great. It goes on easy and stays on all day. I am convinced it might just be the best.

While at Target recently, I saw that the e.l.f. brand (which stands for eyes lips face if you didn't know) has a new cream liner. So for $3, I thought I'd try it. And I was pleasantly surprised! It goes on good, it is softer than MAC so spreads a little thin sometimes so I have to apply thicker but overall, it does a pretty good job, especially for three bucks.

If you'd like to try it, I suggest ditching the brush it comes with, and with your 40% off coupon at Michael's or JoAnn, go to the painting section and buy a Loew-Cornell 797F-1 brush. It is a thin, flat, straight cut brush that does the trick beautifully and easily. TIP: a great way to apply makeup without having to spend a fortune on cosmetic brushes is to use paint brushes. Many are made with natural fibers and are good quality and much cheaper. There are tutorials and more information on websites like Classy Cosmetics (see my blog list) or on youtube.

Don't judge me. I decided to bite the bullet and post these self pics despite my premature wrinkles, dark under eye circles and sun damage. Yikes!

Deal #3: Great cheap jewelry {if you can't get it for free with a $10 off coupon!}. Have you heard of Forever21? It is a super trendy store at relatively cheap prices and {can} be lots of fun. However, be warned: if you are a mom like me, it can be absolutely horrifying going into that store. lol! I suggest going on a weekday morning when most of the youth {should} be in school and not with all your kids. And I'm really just talking about the accessories, here. They have stylish, fun jewelry and a very good variety, for cheap. One of my favorite necklaces came from their dollar section. That's right. Sometimes they have great stuff for ONE DOLLAR each.

I have been looking for something special to wear for a certain important occasion coming up. I was bummed to see they didnt have a dollar section right now. However, I found this fancy schmancy for a total including tax of three dollars and three cents. Not bad. And wow, does it make a statement! TIP: if you are shy about statement jewelry, there are lots that have faux diamonds or pearls, or gold or silver, or clear crystals or beads, that are neutral and can go with lots of things and will serve you for years to come. Or if not, you dont have to stress about it, 'cause you got it for a GOOD DEAL!

What good deals have you gotten lately?

Inspiration

This picture, from the Toast spring catalog, inspires me. There's just something about it that spoke to me. It makes me want to let my natural beauty shine through, messy wavy hair and all. It makes me want to wear simple, stylish clothes that I can piece together from my own closet. But mostly, it makes me want to be artistic, creative, and find beauty in simple things.

What inpires you?

SO BUMMED! No more Max factor ~ Need help!

I have been all over town this last week looking for my favorite mascara: Max Factor 2000 calorie. After a couple stores I remembered that it was only sold in certain ones, but after going EVERYWHERE I finally realized that maybe I wouldn't find it. So I got online and sure enough, they are no longer selling it in the United States! That's better than going out of business, because it's still available, but now I would have to buy it overseas and of course it's more expensive. Anyone who knows me knows that is not my style, but I really LOVE this mascara! (whimper). I tried a lot of different ones when I was younger and this one was the keeper.
SO: this is what this mascara is and I need help finding one just as good.~no flaking, no eye irritation, long lasting, easy to apply several coats, no leftovers or black ring around the eye after washing off, straight or curved brush option, and overall, just makes your lashes look BIG and AMAZING.
Help? Please?

Product Update: Frizz-Ease

If you saw the product review I did a couple of days ago here and want to try it out, I have some news for you! This week, Rite Aid has a $1 rebate off their cost of $4.99. Plus, there is a $2 off manufacturer's coupon in most Sunday papers which makes the final cost $1.99! It might be for the smaller size ( I will find out when I go get it) but it's still a great deal. You have to have a Rite Aid card but you can get one at the checkout, you just fill out your name and address. Happy Bargain Shopping!

PRODUCT REVIEW: FRIZZ-EASE, a new fave!

Have you ever tried a product to find that... it actually does what it claims?! I have had a sample of this miracle serum for a long time and I finally decided to pull it out and try it. I AM SOLD. My hair was so smooth and shiny and NOT FRIZZY, I just couldn't believe it! And I wasn't the only one; every time my husband looked at me he made a comment about how beautiful I looked and how frizz free my hair was, probably for the 1st time he's ever known me. Sad, I know. Some of us just can't help the frizz! So if you're like me, you've got to try this product. It is about $8 at Walmart which you may think is expensive, but you use a tiny amount, and come ON, it will make your hair beautiful = totally worth it.
Have you ever tried this product?
Do you have any miracle beauty products?

Something for everyone: MAC cosmetics

For a paper fanatic like me, I was impressed with this new MAC basic cosmetics line inspired by craft-paper couture.

To see more, visit MAC here.

MY FAVORITE VIRTUAL MAKEOVER SITE

(Dont know why my lips luge huge in this picture. Ugg)

Do you remember my recent hair dilemma? Well I finally took care of it. Nothing drastic. Just a few layers to take care of the frizz and dead stuff and add a little shape and fun. Plus, I started parting my hair on the other side. Have you ever done this? It's amazing how little things can make a difference.
Before I went under the scissors, I visited my favorite virtual makeover site at Mary Kay. It's way fun and the perfect way to try on different hairstyles. You can also try different hair colors, makeup, and accessories. You can try it here. I guess it's like my own personal Hairy Fairy after all!

SHOUT OUT AND QUICK FAV

image from vampyvarnish.com

Ok all my peeps! I found out that there are ALOT MORE of you reading my blog than I knew! I thought there were like, 2 of you. PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS, and don't be shy, become a follower. Seriously, I started this thing just for fun and it is sort of a hobby now, and I love reading the comments and feedback, it is like fun girly adult conversation that I hardly get these days. I am so happy that you enjoy my ideas- I had no idea! LOVE YA!

And Today's Favorite: RIMMEL 60 SECOND nail polish.
Love this for a couple reasons: it's cheap, it has trendy but pleasant colors, and it really DRIES IN SECONDS! Hello!
Love. it. Go get some!

HAIRY FAIRY?

It's happening. The need to do something different with my hair. But let me start from the beginning. A year ago I cut off 13 inches of my hair and donated it. While I am glad it went to a good cause, I was talked into cutting my hair when I wasn't quite ready and have been missing it ever since. After the cut I had an "A-line" and now it is just grown out to flat, boring, nothing-ness. So I am starting to get the itch to DO something with it. But I don't really want to cut it much, because I want to grow it. Again.
What do you think of these? Layers? Curls?
OH what I would give to have a personal hairy fairy godmother.