Guest Post- Foodie Kitchen Staples by Sage & Serendipity

Today I bring to you a guest post written by my friend and fellow blogger, Logan from Sage & Serendipity! I don't typically have foodie posts but I love kitchen accessories. Enjoy!

Foodie Kitchen Staples

I'm so excited to be guest posting on Lindsey's blog! My name is Logan; I'm a CPA by day and lifestyle blogger behind 'Sage & Serendipity' by night. One of my favorite topics is food whether it is restaurants to eat at or delicious meals to whip up at home. I thought it would be fun to tap into the "buy" aspect of Lindsey's 'Beauty Books and Buys' and share three of my favorite kitchen gadgets!

1. Vegetable Spiralizer

By now, everyone's heard of the health hack of swapping pasta for vegetable noodles. This came across my radar several years ago, but I didn't pull the trigger on buying my own until I started dabbling in the Whole 30 food lifestyle.

I absolutely love this gadget! Setting aside the health benefits of a veggie swap, the noodles (or zoodles, when you use zucchini) that are produced look just like the advertisements. I simply spiralize two zucchini (1-2 meals depending on how hungry you are), drop them into boiling water and cook for 3-4 minutes. It’s that easy! Topped with pasta sauce and meatballs this is an easy and inexpensive dinner.

There are lots of options out there; I ordered this Veggetti brand version. At $11 it’s a fantastic price point and works great! Unless you plan to dabble in spiralizing on a consistent basis, a cheaper version such as the Veggetti is a perfect addition to your kitchen.

On this version you can select thick or thin noodles. There is a bit of waste produced, as you can’t grate an entire zucchini. I’d recommend using the leftover end for a salad even sliced on a sandwich! The unit is easy to clean and small enough that storage isn’t an issue. I haven’t spiralized anything other than zucchini yet, but hope to branch out soon!

2. Microplane Grater

Growing up we had a metal grater in our kitchen that could produce a course or fine size. It was arduous to use and had a large surface, meaning your grated food would go all over the place if you weren’t careful. Fast forward to several years ago when I, on a whim, picked up a Microplane brand grater at Bed Bath & Beyond. This brand seriously changed my life when it comes to cooking and I can’t even begin to explain just how much I recommend this product.

I’ve grated everything from citrus to ginger to cheeses with these graters. They are extremely easy to use and store well in your kitchen. Each grater comes with a plastic protective cover; this helps in storage as it protects from any accidental hand grazes and keeps the unit clean until it’s time to use. The products wash fairly easy; I recommend using a bristle brush to clean as some food particles can be tough to get out of the grates.

Microplane products are slightly more expensive than other grater brands, with good reason! You can mitigate your cost through those handy 20% off coupons at Bed Bath & Beyond. Amazon also sells the brand for a few dollars cheaper than retail locations.

I own a fine and a course version; options are nice depending on what you are making. Overall I like a fine grate when I am zesting citruses, and a course grate for putting fresh ginger on my meals. I recommend looking for items with the black rubber coating on the handles (it’s easier to grip). Additionally I have not tried the brand’s box graters but imagine they are excellent!

3. Crate & Barrel Magnetic Measuring Spoons

Even if you aren’t a baker and/or often can’t be bothered with exact measurements (is it just me?) a set of these magnetic measuring spoons are a kitchen must.

Thanks to the magnetic aspect, these spoons stick together in your drawer. This is an organizer’s dream, and who wants to spend time digging through your kitchen tools for a measuring spoon? The magnetic addition also does away with the need for one of those annoying rings that holds kitchen spoons together-I cannot stand those things!

My favorite part about these spoons though is that they are double sided. Nothing is worse than having to pause your cooking to wash a measuring spoon for reuse; now you have double the use while cooking! The sides are two different sizes which is great for narrow jar openings.

The white coloring is classic and it does not stain easily; I’ve had my set for about 3 years and they still look brand new. The $8 price point is pretty great and a cheap investment for something that will last for ages! Find the spoons here or in Crate & Barrel stores in the kitchen gadget section.

Logan can be found blogging at www.sageserendipity.com and on twitter and Instagram under @loganmer. 
 

Birchbox July 2015

In case you are unaware, Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription box. It costs $10 a month and you receive multiple sample size item. These boxes allow you to try tons of new products that you may have never even heard of before. The other fun thing about Birchbox is that every time you purchase an item from their site, or review a product from your box, you receive rewards points! Once you collect 100 points, you get $10 off of your next purchase. These points definitely add up quickly between buying your box, and reviewing the products.

Each month, Birchbox allows subscribers to pick one of their samples. If you prefer surprises, you don’t have to pick one. You can choose to be surprised instead. They also offer full boxes that have been made by a guest. This month’s guest editor box was the Beachy and Bright box. This month’s sample choice was a choice of three different shades of the Stila Look at Me Liquid Lipstick. The choices were Beso (a bright red), Venezia (an orangey/coral) and Bella (a hot pink). I chose Bella because I like hot pinks. I was tempted by Venezia because I like corals, but I was worried it would be too orange for my tastes.

The products I received this month were as follows (also... isn't that box amazing? I Love it!):

Jouer Daily Repair Treatment Oil (Full-size $48)- This is a face oil that is meant to smooth, hydrate, and rejuvenate skin. It is scent free and can be used as a moisturizing oil or in addition to your moisturizer. It does sink into the skin nicely and, even though the packaging says you only need 2 drops, I find that I need at least 3 to get my whole face. It doesn’t leave me feeling greasy or shiny, but I haven’t noticed many benefits from it yet.

Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray (Full-size $22-$39)- This spray is meant to give you beachy, textured waves while also hydrating and boosting shine. I have been wanting to try an Oribe product forever because I only hear good things. With curly hair, beach sprays tend to relax my curls. They don’t turn into beautiful beach waves, but they do loosen a little bit which is nice. I tried this once on my crly hair and once when my hair was straightened and didn’t notice it doing much. It maybe gave a little bit of volume but didn’t change the texture of my hair. 

COOLA Classic SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer for Face (Full-size $32)- This product is exactly what it says it is, a face moisturizer with SPF. It smells really nice and I look forward to using it. I’m always looking for good face moisturizers with SPF included. I’m a bit lazy and don’t like taking the extra step to add SPF. It’s not overly expensive for a moisturizer either.

Juice Beauty GREEN APPLE Peel Sensitive (Full-size $39)- This is a gentle peel that is meant to exfoliate. I’m a little nervous to try this product as the word “peel” makes me picture my face turning bright red. I’m glad that it says it’s for sensitive skin, but I’m going to have to save it for when I don’t have anything coming up. It’ll be interesting to try this because I haven’t even tried an exfoliating peel before.

Stila Look at Me Liquid Lipstick Trio (Set of 3- $20)- I received the shade Bella which is a hot pink liquid lipstick. This product is meant to stay all day like a stain. First warning, this shade is not for the faint of heart. It is probably the brightest shade of pink I have ever seen. Second warning, this product is in no way moisturizing. It’s a little too matte for my tastes (as I think it can look kind of chalky) and it can feel uncomfortable. It’s isn’t the most uncomfortable matte I’ve ever worn, but it takes a little getting used to. I sampled this when I was at work one day because I knew I would be eating at least one meal and possibly some snacks. It seemed like a good way to really test the staying power of this lipstick. I will say that it definitely stays.  The only fading that I found was on the inside of the lip, but it still looked pretty good. It’s not a kiss proof lipstick (if you kiss the back of your hand it will come off), but with normal wear it stays well. Apparently, I forgot to take a picture when I first applied, but I took a (poor quality) picture at the end of the day to show where it had worn off.

You can see the wear in the middle of the lip and at the corners

You can see the wear in the middle of the lip and at the corners

Overall this box was a major win! Definitely one of my favorite ones I’ve gotten so far. Every product in it was one that I needed or wanted to try.

June Birchbox Update

Dr Jart+ Premium BB Cream SPF 45- This BB cream is pretty nice. It gives a decent amount of coverage and feels really light on the face. It does cover the redness which is nice. It’s not something I would buy, but it’s good on days when I want a little extra coverage.

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels- Oh man! I can’t believe I forgot that I got these! I was really looking forward to trying them and completely forgot about them. I will have to try these with my shower/bachelorette party coming up.

Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner- After swatching this on my hand I had no desire to try it on my eye. Maybe I’ll try it eventually, but most likely it will be given away or trashed.

Temple Spa Shampoo and Conditioner- Again, another product from this box that I had no desire to try. I am saving them for guests that come over that need some shampoo and conditioner.

Pura Vida Lace Headband- I was a little surprised by how tight this headband was when I put it on. I like that it’s tight, because ta means it stays in place, but is a bit uncomfortable. The color isa little difficult to pull off and I don’t like the lacy. It’s nice to use when I’m doing a face mask, but I probably won’t wear it out of the house. 

Book Club July 2015

This month’s book club book was picked by Denise. The book is What She Left Behind.
 

By: Ellen Marie Wiseman
Published Year: 2013
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 336

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): In this stunning new novel, the acclaimed author of THE PLUM TREE merges the past and present into a haunting story about the nature of love and loyalty—and the lengths we will go to protect those who need us most.

Ten years ago, Izzy Stone’s mother fatally shot her father while he slept. Devastated by her mother’s apparent insanity, Izzy, now seventeen, refuses to visit her in prison. But her new foster parents, employees at a local museum, have enlisted Izzy’s help in cataloging items at a long-shuttered state asylum. There, amid piles of abandoned belongings, Izzy discovers a stack of unopened letters, a decades old journal, and a window into her own past.

Clara Cartwright, eighteen years old in 1929, is caught between her overbearing parents and her love for an Italian immigrant. Furious when she rejects an arranged marriage, Clara’s father sends her to a genteel home for nervous invalids. But when his fortune is lost in the stock market crash, he can no longer afford her care—and Clara is committed to the public asylum.

Even as Izzy deals with the challenges of yet another new beginning, Clara’s story keeps drawing her into the past. If Clara was never really mentally ill, could something else explain her own mother’s violent act? Piecing together Clara’s fate compels Izzy to re-examine her own choices—with shocking and unexpected results.

                                                     First Impressions

The summary, when it was read to me, sounded really interesting. I liked the idea of two stories that have a parallel even though they’re decades apart. However, the cover is so beyond boring. Like, to the point that even though I knew I needed to read this book for book club I couldn’t get myself to open it. Even though the summary was intriguing, I wouldn’tve picked up this book on my own.

                                                      What I thought

This book was good. It was better than I thought it was going to be, but it’s not a new favorite.

What She Left Behind follows Izzy and Clara. Izzy is a foster child in the 1990s. He mother killed her father when she was 8 and is in prison, so Izzy has been in the foster care system for almost 10 years. Clara is a young woman in the 1920s who has been committed to a mental hospital by her parents. Izzy believes that her mother was insane when she killed her father and worries that she will become insane as well. When she visits the Willard’s insane asylum with her foster parents to complete research, she finds Clara’s trunk and journal and becomes interested in her story.

The perspectives change from chapter to chapter. It starts with Izzy’s story and then switches to Clara’s. I found Clara’s story to be very interesting. When I was reading her chapters, I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I don’t want to say that I enjoyed her chapters because the majority of her story is horrible, but I don’t know how else to say it. I didn’t enjoy Izzy’s story as much. I found that what got me through her story was wanting to get to the next chapter of Clara’s story.

Clara’s story was sad but fascinating. Even though I thought I knew what was going to happen next, there were a few twists I didn’t expect. Izzy’s story seemed immature and almost written by another author. I found her to be annoying and even though I felt like I was supposed to sympathize with her, I didn’t. If this story had been all about Clara I think I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more.

It’s a little disturbing reading how the mental hospitals in the early 20th century were run, but it makes me thankful for how far we’ve come. I don’t feel like I can say too much about this book, because I don’t feel like much happened. Like I’ve said, Clara’s life story was interesting but nothing happened in Izzy’s story other than to move Clara’s along. There wasn’t much more to the plotline other than a girl being committed to a mental hospital by her parents, even though she was perfectly sane. 
 

It’s an interesting book. I wish there was a little bit more to it. Even though there was a lot of craziness, I still walked away from the book feeling like it was boring. There are definitely some positives, but overall it was a bit of a miss for me. I’d recommend it as a book club book because it is an easy read and there are a lot of talking points. I wouldn’t re-read it, and therefore wouldn’t purchase it for my shelves.

                                                                             What Book Club Thought

I think that I was probably the one who liked the book the least. It was interesting because Meghan had the opposite thought from me with the beginning of the book. She felt as though Izzy’s chapters were interesting and Clara’s were very blah. However, she agreed that once she got to the middle of the book she preferred Clara’s chapters to Izzy’s. We all felt as though Izzy was just a means to an end to get to Clara and that we could’ve either done without her, or wished that there was more to her story to feel like it had a point.

                                                            Poignant Questions

What did you think of how Clara was treated in the asylum?

What did you think of Izzy’s past? Was is necessary to the story?

If you grew up in the 1920s, do you think (as a woman) you would have gone along with what your parents told you to do, or would you have rebelled like Clara?

What did you think of Clara’s parents’ decision to send her to the asylum and then leave her there?

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Haul 2015 + Giveaway!

Every year, Nordstrom holds an anniversary sale during which they bring out fall products at a sale price. Nordstrom card holders receive early access (started July 9th) and non-card holders receive access to the sale on July 17th. If you shop at Nordstrom, I highly recommend getting a card. They even have a debit version, so if you’re nervous about having a credit card you can get the debit and still get points and rewards!

Each year I tend to go into the sale looking for something specific. This year, I was looking for some Iceland essentials. In case you aren’t aware (or in case I’ve never stated it on my blog) the fiancé and I decided to go to Iceland in December for our Honeymoon. I’ve pretty much used this as an excuse to get a new winter jacket (which is always necessary for Chicago) and some new snow boots. Other than that, I didn’t have anything specific I was looking for.

If you have anything specific that you want to add to your fall wardrobe (jewelry, handbags, dresses, sweaters, boots, etc) I highly recommend checking out this sale. They have great deals on sweaters and boots that you won’t regret. Also, Nordstrom has a free shipping and free return policy, so you really can’t go wrong. Nordstrom’s return policy in general is also really great. Even if you keep something for more than 30 days because you can’t decide, they’ll still take it back.

Clothing

The North Face Lunabrooke Sweater Jacket (During Sale $89.90 After Sale $120.00)

A silly picture showing the collar buttoned up, but then I turned sideways and didn't show the buttons... :-/

A silly picture showing the collar buttoned up, but then I turned sideways and didn't show the buttons... :-/

I stumbled upon this jacket when looking for a winter one and fell in love. My current fall jacket is The North Face Denali jacket. I’ve had it for probably 6 years now and I still love it. However, there are some occasions where having a bit of a nicer jacket are necessary in adult life. What I love about this jacket is it feels like a sweatshirt. It is super soft, lined with fur, and just amazingly comfortable. I did order a size up because I do want to be able to wear thicker sweaters underneath. The medium fit me really well, but the large gives a little bit of room. Depending on what you want to wear underneath this jacket, I would say it fits true to size.

BP Reversible Poncho in Chevron Plaid (During Sale $27.90 After Sale) (There is no link because it is currently unavailable online)

Showing the plaid and chevron sides of the scarf/poncho with a Blaze walking across. Cats love getting in the way.

Showing the plaid and chevron sides of the scarf/poncho with a Blaze walking across. Cats love getting in the way.

This “poncho” was displayed like a blanket scarf which is what made me pick it up. Last winter I regretted not purchasing a nice warm blanket scarf so when I saw this on sale, I grabbed it. It is really soft and cozy. When I opened it up, I realized that it had a “v” in the middle, and I finally realized it could be worn as a poncho. I would say that you can easily use this as either a poncho or a scarf. I’m really excited to use this and think it will be great for travel with its multiple uses.

My mom was looking for a transitional coat and the sales woman who was helping us showed her this one. After hearing about it and seeing it, I thought that it would be perfect for my winter needs. However, I did end up returning it but I wanted to talk about it anyway. This coat is a 3-in-1 rain coat, insulated coat, and then a winter parka. I love that this coat has 3 different ways you can wear it, has a hood, and is long but not too long. If you don’t own a rain jacket and you either live somewhere with non-polar vortex winters or already have a good winter jacket, I definitely recommend this. My mom currently owns The North Face Metropolis down jacket, but it’s going on her 5th winter so the down has worn a little bit. This Patagnoia is perfect for her because the rain jacket and the insulated jacket are exactly what she needs (separately) for transitional weather, and then when it gets really cold, she can put the insulated layer underneath her North Face jacket.

The inside of the Patagonia Vosque

The inside of the Patagonia Vosque

My issue with the jacket is that I thought the insulated layer was down, but it’s not. If it was, I would have kept this jack and been in love. After buying the jacket, I went online to see reviews and almost everyone wrote that this was a great jacket that kept them warm until the weather started going below 20 degrees F. Bummer. I was disappointed that I had to return this jacket, but it just isn’t what I need in my life right now. If it is what you need, please check it out!

Beauty

Shiseido Urban Environment Oil Free UV Protection SPF 42 ($32)

Over July 4th weekend, I tried my friend’s moisturizer and fell in love. However, it didn’t have an SPF. While at Nordstrom, with my make-up girl who I trust with my life, I decided to check out moisturizers. She recommended this one by Shiseido and the Daywear one by Estee Lauder. I ended up picking this one, not only because it was less expensive, but because it is really light. I haven’t tried it on my face yet, but when I do, there will definitely be a review.

The gift includes a black clutch, the Advanced Time Zone Cream SPF 15, Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, Advanced Night Repair Recovery Eye Complex, Color Compact with Eyeshadow in 8 shades and Pure Lip Gloss in 3 shades, Full-Size Pure Color Lipstick in Sugar Honey, and Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Liner Mini in Blackened Cocoa.

If you are making an Estee Lauder purchase yourself, I do want you to know that this gift comes with a few options. It comes with a warm option or a cool option. While I like the lipstick better in the cool option, I picked the warm option for you guys because the eye shadows are more neutral and I felt like they would look better on more people. You can also choose different moisturiziers, depending on your preference.

In order to enter this giveaway (at the end of this blog post), you must be 18 years or older and reside in the US.

For the Fiance

In case you have any men in your life, the anniversary sale is great for them too. My brother picked up a really nice pair of shoes and I grabbed a few items for the fiancé while I was there.

SmartWool “New Classic” Ribbed Socks (During Sale $12.90 After Sale $18.95)

If you have a man in your life who loves to be outdoors in the winter, SmartWool socks are the way to go. Even on Black Friday I have never seen these on such a good sale. I immediately grabbed two pairs as my fiancé lives in these in the winter. They are his absolute favorite.

What I’m Still Looking At

I have a few products that I’m still debating purchasing from the anniversary sale.

The first is the MICHAEL Michael Kors Belted Down & Feather Fill Parka with Detachable Faux Fur Trim Hood (During  Sale $169.90 After Sale $258.00). Since I returned the Patagonia jacket, I am still on the lookout for a new down winter coat. I really like the look of this one, so I think I’m going to order it and give it a try. Hopefully, this will be more along the lines of what I’m looking for.

The next item is the Wildfox Baggy Beach Jumper Pullover in Clean White/Bordeaux (During Sale $64.90 After Sale $98.00). I have been looking at the Wildfox Baggy Beach Jumpers for a few years now. They are beyond soft and really comfortable. Most of the time they have silly sayings or pictures on them, which made it difficult to justify the price since I wouldn’t be able to wear them to work. The pattern on this one, however, is definitely work appropriate, especially with a scarf or statement necklace. I’m still a little iffy on the price, so I think I need some feedback. Do you guys think it’s worth it?
 

Well, that’s all I’ve bought from the anniversary sale this year.  I’ll proabaly continue stalking their site to see if there’s anything else I “need.” 
 

This Giveaway is now over

I Do Vox Box Part 1

I recently received a complimentary I Do VoxBox from Influenster, in exchange for my honest review. In this box, there were 7 products. I will be reviewing them in two separate parts. The first part today will talk about the make-up products. The I Do VoxBox is full of products meant to be essential on your wedding day.
 

COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstick & Stay Luminous Foundation (with a Lunker tail on the side)

COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstick & Stay Luminous Foundation (with a Lunker tail on the side)

COVEGIRL Outlast Stay Luminous Foundation ($11.30)

This foundation is designed to “outlast even your most important day.” I like that they sent a full size foundation and that it’s a drugstore foundation. Not every bride can afford to hire someone to do their make-up, or afford high end beauty products. I received the shade 820. For my current skin tone, the color I was sent is a little light. But that’s because it’s summer and I’ve been outside a lot so I’ve gotten pretty tan. I think that for my non-tanned skin tone, it will work very well.

I love the packaging for this foundation. I love that it is glass and I love that it has a push top. The push top also has a lock setting, so between that and the lid, you are really sure that the foundation won’t dry out or become full of germs. 

Left side (looking at the picture) with foundation, right side no foundation

Left side (looking at the picture) with foundation, right side no foundation

I tried to take a picture of my face with half of it covered with foundation and the other half bare, but my camera and lighting was not cooperating, so this is the best I could do. Hopefully, you can see a different.

I like that this foundation has no scent and is easy to work with. At first, it looks like it’s going to be a little drying, but then once it settles it looks very natural. I also found that it didn’t stick to any of my dry/psoriasis patches. It also was a semi-matte foundation. It didn’t make me look oily, but it didn’t completely flatten my skin. I would agree with the description that it has a luminosity to it.

I would classify this foundation as a medium coverage foundation. I don’t typically wear foundation, so I honestly don’t have a lot of experience, but I would say that this covered redness, but I still needed concealer to cover up some darker spots. The wear time on this was also very good. I wore it on a day when I was out and about and I didn’t feel like I needed massive touch-ups. I could see that with a good setting spray or powder, this foundation could definitely work for a wedding day. 

COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstick ($9.80)

I received the Outlast Lipstick in 920 Red Revenge. Again, as a product from their Outlast line, this lipstick is meant to last all day. The color I received is a little more orange than I would have picked for myself, but I was surprised by how much I liked it! 

This lipstick is creamy and easy to apply. It has a matte finish, but is not drying at all. It is also very pigmented. I loved that even though it was a red, I was able to put it on without a library and not worry about it. It boasts long wear and moisture and I would say and it delivers. The only negative is that this does not pass the kiss test, so I can’t see it being a wedding day product. When I kissed the back of my hand, my lip marks showed up 100%. This would be a big problem on my wedding day, as I plan on kissing my husband to be. The last thing that I (or he) want to worry about is my lip color on his face. I also would say that I feel like it’s a little overpriced. I like the packaging, but don’t think it’s amazing. I don’t know if it would catch my eye in the store more over other products. Now that I’ve tried it though, I will definitely be looking at other colors from this line.

Indeed Labs nanoblur ($19.99)

The Indeed nanoblur is meant to give skin an air-brushed look with a matte finish. In theory, this would be great for a wedding. No bride wants her skin to look shiny or imperfect in her wedding pictures. I had to read the instructions to figure out exactly how this product is meant to be applied, as I wasn’t sure whether it was a moisturizer, primer, or something totally different. 

I’m not a fan of the box that it comes in, as I feel like it looks more like medicine than make-up. I do like the tube that it’s in though. 

The consistency of the product is weird. It comes out like a Vaseline, but doesn't spread at all. When I tried to spread it on my face it didn't move and I felt like I really had to tug to get it on. Maybe I'm applying it wrong? Either way, I think this product needs better directions.

The directions state that if you are not wearing make-up, you can apply this product to your face after your moisturizer. If you are wearing make-up, you should pat this over your make-up when you are done. I did not follow these directions completely and that as a big mistake. I put the product on and then decided to put on my concealer. BAD BAD idea. When I tried to put concealer on top of this product it would not move. The concealer clung to the product and clung to my dry spots like none other. It was absolutely horrible. Also, asyou can tell by my need for concealer application, I didn’t feel like this gave me an air-brushed look. It doesn’t take any redness away, and I would say it makes pores maybe look slightly smaller?

Either way, for $20 I would not purchase this product. I think that these products are good in theory, but not in execution. I will try it again and follow directions to really see if it works, but I can’t see this doing much. I also will have to try it on top of foundation to see how it spreads.

Neutrogena Hand Cream ($3.99)

Considering that everyone will be looking at your hands on your wedding day, you definitely want them looking pretty. Also, since I’m from Chicago, I am always looking for a good hand cream for the winter.

The cream is fragranace free and also states that it’s dermatologist recommended. I do actually see a lot of Neutrogena samples at my dermatologist, so I do know that this brand is good for people with sensitive skin. The consistency is a little like Vaseline, so I was a little worried when it came out. A lot of the time, Vaseline type creams don’t spread well and make your hands very greasy. This cream spreads very easily. It did make my hands a little greasy, but it went away quickly. My hands were left feeling very soft but a little bit slippery. I think that I used too much product so all over the packaging and the description, it states that a little goes a long way with this product. I do really like that this can be a multi-use product. It states that you can use this on your knees, elbows, face, and lips. This is great for your wedding day, and even your honeymoon, when you can’t pack a million products.

This box has had some hits and misses for me. I really like both of the COVERGIRL products and am thankful for the chance to try them out. I think that the foundation would be a great addition to any wedding make-up bag. While I love the color and formulation of the lipstick, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re going for a very neutral color. Or if you have a husband-to-be who doesn’t mind getting a little lipstick on him.

The Indeed nanoblur was a big miss for me. This product did not sit well on my face and did not seem to do anything. On top of that, for $19.99 it seemed like it should do more. I would not recommend this particular product from them.

Finally, the Neutrogena hand cream is a great addition to my life. I always love products that can be used for more than one thing and I think it would be a great one to have in your wedding bag. I will also be sharing this one with my fiancé as he gets really dry hands. A bonus for both of us!

In the next part, I will discuss the 2 food products and the URGENTRx Ache & Pain Relief. 

PS I Still Love You

Sorry for the bit of a break on the blog! I got a bit busy with July 4th weekend and then wedding stuff just started taking over my life. We're in the 3 month stretch, so I apologize in advanced if posts become sporadic. I'm going to try my best to keep everything consistent.

By: Jenny Han
Published Year: 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 337

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.
She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.
When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.

                                                         First Impressions

Last summer I read To All the Boys I Loved Before. I wasn’t blown away by it, but thought that it was cute. The way the book ended was open for a second book and I was curious enough about the characters to want to read more. I was excited to read the second book because I remember being really interested in the characters by the end.

                                                           What I thought

This book is another case of “everyone loves this book so I must love this book!” Even though I didn’t greatly enjoy the first one, I think I blocked out how underwhelmed I was because of the hype surrounding this one. I was excited to read this book and overall was again, underwhelmed.

P.S. I Still Love You picks up right where To All the Boys left off. Peter and Lara Jean have fought/broken up because of the rumor that they had sex in a hot tub at the ski lodge. This book follows their relationship as it continues to grow and face more rumors. On top of that, Lara Jean hears from the one boy whose letter she didn’t get back in the first book.

I think my biggest issue with this book (and probably the other one) is that I don’t really like Lara Jean. I like her dad, and her sisters, and I like the relationship she has with her sisters, but I don’t like her. I also was a little bummed that Josh was not in this book AT ALL. I also felt like this story could’ve been told in less pages. Of all the YA books that I’ve read lately, I would say this is the least mature. It has a lot of those irritating high school girl things going on. For example, when you find out why Genevieve is so mean to Lara Jean it’s just like really? That’s so minor and stupid and ridiculous. It’s not unbelievable, because I know that teenage girls hold grudges about stupid little things, but I think I’m just too old to handle that in a book anymore.
 

I don’t want to say too much about this book because I don’t want to spoil it for anybody who hasn’t read it yet. It wasn’t bad. I wouldn’t re-read it and there are other YA books I would recommend over these ones. I think that To All the Boys was a…

I don’t want to say too much about this book because I don’t want to spoil it for anybody who hasn’t read it yet. It wasn’t bad. I wouldn’t re-read it and there are other YA books I would recommend over these ones. I think that To All the Boys was a little better than this one, but it wasn’t terrible.
 

Old Navy Haul

Summer time means time for new tops and shorts! I find that every summer my closet is missing something essential. Last year, I felt like I had only solid t-shirts and needed ones with patterns. Now I feel like I only own patterned shirts and needed solids. I also wanted a few tanks to get me through the hotter months of summer.

I have a few store websites that I check out frequently, even though I don’t typically buy anything from them. Old Navy is one of those stores. I’ll often flip through the pages of new arrivals and see a few cute things but nothing worth my time. This time, I saw so many cute tees and tanks that I knew I needed to stop in. Luckily, the day that I decided to go they were having a 60% off sale! This was totally coincidental but worked out in my favor. I also had a $10 rewards from Gap that could be used at Old Navy.

The first thing that I got was what I went in looking for- solid tees. I tried on solid t-shirts in practically every fit; boyfriend, relaxed, fitted, and they are honestly all so different. For me, the style that fit best was the relaxed fit. I was super excited because they were all on sale for $8 (typically $12.94)! I picked up a few different colors. Below is me wearing the neon pink.
 

I also purchased a bright orangey/peachy and an olive green. I’m excited for these because the pink and orange will be great for the spring and summer, and the olive will be great year round. 

On my way to the register I, of course, had to stop and peek at the jewelry. I am a sucker for an inexpensive statement necklace. I’m a big believer that adding the right accessory can really make your outfit. It just adds a little more and makes it look like you put a lot of thought into it, when really you didn’t. This one is a lot of fun and unlike anything I own. It was on sale for $6.50.
 

The next thing that I found was a tank top. Again, they have these in all different fits so it’s difficult to know which will look best. Personally, I really liked the boyfriend style with the tank. It fit me the best in the underarms and the straps which is the most difficult part to fit for me. This was also on sale for $8 (typically $15.94). 

While looking around, I also found a cute pair of tribal print shorts. I have been searching for a cute pair of printed shorts since last summer. I bought a pair at Target last year, but when I tried them on at home, they just didn’t look good. I love that this pair has some subtle neon running through it but can be toned down with a neutral top. These were on sale for $ (typically $19.94) Below are the shorts paired with the boyfriend tank.
 

The tank below is one that I saw on the website and specifically wanted to try. I like that it is white (which I typically stay away from) but has the pattern on it to make it a little more interesting. I think that this one can also be work appropriate under a nice cardigan.
 

The final thing that I bought (but didn’t take a picture of) was a pair of work out capris.

Overall this trip was a huge success! There was one tank that I went to the store with the desire to try on that they didn’t have in my size, but it’s not the end of the world. If you’re looking for some nice summer basics, I would highly recommend checking out Old Navy. The t-shirts that I got are all a really decent quality. They don’t feel like they only cost $8. They also have some nice trendy pieces that are inexpensive. If there’s a trend that I want to try, I prefer not to spend a lot of money on it since it won’t be a piece that I’ll keep for years to come.

Have you bought any fun summer things lately?