April 2014 Empties!

Yet another month has passed and I've accumulated a lot of empty products!

I really enjoy seeing empties videos and blog posts

because it really gives the viewer a good idea about how well you like the product and it gives vloggers and bloggers a chance to reflect on the product.

With that being said, let's begin!

  

• Dove Cool Moisture Shampoo: This shampoo from Dove is one of my favorites that I've tried in a long time. For me it doesn't really matter which shampoo I use, but this one made my hair extraordinarily silky soft and shiny! I just featured this in a previous blog post titled "What's in My Shower?", you can check it out here.

• White Cloud Cotton Rounds (left): I purchase these cotton rounds in a 3-pack at Walmart for about 4 dollars. I use them to remove eye makeup and nail polish, or for applying toner.
• Bic Silky Touch Razors (right): These razors suck! They only have 2 blades which makes it difficult to get a smooth even shave with just one pass. I've never gotten so many cuts and razor bumps with any razor as I did with these.

• Vanilla Bean Noel Triple Moisture Cream by Bath & Body Works (left): I honestly don't know why I purchase any other lotions when I love this one so much. For me applying lotion can be a chore but with this one I can't get enough.
• Cucumber Melon Body Lotion by Bath & Body Works (right): I really love how the smell of cucumber melon brings me back to my early teen years when I started shopping at Bath & Body Works. I did enjoy this, but eventually passed it off to my mom to finish up.

• Cashmere Glow Body Lotion by Bath & Body Works (left): I purchased this preview sized lotion quite a while ago just before this scent was released. For some reason I have a problem with saying no when it comes to a 1 dollar lotion. I hated this scent so I passed it off to my mom.
• Berry Flirt Body Lotion by Bath & Body Works (center): This is another lotion that I passed off to my mother. I LOVE the way this smells on other people, but on me it smells like plastic!
• Paris in Bloom Body Lotion by Bath & Body Works (right): This is one scent that I absolutely love and can't get enough of. At the semi annual sale during the summer of 2013 I stocked up like crazy on this scent and this is the last little lotion I had left. I'm sad to see it go but it was definitely time to use it up.

• Sheer Freesia Shower Gel by Bath & Body Works (left): This was a very pleasant and non offensive floral scent. I really liked how the scent lingered on my skin.
• Paris in Bloom Shower Gel by Bath & Body Works (center): I've finished yet another one of these bad boys (I've had a huge back stock) and I'm left with ONE to finish. I'm sad to see this go but it's just time.
• Sea Island Cotton Shower Gel by Bath & Body Works (right): This scent was very fresh and clean smelling which I enjoy but there was something about it that didn't work for me. I gave this to my mom to use up.

• Dove Sensitive Skin Soap (left): This has been my choice for facial wash for the past few months. I love how gentle and creamy this formula is!
• Dove Go Fresh Restore Soap (right): This is one of Dove's scented bars with orange blossom and blue fig. I actually really enjoyed this and would consider repurchasing this summer.

• Skintimate Shave Gel in Tropical Splash (left): I've used Skintimate's shave cream for years and have never been disappointed. I usually just try a new scent every time!
• White Citrus Body Scrub by Bath & Body Works (right): This was a pretty good body scrub that I picked up for only a couple dollars at a semi annual sale a while back. I would never pay full price for one of these scrubs but I would pick up more if they were on clearance! 

So this concludes my empties post.

I hope you enjoy and thanks for reading!

Pumpkin Chip Cookies - Fast and Easy Recipe!

So here's the story!

My little pomeranian Edward became constipated a few days ago.

 If you didn't know, pumpkin is a natural and very effective method
for relieving constipation in dogs!

So I opened up a can of pumpkin
 and fed him a couple teaspoons... and he was cured! 
But what I was left with was almost a whole can of pumpkin.

So that's why I was inspired to make these cookies!

Yummy.....

Ingredients
-29 oz. can Pumpkin Puree
-2 c. Granulated Sugar
-1 c. Vegetable Oil
-2 tsp. Milk
-2 tsp. Baking Soda
-4 c. All Purpose Flour
-4 tsp. Baking Powder
-1 tsp. Salt
-1 tsp. cinnamon 
-Chocolate Chips (amount to your liking)

Method
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Lightly spray non-stick cooking spray on a baking sheet. 
2. Combine pumpkin, oil, milk, sugar, salt, and cinnamon until well combined. 
3. In a separate dish combine flour, baking soda and baking powder. Add to your pumpkin mixture and combine very well. 
4. Fold in your chocolate chips.
5. Use an ice cream scoop to create uniform cookies and drop them onto your cooking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. 

Yields: Approximately 2 dozen cookies!

What's in My Shower?

I don't know about you but I love snooping in other people's showers!

There's just something so interesting about seeing what products other people buy. I love watching these videos on YouTube, so I figured I would do it blog style. I hope you enjoy this peek into my shower!

• Dove Cool Moisture Shampoo (left): This shampoo is my current "everyday" shampoo. I like the way this makes my hair feel washed, but not stripped. It leaves my hair very shiny and silky; plus it smells great!
• L'Oreal Volume Filler Thickening Shampoo (middle): So far I have only used this once, so I'm speaking on first impressions here. It left my hair soft and smooth; and I also noticed my hair went about 12 hours longer than usual before looking "unwashed". 
• Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Shampoo (right): I've used this shampoo on and off for years and I still love the results it gives me. This is marketed for those with dandruff, but it's also great for oily scalps too. During the winter time my scalp usually dries out and starts itching. This shampoo helps alleviates those symptoms and still makes my hair shiny and soft!

 

• Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner: This is my current conditioner from Herbal Essences. I find this to be pretty good at hydrating and defrizzing my long dry hair. However, it's not mind-blowing by any means. I got this large bottle from Sam's Club and it will last only about 6 weeks. I also use this as an ingredient in a deep conditioning hair mask which I have a recipe for here on my blog.

 

 

• Dove Sensitive Skin Bar Soap (left): This bar soap is my favorite for washing my face. I love using it with my Clarisonic to get smooth and nourished skin. It's a very gentle and creamy formula that is suitable for all skin types.
• Neutrogena Transparent Facial Bar (right): The Neutrogena facial bar is great for people with oily skin. I usually only use this in the summer time when my skin produces more oil.

 

 

• Equate Blemish Control Apricot Scrub: I love using this very affordable scrub about 3 times a week. Before I wash my face I take a quarter size amount in my hand and polish it all over my face. This product contains salicylic acid which works great at preventing and treating breakouts!

 

 

• Bath & Body Works Sheer Freesia Shower Gel (left): I'm currently using this body wash in Sheer Freesia. I've used Bath & Body Works shower gels for years and really enjoy them. This scent is a soft floral scent that got me in the mood for spring!
• Bath & Body Works Loofa (right): I always use a loofa to wash my body. I really feel like it helps lather up the soap better and it helps gently scrub my skin to remove dead skin cells. I like the loofas from Bath & Body Works because they are made well and are slightly rougher.
• Walmart 4 Sided Foot Brush (right): I bought this foot brush at Walmart about a year ago for 3 or 4 dollars. I really enjoy having 4 different sides to choose from depending on the level of exfoliation I need and would definitely recommend purchasing one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Bic Simply Soleil Disposable Razor (left): After trying lots of different disposable razors I'm very satisfied with this one from Bic. There are 3 blades on each razor which provides a smooth shave without patches. I use my razors for 2 to 3 weeks before tossing them.
• Skintimate Shave Gel (right): No matter which shaving cream I try, I always come back to Skintimate. The cream is thick and moisturizing and protects my skin from razor bumps and ingrown hairs. I really enjoy the Raspberry Rain scent!

 

 

• Coconut Sugar Scrub: This is my homemade recipe for a Coconut Sugar body scrub. I love using this before I shave to sluff off the dead skin and provide a closer shave. My recipe for this scrub is here. 

 

 

• Summer's Eve Cleansing Wash: Lastly is this cleansing wash from Summer's Eve. Let's be real...every woman should have some sort of cleansing wash in her possession. These washes are very gentle and specifically formulated for your vaginal area so they will not cause irritation; and with the discreet packaging of this bottle, there's no excuse not to try it!

 

Thank you so much for reading!

DIY K-Cup Holder!

Here's a super easy and affordable way to make yourself

 a K-Cup holder at home!

You will need:

-Toilet Paper/Paper Towel Rolls

-Shoe Box Cover

-Hot Glue Gun

-Scissors

-Pencil

-Spray Paint (optional)

The first step is to cut your rolls. I used a K-Cup as a guideline for where I should mark my cut. For toilet paper rolls, cutting them in half is sufficient.

I decided to make mine with 15 slots for my K-Cups. I then lined them up in the shoe box cover the way I wanted them to be spaced.  Don't place the rolls too close together or the K-Cups will not sit inside properly!

Use a pencil to draw a circle inside each of your rolls. This will be your guideline for placement of each roll after you apply hot glue!

I decided to apply spray paint to my rolls to give them a more polished appearance. I used this one from Krylon! Make sure to allow 20 minutes for dry time.

 The final step is to glue your rolls onto the shoebox, lining them up with the circle you made before hand. I decided to use a few Command strips to stick mine to the side of my pantry. If you prefer, you can cut a rectangular piece off your shoe box and glue it to the back (like a picture frame). 

Pop your K-Cups into the slots and enjoy easy storage for your favorite flavors!

Thank you for reading!

My Perfume Collection - April 2014

Today I am doing an overview of all my perfumes

and giving you information on each one.

I hope you find this helpful!

Daisy Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs

Top Notes: Natural Raspberry, Grapefruit, Pear

Mid Notes: Violet, Wild Rose, Apple Blossom

Base Notes: Musks, Cedarwood, Plum

Dark Kiss by Bath & Body Works

 Top Notes: Bergamot, Incense, Mirabelle Plum, Blackberry

Mid Notes: Amber, Burgandy Rose, Geranium, Peony

Base Notes: Dark Vanilla, Labdanum, Vetiver, Balsams, Musks

Pulse by Beyonce

 Top Notes: Pear Blossom, Frozen Bergamot, Blue Curacao Liqueur

Mid Notes: Bluebird Orchid, Peony, Midnight Blooming Jasmine

Base Notes: Madagascar Vanilla, Musk, Precious Woods

Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana

 Top Notes: Green Apple, Cedar, Bellflower, Sicilian Lemon

Mid Notes: White Rose, Bamboo, Jasmine

Base Notes: Cedar, Musk, Amber

Love is Heavenly by Victoria's Secret

 Top Notes: Mandarin Blossom, Blackberry, Kiwi, Orange

Mid Notes: Water Lily, Freesia, Orchid, Peony

Base Notes: Ebony Tree, Musk, Sandalwood, Mahogany

Love Spell by Victoria's Secret

 Main Notes: Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Cherry Blossom, Peach

Fancy Love by Jessica Simpson

 Top Notes: Bergamot, Peach Blossom, Goji Leaves, Pink Champagne

Mid Notes: Lotus, Peony, Plumeria, Jasmine, Turkish Rose

Base Notes: Creamy Amber, Blonde Woods, Musk, Patchouli

8 by Abercrombie & Fitch

Top Notes: Clementine, Mandarin Orange, Grapefruit

Mid Notes: Lily, Melon, Amaryllis, Violet, Freesia

Base Notes: Amber, Musk, Bourbon Vanilla, Vetiver

Gucci II by Gucci

 Top Notes: Orange, Black Currant, Mandarin

Mid Notes: Violet, Blackberry, Jasmine

Base Notes: Heliotrope, Musk, Cedar

Acqua di Gioia by Giorgio Armani

 Top Notes: Primofiore Lemon, Black Currant, Fresh Pear, Violet Leaves

Mid Notes: Peony, Crystal Jasmine, Sambac Jasmine

Base Notes: Cedarwood, Cashmere, Brown Sugar

Forever Red by Bath & Body Works

 Top Notes: Pomegranate, French Peach, Apple

Mid Notes: Red Peony, Red Osmanthus, Night Blooming Marigold

Base Notes: Vanilla Rum, Marshmallow, Oak

Golden Delicious by DKNY

Top Notes: African Orange Flower, Golden Delicious Apple, Mirabelle Plum

Mid Notes: White Rose, Casablanca Lily, Lily of the Valley, Vanilla Orchid

Base Notes: Musk, Sandalwood, Teak

euphoria by Calvin Klein

Top Notes: Pomegranate

Mid Notes: Lotus, Orchid

Base Notes: Violet, Musk, Amber, Mahogany

So that is what makes up my entire collection.

I hope you found this helpful and thank you for reading!

What I Ate Wednesday 4/9/14

Welcome to a new series here on my blog!

Every other Wednesday I will be doing "What I Ate Wednesday" to show you what I eat in an average day and give you ideas for meals and snacks!

Let's begin!

Breakfast

Breakfast consisted of 1 package of instant plain oatmeal.

To the oatmeal I added cinnamon, brown sugar, low fat milk and 1/2 a banana.

With my oatmeal I had a smoothie.

I used blueberries, a banana, an apple, and low fat milk.

Lunch

 For lunch I went with a chicken salad wrap on a whole grain tortilla with cucumbers and bell peppers. 

On the side I had cucumbers, baby carrots, and pretzel chips with hummus.

Afternoon Snack

As an afternoon snack I had a Raspberry Fruit & Grain Bar.

Supper

 Supper was a slice of pizza with turkey pepperoni. 
On the side I had lightly salted potato chips and sliced cucumber spears.

Thanks for reading!

March 2014 Empties!

The month of March seems to have gone by so fast!

I've been so busy with moving that I hardly had time to focus on using up products, but I did manage to get through a few things...so here they are.

Head & Shoulders 2in1 Green Apple

 I gave this a go thinking it may help relieve my itchy flaky scalp from this winters dryness, and considering I'm not a fan of the original Head & Shoulders scent I thought this was a good choice. It did help alleviate my symptoms, but it left my hair flat and in need of another wash. I wouldn't purchase this again.

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Detangler

This is the second bottle of the Dove Nourishing Oil Care Detangler I've used up and I'm still in love. It leaves my hair shiny, moisturized, and sleek without weighing it down. Definitely will continue to repurchase this product!

Dove Pistachio Cream with Magnolia Body Wash

 This is a brand new body wash from Dove that has gotten a lot of buzz in the beauty community. I can definitely confirm the rumors and say this smells AMAZING! I will definitely repurchase this product. Read my full review here.

B&BW Malibu Heat Shower Gel

I've used the Bath & Body Works shower gels for years and have rarely been disappointed. This is the travel sized Malibu Heat. The scent is a mild tropical scent that got me in the mood for summer. Unfortunately, this scent is discontinued but keep a look out in case it returns!

Skintimate Raspberry Rain Shave Gel

I have been a fan of Skintimate for years and it continues to be my shave gel of choice! I finished up this travel sized one recently and will be sure to repurchase!

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

I've had this moisturizer kicking around for far too long in my medicine cabinet and it was time to get it used up! This is a great moisturizer for those of us with dry skin. This winter was very hard on my skin and I appreciated having this intensive moisturizer on hand. I will consider repurchasing this when I've used up some of my other moisturizers!

up&up Maximum Strength Acne Medication

 Unfortunately this was a big fail for me. This acne gel was so harsh on my skin, it felt like it was burning. My skin peeled back and opened up in little sores everywhere I applied it. So after a few uses I have decided this belongs in the garbage!

Tretinoin Cream 0.05%

 Tretinoin cream is only available by prescription from your doctor. I find this to be one of the best acne spot treatments available. This really helped soothe my acne and bring down the swelling and redness without over drying or irritating my skin.

Crest Complete Extreme Herbal Mint Toothpaste

 I have used this toothpaste for literally 6 or 7 years. I have a very sensitive mouth and when it comes to toothpaste or mouth wash I have to be very cautious about what I use. This toothpaste has an incredibly strong mint flavor that will leave your breath very fresh and your teeth squeaky clean! 

Thank you for reading!