Actifry, Landscaping, and Shopping

Things have been so busy! Bill has been working super long hours with the business, we're in the process of adopting a puppy, landscaping our yard, and planning a wedding! I'm just thankful that the farmhouse is finished otherwise I would be going crazy. Just when we think we can finally relax, something else pops up. I guess that's what keeps life interesting though!

One of my new favorite toys is the T-fal Actifry. It's a cooker that lets you fry foods with a minimum amount of oils. I only used a Tbsp of oil for two pounds of fresh cut fries. I can't wait to use this for stirfry, potato wedges, crispy veggies, and even desserts-there's a recipe for ice wine fruit compote in the booklet that looks amazing! The fries came out great..I cut them super thin so they would get crispy, but I think next time I would leave them a little thicker since they got more like shoestring potatoes. My fiance loved them!

Our pond with the mist rolling over it..we love sitting down there at night and listening to the chorus of frogs and toads

Our yard is finally starting to look like, well...a yard!! We planted a few flowering plums, white birch, weeping hemlocks and pines, a weeping larch, flowering cherries, and this beautiful weeping redbud. The pink flowers are so pretty, it's one of my favorite things that we planted so far. We plan to take a trip down to Conestoga and Black Creek Greenhouses in the next week to buy a few more plants to fill in our rock border. I'll have to post pictures when the patio is finally in. Having friends over by our fire pit for drinks on our new patio for the first time will be amazing!

I had to include a picture of these cute new slippers..they were at Steve Madden on clearance for $9.99!

I will have to post pictures of the rest of my makeup haul, but one of the standouts was this Physician's Formula Glow Boosting Airbrushing Bronzing Veil..it's just so pretty and makes my skin glow! A new summer staple. What summer beauty essentials have you discovered recently?

Ipsy and Birchbox Reviews for March

There's nothing as cool as coming home to find a box full of beauty products at your door waiting for you. For makeup junkies like myself, it seriously feels like Christmas morning, and it's fun to try stuff you wouldn't normally have bought on your own. Sometimes I even find products that I would buy again (love those Bombshell blushes!)

This is only my first Ipsy bag. I signed up for the waiting list and ended up waiting around three weeks to get my first box. A few of the products it contained:

• A cute pink and white makeup bag
• Be a Bombshell blush in "sweet cheeks" This seemed pretty bright in the pan but looked very natural on. It has a bit of a sheen and gives a nice glow. This feels very high quality to me and I will definitely look into getting more of these.
• Big Sexy Hair Powder Play Volumizing Powder~ I sprinkled a bit of this in my hand then rubbed my palms together and scrunched it into my roots. It gave me a bit of lift but it didn't last very long.
• Mica Beauty Shimmer Powder in Earth~A very pretty loose shimmer powder, gorgeous applied wet
• Sation Nail Lacquer in 'love at first byte"~A cute, natural looking medium pink with no shimmer..this actually lasted a few days on me with no topcoat, which is saying a lot. Hope to get more of these.

This is my second Birchbox. It contained:

• Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Lipstick in "Starlet" This glossy lip pencil had amazing pigmentation..the color is a bit bright for me but I would totally experiment with other shades
• Oribe Shampoo and Conditoner for Beauty Color~The honey-infused formula made my locks soft and glossy! Need more of this
• Skin&Co Roma Cleansing Body Gel with Olive and Sicilian Orange Extracts~Directly from Rome, this smelled very fresh and washed off completely clean. The scent was a tad bit masculine for me. 
• Supergoop! Anti-aging eye cream~Haven't played around too much with this one, but I did try it and it absorbed very well
• Kusmi Tea Paris~These tea bags are so bright and cute! I love that they are whole leaf. The flavors I got are Sweet Love and Euphoria. Euphoria was amazing, it tasted like orange chocolate!

Ulta Haul!

OPI OZ Collection Don't Burst My Bubble and Which is Witch?

Essie Demure Vixen and Mint Candy Apple

Essie Ladylike, Bikini So Teeny, and Fiji

 Healthy Sexy Hair~ Makes my hair so soft and easy to comb out when wet

L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Shampoo~Had a great coupon for this, so far I've found it to be very moisturizing

L'Oreal The Balm in Heavenly Berry~makes my lips feel so soft and smooth, not waxy or coated at all. Very pretty sheer berry tint

L'Oreal Visible Lift blush in Peach Gold~The texture of this blush is amazing-like buttery velvet. It glides on and leaves behind a pretty wash of peach with a subtle gold sheen. Love it!

NYX Cream Shadow in Beige Frost~Very pretty for inner corners of eyes

CVS Mini-Haul

I had a CVS gift card, some Extra Care Bucks, and a few coupons to use so I picked up several new things at CVS. I love not paying full price! My first impressions on the new loot:

L'Oreal Telescopic in Carbon Black
I'm waiting until I finish up my current mascara (Covergirl Lash Blast) to try this one out..it seems like my friends either love it or hate it, so we'll see!

L'Oreal Million Lashes in Carbon Black
HG..this is one of my all time favorites. The waterproof version just does not budge, it's amazing. No flakes or smudging either. It's a little trickier to remove, but so worth it. Plus the gold tube is just so luxe!

Physician's Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls in Light
I didn't really know what to expect from this..is it a highlighter? Is it an all over luminizer? The pearls are so cute but I was surprised that this one looked darker than the one for medium skin. The silver compact feels kind of bulky and cheap, and of course the brush is useless (when are companies going to figure that one out?). I'm running low on my beloved MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle and thought this might be a suitable product to fill the gap before I can pick up a new one. When I swiped it on my wrist, I was pleasantly surprised to see there was no chunky glitter or obvious shimmer, just a slight bronze sheen. I use it on my forehead, cheeks, chin and Cupid's bow and have been loving the subtle "glow" it gives. I'm not giving up my MAC anytime soon, but I was pretty happy with this.

Wet N Wild Walking on Eggshells Trio
This is gorgeous! Definitely can see this becoming my "get out the door fast" eye. Very happy with the pigment and staying power of these.

Maybelline Color Whisper in Lust for Blush
A great pinky nude, and really moisturizing. Keeping this in my purse. I'm also eyeing up Pin Up Peach, but the display at CVS was practically ripped bare. 

Essie Turquoise and Caicos
Beautiful mint green. I can see me living in this once summer comes!

Sally Hansen Gem Crush in Showgirl Chic
These are amazing. I have the gold shade as well (Big Money) and love them for doing glitter tips. This one is silver with blue sparkles, it will look so good paired with the Turquoise and Caicos.

Diorshow Mascara Review

Can I just begin by saying how much I adore Dior? My purse is never without at least one shade of the Addict Ultra glosses, and their scents have always worked really well with my body chemistry. When the amazing folks at People Stylewatch (one of my favorite mags!) offered me the opportunity to test drive their Diorshow mascara, I nearly fell over. I have used and loved the Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping serum for over a year now, and couldn't wait to see how it looked paired with the Diorshow mascara. I was not disappointed. The thick, almost fluffy brush holds the perfect amount of product, making it very buildable for a natural or dramatic look. The mascara literally glides on and gives my lashes that voluminous, plush look. Many mascaras get clumpy after a few coats, but with it's creamy, almost gel-like texture Diorshow made it simple to get that doll-eyed look with only a few coats, and no smudging or flaking. I really like how my lashes feel soft and natural to the touch even though they look like crazy long false lashes. Several people actually asked me if I was wearing false lashes, so it's safe to say I'm a new fan of Diorshow. Plus I just love seeing the mascara tube on my vanity, the packaging is so glam-I'm a sucker for that Old Hollywood style. :)

Visit www.dior.com and enter DIORPSW2012 at checkout to receive complimentary ground shipping on all Dior Beauty purchases now through December 31-I know I'll be stocking up!

Diorshow with the amazing Maximizer Plumping Serum..LOVE!!

Wearing two coats of Dior with the Dior Plumping Serum

Ok now I'm just hammin it up! :D

Disclaimer: This product was provided by People Stylewatch in order for me to give an honest review. No compensation was given, all opinions expressed are completely my own.

Sonia Kashuk Illuminating Bronzer

I picked this up yesterday at Target in "Goddess" and it is AMAZING, totally my new favorite bronzer. It has a gorgeous golden bronze sheen that is perfect for sweeping on cheeks, shoulders and collarbones. I love the wet, silky texture that just glides over skin. The crocodile pattern is cute, though the compact is a bit bulky due to the included useless brush (I use the MAC 167 Face Blender Brush). I can't believe it's only $12.99, I can actually picture this replacing my Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. This shade is so universally flattering (and well pigmented) it would suit a wide variety of skintones. The wash of shimmer is so much easier to work with than the glittery chunks contained in many bronzers. I just swept it on the areas of my face that the sun naturally hits and was out the door. Love!

Neutrogena Cosmetics Review

I've always been a big fan of Neutrogena-both their skincare and cosmetics have always worked really well for me. When I received a few of their new products to try out, I couldn't decide what to play with first! The Revitalizing Lip Balms caught my eye with their unique oval shape (no more rolling off the desk!), and I love how they are slimmer and easier to slip inside my pocket. 

Out of the three shades I was sent, Sunny Berry is the absolute standout. It's the perfect sheer berry tint for summer (plus SPF 20 for those days out on the boat!), very moisturizing, and has a buttery texture that makes it very easy to apply without being in front of a mirror. It gave my lips the perfect dewy glow for hours. This shade would be amazing on most skin tones and had the best color payoff of all the shades. It has a slight scent that reminds of me watermelon Jolly Ranchers, which I love so I didn't mind that too much! Being a sucker for cute packaging, I found the plain black tube to be a bit boring for my tastes, but the product more than makes up for it. This will definitely be a staple in my makeup bag this summer! (Some of my other favorite lipbalms are Maybelline Baby Lips, Revlon Lip Butter, Burt's Bees Mango, Yes To Carrots, Korres Lip Butter, and AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment..ok I should just stop here-ha!) 

The Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector didn't do much for me-while I appreciate the sheer formula and easy to apply brush, it just didn't cover as well as my usual concealers. The packaging is very sleek and the texture is very creamy so I really wish this had better coverage. I'm an insomniac and need something a bit more heavy duty! If your under eye circles aren't too bad or you would just like a bit of brightness in the inner corners, this may work for you. 

The Nourishing Eyeliner is surprisingly soft and easy to smudge with the built in smudger (did I mention it also has a built in sharpener? So convenient!), and didn't irritate my eyes even when I used it on my waterline. Even though the texture is soft and easy to work with, it has surprisingly great staying power-it still looked great after a full day of running errands. I loved that it was very quick and easy to use in the morning rush. Thumbs up! 

Disclaimer~BzzAgent sent me these products in order for me to write an honest review, all opinions expressed are completely my own

Garnier Triple Nutrition Shampoo and Conditioner Review

I had tried and loved the Garnier Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray until it became hard to find in my area. When I had the chance to try the Triple Nutrition Shampoo and Conditioner, I couldn't wait to put aside my Redken Color Extend and get started. The ends of my hair have been feeling a little dry from flat ironing and this sounded very moisturizing, with the combination of three nourishing oils. I loved the fresh, green apple scent and rich texture, but felt that the added moisture my hair was in need of just wasn't there with these. 

I had a harder time combing through my hair while it was wet than usual, and after blow drying my hair felt a little heavier and weighed down than usual. I have fine hair so this might be a better fit for someone with thicker, coarser hair. I think the shampoo worked a lot better when I used it with the conditioner as opposed to mixing them with other products. If you decide to give this a shot, make sure to rinse your hair really well to make sure all of the product is washed out, it takes a bit longer but it really helps to prevent buildup. Oh, and if you happen to see that Triple Nutrition Spray? Buy five.

Disclaimer~ BzzAgent provided this product for me to review, all opinions expressed are completely my own

Schick Hydro Silk Review

Schick Hydro Silk Review
Just in time for summer, Schick has generously sent me their brand new Hydro Silk razor to try. How adorable is this package? The kit included the Hydro Silk razor, a cute purple metallic water bottle, and Skintimate Lotionized Moisturizing Shave Gel. 

I used the razor in the shower this morning before work and I have to admit I am pretty impressed. The soft flexible handle is so easy to grip and the five blades glide effortlessly over all of my curves-no nicks or irritation here! You know how sometimes with crappy razors you get that "dragging" feeling? This was as smooth as butter.

 The razor itself contains a water-activated moisturizing serum (containing marine extracts and shea butter-love!) to lubricate skin for an ultra close shave. My legs are sooo soft and silky smooth, I can't wait to slip on a pair of shorts! Now if I could just get rid of these chilly April showers!


Schick is giving 200 of my readers a razor of their own to try-click on the link to request yours! 

Free Schick Hydro Silk Razor

Disclaimer: As a Schick Ambassador I received products to test in order to give an honest review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions expressed are completely my own.

Playing with a friend's Olympus DSLR

Top 7 Beauty Essentials

Inspired by a post on my favorite beauty board Beauty Bling I decided to post about my current top 7 beauty essentials. Are you on the Bling? I'm jessilynn19, look me up! I would love to hear your must have beauty items.

1. Rapidlash-I've been using this every night for the past 3 months and notice a huge difference in my lashes, especially in length
2. NYX Terra Cotta blush-great pigment, very natural looking-I find myself reaching for this daily
3. MAC Woodwinked eyeshadow-I love that it's softly metallic and so easy to blend
4. Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Zero-smoothest, longest lasting liner, still impressed by this
5. Kendi Bamboo Dry Oil Mist-my hair just soaks this stuff up! I spray it on my ends while damp and my hair feels so much silkier-this is a new staple! I got the 100 pt sample from Sephora and just caved and got the full size, glad I did
6. BeautyBlender Sponge-I mist this with the moisturizing spray before dipping into my foundation and it looks airbrushed-one of my favorite buys in a long time
7. Cinema Secrets foundation palette-I still have a bit of a summer tan so I love being able to blend the colors together as my tan fades. I apply with the damp BeautyBlender sponge-the trick is to wet the sponge so that foundation is perfectly thinned out, it keeps it from looking cakey throughout the day

My Favorite Bronzer- Laura Gellar Baked Body Frosting

Bronzing body shimmers are probably one of my favorite "fun" beauty products-I love the soft glow that they give your skin without having to live in a tanning bed. I've tried many of them over the years, and often times they are either too dark giving my skin a muddy look, contain large chunks of glitter that fall over everything, or are too subtle to produce any kind of effect. It can also be a hassle to use shimmer powder because it's hard to control where I'm applying it, and it's more likely to get on my clothing than where I want it. 

Laura Gellar Baked Body Frosting is a product that I have been using all summer long and it has quickly become a favorite. It comes in a large compact in pressed powder form, so there's no loose powder flying everywhere. The supplied puff is very easy to use and applies the perfect amount of powder to my skin.

A really cool benefit of this shimmer is that it can be applied wet or dry to get different effects. Apply it dry for a subtle, soft glow, or mist the puff with a spray of water before application to get a dramatic sun-kissed golden sheen. It's also very easy to build layers to control how dark you want to get.

  It's amazing for achieving that dewy, luminous look especially for legs when wearing shorts or skirts.  My favorite shade is honey glow, but it also comes in a light pink version called sugar glow-great for those with very fair skin tones. You can find both at Amazon.com

 What summer beauty products have you been loving? Comment and let me know!

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Laura Gellar nor was I compensated in any form for this review, the opinions expressed are purely my own