TBT: Product Review: Hard Candy's Take It Off

This Throwback Thursday is surely to be a hit because it comes back just in time to take your ghostly or ghastly Halloween make up off this weekend. This product is still a daily use, found front and center in my bathroom vanity. So, check out what I had to say about a year ago regarding this cream-based make up remover by Hard Candy called "Take It Off". 

Brand:  Hard Candy

Product: Take It Off 

Review:

     I'm going to try to stay unbiased as this was one of the first ever brands I fell in love with in the cosmetic industry. The other one being Urban Decay. When I was a little girl I lived for trips to the mall just to check out the cosmetic counters or beauty stores. One of the first things I always did was look at Hard Cany's new nail polish colors and the rings adorned on their brush handles. I always wore them with pride even if my manicure was shotty at best. In all honestly, I still have one in my jewelry box today as a reminder of my uninhibited love of all things pretty.  

There she is, my plastic gold sparkly star, right there in the middle.

     My heart hurt when I noticed that Hard Candy was starting to pullback from the market. The timing seemed to work out perfectly. I watched my childhood fade with their presence in the industry. No more ring matching nail polish, sassy shadow pallets or long before it's time my popin' lipgloss. I missed Hard Candy. That is, until 10 years later I saw my old friend in my local big box store.

     It wasn't exactly the same familiarity but I felt it was still kismet. The day I ran out of my trusty cream-based make up remover, I happened upon the display. They were now producing a mass line but still upheld there edgy image. They also offered a lot of the same great products, this time at an affordable price.

   So, I grabbed "Take It Off" their make up remover for only $5! My reliable alternative was priced at $15. It's creamy without being too thick, it removes even waterproof products and leaves no residue or dryness behind. This was the perfect treat for my Halloween trick a.k.a. extremely heavy duty waterproof make up with a lot of primer and setting spray. "Take It Off" is known for being a strong remover, it gloats about even being able to take off glitter. It does not disappoint! 

On a sidenote: ironically this is an affordable alternative to my trusty previous remover which was Urband Decay's Meltdown.

Recommendation: Save some time and $$$ at with this quick, easy and effective remover today!

Update: it's now available in wipes for travel!!! Yay, Hard Candy you continue to rock my world. 

Sunday Summary - 10.12.14

This didn't get posted last night... Oops! Better late than never 😉

The week started out not so great, in the pediatrician's office discovering H had a double ear infection and an upper respiratory infection. Poor boy. Of course, while this is going on, D's out of town with work. He's still on antibiotics but doing much better. 

The rest of the week was kamakaze wedding planning! Had to get the responses in order, final items purchased, dress altered, re-ordered vases... a lot! I just have to keep reminding myself, almost there! 

Ok top of all that goodness, we actually got to spend time together as a family quite a bit. One night, the four of us went to look at a house and grab dinner. I needed to stop at Target on the way home. That's where I ran into a girl from high school just moments after I realized a dragged my hoodie sleeve through Hayden's diaper. So yea, you haven't lived until you run into someone with sh*t on your sleeve. Sigh.

I got a little reprieve this weekend though. Friday night, my parents took H. It was a nice break, I'm not going to lie. D & I had dinner and went to an old stomping ground White Rhino. Unlike fine wine, it does not get better with age. One guy kept coming up to our table and asking me to dance. When I said I wasn't interested, he then said that we should dance together so that he could watch. Check please! I mean, what to do you expect from a place that has signage on their door like this: 

The rest of the weekend was awesome too. On Saturday, we met my friend Heather at the Garden City Chili Cook Off!

What fun that was. We tried 10 types of chili, almost all were delicious. There was one that tasted like cigarette butts, like the chef was smoking while cooking. Yuck! On the flip side, the 30+ Hockey League and Moose Men's had my favorite. Go figure! Although, I really loved the Island Boys chili because it was flavored with Pineapple. I would have never thought of that but I'm definitely going to try making it!

Overall, it was a really cool event with food, music, a fair and a petting farm. I met a ginger calf there. 

Sunday, I found myself exactly where I should be, Leon's. I've struggled with not working, the idea of giving it up, the idea of getting up without a purpose for my day. Then I remembered, through announcements of my previous company's BCRF fundraiser, how differently I felt a year ago. I loved a lot of aspects of my job. Others not so much. I rather enjoyed going in everyday, helping guests, chatting with my coworkers. But a little part of me cringed everytime I had to leave my boyfriend, now husband, home on a Sunday morning. Sometimes, if I had to work late, we could squeeze in a breakfast on the way, which often made it feel worse. I used to wish more and more regularly that I could just occasionally sleep in and go to Leon's for a casual brunch. Fast forward a year, it's not even a question if were going anymore. It's a plan, every weekend that we get up, pack up H and go get omlettes. This week, my heart melted a little as, for the first time, H sat on my lap and ate off my plate. D and I looked across the table at each other in amazement and I laughed as we left. "Hey, remember last year how I joked that maybe we should have kids to get the free pancake breakfast?"  I said, "yea" he reaponds. "Well next week, let's order him some", I replied with a smile. 

Who would have thought a routine breakfast would have put some much into perspective? 

It kind of makes the rest if this mundane. The rest of Sunday was wrapped up with shopping with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Bowling, where our team was finally complete and took 5 points. Then the Walking Dead season premiere, where D actually watched with my for the first time! 

After a rocky start, the week ended great. I can't wait to see what the rest brings! 

Mom-To-Be Hospital Kit

Everyone I know seems to be working on babies right now. One of my best friends just had her first days ago. Having just had one myself, I tried something new for her shower. I made a "Mom To Be Hospital Kit". 

One of the most stressful things about preparing for a first baby is packing your hospital bag. It shouldn't be but if you think about it, it makes sense. You don't know what the heck to pack because you have literally no idea what you're getting into. You don't know what your labor will be like, how long your stay will be, what you'll feel, what you'll want... clueless. Yes, you can find a dozen lists on Pintrest but everyone is different. Then there's a whole shlew of things no one tells you you'll need so your partner has to run out and get them. And you can't forget to pack for your partner or the baby. Breathe. 

I created this (awesome) kit for my friend Katy's baby shower gift. Yes, I know you should get the baby stuff off the registry. When you have a friend, like me, who over thinks and over plans this is a great starting off point! 

What's inside (clock wise starting at 12)

*Pajamas. - light cotton, two piece, button down in a size larger than you'd expect them to wear. Also, light blue and blue green and patterns are the easier fabrics to hide baby made stains). 

*Breast Feeding Supplies. Particularly nipple cream because new moms want to prep theirs by using it before the baby comes. Also, breast pads and heating/cooling pads because mom might need them right away. 

*Antibacterial Gel for visitors. Yes they're in the hospital but it's easier for mom and dad to request guests using it when it's handy. 

*Hand Lotion. Hospital rooms are dry, I used a whole container of lotion during my stay. A light scent preferred so it's mom and baby safe. 

*Fresh Breath Supplies. Mouth wash and mints readily available is an awesome bonus for moms. Sometimes it's not easy or possible to get out of bed in the hospital and something about spitting into what you're holding whole nauseous doesn't make you feel fresh. 

*Tumbler with straw lid. The cups they give you are ridiculously tiny and the ones that aren't for ice is an accident waiting to happen. This way too, you can refil as you please!

*Water Proof Mascara. Because at some point every women either cries or sweats during labor and there's always a camera at the end. 

*6ft Extension Cord. Nothing ever reaches the outlet near the bed easily. 

*Baby Lips Dr. Rescue in Clear. For the same reason you need hand lotion, you need this. This particular one is safe for mom and baby. It's also my personal lifesaver. 

*Ear Plugs and Eye Mask. One of the things moms need most is rest. Not something easily accomplished with machines and IVs attached to you, nurses coming in and out of the room and your phone going off with loved ones waiting for news. This is one of the best things a mom can use for an hour... or two! 

*Sweets. If they're able to enjoy, they'll appreciate. 

*Shower Cap. If mom is lucky, she's not going to be there long enough to wash her hair. 

*Flip Flops. This is something a nurse suggested on a hospital your. There are plenty of reasons why you might get your feet wet and not want to take the shoes home. So, make sure their a pair that can be tossed after use. 

*Suckers. A lot of women are restricted from eating or drinking while in labor for health purposes. Suckers and hard candy, along with ice are the few exceptions to that rule. These are nice cause moms to be can bite down on the stick like a stress ball and they have a variety of flavors to mix things up. 

There you have it! A great start to your mama's bag. Other good options are headbands and hair accessories, iTunes gift card to rent a movie while waiting, quarters for vending machines, menus and gift cards for surrounding restaurants, travel neck pillow, mini beverages for fridge, granola bars, hand mirror or magazines. 

Whatever you do, your friend will appreciate the help later I promise! 

Sunday Summary - 10.5.14

Alright, I haven't posted all week but you should hear why. So, I'm starting a new weekly piece called, Sunday Summary. And, you guessed it.... It's a recap of my personal week. 

I feel like I put a lot out there about things I'm creating or observing. Seldom does it actually cover me and my personal life. Maybe you don't want to hear it but I find true life pretty inspirational. Quite possibly, you might find it too. 

                        # # # # 

This week was a dousy! Where to start.... Well, my parents were in France so we had Mardi full time while they were gone. I knew this was going to be different since he hadn't stayed with us for a long period of time since we had Hay. Honestly, there was something so gentle and sweet about his demeanor with him that I trusted him more that Briscoe. The first couple days were awesome but that's about where the peaceful harmony ended and our daily routine was flipped upside down. 

D left for Orlando on Monday to attend a work conference. A trip I was going to attend until we started doing the math on how much it would cost to bring H. My flight, everything H would require and 3 days of boarding two dogs would be the difference of at least $1000. It wasn't worth it, not now anyway. He was going to be gone until Wedsnesday but plans change. 

After running errands and feeling quite on top of my game, I settle in to Monday night. There I sat with my dinner on the table and my fresh copy of "Gone Girl". With my fork in one hand, I cracked the perfect binding in my other. Then the light flickers. I thought the bulb must just be going dim so I let it go and continue on. A few hours later, I flipped the bathroom light on to wash my hands and bam, the powers out. Well, only half of it but don't worry it was just the important half. You know the bathroom, kitchen, furnace and hot water heater! Three days, $125, about a dozen phone calls to DTE and two electrician visits later, my husband catches an early flight home and fixes it in less than 15 minutes. That's why I love him. 

Meanwhile, as all of this is going on I'm ill. Like the kind of ill where even the best drugs can't keep you awake. There was one point, where I seriously questioned my ability to parent. That's when I called my sister-in-law to watch H so I could go to urgent care. Where I received the worst medical treatment I've experienced and was sent home with a "let it ride". Fine. Five days later, I still feel horrible. Thanks. 

To top off my disaster of existence this week, my son has sleep regression. Not sure if it's teething, which he diligently points out to me every 10 minutes by hanging his tiny fingers from his sore gums and looking at me with puppy dog eyes. "The drool gave it away buddy, but I'll do the best I can to help you", I think to myself everytime. It could also be the progressive feeding schedule I have put him on (he loves mangos) or his over stimulated little brain wanting to explore more than the day offered. I only think this because one day this week he woke at 3 a.m., bright eyed and bushy tailed and cheerfully talked to his feet for hours. Whatever is going on, I hope it ends sooner rather than later. Mommy needs her beauty sleep to counteract the wine. 

Ugh. It was a damn fiasco. One thing after another. By the time the weekend hit, I was just exhausted but had to have my car fixed instead. What's that expression, when it rains it pours?! 

Today, I finally got out of the house and enjoyed some fun. I took H to my friend Jen's son's 8th birthday in the park. Bryce seemed to have a pretty good turn out, despite the sudden chill to the air and I put H in a swing for the first time. He was indifferent about the movement but wanted to put the seat in his mouth. It was pretty cute. After that, we went on a little shopping spree at Buy Buy Baby where he got a new massaging teether and teething q-tips. Hallelujah! 

Two super awesome fun things that happened this week, babies! My love Katy had her adorable baby boy Logan Paul who is officially H's BFF. He came out, after a stubborn day of labor at an unexpectedly 7 lbs 12 oz and 21 inches long. We really thought he was going to be a whopper, thankfully for his mama he was the perfect size. He's adorable and snuggly and I can't wait to get back over there to see him!

Then my friend Andrea have birth to her beautiful baby girl Nina Antoinette who will be Marnie's future BFF. I am itching to meet all 7 lbs 1 oz and 19 inches of her. She's also got a full thick head of hair in pictures and is just absolutely adorable. Oh babies, so many wonderful additions to the world! 

So there's my week. Sigh. I can't wait to get into tomorrow and knock off all my final details for the reception and get some writing done. 

Until next time!

(which will probably be a LOT more in the near future)

2014 Fall Fashion

I have been out shopping a lot lately. An inordinate amount. Searching for the perfect shower dress, the best bracelets for my bridesmaids, the warmest hoodie for my son, the best bargain on home storage. I'm not going to lie, my husband hates shopping with me because I have to look at and touch everything. In all of these shopping missions, at malls, boutiques and departments stores alike, I could not help but look at the latest fashion trends. I made a list of my favorites and I thought I'd share it all with you!

Here it is, my favorite 2014 Fall Fashion Trends!

GRUNGE

I love it but I'm apprehensive. The last time I was into grudge fashion my family called me "Cobain" for oh.... the last 20 years. I mean, after all, the stringy hair and ripped clothes can't help but out a target on you. Still, I can't help be a little excited about it's rewind. There's something so intriguing about the challenge of making "unkept" look cool. As long as your going for the more sophisticated approach, I'm all about this comeback. Here are some great looks Forever 21 out together. (www.Forever21.com)

What I love about these grunge inspired looks is the mix of old and new. They represent the movement through flannel, ripped jeans, layering and casual vibe. However, they are modernized by bold, bright colors, femininity through fitted clothing and lace and stepping up the accessories to a more elevated level with layering and a statement piece. Something traditionally you wouldn't have seen, as minimalizing your accessories is part of original fashion concept. These looks screams glamorous attitude! Going Grunge? Let grimy inspire you and glam reign you in. 

SHEER

I noticed a lot of lines carrying sheer pieces. I like it because that means detail and embellishments, solid construction of garments (because sheer fabric is difficult to work with you'd have to do it right) and subltle seduction.  It also inspirses an airy lightness in a season that starts motivating us to bundle up. Here's great piece from BCBGeneration I found at Bloomingdales. (www1.Bloomingdales.com)

I love it, absolutely love it. It screams look at me in an alluring way. It can be done up with high end accessories for an event or paired with red lips for a sassy date night. Particularly, this dress ties in two trends this season in the sheer skirt but also a somewhat gothic vibe. A lace covered bodice gives a feminine innocence to a piece that would otherwise put you blatantly out there. The sheer overlay adds movement and a level of intrigue. It gives you very "now you see it, now you don't" feel. Going Sheer? Tap into your deep emotions and let them guide you into something light and uplifting. 

RED

I'm not sure when red isn't in style but this season it's front and center. Red is a powerful color. It evokes emotion and motivates action. It's a color that signifies leadership and strength as well as passion and sensual energy. Not everyone feels they can wear red, however everyone can and should. It's not a matter of if but a matter of how because everyone deserves to feel the attention of a red. I found a couple of pieces in red that are new this season and tie in other popular fall trends. 

First, let's start with how. What red should you wear? Well, essentially there are two types: warm and cold. Warm reds pull more yellow and cold reds pull more blue. An easy trick that I made up while working in a beauty store was, "what do you you look better in gold or silver?". My skin pops in gold, though I prefer silver, I am a warm tone. Lots of blondes with blue eyes, like my sister, look better in silver so they are cool tones. This is a good go to trick when debating reds. 

 This Michael Kors walker coat takes the popular tie front approach to a side breast zipper jacket in an orange red. This particular shade of red is a warm tone and would be a great match with any traditional fall colors such as rich browns, oranges, yellows and golds. I found this jacket at www.Macys.com on sale for $179. 

 This blue red, called "wine", sweater by Olive & Oak is a cool tone. It exemplifies several other fall trends as it's perfectly layered on top of a light blue denim button down and paired with leopard print flats. All things you will find in fall collections right now. This ensemble was out together and available for purchase on www.

Lulu.com. These pieces vary in price but are very affordable. 

This floral print silk blouse is the perfect example of mixing reds and how to wear red in the work place. Believe it or not, this is something a lot of women struggle with. This larger print, also available at www.LuLu.com, is fun and energetic without being too outrageous or sexy. This is the prime example of wearing red to portray power and motive others. Floral prints and flattering pin skirts are fashion forward in the work place this season. Going red? Don't forget to find the right match with your undertone and have fun with it. Confidence is key! 

KIMONOS

What is there not to enjoy about a kimono? Honestly, it doesn't really do much. Like an accessory, the kimono doesn't offer physical purpose but  it does give you something pretty to look at. Which I think is why I love it so much. They're beautiful, graceful and they make the outfit. Here's a beautiful piece carried by Anthropology. 

This sheer beauty offers a variety of color in an Asian inspired print. I love that this kimono can give a chic look with little effort. Pair it with solids, put your hair up in an "off duty ballerina bun" and throw on some comfortable flats. Voila! A full, trendy look in minutes. I've literally seen this similar look in just about every store and price point. Going kimono? Pick a length, cut and pattern that will flatter your shape, not hide it.

ANKLE BOOTS

For me, this is a hard trend to follow. Being 4'10, I naturally have short legs and stopping my boot at the ankle just cuts my leg in half. However, I love ankle boots because they're cute, comfortable and easy to wear. This season not only are ankle boots in, they're a perfect fit for the grunge and western styles prominent this season. 

As always, I love these Madden Girl by Steve Madden boots and they're available for only $59. (www.SteveMadden.com) Going ankle length? Pair them with pants, roll them up. Throw a dress on and leggings, or not. However you wear them, have fun! 

STATEMENT PIECE NECKLACE

This is one of my all time favorite trends that I will never get sick of. I'm so happy to see oversized bauble necklaces are back on top this fall. Statement piece neckalces are a good way to dress up a plain garment and refresh your look. Think of it as an opportunity to get creative and express yourself without having to invest in a whole new wardrobe. Because I'm such a fan, I found a few examples of how we to be bold this fall. 

You can find this fall color themed gem at Bauble Bar (www.baublebar.com) for $44. I think it's a great piece for this time of year because it plays on the many warm tones organically found in autumn. It also incorporates some cool tones in the blue and rhinestones so anyone can wear it and it can be mix into many themes.

This link and pearl with rhinestone statement piece is a great way to show your classic and edgy sides at the same time. Something about this piece makes me think, "lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets". Find this one at Express under $60. 

Mix it up and get funky with this Betsey Johnson (of course!) necklace that definitely makes a statement! It says, "I love animals and I'm not afraid to be glamorous about it". It combines oversized bauble necklaces and hip animal prints in one. But you have to go to straight to the horses mouth for this one, I could only find it at www.BetseyJohnson.com for $95. 

MESSY HAIR, DONT CARE

This is my favorite new fall trend of all. Maybe all time. It's called, messy. Seriously, spend 2 hours making your tresses look perfectly braided, then mess it up! Or it throw it in a braid before you go to bed and then roll out in the morning. This works perfectly for all your adventurous grunge fashionistas. For girls with long hair everywhere, I beg you to embrace this & let your long haired sisters rock this trend through winter! Here are some fine examples: 

I'm also a fan of the "tinted hair". Emphasizing understated color, for all of us tired of looking at Katy Perry knock offs gone bold. There is a pretty way to have green hair, I swear! 

Finally, the sectioned pony. This is a fancy spin on how I used to play with my hair when I was bored in elementary school and I like it. It's a modern remake of a classic, easy to accomplish and interesting to look at. Here it looks like it's worn for more of a festive night occasion but I feel like you could also rock it for lunch with the ladies or even work. 

So there you have it, my 2014 fall fashion trends favorites. I'm very excited for where this is going and am happily obliging trendsetters. I hope you all have fun going out and discovering some new styles for yourself! And please, let me know what you think about me picks and show me if you try them too! 

Wedding Hack: RSVP Cards

I have heard from an inordinate amount of hosts that they're increasingly receiving anonymous responses.  I don't know if guests don't understand them, don't think about it or are in too big of a hurry. But, a lot of people get back blank response cards! So for all your wedding planners out there, skip trying to coordinate your cards and guests in a number system. I have a hack. 

First, I thought, well I'll just leave my return address off the respond envelope promting people to write their own. However, I also know some people (hopefully not many) purposely leave their return address off so it will still reach the recipient without the proper postage. As in the , "I'm cheap and tacky and will screw the sadly under untalized USPS out of $.48" mailers. By the way, how sad is that?! 

Then I thought, well then I'll just write their name on the response line. However that leaves a lot of room for error. As in your friend who loves you but always receives your mail and asks, "why can she never spell my name right?". It also allows the recipient to not only respond with or without a guest but also communicate the proper spelling of their names (or new boyfriend)! Not to mention, it's a lot more time. 

So then I thought, well putting the time in to get it right is worth it so I'll label them with names in a sneaky James Bond way! (that way your poor friend doesn't get rubbed the wrong way -- FYI I'm your friend) Flip your stack over, while you're stuffing envelopes write their name small but ledgible on the inside before you fold it over. Bonus points for hiding it in pencil or if you don't want to use two writing instruments (save yourself ANOTHER step) build it into your design! 

I (will call myself out) wrote it very small on the back of my border! 

Voila! You have organized and informative cards and no one will ever know... Until they read this! 😉