Birthdays and Valentine's Day

To me February is the best month of the year. Not for its rigid weather and blizzards (although those have their charm). Not because of Valentine's Day (although I'll never turn away roses and chocolates). But for the simple reason that February is my Birthday month! I'm wearing pink and my new favorite hand knit scarf from my Momma to celebrate.

My Birthday is right around the corner and I am EXCITED! I created a secret Birthday wishlist board that I sent to Chris, just to help make his shopping a little easier, I planned my weekend full of fun things which includes a date night, a shopping day, and an ultrasound so we can all find out the gender of our baby!

But with all of this coming weekend centered around me, I really feel like it is only fitting to make the first gesture of romance to Chris for Valentine's Day. I always assure him that my Birthday is all he needs to worry about for February and then I usually take over any VDay plans.

Every time I want to get a present for a man, the first site I peruse is Uncommon Goods. Men are so hard to shop for, but Uncommon Goods has a wide variety of unique gifts for men that make it easy. And thankfully, they contacted me recently, asking if I would do a product review. Needless to say I was thrilled since I was planning on getting a gift for Chris from them already. Not to mention, I had my eye set on this particular little gadget for myself (I have been using the spongester for over a week and it has already made a difference in warding off nasty bacterial smells in my sponges).

Here are just a few of the items that I considered for my hubby for Vday (not going to post what I actually got otherwise he will see it):

Razor Pit Sharpener

Beard Pack

Salvaged Furniture Wood Cufflinks

For more gifts for men, click here. 

Uncommon Goods sells products that aren't just interesting, practical, and unique - they also offer many handmade items to support local artisans, they offer a wide variety of personalized gifts, and have high standards and work ethics for their company - committing to featuring unique designs and handcrafted gifts created in harmony with the environment and without harm to animals or people. 

So while most of you are shoveling your way out of snowstorms or bundling up against the cold, instead of begrudging February, take the time to buy a gift for someone for Valentine's Day, wrap yourself in your favorite color of pink and cozy up under a warm blanket with something warm to drink. Enjoy February - I know I will! 

Product Review for eShakti

eShakti sent me this dress a couple of weeks ago and I love it. I'm all about the fit and flare silhouette. Plus, the ruching and flouncy pleats are romantic and flattering.

 

The fabric has some stretch in it so I got away with ordering it in a size smaller than I should be wearing right now since I'm still downsizing after having Capri and wanted the dress to fit later.

 

Thankfully, the dress is fully lined so the under slip is what clung to my tights.

 

The fabric is seasonless, so I will be rocking it with sandals and bare legs in the summer, while today I paired it with opaque tights and a blazer.

 

All dresses can be ordered in custom sizes with custom requests. This dress's original design was mid-calf length. I had it made to knee-length. All I had to do was type in my height on the order page and choose the length I wanted in a drop down box on the online order form.

 

 

I coordinated with my children's outfits, too! Fun for Christmas!

 

I've done product reviews for eShakti in the past and have always loved their selection of retro silhouettes and well made clothes that I can custom size and style.



eShakti Fall 2013 Collection

eShakti is now introducing their Fall line and as always, I love some of their pieces. Check out this fresh, adorable skirt!

 

Who wouldn't want this slimming illusion dress?

 

And this universally flattering jersey dress is the perfect LBD for any occasion.

What makes eShakti worth the price? Custom sizing and designing. Most all of their products come with customizable hem lengths, necklines, and sleeve lengths.

 

 

Right now, their Fall line is being sold at an introductory price of 20% off original prices.

 

Here are some of the reviews I have done for eShakti.

 

If you do order something, let me know your thoughts!

eShakti Product Review and an Announcement

Hi ladies! I know, it's been a while since I've posted and you miss me, right?

 

Well it's been a crazy month, so I've been waiting for something really post worthy and finally have it for you today!

 

eShakti sent me this gorgeous dress just in time for me to wear to my sister-in-law's rehearsal dinner tonight. I ordered a size up after my last experience with eShakti and was glad I did. This dress fit absolutely perfect and was so comfortable!

 

It's 100% cotton so it's very breathable, easy to care for, and irons great. I had the dress customized to knee length (it was originally below the knee) and think this length fits my body type so much better. For a knit dress, I love the quality of the fabric and the construction. So often I find knit dresses to feel very cheap and to appear like you're just wearing a t-shirt. This hangs nicely and looks more like a jersey than a knit.

 

I got so many compliments on this dress tonight and wish I had this dress a lot sooner, because I won't be able to wear it for much longer . . .

 

Baby #3 is on the way!

 

Check out my arm candy! Some of my favorite gifts!

Dress - courtesy of eShakti

Bangles from Dillard's, an antique mall, and J.Crew - all gifted

Boots - Michael Antonio - $9

Earrings - gifted

Deep Purple Tweed and eShakti Product Review

eShakti let me pick out a sample dress to do a review for them. I have worked with eShakti before and have been very pleased, so I was excited about the opportunity. I picked out this simple sheath tweed dress in this deep purple hue. I finally had a chance to wear the dress to a political event I attended last night.

I paired the dress with black tights, simple black pumps, and this fun beaded necklace and earring set. The gray necklace picked up the purple color of the dress and appeared to have a purple haze around it. I loved the effect.

eShakti is a unique online clothing store in that it offers updated twists on classic pieces that you can customize to fit your size or taste. For instance, online this dress came in all the standard sizes, but without sleeves. I opted to have them add a cap sleeve, and requested custom sizing to fit my short stature.

 When the dress arrived I was thrilled! Pulling it out of the box it looked divine! The fabric has shiny black thread throughout that gives it just the right amount of shine for a night out. The dress was well made and fully lined.

Unfortunately, however, when I tried it on, I ran into some problems. The dress is supposed to be pulled over your head, but the size of the dress didn't take into consideration my broad shoulders, because I could barely get it on! Also, I chose a dress that had my exact measurements, and I should have opted for the next measurement up so I would have a little bit more breathing room. You can see in the picture above, the dress is so fitted, it shows off my belly (something I did not want it to do!).

 The dress also came with this black fabric applique which I felt added too much bulk where it wasn't needed. I simply took it off with a seam ripper.

If it weren't for the zipper being so short, and if I had ordered a larger size (beware, the size chart is an actual measurement for the clothing item, so if you are 34, 26, 36 like me, you shouldn't order the 33, 26, 36 dress like I did! Order the 34, 27, 37 dress!), than I would really love this dress.

 

Here are my pros and cons for eShakti:

 

PROS:

• Customized sizing and styling so you will always find the right fit
• Classic, modest pieces that don't require a strapless bra (although they do have strapless dress options too)
• All their pieces are very feminine
• Quality pieces for the price
• Figure flattering styles
• Unique twists on classic pieces so that you won't look like everyone else
• Plenty of 100% cotton

 

CONS:

• You can't get their items on super clearance (this is a big con for me)
• You have to pay shipping
• Once you have customized an item, you can't return it for a different size (or at least this has been my experience)
• Their dresses tend to be difficult to get on. The zipper allotment was pretty small on the last dress I ordered as well.
• I generally do not like the prints they use, nor any of the embellishments

I would recommend eShakti for casual bridesmaid dresses, for ladies who can never find the right size, and for women who are always looking for dresses that are long enough and with sleeves for modesty since every dress can have length and sleeves added.

 

This is my honest review. Hope it helps you out if you are thinking about placing an order!



Product Review: Hana Professional Blow Dryer

Misikko asked me to do a product review on one of their best selling professional blow dryers. Specifically, they sent me this one. I am already a big fan of their hair straighteners (see this post), but was a bit skeptical about their blow dryers since I've always had bad luck with them. I prefer to wash my hair in the evening and let it air dry over night. Either that, or I just let my hair air dry for one day and style it the next. Plus, I have very thick hair so it takes forever for it to blow dry. It can be frustrating that I can't immediately style my hair once I get out of the shower, but it's always been worth it to me because of how dry and brittle my hair can get after a blow out.

However, I was pleasantly surprised that this is not the case when using the Hana Professional Blow Dryer. I used the Hana Shine Shield on my hair first and then blew it dry with a round brush for a full and sleek blow out. The drying process took maybe 15 minutes (that's quick for my hair), and the cool air kept me from getting overheated in my A/C free bathroom. The dryer is not very loud, too, so my kids actually stayed asleep while I did my hair.

My hair was soft, smooth, shiny, and full bodied after the blow out with no need for touch ups with a flat iron. I'm definitely in love with my new blow dryer!

Misikko carries several professional blow dryers as well as chi blow dryers. You should check them out if you are in the market for professional styling tools.

Product Review: Bumpits

I recently purchased a pair of Bumpits from Misikko. I'm amazed at how simple they are to use, and how long they remain in place! The instructions tell you to tease your hair first, but I find I don't have to. I just pull some hair up, stick the Bumpit in place, fan the hair over it, spray a little hairspray (if I'm leaving my hair down), or go sans hairspray if I pin my hair in place in the back, and I'm good to go for the entire day!

Product Review: Sibu Skin Care

I was recently sent Sibu Beauty's daytime facial cream to try out. Reading up on their products, I was impressed with their commitment to natural and eco-friendly ingredients and packaging. The primary ingredient they use is the Sea Buckthorn, found in the Tibetan Himalayas. The berry contains powerful nutrients that are ideal for reaching the optimum in skin care.

After using the product for a week now, I really do appreciate how well it hydrates without leaving my skin feeling greasy, and also how firm my skin feels afterwards. The natural fragrance it has is very refreshing as well. For one ounce, the bottle is priced at around $20, which is not bad for a quality, and 100% natural day cream.

Sibu Beauty offers other products such as juice drinks and vitamin supplements along with a full skin care line that all contain the Sea Buckthorn. If you are interested in sustainable and natural products, this brand is definitely worth checking out!

Product Review: Cerave Cleanser and Moisturizing Lotion

My son has extremely sensitive skin. He suffered from severe eczema for most of his baby life. Now that he's four years old, he only gets patches in the winter. I've always been careful to limit his dairy intake, use only hypoallergenic products, and moisturize his skin immediately after a bath. This winter, he suffered more than normal and a friend of mine recommended CeraVe. Apparently, her dermatologist told her it was the mildest cleanser and lotion available and perfect for ultra sensitive skin. I decided to give it a try and found that it really does work for my son!

I decided I would try it on my face next, since my skin tends to be on the sensitive side as well.



This stuff is AMAZING. The cleanser alone is so moisturizing, that I felt like I could skip the moisturizing process altogether! I use the lotion at night and wake up with dewy skin (not oily, not dry, and no redness)!



If you have sensitive skin, I would definitely recommend this product.

Product Review: Misikko's Corioliss Curling Wand

My curling wand from Misikko arrived complete with extra goodies (like Paul Mitchell Volumizer spray, make-up, flowers, ribbons, etc.!) - it was like my Birthday all over again!

I couldn't wait to try it, so even though I had just straightened my hair with my new Hana flat iron, I immediately started using the curling wand...It took me quite a while to get the hang of how to use it, but I loved the results. It definitely creates more of a ringlet than what my flat iron or regular curling iron can do, but it also has the ability to create a ripply wave (something my regular curling iron doesn't really do either).
You really should check out Misikko for great products like ceramic curling irons, the best hair dryers, and great flat irons. I love my Hana Professional, but Corioliss (the same brand as my curling wand) makes a Corioliss Straightener, too.

And since I had some trouble at first using the curling wand, I thought I'd show you a quick video tutorial of how to use it since I think I've got it figured out now.

You can watch this video I did for tips on how I style my curled hair.

Have any of you tried the curling wands out there? Do you prefer them over the regular curling irons with clamps?

Product Review: Maybelline Falsies Mascara

I usually wear CoverGirl mascara, but recently decided I'd try out Maybelline's Falsies mascara, just to try something different. I figured I'd let you all know what I thought about it...

At first I was horrified! It is a lot messier than Cover Girl's, so it took me forever to apply it properly and then clean up all the smudges later. It also tends to clump, so I had to brush it out a few times to keep my eyelashes from looking like little spider legs! Washing it off is just as messy as putting it on and then some. It took quite a while to get all the mascara out, and a Q-tip with moisturizer was still needed afterwards to get the last few smudges.

Now that I've used it for a week, I'm noticing some benefits. I truly have not seen my eyelashes look this full and long in quite a while. And the best benefit is that my eyes have been watering with all the other mascaras I've used in the past (L'Oreal, Cover Girl, Mary Kay, a natural kind by Sephora, Clinique, Dior, etc.)...and so far, my eyes have not burned or watered once with this mascara.

For around $5-6, this is a great mascara for dramatic evening looks. I think I'd still like to find something else that is not as messy to apply for an everyday mascara.

Any recommendations?

Product Review: Revlon Eye Make-Up

I was sent Revlon's new eye-make-up compacts to try out and give a review on. I loved the colors they sent and couldn't wait to try them out!

On the back of the compact is a very simple guide to show you exactly where to place each color - which is great, since I wouldn't know where to place five different colors on my eyes!

Instead of using the compact brush they provide, I used my trusty brushes. One for the lid, one for the crease, one for liner, and one for the brow bone. I highly recommend using your own brushes when using multiple colors on your eyes, so the color doesn't mix on the one compact brush provided.

I tried the pink/mauve tones today and thought the color was very nice and subtle. I found that the powder was a little too light, because it kept leaving a dusting in places it shouldn't. I had to do a lot of clean-up with a q-tip afterwards. I also noticed that in order to get the dark color to show up as a liner (as they suggest on the back of the compact), you need to dab your brush in a touch of water. That also helped with the dusting of powders that kept spilling on my cheekbone as I brushed the powder on my lids.

Another problem I encountered was that because all the colors were in one package without any dividers between each shadow, you have to be very careful to keep the colors separate when you apply the powder on your brush. I really wish make-up companies would be better about putting dividers between colors so they don't blend together.

Overall I thought the product was great for the money. The tips on how to apply on the back of the compact were great, the end result was lovely, and the amount of each color was nice, too. I didn't like the dusting of powder it left, or the fact that the colors could easily blend into one without having a divider, but that is a problem I encounter with all powder eyeshadows.


If you're interested in creating a subtly dramatic look for your eyes, you should definitely try Revlon's 5 color eye shadow compacts.

What is your favorite brand of eye shadow? And what tricks do you use to apply it properly?

Product Review: Misikko Flat Iron

Misikko (a company that sells ceramic flat irons, and other fabulous hair products like the T3 hair dryer , and chi hair straighteners), sent me the Hana Professional with Tourmaline flat iron to do a product review, and I have to say, I was impressed even before I saw and used the iron! Check out how they wrapped it:
After looking through the little goodies they sent with it (lipstick, hand sanitizer, emory boards, etc.), I finally got a glimpse of the flat iron... It came in a pink faux leather pouch with a separater inside so that the cord to the iron would stay separate from the iron when hot. Love that. I was sent the pink edition, which I'm particularly excited about since pink is my favorite color!! I decided to put the straightener to the absolute tests...

This is my hair on a bad hair day...very bad hair day...and immediately upon waking up...

I brushed through some of the front pieces of my hair with the iron before the flat iron was even fully hot, and couldn't believe how powerfully and quickly it straightened and shined my hair!

Reading the instructions to the iron, it says that it has a heat setting for super fine hair, and so I thought I would test the iron out on my mother-in-law who never uses any heat on her hair due to how fine it is.

This is her hair with just a touch of hairspray in it. She has a grown out perm in the ends of it, and sleeps in sponge rollers to give her hair extra body for the day.

This is her hair after I flat ironed it. Shiny, smooth, and full looking. And yes, those curls were made with the iron. I also decided I would test out the iron on someone with super curly hair.

My sister-in-law's hair is so curly, she has to tame the frizz with styling gel, and tons of hairspray. She came to me with her hair full of hair product and stiff, but we tried the iron on it anyway...

It straightened her hair in one brush of the iron! I quickly curled the ends with the iron, and my sister-in-law left with shiny, bouncy curls!

The curls the flat iron makes are stronger than what my Conair curling iron can do, and I've found that my curls stay tighter longer, even after two days of no touch ups! Can you tell I'm sold on this iron?

Product Review: Perricone MD Cold Plasma Cream

I was recently sent Perricone MD's Cold Plasma Cream, and have to confess that I absolutely adore it! For one ounce, it's $150, which is way above my budget, and frankly means I won't be able to replace this wonderful product, but I had to give a shout out for those of you out there who can afford it.

The product claims that it will even out your skin tone, erase blemishes, make your pores appear smaller, and your skin tighter. After only one day of using it, my husband noticed the difference and was impressed. It's been almost a month now that I've been using it, and I'll be sorry when I run out. The redness in my face has gone, my pores appear significantly smaller, and my skin is definitely tighter.

Product review

I have been complaining for a few months now about the ugly "chicken skin" bumps that I have recently obtained all over my arms (keratosis pilaris a common skin disorder typified by "chicken skin" or bumpiness on the surface of the skin) so my husband, tired of hearing the complaints, told me to do something about it. I did a little research and settledon trying DERMAdoctor KP Duty, both the body scrub and the super moisturizing cream recommended together.
These are not cheap products (in my opinion) the scrub costs $44 an the cream cost $36, but after only three uses with the scrub and daily use of the moisturizer, I'm seeing a marked difference!
My bumps have decreased in both size and number and my skin is feeling soft and a lot smoother. The scrub can only be used once or twice a week and is very powerful, you wouldn't want to put it your face. The cream is recommended for very dry skin and to help relieve the problem of "chicken skin" and it is doing just that.

I'm really looking forward to seeing my arms back to normal (or closer to normal) and seeing if this is a product I'd be willing to buy again.

Having only used it for two weeks though, I'm excited about the results I'm already seeing and would recommend this product to other ladies suffering from the same problem as me.

Oh and I bought these products at Sephora, the gal there was very informative and recommended I use it on any part of my body that my skin was extra bumpy or dry, she says she even uses the product under her arms or any where she gets irritations from shaving. My skin generally doesn't get irritated when I shave, so I haven't tried it any where aside from my arms. Okay, that's all:)