Charlotte Russe's Fleece Leggings - HOT Leggings for Cold Weather

Ok, I'll admit - I am a leggings junkie; I live in them. They go with everything, you can dress them up or down and are super comfy. What woman doesn't love a nice pair of soft leggings? It's getting super chilly and wearing my regular leggings wasn't cutting it for me. I was in Charlotte Russe (one of my favorite clothing stores) and I ran across a pair of fleece leggings. I had never heard of them before - when you hear of "fleece leggings", you might think of the outside of the leggings being fleece. But as I was looking at them, they looked the same as regular leggings, so I didn't know where the "fleece" part came in. I took 2 pairs to the dressing room (black and grey) to try them on. They were amazing! First of all, they're bit thicker than regular leggings and the outside of them is not made of fleece; it's the regular legging cotton material. The fleece is lined on the inside of these and it's sooooo soft and warm. I was immediately addicted. I bought both pairs, headed home, washed them and slipped on a pair after my shower. I can't explain to you how soft (I know I keep repeating that word) these feel. I was cozy and warm the whole night. Now, it's like I live in them. If I could wear them all day long, I would! Please do yourselves a favor and try a pair of these on. If you love leggings like I do, you'll love these!

Cookies for Santa!!

I remember when I was a little girl ~ on Christmas Eve in my Christmas pajamas baking sugar cookies from scratch, flour in my hair and on my nose, putting every ounce of my love for Santa into his cookies. And don't forget the carrots for the reindeer! ;) There's nothing like making Christmas cookies from scratch; sure, it's easy to buy the ready made ones from the store, but where's the fun in that?? Santa prefers homemade cookies as a thank you for his tireless hours of house hoppin' and present droppin'! Here's a recipe that my daughter and I have perfected - we make these cookies every Christmas Eve, super easy and scrumptiously delicious. Santa will be sure to eat every last one! ;)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

holiday cookie sprinkles

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Top with your favorite holiday sprinkles. Cool completely.

It's in a TUBE!!!

OMG It's in a tube!!! It's in a tube!!! I went to Sephora last weekend and saw that my FAVORITE lip balm now comes in a handy dandy squeezable tube! I bought three! One for my nightstand, one for my purse and one for my coat pocket. Why didn't anyone tell me?? Where have I been?? This stuff is the business - if you didn't know, you'd better ask somebody!!!

Redken - Smooth Down Butter Treat

Back with more amazing products - I'm so excited to share! This is Redken's Smooth Down Butter Treat and it is unbelievable. It's sort of like a hair masque, a deep deep conditioner that puts all other deep conditioners to shame. It is specifically for dry and damaged hair, which I suffer from, and I'm always looking for moisturizing products that improve my hair's quality. This was recommended to me by a friend and it has changed my hair drastically. Since I've been using this, people notice that my hair looks so silky, shiny and bouncy and often ask me what I'm doing differently!

I use this about once a week - after shampooing my hair, I apply this conditioner and leave it on for about 30 minutes, then rinse it out. Sometimes on the weekends, I'll even sleep with the conditioner in my hair and rinse it out in the morning. The results are ridiculous. I can immediately tell a difference in the strength and texture of my hair. It's super easy to comb through and so silky, soft and glossy! I still love my Feria conditioner as my regular conditioner, but as a weekly treatment, this is a staple. I normally flat iron my hair because I don't really like the curls I have when I wash and go, but with this stuff, I can rock my curls proudly! I add some Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner and I am good to go! When I decide to flat iron it, it is super easy, takes about 30 minutes and looks soooo healthy. I am in love with this stuff. All of you ladies have to try it. I guarantee it will improve the quality of your hair. I love, love, love it!

The Best Coffee Cake. Ever.

This recipe needs no words ... well maybe except heavenly, scrumptious, moist, warm, sinful, decadent. Try this recipe and you'll go straight to heaven. Figuratively speaking of course. ;)

Ingredients:

FOR THE CAKE:

1-½ stick Butter, Softened
2 cups Sugar
3 cups Flour, Sifted
4 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
1-¼ cup Whole Milk
3 whole Egg Whites, Beaten Until Stiff
_____
FOR THE TOPPING:

1-½ stick Butter, Softened
¾ cups Flour
1-½ cup Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
1-½ cup Pecans, Chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat egg whites and set aside.
Cream butter and sugar. Add flour mixture and milk alternately until combined. Don’t over beat. Fold in beaten egg whites with a rubber spatula. Spread in a well-greased 9 x 13 (or LARGER!) baking pan. A cake pan with higher sides would be best.
In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients with a pastry cutter until crumbly. Sprinkle all over the top.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until no longer jiggly. Serve warm—delicious!

MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Stud

I am obsessed with my eyebrows. I think they are the single most important feature of the face (and often underrated). A perfect brow is a perfect face frame. Every two weeks, like clockwork, I religiously get my eyebrows threaded, which is the best grooming method, in my opinion. Nothing beats the look and precision of a threaded brow. My brow inspirations are Kim Kardashian and Megan Fox, my all-time fave. Her eyebrows are sickeningly perfect. Eyebrow threading gives me that same look, which I love. I have tried to use powders before to fill in any tiny spaces where they are sparse, but it never really gave me the natural look that I was searching for. I went to a MAC counter years ago and one of the consultants tried MAC's Eyebrow Pencil in Stud on me - the rest is history. This pencil is really thin and only the very tip sticks out the top, which is always sharpened. The color has no reds tones to it at all, just a deep brown that can get darker when pressed, or lighter when using light strokes. I mainly use this as a light line right at the bottom of my brows, to give it a neat, clean, precisioned look. Sometimes I fill in tiny little areas or imperfections, but I keep it very light. The more pencil or powder that you have on your brows, the more unnatural it looks. It's just supposed to enhance the brows in a natural way. This pencil is so amazing, it keeps my brows looking perfect all day, doesn't smear or melt. It's also so easy to apply; most pencils take many strokes to appear, you often have to press too hard or tug at your skin, which is not only annoying, but horrible for your skin. This is, hands down, the best eyebrow pencil that I have ever used. And for someone who is obsessed about their brows like I am, that's saying a lot!

Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

I am in l-o-v-e with this stuff. I don't know what I would do without it. I wear mascara and sometimes eyeshadow and eyeliner, and it's such a pain to try to remove eye makeup without being too harsh on my eyelashes or ending up looking like a raccoon. I have tried so many products from plain old Vaseline, cold creams, eye makeup removers and have had no luck. I have never found something that takes such little effort and is so gentle on my eyes and eyelashes - that is ... before using "Mary Kay's Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. When I used this stuff for the first time, I saw the sky part and the angels descend down upon me playing their little harps. I was that impressed. All it takes is a drop or two on a cotton ball and I hold it on my eye for a couple of seconds, then wipe away. It's SO easy and gentle on my eyes that even with contacts in, I can open my eyes and use it on my waterline to take off any eyeliner that is left behind and it's like I'm using water, it's so gentle. It is oil-free, so it doesn't leave an oily residue, which I found with some of the other removers out there. This is one of those little products that mean so much to have in your bathroom cabinet. It's trusty, will never let you down and does its job perfectly. And a product that saves my lashes is a product I'm a fan of! Try it! ;)

Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Liquid Foundation

This is my HG foundation, the best liquid foundation on the market, trust me - I've tried all of 'em! I don't like a cakey matte foundation at all. I like a natural foundation that doesn't make it look like I'm even wearing makeup. Make Up Forever's HD Invisible Cover Liquid Foundation does just that. I normally use MAC's 187 "skunk brush" to apply this foundation and it gives an airbrushed finish. I pump twice on the back of my hand and lightly stiple the foundation on my face. Then I buff it in using circular motions, lightly set with powder and I'm good to go! This is such a high quality foundation that does not irritate my sensitive skin at all. There are 25 shades to suit all skintones. If you want a natural looking foundation that blends into your skin perfectly, this is the one for you!

Josie Maran: Love Nest

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm officially in love with all things Josie Maran. I blogged awhile ago about her AMAZING 100% Organic Argan Oil, which has literally transformed my skin and I cannot live without. I was so impressed with it, that I started researching her whole cosmetics line. I watched her on QVC, looked up youtube videos of her promoting her products, read tons of reviews, totally immersed myself in finding out more about this line. First of all, every single product in her line includes argan oil - every one! I couldn't imagine having my magical elixir included in every mascara, cream blush, gloss, eyeshadow, etc ... I was so excited to try her products out! I heard that Sephora was selling two boxed sets of Josie Maran products. I initially wanted to get Josie Maran's Beauty in a Box, which includes all of Sephora's favorite Maran products: Argan Eyeshadow Quad, GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara in Black, Argan Infused Lipstick in Birthday Suit, Argan Oil!!! :), Argan Infused Eyeliner in Raven and Argan Natural Volume Lipgloss in Optimism. The retail value is $98 and it was being sold for $52. I researched the products and they all got RAVE reviews, so off to Sephora I went - only to find out that the specific store I went to does not carry it :( :( :( Sooooo, sensing my disappointment, the Sephora consultant recommended Josie Maran's Love Nest - a boxed set of Josie's favorite products from her line, that was flying off the shelves. The set includes a .5 oz bottle of Argan Oil, Argan Illuminizer, GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara in Black and Argan Color Stick in Petal Pink. The retail value is $55 and it was being sold for $25. I immediately took it to the cashier and checked out.

When I got back home, I washed my face and tried out the products. Mascara: The packaging is so cute; it's black with gold hearts on it :) The brush is soft and full and when I initially applied the mascara, I could just tell it had argan oil in it! I just knew it! It's like my lashed were being conditioned. The result was beautiful - separated and full, lush lashes. It didn't extend them super far, but they were definitely long and beautiful looking. I also experienced no clumping or flaking with this product. Color Stick: This packaging is beautiful, also; she packages a lot of her products in rose gold and this one was just that, with a clear lid on the top. This stick can be used for cheeks and lips. It has a pretty scent to it, but I'm having a hard time pinpointing the exact fragrance. It's very nice, though! :) It goes on the cheeks like a cream blush and the color is perfect. It's buildable, so you can always add more and it still looks very natural. I'm in love with this color. This is one of my favorite products in the box. On the lips, it looks beautiful, gives your lips the exact color that lips should be. Illuminizer: This stuff is amazing, but needs to be used sparingly. A tiny drop gives such a stunning glow on the cheeks. I've also mixed it with my moisturizer when I'm doing a no makeup day and it's super pretty. When I was researching reviews for this product, this was the favorite makeup product right behind the argan oil. Ok, I don't need to review the argan oil again, but it's an incredible product that I can't say enough positive things about. Love, love, love it!!!

This set is an amazing buy, especially if you're like me and wanted to "try out" some of her products before purchasing them all individually. I'm not sure how long Sephora will be selling it, so if you're interested, make a mad dash to your nearest Sephora location! This is a great stocking stuffer idea! When I get my hands on the Beauty in a Box, I'll make sure to review that, too. :)

LUSH - Bubblegum Lip Scrub

This is a recent find of mine that both my daughter and I are obsessed with. One of my consistent themes is exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! When I found out about LUSH's Lip Scrub in Bubblegum, I had to try it! I know, I know, you can easily make this on your own - it's mainly sugar and oil. But for only $8, you can have the cutest jar of this yummy pink lip scrub, without any work at all. The jar is packed with this scrub, and only a tiny bit is needed, so it lasts a long time. All I do is make sure my lips are completely clean, without any lip balm or gloss, and spread the scrub over my lips. I press my lips together and scrub back and forth for about a minute and then I start feeling the scrub get warm and dissolve. Then after I'm finished, I lick it off - OMG soooo good. The flavor is amazing. (You can also wash the scrub off with warm water.) I immediately apply my Rosebud Salve and my lips are SUPER soft, smooth and kissable. I can't even do it justice by explaining it with words. I find myself rubbing my lips together over and over again because I love how soft they feel. This is also great for applying matte lipsticks, it provides a smooth canvas so your lips won't look chapped or dry. I use it before bed and my daughter loves to use it in the mornings before she applies her Rosebud Salve (spoiled child). ;) She keeps begging me to buy more so that she can try the other flavors. You can visit their website to check them out. LUSH is an amazing store that specializes in handmade cosmetics. They do not test their products on animals and they use only vegetarian ingredients. Their store is so cool; they have other amazing products that I can't wait to try, like their bubble bars, bath melts and bath bombs. I can tell that I'll be a frequent LUSH shopper in the future. If their other products are anything like their yummy lip scrub, I'm all over it!

Philosophy - Hot Salt Body Scrub in Gingerbread Man and Senorita Margarita

I've blogged about products that keep my face soft and smooth, lotions that make my body smooth, I loooove being smooth. I refuse to have any part of my body ever be rough, chapped, chaffed, dry, or any other icky antonym for silky smooth. It's all fine and dandy to put lotions and oils on your body to smooth out your skin, but nothing buffs out and polishes skin like a great exfoliating scrub. I love my scrubs. I use my St. Ives Apricot Scrub on my face religiously and love the feeling I get after a good scrubbin'. But you can't stop at just exfoliating your face. You have to exfoliate your whole body. That's where Philosophy's Hot Salt Body Scrubs come into effect. I recently received samples from my favorite store in the world :) of 2 scrubs in particular that I'm giddy goo goo ga ga about. The first one is called Gingerbread Man. It smells divine and warm and delicious. It's a rich brown color and looks like brown sugar. The next one is called Senorita Margarita. This, no lie, smells just like a delicious ice-cold margarita, but in a great and amazing way. It's addicting. Nice and limey. The smell alone is worth trying this scent. These body scrubs slightly heat up as you rub the product in, which feels sooo good. They are thick scrubs, a bit rough, which I like. I don't like an oily scrub with a lot of slip. I want to really get in there. The directions suggest scrubbing on dry skin and then washing the scrub off afterwards. I'd like to call myself a G, so I bravely dry scrub while standing in the shower, then turn the shower on to rinse off. I find that this is the best method because you have traction when you're scrubbing and it doesn't glide too easily. When you rinse this off, your whole body will honestly, no fingers crossed, feel like a baby's butt. Seriously. It is insane. If you've never tried a high quality body scrub, try this and you will never go back to life without it. Trust me.

Mexican Lasagna

Recipe time! This is in constant rotation at our house. I call it Mexican Lasagna, my husband calls it Burrito Pie, you can call it whatever you wish, but I guarantee you, this recipe will become a very good friend of yours. During the week, when I get home from work, the last thing I want to do is slave over a hot stove all night. I want to get in, get out, and eat something delicious. This recipe is super easy, kind of tastes like an enchilada, burrito and taco all in one - and amazingly flavorful! Try it!

Ingredients:

2 packages of ground turkey (or ground beef, whichever you prefer)

2 (2 oz) can of black olives, sliced

1 cup of diced tomatoes

1 (4 oz) can of diced green chile peppers

1 (10 oz) can of diced tomatoes with green chile peppers

1 (16 oz) jar of taco sauce (I use La Victoria, Medium)

1 large can of refried beans (forgot the ounces, sorry!)

1 packet of taco seasoning

1 bag of shredded cheese

12 (8 inch) flour tortillas

1/4 c green onions

sour cream, if preferred

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Brown ground beef in large skillet, drain fat. Mix in 1 can of olives, taco sauce, taco seasoning, diced green chile peppers and can of diced tomatoes with green chile peppers. Stir mixture thoroughly, reduce heat to low, simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

3. Spread a thin layer of meat mixture in the bottom of a 9X13 glass baking dish. Follow by sprinkling cheese on the meat mixture. Then, take a tortilla and spread refried beans onto the tortilla with a spoon. Lay the tortilla bean side down on top of the cheese. You're going to need 2 tortillas on each layer to cover the dish. Next, layer again, starting with the meat mixture, cheese and tortillas bean side down until you get to the top of the dish, ending with the meat mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top, followed by diced tomatoes, olives and green onions.

4. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is slightly brown and bubbly. Add sour cream, if preferred.

NARS Orgasm Blush

Legendary. The blush that looks amazing on EVERYONE. The blush that Drake referenced with "Orgasm blush, lipstick and concealer". The most flattering blush ever made - NARS Orgasm Blush. I know this is nothing new. All women know about this blush, but what would a "favorite things" blog be without mention of this magical pigment?? I normally carry 2 blushes in my makeup bag: Tarte's Blushing Bride and NARS Orgasm. Tarte's blush is for more of a rosy cheek look, super beautiful and necessary. But NARS Orgasm has more of a natural peachy pink tone to it and it looks heavenly on, for daytime or nighttime - super versatile. This also has great staying power and will last all day long. Be careful not to get this mixed up with NARS Super Orgasm, which is an amped up version of this one, only it contains glitter - eww not my personal taste at all, but others may like it. I know, I know, it's $30 ... who wants to spend $30 for blush???

I know! I was in the same boat! Until I tried it on at my nearest Sephora a couple of years ago and the rest is history. NARS Orgasm blush. Pretty much the ishhh. Nuff said.

Benefit - Moon Beam

This is a staple in my makeup bag. Keeping with my "glowing skin" theme, I'd like to introduce you to Moon Beam by Benefit Cosmetics. I'm always trying to achieve the minimal makeup, natural, clean, fresh and glowing skin look, so I have tons of moisturizers and highlighters. This is my all-time favorite highlighter in liquid form. Benefit has two different versions of this highlighter ~ one is called High Beam and the one I'm featuring is, of course, the magnificent Moon Beam. High Beam is mainly for fair skin tones; it's a little on the pearly, silver, white side. It's beautiful on certain skin tones, but it didn't give my skin a warm and natural glow. I had to be careful how much I applied to avoid looking like a disco ball. Moon Beam has peachy, purple, pink, and golden iridescence all in one. It is absolutely breathtaking with olive to darker skin tones. It also has no glitter or shimmer which I love because that looks ridiculous, in my opinion. It also doesn't make my face look oily, which is another pet peeve of mine. First of all, the product comes in a small glass bottle and the wand looks exactly like a nail polish brush, so cute :) I've had my current bottle for a year and a half and I'm not even halfway finished. You only use a teeny tiny bit of this product, so it lasts forever. When I apply Moon Beam, I swipe over my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, my brow bones, the inner corners of my eyes and right at my cupid's bow (the area on your top lip when it makes a heart shape), then I blend it in with my fingers and let me tell you, the subtle and beautiful glow that I get is stunning. People will not notice that you are wearing highlighter; only that certain parts of your face are catching a beautiful light. Sometimes, I apply this over my foundation and use it without blush, sometimes I wear it over my blush, sometimes I mix it with my moisturizer to make my very own tinted moisturizer, sometimes I add it to my foundation as an illuminizer, sometimes I wear it alone ~ you can use it however you choose and you will always get the warmest, most luminous, most beautiful glow ever.

100% Organic Argan Oil - Josie Maran

This is my new beauty obsession. I didn't want to blog about it too soon because I wanted to make sure that my excitement wasn't premature. I've been using this for about 3 weeks now and every day, my skin gets better and better, from the inside out. This is 100% Organic Argan Oil by Josie Maran. No wonder this is her line's best seller. First of all, I love Josie Maran. She is a former model and I always thought she was drop dead gorgeous, in a natural way. When I found out she had a 100% natural product line, I knew I had to try it. Pure Argan Oil is very hard to come by. A lot of products boast that they have pure argan oil in them, but it is rarely 100%. Josie imports the stuff from a women’s cooperative in Morocco and it’s 100 percent pure, which means it’s blessedly free of fragrance and dyes. Just 2-3 drops is enough for a deeply hydrating daytime/nighttime treatment. This is sometimes referred to as "Liquid Gold", a highly coveted beauty secret of the women of Morocco for centuries. The oil contains more than half the amount of vitamin e that olive oil does and is known for its anti-aging and healing properties. I use this in place of my regular moisturizer and on my cuticles. My blemishes disappear very quickly after I apply this oil. My skin is soft, dewy and supple. For the past three weeks, I have to say, my skin has looked better than it has ever looked. I don't want to get too excited and replace my other moisturizers for this one until the results last a little bit longer, but I am so very amazed by this product. I just take 2-3 drops and deeply press the oil, rubbing it all over my face and neck. It also comes in a stick form, Josie Maran's Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick, which is perfect for spot treating dry areas. I have both; I keep the stick with me in my purse and I leave the (recyclable) glass bottle of oil at home. I also use the stick as balm on my lips and it's wonderful. Don't be put off by this being an oil; I was hesitant at first, too. But it's so light, absorbs into the skin so well and leaves it so unbelievably moisturized, that it is hard to believe it's oil! This is truly a magical elixir!

Victoria's Secret - The Fireside Long Jane Pajama

My new favorite pajama ~ I live in these babies. These are Victoria's Secret's take on the old school "Long Johns", only they're called "Long JANES"- how cute?? These come in about 10 different prints and are so warm, soft and cuddly, you'll never want to take them off. I have 2 so far and am slowly pacing myself to get more and more. They are such high quality and also have the softest velour trim, which is an awesome touch. My ladies know, when you're married/in a relationship, you don't want to go to bed in an oversized t-shirt, baggy pants, zit cream AND a hair wrap ;) We want to keep it sexy, right? But who wants to go to bed in silk and lace every single night?? That's where these pjs come in. They are very fitting and figure-flattering (my husband loves them), not to mention SUPER comfy and cozy. VS's PINK line also has a one-piece thermal pj that is adorable. It comes in several prints, too, but the all white with the red kisses is to die for. Here are 3 of my favorite Long Jane styles, other than the one pictured above: 1 , 2 , 3 . Who doesn't want to wake up on Christmas morning and open presents wearing these?? I mean, come one now!

Perfect (and easy) Chili

When the weather gets chilly, there's nothing in the world better than cuddling up with a bowl of one of the best comfort foods in the world. My chili recipe is embarrassingly easy, and tastes like it took hours and hours to make. My husband, who is not the biggest chili fan, devours this chili and goes back for thirds and fourths. Give it a try!


Ingredients:

2 packs ground turkey
1 can tomato sauce 29 oz
2 cans dark red kidney beans 15 oz
2 cans lighter red kidney beans 15 oz
2 cans black beans 15 oz
2 jars medium salsa
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin powder
1.5 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups water
hot sauce (to your liking)

Directions:

After you've cooked the ground turkey, transfer to large pot. Add all of the ingredients to the pot and simmer for 45 mins to an hour. Garnish with shredded cheese. I eat my chili with Ritz crackers - yummm! Such an easy recipe - enjoy!

Caress Whipped Souffle Ultra Silkening Body Wash

Doesn't it just sound yummy? Whipped souffle? That's what made me pick up this body wash in the first place. Who doesn't want to wash themselves with some whipped souffle?? ;) I think I also picked this up because I was in the grocery store and hungry, which they say to never do. But I'm glad I was shopping on an empty stomach that day because it led me to finding the ultimate body wash! I've only tried the White Peach Cream scent, and it is all kinds of YUMMY smellin'. First, let me talk about the consistency ~ it's more like a lotion than a soap, so it's thicker and stays on your body instead of sliding off so easily. It's actually kind of like pudding, creamy and whipped, hence the name. But even with its consistency, it still suds and lathers up with only a small amount, which leads me to believe that it's really concentrated ... and when something's concentrated that means that it will last a lot longer because you don't have to use as much of the product. After I rinse the body wash off, I feel as though it's locked in the moisture in my skin; it's very soft and smooth. I also use this to shave and it's muy perfecto. Next time you're in the drugstore, pick up one of these so you can whip up a shower souffle! (Corny, I know - I just like saying the word souffle ;)

OPI's Magala Wine & You Don't Know Jacques

After OPI's Tickle My France-y, these are my next 2 favorite polishes: Malaga Wine and You Don't Know Jacques. Let's start with the fact that they're OPI polishes, the best hands down. OPI polishes are top quality and are the shiniest, most chip-resistant, "most beautiful colors having" polishes out there. I love a deep dark red color - especially for pedicures. There are millions of reds out there, and I've tried 'em all, but Malaga Wine is my favorite. It's not too goth looking (which I do love sometimes), but not too bright, either. It's just a simple and gorgeous dark red that looks shiny and beautiful on. It kind of reminds me of a polish that one of those sophisticated women in the 1940s would wear, like Joan Crawford, Bette Davis or Dorothy Dandridge. You Don't Know Jacques is one of those colors that I was obsessed with and would wear it through mani/pedi after mani/pedi. It's Fall and the greys are the "in" color, but this isn't your typical grey. It's more like a taupe grey, which is so beautiful. It doesn't clash with any outfit, which is always a plus, it's so chic and stylish, you will get complimentss everywhere you go. I'm so in love with this polish, that I stocked up on 2, which I never do. These are on constant mani/pedi rotation!

Pantene Pro-V natureFusion Smooth Vitality Shampoo

I can't talk about my favorite conditioners without talking about my favorite shampoo. I've been using Pantene Pro-V's shampoos for years and have tried all of the different versions. This shampoo (with the longest name ever in life) is the best I've tried so far. Here's what I need for my shampoo to do - clean my hair until it's squeaky squeaky clean, but not get my hair so stripped that it feels damaged after it's washed. I also want to feel that clean feeling preferably after 1-2 washes; I don't want to be in the shower washing my hair over and over and over again - no fun. When I use this shampoo, I feel that squeaky clean feeling after the first rinse. It has an amazing lather and smells wonderful. I dye my hair black, and it's so gentle on my hair, even though it's not specifically for color treated hair. Conditioners always get all of the glory and shampoos are often cast aside, but Pantene Pro-V's natureFusion Smooth Vitality Shampoo deserves its chance in the spotlight.

Tarte Cheek Stain in Blushing Bride

We don't want blush that looks like blush, right? We want blush that gives us that "just got off the treadmill" glow or that "pinched cheeks" look. Tarte's Cheek Stain in Blushing Bride does just that. It looks really dark through the bottle, and when you first apply it to your cheeks, you'll probably feel like Snow White. But as you blend, it gives your cheeks a natural flush that is just beautiful. It stays on way longer than powder blushes because of its gel base, so you don't have to worry about reapplying. Test it out at Sephora; there are many other shades for all skintones!

St. Ives Apricot Scrub

I have very sensitive skin, so I'm picky about my exfoliators. Although I love most of Kate Somerville's products, her exfoliator, ExfoliKate, was too harsh for my skin and sent me running back to the sink to wash the stuff off. And as usual, I went back to my tried and true, St. Ives Apricot Scrub - Blemish & Blackhead Control. I can remember my mother having a jar of this in our bathroom when I was growing up. I've been using this product for a long time and it takes it easy on my sensitive skin, while at the same time cleaning out my pores and washing away all of the impurities that regular soap washing can't do. I use this about once a week and my skin always feels its cleanest after I use it. I guess I'll stop being hard-headed and stick with my buddy from now on. ;)

German Chocolate Cake

The picture speaks for itself. There's nothing in the world like a homemade German Chocolate cake. I dare you to find a recipe that's better than mine. :) There are no words. If you want to impress someone, this is the recipe to pull out. See below!



Ingredients:

1/2 cup water
4 (1 ounce) squares German sweet chocolate
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 egg whites

2 cups white sugar
2 cups evaporated milk
1 cup butter
6 egg yolks, beaten
2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
2 cups chopped pecans
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon shortening
1 (1 ounce) square semisweet chocolate


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 3 - 9 inch round pans. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a small saucepan, heat water and 4 ounces chocolate until melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
In a large bowl, cream 1 cup butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 4 egg yolks one at a time. Blend in the melted chocolate mixture and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, mixing just until incorporated.
In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the whites into the batter, then quickly fold in remaining whites until no streaks remain.
Pour into 3 - 9 inch pans Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto wire rack.

To make the filling: In a saucepan combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter and egg yolks. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut, pecans and vanilla. Cool until thick enough to spread.

Spread filling between layers and on top of cake. In a small saucepan, melt shortening and 1 ounce of chocolate. Stir until smooth and drizzle down the sides of the cake.

Emily Giffin

Emily Giffin. This is a woman who compells me to jot down her future book release dates in my calendar a year in advance. This is a woman whose stories I am so in love with, that I force myself to read her books as slowly as possible for fear of my love affair with her characters ending. This is a woman who I have met twice and is the sweetest, most gracious and endearing person ever. This is a woman who has THE most adorable book covers in the universe. Emily Giffin just makes my life a little bit sweeter. Who doesn't love to open a book and right at the first couple of sentences, you are utterly hooked and have reached the point of no return. There will be no beds being made, no dishes being washed, you're ordering takeout for the next week, the dvr will just have to record Grey's Anatomy, the whole world will just have to wait until you've finished devouring this story. That's how I feel when I read one of this New York Times best selling author's books. She is funny, witty, and has a way with words that make her stories flow so effortlessly. It feels like I'm listening to my closest girlfriend read the stories directly to me. Her characters are extremely relatable and well developed, and she has such a knack for writing about relationships: romantic, friend, familial, etc... She has written 5 amazing books so far: Something Borrowed (my all-time favorite, which at this time, a movie is being made starring Kate Hudson), Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You're With and Heart of the Matter. All 5 of these books are amazing and if purchased, will take up permanent display spaces on your bookshelves. I am counting down the days until her next book is released. Please go out and support this amazing author ~ I'm sure you will fall in love just as I have! :)




"When you are in a relationship, you are aware that it might end. You might grow apart, find someone else, simply fall out of love. But a friendship isn't a zero-sum game, and as such, you assume that it will last forever, especially an old friendship. You take its permanence for granted, which might be the very thing so dear about it." ~ Something Borrowed

"His words are like the sound of a needle dragging across a record. A sinking, sickening feeling washes over me. This is why you should never, ever get your hopes up. This is why you should see the glass as half empty. So, when the whole things spills, you aren't as devastated." ~ Something Borrowed

"It always takes two. For relationships to work, for them to break apart, for them to be fixed." ~ Heart of the Matter

"Sometimes there are no happy endings, No matter what, I'll be losing something, someone. But maybe that's what it all comes down to. Love, not as a surge of passion, but as a choice to commit to something, someone, no matter what obstacles or temptations stand in the way. And maybe making that choice, again and again, day in and day out, year after year, says more about love than never having a choice to make at all." ~ Love the One You're With

Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss

I've been using this stuff since high school. It is something that simply I could not do without. Back in the day, I was at the Beverly Center at the Aveda store and one of the consultants asked me to sample how this serum feels on my hands - and the rest is history. Ever since then, Aveda's Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss has been a staple for me. The consistency is light and non-greasy and the scent is heavenly. I flat iron my hair so much, that I was always on the lookout for a product that would make my hair shiny and healthy looking, without weighing it down. I cannot imagine ever flat ironing my hair and not following it up with this. After I blowdry my hair, I squirt 2 pumps into my hands and rub them together, then I run my fingers through my hair. I then proceed to flat iron and after I am finished, I apply one more pump of this serum through my hair and on my ends before I wrap my hair. My hair smells divine, feels unbelievably soft and has no fly-aways. The tiny little bottle lasts for so long - I've had the same one now for 2 years and it's still half full (or half empty, depending on how you look at it) ;) Check it out here.

Mary Kay Timewise Age Fighting Moisturizer

I wanted to add this to my list as a cheaper alternative to my HG moisturizer, Kate Somerville's Nourish, which costs a pretty penny. I tried Mary Kay's Timewise Age Fighting Moisturizer for normal to dry skin when my neighbor gave me some samples. I was thoroughly impressed. Since I have dry and sensitive skin, I'm always looking for a thick, non-greasy cream that lasts all day long. This stuff does the trick. It has a great consistency, not too thick and not too thin, it is odorless and leaves my kin feeling so soft. I love to use it right before bed after I wash my face. I wake up with super soft and well-moisturized skin. After I re-wash my face in the morning, I apply this right before I put my makeup on and the application is flawless. The makeup looks very natural and my face stays moisturized all day. So if you don't want to break the bank for the more expensive moisturizers, try this one and you won't be disappointed.

Jo Malone Bath Oil - Red Roses

We, as women, are mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and friends. We wear many hats and juggle many responsibilities. We deserve to be pampered at the end of the day, to indulge in something luxurious. Look no further, that something is the Jo Malone Bath Oils collection. First of all, the smell. I'm not a huge fan of rose scents, but this is very different and unique. This doesn't smell like your grandmother's perfume; it smells very delicate and pretty, like you're bathing in a bed of freshly cut pink roses - not red, but pink. :) The smell is intoxicating and immediately fills up your bathroom and relaxes you. Most bath oils do not foam up, but this product actually creates bubbles, which I love. I just drop 2 tiny capfuls in my hot bath after a long day or in the middle of the afternoon on a weekend - whenever I want to slip away and recharge. This oil leaves my skin so soft and smelling SO good. I also like the Grapefruit scent, as well, but Red Roses is a tried and true classic. There are so many scents to choose from, that you're bound to find a favorite. This is a little on the pricey side, but us women are worth the splurge, right? It's also a perfect gift idea when you're thinking of spoiling a special woman in your life. You can purchase Jo Malone Bath Oils on the Jo Malone website, or at Saks, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and other department stores.

L'Oreal - Feria Conditioner

Where do I begin? I'm so excited to share this product - it has to be up there in my top 5 favorite products of all time. I blogged about Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner, which is the ultimate conditioner for curly hair. Yes, I have naturally curly hair, but I always flat iron it straight; it is rarely in its naturally curly state. As a result of heat damage from blowdrying and flat ironing my hair, I'm always looking for a conditioner that is specifically for dry and damaged hair. I found out about L'Oreal Feria Conditioner one day, when I was about to dye my hair with the L'Oreal Feria hair dye ~ I looked in the box and found a tiny packet of conditioner that I was supposed to use after I rinsed out the hair dye. I didn't think too much about it - until I was in the shower rinsing the dye out and applied the conditioner. I couldn't believe the INSTANT change in my hair. It was like as soon as I put the conditioner in, my hair felt so silky, soft and smooth. I had never felt that kind of slip before with any conditioner in the past. My hair drank this conditioner up so quickly! When I rinsed out the conditioner and combed out my hair, it still felt so healthy and silky. It was super easy to comb through and I had no breakage during combing. I flat ironed my hair soon after and noticed that my hair felt and looked like I had applied a super expensive deep conditioner at a salon AND had gotten a trim AND had a hot oil treatment applied - all with a little packet of conditioner that I found in my hair dye box. My hair smelled lovely and I carried that scent for days. It was bouncy and shiny and beautiful and I immediately went online to research how I could get my hands on a full-size bottle of this stuff. I found out that it was exclusively sold at Sally's Beauty Supply for $8 and I ran out to stock up. I just could not wash my hair again without following it up with this conditioner! I've used it ever since and it has drastically improved the condition of my hair. It is by far the best conditioner that I have ever used - I don't know what I would do with my life if it was ever discontinued! My hair + Feria = <3

LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder

My search for a highlighter ended when I found this product. You'll notice a consistent theme in my posts - my love for J Lo and her glowy skin (and everything else about her). I am not a fan of the "matte" look, the cakey dry makeup that looks like a corpse. I love a glowy dewy look, but not greasy, just a very youthful, kind of like you "swallowed a light bulb and you're glowing from within" kind of look. My holy grail moisturizer, Kate Someville's Nourish, helped tremendously in this department. This is one of my other prized findings - LORAC's Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder. This is always the last step of my makeup process. I gently glide the product (sparingly) over my cheekbones, nose, forehead, chin, brow area and I'm done. It comes with a sponge, but I recommend using a large makeup brush to apply the product. This highlighter gives me a nice, natural and candlelit glow that is gorgeous. The finish is naturally luminous, but not in an oily way. I don't feel "pretty" until I finish off my makeup with this product. It's my Pretty Powder! Try it! Sold at my favorite store, Sephora baby :)

Maybelline "The Falsies" Mascara

I have to admit that I slightly obsess about mascara. I'm in a constant and consistent search for the "perfect" one that will make my eyelashes long, natural looking and beautiful. I always tease my husband because he was born with to-die-for eyelashes and I nickname them "paintbrushes". It's just not fair that some men have long eyelashes, beautiful pore-less skin and strong nails! What do they need them for? ;) Anyway, I've tried tons of mascaras, from the drugstore brands to the designer stupidly expensive brands - ALL in a quest to find "The One". There are basically 2 types of mascaras: volumizing and defining. The problem with the volumizing kind is that they tend to be too clumpy and you end up with Liza Minelli eyelashes - a definite no-no. Then with the defining kind, you don't get the clumping, but there's not quite enough product on the wand to make a noticable difference. I've always stuck with the defining mascaras because I hate clumpy eyelashes, and it does a pretty good job of separating the lashes, making them look natural and neat. Maybelline's The Falsies Mascara is the first volumizing mascara that I've ever used that doesn't clump at all. It leaves my lashes thick and lush, and separates the lashes very well so that it actually doesn't look like I have mascara on! It just looks like I was born with long, beautiful and perfect eyelashes. And I believe that's our ultimate goal as women, to find a product that enhances our beauty and features in a natural and subtle way. Next time you're in a drugstore near you, give Maybelline's The Falsies a try.

Rum Cake :)

My family requests this rummy Bundt cake at most of our get-togethers. It is so sinfully delicious and a cinch to make! I've tried different recipes and this one is the best, hands down. This cake STAYS moist and the flavor is amazing. There's nothing like a warm piece of rum cake and some vanilla bean ice cream. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. It's about time to make one!! Recipe below: ;)

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp almond extract

1 cup chopped walnuts
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup dark rum (I use Bacardi Gold)
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup water
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup dark rum

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over the bottom of the pan. In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix. Mix in the eggs, 1/2 cup water, oil and 1/2 cup rum. Blend well. Pour batter over chopped nuts in the pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let sit for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto serving plate.

*An easy way to glaze your cake is to pour half of the glaze into Bundt pan, reinsert cake, then pour the rest of glaze over the bottom of the cake. Let absorb well then invert back onto platter.*

To make the glaze: in a saucepan, combine butter, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp of almond extract and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup rum.

My Little Pot of Magic

If there's one thing I cannot stand in this world, it is dry and chapped lips. I cannot just have "nothing" on my lips; I need "something" on my lips at all times. And that little something is Smith's Rosebud Salve. It's been around since 1892 and I can see why - I can't live without this little pot of magic. First of all, it comes in this cute little tin container that I can dip my finger in whenever I feel the urge to use it. One little pot lasts me almost a year! Not only do I use it to keep my lips smooth and supple, ladies and gentlemen, noooo - that's just the tip of the iceberg. I use it to tame my eyebrows, on my eyelids when I'm doing a no makeup day, on my hair for fly aways, on my cuticles, elbows - you name it, and I use this for it. It can even help heal burns and smooth out blemishes. During my nightly "before bed" ritual, I slather on some of this and I wake up with unbelievably soft lips. It has a rosy smell and the tiniest hint of color. It's one of those simple products that's stood the test of time and doesn't need to be changed at all. Just perfect the way it is. I get mine at Sephora! :)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I'm going to be reviewing a lot of books on here, namely by my all-time favorite author (not just because she's my mother) the incomparable Marissa Monteilh, Emily Giffin (my imaginary bff) and Eric Jerome Dickey, among many others. But this book in particular, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, is so fresh in my mind because I just finished reading it - so I will start with this one.

I cannot believe that this is Kathryn Stockett's first book. I am utterly and immensely impressed with her style of writing and ablilty to draw you in while reading the book. I felt like all of the main characters were sitting right beside me, telling me the story and acting out the scenes. Not to give too much away, but this book is set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s, and is told from three points of view ~ Aibileen and Minny(my favorite), who are African American maids, hence the title, and Skeeter, who is a white, single woman with a college degree, who becomes enthralled in their plight. This is a book that I would re-read again and again. It is a classic story that will definitely spark a lot of conversation and debate, given the tough and controversial storyline. It's so beautifully and masterfully written that I choked up while reading it, which rarely happens to me while reading. The fact that this book has 2,694 reviews on Amazon's website
speaks for itself. What a beautiful story. Read it as a gift to yourself ~ you won't be disappointed.

Clif Kid Organic Z Bars

In my quest to find healthier snack options for my kids (and me and my husband), I stumbled upon Clif Kid's Organic Z Bars. First of all, I'm not a huge granola bar fan, especially the dry and crumbly granola bars - yuck. These bars are chewy, moist and sooo tasty. They satisfy my hunger in between meals, give my daughter a burst of energy before one of her soccer games and satisfy my sweet tooth when I'm craving something that I shouldn't be eating. They come in 5 flavors: Chocolate Chip (yum), Chocolate Brownie (my personal fave), Peanut Butter (tasty) and Honey Graham (so-so). They have 5 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber - and are only 120 calories. This is the granola bar of our house. We buy them at Target in bulk - right in the protein bar section next to the pharmacy. ;)

Victoria's Secret - Drenched in Pink Fresh & Clean Supersoft Body Lotion

In keeping with my "clean scent" theme, I would like to introduce you to my favorite lotion that has ever existed in this world ~ VS's Drenched in Pink Fresh and Clean Supersoft Body Lotion. When coupled with J Lo's Glow, magic happens. Every single time I put this lotion on after a shower, my husband sniffs me like he's a police dog and I'm hiding contraband! ;) It literally smells like soap and I feel so clean with this stuff on. And it lasts. That's my problem with most lotions - the scent wears off after an hour or two. Not with this bad boy. It lasts and lasts until your next shower. My skin feels so SOFT after I put it on, like a baby's skin. Not to mention, how CUTE is the bottle? It looks adorable on my bathroom counter and will look adorable on yours too!

My Magic Wand

My Sedu. This is my little baby. I don't know what I would do without it. I was hesitant to spend so much money on a flat iron, but after the first use, I was in love. This straightens my hair like no other and leaves it so silky and shiny. It heats up and heats down extremely fast, which is super convenient. You can even use it to curl your hair and the curls actually stay put. I could go on and on about how much I love this thing. The Sedu is pure magic - the results are stunning. The best - period. I ordered mine on Folica's website.

Christian Dior - DiorKiss "Strawberry Tartlet"

This is my favorite lip gloss of all time. It looks really pink in the bottle, but when applied, it's a gorgeous sheer light pink color with lots of shine. One of my pet peeves with lip gloss is that if I'm wearing my hair down, it will stick to my gloss - so annoying. This gloss is not sticky at all, but at the same time does not rub off too easily. It also has a nice flavor to it. It looks beautiful in the sunlight and will compliment all skin tones. I love this lip gloss so much, that when I was running out, I cut the bottom part of the tube off to get the last bit out! The best shade Dior makes, hands down - gorg!

Magic Cookie Bars

This is my brother's favorite dessert that I make, which is funny because it's by far the easiest and you can do it blindfolded with your arms tied behind your back. Ok, maybe not your arms tied behind your back, but definitely blindfolded! ;) Ok, seriously, this is the easiest recipe and from this simple recipe comes one of the most tasty, delicious and flavorful treats that you will ever "treat" your mouth to. Yummy yummy yummy to my tummy! Recipe below: :)


Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup butterscotch morsels
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut (sweetened)
1 cup chopped walnuts or almonds


Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees for glass dish). Coat 13x9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with a fork. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over mixture.
Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars or diamonds. Store covered at room temperature.

MAC 187 "Skunk" Brush

The mother of all makeup brushes. The only "must have" brush in your makeup brush arsenal - MAC's 187 "Skunk" Brush. This is the only brush a woman should use for applying liquid foundation; it gives such an airbrush finish - the best! What I do is ~ I pump some liquid foundation on the back of my hand and lightly dip my brush into the foundation. Then, I stipple the foundation all around my face, gently dotting it everywhere. After that, I rapidly (in a circular motion) blend in the foundation with the brush. I keep doing it over and over again until I've achieved the "airbrushed finish" and then set with powder. With this brush, you only need a teeny tiny bit of foundation because it spreads such a thin layer, which I love. I don't like for my makeup to be caked on. Also, you save foundation by using this brush, so your foundation lasts longer. If I had to throw away all of my makeup brushes and keep just one, without hesitation, it would be this brush - kind of pricey but HIGH quality and so worth it! Buy it online on MAC's website!



*Tip* Keep all brushes clean and wash with baby shampoo after each use.

Glow by J Lo

My signature scent. This is often referred to as "soap in a bottle" because when you spray it on, it literally smells like you just stepped out of the shower. Instead of people asking me what kind of perfume I'm wearing, they ask me what kind of soap do I use. This is for women, like me, who don't necessarily like a "perfume-y" smell, but more of a fresh and clean scent. To me, you smell the best right when you step out of the shower. With this perfume, you can capture that same scent all day long. :)

Kate Somerville's Nourish

Now, here comes the pricier of my little magical findings, but let me tell you, it is SOOO worth it. Ok, so I'm 31 now and I'm thinking of things that I have never before given a second thought - namely, SKIN. I've always done the basic 2 part skincare routine: wash every morning and night with plain old Dove soap, then moisturize with Pond's Moisturizing Cream. I've never been super happy with Pond's because I have very dry skin and no matter how much I applied, I still had those annoying problem areas that always reared their ugly heads halfway through my day. So, I started researching moisturizers. Really good moisturizers like the ones Kim Kardashian and J Lo used, so I can get glowy, dewy J Lo and KK skin!!! But, ummmm, I found out that they use REALLY pricey moisturizers and I'm just Nikki from the block, I ain't got no rocks for you to get fooled by. So I had to step it down a notch and come back to reality. I was in Sephora one day, buying one of my other holy grail items that I will review soon, and the checkout lady nonchalantly tossed in a few Nourish Moisturizer by Kate Somerville samples. Little did she know that she was changing my life with her addition to my little black Sephora bag. Later that night, I washed my face and applied the Nourish Moisturizer. Oh Em Gee. First of all, the smell. My bathroom smelled like I was in some fancy spa in Paree (Paris) and the aroma awakened my senses like POOO YOWW! That alone made me want to slather the stuff all over my body! But I only had a tiny bit, so I restrained myself. It melted into my skin and moisturized my face so well, it made me look over at my jar of Pond's and cut my eyes at it. I couldn't believe I'd be using that stuff for so long! The true test was when I applied it the next morning, to see if my skin would stay like Jo Lo or turn into J No. Well, I'm happy to say that my skin was glowy and dewy and all types of wonderful all day long. The smell stayed with me, too! I felt so clean and moisturized and in love and threw my Pond's away and dragged my husband to Sephora, watched him freak out over the price, fanned him down, took out his card, and purchased a full size Kate Somerville Nourish all for myself and me and my J Lo glow lived happily ever after. Thanks to Kate Somerville. Go to Sephora and ask for a sample! Also, check out Kate Somerville's whole entire line here.

OPI Tickle My France-y

My all-time favorite nail polish is OPI's Tickle My France-y. It is the most gorgeous and perfect nude color for all seasons. I am so obsessed with this, that I once wore this for 3 months straight. At each mani/pedi, I would try to force myself to try a different color, but I couldn't bring myself to do it! It's such a classy color, perfect for wearing to work when you want to be conservative and not so overstated - not to mention it matches with any outfit. Sometimes, I get tired of wearing bright colors and just want to calm it down a bit. Even when this color chips, you can barely notice. I'm so in love with this color - simply the best! :)

Mixed Chicks!

This is my first product on here because it's probably the most I'm excited about. My daughter has very long and spiral curly hair. She loves wearing it down, but I never wanted to go through the rigmarole of putting 10 different products in her hair, only to have it look like an afro frizz puff ball at the end of the day! Then, someone at work told me about Mixed Chicks and our lives forever changed. Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner is our holy grail, cannot live without, would die if they discontinued it - hair product. It works WONDERS for my daughter's hair and leaves the curls so defined, shiny, soft and it smells so good! Here's the deal: after I wash my daughter's hair, I leave it soaking wet, not towel dried (because the product distributes more evenly the wetter the hair is) and I gently comb it out. Then, I apply the leave-in conditioner to her hair and scrunch it with my hands. In order to achieve the best, girl in the movie Game Plan curls, we do not TOUCH the hair while it's drying. She just sits there. She doesn't move. J/K She can move but she doesn't touch her hair at all. Then we let it air dry and a couple of hours later, I rub some of the Hair Silk in her hair and she is good to go! Mixed Chicks' Leave-In is the absolute best - perfect for naturally curly hair that needs its thirst quenched. We love Mixed Chicks!