I was recently nominated for the “Shine On” blogger award by Angela Watkins,
creative author of I am the MakeupWhisperer and I Take Photos!I’ve
seen these types of awards floating around the digital world here and there but
never in a million years thought I would be nominated; especially since I am
such a newbie to the blogging community.
Before
I dive into the “Shine On” award rules, I want to sincerely thank Angela for
considering me as one of her 15 nominees. I’ve always enjoyed writing and
expressing my opinion, but never really dedicated any time to this craft since
grade school. One of my many “when I grow up” dreams was to become an author. Not
necessarily a literary author, but a journalist who would write about food, entertainment,
and exciting up-and-coming events; nothing too serious, mostly fluff.
However,
money was my top priority and I chose to seek a degree in business. In fact, I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration,
with an emphasis in General Management, this last December. I recently made
several life changing decisions that diverted me off my previous path and am
working on building a new and improved me. Surprisingly, I am not at all intimidated, but
rather excited and eager to discover what lies ahead.
I am
beyond blessed for discovering a new friend, Michelle, author of Beautiful Goodies, and her invitation to
join the Beauty and Fashion Blog Community on Facebook. I was welcomed into the group with open arms and
feel like I am part of something amazing. As I am starting a new chapter in life,
it is a wonderful feeling to be able to have a group of like-minded individuals
who are able to show such compassion and friendship toward complete strangers.
Okay,
enough rambling…
The
“Shine On” award rules are as follows:
Display the award logo in your blog post: Check!
Show appreciation by acknowledging the blogger who nominated you and link back to them in your post: Check!
Share 7 random, interesting facts about yourself: Listed below.
Nominate 15 bloggers you admire and happily pass on this award, making sure to link their blog into your post: Listed below.
Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know: Check!
My
7 Random Facts Are:
I have two different colored eyes. My right eye is ¾ blue and ¼ grey, and my left eye is ½ brown, ¼ blue, and ¼ grey.
I am obsessed with taking looooooong bubble baths. I recently relocated back home to my dear mother’s house and she has an AMAZINGLY deep soaking tub. Let’s just say that she’s happy to have me home, but her water bill has significantly increased since I returned. I love anything for baths: bubbles, bath oil, fizzies, beads, salts, etc. The more the merrier!
Last summer I adopted a Chihuahua / Pomeranian dog from our local Humane Society. Her name is Roxie and she is my pride and joy. I don’t have any human children, but she’s my baby girl. I spoil her rotten and she brightens my day. I do not think that I would have been able to make certain decisions about my life without her in my corner.
If I could, I would live in pajamas.
This may be TMI, but I’m obsessed with panties. NO, not in a weird fetish sort of way, but as in, I can never have enough! I love getting different designs, patterns, etc. The more fun, the better. And when I go on trips, I over pack; as in a 3 day vacation = 10+ panties. I NEVER want to be caught without them, so I’d rather be safe than sorry!
I had jaw surgery in high school, to help prevent future dental problems, and ever since then my entire right side of my face has been numb. I can feel pressure being applied to my face, but that’s about it; it makes chewing gum on that side of my mouth an interesting escapade!
I absolutely, positively hate crying; regardless if they are happy or sad tears. Therefore, I avoid all things overly emotional: anything Nicholas Sparks, animal cruelty commercials, touching stories, etc.
The
15 Bloggers That I Nominate for the “Shine On” Award Are:
What is your favorite Valentine's Day treat? I don’t have a specific Valentine’s Day treat that I
adore above all others, but you can never go wrong with anything chocolate
related!
Sweethearts of chocolate covered strawberries? YUCK! I absolutely hate
Sweethearts candy. They’re a cute novelty gift and I may have a few here and
there, but they remind me of antacid tablets. Therefore, I would most
definitely have to go with chocolate covered strawberries!
What was your favorite Valentine's Day memory? Hmmm….
My favorite Valentine’s Day memory would have to be when I was in elementary
school. Every Valentine’s Day was celebrated by making a kick-bum mailbox at
home, bringing it to school, and then walking around the room delivering
Valentine’s to each student.
Every
student would receive a list of names of their classmates. We were to make a
Valentine’s Day Card / gift for each student and then deliver them (via their
cute mailboxes) on Valentine’s Day. There was always goodies and music. It was
such a fun tradition and made everyone feel loved. I think I had the most fun
making the mailboxes.
What movie would you rather watch on Valentine's Day: "Pretty Woman" or "You've Got Mail"? I’ve seen both movies and
they’re equally good, but I’d have to go with “Pretty Woman”. It has more
drama! :) What celeb would you not mind having as your Valentine? Oh,
la, la! So many options…. Bradley
Cooper, Daniel DiTomasso, Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, I don’t think I could
pick just one! I think the winner would have to be…. *drumroll* Daniel
DiTomasso (with the facial hair)!
What would you do on your perfect Valentine's Day date? I’m a sucker for fancy
dinners. If I was going out, I’d want to hit the Melting Pot (amazing
experience, delicious food, but pricey). If staying in, I’d either want my love
to cook the entire meal for me (as a surprise) or for us to cook together;
finishing the night off with a fun chocolate-y dessert! And of course, movies +
massive cuddling.
Red or pink lips on Valentine's Day? I
haven’t been able to find a rockin’ red that suits me, so I’m going to have to
say an in-between color. Definitely more red, but with a hint of pink.
What is your ideal Valentine's Day date outfit? My ideal outfit would be a solid
colored skirt (probably black) with a sparkly / show-stopper blouse; probably
pink or red. Decked out in bling: rings, necklace, earrings, bracelet, etc.
Killer shoes and a small clutch to match my top (all three items the same
color) and fully painted fingernails and toenails to match! :)
Homemade or store-bought gifts? Hands down, homemade gifts! Gifts
that come from the heart and require time / effort mean 100x more to almost any
girl than a store bought gift.
Would you wear your hair up or hair down for a date night? I always wear my hair up in a messy bun, but if I was going
somewhere special or doing something to celebrate something special, I would
wear it mostly down but gathered up in loose curls to pull the hair out of my
face.
I am absolutely addicted to
all things Philosophy; especially my holy grail of facial cleansers… *drum
roll* Purity Made Simple. This stuff must be made with the tear
drops of unicorns! It is the most moisturizing and effective cleanser that I
have ever used. It gently removes ALL makeup
and cleanses your face; all-in-one! If you’re running short on time, you do not
even have to moisturize as this cleanser leaves your skin feeling supple and
smooth. I purchased mine through QVC and have it on auto-delivery. I have the
mondiferously large bottle with a pump. The pump works great as a measuring
tool; one pump gets the job done! Step #2: Facial Time!
Features & Benefits
Fast-acting results
Mineral-packed purifying paste
Leaves a beautifully clean feel
This is such an amazing
product! The Great Mystery isgentle enough to use daily (but I
use it every other day) and it leaves your skin feeling as though you
just visited the spa. The best part…. It only takes one-minute to reap the
benefits of this awesome product! It contains sea salt, which provides a nice
light exfoliation and when this accidentally gets into your mouth when
showering (oops!) you can actually taste the sea salt! I also have this product
on auto-delivery from QVC. Step #3A:
Moisturize, baby! On the “high-end”…
Features & Benefits
Helps diffuse energizing oxygen for glowing skin
Blend of antioxidants helps protect skin against environmental attack
Provides oil-free, lightweight hydration
I absolutely LOVE
moisturizing and enjoy trying all different products designed to make your face
silky smooth. However, being a smexy fluffy-lady tends to produce unwanted
perspiration on my face when I’m rushing around working or getting ready to
leave the house. Therefore, I always use a gel-like moisturizer on these
occasions; just like Take a Deep Breath. This moisturizer is amazing!
It is super lightweight and oil-free, but still provides you with a great deal
of moisture. The name is perfect… it literally feels as though your face is
taking a breath of fresh air when you apply this moisturizer.
Step #3B: Moisturize, baby! On the discount end…
Features & Benefits
Oil-free
Water-based to rehydrate your skin
Blend of cucumber and green mango extract
I thought that I would use Take
a Deep Breath until the day that I died, but I was lucky enough to receive
a sample of Clean & Clear: Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer
in one of my monthly Beauty Box 5 boxes and instantly fell in love! Not only do
I receive the SAME exact results from this gem as I did with Take a Deep
Breath, but it’s 1/5 of the price! Can you say hallelujah discounts?! This a.m. moisturizer is
super lightweight, refreshing, gives you a nice little wake-up in the morning,
and is not greasy. It allows my face to breathe and leaves me feeling silky
smooth all day long.
NIGHT-TIME ROUTINE
Repeat step #1… cleanse that purdy face!
The Purity Made Simple
is so gentle that you could literally wash your face 3 times in one day
(morning, afternoon, and evening) and it will NOT dry you out; trust me, I’ve
done this!
Being a Philosophy girl, I
wanted to try Hope in a Jar for the loooooongest time, but it is crazy
expensive! $117 for an 8 oz. jar! I waited until QVC had it on special and was
able to purchase the jar for $108 and on easy-pay (LOVE easy-pay). Now, I’m
locked in forever and have it on auto-delivery, but… I continually push back my
future shipment date because the 8 oz. jar is like an everlasting gobstopper!
What products do you swear by for your purdy face?
Want to check out other lovely ladies and their skin care routine? Check out these amazing blogs listed below for this month's "BLOG HOP" theme: My Skin Care Routine!
Give your skin the ride of
its life and feel the natural rush of cooling Glacial Clay cleanse your pores
to the core. Anti-oxidant rich Red Grape and Arctic Cloudberry juices from the
glacial heights of Scandinavia work their magic to help maintain skins natural
barrier. –
Taken directly from their website.
This
“mask,” was literally that! Prior to opening the package, I was expecting a
cream-like substance to rub onto my face; that was not the case! It was a
cloth-like mask that you were to apply to a wet / cleansed face…. Such a weird
experience! I know that most face masks make women look frightening, but can
you imagine this beautimous face coming up to your door at night?!
So
scary!
After
getting over the shock of my appearance, the mask was actually quite relaxing.
It provided a nice cooling sensation and was perfect to use while in the tub.
After waiting the required 10-15 minutes for the mask to work its magic, it
actually began to semi-harden onto my face (but only slightly). Once the time
was up, I gently removed the mask, rinsed my face, and patted dry. These were
the results!
This
mask was exactly what I thought it was going to be, a creamy-like substance
that you apply to your neck and face. I ensured that my face was cleansed prior
to using the mask; as the instructions stated. If used sparingly, you may be
able to get two uses out of one packet, but I lathered this puppy on my entire
neck and face area. As
soon as I opened the package, I could smell the delicious scent of strawberries
and cream. The scent was so intense (but a good intense) that my man-friend
could smell it from the hallway. It smelled as if I scooped strawberry ice
cream all over my face. Needless to say, the aroma during my mask session was impeccably
delicious!
After
the 10-15 minute magic session, I rinsed my face and patted dry. I felt
hydrated, toned, and extremely smooth. Check out the results!
If
you want a luxurious pampering session that is sure to leave your face feeling
fresh and your mind relaxed from the overwhelmingly fresh scent of
strawberries, then you must try this mask! It retails for $1.99, so it’s
actually not that pricey, but again, I’m not a fan of one-time use products. I
wish that they sold this in a jar or tube so I could get multiple uses out of
my purchase, but I will be buying this again in the future.
This is LONG overdue, but
here is the follow-up review of my October 2013 Tasting Box from Love with Food.
If you’d like to take a peek at my unboxing video, sure to stir up a few
laughs, then watch the video below.
dang: toasted coconut chips
OMGosh! This was absolutely delicious!!! I could not
stop snacking on these crunchy, sweet, with a pinch of salt, treats. I’m glad
the bag only had two servings and that I was able to share this delicious
concoction with my coworkers; because I would have devoured whatever size bag
was sat in front of me. However, with that said, it is also very decadent and
rich tasting, so I only recommend having 1-2 servings (otherwise, your tummy
might regret it). To me, it wasn’t overpowering with coconut, but it did leave
a nice coconut-y taste in my mouth. It was very buttery and sumptuous and I
enjoyed the crunchy, yet smooth chip-like texture.
The bag promotes that it is: “all natural, vegan,
non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, no cholesterol, and a good source of fiber”.
Normally when something indicates that it is that healthy, I’m expecting
very little to no flavor and/or a very unusual taste; however, that was NOT the
case with this snack. If you’re looking for a unique and “Hawaiian-like” treat
that’s most likely better for you than candy or chips, then give this a try!
WARNING: They are addicting and slightly high in calories (115
calories for ½ of the depicted bag). If you purchase this product you will
probably fall in love with them (as I did) but portion out your serving BEFORE
munching! :)
happy squeeze: Fruit & Veggie Twist (Blueberry,
Apple, and Purple Carrot)
First of all, I LOVE the packaging! I am a complete
sucker for cute / unique packages; not to mention, being able to squeeze your
fruits and veggies on the go is quite clever. When I first saw this pouch, I
figured that the product would be like a puree (almost an applesauce-like texture),
but after feeling the pouch, it seemed much more fluid and I assumed it would
be more like a juice. After actually opening the product and giving it a
squeeze, my first assumption was right; it was a very liquid-y puree (thinner
than applesauce, but not quite a juice).
The taste was actually quite delicious. I could
definitely taste the blueberry and apple flavors and I felt a little more
energetic after consuming the pouch (maybe it was in my imagination?). I prefer
to eat my fruits / veggies whole or in a homemade smoothie, but for kids or
those who are anti-fruits and veggies, this is a great solution! Easy, super
portable, and it doesn’t have to be refrigerated until opened (but you WILL
finish this in one sitting/serving, so a refrigerator is probably not needed).
I could easily see this as something you would pack in
a kid’s lunch, bring camping, bike riding, hiking, etc. It’s quite low on
calories (only 60 in the depicted pouch), but high on carbs and sugars (13g of
carbs and 10g of sugar); but maybe that’s comparable to real fruit? The pouch
promotes that it is: “always organic, doctor recommended, optimally formulated
(whatever that means), minimal processing, and easy BPA FREE portable package”.
GLEE Gum (Triple Berry)
Another adorable package! I’m not sure if their gum
normally comes in such teeny-weeny boxes, but these sample-sized boxes sure are
cute! The flavor was quite enjoyable, but unfortunately it did not last very
long and I needed several pieces to fulfill my chewing needs. I was honestly
expecting a funky texture and for the gumminess to seize up, but that was not
the case. It was a tasty treat and the elasticity of the gum lasted on and on
and on; which is what I prefer.
The brand boasts that it is: “made with Chicle for rainforest
conversation, natural, GMO-free, aspartame-free, uses brown rice and cane sugar
as a coating, and (here’s my favorite part) the gum is sweetened with cane
sugar traded in compliance with Fairtrade Standards”. Insert happy face here!
Although this was a fun gum to try and for all those
health-nut / nature-lovers out there, this would be an awesome addition into a
gift basket, I most likely will not be repurchasing this product. I actually
prefer sugar-free gum (yes, aspartame filled!) as it is ZERO calories (usually)
and my teeth prefer that as well.
Torie & Howard Organic Hard Candy
Let me first say… I am NOT a hard candy fan, I’m more
of a chocolate / gummy lover. But holy heck! These were “da bomb!” I was soooo
interested in these little candies that I went to Torie & Howards website
to find out a little bit more information on these delectable delights.
I was gifted with the “D’anjou Pear & Cinnamon”
flavor; and these sucky-candy are packed full of “the sweet flavor of ripe
d’anjou pears with the luxuriousness of Ceylon cinnamon”… Yummy! These are not
your typical sucky-candies. These put your average hard candies to shame and
come in amazing “adult-like” / gourmet flavors. The company states that
their candies contain: “organic sugar, organic rice syrup, non-GMO citric acid,
and natural flavors. It does NOT have: artificial dyes, nuts, GMOs, corn syrup,
gluten, wheat, casein, soy, or dairy” (Phew! Long list….).
I would not buy these as an everyday treat (as I am
not normally a fan of hard candy) but these would be fun during the fall /
winter (cold season) and as an addition to gift baskets or stocking stuffers!
In case you’re not a fan of pear or cinnamon, they have three other tantalizing
flavors: (1) pomegranate & nectarine, (2) blood orange & honey, (3)
pink grapefruit & tupelo honey. These all sound amazing and I may end up
purchasing some for future holidays.
PIXO Pearls Original with Gingras XO Apple Cider
Vinegar from Vinaigerie Gingras
Okay, I had NO IDEA what the heck these little balls
were, but I am always willing to try something once. Before I popped open this
puppy, I turned to the All-Mighty Google! According to the company’s website:
“PIXO Pearls Original are pearls of Gingras XO Apple Cider Vinegar (a
fancy-shmancy apple cider vinegar) encapsulated in an alginate (seaweed) film”…
interesting. Apparently, they are made using molecular gastronomy… as
soon as I read that, I became instantly excited. I LOVE cooking and am addicted
to almost every Food Network TV show. Most of the new up-and-coming chefs, who
are into making food modern, dabble in molecular gastronomy and I’ve always
wondered if that type of food tasted different. NOW I GET TO TRY SOME!!!
The fastest recipe I found, that still looked tasty,
was “Pixo, Crackers, and Cheese;” easy enough!
Ingredients
1 pack of your favorite crackers
Your favorite cheese
1 sachet of Pixo Pearls – original
Directions
Cover your cracker in cheese, add 3-5 pearls to each
cracker. BOOM! You’re done!
These were absolutely DIVINE! I am a huge fan of
cheese and crackers, the more gourmet / funky tasting the cheese, the better! I
could completely see myself hosting a nice meat / cheese night with my ladies
and adding these fancy balls onto each cracker/cheese combo. I didn’t try
adding them into anything else, but I plan on buying additional balls in the
future. Oh the ball-sibilities!
If you’re into trying something fun, new, and
exciting, give these pearls a try! You can check them out here!
(They also have Raspberry Pearls!)
Chocolate Pizzelle
Crisps
My first bite of these was not pleasant. These crisps were
very bitter and lacked any flavor whatsoever…. At first. After I ate a few, I
started to taste a hint of chocolate / sweetness. The crispness of the pizzelle
was on-point and all of the crisps were a nice full-size. I could easily see
this as being a great topping to frozen yogurt or ice cream or even a quick
treat by themselves. However, they’re not for me. I prefer my sweet snack to be
a little more sweet. I would buy this as an addition to a health-nut’s gift
basket, as the crisp did taste good, but I wouldn’t personally purchase this
for myself in the future.
New World Caveman Cookies
I’m sorry… but this “cookie” was disgusting! Kudos for it
being all natural and healthy, but it had the weirdest flavor and left my mouth
full of a nasty after-taste. The texture was exceptionally moist, so points for
that, but I was not at all impressed. I will NOT be buying this in the future
or putting anything “caveman-like” in my mouth again.
Kind Snacks Mini Bar
I failed miserably with this item… I didn’t take a picture,
but you can check out what the bar looks like by viewing the October Tasting
Box picture, courtesy of the Love With Food website below:
This bar didn’t rock my world. It tasted like any other
healthy granola / snack bar on the market. Don’t get me wrong, it did taste
good, but it did not wow me. I had no problem eating the bar, but I do not foresee
myself repurchasing this again in the future. Have you tried any of the products reviewed in this post? Do you currently subscribe to or want to subscribe to Love With Food? I'm dying to know!
Some of you who also follow me on
Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook know that I’m a BzzAgent. What does this
mean? I am able to test out new products on the market for free (or by
receiving a discount) and in return I provide honest feedback and naturally
discuss the products with my family and friends.
Recently I was lucky enough to be
selected to join the Fiber One Protein Cereal campaign and via General Mills
and the BzzAgent organization, I was able to receive two FREE boxes of the NEW
Fiber One Protein Cereal; Cranberry Almond and Maple Brown Sugar.
As I just received my BzzKit last
night, I have only had the pleasure of tasting the Maple Brown Sugar flavor
(thus far). I normally prefer “sugary” cereals and therefore, I was skeptical about the taste and texture. But I forged ahead, took my first spoonful, and I did not look back! My man-friend and I each ate... more likeDEVOURED one bowl each. LOL!
The Maple Brown Sugar is absolutely
scrumptious! It is full of granola, pecans and has a delicious taste of maple
brown sugar running throughout the entire cereal (hence the name). It was
extremely crunchy, but not to the point of that gravel cereal (Grape Nuts), and
the taste was amazing! I literally could not believe that what I was eating
contained 10g of protein (including the milk) and 20% of my daily fiber!
I cannot WAIT to try the Cranberry
Almond flavor, but I want to finish the Maple Brown Sugar box first; which
shouldn’t take very long. My
man-friend LOVES oatmeal (he could literally eat it for breakfast, lunch, and
dinner) and he plans on taking some of the cereal and adding it to his oatmeal
for a little bit of texture. I’ll be sure to let ya’ll know what he thinks, but
I think this cereal would be good on just about anything! Trail mix add-in, ice
cream topper… oh, the possibilities are endless!
Please comment down below if you've ever tried this cereal and/or any other Fiber One products. The first person to leave a comment will score a sweet $1.00 off ONE box of Fiber One Protein cereal; courtesy of General Mills.
Just be sure to message me your mailing address! Feel free to contact me on one of my other social media sites or directly via email (a.eyler06@gmail.com).
PS: If you didn't make it in time to score the coupon, follow me on my other social media sites (listed in the "About Me" section on my blog) as I will be giving out more in the upcoming weeks.