 |
| indoors, lighting + flash |
Have a lovely day! ♥
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Colors by Llarowe Beachy Summertime Dotticure
Hello hello! I have a darling mani to share with you today that is super-perfect for the summertime weather that has finally arrived here, hurray! I started out with Colors by Llarowe Read My Lips, More New Colors, a tangy bright neon orange crelly, then dabbed on Frenzy, a hot neon pink crelly, in layers. My method for this is a bit different than usual gradient methods - I crinkle up some Saran wrap, paint directly onto the Saran wrap, and then just dab it on in layers. Then, I dotted with Zoya Purity, a white creme. Finally, I topped it all off with China Glaze Fairy Dust for a bit of sparkle!
So pretty! I got a ton of compliments out of this one :) This was my first nail art in a long time (over a month when I did it) and it reminded me how much I love playing nails... will definitely have to build more time to do so into my schedule, no matter how busy I get!
Have a lovely day! ♥
Have a lovely day! ♥
Influenster Go VoxBox Review
Hey friends! Today I have the Influenster Go VoxBox to share with you! As you probably know by now , Influenster is an awesome program where they send you boxes of free stuff to try and out and review. Each box is curated around a specific theme, and this one was designed with exercise on the mind! This is particularly great for me, because I have lately been a bit of an exercise fiend (never would have pictured myself the type that, like, needs to run every day, but such is life, always a mystery) so I was excited to play with this box :)
Warm-up:
First up I have several items to share with you that are more used for preparation for exercise -- or really, just to go with an overall healthy lifestyle in general. My favorite was The Vitamin Shoppe Next Step shaker. I thought the design was clever -- it's not shown, but it has a shaker inside to help make mixing the Next Step Fit n Full Protein Shakes easier, which I thought was nice. I'm not big on protein shakes, but I do like the idea in theory - super low-cal (140 for the packet which makes an 8-oz drink) and 14 grams of protein! I have said this before, but high protein is my #1 diet rule because it is the only way I can keep from being super hangry all the time. I did have a hard time mixing though... I used the Mixed Berry mix (pictured in shaker) but no matter how hard I shook, it still had a ton of unappetizing powder clumps, which made a taste test a little difficult. It smelled divine though! Perhaps I was doing something wrong, but it was a bit of a bummer because I would love a new way to cut calories without starving to death.
I was also sent Blue Diamond Blueberry Flavored Almonds, which were much less disappointing. I really like almonds, they are a great healthy snack, and the blueberry flavoring was a nice way to shake it up a little. I don't remember the exact nutrition for this packaging, but I looked online and it seems like 1oz/28g (aka about 24 almonds) is 160 calories and 5g of protein. Again, with the protein.. :) but since that is super important to me, I like that it is there. Not the highest protein bang for your buck, but much better than lots of other crunchy snacks, many of which have 0g.
Treadmill time:
Next up is my favorite and likely to be most used item of the box - the Profoot Triad Orthotic. This is an insert for your running shoes so that your foot is more cushioned to help avoid pain when walking running. It came with a tiny little adhesive to stick to the inside of your shoe, which was nice (although it was extremely sticky - I flubbed it at first and upon reposition attempt, it actually ripped out a little bit of the insert!). It is also 3/4 the length of your shoe, to prevent your foot from feeling crowded. I thought this insert worked very well. Like I said, I am currently in the routine of running on the treadmill every night, so it is important for me to make sure I prevent any pain/injuries that I can, and I thought this insert did the job nicely.
Also included was Playtex Sport Fresh Balance, which I have reviewed already here.
Cool down:
Lastly, we have what I like to think as the "spa" portion of the post -- how to get back to feeling human after working out makes you all sweaty and stinky and gross. The Profoot Pedi Rock is kind of like a stress ball -- shaped so that it is easy to grip -- and you just rub it on your heel to reduce calluses and roughness, etc. I was surprised that after scrubbing for only a few seconds my heels did feel noticeably smoother! Also included were the Aqua Spa Bath Salts, in a lovely lavender scent. Bath salts are something that I always love to use when I find myself in possession of them, but never think to buy them for myself - so I was thrilled with these! I really love the scent especially, very relaxing.
And that is that! I really enjoyed this box -- it reminded me how much I love to belong to the exercise club, lol. And it was great that the products included encompassed not just actively-exercising time, but preparation and for afterward as well! I definitely see myself using some of these (hello, Aqua Spa bath salts) in the future.
Have a fantastic day!
~These products were provided for an honest review by me from Influenster.
Warm-up:
First up I have several items to share with you that are more used for preparation for exercise -- or really, just to go with an overall healthy lifestyle in general. My favorite was The Vitamin Shoppe Next Step shaker. I thought the design was clever -- it's not shown, but it has a shaker inside to help make mixing the Next Step Fit n Full Protein Shakes easier, which I thought was nice. I'm not big on protein shakes, but I do like the idea in theory - super low-cal (140 for the packet which makes an 8-oz drink) and 14 grams of protein! I have said this before, but high protein is my #1 diet rule because it is the only way I can keep from being super hangry all the time. I did have a hard time mixing though... I used the Mixed Berry mix (pictured in shaker) but no matter how hard I shook, it still had a ton of unappetizing powder clumps, which made a taste test a little difficult. It smelled divine though! Perhaps I was doing something wrong, but it was a bit of a bummer because I would love a new way to cut calories without starving to death.
I was also sent Blue Diamond Blueberry Flavored Almonds, which were much less disappointing. I really like almonds, they are a great healthy snack, and the blueberry flavoring was a nice way to shake it up a little. I don't remember the exact nutrition for this packaging, but I looked online and it seems like 1oz/28g (aka about 24 almonds) is 160 calories and 5g of protein. Again, with the protein.. :) but since that is super important to me, I like that it is there. Not the highest protein bang for your buck, but much better than lots of other crunchy snacks, many of which have 0g.
Treadmill time:
Next up is my favorite and likely to be most used item of the box - the Profoot Triad Orthotic. This is an insert for your running shoes so that your foot is more cushioned to help avoid pain when walking running. It came with a tiny little adhesive to stick to the inside of your shoe, which was nice (although it was extremely sticky - I flubbed it at first and upon reposition attempt, it actually ripped out a little bit of the insert!). It is also 3/4 the length of your shoe, to prevent your foot from feeling crowded. I thought this insert worked very well. Like I said, I am currently in the routine of running on the treadmill every night, so it is important for me to make sure I prevent any pain/injuries that I can, and I thought this insert did the job nicely.
Also included was Playtex Sport Fresh Balance, which I have reviewed already here.
Cool down:
Lastly, we have what I like to think as the "spa" portion of the post -- how to get back to feeling human after working out makes you all sweaty and stinky and gross. The Profoot Pedi Rock is kind of like a stress ball -- shaped so that it is easy to grip -- and you just rub it on your heel to reduce calluses and roughness, etc. I was surprised that after scrubbing for only a few seconds my heels did feel noticeably smoother! Also included were the Aqua Spa Bath Salts, in a lovely lavender scent. Bath salts are something that I always love to use when I find myself in possession of them, but never think to buy them for myself - so I was thrilled with these! I really love the scent especially, very relaxing.
And that is that! I really enjoyed this box -- it reminded me how much I love to belong to the exercise club, lol. And it was great that the products included encompassed not just actively-exercising time, but preparation and for afterward as well! I definitely see myself using some of these (hello, Aqua Spa bath salts) in the future.
 |
| relevant to post, I think |
Have a fantastic day!
~These products were provided for an honest review by me from Influenster.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Dollish Polish Hylian Princess - Then & Now
Hello friends! It has yet again been an absurd amount of time since my last post Same old story, aka life happens: first it was finals, then I was on vacation, then BAM, my summer class and internship started. The internship has been wonderful so far and I already feel like I've learned a ton (as for my finance class, I may have learned something but it is far from wonderful, alas) but the moral of the story is that I have barely had time to breathe lately, much less play nails (booo).
However, recently I was hit heavy with the desire to start blogging again (probably was the meeting on social media I attended this week -- I miss sharing with you guys!) so I decided to look through my drafts and see if I had anything close to ready to go. And look at that, I do! This is actually a really cool post (fitting for my return after so long) -- it is a recreation of the very first mani I ever posted on PTR!
In this version, I used three coats of Colors by Llarowe The Sweetest Thing, a magically shimmery sparkly purple, followed by Dollish Polish Hylian Princess, a mix of purple, gold and white glitters inspired by Princess Zelda (this is a very popular polish among me and my fellow Zelda-obsessed friends). So pretty and sparkly! Take a look~
So purdy! I was so enamored with this mani the first time I wore it that I was inspired to finally bite the bullet and start up this blog - and after wearing again, I would have to say it really is a fantastic combo! (of course, the purple base I used back then was different, but it's the same idea).
To see how far I've come, let's take a look at that first picture (be prepared...shield your eyes)
Yikes! But on the flipside, hurray from improvement! Here's to hoping that if I just keep on keeping on and don't abandon my poor little blog completely, I will continue to improve even more :)
Have a lovely day! ♥
However, recently I was hit heavy with the desire to start blogging again (probably was the meeting on social media I attended this week -- I miss sharing with you guys!) so I decided to look through my drafts and see if I had anything close to ready to go. And look at that, I do! This is actually a really cool post (fitting for my return after so long) -- it is a recreation of the very first mani I ever posted on PTR!
In this version, I used three coats of Colors by Llarowe The Sweetest Thing, a magically shimmery sparkly purple, followed by Dollish Polish Hylian Princess, a mix of purple, gold and white glitters inspired by Princess Zelda (this is a very popular polish among me and my fellow Zelda-obsessed friends). So pretty and sparkly! Take a look~
 |
| outdoors, sun |
 |
| outdoors, shade |
To see how far I've come, let's take a look at that first picture (be prepared...shield your eyes)
 |
| oh, what beautiful hand positioning... |
Yikes! But on the flipside, hurray from improvement! Here's to hoping that if I just keep on keeping on and don't abandon my poor little blog completely, I will continue to improve even more :)
Have a lovely day! ♥
Monday, May 5, 2014
Cupcakes, Ninjas, & Flowers, Oh My!
Hello again! I couldn't resist sneaking in another post (more polish-centric this time) this evening -- no better time than the week before finals to get bit by the blogging bug, lol.
Today I have a super cute mani that I wore all of last week to share with you. I started with Chaos & Crocodiles Cupcake Ninja, a yummy hot pink with silver and pink shimmer. I actually wore it on its own for a day first -- it has an awesome semi-matte finish, and is totally opaque and leveled in just two coats! After a day I decided to get a little artsy and dotted on flowers with Cult Nails Tempest and China Glaze Sunshine Pop, and then finished it all off with China Glaze Fairy Dust for a little extra sparkle. Take a look!
Such a cute mani! I obviously loved this one, since I didn't get tired of it for a whole week, lol -- and it held up for that long as well, with barely even any tipwear! Definitely impressed with my first C&C -- dying to try more now!
If you want to check out Chaos & Crocodiles be sure to visit their website and Facebook~
Have a fantabulous day! ♥
Today I have a super cute mani that I wore all of last week to share with you. I started with Chaos & Crocodiles Cupcake Ninja, a yummy hot pink with silver and pink shimmer. I actually wore it on its own for a day first -- it has an awesome semi-matte finish, and is totally opaque and leveled in just two coats! After a day I decided to get a little artsy and dotted on flowers with Cult Nails Tempest and China Glaze Sunshine Pop, and then finished it all off with China Glaze Fairy Dust for a little extra sparkle. Take a look!
 |
| outdoors, sun |
 |
| outdoors, shade |
Such a cute mani! I obviously loved this one, since I didn't get tired of it for a whole week, lol -- and it held up for that long as well, with barely even any tipwear! Definitely impressed with my first C&C -- dying to try more now!
If you want to check out Chaos & Crocodiles be sure to visit their website and Facebook~
Have a fantabulous day! ♥
Influenster Uni VoxBox Review
Hi friends! Today I have a bunch of lovely products to share with you that I was sent to review from Influenster for their Uni VoxBox! As many of you know, the VoxBox program is where you get sent several items based on a certain theme to try out and share with your followers -- and as a college student, Influenster chose me for this college-themed one :) On to the goodies!
First off is Red Rose Real Tea Water Enhancer in Blackcurrant Raspberry. This was pretty easy to make, just squirt some of the syrupy stuff into a glass of water, mix it, and voila! I wasn't sure how much to put in, but when the water looked the way it looks in my picture, it was pretty tasty -- yummy berry flavor, slightly sweet, and at only 5 calories I am happy!
Next is Playtex Sport Fresh Balance tampons. The packaging on these is super girly and cute -- look, the applicator is pink! They are scented, a light fresh floral scent, which was unexpected but nice. Honestly these tampons are kind of small, smaller than what I typically use, so they are less absorbent and need changing more often, but on a lighter day they work great!
Next up is Pilot Acroball Purewhite, a nice ballpoint pen with black ink. Honestly nothing terribly special about it, but a nice pen! I have used the Pilot FriXion pens exclusively since I reviewed them for another VoxBox -- Pilot pens are great!
Next up is Broadway Nails imPress Press-on Manicure. These are cute little press-on nails -- just make sure your nail is clean and dry, take the plastic tab off the back of the nail, and press it on. They come in several different sizes, which is nice as well. Also, the packaging (stored in a nail polish bottle that snaps open) is super cute! The "short length" nails were a bit too little for my nail beds even with trimmed nails, and my nails are super curved so they didn't really lay down flat either. They stuck on quite well though, and I really liked the design! Would love to try "long length" ones and see if they work better for me.
Next is NYC New York Color Expert Last Lip Color in Forever Fuschia and Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain.
The foundation was too light for my skin tone, which is probably my fault -- Influenster did ask me ahead of time which color I wanted, and since my skin is super light and I usually need the lightest color, I just went for the lightest one. However, the consistency and application was lovely -- it really does feel mousse-y, almost sponge-y -- very light! I would definitely use this if it was the right color.
The lipstick is a really pretty color! Very pigmented, applied very easily. I don't wear lipstick, especially bright lipstick, hardly ever (is hard to be a beauty blogger in college sometimes when everyone around me rocks the sweatpants and no makeup look nearly every day, alas) but I could see myself wearing this color on the right occasion for sure. Since it is so pigmented, it does kind of stain -- I removed it with a makeup wipe, but my lips were still noticeably pink even after complete removal for a couple hours, so just keep that in mind.
I am certainly no makeup blogger (...yet) so hopefully my swatches are adequate... in the interest of an informative review I included a pic of me wearing both of these products (and nothing else except some mascara) so you can see what they look like on. The foundation made me a little ghostly but I do like that pink!
And that is that! I really enjoyed getting a chance to use all these products -- they were all great, and I definitely recommend checking them out!
Have a lovely day! ♥
~These products were provided for an honest review by me from Influenster.
First off is Red Rose Real Tea Water Enhancer in Blackcurrant Raspberry. This was pretty easy to make, just squirt some of the syrupy stuff into a glass of water, mix it, and voila! I wasn't sure how much to put in, but when the water looked the way it looks in my picture, it was pretty tasty -- yummy berry flavor, slightly sweet, and at only 5 calories I am happy!
Next is Playtex Sport Fresh Balance tampons. The packaging on these is super girly and cute -- look, the applicator is pink! They are scented, a light fresh floral scent, which was unexpected but nice. Honestly these tampons are kind of small, smaller than what I typically use, so they are less absorbent and need changing more often, but on a lighter day they work great!
Next up is Pilot Acroball Purewhite, a nice ballpoint pen with black ink. Honestly nothing terribly special about it, but a nice pen! I have used the Pilot FriXion pens exclusively since I reviewed them for another VoxBox -- Pilot pens are great!
 |
| cropped out: (Hello f)riends! :) <3 |
Next is NYC New York Color Expert Last Lip Color in Forever Fuschia and Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain.
The foundation was too light for my skin tone, which is probably my fault -- Influenster did ask me ahead of time which color I wanted, and since my skin is super light and I usually need the lightest color, I just went for the lightest one. However, the consistency and application was lovely -- it really does feel mousse-y, almost sponge-y -- very light! I would definitely use this if it was the right color.
 |
| maybe my skin is more yellow-leaning and this is a bit too pink? Not sure. |
I am certainly no makeup blogger (...yet) so hopefully my swatches are adequate... in the interest of an informative review I included a pic of me wearing both of these products (and nothing else except some mascara) so you can see what they look like on. The foundation made me a little ghostly but I do like that pink!
And that is that! I really enjoyed getting a chance to use all these products -- they were all great, and I definitely recommend checking them out!
Have a lovely day! ♥
~These products were provided for an honest review by me from Influenster.
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