It has been a very long time since my hair was one.single.color. I have been shades of brown, shades of red, brown with red highlights, brown with blonde highlights and so on.

I seem to find that every year in the weeks leading up to my birthday, I feel the need to change my hair color. It may just be me trying to hold onto my youth for just a little bit longer and this year is no different, as I will be 32 in August.

I am coming to New York City for my semi-first time next weekend. I say “semi-first time” because I did go to NYC when I was 13 to see the Rockettes with my dance school (Elke- and 5, 6, 7, 8!), however I only went to two stores in the city, so I didn’t see much. One was a t-shirt shop where I bought a shirt that read, “I’m watching you look at my chest” (yes my mom let me buy that at 13!) and I also went to FAO Schwartz. So as I approach my big debut in the city and meeting a wonderful friend for the first time in person, I decided it was time to color my hair.

I typically go to a salon to have my hair colored, but due to my money tree going down stream in PA’s recent floods, I opted for buying Clairol Hydrience and attempting to color my hair myself.

Let me preface this by saying, I have never colored my hair on my own before. My sister looked on and laughed at me in my feeble attempt at being a Colorist. She quickly took over and thank God for sisters!

Review:

I choose Clairol Hydrience’s Level 3 permanent hair color in Sable Cove, which is a dark brown. This coloring kit is a moisturizing cream and comes with IntensivMoisture After-Color Therapy by Pantene. At the time of this hair coloring, my hair was light brown with blonde highlights. My natural hair color is dark brown, so this was my attempt to go back to basics.

I was quite amazed at how quickly this hair color took to my hair. Those blonde highlights quickly changed color and were saturated immediately. My sister even remarked on how amazingly quick my roots and highlights were soaking up the color.

Hydrience has a color guide on the side of the box that shows 3 depictions on hair color and the hair color results using Sable Cove. To be honest, the results shown on the box all look the same no matter what your original hair color was previously.

I began to worry when some parts of my hair began to look black. I could see purple in the dye and this freaked me out a bit. My sister told me not to worry and assured me that the color would be fine.

My skin did get slighty irritated and red when the cream got on my face and neck. I quickly wiped it away and after a few minutes the redness went away.

Hydrience had a very low amonia scent. I was pleasantly surprised by that.

I only had to wait 25 minutes and then rinsed my hair with warm water. I then applied the IntensivMoisture After-Care Therapy conditioner by Pantene and was happy to see that they give a pretty good size bottle in the kit. I have plently left over for at least another 2 uses.

After washing out the conditioner and towel drying my hair, I applied my Aussie Dual Personality Leave in Conditioner and Mousse and went to work styling my hair.

Wow. When the package says, “Lush and radiant color” they mean it. My hair has incredible shine, doesn’t feel dry or brittle and the color just shouts Fabulous. Sable Cove is definitely a dark brown, which after years of dying my hair a lighter color, is a little shocking to see my original dark strands again. The color seems to be multi-faceted in and out of the light. Out of the light I would say it borders on almost black. In the sunlight, it is a rich dark brown color with some red highlights. I keep stopping to look at myself in the mirror to marvel at this amazing makeover in color.

My apologies to my hair stylist, I won’t be coming back for my $90 coloring. It’ll be my $8 miracle in a bottle from now on.

Tags: hair color, clairol, hydrience, hair care, product review, beauty

Strawberry Cosmetics always has great sales, but I love when they discount things even further, and not only that, but they offer an additional 5% off when you order 3 products or more, a free Pierre Cardin lipstick when you order $25 or more (new customers only) and free shipping too! Savings all around!

Estee Lauder Pure Color MakeUp Set:

1x M/U Palette ( 2x Pure Color Lipstick 1.2g #118, #140, 4x Pure Color Eye Shadow 0.6g – #40, #44, #51, #66 )
3x Pure Color Nail Lacquer 5ml: #93 Naked White, #06 Red Hot, #A2 All American Blue
1x Electric Intense Lip Creme – #729 Live Wire
1x Hat
1x Bag
Rec. Retail US $82.00 NOW $29.50!

SK II Wrinkle Treatment Mask 4packs

An intensive wrinkle treatment mask
Helps eliminate the fine lines & dryness
Contains dewy moist to hydrate your skin immediately
Effectively activates blood circulation to reduce dark circles
Promotes a radiant & youthful-looking appearance
Suitable for all skin types
Rec. Retail US $95.00 NOW $47.50

Christian Dior Light Move Radiance Reviving Tri-Active Essence 30ml/1oz

Helps cell reduce oxidized proteins which make skin dark.
Refines skin texture to be transparent, soft & smooth.
Regulates cutaneous micro-circulation to even out complexion.
Promotes water circulation in all layers of epidermis.
Leaves skin absolutely moisturized & plumped up.
Brings you a fresh, luminous complexion with a healthy glow.
Rec. Retail US $55.00 NOW $27.50


Anna Sui Eye Color (#’s 004, 100 and 800). Was $20 NOW $10


Clarins Suncare Cream for Outdoor Sports Spf15. Was $27 NOW $13.50


Gale Hayman Bevery Hills Night Care. Was $35 NOW $17.50


Georgio Beverly Hills So You Eau De Parfum Spray 50ml/1.7oz. Was $49 NOW $19.50

Givenchy No Surgetics Coffret: Powerful Recovery Care 50ml + Eye Recovery Care 15ml 2pcs. Was $190 NOW $95


Hugo Boss Baldessarini After Shave 75ml/2.5oz. Was $40 NOW $20

La Mer The Loose Powder – #04 Sand Bronze 14g/0.49oz. Was $98 NOW $49

Lancaster Sun Care Essential Set: Vitalizing Anti-Aging Cream SPF15 + Tanning Lotion SPF8 2pcs. Was $69 NOW $29


Lancome Lip Dimension – 101 Rouge Bombe 5.5g/0.19oz. Was $20 NOW $10


Lancome Lip Dimension – 103 Orange Mad 5.5g/0.19oz. Was $20 NOW $10


Lancome Lip Dimension – 303 Hot Rose 5.5g/0.19oz. Was $20 NOW $10


Lancome Soleil Shimmering Sun Body Oil SPF 6 200ml/6.7oz. Was $30 NOW $15

Laura Biagiotti Emotion Shower Gel 150ml/5oz. Was $35 NOW $17.50


Orlane Hydro Clarifying Lotion 200ml/6.7oz. Was $47 NOW $19


Payot Emulsion Reconciliante 40ml/1.3oz. Was $48 NOW $24


Prada Reviving Bio-Firm Moisture SPF 15/ Face 30×1.3ml. Was $95 NOW $47.50

Roberto Cavalli Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.4oz. Was $79 NOW $37.50

For new Customers ONLY!


This is the Pierre Cardin Lipstick you can receive FREE with purchases over $25(USD)! Choose from these fabulous colors: Argile, Corail, Desert, Framboise, Havane, Mauve, Nature, Noisette, Prune, Rose, Sable, or Terre. This FREE lipstick will appear on your verify order page. (While supplies last.)

Tags: beauty, sale, beauty discounts, Lancome, prada, estee lauder, anna sui, cosmetics, beauty products

Talent, fashion and unique are three words that came to mind when I happened upon Ananas Designs. Can you believe that these are not fashionable dresses, but instead fashionable aprons? I couldn’t believe it myself. I marveled at how gorgeous these designs were and began thinking of ways I could use one of these aprons myself, as I do not cook. I actually burn toast. Honest.

A few emails back and forth between Amy, the creative talent behind Ananas Designs, and myself and I decided that one of these aprons would be perfect for me to wear at my Country Bunny Bath & Body Spa Shows and at craft shows to make me stand out among the vendors. Amy even offered to custom design my apron to suit my beauty business and embroider a logo.

While an apron doesn’t suit me personally in the kitchen, I thought of all of my friends who love to entertain and would be delighted to see that they can do it in style! No more “Kiss the Cook” aprons! All items are under $40 and many are under $30! I would say for the quality and not so ordinary look, that is a steal of a price!What I also love, is that if you are indeed using these aprons for cooking and home entertainment, she offers coordinating accessories. Don’t want to wear a Bib Apron? She also makes waist aprons as well. Want to get the kids involved in cooking without destroying their clothes and having to create more work for yourself to wash.another.outfit? She also designs aprons for kids, too!

The story behind Ananas Designs:

For about four years, Amy looked for a toile apron with accenting fabric for herself based on an apron she saw on a fabric apprentice. When she asked the Apprentice where she could get one, the Apprentice simply stated that it was a gift and not for sale. Frustrated with the whole concept of a secret society of “cool inside fabric people” having the secret to the goods, she decided to stop looking and make one herself.

She bought a sewing machine at Target, and a good friend helped her create a pattern that she originally concepted in her head and they made the first apron using Waverly crimson floral background, cheetah pockets and tan eyelash trim. She marveled at its beauty. The decorator fabrics are already treated for stain and water resistance, so they naturally are a great protector of clothes when you’re cooking and certainly make one smashing fashion statement! She was so excited and her friend told her to practice making another one immediately. She found 1 yard of Waverly blue and yellow toile on the remnant stack at her local fabric store and rushed home and sewed it.

Another good friend of hers, a Real Estate agent, came to visit and she was shown with great enthusiasm Amy’s new creative idea of a fashionable apron. The friend loved the yellow toile so much that she wanted to buy it and give it as a housewarming gift for her real estate client.

Then, looking for more fabrics at discounted prices, she heard a local radio advertisement for a new store behind a very expensive furniture store and went to check out the selection. Very excited, she purchased some Kaufmann monkey and also some Waverly Round up and Rodeo with a Waverly general store accent and leather trim. The owner of the fabric dept. was adding up her purchase when they started visiting about different fabric availabilites and she then inquired what Amy’s plans for the fabric were. She exclaimed that she’d been looking everywhere for an apron seamstress. Amy feels it was fate.

Within the last year, Amy and her husband have created her company called Ananas Designs. It is based on the french country style and “Ananas,” being french for pineapple, which means hearth and home. Her company’s concept is to bring high designer looks to anyone with the ambition to be a domestic goddess! Her favorite items is her leopard broom and feels it’s always just as fun to put on a trimmed out apron to make the mundane more chic.

Her husband created the website, which is continually changing due to fabric trends and custom requests. She loves having such a creative outlet and also staying at home with her two sons, 5 and 3. Her sons each own cowboy aprons and love when the family coordinates their designs to cook special things.

Tags: domestic diva, fashion, Ananas Designs, aprons, home entertaining, design, cooking, beauty

I admit it. I am one of those people who holds on to products waaaaay past their shelf life. Just because. Sometimes I keep them so I remember the shade of a certain product I like for future re-purchasing, sometimes when I find something new…the old just get pushed to the back of the drawer.

So here is a handy guide (that, yes, I will implement myself I swear!) to help you figure out when you need to just throw-it-out!

Mascara: These babies collect bacteria like I collect lotion. The rule is to replace your mascara every 3 months. No if’s, and’s or but’s! An eye infection is pretty on no one.

Foundation: The liquid and cream kind need to be replaced every 6 months while the powder foundations are good for one year.

Lipstick: You can hold onto your faves for 2 years! Then it’s time to toss them.

Cleansers, moisturizers and exfoliants: Specific things to look for is if the product separates, has a funky smell or changes color/texture. Most products are good for one year after opening, products with Vitamin C need to be thrown out after 6 months and if your products contain mostly natural ingredients, they will be good for about 6-7 months (but if they begin to smell sour before then–toss it!).

Blush, eye shadow, bronzer and powder: Your favorite staples are good for up to three years!

By following these simple rules, you’ll be taking less risks with your makeup! As for that purple lipstick? Well, you are risking that all on your own!

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