The Best Things in Life Are in the #TLCVoxBox

Influenster is an online sampling platform where you can get totally free boxes and then unlock badges and more rewards by participating in social media activities with the brands involved. You tell all about them via social media and can unlock more badges/points! 

I recently was sent the #TLCVoxBox, which was geared toward mommies!  They send you an email saying you might qualify, you fill out a short survey and they decide if you fulfill the demographics they are looking for.  Neat stuff... and FREE! 

Here's the goodies:

 How cute is this box?

First Look!

Amazing information including prices!

#passthepuffs #Neoready

If you know me, Puffs plus are a must!  It's the only Kleenex I buy... maybe I like to cushion my nose in pillow-y softness.  Maybe. ($.50)

Jackson has been WILD lately and gets some new bruise or cut daily.  He's a little boy!  Thank you, Neo to Go, for understanding the life of a toddler boy!  Both of these went in my diaper bag immediately! ($7.50)

#FuelRewards #GelatoLove

I have an FL Roberts reward card and hubby loves it, but this is the Shell one and you can save 25 cents per gallon when you fill up! WHAAAT?  Definitely using this tomorrow since I'm... um... on "0". 

I LOVE BREYERS GELATO! I already have one of these in my freezer and I occasionally pick at it.  I don't give it to Jackson... it's mommy's treat! They are so creamy and yummy and just HOORAY!  ($5.99)

#Sudlife #AvonAnew

Love the throwback Ivory Soap packaging!  I could've used this at the bachelorette I just came back from, but it'll get used I'm sure.  99.44% pure and no dyes/perfumes means it's gentle enough for Jackson's precious skin too! ($3.99/10 pack)

Avon Anew Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother is a $30 value.  It's a balm that you can apply to your forehead and eye wrinkles and it says it makes the look of your wrinkles immediately!  This will be super amazing if it works for my makeup kit!

Can you believe that this was free?  I was so happy to receive this box and I will totally use all of it!  If you'd like to try Influenster out, all you have to do is send me you email and I can help you get connected!

OXOXO- TPD


**All items in the Vox Box are complimentary from Influenster for testing & review purposes.

Boons for Fun!

Boon...?  Nobody?  Sandra Boynton? No?  Mooooooving on...

So with this heat and great weather we've been spending so much time outside and I've been kind of slacking on introducing Jackson to new textures and educational kind of stuff.  My B.  I made up for it today though.  It was sticky and buggy out, so we did lots of fun stuff! 

A few weeks ago, I picked up some balloons on clearance on Target.  I decided to fill them with a bunch of different textures so that Jackson could squeeeeeze them (remember those old school stress balls?!). 

**Note: do NOT use these with kiddos that are still putting things in their mouth.  Also, be sure not to put anything in these that can be harmful to anyone just in case it breaks!**

I filled these with things that I had lying around the house!  It was super easy to find things and fill them quick!  I also came up with this little gadget to help fill the "bigger stuff". 

I took a bottle and cut it apart.  Then I put the balloon on the outside of the spout. It kept it open and open wide to squeeze that stuff in. 

Pretty snaczzy huh?

 

It was a big hit!  Jackson played for a solid 20 minutes with it, which made me a happy mommy!  When he was done, I put them in a bag and then placed it in my "rainy day" tote!

Have you ever tried the balloon activity?? What fun things do you suggest filling it with?

 

Tips From A Makeup Artist

Since wedding season is strongly upon us, I've been busy with lots of ladies getting their pretty on and I thought it would be a great idea to post some tips for when you have your glamour sess with your makeup artist.  Although these are mainly for brides, they really can pertain to any event that you would use a makeup artist for... soooo, let's get started:

MAKEUP ARTIST TIPS

 

 

 

1. The morning of  your event, gently exfoliate and moisturize your face.  If you have dry patches on your skin, whatever makeup we put on your face will stick (in a bad way), and will stand out.  Moisturizer needs at least a good 20 minutes to really settle into your face and it's hard to wait that amount of time!

 

2. Just like if you were going to get your hair cut and you seek out a cut you like, look for pictures of makeup looks  you like or even ones you don't like.  Keep in mind, however, that you will not look exactly how the picture looks, but it will be a great stepping stone for you and your makeup artist to have a conversation about what you like or dislike about the photo. 

 

3. Pinterest is your friend when it comes to the above tip!  I have a whole board dedicated to makeup looks. 

 

 

4. Designate a person in charge.  This is more specifically for bridal parties, but if there's more than one person getting their makeup done, have someone be in charge of who is going when.  And when it's close to your turn, be ready!  I once did a wedding where they couldn't find a bridesmaid -- it took 25 minutes to locate her and that wasted a big chunk of time!  The bride was at her wits end, understandably so, so let someone else deal with that kind of stuff.  Let someone else be in charge of keeping everyone where they need to be.

 

5. This one goes hand in hand with number 4.  People working have a timeline to keep them on track.  They work around a schedule to get all people squeezed in before the designated time, and that's in addition to sanitizing brushes and makeup, as well as cleaning up between people, so when it's "your turn", be present.  Try your hardest to not having to get up out of the chair to go do something else.  It once took me over 2 hours to do a bride because everyone wanted to talk to her/hug her/get something from her/do something to her, etc., which was super cute, but because of that, it threw myself and the hairstylist off for timing because we had to play catch up for time.  Enjoy the process and relax!

 

6. Have an opinion.  You hire a makeup artist to provide a service.  If you like something, say it.  More importantly, if there is something you don't like, speak up!  There is absolutely nothing wrong with you  expressing your opinion about something you are providing money for.  Say if you like something; say if you don't.  I promise we won't get offended!  I would hate for someone to hate the way they look for their special event!

 

7. If there is something you love, bring it!  I've had people bring eye shadows they love and even  eyebrow pencils because they liked how it made their eyebrows so defined.  You don't have to specifically use something an artist brings for you, especially if there's something you know looks fabulous on you!

 

 

 

8. Eight goes with 7, but if you're a reapply type of person, bring your lipstick/gloss with you and have your makeup artist apply that as your color.  If you know you're going to be carrying a lipgloss with you throughout your day, have the artist just begin with that so when you do reapply it throughout the day, it won't interact with the color the artist used.

 

9. Especially for weddings, do a trial. I know the few days before your wedding is super busy, but for real, do a trial.  Not only are your getting a trial done for makeup of your big day, but you get to see how well you mesh with the artist, not feel the pressure of time constraints, get to check your makeup at the end of your night, and see the whole look and make sure like it!  If you can, pay that little extra and get the lashes that day too!  It really ties the whole look together!

 

10.  Don't use the hand mirror to watch every step!  I'm not saying "don't look"!  But don't put that mirror up for every single step away from you the makeup artist takes.  There's something to be said for that "finished look" moment, but to get there, there's some steps that may look a little freaky!  Watching it might make you anxious and make you not want to trust the artist, but remember, you hired them for a reason!

 

 

I hope you enjoy the process of your big day and these few steps make your day a little smoother and less stressful!  Make sure to check my Facebook Page for my Makeup Artist Business: TPD Makeup Artistry!

 

BTW, have you entered my amazing Jamberry nails giveaway?! A free sheet of Jamberry nails with a bottle of cuticle oil! Yoooooww

 

Ode to You, Working Mom

So I haven't been posting lately because I've been CRAY busy.  Early May through the Fall is a busy time for makeup people; wedding parties, brides, mother of the brides/grooms, trials, proms, formals, parties, etc. Not to mention I have been studying for my AFAA test, my CPR recert., plus teaching 4 fitness classes a week.  Busy, as compared to late. 

If you aren't familiar with my past (Pre-Baby J), I was a busy girl: Working as a teacher,  coaching a full season sport, teaching Zumba, taking grad classes,  running my school's yearbook club, as well as keeping an active social and fitness life.  Then BEBE! Immediately I had to stop teaching fitness classes, and my social and fitness life slowly dwindled.  Coaching stopped because, let's be honest, teaching a physical sport (cheerleading) pregnant is not attractive.  After Jackson arrived, I had the amazing opportunity to extend my maternity leave and stay home with him.  I completed my master's classes and was slowly becoming more comfortable and creating a routine for my little guy.  I taught one (maybe two) fitness classes a week, and I was okay with that because I wanted to focus on my little guy and loved spending time as a family in the evenings...

... Cut to a year and a half later...

I am still home with my little guy (I am so lucky to have the opportunity), and being able to do so has given me the opportunity to focus on a few -wishes- I have had for a long time.  One was boosting my Makeup Artist Business (TPD Makeup Artistry) and lately it's been booming!  Each weekend I have had brides or formals to do beginning on Fridays and extending into Sunday! I LOVE IT!  It's a lot of work, especially weddings, which can take HOURSSS to do (and people don't realize it).  For example, I recently did a wedding where I began setting up at 8:30 and packed away my last brush at 2:30!  Those were like my old teaching hours!  It made me realize how lucky I am... and how amazing "working moms" are.

When I got home from the above mentioned job, it was just about time for my little guy to get up from nap therefore, I didn't get to lounge on the couch because I had a long day.

I didn't get to just crash and take a nap because he was so excited to see his mama and tell everything he did that day -- and I put on my best surprised face at his indiscernible jibberish.

He didn't care that mommy's back hurt from standing and hunching over for 6 hours -- he still wanted a pony ride.

As he woke up, he wanted to cuddle on the couch and although I wanted to eat a big steak and cheese grinder, the phone was too far away to reach from our cuddle sess, so eating had to wait until a little one and a half year old wasn't squatting on my lap.

"Outsigh mama??", "Pees?" -- Really?? I longed for a chance to veg out on my couch and watch mindless tv... but it would have to wait.  It would have to wait until Jackson was in bed and I would have to wait to get the spaced out seconds before I  fell asleep half listening because that's how I sleep now.


I notice, mamas (and dadas).  I notice all the effort and time you have to spend away from your little ones to support your family and little ones.  I notice that it kills you to leave them, and how much it may "kill" you to not be able to crash on that comfy couch because coming home, you have a job to do too.  I notice no matter how crappy a day you had at your 9-5, you may have an even crappier diaper at home that will make you forget about your crappy day.  I notice mamas that you may have to act like everything is perfect and happy to your work people and when you come home you have to act like jibberish is the most exciting news you have ever heard. I notice your only "me time" is right before you crash at 9:30 pm after putting little ones to bed. 


 I notice... and I bow down to you, working mamas.

Jamberry Nail Shields + A Giveaway

Another nail review?  For reallllls?? Yup... for reals.  I'm really trying to make a bit of an effort to make my nails prettier.  I go through bouts of doing them and taking care of them and thennnn cutting them all off and keeping them ratchet looking lol.  This is a time where I am trying to make them look pretty!

Recently, a Jamberry Consultant sent me a few samples of Jamberry Nail Shields. 

Back of package

Each sheet costs about $15 and you get two full sets of strips.  If you have short nails like me, I can get a full manicure from one "strip", so I can get two manicures from each sheet.  That's waaaay cheaper than a manicure from the salon.  Each manicure is supposed to last 2 weeks on hands or 4 weeks on piggies!  Super cute!

Where To Get: A Jamberry Consultant -- click to check out my friend Kelly's Page

How Much: Each Sheet costs around $15 Oh and BTW -- Sheets are buy 3, get 1 free!  (Split the sheets with a friend you can have 4 completely different manicures for the cheap!)

What The Big Wigs Say: The story of Jamberry Nails begins with three sisters who possess distinct personal tastes, but share a love for style. After an expensive afternoon together at the nail salon, Lyndsey, Christy and Keri vowed to find a simpler, more cost effective way to keep their hands looking polished, while still spending time together.     

After lots of trial and error, the proprietary nail wraps of Jamberry Nails launched in late 2010. The DIY, at-home application and incredible variety of designs caught on quickly and sales soared. A new era of nail art was born.

Gone are the days of nails that chip and flake after only a few days! Gone are the days of the single colored manicure. Gone are the mani/pedis that take all afternoon and most of your cash too! Jamberry nail wraps arm you with style and confidence while demanding very little of your time or money. (Jamberry.com)

I've had them done for a little over a day and have gotten SO many compliments!

All you need:

• Nail polish remover and cotton balls (or alcohol wipe)
• Nail buffer
• Nail file
• Nail scissors
• Orangewood stick
• Hair dryer (Not a special UV lamp or nothing!)

The process is pretty simple:

1. Clean nails with the alcohol wipe provided and push back cuticles.

2. Match nail to the best fitting nail wrap and remove from sheet.

3. Warm with a blowdryer for 3-5 seconds, until soft and flexible.

4. Press wrap onto the nail, sealing with the cuticle pusher. Make sure the wrap does not overlap onto your skin or cuticle!

5. Trim the top of the wrap with scissors and file excess using a downward motion.

6. Heat your nail once more to make sure the wrap is completely sealed to the nail.

I had a beautiful manicure in about 35 minutes!  The heat process (WITHOUT HARMFUL UV LIGHT!) makes a difference.  And get this-- NO DRY TIME.  For real,  this is like the deal maker for me.  I honestly haven't had any problems picking at mine or feeling like I want to yank it off, like I do with gel nails.

Nitty Gritty:
Pros:

• They have about a gazillion designs; many of which you could not even think of doing on your own.
• No dry time - immediate results!
• No chips! It's an all or nothing deal.  It's a latex free sheet that comes off as a sheet.
• Removal is easier than gel-- no sitting around in cotton balls soaked in acetone here!



Just a few of the designs they offer!

Not So Pro:

• There's a little bit of a learning curve here-- but if you really keep in mind that you heat, place and smooth, push, smooth, etc. you'll be set.  I have a couple of bubbles because, well...frankly, I get impatient,  but I feel like my next go-round will be much better.  It would be something fun to do with your girlfriend, if your nervous about going at it alone!
• They have different options for nail widths, but sometimes you may have to trim one's width to get the perfect fit.  I am lazy... therefore I have showing nail... my b. 

And hey! Guess what? My amazing consultant has offered a giveaway to That's What She Said Readers!  Enter the rafflecopter below and you could win a Jamberry sheet of your own!  You can win "Pickled Paisley", which is a super cute pattern for spring and a bottle of cuticle oil! If you're interested in trying, enter orrrr if you already love Jamberry, enter to win more! 

My favorite print-- Pickled Paisley! Enter to win!

A winner will be announced June 1 , 2014 by 10 pm on the blog and Facebook page, so be sure to keep checking in! Once the winner is announced, they have 48 hours to contact me or else another winner will be chosen!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

If you have any questions about Jamberry, check out the Jamberry Page or email Kelly!

  

A Manicure Worthy of Red Carpets

If you know me, you know the struggle is real with my nails.  I am forever trying new things for them because they always chip.  It doesn't matter if I use a high end products or drugstore beauties, always chips... and almost immediately.  I spend all that time doing my nails and half an hour later - BAM nail tragedy. 

I fell in love with "Shellac" manicures.  I say "Shellac" because someone told me that Shellac is a specific term -- it's technically called a gel manicure-- either way, you get it; I loved it.  But $25 every two weeks, plus a tip was not in my budget.  And that's not even paying for removal!  So when I found out that Ulta was carrying a line of at home manicures, I was ecstatic at the thought of being able to do this on my own, in my own home, at my own leisure. (And by the way, doing my non-dominant hand was harder than I expected!) But I loved that it was super easy to do! 

Where To Get: Ulta or Target
How Much: $79.99
What The Big Wigs Say: The RCM Gel Polish Pro Kit contains everything you need for a professional salon gel manicure in the comfort of your home. Our RCM Professional LED Light is especially designed to efficiently cure RCM Structure, LED Gel Polish and Brilliance in seconds. The Red Carpet - ready manicure will last weeks of long wear and shine.

The Pro Kit Comes With:

Professional LED Light - LED Gel-Curing Light (AC Power Cord Adapter Included).

Prep - MAX ADHESION PREP

Structure - BASE COAT GEL

Brilliance - SEAL & SHINE TOP COAT GEL

Revitalize - NOURISHING CUTICLE OIL

Red Carpet Reddy - LED Gel Polish

Purify - PRE & POST APPLICATION CLEANSER

Erase - GEL NAIL POLISH REMOVER

RCM Instructions Card

There is another kit, which is $20 less than this kit, however, this one has a much better LED light, which is more efficient for the manicure.

 

 

1. Clean and shape your nails and push back cuticles and then "purify" your nails.

2. Use "Prep" to remove debris/oil from nails.

3. Use a thin layer of "Structure" and set under lamp to cure (45 seconds).

4. Depending on your preferred opacity, apply thin layers of your chosen Red Carpet polish color and cure for 45 seconds between each later.  I personally like to apply my fingers first and then thumbs separately.  I feel like you can cure your thumbs more efficiently when you have just your thumbs in there. 

5. Apply a thin layer of "Brilliance" and cure.

6. After curing, use "Purify" to remove stickiness of Brilliance. 

 

LOVE:

• The whole process takes about 20 minutes and my favorite is when you're done... IT'S DRY!  A mommy's favorite!
• It can definitely last two weeks and probably would if I didn't get so bored with the color... but imagine that!? Getting bored of your color; that never happened with regular polish. 
•  I also love that you can use any gel polish with this -- Sensational, Gelish, whatever!
• Each of the polishes are about $10 -- not too much more than a high end product. 

HATE:

• The removal process; you're supposed to use cotton balls soaked in acetone for 10+ minutes, but it always takes me longer and then you have to peel it away with an orange stick.  I usually peel the color off.  Oopsies. 
• There's not a huge variety of colors in the Red Carpet Manicure Line.  If you want a specific trendy color, they are a little behind the trend. (Click here to see some swatches of the current lines.)

 

 

Here's my most recent manicure!  This is day one, I'll keep you updated!

 

 

 

Run -- Don't Walk to Target!

Do exactly as I say.  Well, finish reading this blog post and then go! Recently, I went and snagged the last Sonia Kashuk Make a Face Brush Set.  As soon as I saw this LIMITED EDITION set, I knew I had to have it because it had this one AMAZING brush dupe that I had been eyeing for yearsssss.  Yearrrrrs.  Why did I not buy it?  Ohhhh, because this one single brush is $55!  Who in their right mind buys that?  Welllllll, actually lots of people because it's been sold out and LOVED since it's been introduced.

 Anywayyyyyyy... Look at these beuts-

This Face Brush set is part of a special edition spring edition kit.  It has four face brushes - one meant for powder, blush, a dense foundation brush, and a flat top contouring brush.  They have a floral handle with a gold accent cap, and aqua colored goat or synthetic hair.  The hair is so soft, but packs on the product adequately.

Cost: $24.00
Where To Get It: Target only!
What The Big Wigs Say: This set of four deluxe powder brushes contains everything you need for a flawless face and are fit for display with floral printed handles, pastel aqua bristles and a touch of gold trim. Includes a flat top sculpting brush for effortless contouring, duo fiber multipurpose brush to highlight cheekbones, synthetic flat top multipurpose blush brush to add color to the apples of cheeks and a dense blush/powder brush to buff powder or bronzer seamlessly into the skin.

Powder Brush - Self explanatory

Dense Flattop Face Brush - Multipurpose and synthetic, this is perfect for applying cream/liquid products. 

Blush Brush

And this is the one -- I really bought this kit specifically for this brush.   This little guy is PERFECT for contouring under the cheekbones to create a more svelte face shape.   It'll fit RIGHT under there, so it will take the guessing out of how "thick" to make the contour line. Contouring your nose?  This will create the perfect lines to straighten or slim your sniffer.  It's said to be a dupe for the Nars Ita Brush, which I said was $55 alone above!  Math wise, this brush was about $6.25, and for this, I'll try it out. 

 

So, what do you think? Does this kit make you excited about trying out some new spring time brushes?