DIY - Natural Home Deodorizer

Since I have psoriasis, eczema, and severe allergies, I really wanted to start using more natural products in my home.  I love decorating my home.  I love for it to be clean, inviting, and smelling good, because I believe that your home is your sanctuary and you should always be excited to come home to it and feel comfortable living in it.

I love the typical products that most people use to make their homes smelling good, such as candles, plug ins, and scented tarts.  The problem is that many of these products bring unwanted toxins into our homes, which we breath in and it affects our bodies and skin in many ways.  Plus, these products are very expensive!  So, I decided to make my own natural room deodorizers, with products that I already had in my home.

What you will need

   - a decorative container of your choosing.......tea tin, candle container, mason jar, decorative bowl, etc.

   - baking soda

   - essentials of your choosing, such as lavender, lemon, peppermint, cinnamon, vanilla, etc.

   - a spoon

Fill your containers 1/4 - 1/3 full with baking soda.  Add several drops of your essential oil to the mixture.  I used 5-10  drops per oil.  Mix together......and voila, you are done!  You could always add ribbon, cut outs, or a fabric cover to your containers, whatever your style preferences happen to be.  This could also be a quick and easy project that you do with your little ones.

So simple, so easy, and so inexpensive, and you have a cute,  yet effective , all natural deodorizer for your home!

My August Favorites!

I don't have a lot of favorites this month, because I wasn't able to wear much makeup due to being sick, but when I was able these are the things I kept grabbing for.

-  Tarte Rainforest After Dark Palette

I used this palette a lot during the month.  It has most of your daily products all in one, which is super convenient and fast for when you are rushing out the door.  When it comes to taking care of myself, I have a routine for EVERYTHING!  The night before, I always lay out my clothes, jewelry, switch my purse out to match, and choose my makeup and lay it all out on my vanity.  I even lay out shoes, socks, and sunglasses.......everything that I can think of to make my life easier.  With this palette, I set this out and there isn't much else to lay out or choose.  Just lipliner and lipstick.  My everyday face products are kept in my top vanity drawer where I can easily get to them.  This palette can go from a neutral day time look to a smokey evening look.  I recently did a full review.  If you are interested in seeing the palette more in depth, please Click Here!

-  Maybelline's Healthy Skin Foundation

This is my newest foundation purchase.  I have a lot of foundations, and they all really have their own strengths and I love them all for different reasons.  If you are looking for a good, everyday foundation with medium buildable coverage that lasts well through out the day, I really think you would like this.  I have normal to combination skin.  I can get oil in my t-zone, but I find that this gives me a very natural/satin finish.  It isn't matte and it isn't luminous.  It feels lightweight and really looks natural on the skin.  I have worn this with a brush and a damp beauty blender.  I think it looks good either way, but lately I have really been loving it applied with the real techniques beauty sponge.  The one thing I have noticed is that this doesn't really set on me.  I have some foundations that I have to work very quickly with because they set so fast.  This one doesn't feel tacky or anything, but just doesn't seem to fully set like most foundations do.  So, I would make sure you give yourself a good powdering after application to keep it from moving throughout the day.  My favorite face powder is Too Faced Amazing Face Powder.  It does add additional coverage.  Good drugstore options are Revlon Nearly Naked (no added coverage) or Maybelline's Fit Me Powder (minimal added coverage).

-  ELF Blush Palette - Light

For the past year, I have really been loving blushes!  I have a few of ELF's blushes in my collection, but I really wanted to try the palette.  The colors are very pretty and pigmented.  They last all day for me, and you would never believe that they are only $6!  ELF has so many great products, and are priced so well, that you may find it hard to believe that they are of good quality.  It's true though! They also offer this palette in dark.  The blushes can be popped out, so you could make your own custom palette with the light and dark shades.  Included in the palette is also a full size mirror.  With the mirror and four blush combo, I think this is a great travel palette.  If you are having trouble finding this at your local drugstore, you can also purchase online at www.eyeslipsface.com.  They are always running specials and free shipping.  I have ordered from them several times.  They ship very quickly and I have never received a damaged item.

-  ELF Moisturizing Lipstick - Seduction

This is my first lipstick from their moisturizing line.  I wanted to try it, because I am more of a lipstick girl than a lipgloss girl, and I am not a big fan of matte lipsticks or matte lip creams that are so popular now.  I like a lipstick to be moisturizing and have a creme to gloss finish.  This lipstick is just that!  Very comfortable to wear and it doesn't look drying or cakey.  I also really like the color heading into fall.  It is a pink color that also leans towards berry.  I just placed an order for 2 more.  At a DOLLAR a piece, you can't go wrong!!

Nails Of The Week

I have always loved my gray polishes!  I just recently picked this one up at Target, and I really love it!  Great color & formula!  This is my second shade from this line.  The first color that I bought, I wasn't a fan of because it chipped so easily.  I was happy to find that this color didn't chip away!

Cover Girl Outlast Stay Brilliant - 215 Smokey Taupe

Recipe: Fruit Pizza Dessert

I rarely ever eat desserts or sweets, but once and a while I like a little something for a treat.  I don't like anything that is too sugary or chocolatey, and I 'm not a fan of peanut butter desserts, cake, etc, so when I found this fresh fruit dessert, I was excited to try it.  It satisfies a sweet craving, but isn't overpowering, and it has a light, refreshing taste.

Ingredients

 - For Crust
  
  -  Expeller Pressed Canola Oil Spray

  -  1/4 cup Expeller Pressed Grapeseed or Canola Oil

  -  1 1/2 cups granulated raw sugar OR 1 cup truvia baking blend or Stevia

  -  2 Tablespoons low fat milk

  -  1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract

  -  3 large eggs

  -  1 cup whole wheat flour

  -  1 cup unbleached all purpose flour, plus extra for dusting

  -  1 Tablespoon baking powder

  -  1/4 teaspoon salt

For Filling

  -  1 14 ounce can coconut milk (regular, not light) chilled until solid, not shaken

  -  4 oz. light cream cheese, slightly softened

  -  2 Tablespoons granulated raw sugar or 1 Tablespoon Truvia baking blend or Stevia

For Topping

  -  6 cups fruit

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Coat medium sheet pan with canola oil spray and dust with flour.

To Make Crust:  In a medium bowl, whisk oil, sugar, milk, vanilla, and then beat the eggs one at a time.  Add flours, baking powder, salt, and stir till combined.  Do not over mix.  Pour evenly into pan and spread with a rubber spatula to completely cover the bottom of the pan.  Bake until golden, about 15 minutes.  Cool Completely and then loosen crust from bottom of pan with a spatula.  Spread filling over entire crust, and add whatever fruits you like.  I chose strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, but kiwi, pineapple, and mango would be delicious as well.

To Make The Filling:  Using a fork, lift the solid portion of the coconut milk out of the can, and place it in a chilled medium sized bowl.  Add cream cheese and beat with a hand mixer on high until mixture is smooth and soft peaks form, about 4 minutes.  Beat in the sugar.  Spread the filling onto the crust, leaving 1/4 inch around the edges.

For The Topping:  Arrange the fruit on top of filling in any pattern you choose.  Chill for 30 minutes up to 2 days.  Cut and serve.

Yields 28 servings

Per Serving:
155 calories, 7g total fat, 3g saturated fat, 3g protein, 22g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 29mg cholesterol.

Recipe: Healthier Jalapeño Poppers!

I love Jalapeño Poppers, but I don't like the calories and fat, so here is a healthier version that is super easy to make at home.  You get all the taste with none of the guilt!

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Ingredients

 - 8 Jalapeños, halved and seeded

 -8 oz. low fat cream cheese

 -1/2 cup sharp cheddar

 - 2 green onions

 -1 tsp dried cilanto

 -1 tsp dried parsley

 -1 tsp garlic powder

 - 1 tsp salt

 - 6 slices of bacon or turkey bacon (preferably with no nitrates/nitrites)

 - parmesan cheese

In a mixing bowl, mix all ingredients together except for the jalapeños and parmesan cheese.  Once ingredients are combined, fill the jalapeños with the cheese mixture.  Lay flat on a pan with aluminum foil.  Once they are filled sprinkle them with parmesan cheese, and bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes, until the filling starts to brown.  Let cool and Enjoy!!

Nails Of The Week

I know it's only August, but I'm feeling like fall!

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - 255 Ginger Zinger

Tarte Rainforest After Dark Colored Clay Eye & Cheek Palette: Review & Look!

Tarte is one of my favorite makeup brands, so when they recently had a sale, this palette really jumped out to me.  This is an all in one palette, including bronzer, blush, highlighter, and six shadows.

I love the packaging!  It has a wood grain, including a gold snake with an amethyst eye. It is thin, very compact, and has a full size mirror.  This is a great travel palette!  All you need is foundation, powder, concealer and mascara added.

I think this palette is great for any season, but the purple, burgundy, and gold really say fall/winter to me.  You can get a very natural, neutral day look, a jewel toned look, or a smokey eye from this palette.

Included are 3 matte eyeshadows and 3 shimmery eyeshadows.  The blush and bronzer are also matte, while the highlight has a sheen, but no shimmer.

These shadows and powders apply so smoothly and blend beautifully.  The quality and pigmentation is definitely there, and it is worth every penny of the $38.00 price tag.  You really get a lot for the price.  As always, Tarte is made without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium laurel sulfate, triclosan, and gluten.  If you are interested in this palette or any other products from Tarte, you can find them at tartecosmetics.com.

My August 2015 Boxycharm Subscription!

This month's Boxycharm theme was Gorgeous Globetrotter.  I received 5 products, that are all full size.  The retail value was $136.95.  A great deal for only $21 a month!!

My First item was the Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Palette.  I started Boxycharm in December, and since then I have received The Revealed Palette 1, 2, and 3.  I have yet to use this one, but the other two are great shadows.  They have a lot of colors and good pigmentation!  The first palette is very similar to the Naked and Naked 2 Palettes from Urban Decay.  The second palette is very similar to the Naked 3, and this third palette is a combination of naked 1 and 3 palettes.  There are 20 shadows in each palette, so you are sure to get a ton of pretty looks out of it!

*retail price $39.95 (on sale now for $19.99)

My second item was the Mica Beauty Gel Eyeliner in Black.  I have used Mica Beauty products before, but never the liner.  I am a gel liner girl, so I am excited to try this product to see how it compares to my favorite, L'Oreal Infallible Gel Liner in Blackest Black.

*retail price $35

My third item goes with my gel liner.  It is a Seta Eyeliner Brush.  I have never heard of this brand before, so I am glad to try out this brush.  Brushes are huge when applying something as precise as liner.  This one is super thin, so it seems like you can make your line as thin or thick as you like.

*retail price $16

My next item is another unknown brand to me.  It is the Nios Shield Leave-In Conditioner.  I love any sort of treatments, whether it is skincare or hair care.  I believe in taking care of and preserving what you have for as long as you can.  I do face and hair masks weekly, and use leave in treatments a lot.  I have grown my hair out from a very short pixie, so I have taken good care of it along the way.  What I like about this product is that it has sunscreen in it.  So, if you color treat your hair like I do, it will help to keep the color from fading.  It also has vitamin E and B5 to nourish.

*retails for $26

My final item was So Susan Statement Skin, another new product to me.  With highlighting and strobing trends so big right now, I always like to find new products to use.  This is a cream highlight that is like a crayon.  You don't need a brush.  You can just apply from the stick and blend with your fingers.  It has a champagne sheen to it, which happens to be my favorite color for highlighters.  It seems like it would be a fast and easy application.

If you are interested in receiving your own boxycharm monthly subscription for $21, click the link below.  You can cancel anytime with no penalty.
https://boxycharm.com/refer/Moniq-EYPXWRRK