Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

I'm a lucky girl! I qualified for yet another Influenster Vox Box!! This time, I received Sally Hansen's Miracle Gel Mani... it's all the benefits of a gel polish without the hassle of the LED light!

I was treated to a pedicure by my oldest daughter last night, so I'm just on day one of wearing the polish. No base coat needed... apply two coats of the color and then apply the top coat (provided). It 'cures' with natural light (and since it was after dark when we did it, I took it a step further and I was inside during the 'drying period').

My first thoughts are that I like it! I didn't find that it took any longer than any other polish to dry. The finish is ultra shiny, too! It claims to last 14 days so I will definitely check back in a couple of weeks to let you know the results and my thoughts.

**disclaimer** I received this product from Influenster in exchange for my review **

Feelin' the Jolly Vox Box lurve

So, I had the honor (again!) to be selected by Influenster to receive their December Jolly Vox Box! What in the world is a "Vox Box" you say? And how in the hell can it be "jolly"!?!?!?!

A Vox Box is, well, a box. A box full of goodies that Influenster sent me for free! Yep, you read that correctly...Free! Cost me zip. Zilch. Nada dinero (I know that's wrong :p). In exchange for the yummy (yes, I ate some) goodies, I promise to review and give feedback, as well as, well... brag a little :)

In this Vox Box, I received Rimmel London's Show Off Lip Lacquer in Luna, a NYC HD Color Trio in Bronzed in Brooklyn (eyeshadow), a travel size Puffs Plus, a Mini Ducklings Duct Tape in Hot Pink Zebra and a box of six Skinny Cow Divine Peanut Butter filled Chocolates (18 pieces total!).

There's a ton of linky love up there, so feel free to click, click, click away and get your eyes on all of the goodies I received... that's ok... I'll wait... no, really, go on and click... I'll be right here when you get done...
:: whistle whistle :: :: tap tap tap me toes :: ... :: La dee dee dee daaaaaaah ::

Oh, hey :) Welcome back! How'd ya like the look of all of my loot? Pretty jazzy box, wouldn't you say? I love, love, love all of the products (some of which are already gone - oops, was that a little bit of chocolate on my lip? So sorry...).

You can find reviews on all of the products either on Influenster's site or thru the linky love I've left for ya :) You're welcome.

And if you'd like a link to try your luck at getting your hands on one of these goodie bags, I mean boxes, just leave a comment (or email me) with an address I can send the link. All you have to do is sign up (always free! I promise, I wouldn't participate if it cost me a dime), give your opinions and wait. It's been my experience that you won't have to wait long, either! Influenster will contact you, just like they have contacted me, and want to send you free stuff, as well!!!! Really.... go on... you have nothing to lose! And ya might get some chocolate, too!!!

this is a pic I snapped quickly of me wearing the Lip Lacquer and the eyeshadow trio (apologies for the quality)

Another?!?!? I'm a lucky girl!

So, Influenster chose me AGAIN!!! I received the December vox box. I'll post a new entry in a few days with all the deets...

Until then, check out my eye look for my very casual, very staying at home, New Year's Eve eye look...

It's one of the HD Color Trios from NYC! Very neutral and very nice :) Thanks for stopping by :)

Hmmmmm... a quick post about my eyelashes (surprise!)

So... I took some selfies this morning after I had gotten ready for the work day. I was trying a new (for me) eye look and wanted to show the results to someone who had "coached" me. I honestly had no intention for the pics to be anything else.

Until I looked a little closer. I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves (these are my own eyelashes, not curled, with one coat of Jordana's Best Lash Mascara in black).

Thank you, Fysiko!?!

Fysiko Eyelash Growth Serum - final review

So... It's been "oficially" a little longer than 16 weeks (almost 18 - I've been a bit busy, m'kay?). I began this "journey" on May 13th not quite knowing what to expect. I'd heard of eyelash growth serums, but, honestly never gave any of them a second look after seeing the cost. A huge thanks to Influenster for giving me this opportunity, one that I honestly would not have had otherwise.

I won't bore you by repeating *everything* I've already said, so if you haven't already, please hop on over to the sidebar and check out my previous posts included in this review...

I'm fortunate in that I was blessed with naturally decent eyelashes. Doesn't mean I'll be caught out much without mascara, but they aren't horrible. So, while I never expect miracles, I have to admit, I was hoping for a little more than what I received.

Let me say that I was not disappointed, overall. Not at all. I suppose if I had to sum my experience up in one word, it would be "meh" (that is *so* a word!).

Now, if I'm going to shell out what, in my world, is mega $$$ for a beauty product, at very least I'd expect the packaging not to fail. As I've shown, the applicator (and application) is very similar to many liquid eyeliners. With my tube, the handle came, I guess, unglued from the actual applicator. So when I would close the product, the handle kept spinning, even after the tube was sealed (it screws into the tube - I hope I'm explaining this correctly). So, while not exactly a deal breaker, certainly a negative.

Again, if I'm going to lay down my hard earned cashola, I want to see significant results. I really can't say that I'm "wow-ed" by the results I've seen. I didn't expect a miracle in a tube, just something I don't have to rent micro-measuring equipment to "see" results, ya know?

Lastly, I'm one of those instant gratification kind of people. I really don't have the patience to wait 16 weeks, four months, to see results. I did notice slight improvement somewhere in the middle, but, hopeful as I was, it seemed to stall. I think my mid-review excitement was burst by nothing happening. Kinda disappointing, really.

Now, this is just my experience. To be honest, I haven't read any other reviews beyond the first few weeks... (I had time then... I'm a teacher and it was Summertime ahhhhhhh. But alas, I had to go back to work and anything fun just ended. ;-)) Other people may have, and probably do have, different opinions. Isn't that what makes the world go 'round? (no... It's not love, silly). Please, I encourage you to go look at some of the other reviews! Just search "Fysiko Eyelash Serum Review" on YouTube or simply search #LongerLashes on Twitter.

Thanks, Influenster! I really enjoyed reviewing this product. Hope I made ya proud :-)

Fysiko Eyelash Growth Serum review... Week 10

(usual disclaimers - I was provided this product by Influenster in exchange for posting at least four reviews over the course of the 16 week review period)

Here we are at week ten! My, how time flies! Unfortunately, I had to go into work for a few hours this morning, which meant makeup! So, I thought I'd take advantage of having my face on and snap a few pics of my lovely lashes!

What do you think? I can definitely tell a difference! I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I would spend money on this product, yet. Don't get me wrong, if dropping $139 (price as of right now, on Amazon) on a product such as this doesn't threaten your food budget for the month, as it certainly would mine, then I would most likely recommend it. However, remember that this is a 16 week review, so don't go spending your hard earned cash on my recommendation just yet!

This will most likely be my last update until the end of the review. I'll try to pop a pic up before then, but with the start of school on the fast approaching horizon and us desperately trying to cram as much fun family time into the few weeks we have left, I can't make any promises.

See ya in six (or so) weeks!

Summer Toes

I have to admit, I'm about as low maintenance as they come. Ok, truth told, I'm just plain LAZY! Especially during the summer. But, low maintenance be damned... This girl's gotta have her toes "did" for sportin' those Summer sandals (albeit my sandals are really flip flops that no doubt were bought for less than a tenner, five or fifteen years ago).

When I first discovered those Sally Hansen nail strips, I thought I'd hit the nail polish jackpot. Easy application and they stayed on forEVER! Easy Peasey, right? Well, sort of. See, the Sally strips are actual polish (Google the process if you're interested) so, once you open the foil pack they come in, it's use 'em or lose' em. Frugal gal that I am, I can make one strip cover three, sometimes four nails. See where this is going? Waste! At $10 a pop, which I really didn't mind because of the staying power, still, I wanted more!

Enter Jamberry Nail Wraps. The best of all worlds. They satisfy my OCD tendencies (you have to try them to get this part), meet my cheap and lazy qualities all the while providing my piggies with their proper Summer dressing.

Check 'em out at www.gopaintless.jamberrynails.com I promise, I'm not getting anything in return for posting this (I did host an online party that has since wrapped up, so I *really* get nothin'). Amy Everitt is my consultant. I only mention her name because she doesn't know me from Eve and is amazing!

(forgive the state of my feet in the pic... remember *low maintenance *!)