Uncategorized

Glam Glow SUPERMUD Mask

TKS_6010 (2)

Is there anything better than at home spa treatments? You might say yes, but I say no way. That’s why I jumped when I ran across this Glam Glow mask on my latest trip to Sephora! I’ve been hearing great reviews of this mask for awhile now, and I couldn’t wait to get home to test it out.

As with any new product, it’s best to test the mask on a small patch of skin, away from your face just to make sure you don’t have a negative reaction. If the product burns, rinse it off immediately and by all means do not try it on your face!

After testing on my inner forearm (the skin here is similar to facial skin, so I tend to use it as my test area) it was time for some pore-cleansing relaxation. I was impressed with the thickness of the product and how easily it spread across my skin. Some mud masks can have a clay like feeling when you’re applying them, but the Glam Glow mask was incredibly easy to apply. I used the mask on my chin and across my T-Zone, but you can use it anywhere you feel you need a little boost!

TKS_6023

I typically draw a bubble bath when I’m using a face mask, but mud masks such as the Glam Glow mask are an exception. You know the mask is ready to be rinsed off when it’s completely dried, and I’ve found that sitting in a steaming tub can delay this reaction. The Glam Glow mask tingles as it dries, which I personally love! After about 15 minutes or so, I rinsed my face and got up close and personal with my mirror to study my results.

All in all, I’d have to say I’m impressed! I definitely saw a difference in the size of my pores after using this mask, and my skin felt soft and supple. I’ll definitely be making this mask part of my weekly routine.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Cinn-Mothers-Day

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! Though I try year round to make sure my mom knows how much I appreciate her, I can’t help but go all out on Mother’s Day. Here are my top picks for this year’s gifts:

A Tiffany Necklace – This gorgeous pendant necklace is quite the upgrade on the macaroni jewelry you gifted as a child. Made of Sterling Silver and incorporating Tiffany’s signature heart and key designs, this necklace is perfect for daily wear!
Birchbox – Why should presents be limited to one day? I love gifting Birchbox subscriptions because they’re the gift that keeps on giving! Each box includes five beauty products (think makeup, skincare, etc.) picked specially for the recipient. They’re also running a promotion for Mother’s Day right now, so hurry on over!
Keurig – Coffee makes the world go round. Last year my mom and I gifted my grandmother with a Keurig for her condo and she fell in love! Ever since, my mom has been hinting that she’d love to have one of her own, and I think this is the perfect occasion. I love how many options are available with Keurig – you’ll never have a problem matching your kitchen. Keurig is also running a Mother’s Day promotion so don’t delay!
Starbucks Cup – See above for my opinion on coffee 😉 You can never have too many mugs or tumblers. It’s without a doubt the kitchenware I buy most often. Starbucks has a fantastic selection and has even picked out some Mother’s Day favorites.
Flowers – No brainer! Peonies are a personal favorite of mine, but trust your heart! Daughters usually know these things 😉
Blush Tieks – You’ve heard me talk about my love for Tieks before, so it should be no surprise they made it onto my Mother’s Day gift guide. Blush Tieks launched just recently and are an absolutely stunning neutral. Blush Tieks have a patent finish, and like all Tieks, are made from fine Italian leather.

What are your favorite gift for Mother’s Day this year? I’d love to know! Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and happy shopping!

Stove Top Room Scents

Fall is easily my favorite season. Sweater weather, an abundance of honey crisp apples, the incredibly vibrant foliage and that unmistakable smell of fall. It’s hard to explain, but there’s just something so cozy about fall that I knew I wanted my entire house to smell like it.

As much as I love candles, I wasn’t really interested in going the pre-packaged, artificial route. And really, why should I when so many of the notes in those candles are the same fruits and spices I already have in my kitchen?

Inspired by a few things I found on Pinterest, I decided to try my hand at making my own stove top room scents.

Here are three recipes that will have your house filled with a delicious aroma in no time. For all of these, you’ll want to 2 to 3 cups of water brought to a boil. Add your ingredients to the boiling water and then reduce to a simmer over low heat. Note: there are no measurements for any of the ingredients. You can put in how ever little or much you’d like depending on your preference.

Citrus Autumn Spice

Orange slices
Apple slices
One or two sprigs of pine
Cinnamon sticks
A few dashes of ground cloves, ground allspice and ground nutmeg

Fall Getaway Potpourri

Lime slices
Blueberries
Vanilla bean
Coconut extract or flakes ( I use both because I love coconut!)

Calming Citrus Mint

Lemon slices
Rosemary sprigs
Mint leaves
A few drops of lavender oil

This couldn’t have been easier to do and my home smells absolutely delicious! I’m excited to dream up scent combinations for other seasons, but for now I’ll be enjoying these cozy fragrances of fall.

Pumpkin Flower Arrangement

With an abundance of pumpkins everywhere I go, I can’t help but feel inspired to do as much decorating as I can with those gorgeous gourds!

I decided to try my hand at this DIY that incorporates pumpkins and beautiful fall flowers. It’s so easy and a fun way to add a little fall color to your home.

Here’s what you’ll need:

A pumpkin
Your choice of fall flowers
A pairing knife
A package of single stem water picks. You can find these at a craft store, local florist or Amazon, of course. These water picks will also keep your flowers from wilting so your arrangement will last longer!

Using your pairing knife, cut holes around the outside of your pumpkin. You will want these holes to be a little larger than the top of the water pick.

Fill your single stem picks with water and place a flower in each one. Insert the vials into the holes you cut and push them in so the flowers sit flat against the pumpkin.

I absolutely loved the way this turned out and can’t wait to make them again as a Thanksgiving centerpiece!

Three Cheers for BarkBox!

I’m no stranger to monthly subscription boxes and I figured it was time to get my Greyhound in on the fun! I love to spoil him rotten and BarkBox looked like a fun way to do that.

If you’re not already familiar with the service, BarkBox is a monthly subscription box just for dogs and contains healthy treats, toys and other cool things with your four legged buddy in mind. When you sign up, you can choose your dog’s size so BarkBox can send appropriate sized items. This way your Papillion isn’t going to be overwhelmed with a toy made for a Mastiff. Since my Greyhound is a pretty big boy, I went with the Big & Bold option for our subscription.

tks_3288_lr

The theme of this month’s box was ‘Teacher’s Pet’, so the items had a back-to-school vibe. I particularly liked the “composition book” for the pamphlet that listed the items in the box. Definitely brings back memories of my own days in school!

tks_3280_lr

This box included two bags of treats and a ‘woof stick’ for chewing. The Apple Duck flavored biscuits were a major hit with my dog, so I’ll definitely have to keep a bag of those on hand.

tks_3283_lr

We also got two toys! My dog has never met a squeaky toy he didn’t love and I thought these two were extra adorable. I mean a little milk carton? Come on! Too cute! The ‘book’ is currently his most prized possession and he’s been carrying it all over the house.

BarkBox is definitely a subscription we’ll continue to look forward to every month. It’s a great way to discover new brands and products and my dog definitely isn’t complaining about getting new toys and treats!