Friday, December 26, 2014

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...Even at Work


I'm not sure how I caught the Christmas bug, because I'm the most holiday-spirited member of my family. But I love everything about the holiday season: the lights, the carols, the decorations, the festive scents, even the hustle and bustle. (I would also say the cool weather, but we don't get much of that in Southwest Florida.) While many people get stressed and overwhelmed during the holidays, I feel just the opposite. I don't have a huge family and most of my friends are spread across the country, so I don't have a ton of parties and events I have to attend. Also, news slows down and organizations don't host as many fundraisers, so my schedule becomes less busy.

The only downfall is sometimes, like this year, I have to work on Christmas. I've worked every holiday this year, except for Thanksgiving, but Christmas is really the only bummer for me. I usually take the week off and head up to see my family in Atlanta. We eat at the same restaurant every Christmas Eve and my sister and I even take the same picture in the parking garage, of all places. Then on Christmas Day we see a movie and eat at the same Chinese restaurant. It's simple, a little random and probably not how most people spend the Christmas holiday, but there is just something about the tradition of it that I love! I was sad to miss it.

Unfortunately I'm absent from the annual parking garage photo!

This year I've been enjoying a modified version of the holidays. The newsroom is quiet, and one of our co-worker's wife brought in a home-cooked Christmas Eve dinner. I got to go to midnight mass and open presents. Max even baked cookies from scratch! And I brought as much festive spirit as I could to the ABC 7 set. No matter where you are or how you celebrate, I hope you've been able to find a little wonder in the most wonderful time of the year.

Happy Holidays from the ABC 7 anchor desk!

Friday, December 19, 2014

Birchbox Review: November


 November Birchbox

1. Eyeko Fat Eye Stick -- Genius product...in theory. An eyeshadow crayon that you can quickly swipe on? Major timesaver. The problem is this does not blend well. I envisioned using this to apply eyeshadow in the spare 10 seconds I have before going on air, but it didn't exactly work that way. If you just leave it like that, it looks a little crazy. I tried to blend with my fingers, which worked okay, but was not ideal. I'm wondering if some type of sponge or blender would work better. Also, this silver color is not what I would pick; I prefer something darker. (For eyeshadow, I'm all about deep purples - try it!)

2. Not Soap, Radio Body Wash - Joy Inducing (Lemon & Sugar) -- First of all, I had to look up what the phrase "not soap, radio" meant. If you don't know already it's a punch line for a prank joke explained here. But as far as the actual body wash goes, I liked it! It's a very lemony scent, which I love. It's also free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. I would love to try some of the other scents, but I'm not sure I would go out of my way to purchase this since it's on par with just about any other body wash I've used.

3. Rusk Texture Dry Finishing Spray -- I was quite excited to receive this sample because of the word "texture." Anything I can do to add texture to my hair! But...I can't really figure out how to best use this. It says it can be used as a hairspray and/or to add lift to the roots. I tried that and it felt a little sticky. I'm going to go back to using it as a hairspray until it runs out, but I can't say I would buy this. It has a nice "salon-quality" scent!

4. Camille Beckman Platinume Gold Imperial Repair Hand Therapy -- Loved the citrus scent and silky feel! The sample was very small, so I didn't use it long enough to fall in love. Plus, I'm not going to spend $20 on hand cream unless it's life-changing.

5. MAKE Silk Cream Lipstick & Lip Primer -- This sample was a little hard to use. I applied it with my finger, but a lip brush may have been better. The lip primer is great! The lip colors weren't my favorite- one was a little too magenta pink, the other was a little too red for every day use. Although I do think it would be nice for a party or night out. They were deeply pigmented, but a little too matte for my taste. I prefer just a little bit of shimmer. 

6. Chuao Chocolatier Assorted ChocoPod - Milk Chocolate-Covered Potato Chip -- I don't normally like milk chocolate, but I liked this; it was delicious! The potato chip part wasn't overwhelming; it added some crunch and a tiny bit of saltiness. 

December Birchbox
First of all, the box itself is absolutely beautiful! This is a whopper of a box with several products that look great. I'm excited to try the Davines Replumping shampoo, conditioner and styling spray.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Best Drugstore Beauty Buys

I rarely give in and say I've found the best-of-the-best when it comes to beauty products. But I'll go out on a limb and say that with this eyeliner. I have no desire to try another one after finding this. It's a dark brown, so the color is rich but not as dark as black. It goes on smooth and stays on forever. And it's less than $7. Use the blender sponge! I made the mistake of not using it at first, and once I did, I realized I was missing out. You can smooth out any unevenness and really smudge it into the lashline. The more you can get eyeliner almost IN your lashes, the better and more natural it will look-- best tip I ever learned from a makeup artist. 

If you're noticing a pattern, I tend to be partial to L'Oreal products. This drugstore line is just one of MANY that fall under the L'Oreal umbrella: Lancome, YSL, Urban Decay, Kiehl's, Shu Uemura and Clarisonic...just to name a few. 
This is the spray I've been coming back to on my quest to find the world's best root-boosting product.  Since my hair needs volume, something that gives "oopmh" to the roots is one of the most important items in my arsenal. Unfortunately this doesn't give me Texas Big Hair, but it does give lift without stickyness or stiffness. It's about $6 and works just as well as some similar, higher-priced products.

3. John Frieda Luxurious Volume All-Day Hold Hairspray

I have been using this for years and years. Every time I try a different hairspray, I keep going back to this one. It holds well, doesn't have a strong scent and most importantly, it's not too wet. It does not get sticky, and it's easy to brush out. I wish it had just a little bit of a stronger hold, but overall it's fantastic.

4. wet n wild Color Icon SPF 15 Bronzer in Bikini Contest
I'm assuming Victoria's Secret discontinued my beloved Baked Mineral Bronzing Powder, because I can't find it anywhere. I launched a search to find a replacement and tried several bronzers I didn't like...until I found this one. I picked it up for less than $4 at Walmart, and surprisingly, it's been a winner! It's just the right balance between shimmery and matte and is not Oompa Loompa orange. It has pinkish/reddish undertones, which works perfectly with my skin tone. I even slather it on my arms when I'm going sleeveless on air for a nice "tan." The only drawbacks: A lot of powder comes off on my brush, so it can be a little messy. I often have to blow off a little before I put it on my face, but even if I don't, it blends really well. Also, by the end of the day, it can get just a little shiny; I think that may be because of the sunscreen. 

Does Whole Foods count as a drugstore? Because that's where I got this. At about $8, it's definitely drugstore-priced. I needed shampoo and bought this on a total whim, as I actually went in for dinner, not beauty products. But we all know how a trip to Whole Foods works. Even though this is not a volumizing shampoo, it gives me great volume! This line has specific shampoos for different colors, but this is made for people with golden tones. It's supposed to bring out highlights, which I recently got for the first time in my life. I definitely think this is better for fine hair that doesn't need added moisture. I could see it being drying for people with more thick or coarse hair.

It's a little odd to blog about deodorant, but, hey, everyone's gotta use it. (unless you're Matthew McConaughey) Over the years I've used several deodorants, and I've discovered most of them don't really work that well, even the pricier "clinical strength" ones. I originally picked this up in a sample size because it just happened to be in the travel section. I started to realize it actually worked. There's not a whole lot to be said about deodorant other than that this one has been leaps and bounds better than others I've tried.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Birchbox Review: October

October Birchbox
1. Jouer Matte Moisture Tint -- I'm starting out with my favorite product in this box. I LOVE this! I've long been after the perfect tinted moisturizer/BB cream, and I may have found it. The two things I like best about this product...it offers great coverage and is not greasy/oily. After trying several products like this, I've realized I prefer coverage that's more like a foundation than just a light tint. While this is not a full-on foundation, it provides a beautiful canvas. And that fact that is stays matte, is just fantastic. This one is a winner.

2. Vasanti Detox Nutrient-Rich Purifying Facial Cleanser -- This is nothing to write home about in my opinion. It does make your skin feel fresh and clean, but the consistency is not my favorite. I almost felt like I was washing my face with shampoo. And for whatever reason, this is one of those cleansers that can easily get in your mouth when you're washing your face. I much prefer cream cleansers because they don't do that and feel so much more luxurious. 

3. Essentiel Elements Wake Up Rosemary Shower Gel -- If you like scents in the rosemary, eucalyptus, mint family (which I absolutely do), you will love this! So invigorating. My only complaint is that it doesn't lather as well as some other shower gels I use, so I needed to use a little more to get enough suds. 
4. Lord & Berry Paillettes Eye Pencil -- This was my least favorite product in my October box. I don't wear black eyeliner, but I tried it because it had some sparkle. It didn't go on all that smoothly and it didn't seem very pigmented, almost like a light black if that makes sense. The shimmer was barely noticeable. Overall, not a great product. 

5. TONI&GUY Classic Shine Gloss Serum -- I noticed TONI&GUY recently came out with a new line of products, and I've been interested in trying them. However, this one, I was wary about. It's a shine serum you're supposed to apply to the ends of your hair when it's dry. The thought of putting anything slightly oily or glossy on DRY hair for someone whose locks are fine, is truly scary! But a stylist who recently did my hair for a fashion show put some type of shine serum on my hair after she curled it; I was shocked that it didn't make it greasy or flat. Because of that, I decided to give this product a try...and I did so at the end of a work day, so it really didn't matter what my hair looked like for my midnight drive home. It has an unusual, but nice, smell, almost like apple cinnamon. It didn't make my hair greasy, but it also didn't seem to do a whole lot. That may be because my hair is already pretty shiny naturally-- something for which I can actually thank the hair gods! I think this would be a great product if you're needing shine and defrizzing action. For me, I'll keep it for use every once and awhile, but it's not something I'll use frequently. 

November Birchbox
This is wonderful box! I've already sampled a couple of the products and looking forward to trying the rest. And, hello, there's a chocolate-covered potato chip snack in there!


Friday, November 14, 2014

Friday Five XII

KLG & Hoda gal pal, Bobbie Thomas, shared this lovely combination. For awhile now, I've been in search of a white nail look that on one end of the spectrum, isn't too sheer, and on the end, doesn't look like you painted your nails with Wite-Out.

Julian - Jersey
Speaking of KLG & Hoda, Kathie Lee was wearing this on the show last week and I loved it! I tweeted wondering who makes it, and SHE TWEETED ME BACK. Amazing. I digress...but this dress is beautiful, perfect for fall and moderately-priced. I love when celebrities wear things I can actually afford. (Sidenote, I'm curious how many times I've mentioned KLG & Hoda on my blog. Sorry I'm not sorry.) 

I think is my favorite Texas A&M piece from the collection, but there are some others I wouldn't mind having as well. And if we keep playing like we did last weekend, I'll be wearing maroon gear all the time!

This is a brand new race, and I'm planning on running it next year! I usually run the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon, but I'll have to miss it next year because I'll be on my honeymoon. But I think this race is going to be great: live bands throughout the course, Girl Scout cookies at mile 9 and it runs right through my beautiful neighborhood.

5. Dr. Oz The Good Life Magazine
I subscribe to way too many magazines, but I just had to check this one out after spotting it in line at the grocery store. I think it's great. I know not everyone is a Dr. Oz fan, but I really like him, his show and his focus on prevention and lifestyle choices when it comes to medicine and health care. I could read about health-related topics all day and never get bored, so this magazine is right up my alley!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

What Scares Me Most About Getting Married

I'm about as independent as they come. I've lived alone since after college and moved from College Station, Texas to Chicago, to Washington D.C., to Tyler, Texas to Sarasota, Florida without knowing a single soul in most of those places. I was not all scared but rather excited about new places and experiences. I've gotten so used to doing everything for myself that I can't think of much I need someone else to do for me. Well, I'm not exactly skilled at major home repairs, BUT I have been spending an increasing amount of time at Home Depot and have an incredibly skilled handyman.

So when it comes to getting married in a few months, what scares me most (and scares is really too strong of a word) involves losing a little of my independence, not committing to one person for the rest of my life. That doesn't scare me in the least; I'm as committed as I am independent. Much like deciding on my career at age 5 and never wavering, once I knew Max was the one, and I knew pretty quickly, I've never had any doubts.

Now, moving in together and changing my last name, those are the hard parts for me. Although I'm a card-carrying member of the Beyonce "Who run the world? Girls!" Club, I'm also pretty traditional, so I never considered not legally changing my name. It especially makes sense once you have children so that everyone in the family shares the same name. But that doesn't make it any easier. It's not that I just love my last name. It's not particularly poetic and no one can spell or pronounce it correctly. It's just that it's part of me, and suddenly becoming someone else one day is hard to swallow.

I read this article and could totally relate to the author's story. (By the way, I recommend you read it. It's written by a seemingly sane, intelligent woman with logical points.) She mentioned how she almost broke off her engagement because of a fight over changing her last name. While I could never imagine that, I did recall a little tiff I had with my fiance regarding that very subject. I was signing a receipt, and he asked me if I had practiced my Winitz signature. I said, "no, and after we get married, I plan to sign my name the exact same way I always have."


As you can see from the photo, my signature doesn't look anymore like Wielgus than it does Winitz. And as we were having this discussion, I was sitting there thinking: look, I'm already changing my name, now I have to change my second-nature, scribble of a signature, too? I think it's hard for the person not changing their name, and in some ways their identity, to relate to the person who is going through that process. Especially for those of us who are a little bit older getting married, we've lived many adult years with our names and giving it up at the drop of a hat isn't easy.

As the wedding gets closer, I've started to think about ALL of the things that bear my last name. For example, when I signed onto my computer to write this blog post, even the welcome screen says "Hayley Wielgus." Do I have to change that? Do I wait until I get a new computer? How does all of this work? Not only is it a little psychologically difficult, this is a time-consuming task!

Now...softening the blow is the fact that I'm keeping my maiden name professionally. I know I'm not a famous network reporter, but the television news world is small and now that I've started to establish myself as Hayley Wielgus, I think it's best to maintain my "brand." Plus, having a future husband who also works in TV, I think it's best for us to have different on-air last names, since we're not exactly trying to market ourselves as a package deal.

I know I'm not completely alone in my apprehensions about changing my name, because several women have shared with me how difficult it was for them. But it can be hard to express those thoughts, especially with our future spouses, because, well, men can be a little sensitive about these things. (Sorry, guys!) I think, for some, it challenges their masculinity.

Hate to break it to some in the male population, but not all women are sitting around writing Mrs. Whoever in bubbly cursive and dotting the Is with hearts, like we did in seventh grade. Instead some of us are mourning the loss of Ms. Maiden Name. Our future spouses may mistakenly think it's a reflection of our feelings about marriage or about joining together as a family. I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm beyond excited to marry Max and to start our own little family. I just know introducing myself as Hayley Winitz is going to take a little practice, so bear with me!

Friday, October 24, 2014

Friday Five XI

This candle was burning at a restaurant, and I instantly became obsessed! It smells incredible-- warm, rich and just a little sweet. It could work as a great holiday scent but definitley isn't so Christmas-y that you couldn't burn it year-round. These candles are made in Tampa from all-natural soy wax. There are so many other scents I would like to try as well.

Fun and functional, infuse a cup of loose leaf tea in this lovely mug. It's available in two other colors as well. By the way, this is just one of the neat things I found on the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) website that would make great holiday gifts. I also found some great stuff on The Met online store.

I splurged a little on this sports bra for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Twenty percent of this purchase goes to the Lynne Cohen Foundation to fight ovarian and breast cancer. 

Leopard print + Sperrys = preppy perfection!

THIS IS THE BEST ROUND BRUSH I HAVE EVER OWNED. Period. I picked this up on a whim on clearance at Ulta. Have you ever had a stylist dry your hair and you sit there wondering, how does he/she just grab all that hair and whip it around so easily? This brush allows you to do that! It's lightweight, smoothing, moves through the hair easily without tangling and really cuts down on drying time because of the ceramic coating. My hair is getting longer, so I was looking for a larger-barrel brush, so I went with the 53 mm. I was worried I wouldn't be able to curl under the ends because of the size, but nope, it actually works great for that. All around fantastic!

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Birchbox Review: September

September Birchbox

1. ChapStick® Dual-Ended Hydration Lock Moisturize & Renew -- As much as I love higher-end samples, I like when I get a Birchbox Find, which means drugstore product. It's nice to know it's budget friendly, and if I really like it, I can just pick it up at Walgreens or Target. (Sorry Birchbox shop.)

This product doesn't really differ from any other ChapStick I've used before, but I like it. I don't notice a huge difference between the "Moisturize" and the "Renew" side, other than that the Renew side seems to fade faster. The biggest drawback is that neither side has SPF, so I use this at night before I go to bed.

2. dr. brandt® pores no more® vacuum cleaner™  -- Once this mask sets after about a minute, it forms a dry, white, almost powdery film. My face felt tight while I had it on, which really didn't bother me. I'm not sure if it really removed any blackheads, but I do think it helps tighten pores, at least temporarily. If you have dry skin, this might not be the best for you, unless you really moisturize after you use it. I enjoy it because my skin tends to be normal/slightly oily, so I like products that leave a matte finish on my face.

3.  Jouer Anti-Aging Moisture Primer -- I still don't understand how to judge a primer. Is it doing what it's supposed to be doing? I have no idea. Maybe that's because I wear powder foundation, not liquid, so a primer is probably not as essential. This one goes on like a very light lotion, but dries pretty quickly without any greasy finish. It provides a smooth canvas for my makeup, but I can't really tell if it makes it adhere better or stay on longer. Apparently it contains peptides, antioxidants and caffeine, so it's good to know it's doing double duty on top of priming the skin for makeup.

4.  Skin&Co Roma SICILIAN LIGHT™ SERUM Vitamin C Brightening Face Serum -- I love some antioxidant Vitamin C in my beauty products. It can help repair UV damage, including discoloration and dark spots. However, I believe there are other products on the market with more powerful levels of vitamin C than this one. This serum is more like a light lotion and goes on nicely. I do notice a little bit of a glow to my complexion when I use this but nothing dramatic. It also has what I would call a grandma-like scent. Not terrible, but not my favorite.

5. Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Gold Couture -- I normally don't like Juicy perfumes because they're a little strong for me and just not the type of scents I prefer. But, I really like this one because it's sweeter and I love sweet-smelling scents. But it's not too sweet or overpowering, which is great.

5. Noir Cosmetics Long-Wear Eyeliner -- I don't wear black eyeliner, so I didn't sample this so that I can pass it on to someone who will use it.

Overall, nothing in the September box really stood out as something I would buy, but I like the products enough to use them until I run out of the sample. However, I am excited about the products in my October box, especially the rosemary shower gel. Cannot get enough of that spa-like, invigorating scent!

October Birchbox
 

Thursday, October 9, 2014

(Healthy) Treat Thursday

I'm not sure if this is actually a treat, but it's alliteration and I couldn't think of a better title. And to me, smoothies are treats; I've always loved them. I can't cook at all, but I think I'm pretty darn good at making smoothies. Although I don't know if one can actually be bad at making smoothies since it's really easy, but I do find mine to be as good if not better than many I buy at juice bars and smoothie places and MUCH cheaper. 

I usually prefer creamy smoothies, but I came up with this concoction and I'm really liking it. Here are the ingredients to what I'll call Fruity Green:



I've been snacking on the frozen mango while I make this smoothie and it is SO good. I think when everyone went through that mango craze of making salsas and chutneys out of it, I forgot how tasty it is all on its own. I like it better that way, and there's something really great about it frozen.

For this smoothie I put about a cup or less (I don't really measure) of coconut water, one banana and about a handful or so of the fruit and spinach. If you use frozen fruit, you don't even need ice.  I recommend pouring the coconut water in first to help everything blend more smoothly. Don't worry if it looks a little weird when it first starts blending; you probably need to stop it once or twice and stir before blending again.


This smoothie is packed with antioxidants, and you can't even taste the spinach. Also, you can mix and match the ingredients to make other smoothies. My standby is a blueberry banana smoothie with milk and ground flaxseed.

Fruity Green Smoothie:
-About 3/4 - 1 cup coconut water
-1 banana
-Handful+ frozen mango
-Handful+ frozen berries
-Handful+ spinach

Pour coconut water into blender first. Break banana into pieces, add fruit and spinach. Blend for about 10 seconds, stop and stir ingredients if needed. Blend again for about a minute until smooth.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Occupied in October

I live by my iPhone calendar; I actually don't know what I would do if my phone data got wiped out. Actually, I look at it so much that I've basically memorized every event and appointment I have coming up. Glancing at it today I saw so many of those little dots and realized October is shaping up to be a very busy month! Here's what I have on tap:

Tonight:
I'm taking my little sis' from Big Brothers Big Sisters to the One Direction concert at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. All I can say is, pray I survive the sea of teenybopper madness.

Saturday, October 4th:
State Aquatics 2012 & 2013

I'll be heading to the east coast of Florida to coach my Special Olympics swimmers at the state aquatics meet. Go Sarasota! This is always quite an experience. There's a spaghetti dinner and dance at Sebastian High School, and we stay at the defunct, former Spring Training facility of the L.A. Dodgers. It's not a luxury vacation, but it's always fun and watching the swimmers get their medals is incredibly rewarding!

Monday, October 6th: 
I'll be making a guest appearance on our new local talk show on ABC 7, Suncoast View. Since October is of course Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'll be sharing some of the events happening in our area, several of which I'll be attending! Speaking of...

Tuesday, October 7th:
On my dinner break between the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts, I'll be popping over to Libby's Cafe + Bar in Sarasota to be a celebrity server. The event benefits the Center for Building Hope, which offers support programs to Suncoast residents with cancer and their families. Get tickets here!

Wednesday, October 8th:
This is the second year I've served on the committee for Key to the Cure, an event at Saks Fifth Avenue stores across the country. Ours raises money for women's cancer programs at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. This year's event will be the grand opening for Saks at the brand new Mall at University Town Center. The committee is privileged to have a sneak peek of the new store, and we get to have lunch at the restaurant, Sophie's. The Sarasota store is only the second in the country to have a restaurant; the other is Chicago.

Thursday, October 9th:
Happy 30th birthday, Max! Yes, I'm marrying a younger man ;)

Tuesday, October 14th:
 Key to the Cure 2013

The aforementioned Key to the Cure! I took the day off so I could fully enjoy the party and not have to rush back to work for the 11 p.m. newscast. Tickets still available - join us for a great event.

Thursday, October 16th:
 Back to Suncoast View! This time I'll be filling in as a co-host for the entire show. It's the closest I'll get to co-hosting The Today Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda.

Saturday, October 18th: 
Making Strides 2103

I'll be emceeing the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at the Sarasota Polo Grounds in Lakewood Ranch!

Sunday, October 19th:
Celebrating the one year anniversary of our engagement! I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Wednesday, October 29th:
Kickoff for next year's Women in a Changing World Panel benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. The actual event is coming up next March, and it is truly one of my favorite functions. Suncoast friends, it's unlike any fundraiser you've attended, not to be missed!

Friday, October 31st:
Happy Halloween!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Birchbox Review: August

August Birchbox

1. CAILYN Cosmetics Dizzolv'it Makeup Melt Cleansing Balm - 100ml -- This product does just what it implies in the name; it truly dissolves makeup and it does so quickly.  It's a unique silky texture that feels nice on the skin. BUT, and this is a big but (hence the all caps), it got in my eyes and made my vision blurry for several minutes. That just wasn't going to work for me. I used it a few times and actually threw out the rest, which I rarely do.

2. theBalm® cosmetics Stainiac -- This is handy for those days you don't want to wear makeup but want a little color. But I think it's a little too much color if you're in gym clothes...if that makes sense. I like that it's a stain instead of a balm, because some days I just don't want to feel like I'm wearing anything on my face. This is not something I would purchase, but I'll definitely use the rest of the sample.

3. amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo -- Another spray dry shampoo that isn't sticky, hallelujah! It smells great, doesn't leave a residue and boosts volume-- all things I love in a dry shampoo. And bonus, how fun is the packaging? My only complaint is, like with most spray dry shampoos, it runs out quickly. With powders, you're not spraying any excess into the air and you can really target it where needed most. But if you really love a spray, I think psssst! Instant Dry Shampoo works better, and it's much cheaper. 

4. Harvey Prince Ageless Body Cream -- Since I'm completely devoted to Jergens Natural Glow as my daily body lotion, I only use other lotions on my hands. This was a little greasy for me and the scent was not my favorite; the best way I can describe it is an overpowering watermelon scent.

5. Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow -- I saved the best for last! Love this! I'm not sure I noticed all that much of a golden tint, but that didn't bother me in the least. This gave nice, light coverage without thickness or greasy-ness. My number one requirement in a BB cream is that doesn't become oily throughout the day, and this definitely excelled in that area. And going a step further, if I can't feel it on my face (the case with this product), that's a home run! I will definitely consider purchasing the full-size product.

September Birchbox review coming soon- excited about several of these products!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Wednesday Whatnots

I've been a blogging slacker as of late; life, events and this thing called work, where I get paid to write, have gotten in the way. But I have been stockpiling neat stuff, so I thought I would get back into it with this sort of catch-all post.

If you're a compulsive magazine reader like I am, you may be in the habit of dog-earing pages or ripping them out when you find something you like, but you forget to go back and look at what you marked. I've found this is when Pinterest comes in handy. Once I'm done reading a magazine, I go back through and pin whatever items I've marked, so I'll have an easy (and paper-free) place to keep them.  Here are some of my recent favorite finds from Pinterest and the pages of O, Glamour and Shape magazines.

1. Shop for a Cause: September is Ovarian Cancer and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
A selection of Laura Mercier products - 100 percent of profits go to Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund.

I just found out about this organization and, wow, is it impressive! Yes, it involves cookies, which is great, but also so much more. The organization has a number of partners including Asics:

A portion of this Asics special collection goes to pediatric cancer research supported by Cookies for Kids' Cancer.

Even this Tequila Sunrise Villa in Anguilla is a partner. Check it out; it is a-mazing! If you mention Cookies for Kids' Cancer, you get a 5 percent discount on your stay and the villa owners donate 10 percent. 

Get free admission to museums all across the country on September 27th.

Now that college football is back, these will complete your gameday gear! (available for many schools) They also have a sorority collection. 


Why I haven't bought this yet is beyond me. It's only $30 and looks like it must be an essential for iced tea lovers.

Deliciousness straight from this NYC bakery to your door!

These shades are my favorite, but they're available in 14 colors...maybe even one that would match your lillybee gameday flats!

Now, wouldn't you just look lovely sipping champagne with that champagne-colored Swarovski bracelet on your wrist?

And of course you need something classy on which to rest that champagne coupe!

 But if you prefer tequila over bubbly, this tropical twist on the classic frozen cocktail sounds delicious! 



Make those coconut margs with this top-of-the-line tequila and you're almost guaranteed to have visions of relaxing on a secluded Caribbean island. (See above).