I thought because the last post was inspired by the creativity of REAL SIMPLE, I would continue to share some of the great products, and tips I have learned over the past few weeks.
First, let me start with the products:
This past (past) weekend in ATL opened my eyes to the amount of information lost on me about makeup, from my cosmetologist friend. She introduced me to, along with some tips, to the product SMASHBOX http://www.smashbox.com/products/6029/Eyes/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl
I love, love, love their products. I have only used MAC and Bobbi Brown before, but now I found that the colors and the price of this makeup are too good to be true! I love the lush colors and the long-lasting stay of the makeup. My friend told me that you need to replace makeup anyway at least every couple of months because of the bacteria in the brushes [which need cleaning after every use] So instead of spending a fortune, which I have, I have turned to products like REVLON [target is selling some killer lipsticks right now] for lipsticks and SMASHBOX for their eye makeup. LOREAL also sells great foundation, too!
I haven't found a mascara yet, but apparently you are supposed to hold on to those no longer than a month!
TIP: My friend informed me that you should not pump your mascara up and down, but swirl it around before you apply it from the tube.
TIP: do not rub the bottom of your liner from you eye, use a smudge brush. And don't apply liner to the outside of you lid, it blocks your oil glands.
TIP: stick to two shades lighter or darker than your natural skin tone: for me that is: rose, gold, peach, beige, plum etc. [but for nights out you can always have fun, or other outfits, this is just a natural state]
TIP: make sure to use the right kind of brush! MAC does sell the best brushes!!
Also she told me the best makeup remover is: Neutrogenia Foam cleanser
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Homemade Cleaning Solutions from REAL SIMPLE
A little treat came by way of mail the other day, the newest edition of REAL SIMPLE. I always love this magazine because it offers down-to-earth prices, as well as many more things: beauty tips; recipes for the week; ways to stay healthy. You cannot go wrong with an issue.
In this current issue, the team decided to make it about cleaning. When I first picked it up, I might have had the same reaction that some of you do: yuck, who wants to clean? But as I dug into the issue, I actually found some useful tips that were too good not to share:
1: white vinegar is good to have in your kitchen for mold, dust, bacteria; it is also good for bathrooms for the same purpose.. Today I bought HEINZ unfiltered white vinegar. It is also good to soak your clothes in, or if you have smelly, workout clothes, leave the vinegar soaked in the stain for 20 minutes.
2: 1 tbl and 1/4 cup of water of hydrogen peroxide is good for disinfecting your kitchen cutting boards and any other problem areas, as well as putting on fresh fruit and soaking it from the grocery store. You can also disinfect your trash cans with it.
3: heel marks and other wall stains can be cured with Baking soda. You can also use it to whiten your teeth. Strawberries also do this for you!
4: If you need to clean brass or copper, put salt on a lemon-half and you can scrub!
5: to clean windows, put 10 drops of lavender lemongrass and 2 ounces of water
the content of this blog post was provided by REAL SIMPLE: APRIL 2013
In this current issue, the team decided to make it about cleaning. When I first picked it up, I might have had the same reaction that some of you do: yuck, who wants to clean? But as I dug into the issue, I actually found some useful tips that were too good not to share:
1: white vinegar is good to have in your kitchen for mold, dust, bacteria; it is also good for bathrooms for the same purpose.. Today I bought HEINZ unfiltered white vinegar. It is also good to soak your clothes in, or if you have smelly, workout clothes, leave the vinegar soaked in the stain for 20 minutes.
2: 1 tbl and 1/4 cup of water of hydrogen peroxide is good for disinfecting your kitchen cutting boards and any other problem areas, as well as putting on fresh fruit and soaking it from the grocery store. You can also disinfect your trash cans with it.
3: heel marks and other wall stains can be cured with Baking soda. You can also use it to whiten your teeth. Strawberries also do this for you!
4: If you need to clean brass or copper, put salt on a lemon-half and you can scrub!
5: to clean windows, put 10 drops of lavender lemongrass and 2 ounces of water
the content of this blog post was provided by REAL SIMPLE: APRIL 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
RELEVANT MAGAZINE: What to know at 25ish
The amount of reading I do after college is an embarrassment. To remedy that, I have been trying to find online publications that relate to the stage of life I am in, or just sound words of wisdom. RELEVANT magazine seems to do the trick. The guest writers combined with the staff present various topics of faith, life, God, dating/relationships and music.
I have read a few articles to date that are good-reads: 3 things to know before marriage, women in the church, and the one I am posting today. RELEVANT is a magazine I recommend if you are interested in the current thoughts about any of these topics.
The reason I chose to feature this one today stems from this constant state of discontent that we both feel, [Ross and I] about aging; about careers; about finances. The author makes some valid and telling points I think, for all stages of life.
It's worth checking out.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
The Science of the Purse
Last weekend when I was on my trip to ATL, one of my friends amazed me by having everything you would need in your purse. I find this amazing because a) I don't carry a purse b) I am not an organized person c) I am not really into carrying heavy things. BUT this past weekend I was convinced that I need to change this because yesterday I needed eye drops, a pen, chapstick, paper, gum, and Rigby's leash. This could all be solved by the power of the purse, or "purse science." I also believe it makes you feel more secure when you go places, knowing that all you need is just within reach!
So I am on the hunt to check off my list of items that would complete the science:
pen
notepad
eyedrops
chapstick
phone charger/car charger
gum
advil/midol/tylenol
headphones
emergency kit -bandaids/tampons/neosporin
lotion
on-the-go makeup kit
iphone holder
stamps
dog food/dog treats
poop bags
these are all of the daily things that I think I would need- now to find a purse big enough. In the meantime, I stumbled upon an etsy shop that sells purse organizers and they look great!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DivideAndConquer/sold?ref=shopinfo_sales_leftnav
So I am on the hunt to check off my list of items that would complete the science:
pen
notepad
eyedrops
chapstick
phone charger/car charger
gum
advil/midol/tylenol
headphones
emergency kit -bandaids/tampons/neosporin
lotion
on-the-go makeup kit
iphone holder
stamps
dog food/dog treats
poop bags
these are all of the daily things that I think I would need- now to find a purse big enough. In the meantime, I stumbled upon an etsy shop that sells purse organizers and they look great!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DivideAndConquer/sold?ref=shopinfo_sales_leftnav
Friday, March 8, 2013
Real Simple: The Best Time to Buy
This post is mainly for my mother-in-law, and for anyone who is curious what months offer deals for items like furniture, etc. March is the month for Tv's and sandals!
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/spending/best-time-to-buy-00000000028717/page3.html
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/spending/best-time-to-buy-00000000028717/page3.html
A Date's Best Friend
This post is a follow-up to the great finds helping your wallet. I have known about this website for a while, but haven't posted about it yet. My best friend is always going to events where she works, or for a wedding and I always catch her in amazing dresses with a sizable price tag. I asked her how she could wear so many great dresses and jewelry, and she told me about Rent-the-Runway.
Basically you become a member for the site and you order a 500 dollar dress for 70 dollars with insurance and a three-four day use. They send you the box free with a return label to give back with no hassle or fees attached. Some of the dresses haven't even been worn. This past weekend for her engagement party she wore one and had two extra to share and I ended up wearing an adorable Kate Spade dress out of it. For a small price you can rent these amazing dresses and not have to go out and buy each dress for an event. I see it as an investment because when I was trying to find a dress to wear to her party I found all of my expensive ones just didn't cut it. I wanted new trends and fancy jewelry without the cost of actually buying them.
We are living in a market today where companies are now starting to recognize the value of cheap, used, but classy expenditures like renting your wardrobe. Tom, from Parks and Recreation, had to get it somewhere right? So check out the site and read the fine-print. I was on there this morning and saw so many dresses I wanted to rent, but no events to go to yet. Weddings, reunions, anything: it's worth it, just order.
http://www.renttherunway.com/
oh, and if you feel generous, recommend me, and if you tell your friends about it, have them recommend you. There is a special deal if you do!
kelseymccrorie@gmail.com
Basically you become a member for the site and you order a 500 dollar dress for 70 dollars with insurance and a three-four day use. They send you the box free with a return label to give back with no hassle or fees attached. Some of the dresses haven't even been worn. This past weekend for her engagement party she wore one and had two extra to share and I ended up wearing an adorable Kate Spade dress out of it. For a small price you can rent these amazing dresses and not have to go out and buy each dress for an event. I see it as an investment because when I was trying to find a dress to wear to her party I found all of my expensive ones just didn't cut it. I wanted new trends and fancy jewelry without the cost of actually buying them.
We are living in a market today where companies are now starting to recognize the value of cheap, used, but classy expenditures like renting your wardrobe. Tom, from Parks and Recreation, had to get it somewhere right? So check out the site and read the fine-print. I was on there this morning and saw so many dresses I wanted to rent, but no events to go to yet. Weddings, reunions, anything: it's worth it, just order.
http://www.renttherunway.com/
oh, and if you feel generous, recommend me, and if you tell your friends about it, have them recommend you. There is a special deal if you do!
kelseymccrorie@gmail.com
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Retail Steal
I was on Pinterest the other day and came across a website for good clothes that are affordable. Good meaning they are a decent thread count and higher quality than forever 21, but same pricing. I ordered a sweater from there and washed it without problems. If you are looking for alternatives to heavy-hitting stores, this is a good one! They have reputable shipping as well.
Check it out. It's called Sheinside
http://www.sheinside.com/
Check it out. It's called Sheinside
http://www.sheinside.com/
RAW diet for Dogs
Unfortunately, I am not as frequent on this blog as I had hoped, but with that said, I want the content to be helpful and encouraging to the various stages in life we go through.
Recently, Ross and I have been going to our local PETCO here in Pasadena for puppy play time. We are finally starting our Level 1 course on Sunday, which will hopefully teach us a thing, or two, about discipline. However, we have been engaging in other dog questions, like: what do you feed your dog (to the next owner) or, how much exercise do they need? We have these intentional conversations with the hands-on trainer right there and she always gives her feedback.
Well the last conversation we had was about food. This subject seems to create a lot of uproar in the blogging sphere, as well as the vet, along with local pet stores, like PETCO. We attended a teeth-cleaning seminar a while back where the local groomer gave his two-cents about food and healthy lifestyles of dogs. Throughout this seminar we each asked about our brand of food, and how that related to our individual breed. Come to find out, we thought our "organic" food was healthy for Riggs, but in all reality it only gave him half the nutrients he really needs. After the seminar we kept feeding him the rest of the bag of Canidae, but I didn't feel right about this.
Dog food is much like human food I am coming to underdstand. And for many pet owners out there they scoff at the use of RAW foods, which this groomer recommended for us. RAW meaning that the dog has real meat, real veggies, and real bones (not cooked) to eat. At first I thought RAW food was bad for dogs, but then our trainer challenged us to look into it and to read about it. So I did. And I found that RAW food is the best for all dogs based off of their evolution from the wild and wolves. It's actually a very interesting philosophy adapted by many dog owners who are wanting to give their dogs less gas, healthier energy, and less shedding.
I did not accept that the RAW food diet would also benefit us financially, so I asked some questions and came up with a cost-sheet from one website and blog. The meat and the veggies you purchase do not have to be for human use, so day-old veggies, or fatty meats, (cheap meats) can be acceptable because dogs don't process bacteria like we do. However, with the meat though, same rules apply about sanitary refrigeration etc.
Here are the websites and the pioneers of the RAW foods. Our vet didn't say much, as we find out that no matter the vet, most of them are paid to promote products and to say they are healthy like most drug companies, toward humans. I am also not saying to tune-out your vet, but to try this, and if it doesn't work, go back to what does. We haven't tried it yet, but are starting tomorrow. I will post updates as well.
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-feed-dog-raw-food-diet-budget-679495.html
Recently, Ross and I have been going to our local PETCO here in Pasadena for puppy play time. We are finally starting our Level 1 course on Sunday, which will hopefully teach us a thing, or two, about discipline. However, we have been engaging in other dog questions, like: what do you feed your dog (to the next owner) or, how much exercise do they need? We have these intentional conversations with the hands-on trainer right there and she always gives her feedback.
Well the last conversation we had was about food. This subject seems to create a lot of uproar in the blogging sphere, as well as the vet, along with local pet stores, like PETCO. We attended a teeth-cleaning seminar a while back where the local groomer gave his two-cents about food and healthy lifestyles of dogs. Throughout this seminar we each asked about our brand of food, and how that related to our individual breed. Come to find out, we thought our "organic" food was healthy for Riggs, but in all reality it only gave him half the nutrients he really needs. After the seminar we kept feeding him the rest of the bag of Canidae, but I didn't feel right about this.
Dog food is much like human food I am coming to underdstand. And for many pet owners out there they scoff at the use of RAW foods, which this groomer recommended for us. RAW meaning that the dog has real meat, real veggies, and real bones (not cooked) to eat. At first I thought RAW food was bad for dogs, but then our trainer challenged us to look into it and to read about it. So I did. And I found that RAW food is the best for all dogs based off of their evolution from the wild and wolves. It's actually a very interesting philosophy adapted by many dog owners who are wanting to give their dogs less gas, healthier energy, and less shedding.
I did not accept that the RAW food diet would also benefit us financially, so I asked some questions and came up with a cost-sheet from one website and blog. The meat and the veggies you purchase do not have to be for human use, so day-old veggies, or fatty meats, (cheap meats) can be acceptable because dogs don't process bacteria like we do. However, with the meat though, same rules apply about sanitary refrigeration etc.
Here are the websites and the pioneers of the RAW foods. Our vet didn't say much, as we find out that no matter the vet, most of them are paid to promote products and to say they are healthy like most drug companies, toward humans. I am also not saying to tune-out your vet, but to try this, and if it doesn't work, go back to what does. We haven't tried it yet, but are starting tomorrow. I will post updates as well.
http://www.barfworld.com/
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-feed-dog-raw-food-diet-budget-679495.html
Thursday, February 14, 2013
DIY Playing Cards TLC: Valentine's Edition
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I thought it would be fitting to post a low-budget idea I found on Pinterest. http://pinterest.com/pin/493073859172809168/ to celebrate with. If you are like me, and don't have the Hallmark-spirit of spending a pretty penny, here is a fun, and conversational idea to share with someone you love. Ross and I had a great time with this because it allowed us to be funny and serious, and also remember some of the key reasons why we love each other. But also in the spirit of Valentine's, I thought this could be a good present for friends, siblings, co-workers etc.
Supplies You'll Need:
scissors
colored post-its
a deck of playing cards
string (optional)
hole-puncher (optional)
1 inch binder rings (optional)
ballpoint pen
How-to:
The instructions for the project are listed on the website.http://pinterest.com/pin/493073859172809168/
I made my deck a little different. To make my deck I followed a couple of steps:
1)for the sayings, I cut the post-its in half and used the adhesive part to write on.
2) for the creativity part, I used the theme of the suits to spell out different ideas for the notes
Hearts- a description of his heart
Spades- things I wouldn't have without him
Diamonds- attributes and querks that were precious to me
Clubs- a bucketlist for our future
If you make this, be creative with it. I took the idea, but made it my own!
Happy Valentine's Day from our family!
Supplies You'll Need:
scissors
colored post-its
a deck of playing cards
string (optional)
hole-puncher (optional)
1 inch binder rings (optional)
ballpoint pen
How-to:
The instructions for the project are listed on the website.http://pinterest.com/pin/493073859172809168/
I made my deck a little different. To make my deck I followed a couple of steps:
1)for the sayings, I cut the post-its in half and used the adhesive part to write on.
2) for the creativity part, I used the theme of the suits to spell out different ideas for the notes
Hearts- a description of his heart
Spades- things I wouldn't have without him
Diamonds- attributes and querks that were precious to me
Clubs- a bucketlist for our future
If you make this, be creative with it. I took the idea, but made it my own!
Happy Valentine's Day from our family!
Dog Training Blues
Dog training for Rigby, our naughty-but-cute English Bulldog, has been interesting of all words I can find. Like most dog-owners, I could write a book about all of the situations that come up on a daily basis between feedings, potty, and training. Well, lately my husband and I have been at a loss. We are three months in with our dog, and no where to go. (Dogs under four-months have to be kept away from other dogs i.e. dog parks and walks are out the question)
We are constantly reading and trying to figure out ways we can exercise him. At night and in the middle of the night, we are finding that he doesn't like to sleep, so right before bed we try to exercise him. Ross likes to play soccer, and I like to play chase. However, for some reason, those games aren't enough. So I took these concerns to our local dog trainer and she gave me some wise advice:
Figure out how to be creative with his mind. A tired dog=a happy dog. So, for the past couple of meals I have tried a few ideas she recommend and a few of my own I thought I would share. Hopefully for those of you who have dogs, and run into the same problems, or want to change it up, these seem to work:
1. Buy a KONG toy from your local pet store. These usually run you around 10-20 dollars. They aren't the cheapest, but they help reduce your mealtime from 30 seconds, to 30 minutes. And if you are having trouble finding kennel activities, give your dog his meal right before you leave so you can escape without him noticing you're gone.
2. Home-make a feeding toy. Recently I took my Greek yoghurt container and cut a hole in the bottom and placed some food in it and let Rigby go nuts. So at least for 5-10 minutes he was occupied with it. Cut a hole that is big enough for his dog food to come out of either one-at-a-time, or however many kibble pieces you want.
3. Scatter the food around your house. The other dog I stumbled upon this because I dropped some of his food on the floor and watched as he chased the pieces around. So I took the rest, dumped it on the floor, and watched as he chased the food for 5 minutes. This seems like a strange idea but in the end he was definitely tired.
Our trainer gave us some good pointers, which I needed to hear: She encouraged us to relax and to raise our dog with as much creativity as we wanted. So her challenge to me this week was instead of going to the bowl, go somewhere else for a meal, or two. And I couldn't be happier with how it's turned out for Riggs and for us.
We are constantly reading and trying to figure out ways we can exercise him. At night and in the middle of the night, we are finding that he doesn't like to sleep, so right before bed we try to exercise him. Ross likes to play soccer, and I like to play chase. However, for some reason, those games aren't enough. So I took these concerns to our local dog trainer and she gave me some wise advice:
Figure out how to be creative with his mind. A tired dog=a happy dog. So, for the past couple of meals I have tried a few ideas she recommend and a few of my own I thought I would share. Hopefully for those of you who have dogs, and run into the same problems, or want to change it up, these seem to work:
1. Buy a KONG toy from your local pet store. These usually run you around 10-20 dollars. They aren't the cheapest, but they help reduce your mealtime from 30 seconds, to 30 minutes. And if you are having trouble finding kennel activities, give your dog his meal right before you leave so you can escape without him noticing you're gone.
2. Home-make a feeding toy. Recently I took my Greek yoghurt container and cut a hole in the bottom and placed some food in it and let Rigby go nuts. So at least for 5-10 minutes he was occupied with it. Cut a hole that is big enough for his dog food to come out of either one-at-a-time, or however many kibble pieces you want.
3. Scatter the food around your house. The other dog I stumbled upon this because I dropped some of his food on the floor and watched as he chased the pieces around. So I took the rest, dumped it on the floor, and watched as he chased the food for 5 minutes. This seems like a strange idea but in the end he was definitely tired.
Our trainer gave us some good pointers, which I needed to hear: She encouraged us to relax and to raise our dog with as much creativity as we wanted. So her challenge to me this week was instead of going to the bowl, go somewhere else for a meal, or two. And I couldn't be happier with how it's turned out for Riggs and for us.
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