Review of Boots No.7 Protect and Perfect Serum

In my #Frosty VoxBox from Influenster, I recieved a sample of Boots No.7 Protect & Perfect Serum to try for free.

The image below is a full-sized bottle, but I recieved a small sample package. 

I don't usually use these types of things, but I did try it out. It felt nice on my skin, and if I hadn't been moving at the time I might have used it more faithfully to really see if it made a difference.

If I saw it on sale, I would definitely try it to firm up some of the wrinkles that come in your thirties! 😉

 * I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.* 

Review of Rimmel Scandalize & Eye Makeup Remover

Ladies, reviewing products for free is so fun!

Check out Influenster.com: www.influenster.com/r/580065

In my #frosty VoxBox I recieved from Influenster, I got Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner and Gentle Eye Makeup Remover.

I was excited to try these products because, frankly, I should have bought new ones a while ago!

Here's my in a nutshell review:

Scandalize Eyeliner: 

I love this! My favorite eyeliners are pencils, I despise the liquid kind, so I was stoked when this one was a pencil in the exact color I use. A great color black and it goes on so easily! Very smooth application. And a great name to boot? You hit it big Rimmel!

And to go with the eye make up, Influenster sent along....

Rimmel Just Let it Go Eye Makeup Remover:

Again, applause for the super-clever name. My son is obsessed with Frozen so it's amusing.  I usually use make up remover wipes, so this seemed a little more time-consuming. But with a cotton ball and this great makeup remover, my eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara easily came off. I can't say how it compares to other eye makeup removers, but I am happy to have recieved a full size!

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.*

Celestial Seasonings Taste Test

After receiving the #Frosty VoxBox from Influenster, I started checking out my new freebies! 

One of them was the Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane decaffienated tea. 

I am not a huge fan of tea, BUT this last week I have had a major sore throat. I decided that this was time for trying out this Candy Cane tea.

Here's what I thought of it: 

It totally reminded me of my childhood when my mom would pull out the peppermint tea when my tummy hurt! I didn't drink it when I was a kid I just inhaled the peppermint-ness. But it tasted like it smelled! So good!

It is a perfect night time, sleep-inducing tea! I might just need more!

* I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Influenster #Frosty VoxBox

Recently, I recieved the Influenster #Frosty VoxBox in the mail. Ok, more like in December, but hey, being a mom of a 15 month old and working almost full time make me quite busy!

I really enjoyed this box of goodies, it had a lot of fun stuff!

The Good:

Fruit vines - delicious!

EcoTools hairbrush - I needed a new one, and this was perfectly timed. Awesome brush.

Rimmel Eyeliner- I had just run out of eyeliner, so I was excited to try this one. I like it a lot! Goes on really nice and lasts!

The Bad(ish)

NYC Lipcolor - not really my color. But fun to try.

celestial seasonings tea - not a tea drinker, but today my throat hurts and I may try it tonight!

McCormickThyme - an odd thing to receive, but I used it when I made gumbo the other week!

There will be more later! 

 I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

DIY Nursery Letter Canvases

Last summer, I found the perfect project for Luca's nursery. Although, when I originally made these fabric-covered canvases, I thought we might name our son Joey, and luckily Luca has the same number of letters!!

This is so easily customizable for your baby's room colors!

These letters make me so happy when I walk into his nursery :)

Supplies I used:

-- Fabric in coordinating grays, from fatquartershop.com (I bought 1/2 yard of each and had plenty to complete this project as well as the bunting project seen here: http://bit.ly/1gyVwcs)

-- wooden letters, from Michael's

-- blue acrylic paint for the letters (Martha Stewart brand)

-- coordinating blue ribbon

-- 8 x 10 artist canvases - I bought the bulk four pack to make it affordable, with a Michael's 40% off coupon too!)

-- Mod-Podge and paintbrush

-- iron

-- hot glue gun

How I Did it:

1. Iron fabric, then measure it against the canvas to cut the right size.

2. Mod-Podge the front of the canvas and lay the fabric over the front and smooth it out.

3. On the back of the canvas, use the hot glue gun to secure the fabric to the back.

4. Add painted letters and ribbon, hang and enjoy!

Nursery decals from etsy shop NurserydecalsNmore, shop here: http://etsy.me/No8FJZ

The customized canvases and bunting I made will also double as decor at little guy's baptism in a few weeks too!

What's Cooking? Easy Thai Style Chicken Curry

We have a freezer full of meat. Between participating in a cow share in December (20 pounds worth!), and our Costco run last week (chicken and pork for days!) we are good to go for....months. Joe has also purchased a food saver so we have meal sized portions vacuum sealed.

Today, I tell a story of some of the chicken we froze.

I took out some chicken to make one of our favorites, Thai Style Chicken Curry.

This recipe isn't really a recipe, but more if an inspiration to use with Trader Joe's Red Curry Sauce. I used to make red curry sauce on my own, but this is a great time saver and tastes pretty much the same!

I cut the chicken in bite size pieces, stir fried it in vegetable oil and garlic. Then I removed the chicken to put back when the veggies were done.

I chose a variety of veggies to cut up and stir fry next. I used asparagus, celery, snow peas, and green pepper. I chopped them up and stir fried them with a little vegetable oil.

Next I added the entire bottle of sauce and the chicken.

Then I let it simmer for 5-10 minutes.

I served it over basmati rice. Yum yum!

Enjoy! 

What do you like to put in your stir-frys?

DIY Bunting for Baby's Room

One of the easiest projects I made in preparation for baby was this bunting project. I had leftover fabric from a project I made for baby's room, and thought for a long time before I stumbled upon some bunting in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog - hi, I can make that!

So, I embarked upon a no-sew version.

I gathered my four fabrics, some poster board, scissors, some iron-on bonding tape, ribbon and my trusty glue gun.

First, I used the iron-on bonding to make my fabric double sided. I just folded it in half, really, and bonded it together.

Next, I used my poster board to cut out a triangle shape to my liking, and used this to cut out all of my triangles. I ended up with about 20 triangles per fabric, enough for two strips of bunting (there are two walls available to decorate in baby's room) and a small one for his door. 

After I cut out my triangles, I used the glue gun to glue each piece to the ribbon. I ended up gluing on both sides and folding the ribbon so it looked the same no matter how it got hung up.

Once I finished, Joe helped me hang up the bunting in the baby's safari themed nursery.

I think all the colors worked out so well together!

Once baby was born, I was able to finally put the letters (I found them at Michael's Craft Store and painted them a blue to match the ribbon) on his bunting for the door. We were between Joey and Luca, but as I will tell in a future post, this boy is definitely a Luca!