More Summer Reading...

I've finished my books and it was time to get more. I've already posted the others on www.half.com. These are the ones I've picked for the month of July.

Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin

Beauty Confidential by Nadine Haobsh

Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Style Icon: Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer usually wears neutral colors and manages to look clean and polished at all times. I love that her style isn't fussy and everything can mix and match well. My wardrobe is a bit more colorful that hers but I do wear a lot of neutrals and add my color through accessories. I love Jennifer Aniston, she is my favorite modern day style icon.

Jennifer Aniston by CarolinaBelle on Polyvore.com

Jennifer Aniston Interpretation by CarolinaBelle on Polyvore.com

Review: OPI Flashbulb Fuchsia

Normally I'd like to swatch a nail color and take a photo before I do a review but honestly I didn't want to paint my nails with this again after my last experience. Let me say this is a beautiful, bold iridescent dark pink and it looked gorgeous on my light skin. This would probably be a color that would look great on a variety of colors. I painted this on my nails the day I wore silver thong sandals and a turquoise dress and it really was striking. Now that I've put my pro's out there, it's time for the cons. I used my same base and top coat and this polish chipped like crazy. I painted my nails on a Sunday night and by Tuesday morning literally I didn't have a single nail that wasn't chipped. This polish came off in big amounts too, not just a little chipping on the tips. Now I might have considered this a fluke if I had a good experience on my toes. Even those chipped, which rarely ever happens in two days. It's such a shame but I've had problems with iridescent polishes chipping before (not necessarily OPI brand). I think this will probably be my last iridescent polish purchase, I have a much better experience with opaque cream polishes or sheer polishes. I might keep this one and use it for the toes (because I really like the color) and if it chips its okay because I usually wear closed toed shoes (for work). Or I might swap it, I haven't really decided.

Review: Boots No 7 Lash / Cils 360* Mascara in Black

This is the mascara I've been using for the past three months (and it's time to switch soon). It promises volume and separation but to tell you the truth it wasn't the best or the worst I've ever used. The formula tends to smudge if I don't use a lash primer first but it wasn't a problem since I use a primer every day. It gives definition and lift to the lashes and it doesn't weigh down the curl which is a nice plus. I'm not sure about the brush. The bristles rotate around the brush in varying lengths which make it hard for me to grabs the hairs that I missed in the first stroke. I prefer a traditional triangle shaped brush. Also I feel the brush causes more clumps than some others I've tried. To achieve the look I like usually I need about 3-4 coats on top and at least 2 on the bottom. The product did not irritate my sensitive eyes (I'm a contact lens wearer) and it was inexpensive, I think I paid $7.49 at Target but I'm pretty sure it was on sale. I probably will not repurchase only because there are so many mascaras out there I want to try but I certainly didn't hate this one, I used it my full 3 months and will continue to use it until I go out and get another.

Review: OPI Don't Think Just Pink

This is a beautiful muted lilac / pink color that is super wearable on the fingers or toes. I actually decided to wear this instead of the OPI Bubble Bath with my bridesmaid dress this weekend. The color is opaque but I definitely needed two coats and it's still a little sheer on my nail tips. This picture was taken about two days after I painted them with lots of typing and chores in between. It's been on my toes for a week without any chipping and the color still has some shine. It is really hard to take a picture of your own hand, there must be a trick to it because it took 7 attempts to get this photo.

Quick Update

I haven't posted in several days because I was out of town for a friends wedding. A friend and I rented a car (Dodge Avenger) for 4 days and drove to Missouri. Why drive? Because it was several hundred dollars cheaper for both of us, especially given the fact that I was going to rent a car anyway if we flew. It took about 12-13 hours and 4.5 tanks of gas total for the trip. As soon as we arrived my friend's fiance had glasses of wine waiting for us (he's a keeper)! The first full day we were there time was precious. As soon as we woke up we had to get ready for the bridal luncheon and as soon as we were back at her house it was time to get ready for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The second day my friend had a limo (stretch range rover) pick us up at 8:30 am for hair and makeup. Several mimosas later the photographer arrived and we were in our dresses ready for our close-ups. The wedding began at 5 and was finished by 5:30. We took a full 45 minutes of pictures (in the Missouri heat) and were shuttled off to the reception by 6:30 ish. The ceremony was beautiful, I think the bride did an excellent job putting everything together. She looked amazing and the two of them together make a great pair. The food was really good, wine was flowing like a river, and everyone danced the night away. My only complaint of the night was that the weren't enough slow dances. I know she probably asked the DJ not to play any on purpose because several in attendance weren't matched up but I wish they could have had that kind of intimate moment together. Driving back was uneventful thank goodness and I'm glad to be home.

Candles By Victoria Review

Two weeks ago I watched the Candles by Victoria craze all over youtube. MakeupbyTiffanyD reviewed some products she received and I decided to place an order for three of the scents she suggested. I am not a huge candle lover but I like to have a few seasonal candles around the house for nights when I'm in the mood. I usually like bakery/sweet scents to burn in the kitchen and clean smells for the rest of the house. Ideally nothing too flowery but some of the scent descriptions on the CBV website sound so good I might break down and by a floral scented candle. For the kitchen I bought, Gingered Caramel Apple Crisp, this candle is from the comfort collection and it comes in an 18 oz jar with two wicks. This is a beautiful candle and it does smell like freshly baked apple crisp. I haven't burned it yet because I wanted it to stay pretty for the picture. There is actual spice in the wax. Honestly I think I'll probably save this for fall because I think I will enjoy it more then when I'm in the mood for apples and cinnamon. I'm thinking I'll place another order mid-summer and get either the Creme Brulee or the Cinnamon Roll scent for the kitchen as well. My summer scent is Pina Colada. I love this, I think I should get it in a larger size next time. This smells exactly like homemade pina coladas, the second you take the lid off the blender. Mine is in the 7 ounce container. I love clean scented candles and every one raves about the Honey I Washed the Young'uns scent at CVB. This is the dupe of the Honey I Washed the Kids soap from Lush. I have not ventured to Lush products yet so I wasn't sure if I was going to like the scent. The description on the website sounds a little strange to be labeled a "clean" scent, but really it's dead on. This is THE smell for a bathroom or bedroom. It's relaxing and not too overpowering. When I place my next order I'm getting a much bigger size that this one. Mine is the 8 oz mason jar. In my picture the candle looks lime green, it real life it's yellow. My package came with a free candle tart in Tangerine. I love the smell of ripe tangerines in the grocery store and this tart was very similar. I would probably not purchase a Tangerine candle for my personal taste but I would definitely buy some tarts if I was in the mood for something fruity and refreshing. Please visit her site http://www.candlesbyvictoria.com/ to purchase one of her many different size candles in one of her many different scents. Also please visit the youtube channel for MakeupbyTiffanyD to see her video review of Candles by Victoria. Candle scents I want to try: Summer - honey suckle, kiwi kicker, southern nights (maybe, this one might be too floral) Autumn - creme brulee, cinnamon buns Winter - old fashioned Christmas, Winter Snowflake

Styling A Bridesmaid Dress

My friend is getting married at the end of the month and she was sweet enough to ask me to be a bridesmaid. I just received my dress last week and now it's time to style it! She chose this cute little cocktail length dress, it is the PB214 style from Priscilla of Boston. It has a crumb catcher neckline and a full pleated skirt. I wasn't sure if I would like it on but it actually looks very pretty. She chose the dress in the dandelion color. The bride wants us to wear silver slingback heels. She chose the style Bree by Pesaro. I'm not sure if you can see it but the model in the dress is wearing silver strappy heels as well and it looks nice with the style of the dress. The bride wants us to wear pearl jewelry and she was planning to get us a set to wear for the wedding. The picture was one of many sets she sent for our opinion. We are getting our hair and makeup done before the wedding and she thought updos would be nice. I like this picture because of the curls and the volume. I would love some type of messy bun, it looks like a bridesmaid style because of the simplicity. Emmy Rossum* and I have similar hair coloring and texture so that's why I picked this particular style. I'm planning to have my nails polished in OPI Bubble Bath, I will probably get it professionally done for the wedding. The only other accessory is the bouquet and I'm pretty sure our flowers are all white. I think she has picked out a gorgeous summer look for her wedding and I so happy to be a part of it! *I copied the picture of Emmy Rossum from a post on www.naturallycurly.com. I tried to find the copyright information with no luck. If anyone knows where this photo came from please let me know and I'll post it.

Review: SmartFood Popcorn Clusters Honey Multigrain

Frito-Lay has hit a home run with this product. These taste even better than caramel popcorn and way better than cracker jacks. I'm amazed at how fresh it tastes, there isn't a hint of staleness or chewiness the way cracker jacks can sometimes get. A box comes with 5 individual 1 oz packets for about $2.50. The website labels this snack as lactose free and MSG free. Each package has 110 calories, 1 gram of fat, 150 mg of sodium, 25 grams total carbohydrate and 5 grams of fiber (making it 20 g of carbohydrate or roughly 1 carbohydrate serving for diabetics. There are two other flavors to try Cranberry Almond Popcorn Clusters and Chocolate Cookie Caramel Pecan Popcorn Clusters. These would be great to pack in a lunch bag, keep in a desk drawer, or throw in the car for a snack. The honey multigrain flavor is the perfect combination of crunch and sweetness. I will definitely be buying more of these, I've had one as my afternoon snack the past two days and it is the perfect pick me up with a glass of milk.

Tinted Moisturizer Comparison and Reviews

I would like to admit now that I did not purchase any of these to try. I asked the salesperson at Sephora for samples of the Laura Mercier and the Stila. My local department store gave me a sample of the Clinique. I tried all three products until the samples were finished so I could give my honest review. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain $42.00 I have heard so much about this product and decided to give it a try. This was the first tinted moisturizer I picked up and the saleswoman gave me this sample along with a sample of the Laura Mercier skin primer. This is not moisturizing enough for my skin so I still had to wear my daily moisturizer underneath. I only used the primer one day underneath and it felt so sticky I did not want to use it again (I'm currently finishing my sample as a lid primer before eyeshadow and it works well for that). I'm happy with the coverage and the shade selected for me blended well with my skin even though looking at the color I wasn't sure it would. Overall I don't LOVE it, and it's pricey for something I don't love. I was hoping to find a tinted moisturizer that could help me skip steps in the summer so I'd have less layers of makeup on my face - with this product I still need a lotion underneath and apparently it is meant to be used with a primer. Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint SPF 15 in Fair $27.00 This is the product I'm going to purchase. The color is great for my skin, though I might buy a shade darker since I'm self tanning my face. It didn't break out my sensitive skin, I didn't have to wear lotion underneath, and it blends well. I wore it today while laying by the pool and it didn't even sweat off. As far as coverage, this product was consistent with the other two tinted moisturizers; all of them evened my skin and covered the slight redness I have in certain areas of my face. The price is the most reasonable of the three I tried and I love that Clinique can really be purchased anywhere. Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Light $32.00 I've never owned anything from Stila so I chose this product based on positive reviews that I found online. Maybe I'm out of Stila's targeted age group but this is the product I liked least. Coverage was okay, though the color looked a little too light on my face. Also I felt like it made me look too shiny. At least the price was more reasonable than the Laura Mercier and it seemed more moisturizing.

Style Icon: Audrey Hepburn

Style Icon: Audrey Hepburn by CarolinaBelle featuring Paul Green shoes 1. Brown Boat Neck Sweater 2. Pink Cashmere Sweater 3. Brown Riding Boots 4. Dark Skinny Jeans 5. Black Flats 6. Diamond Poppy Hair Pin 7. Black Satin Pencil Skirt 8. Black Sheath Dress 9. Princess Cut Diamond Earring Studs 10. Black Sling Backs 11. Little Black Dress 12. Houndstooth Print Wool Coat 13. Tan Pencil Skirt

Summer Swimwear

I purchased two new bathing suits this summer from the Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy line. I'm excited to log some hours at the pool this year wearing these suits. The suits from this line can be mixed and matched with colors, patterns, and cuts. I purchased the Push Up Halter top with hot pink stripes and the bikini bottoms in solid hot pink (because I didn't want to wear stripes around my rear). I purchased this suit top and bottom in the lilac dot print. It's a Sliding Halter top and a double string bikini bottom. Because I purchased my suits back in April I couldn't take advantage of the awesome swim suit sale going on now (but I might pick one up for late summer or next year). However I did get free shipping, 25% of one suit, and a free beach tote bag. The bag is so versatile, I actually have taken it to the shop to use for carrying groceries and I took it to the beach back in May. I have a huge double towel that fits perfectly on one side, and I can tie the string so it doesn't slide around and it can fit my sunscreen, sun glasses, water and other necessities on the other side. It's a little plain so I'm thinking I might take it to the embroidery shop to have my monogram sewn onto the front of the bag.

Tag: Favorite Jewelry

Okay so before I started blogging there was a really interesting tag going around asking for your top pieces of jewelry. I was just reading some other blogs where the author was tagged and I wanted to do one too. I couldn't do five so I actually have six. These are the most sentimental pieces, not necessarily the most fashionable. My six pieces of jewelry will not date, I can wear them in 10, 20, or 30 years. 1. Yellow and Rose Gold Charm Bracelet. My mom bought this for me when I was 10 or 11 years old for Valentine's Day. The charms are: the letter A, a rose, Daddy's Little Girl, Mommy's little girl, heart with a bow, cupid with a heart, I love volleyball, and a diamond ring (my birthstone). The volleyball charm is bent because it kept snagging on my desk in school. I don't wear this bracelet anymore but it has a prime spot in my jewelry box and I have a lot of memories wearing this in middle school (and some in high school). 2. Cameo Ring. I bought this in Italy directly from the company that makes them. It is handcrafted using sea shells, each one is different, and I believe they told us it takes two weeks for a craftsman to make each cameo. I have cameo earrings as well that my mom has had since the 1970s. 3. College Ring. Instead of a traditional college ring I wanted something that I could wear with anything casual or dressy. I chose a black onyx stone set in white gold, on one side of the stone are the initials of my university and on the other side is the year I graduated. This was my mom's main graduation gift to me and I love it. I wear this ring almost everyday (for the past 2 years) on my right ring finger. 4. White Gold Bangle. This bracelet was given to my mom from my dad on their 2 or 3 wedding anniversary. This sat in a jewelry box for ages because my mom typically doesn't wear bracelets. The design on the outside of the ring is a small flower imprint with swirls going around it. Mom gave this to me when I was in high school and I probably wear it at least 3x a week. 5. Pearl Necklace. Beautiful off white pearls with a gold clasp. My boyfriend bought these for me for college graduation and they match perfectly with the pearl earrings my mom gave me on my 16th birthday. 6. Citizens Eco Drive Watch. This was a birthday gift from my boyfriend. I work in a hospital and knowing the correct time is important when I'm charting (my battery in my other watch died one morning during my rounds). This watch never needs a battery, the face of the watch is sensitive to light, natural and artificial, and it recharges the watch. Mine has a bracelet band, a black mother of pearl face, and little diamonds around the band and on the watch face instead of numbers. I consider this a dressy casual watch, it looks sporty for casual outfits and the diamonds dress it up for work outfits.

Meet Lilly

This sweet girl was found by a friend of mine 3 years ago living in her apartment community and eating out of the dumpster. There were actually 3 of them, 5-6 months old; 1 male orange and white bi-color, 1 male brown tabby, and 1 female silver tabby. Apparently the brown tabby cat disappeared but I took the female silver and my college roommate took the orange and white bi-color male. She is super spoiled now and I intend on keeping her that way!

Summer Reading

Okay so I rarely need an excuse to read but I have a few upcoming trips planned and some unscheduled pool time this summer, so I need some new books to keep me company. A recent trip to Books A Million was super helpful with my selection of chick-lit. I think I spent about 2 hours looking through books to find the three I plan on buying off www.half.com or getting from the library (because who spends $15-20 on books anymore in this economy?). This summer I will be reading:

Confessions of a Beauty Addict by Nadine Haobsh Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Depending on when my order ships out to me, this might get me through the month...

Review: Cold Stone Creamery Tart and Tangy Berry Yogurt

Yesterday mom and I were at a shopping center in another town and both of us were getting hungry. The place had the usual fast food and pretzel shops and I was less than thrilled to waste calories on any of it. Just as I was about to give in I saw Cold Stone Creamery and negotiated that a sorbet would curb my hunger for a couple more hours of shopping until we could get "real food". As soon as I stepped up to the counter the Tart and Tangy Berry Yogurt was calling my name. This was the perfect summer treat! Mine was slightly sweet and tart at the same time. Unlike the 'berry' ice creams, the yogurt already had berries in it so I didn't need any "add ins". A "like it" size is 150 calories and 0 grams of fat. I'll definitely be ordering this again, maybe next time I'll have them make it into a smoothie.

Review: Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

It's Back!!!! Panera Bread launched their new summer salads yesterday and brought back two popular ones from years past. My FAVORITE is the Strawberry poppyseed salad (you can add chicken but I prefer mine without). This salad features strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, pineapple, and toasted pecans on a bed of romaine lettuce covered with a delicious poppyseed/orange juice flavored dressing. I usually get the smaller portion in the "you pick two" along with a half sandwich. This salad is both low calorie and nearly fat free, but the taste is AMAZING. I just had my first one of the summer today for lunch.

Review: Pravana Curl Enhancer Gel

This product was recommended to me by my stylist for those days when I want to leave my hair naturally curly. I love this gel, it's not sticky and it's really a "no brainer" to use for styling. I would definitely recommend this if you have curly hair or wavy hair that frizzes easily, if this product works in Carolina humidity, it will work anywhere. After I wash my hair I blot my hair dry with the towel. I use about a quarter size amount of product when my hair is still very wet and comb through with a wide tooth comb. Sometimes I hairdry (but rarely). Usually I dry my hair using my FHI Heat Nano Weight Pro 1800 with the diffuser attachment made for curly hair. I flip my hair over my head and place a loose section of hair in the head of the diffuser and scrunch the hair up to the crown of my head. When I style my hair curly I always use a low heat setting. Typically I will dry it 90% before spraying with hairspray and then I let the rest air dry.

Tutorial: Hair Straightening

I am not a hairstylist. I hate styling my hair. I wash my hair every third night, blow it out and straighten it and smile for two glorious days in between when I do basically nothing. That being said - someone, somewhere might be searching for instructions on how a true naturally curly haired girl gets her hair pin straight without pulling her hair out in frustration. It might not be perfect, but it works for me. 1. I wash my hair in salon quality products designed for dry, color treated hair every third night making sure I leave my conditioner in for a good 2-3 minutes before rinsing it out. After the shower I blot my hair dry and comb through with a wide tooth comb. Mine came from Sally Beauty Supply and has been a lifesaver for the past 10 years. 2. I put a small (nickel size) amount of TIGI Bedhead Ego Boost Split-End Mender just on the bottom half of my hair. I comb through again with my wide tooth comb and blot the ends of my hair with a towel if it's still dripping wet. 3. I take Chi Silk Infusion (about a nickle size) and comb though with a medium spaced tooth comb. I bought my last bottle for $11.99 at Target. 4. I take my wide tooth comb and make six section of hair, three on each side of my part and clip them with Alligator clips. 5. Taking each section I blow dry using a tourmaline round brush (mine's make by TIGI and I purchased it at TJ MAXX for about $5.99) and my FHI nano technology hair dryer with diffuser (purchased on sale at Trade Secret for about $60). 6. Once dry I clip my hair again in six sections, just as before and straightened one section at a time using my Sedu Revolution straightener. For this I use a narrow comb from Goody with teeth that are very close together; I use the comb to lift the hair at the roots and clamp the iron directly on the hair behind it and follow the comb as it passes through my hair. I like a lot of volume so I actually iron the hair in the back of my head forward into my face so when I comb it back I have a "better than teased" look. I usually set my iron on 390*. 7. To handle flyaways, breakages, and to add shine to my hair I use TIGI Bedhead After Party (just one small pump) and smooth over the surface of my hair. **I buy my TIGI Bedhead EgoBoost and After Party together in a set that comes out about every Christmas. So far I have gone through two full bottles of each and about half of a second. I think the set sales for $25.00 but I usually wait for it to go clearance on the after Christmas sale. In between washes I'll use dry shampoo and sometimes I'll use large velour rollers for volume or use my flat iron to smooth out any frizzes or loose pieces. Oh and I wear a bright pink Goody brand shower cap when I bathe so I won't have to do anymore work on the in between days.

Review: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo

I've heard so much about this product and it came highly recommended by the sales associate at Sephora. She even gave me a detailed description on how to use it. Before this purchased I used Johnson's Baby Powder which works like a dream but the smell gets on my nerves. The Oscar Blondi smells heavenly, like coconut verbena - and its lightly scented so it doesn't get irritating or compete with your perfume. The top of the bottle comes to a point and per the sales associate you just shake out a desired amount on your part, on your hairline, around you ears, and anywhere else that gets shiny. Then you brush through and style as normal. This method does not work for me. I always end up pouring out too much product or it clumps in tiny balls that I can't brush completely out (leaving me with what looks like dandruff peaking out of my hair). I take a small amount of product in my palm and rub my hands together so both palms are thinly coated and I rub them through my hair. Sometimes I have to do this 2-3 times but it works much more efficiently at diffusing the right amount of product. Then I can brush and style as normal. So far so good. I like the product but I also like the results of cheap baby powder. The one big plus for this product is the smells and my scalp feels refreshed after I use it. The Sephora website gave this dry shampoo it's natural seal as it is formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals, phthalates, GMO, and triclosan. I paid $11 for a 2.5 oz bottle which will probably last about 4-6 months. I will use this bottle and probably try another brand - not because I didn't like this one but by the time I'm out there will probably be a new dry shampoo that catches my eye. Speaking of which, I have heard good things about TIGI Rochaholic...

Review: Sedu Revolution Pro Nano Ceramic Tourmaline 1 inch Straightener

I did months of research reading customer reviews and watching Youtube tutorials using different straightening irons before I chose the Sedu. In my opinion the GHD was too pricey for my current needs, I knew from personal experience I didn't want to go with a CHI, and it seemed like more people had problems with the Solia after a year of use (from what I read). The original Sedu has square plates and many customers complained about dents in their hair so I went with the revolution that has rounded plates (you can actually curl hair with it). My hair is fine and naturally curly - but I have A LOT of hair. My curls are something between waves and corkscrew and without using hair product there is a lot of frizz. This iron has worked really well on my hair, usually it straightens in one pass. I can adjust the heat so its hotter on the days I have washed my hair and I'm straightening for the first time and less hot on the days I don't wash my hair and I'm just trying to get any kinks out from sleeping. I would purchase this styler again in a heartbeat; I'm impressed with the results and I think it would work on all types of hair. I get perfect salon straight hair when I'm finished with no frizz or flyaways. The most important point is that I've used it for two months and my hair has absolutely no damage, its not fried and my hair doesn't snag in the plates. The Sedu is a tourmaline iron so it's less damaging on the hair and it eliminates frizz with the nano technology. The 1 inch size is perfect for smaller sections of hair and the plates are rounded so you don't get the dent on the top of your head where you place the iron. You can choose your heat setting 180*-450* (I usually use mine on 390*). The Sedu has a long cord and comes with a heat safe case which I LOVE because it protects my table when I have to lay the hot iron down between passes and I can use it for travel. I purchased this product from Folica.com for $149.99 and it came with an instructional DVD to learn how to do waves, curls, and volume all with the Sedu hair iron. Folica.com also offers an extended 2 year warranty upgrade with their Sedu products.

Review: Tarte Cheek Stain in Blushing Bride

I bought this when I was looking for a cheek stain for summer that would stay put during hot days. This has a gel consistency and you can apply it directly from the tube or using a brush and the color is a super sheer plum-pink blush. I set mine with a little powder and it lasts all day. This is a great product, I've almost decided to go back and get the "flush" color in the collection. From the Sephora Website this product has earned the natural seal as it is formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petro-chemicals, and phthalates. The 1 oz size is available for purchase at Sephora for $28.

I have never done one of these chain letter questionnaires but they get sent to my email junk folder all the time. I decided just this once I would fill one out for my blog in an attempt to tell a little more about myself. Oh I didn't copy and paste all that bottom nonsense about sending it to ten people so you can find your one true love.

1. FIRST NAME? April

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My mom and I share a middle name

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? I cry a lot during the movies so probably the last movie I saw

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? turkey

5. KIDS? Silver furbaby named Lilly

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Absolutely

7. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes

8. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? One day I might talk myself into it

9. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Fiber One Honey Clusters, not sure if it's my favorite but it's the cereal I buy most often. If I'm being honest my "favorite" cereal is probably cinnamon toast crunch eaten dry as a snack

10. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? yes

11. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Emotionally yes, physically probably not

12 WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM ? Breyers Chocolate

13. RED OR PINK? My favorite color is pink but I decorated my apartment using reds and browns; My car is red.

14. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES YOU ARE WEARING? black yoga pants, no shoes at the moment

15. THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Chocolate Peanut Butter Ripple Ice cream

16. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? makeup review videos on Youtube

17. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Probably violet, its the prettiest color in the crayon box in my opinion

18. FAVORITE SMELL? Right now it's Honey I washed the kids soap from Lush and hopefully soon Honey I washed the Young'uns from Candles By Victoria

19 FAVORITE DRINK? pepsi or cheerwine (its a southern thing)

20. HAIR COLOR? Medium brown, the last time I colored it my stylist put some copper in my hair

21. EYE COLOR? Blue-green

22. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes

23. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Happy Ending, I love Romantic comedies

24. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Nick and Nora's Infinite Play List was the last movie sent from Netflicks

25. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW? Pink yoga top

32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer

26. HUGS OR KISSES? I love both

27. FAVORITE DESSERT? Apple Crisp, peach cobbler, or ice cream brownie sundae

28. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? I just picked up "Bright Lights, big asses" from the discounted section of the book store yesterday. I'm going to search for "The Undomestic Goddess" and "Sundays at Tiffany's" on Half.com today for summer reading.

29. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST ON TV? The Truth About Food, I had the last episode tivo'd from Friday night

30. THE FURTHEST YOU BEEN FROM HOME? Italy

Product Review: Lavanila Laboratories Vanilla Grapefruit

This is my new scent for Spring. Honestly I'm not a big fan of vanilla scented anything so I'm shocked that I love this product so much. I bought the .32 oz rollerball size so I can pack it in the makeup bag that I keep in my purse. Just a couple of dabs on my pulse points and I can smell it all day. A sample of this fragrance was included in the "Naturally Gorgeous" envelope that Sephora was giving out a couple of months ago. I didn't want to use up my sample because I'm hoping to take it on a trip in late June. This bottle is simply not enough, I'll probably get the larger size in a future Sephora Spree. The smell is heavenly. Lightly scented with vanilla and a hint of citrus, the scent is very sweet - almost like a great dessert. Personally I love sweet "girl next door" kind of smells but I hate musk and I hate flowery scents so its hard to find a sweet scent that I like. This is probably not something I'd wear out at night but it is the perfect scent for daytime and its not overpowering if you are looking for something work appropriate. The description from the Sephora Website lists the fragrance notes as: grapefruit, bergamot, lime, orange, cedarwood, heliotrope, and Madagascar Vanilla. Also this earned Sephora's natural seal because it is formulated without: parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals, phthalates, GMO, and triclosan. Their rollerball size sales for $18.

Tutorial: How I Apply Self Tanner

I think I've mentioned in another post that I am not a self tanning expert but I have been doing it a couple of years. This is my bold description of how I go about it. The product I'm using now isn't very long lasting so I have to apply every 2-3 days to get to my normal spring/summer color. The whole process takes about 15 minutes and my current tanner dries completely in about 2-3 minutes (however I still get some staining in my clothes so be careful!) 1. While in the shower I use a sugar scrub to exfoliate the dry parts of my body (elbows, knees, feet, and also my thighs which can look patchy without proper exfoliation). I also go ahead and shave my legs. *Its important to mention that using a salt scrub is not recommended because the salt causes your skin to lose moisture. 2. I dry completely after my shower and lotion my face, elbows, knees, feet, and ankles. 3. My current tanner is a whipped foam so I shake the bottle and place half a pump on my fingers and rub it in circular motions on my face and neck. Make sure you "push" the color into your hairline and smooth out the color around the jawline, orbital bone, and mouth - otherwise you'll end up with a ring of color that's darker than the rest of the face. Wash your hands thoroughly and use a scrub if you need to so you can get the rest of the product off before it stains. 4. For the rest of my body I use Salon Care Professional Vinyl Gloves from Sally Beauty Supply (I paid $4.99 on sale for a box of 100). I start at my lower legs and work my way up rubbing in one pump at a time - remember to shake the bottle every couple of pumps or you'll get more air than color. For the product I use 1 pump will normally do my entire calf, 1 pump does the thigh, 1 pump does my lower stomach, sides and around my lower back, 1 pump does my chest, shoulders, and the backs of my shoulders, 1/2 pump per arm, and I use 1/2 pump for my upper middle back. For that upper middle back area I do kind of a "reach around" or I ask for help, luckily I've never used a product that looked terribly splotchy when I use this method. 5. Let the product dry for at least 3-4 minutes before applying clothes. I try to do this before bed so I'm only staining my night clothes and so far the color washes out. 6. To maintain my color in between applications I use a terry cloth in the shower instead of a loofa and lotion 1-2x a day.