July PopSugar Unboxing

Guess what time it is----PopSugar open box time.

Well this month was just as good as last month! This months box contained 7 items. We had a Michael Star Beach Hat ($48), French Bull Salad Tongs ($12), Sun Bum Sunscreen and Lotion ($20), ACME Party Box Straws($7), TKO jump rope ($13), Dang coconut chips ($3) and as a bonus a Full size Revlon Bold Laquer Black Mascara. Making the total vaule of the box $103! If you are interested in this box go to PopSugar.com and sign up today and get $5 off with this code REFER5, it will take $5 off of your first box. Monthly price is $39.95 with free shipping.

I already opened the coconut chips---YUMMY!!! The best part is the hubby doesn't like coconut so they are all mine. These chips are all natural, vegan, non gmo, gluten free, dairy free, no cholesterol and a great source of fiber. You can find these at dangfoods.com

Oh course living here is sunny Arizona the hat and sunscreen will come in super handy. The hat is very cute and collapsable so you can toss it in your bag. The sunscreen has a SPF 0f 30 and lotion is for after sunning or if you get a burn. plus it smells really good, can't wait to test them out.

Pretty sure the hubby will be using the jumprope and so will I. Of course mascara is always good.

Hope you enjoyed this unboxing and stay tuned for next month!!! I am not sponsored by PopSugar these are my own reviews on products I have purchased myself.

New Beauty Test Tube Review

So I have received two test tubes so far and let me just say I am really impressed with them. This is a great way to try out products you may not have heard of or just can't afford. The best part is that you get FULL size products not everything is full size put they do not scrimp on the samples. This last one had a Its cosmetics powder brush and a Mally eyeliner. I LOVE them both. I really haven't used any that I didn't enjoy. Last night I treated myself to a mud facial, amazing!!! Here is a sample of some the goodies I have received.

Here is the Its Cosmetics brush

If you are interested and want more info go to their web site:

www.newbeauty.com

I do not receive anything from New Beauty except the joy of sharing. Enjoy.

Happiness Project Progress

Ok so I purchased this book awhile ago, read the first chapter and well forgot all about it until recently.

First things first, this is not a book to make yourself happier but a book that I feel helps you look at the bigger picture of life and how things in our everyday life can weigh us down and get in the way.

"The happiness Project," is written by Gretchen Rubin.

Chapters are broken down by months. January is all about viality. Energy. Loved this chapter.

So what have I done to create more energy for myself? Well, I picked three of suggestions to focus on.
                                 
                 1. Go to sleep earlier
                 2. Toss, restore, oganize
                 3. Act more energetic

Sleep earlier--that means I turn off all elctronic devises by 10 pm. No watching t.v. in bed and going to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time. On my own I decided to take magnesium and calcium which both help to increase better sleep. That has been working really well for me.

The toss, restore and organize is taking a little longer for obivious reasons but I feel that I have made good progress. I have tossed numerous things and have a plan worked out for some oareas of our home. Can't wait to finish them all.

Acting more energetic this might be a tade bit harder because I have told I am a very happy person and to be happy to me I believe involves energy. My belief is that life is way to short to be unhappy and way more fun being happy. Being uphappy takes too much energy away from myself so why do it? Don't get me wrong there are days when it is harder but once you make an effort you suddenly find yourself, well happy.

I am loving my journey on the happiness project.

So that's it for January stay tuned for February

So far so GOOD....

Let me explain that title.

I decided that instead of making new year resolutions I wanted to focus on things to make my life richer and more enjoyable. At first I wasn't sure how I was going to go about this and then I remembered I used to get emails from a web site called FlyLady. At the same time I found my copy of "The Happiness Project," by Gretchin Rubin.

I resubscribed to the emails and began reading the book.

So first order of business was to reduce clutter and come up with a cleaning schedule. It is just me and my hubby so a cleaning schedule shouldn't be to hard right.  This is were the FlyLady comes in. Their web site has great ideas and suggestions to conquer any cleaning, or clutter issue you may have. I highly recommend checking them out.

I have taken to the "15 minute cleaning" like a champ and I can't believe how fun it is and how much I can get done. Try it, set a timer for 15 minutes and see what you can get done.

My end goal is that I am not spending the weekend cleaning, I am spending it doing fun stuff with friends and family and with NO guilt. So far so good and it has been great fun. I find myself actually looking forward to the weekends. I am also finding it much easier to accept a lot more invites to things, and the hubby loves that we are doing things.

So, so far so GOOD.....

Reality

So as I celebrated my 45th Birthday yesterday I began to realize that I needed a change. Nothing to drastic but an age appropriate overhaul. Hair, makeup and lifestyle.

I began with some minor makeup changes. I recently read that dark eye makeup can cause eye lines and wrinkles to be more prominent. So I have switched to a more neutral color for a base color and a slightly darker color for an accent color. I also learned that black liner is not good for women over 40. I have never really used black so that change will be pretty easy for me.

Translucent powder dusted on your lashes before applying mascara will help the mascara go on more evenly and actually give your lashes some extra length. I actually like this tip because as you get older you do lose those thick lashes so any extra help is worth it.

Now for the next step I want to make. This one is a lot harder for me. My hairstyle. I LOVE my long hair but as you Arizonans know it is killer in the summer time. However with the length you have some flexibility and ease for quick styles. I have thick hair so if I put it up it will give me a headache after a few hours, but I just don't think I can part with it.

I have an appointment for color tomorrow and I am considering having her put some long layers all around and maybe cutting to right above the shoulders. Or maybe an angled bob???? So confusing. I still want to be cute but I know that at a certain age you must come to realize that you need to be age appropriate. Who says what is age appropriate. I don't feel old, so what do I do.

Ok so let's take a further look at women my age, or should I say our age.

Jennifer Lopez-long hair, yes they may or may not be extensions but long hair and neutral makeup. Beautiful
Nicole Kidman-again longer hair and great makeup and a fabulous husband!

Yes, yes I know these women have people helping them look gorgeous but it should be easy for us to, right? So what do we do????

Well I am going to way my opitions, ask my husbands opinion, ask my hairdresser hers and then pray.

Start with good skin care...

Ok skin care products, there are so many out there, how do you decide what works for you?

Starting at a young age I believe is a big step in the right direction. If the only advise you listen to, listen to this-DO NOT SLEEP IN YOUR MAKEUP!! Your skin needs to breathe and rejenerate at night and if there is makeup on your skin it can not do this properly.

I use the skin care line from Philosphy. I really love this line and it works great for my skin. In the past I have used Mary Kay TimeWise products, Oil of Olay and of course a oldie but a goodie Noxemia. In my opinion you should really use age/skin  appropriate products.

Your basic skin care routine should consist of cleansing, mositurizer, eye care and some sort of mask. I use a exfoilating mask two times a week. Use a cleanser that is geared toward your skin type, same with your mositurizer. For example I use the Purity cleanser followed by hope in a jar mositurizer. I apply their eye hope in the am and pm to avoid the crows feet. The reason I like the Philosphy line is the simplicity of it and that it all smells so clean and fresh.

You need to cleanse and mositurize everyday-morning and night, no excuses. Be sure that you also put on your SPF everyday. Avoid the sun as much as possible and you should be on your way to great looking skin!

I am Back.....

Ok why I stopped posting to my blog is beyond me but  I am back and recharged with a purpose. Thanks to a good friend I am going to be more faithful in posting and getting people to read my blog.

As I stated before I am going to focus on inspriation, motivation, health and beauty, and organizing. Please feel free to comment or even add a suggestion or two. I look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Stay positive!