Mandii's Muse

I wanted to share a new favorite lip combo with you! This is a good neutral pink color that goes with everything. You need 3 products! Image found here L'Oreal Fairest Nude lipstick is probably as light as I would go, as far as nude on my lips. Starlooks lip liner in Tickle Me Pink is a mauve-y pink that applies smoothly. Model Co lip gloss is a beautiful light pink gloss that isn't sticky. To create this look, I lined my lips with the Starlooks liner. I filled in my entire lips. Then, I put a light coat of Fairest Nude on top of the liner. Then, I add a sheer coat of the Model Co lip gloss. This combination is a go to neutral for every day use. I like to use this for days when I can reapply, because it isn't long wearing. You can use any type of sheer pink gloss for this look. I just happen to have the Model Co on hand. Have you ever tried layering different lip liners and lipsticks? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Even in today's digital age, I still like to pick up the occasional magazine or two. Here are a few of my favorites. I receive Taste of Home monthly. The recipes in this magazine are easy, and use ingredients you most likely have on hand. I have made so many recipes from this magazine, and have yet to find one that I haven't liked. I also receive Women's Health . I like this magazine for the information it provides. Not only does it give me beauty advice, but it also gives relationship advice, recipes, and exercise information. Woman's World I almost always pick up at Wal-Mart. I absolutely love this magazine. It is an easy read, and has recipes, and beauty tips in it as well. However, it also contains short stories that will lift you up. What are some of your favorite magazines? I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a comment and let me know!

If you follow my twitter account at all on Thursday nights, you know how much I love the reality show on GAC called Farm Kings . They are a group of 9 brothers, 1 sister, and a Mama Bear, who own a market, bakery, and restaurant, not to mention a farm! Plus, as an added bonus, they are about 20-30 minutes from my house! The show chronicles living as a farming family in today's world, the family dynamics of a large farming family, and running successful businesses and farm. (How many times did I just use the word farm?) If you also watch the show, you know that they are also one good looking side of beef. (I'm not talking about the cows, people!!) I digress. The King Kids (in order of birth): Joe, Elizabeth, Tim, Pete, Dan, Luke, Sam, John, Paul, Ben. Well, I explored all that is Freedom Farms during their Fall Festival. First, we went to the home market, where we saw all of the fresh produce. Not only did they have the produce, but they had meats, eggs, and soups fo...

Here is my second Week in Review post! Here are a few of my posts from this week! Do you get lazy about taking your makeup off? I do! So I tried these cleansing cloths ! I really like them, and I love the convenience factor! These lip stains from Jordana are so pigmented! I absolutely love them! Plus, they are super cheap! I created a new goal for myself! Time to get fit and healthy!! As usual, I linked up with Lauren for High Five for Friday! Here is what I loved for the week! Let me know what your favorite post was! 

It is a chilly Friday here in PA. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm linking with Lauren , just as I normally do. Here is what I am loving this week. 1. It snowed briefly here. I don't like it. It is too soon. In fact, I still haven't put my Summer clothes away. I had better get started on that... 2. My family had our first Buckwheat pancake dinner of the year. It is a tradition that when it gets cold, that is what we have for dinner. Plus, can you go wrong with breakfast for dinner? 3. This is the weekend that I am going to see the Farm Kings. I'm so pumped! 4. Cashew was looking too cute after his bath! 5. My month and a half streak of no lunch duty ended on Wednesday. It was SO good while it lasted!! That is the most stressful time of the day for this sub! How has your week been? I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a comment and let me know!

Sorry for the lack of a blog yesterday, subbing has kept me pretty busy! I have a new goal that I want to attain. I would like to complete the Color Me Rad 5k in June of 2014. I have seen some of my Facebook friends pictures as they completed it, and it looks like so much fun! However, this 26 year old is overweight , and out of shape . (Yes, I said it!) I plan to take on this challenge gradually. I want to make small changes every month to not only my food habits, but my exercise habits as well. Examples include, cutting out pop, eating less bread, eating less dessert. Not going back for second helpings, doing squats and crunches. Moving more. Then in April, I want to begin the Couch to 5k program to prepare me for the 5k. It is going to be challenging, but I want to do this. Not only to lose weight, but to get healthy, and improve my self confidence. At the end of every month, I will be giving you an update on what change I did for the month. I hope you will either join me ...

Suprise! I have fallen in love with a new lip product. It's ok that you were shocked, I was shocked myself...NOT! The Jordana Twish and Shine Balm Stains are a moisturizing balm stain. They are very comparable to the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains that I, and so many others love. Cranberry Crush These stains are moisturizing! They glide on your lips like butter, and give an incredible shine. Once that shine wears off, it leaves behind a beautiful stain. The color selection ranges from nudes, pinks/berries, to browns. There is a total of 8 colors in this collection. These are definitely opaque in one swipe. They have a slightly fruity scent that quickly wears away. You also get more product than the Revlon stains. I purchased the colors Honey Love and Cranberry Crush. These colors are comparable to the Honey and Crush from the Revlon line. Honey Love Honey love is a beautiful mauve-y pink color. For me, it is my perfect MLBB look. This would be my go-to everyd...

I went to a Penguins game recently. When I came home, it was 11:15 and the absolute last thing I wanted to do was take my makeup off. 15 minutes later, I was scrubbed clean and ready for bed. I needed a quicker solution. My makeup removal is a process. Use cotton balls to remove my eye makeup. Then, use my L'Oreal Go 360 Anti-Breakout cleanser, usually washing my face twice, to get rid of all of my makeup. Late at night, it is a process that I just don't want to do. I had heard about the Olay Daily Facial cloths, but being the frugal gal I am, I didn't want to pay the price for so little cloths. I had briefly heard about the Equate cleansing cloths, and luckily found them in my store! For $8.47 I was able to get a total of 66 cloths. (In case you didn't know, Equate is a Wal-Mart brand.) The cloths are a good size. One side is textured, so it gently exfoliates your face. These are dry cloths that you simply run under water. The cloth lathers from the soap that is al...

Image found here Here are a few of my posts from this past week.  If you need a new mattifying gel , this one is great!  This recipe screams Fall! Apple cider and bread pudding, you can't go wrong! This recipe is quick and refreshing! If you are having an English Tea party, this is a great way to serve a quick snack! There is nothing like getting your October Birchbox! Here's what I got in mine! Ipsy had a cute bag this month, here is mine. What did you get in yours? What was your favorite post from the week? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Fall has officially arrived here in Pennsylvania. It is time to pull out the scarves, jeans, and boots. Since it is Friday, I am linking up with Lauren as usual! 1. McDonald's has a $1 medium iced coffee. I took advantage, and I will continue to take advantage. 2. Flu shot=sore arm. Hopefully, I will be protected from the flu! 3. The Farm Kings Fall Festival is this weekend. I'm almost positive I'm going. I'm getting pretty excited. :) 4. I have been loving my Fall scents for my wax warmer. 5. It was payday yesterday! Whoo! How has your week been? I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a comment and let me know!

This is my second Ipsy bag that I have received so far. I am liking this month a lot! Mainly for the products I received. Here is what I got! The Bag: I LOVED this bag! I loved the red and white color, and I loved the quote! The bags are pretty good quality as well! LA FRESH Oil Free Face Cleanser wipes- I am usually not a fan of wet wipes to clean my face, but in a pinch, these will work. These would be great travel, to refresh your face after a long car or plane ride. STARLOOKS Lip Liner in Tickle Me Pink- I am not in the habit of using lip liners, but this color is pretty. I can see myself using this as either a liner, or to fill in my lips and swipe some gloss over top. ZOYA in Giovanna- This is Full Size!! This color is an absolutely gorgeous emerald green shade with very micro glitter in it. This would be an absolutely beautiful shade for the Christmas season. This would look great on fingers and toes! This was great to see in the bag! I love Zoya polishes! BIG SEXY H...

After a long day subbing, nothing makes me happier than coming home to my Birchbox. My mood brightens instantly and I am anxious to tear open the box and see my goods! Here is what I got in my October Birchbox and my first thoughts. Bain de Terre| Macadamia Oil Nourishing Conditioner- This has macadamia, and argan oils to make hair soft and shiny. I love trying new conditioners, especially when this one is so good for your hair. Liz Earle| Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser- This is a new discovery to me. You gently exfoliate using the muslin cloth to polish your face. Liz Earle|Muslin Cloths- This is the essential ingredient to the cleanser. I am excited to try this instead of a washcloth to cleanse my face. Pop Beauty| Aqua lacquer- You know how I feel about lip products! Even though this looks like it is in tube form, there is a wand inside with a spatula silicone applicator. The color is sheer red, but not over powering. Chapstick|Hydration Lock- This promises to ...

Image found here My aunt made this appetizer for a gathering and everyone except my uncle loved it! (He's not a big cucumber fan) When she told us the recipe, it was simple as can be! It is not overpowering and delicious! Ingredients: 1 block of cream cheese 1 packet of Good Seasons Italian Dressing mix 1 loaf French Bread 1 cucumber cut into slices Dried Dill Mix the cream cheese and Good Seasons packet together. If you want add some salt and pepper to taste. Cut the French bread in 1 inch slices. Spread the cream cheese mix on top, place a cucumber slice, and sprinkle some dried dill on top! Enjoy! Can you see yourself making this easy appetizer? Leave me a comment and let me know!

It is always a good day when Friday rolls around!  I am doing the linkup with Lauren as usual! This is an uneventful, pictureless post today. This is why I need a smartphone. 1. I went to the Pens game on Tuesday and sat 5 rows off the the glass. It was beyond amazing!! There was an incredible hockey fight right in front of us. *As much as I hate fighting of any kind, I do love a good hockey fight!* Plus, Jussi Jokinen scored a hat trick! 2. One of my good friends is getting married tomorrow so I am going to create a spa day at home to get my skin and nails ready. (I'm not in the wedding, but it is always nice to look your best!) 3. I really, really want to go to another Celtic Thunder concert. One was just not enough. 4. I always can't wait to receive my Birchbox and Ipsy bags, but this month is killing me! I want to get them so bad!! 5. In 1 week college basketball season starts!! What did you love about this week? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Doesn't the Fall weather just scream apples and bread pudding? I've never been a huge fan of bread pudding, probably because I am not a huge fan of custard. But this sounded delicious, and we had copious amounts of bread leftover from a party we cooked for. I found this recipe on Pinterest , of course! Here's the recipe: 8 cups bread cubed 2 medium apples, cored and cubed 1/2 cup raisins 4 large eggs 1 cup brown sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground allspice 1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp ground cardamom 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp salt 3 cups milk 1 cup apple cider Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. In a very large bowl, combine bread cubes, apple cubes and raisins. In another large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar and all spices until well combined. Wish in milk and apple cider, then pour mixture over the bread cubes. Toss gently with a spatula until cubes are evenly coated. Let stand for 15 minutes. Pou...

Before I begin to wear makeup I want to make sure I prime my face. As you have read several times on here I am an oil slick and if I don't wear a primer or some type of mattifying product, my makeup will just slide right off. I received this sample in a Birchbox and put off using it. Well I put it off no longer and tried it...and I love it! The OC8 Professional Mattifying Gel does just that, gives me a matte finish for a good 8 hours. This gel is clinically proven to keep you shine free for 8 hours! The consistency is like a moisturizer. It is not heavy at all! It feels just like skin when it goes on your face. It is white, but leaves no traces of white on your skin. It blends beautifully and dries quickly. When using this you only need a small amount to get the results you want. I have used this in instances where I got ready around 1:00 and by 9:00 that evening it looked like I had just put my makeup on. This mattifying gel would be great for a bride or bridal party that w...

I can't even begin to explain the awesomeness that was the Celtic Thunder concert last night. It was beyond anything in my wildest dreams! Every song that came on I said, "oh I love this song!" They did a mix of singing and talking, they wore their kilts, and came back for an encore. I loved it so much, that I am thinking about going to another show that is close to my area. I'm tempted I tell you! Technically, the ticket price is 1 day of subbing. I think I can swing it. ;) I kept my outfit pretty simple. I wore my black dressy bermuda shorts that I got from JC Penney. My black tank I got from Wal-Mart, and my green shirt is from Khols. I thought it complemented the Irish green perfectly. I kept my shoes simple and wore some simple black open toe heels. (It was 82 degrees outside!) My jewelry was a jade necklace and earrings that was a gift from my aunt and uncle. For my makeup, I used my Mary Kay mineral foundation, Physicians Formula blush, and the Naked 2 ...

I don't know about you, but my social calendar couldn't be more full for October. There are just not enough hours in the day I tell you! Nonetheless, it is Friday and that is ALWAYS a good thing! I am linking up with Lauren as I usually do! Here's what's up! 1. My neighbor girl that I used to babysit, is on Homecoming Court this year. When did I get so old? 2. My dog Cashew is rooting on the Pirates! Me too but, I am an Indians fan, and that didn't turn out so well. 3. The Celtic Thunder concert is this Sunday! I can't wait! I am so excited!! Is it bad that I've had my outfit picked out for a long time? 4. It is hockey season again, and that means we are closer to Duke Basketball time!! 5. Steeler fans are going to hate me for this, but I have a knock knock joke to tell you! "Knock Knock." (Say who's there readers!!) "Owen" (Owen who?) 0-4!  (Owen and 4) I know, I know...                   ;) What are you loving...

My family likes to save money when we have parties. One way to do so is to cook everything ourselves, instead of hiring a caterer. Today, I wanted to give you a recipe for spaghetti sauce that will feed a crowd. This recipe is best made in an 18 quart roast pan. We bought most of our sauces and tomato paste at Costco. Ingredients: 2 onions 3 cans diced tomatoes 2 #10 cans of tomato sauce 1 #10 can on spaghetti sauce 1 heaping tsp of garlic minced 2 (28 oz) cans of crushed tomatoes 4 (6 oz) cans of tomato paste 1 tsp sugar Onion and garlic salt, italian seasoning, parsley, oregano to taste 1 pound of each: ground meat, hot and sweet sausage Look at the deliciousness!  In a skillet brown your meat and sausage in a little oil. Once browned place off to the side. Combine your onions, garlic, diced tomatoes, and crushed tomatoes. *Sweat your onions down first, then add the garlic. Then your tomatoes.* Open your tomato sauces and spaghetti sauces (w...

I went to the hairdresser yesterday and got my color updated for Fall. I was pretty blonde from the Summer, but my roots were growing in. So she low-lighted my hair with a beautiful mocha color, while still keeping some of my blonde from Summer. It will grow in nicely, and I won't have noticeable roots. I LOVE how it turned out! As far as the cut goes, she added in some layers and gave my hair some shape. Since I have "thinner" hair she said that my side pieces are a little fragile from the color. So I am going to try and baby them if I can. I am going to try a couple of products that should make my hair more healthy. One product I will be using is my Argan Magic oil. I already use this every day, but I will concentrate it a little more on my sides. Also, I am thinking about using my uniqueONE leave in hair mask that I got in my Birchbox only on my side pieces. About once a week I will use a hair mask in the shower that I will put all over my hair. I have been loving t...