Mandii's Muse

Surely I can't be the only one that struggles with getting that big, beautiful, ballerina bun. I've tried the sock method, and sometimes it works, sometimes it is a complete failure. I needed something quick and easy. I was looking in the hair section of my local Wal-Mart, and I stumbled upon this little device. It was $5, and I thought, "might as well give it a try." I wanted something to use on second day hair that will still look cute and chic. The Perfect Bun by Remington has wire encased in foam, with a hole in the center. (See photo). The idea is to pull your hair into a ponytail, slip the hair through the hole, twist and bend the foam piece into a bun shape. I had some reservations when using this because I have layers in my hair. This works for me! I couldn't believe how simple it was!  I have been using this on second day hair. I like this because it has texture from the day before. I spray some dry shampoo at my roots, and just a tiny bit on my len...

I received this sample trio in my Ipsy bag. I always love trying new eyeshadows, and I must say, this trio is one of my new favorites. This trio is called Naturally Bare. Even those these are neutral eyeshadows, they have a metallic dimension to them. I have definitely worn these to work, and felt that they were work appropriate. The colors are a shimmery off white color, an antique gold, and a shimmery taupe color. I put the gold on my lids, the taupe in the crease, and the off white as a highlight. What I love most about these shadows is the staying power. I use my ELF eyeshadow primer and it stays. *Again, not all day, but I have oily lids.* Another thing I like about this trio is how smooth they apply. They do not pull or tug as some shadows do. When applying these shadows, I also noticed little to no fallout for these shadows. You can find POP Beauty at Ulta  or on POP Beauty's website ! Have you ever heard of POP Beauty? If you have, what are your favorite products? I...

Yet again, the Arctic has returned! Last night and today it was supposed to feel like it was -25 below. (I live in PA!) I shiver just thinking about it. I feel like I should be looking out my window and watch polar bears walk by. You step outside and your face is immediately immobile.  I wanted to refer you back to  this post , because my feelings, and the facts are still the same. Stay warm and dream of Spring! ~Mandii

Before I begin, did you notice I changed the background color scheme on my blog? I also changed up the font a little. I like it, let me know what you think! Don't we all want a little lift and volume at our roots? Perhaps something to give your hair a little extra pizzazz? I know I certainly do! I have tried numerous root lifters, and have liked some, and hated many. The one I want to share with you today is found at the drugstore! It is the Michael O' Rourke, Rock Your Hair, Size Matters, Big Volume Root Lift. That was all on the can! First of all, I am absolutely addicted to the packaging! It is bright pink, and has a heart filled with little fake crystals on it. Let's face it, you can't go wrong with a blinged out root lifter. ;) The scent is fresh and clean. I only really notice it when I first spray it on. I use this on towel dried hair, spraying only at my roots. I massage it in very well, and then blow dry concentrating on the root area. It is not sticky,...

Image found here Talk about a title and a half huh? I received this as a sample in a Birchbox, and just never got around to using it. Now that I have tried it, I want to share my thoughts with you! This is said to prevent future damage to your hair, boost vibrancy and shine, protect from heat styling, protect against chlorine damage, among other things. Hence the name 12 benefits.   ;) I find that when I use this, that it is a great detangler. This product also increases the shine to my hair without making it feel heavy. On my fine hair, that is exactly what I need. I spray this on damp hair and comb through. It makes my comb just slide through with no tugging. When I style, I have no problem holding a curl. Since using this, I have noticed that my hair is healthier and I have less split ends. Win! It comes in a bright pink bottle, which I love. It is slightly thick with a fresh, clean scent. I am going to save the rest of my bottle and use this in the summer whenever I g...

My Ipsy bag for the month of January came! This month was no surprise, was having to do with bettering yourself! There were some products in the bag that I was definitely excited about! Here is what was in my bag! Proactiv+ Mark Fading Pads: These pads are pre-moistened pads containing 2% salicylic acid. These are supposed to fade dark spots or scars on your skin. I am very excited to try these, but I will save these for either weekly or once a month. It never hurts to use a mild chemical exfoliant on your face. Mica Beauty Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm: I received the color Natural. So far, I like this. This applies very smooth, and slightly matte. It is very moisturizing, and a great color to swipe on. I would have no problem leaving the house in this color. Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow Creamy Eye Pencil: I received the color Pearl. I am on the fence about this product. It is a nude color, but it has a lot of sparkle in it. I need to try it before I can make a final judgement ...

I received this product as a Christmas gift from my aunt. I was wobbling back and forth between getting a Clarisonic, and decided that I'm not as regimented as I should be with skin care. I didn't want to waste my money on one. So when I opened up this on Christmas, I was so glad I got it! *This is not a Clarisonic.* From Mary Kay: Two Spin Speeds •  Two spin speeds allow you to customize your experience. Just a push of a button switches from a lower speed to a higher one, reaching over 400 rotations per minute.  •  Both speeds provide gentle massaging yet deep cleansing that’s suitable for daily use on all skin types, even sensitive skin and acne-prone skin. Unique Design •  The nylon bristles of the brush head feature polished tips with rounded ends so they feel supersoft against your skin.  •  Gently exfoliates and helps improve skin texture without being abrasive to skin. Unique angled design hugs the contours of your face to help thoroug...

Friday is always a good day right? I got some great news today that I can hopefully share with you soon on here! I'm linking up with Lauren as usual! Here is what I loved about this week! 1. I have pre-planned my blog posts for the coming week! I just have to take a day and write and photograph them! 2. I got 10 more sub days between the next 2 months. They are mostly Thursday's and Friday's, which means I can wear my jeans! Whoo! 3. I got invited to try out some things to review on here! I always get excited when that happens! 4. I went to the store to pick up dry shampoo, and they were OUT! How does a store run out of dry shampoo? 5. I haven't painted my nails in ages, so that is my project for today! What about you? How has your week been? Leave me a comment and let me know!

My Birchbox came, and I didn't even know it was coming! I didn't receive any tracking info for it, so I was definitely excited to see it in my mailbox! This month was a pretty good for Birchbox. Here's what was in my box! 100% Pure|Fruit Pigmented Mascara - This is supposed to have real fruit pigments in it, and I believe them! This smells so fruity and good! I can't wait to try this! Fekkai|Brilliant Glossing Creme- This is supposed to be a frizz tamer, and give hair some shimmer. I can't see myself using this everyday, but I can see myself using this on second day hair to tame the frizz and add extra texture to my hair. Harvey Prince|Journey- You know how much I LOVE Harvey Prince scents! This one is no different. It has Indian tuberose and Japanese orange flower in it. Nail Rock|Glitter- This is SO exciting to me! This kit comes with a navy blue nail polish and a pot of glitter. You paint your nail, and then dip your nail in the pot of glitter. This wi...

So today I am embarking on a 7 day clean eating plan. For those of you that eat clean regularly, I'd love your suggestions and recipes! This is a new journey, and part of my New Year's Resolutions. I don't have much familiarity with clean eating, so any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated! Sorry for the short post today, everyone! Tomorrow, I will have my monthly Birchbox post! Do you eat clean? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Let's face it, if I could stay in my jammies all day I would be a happy camper. It is always nice to have a "lounging" pair on hand to wear in case of a surprise guest, or to wear as a guest in another person's home. Here is a pair that I bought recently that fits that criteria! I bought these jammies at JC Penney's. The best part is, they were $2.97 each!! Score! The bottoms are a purple snakeskin, that are very light. There is purple lace detail on the bottom of the pants. The purple top has silver thread stitched into the arm cuffs and the neck. It adds just a bit of sparkle! The Details: Bottoms: Cosmopolitan Top: Flirtitude Bandana: ? (It is so old!) Slippers: Dearfoam *Excuse the no makeup face, but hey, that was one of my resolutions! Do you have a favorite pair of jammies? Leave me a comment and let me know! I'd love to hear from you!

Hi everyone! Have you thawed out from the deep freeze? I'm pretty sure I have. Today is Friday, and that means I am linking up with Lauren for H54F! Here is what I loved this week! 1. Hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps. Need I say more? 2. I have been nursing a bad back the past few days. Heating pads have been my best friend. 3. I posted this photo of my cold weather glam look. It was COLD that day! 4. I found a golden retriever puppy through a rescue group. I want her but we'll see. 5. Why does changing your sheets feel so good? I love that feeling!  What did you love this week? Leave me a comment and let me know! 

Here are some of the beauty gifts I received. I didn't have a lot of these in mind, so my parents and aunt and uncle did a good job! Beauty: Mary Kay Skinvigorate cleanser: I was wobbling back and forth on a Clarisonic, and this is doing a good job for me so far! I will do a review once I use it more! Dotting tool and brush: I have wanted a dotting tool for SO long! This was a great stocking stuffer item for me, and I can't wait to use it! Blistex Lip Vibrance Lip Balm: This is a tinted lip balm that has SPF 15. The color is a beautiful rosy color. It smells like strawberries! Contact lens case: This will be absolutely brilliant for traveling. The case is enclosed in a case. I love the red pattern, and I can just throw this in my bag and know where my contacts are. Now I still have some Christmas money that will start to burn a hole in my pocket, so I might use that to buy a beauty item I have been coveting. I haven't decided yet. So what beauty items did you ...

If you haven't noticed, we have been living in the sub-arctic here for the past few days. The temperatures have been below freezing, and the wind chills literally chill you to the bone. I wanted to take a few minutes to remind you of a few precautions you can take to keep yourself warm and protect your home. Open your cabinet doors to prevent your pipes from freezing. Don't heat your house with your oven or propane heaters. This could potentially cause a fire if left unattended. Bring pets indoors, and when you take your animals out, make sure to watch the pads of their feet that they don't get frostbite. Cover your extremities when you go outside because frostbite can occur within 10-30 minutes on exposed skin. Have flashlights ready in case the power goes out.  Make sure you have electronics charged such as cell phones and ipads that you can use in case you do lose power to get in contact with people.  These are just a few tips to help you deal with the cold. ...

It is the first Friday of the new year. How has it been so far? I'm linking up with Lauren today as I usually do. Here is what I have loved this week. 1. I scored this awesome leather wallet at Wilson's Leather Outlet. It was originally $40.00 but I got it for $7.17! It will wear like iron, and has enough space for my cards and money. I love deals like this! 2. I love the Twisted Peppermint concentrated room spray from Bath and Body Works. A little goes a long way, and it definitely lasts for a good while. 3. Has the snow storm hit you? It is pretty out, but it has caused a lot of shoveling. 4. I have begun to put some of my Christmas presents away. Isn't that always a sad feeling? 5. I only had to return 1 gift that I got my family. I thought that was pretty good! What did you love this week? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Image found here A new year is always a time to set resolutions. A lot of time, people don't keep them, but it is always a good idea to try and better your life and yourself. Here are my resolutions. I have broken them into a few categories. Environment: I have decided to try and take shorter showers. Not only will this help the water situation, but will also help me get out the door faster as well! This is going to be a real challenge, because on a cold winter day, there is nothing that feels better than a hot shower. Health: I want to drop some pounds this year. I am not setting a limit on how many, but I want to feel confident in myself and my body. *This is probably the number 1 resolution of everybody* Beauty: I would like to try to go out of the house 1 day a week with less makeup on. I am thinking only eyeliner and mascara. This will also help my confidence, and speed up my get ready time. Blogging: I want to continue to grow this blog and gain more reade...

Image found here Happy New Year everyone! I hope that 2014 finds you happy, healthy, and is your best year ever! A new year is always a time to start fresh, and know that no matter what has got you down in the past, you can start new today. Many blessings for the year ahead! ~Mandii